Do you have to play it before buying it rule?

[norminal]

I used to buy guitars sight unseen, but going forward, I want to actually get the guitar in my hands before handing over any money.

I’ve spent way too much money on return shipping charges and/or have taken a loss on many guitars that I didn’t bond with. Never again.

 

[norminal]

I'm lucky that I live 10 minutes away from the Guitar Sanctuary

 

[Dave Lewis]

Sick

Is that slang for good Sick or bad taste sick ?
To be honest I don’t give a shit but had to ask?

 

[Eagle]

Is that slang for good Sick or bad taste sick ?
To be honest I don’t give a shit but had to ask?

You really know how to make friends and influence people.

 

[paisleywookiee]

brand new is one thing, but I almost never buy used without seeing it in person. No one seems to know what “fret wear” or “neck twist” actually means these days.

 

[bgh]

I used to buy guitars sight unseen, but going forward, I want to actually get the guitar in my hands before handing over any money.

I’ve spent way too much money on return shipping charges and/or have taken a loss on many guitars that I didn’t bond with. Never again.

It would be nice to do that. And on some guitars, I have been able to do so.

The selection of left-handed guitars is not populated enough where I can be in a position to hold one and play it before I purchase it.

 

[Allexi]

Interesting question! When I was younger I only bought guitars ( and other gear) after playing it first and it was my strong belief. I have to have full confidence and control since I would be using it. Fast forward to now all my keeper guitars are 100% from Sweetwater. And I’m happy.

 

[Zodiac]

Is that slang for good Sick or bad taste sick ?
To be honest I don’t give a shit but had to ask?

Dave, I meant sick as in bad taste. Joking about a blind person is not clever and not funny.
Something about you, the constant stream of cheap guitars you order, Ali Express or otherwise, the "hundreds" of pedals you say you own, which are all kept in their boxes, just doesn't add up.
Either you are, as Eagle said, a bot, or if not a bot, then a bull******r.
The constant name calling, wanker etc, and telling people to "fook off" is just immature.
I won't see your reply as you are now on "ignore"

 

[AFKAEjay(retired)]

Stevie Wonder has never seen any of his pianos keyboards or mouth organs .
It didn’t do him any harm

Nevertheless, his favorite key…C#

 

[TSJMajesty]

Nevertheless, his favorite key…C#

 

[spawnofthesith]

It’s preferable but not necessary as long as there’s some sort of return policy available (GC used FTW)

Although I did buy my vela off of reverb

 

[aivoryuk]

I’m quite happy to buy before playing as the 14 days you get (in the UK) means I can actually spend quality time with it before deciding.

 

[Desertdweller]

brand new is one thing, but I almost never buy used without seeing it in person. No one seems to know what “fret wear” or “neck twist” actually means these days.

I get that for sure, though I only have one guitar I own that I actually played before I bought it. I stopped in a GC about 6 or 7 years ago and fell in love with a budget Schecter CR-6 that just hit exactly what I needed. I still have it, it's a unique and fun guitar.

Generally speaking, I either buy new, or if I buy used, it's a vintage Ibanez, and I know Ibanez so well now I know exactly what to look for in a listing to know if it's for me or not. So I'm either buying a new guitar with a return window and then I'm only out the return shipping, or I'm getting a unique vintage Ibanez that really slays or needs some minor work to bring it up to my playing needs.

Of course this would be solved if there was a local music store that stocked high-end guitars that don't say Fender or Gibson on the headstock. I don't know any place locally that would have Ibanez Prestige, USA Jackson, or ESP E-IIs.

 

[FuzzyAce]

Most of my guitar purchases in the last 10 years have been from parts to build partscasters. Only exception was a Fender bass, and I did buy that unplayed from SW and I like it.
Partscasters can be a risk in multiple ways -- you really don't know what the final result will be especially if you have atypical specs. Knowing how to assemble and do proper fretwork and wiring makes it easier to get what you want though, even if it takes some time to find what best works for that guitar. I've been fortunate and really dig all the ones I've done. But if you don't, it can be tricky selling off a partscaster and a bit of a hassle compared to a brand guitar.

 

[paisleywookiee]

I get that for sure, though I only have one guitar I own that I actually played before I bought it. I stopped in a GC about 6 or 7 years ago and fell in love with a budget Schecter CR-6 that just hit exactly what I needed. I still have it, it's a unique and fun guitar.

Generally speaking, I either buy new, or if I buy used, it's a vintage Ibanez, and I know Ibanez so well now I know exactly what to look for in a listing to know if it's for me or not. So I'm either buying a new guitar with a return window and then I'm only out the return shipping, or I'm getting a unique vintage Ibanez that really slays or needs some minor work to bring it up to my playing needs.

Of course this would be solved if there was a local music store that stocked high-end guitars that don't say Fender or Gibson on the headstock. I don't know any place locally that would have Ibanez Prestige, USA Jackson, or ESP E-IIs.

I’ve been burned on two old Ibanezes. RG7621 and JS6, the latter of which was positively fucking heartbreaking. Both had twisted necks beyond what could be fixed, and Ibanez basically told me to get fucked as far as replacement necks, even though I’d obviously pay for it.

 

[Desertdweller]

I’ve been burned on two old Ibanezes. RG7621 and JS6, the latter of which was positively fucking heartbreaking. Both had twisted necks beyond what could be fixed, and Ibanez basically told me to get fucked as far as replacement necks, even though I’d obviously pay for it.

ugh that's awful.

 

[paisleywookiee]

ugh that's awful.

I know right? A JS6, goddamnit!! The finest Ibanez of all time. Indisputable.

 

[Eagle]

I’ve been burned on two old Ibanezes. RG7621 and JS6, the latter of which was positively fucking heartbreaking. Both had twisted necks beyond what could be fixed, and Ibanez basically told me to get fucked as far as replacement necks, even though I’d obviously pay for it.

Ibanez used to be pretty good with replacement necks . In fact at one time they sold them retail in the UK .

 

[Eagle]

I know right? A JS6, goddamnit!! The finest Ibanez of all time. Indisputable.

You could quite easily get a kit neck to fit that at least.

 

[paisleywookiee]

Ibanez used to be pretty good with replacement necks . In fact at one time they sold them retail in the UK .

When this occurred, they'd only deal with a dealer (no problem there, with my buddy's shop) but would only replace if I was the original owner, and shipped back the original neck. I would have been happy to ship the neck back, and happy to have even paid a few hundred. But I was not the original owner. It was a 10+ year old guitar at that point.