buying guitars before playing them

[Monkey Man]

I've had no choice but to do it this was for at least 20 years now. No car, stuck at home sick.

I'd say on average I've had a 1-in-3 strike rate or worse, so it's not ideal, but hey.

 

[Valtyr]

Nope, all my keepers have been instruments I was able to try before purchase. The only exceptions have been synthesizers.

 

[Goat]

Crapshoot...

 

[Purpleibby]

I've had good luck, as a matter of fact I've had incredible luck with it. Cool story:

Online order got the Les Paul that I always wanted...plays perfect(slinky bends and super low action) with that fast 60's neck, merlot finish(Traditional Pro II)....amazing sound, just so resonant and chunky without being dark...perfect weight.....a couple of years go by and I checked my serial number....turned out it was born/serial number on the day of my birth! Crazy! I LOVE this guitar so much....seems like fate. Pickups sound great, thought I would have to change them out....it's perfect how it is.

My number 1 Ibby I got for 175 bucks used on ebay years ago....92 RG550 purple neon. Insane price, slapped some dimarzios in there and it's a dream guitar! Played that SOB so much the finish has worn off the back of the neck!

 

[Robotechnology]

Probably 60% of the guitars I’ve purchased over the past 20 years were bought online whether it be from various online forums, eBay or Musician’s Friend. Less than 10 have been either sonically not for me or not made me happy in terms of adjustability of setup. So my luck’s been good in that respect because we’re talking 150+ guitars.

So I think by all means you should try online purchasing. My number 1 was a new custom order that was shipped to my house directly after having arrived from the manufacturer and my number 2 was an eBay purchase also shipped to my house.

 

[Baloney Balderdash]

Though I usually recommend the exact opposite to people asking advice about buying new guitars, I actually mostly buy mine online, because I live in a small town with no local music gear related shops, plus my preferred online shop just having a much larger selection of instruments, and other music related gear for that matter, than just about any shop based in my own country would have.

But I have actually mostly been extremely fortunate with my online buys, all but with one purchase, an Ibanez GSRM20B Mikro Bass in Weathered Black finish, that was unplayable due to totally shoddy fretwork, has actually been truly excellent instruments, which is even more of a strike of luck considering by far most of them being cheap budget instruments.

That one bad egg though I did buy off Ebay though, and not my otherwise preferred online shop Thomann, from whom I have only received gear in perfect condition (including my first Ibanez GSRM20 Mikro Bass), as well as they got, added by default and completely free of charge, 30 days full return and full refund rights politics, in case you regret your purchase or find that it wasn't exactly what you were looking for anyway within the full return rights limit of 30 days from you received it, and with all shipping expenses covered, as well as they offer a, also added by default and completely free of charge, 3 years basic warranty in case something breaks without you otherwise having mistreated the product within the warranty limit of 3 years from the date you received it.

Still ideally, and as I always advice others who are looking to buy a new guitar (or new used for that matter), you should really try out the specific guitar that you buy in person, not just one of the same model, but the exact same individual instrument.

At very least, if you for some reason, regardless of the risks involved, still would rather buy online, make sure the company you buy from got some fair and good return and refund politics.

 

[JerEvil]

In the last 10 years I have bought about 18-20 guitars and only played 3 first which were my Les Pauls.

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

I rarely get the chance to play a guitar prior to purchase. So I'd recommend buying from a dealer with at least a 48 hr. return period... and even more importantly from somewhere you've established a relationship with a sales person or a dealer with a good rep and one willing to give you a good in-hand description and maybe even a phone facetime demo.

Otherwise, do what we all do... buy, try... keep the good ones.

 

[dsquared]

i have probably bought 50 blind and 200 plus that i played prior. i now own around 40 guitars at the moment. so lets say they come and go. i do a lot of flipping though, so that does factor in there.

i personally don't see a pattern with myself, but everybody is different.

off topic - 40, wow, i think we'd all enjoy pics of your collection

 

[mnemonic]

Left handed and living in a small town here, what’s a guitar store?

 

[LP Freak]

i have probably bought 50 blind and 200 plus that i played prior. i now own around 40 guitars at the moment. so lets say they come and go. i do a lot of flipping though, so that does factor in there.

i personally don't see a pattern with myself, but everybody is different.

off topic - 40, wow, i think we'd all enjoy pics of your collection

Yea, let’s see them

 

[LP Freak]

i have probably bought 50 blind and 200 plus that i played prior. i now own around 40 guitars at the moment. so lets say they come and go. i do a lot of flipping though, so that does factor in there.

i personally don't see a pattern with myself, but everybody is different.

off topic - 40, wow, i think we'd all enjoy pics of your collection

Yea, let’s see them

 

[Pentatonic Wanker]

In my experience it doesn’t matter who the manufacturer is. 20% to 30% will be keepers. The rest will have issues. The secret is finding the 20-30%.

 

[skullfxr]

i have probably bought 50 blind and 200 plus that i played prior. i now own around 40 guitars at the moment. so lets say they come and go. i do a lot of flipping though, so that does factor in there.

i personally don't see a pattern with myself, but everybody is different.

off topic - 40, wow, i think we'd all enjoy pics of your collection

Yea, let’s see them

Most are nothing overly special, but I totally love what I have and they work great to fit my needs. but here is a link to my Instagram which has quite a few pictures.

https://www.instagram.com/skullfuxxer

Probably half of the guitars are posted somewhere on there.

I mainly have mid level stuff TBH. my main guitars that get the most action are are MIJ Jackson pro series with upgraded tremolos. I find them for $200 in decent shape and drop a gotoh or Schaller Floyd in, and I can beat the hell out of them. I touch up the fretwork if needed and set them up for preference. As far as setup, they all play the same and are pretty much identically set-up within 10%, with the exception of different tunings/string gauges.
I find them hard to beat.

I have some Gibson's and USA Fenders, and some Ibanez Prestiges. Two ESP's (NOT LTD's) which are probably the most expensive. I also have a USA Charvel Promod and a USA Jackson Soloist. Three German Hofner Semi hollows which I find absolutely delicious. A little bit of everything really.

All of my Gibsons and Fenders are rewired with high quality pots (bourns or CTS) and NOS PIO caps. I also cut tusq nuts for them. All of my guitars are highly tweaked for my liking, and preference. My Hofners also have the same treatment.

I do have a lot of guitars, but I enjoy them and play them. No case queens. I am perfectly happy where I am at, and don't really feel like I need more. Part of the reason why I have a lot is because I use a few different tunings, and just switch guitars as needed as opposed to change the tuning.

Also if you are a decent tech/luthier (I consider myself more of a tech) but I can find something that is 70% of the way there and get it EXACTLY how I like it with a bit of work. Also I do all of my tech stuff myself, including leveling and crowning, so I am decent enough to get what I want out of what I have.

I am probably the most content person here with guitars, my main GAS is amps and building modding amps and pedals.

My next grab will be a black Gibson SG Standard which I will get with a bonus in August or early September.

Let's hope that link works, because I am excited for you guys to see what I have.

Cheers.

 

[LP Freak]

I was hoping for a room full of 40 guitars

 

[skullfxr]

I was hoping for a room full of 40 guitars

No I have probably a dozen here. At my other location I have 17 hung, 5 on the wall, two two tier Hercules racks with three on the bottom and three on the top (6 on each rack) . That is 17, then a closet with probably near a dozen in cases here or there.

I most certainly don't have a location where they can all fit, much less be displayed. I could only dream of that

 

[PBGas]

2 of mine I got used and they are both amazing. I had never played before purchase. My other 2 I brought in and tried them and love them. All 4 are exactly what I like playing.

 

[ClintN667]

I wish I could play them beforehand. It's hard to do. At least play a couple close models to know if you will like it. Like I can buy a Jackson or Ibanez and generally know what I'm getting. My current guitars are Solar and I have a Mayones on order. I'm really nervous about the Mayones as its a custom. I have two worries one did I pick what I really wanted and will I like the way it feels and plays?

I wish we had a store that carried higher end guitars except the one "boutique " store we have here. If I'm looking for a Strat, ES303, tele, or some St Vincent looking guitar they have me covered but nothing geared toward high gain. They are geared towards the John Mayer or Andy Wood crowd(I really dig Andy but not my style for my playing)

 

[skullfxr]

I was hoping for a room full of 40 guitars

best i can do. that is storage. i have probably a dozen cases in the closet and maybe seven or eight of them have guitars in.