What gear did you buy sight unseen based off of reviews and hype? Were you satisfied?

[70 Mach 1]

Thread going on TGP, guy wants to drive 9 hours RT to buy a Tone King he never tried.
All based on hype and reviews

I tried to discourage him based on my experiences

More often than not i was always disappointed when i did this. All the hype and reviews never met my full expectations.

Im a tryer outer lil bitch

 

[RaceU4her]

Pretty much every amp I have, I’m happy with all of them

 

[ChurchHill]

Yeah, pretty much everything. Just aren't nearly as many good stores around, anymore, and what's left doesn't carry what I'm looking for.

For the most part, I've been good with it. Couple of duds here and there, but nothing major.

There are few things I would drive 9 hours for. None of them are a Tone King. Dave's Guitars in WI is worth the drive. Some of the Dallas Guitar Shows.

 

[glpg80]

Mesa Mark III++ Coliseum

Yes it was worth it.

 

[BeZo]

The Greenhouse Effects Sonic Orb phaser I just got. Really happy with it.

 

[DanTravis62]

Strymon Volante, and yep it absolutely kicks ass

FTT Flight Time, and yep, it absolutely kicks ass

Engl artist, and yep, it absolutely kicks ass

Almost everything else I had tried before, or something very similar

 

[Brain Becker]

My 2203x. I bought it because Slayer and Zakk Wylde used it.

 

[Uzi Nein Millimetah]

Mesa Mark III++ Coliseum

Yes it was worth it.

I bought all of my Marks after the first (Mark III) online, because by then, I knew they would kick ass.

They did.

 

[Mike Oxhuge]

Engl Blackmore - was fucking great
Engl Artist - even better
Mark VII Best of all

 

[VonBonfire]

I bought Uncle Waynzo's Gladio clone without ever trying one. Then I bought his Spaceman Equinox clone. Can't really go wrong with his stuff, both of those are great pieces of equipment. After that I bought a Spaceman Meridian and that's a pretty badass pedal that is on my gigging board with the other two.

 

[phillybhatesme]

I have ordered a lot of guitars sight-unseen. Thankfully it hasn't really fucked me over. I've received a few that needed fretwork that I probably wouldn't have bought had I played em in store, but meh. I'm a real sucker for a nice top. And if it comes with a straight neck and it just needs fretwork and a nut re-slot, ok, fine. Now I have a cool guitar with a top I like and newly filed, crowned, and polished frets with a fresh setup.
The biggest issue for me is "is the neck straight?" upon arrival.

I've not ordered any amps I haven't played. I ordered a DSL20, but I've played DSLs before. And while the 20 watter sounds kinda anemic, it still sounds like a DSL.

 

[EXPcustom]

Just about every single piece of gear I have ever owned, if I had to wait for it to show up in a local shop to try before buying honestly I'd have some pretty mediocre gear. Although I will say I wish I grew up in LA because everyone living locally had access to the most awesome gear available at that time.

 

[japetus]

 

[VonBonfire]

View attachment 438700

You've been holding out on me.

 

[japetus]

You've been holding out on me.

Shawn Lane knew.

 

[VonBonfire]

Shawn Lane knew.

Sadly not remembered by enough people.

 

[japetus]

Sadly not remembered by enough people.

He was using THD amps, everyone all "muh Dumble" but later he was rocking those THD heads, I thought for better tone. It's subjective.

 

[VonBonfire]

He was using THD amps, everyone all "muh Dumble" but later he was rocking those THD heads, I thought for better tone. It's subjective.

Didn't he later get a million dollar advance on a record and buy a bunch of Gjika stuff? Like a separate preamp and power amp sections. Some of the Gjika stuff is mindblowing but a little over the top unless you have a road crew to tote it.