Do your research 1) does it look good? -> check for nicks, chips etc 2) is it legit? (Unoriginal parts cause lower price) 3) check neck -> is truss rod straight (look from side) -> look from bottom and top for twists etc 4) check frets (must not have dents under strings) 5) test pickups 6) check hardware (saddles/tuners) 7) check electronics 8) check neck pocket fit 9) check for hairline cracks (esp ends of neck) 10) check for enjoyment
Speaking as an old git who's been playing 50 years - Well done Dagan - informative and entertaining and very well presented. Wish we'd had someone like you to avoid the monsters we had to play "back in the day!" Well done son, keep it up!
agreed, they just have a bit more of that working man's guitar personality with those chips Telecasters too age beautifully with chips RGs/Superstrats, LPs, SGs and Hollowbodies on the other hand... hoo boy... I dont mind a bit of chip on an RG but holy hell
I picked up a Stratlike at a pawn shop. It had Starcaster on the head stock and they wanted $80 for it. I just wanted a cheap guitar mostly to mess with the electronics, but it was too high a price, but my friend told me to check it out. I really didn't know how to play, but we plugged it into an amp and all we got was buzzing. The guy knocked it down to $40. SOLD! Got it home and took it apart. Found that the hot lead to the jack was wired to the ground from the body. Fixed it in 5 min. Other interesting thing, that kinda proves all your points, when I completely tore it down, I found the pick board was from a Squire, the neck from a Starcaster and the body from who knows where, but the pocket had to be chiseled out to get the neck in. Still, a good little learner.
Number 10 is so important. I always wanted a White Falcon, tried one out in the Shop, really didn’t like it that much but still bought it. 15 years later I’ve played that thing about 5 times.
Eric Clapton said in an interview: “What i would always look for on a strat, was maple neck that had been worn out, it’ like a resturant, if there is lot’s of people there it’s got to be good food.” Wich is true, and not just with strats.
Bought an Ibanez guitar online. Unfortunately it can be really difficult going through Ebay, but it was the right guitar when it arrived. It had a problem with the selector switch as it would not always fully connect. So, I open the back up, looked at the switch, order the same one and replaced it myself. If you are buying online used guitars, it helps to be a little handy with working on them. I suggest every guitarist learn some basic guitar repair and maintenance skills. It will serve you well.
Great video I wish I had of seen it a couple weeks ago. Bought a used guitar on a whim figured I'd learn something new. Paid $100 CND only to get it home and find the 5 point switch had some corrosion on it, there was a small crack in the head next to the top string tuner and the guitar is only $150 new. Arrrg lesson learned.
Always check the nut mainly to see if it is broken or has been repaired. Check the saddle and make sure has moveable parts so the guitar can be intonated.
I bought a used Washburn acoustic from PMT Southend but didn't check the frets. Within a few weeks it started to buzz like mad and sounds tinny as hell cause the frets are dented all over. The nut also slipped off when I first restrung it. I wish this video had been released a year or so ago so I wouldn't have to pay to get it fixed :(
hmm.. so I can pop into a PMT store with my screwdrivers and start dismantling guitars to perfrom the checks?.. yeh rite, I'd get thrown out. Just think how many heavy handed people would munch up screwheads and strip the woodthreads. Talk to the guitar shop sales person for advice, that would probably be the LAST person to ask. Over the many years of that experience only a VERY few know their stuff, their attitude is generally "it's a great guitar, just buy the thing". I do take your point on knowing what to look for as there are so many made up guitars. But then Fender quality changes so much a parts-caster can be better than the real thing. As point #10 says, I saved up in 1979 for a real Fender Strat, got one, it was poo, I soon sold it for a non Fender Strat that was just a lot better! I agree with the do research, I recently bought a cheap £35 Strat locally, I read-up on the internet first to get the background. I went to buy and it was as described on the internet but needed setting up, once I did all that, for the money it's great!
@@sinner272 hi don't know if your questions were for me or not? I have learned quite a bit of "stuff" this last half a century plus. I have not learned to play guitar.
his first advice says it all - do your research. i like how that statement is so humble and so true and not pretentious. thanks russell brand ... oooooppps, dagan :p
7:00 False. in many cases luthiers can level, crown and polish the frets to fix wear dents and unwanted buzz without needing to replace them at all which is a much bigger job.
Yes and no. Held to the letter divets "under each string" would indicate a hell of a lot of fretwear; on the other hand you almost never see anything that severe. Any sensible bloke will get a level/re-crown every few years, so they will never have to replace a single fret in their lifetime. It is going way too long without ever re-crowning that does many a fretboard in.
Think about this. This guy's job is selling new guitars, but he is here giving advice on how to buy a second hand guitar from a third party. Not selling a course, not advertising the shop. That is the sign of a really good guitar tech. I wish his shop was in my town.
No private individual is going to let me remove the pickups to see whether they're authentic or not. I don't think I'd allow someone to tinker with my guitar to that degree if I was selling it.
Cool thanks I want to buy an used ibanez or something for metal but I'm not a professional so I don't want to spend allot of money I play very good but i only started from about 7 months
Love your vids man (and the rest of the channel)! I don't know if you guys have the orange crush pros but it would be awesome to see a review of the cr120c or something of the like. Rock on lml
Hello - Thank you for all the informational videos on guitars - they are very helpful - Could you also post a video on "What is the best guitar for Percussive playing?"
Yeah take his advice but also double check every second hand guitar from pmt, my friend brought a second hand telecaster from the Romford store and the electrics was a real mess! It was kinda his fault aswell as he didn't test it before paying for it as the sales man said it's just came in its been all tested and gone over and in perfect condition. Yeah okay mate
I kinda just want a guitar that sounds great and looks great but not realy care for it like my other two American Fenders. I do have a Mexican player series strat but even then I take care of that alote because Mexican fenders now are well made and sound just as good as my American Strat and Jazzmaster.
Even new guitars with a warranty can still have problems with just about anything on this list. If they have been hanging on wall or sitting around on a stand a long time and not been purchased there could be a reason. The fret ends could be sharp and haven't been properly rounded to avoid cutting your hands. The action could be too high to be played easily. The truss rod could need to be adjusted because the neck has a bow in it. The intonation could be off on the bridge so it doesn't tune up. The music store should have someone there that knows how to do a guitar setup. So you can play it without those problems. You shouldn't have to pay extra for it either. If you have to take it to a luthier then they should take some of the cost off the price of the guitar.
When buying acoustics check the inside of the wood. Because the wood matters. Nothing is worst for acoustic guitar then crap wood. You can also check for stamps. Most of them should look worn.
Send them a reply by the reverb email and ask them. Then you will have it in righting. They can't sell you something that they haven't told you the truth about without getting caught. If they have lied then you have proof and can get your money refunded. Check with reverb and see what their rules are about how they back up the buyers and sellers over disputes.
There are hard tail Stratocasters out there you have to look more to find them. Most people that are looking to buy a Stratocaster want to have the Tremelo arm. They're more popular that's all.
Isn’t Ibanez made in Japan? Then why on guitar centers website would it say it’s from Pakistan or China :( also sweat is enough of a reason to buy used 💀
Has anyone commented about his phrase "explode your pockets all over your axe" yet? After this video, I'm gonna open up an incognito tab for private browsing and explode my pockets as well!
I know nothing about guitars, but I really wanna start playing, I wanna buy a used guitar do you think I can do it alone without being laughed at with the price or quality
The old plastics are chemically unstable when introduced to UV. Thuis makes it brittle and causes cracks. Fun fact UV van also be used to check wether synthetic paints have been used, it reflect UV back much more than non modern paints and pigments.
