I received an American pro II telecaster and the neck wasn’t aligned. I mentioned when I picked it up that I would just loosen the screws and do the “fender tap” to straighten it out. The salesperson had no problem with that when I was paying $2400cdn for it. However, the neck would not straighten. Just backing the screws off enough, I could see that one of the holes in the body was in completely the wrong place so when the screw was tightened it was pulling the neck to one side, causing the hole to become oblong from tithe pressure, and flaking away the paint. I retuned it as defective (good job, Fender US) and they were LIVID that I had backed the screws out to see the defect. Pretty funny.
Had a similar issue with a jazzmaster, and since I took it in for a setup at an unauthorized dealer, they said it voided the warranty. Last time I bought a new fender. I love fender guitars but fuck the company and their customer service
Ironically, it's the American product that singularly retains value, where I've noticed that Squier and Mexican prices have fallen through the floor.If you had anything that you wanted to sell or trade, , - expect to take a beating.Your MiM is now worth south of $400... Meanwhile, I'm repeatedly hearing that Fender's QC is missing big issues, - not quite Gibson level, but close.
If it isn’t broke I don’t take it apart! 😂 The only thing I ever do when I buy a new guitar is maybe change the strings because I use a specific gage of strings for what I play. Other than that never take one apart
@@jasondorsey7110 Well my amp tech hates working on Mesa's but I'll still keep mine. And won't touch any Behringer. But if not my main stuff, Behringer is good enough for me.
the only guitars I end up keeping are the ones I mod the hell out of. Same with amps. But that's just the way I am. I have to tweak and mod everything. It's part of the fun of the hobby for me.
I don’t need to take stuff apart, but I like to see the insides of amps I want by watching on RU-vid or gut shots in forums before I decide to buy. As an example, I don’t like board mounted tubes, so I want to know if that’s a thing before I buy
Brad's comments don't apply to you (you're not selling the amps). And enthusiasm for them is OK for any guitarist with 'GAS' (applies to me also - "He who is without sin can cast the first stone"...) But I think he's got some points there. Don't you agree?
For guitars, as long as they sound great, feel good in my hands and I like the way they look I’m happy. The only reason I have a picture of the disassembled neck and body of my Fender CS Srat is that I had a new loaded pick guard installed in it and the tech took some pictures without me asking. As far as amps go, I go into a small panic when I have to change some tubes . If it sounds the way I want it to sound I’m happy.
Great Video! You guys should dedicate an episode to "Post Gear Acquisition Depression." I'm sure other guys like me have spent most of their lives obsessing over the gear of their dreams just to finally be fortunate enough to acquire it. There's this endorphin rush during the searching and purchasing process as well as the first several months of ownership. But afterward, when I go online to browse for gear out of habit, the sad reality sinks in, that I already own American Strats, Tele's Les Pauls, 345's, boutique amps, etc., and unless I am going to go custom shop (which doesn't interest me) my searching is basically done. It was said that Alexander the Great cried when there were no more worlds left to conquer. The same could probably be said about us gearheads. Might make for a fun episode, you guys would kill it.
I don’t feel the need to take stuff apart prior to buying. I typically do a lot of research and feel like I’m an informed consumer for the most part. That said, if I ever decide to purchase more vintage gear I will only deal with sellers I trust. I have developed a relationship with my local shop and have a solid track record dealing with them.
Some of the amp repair channels suggest not buying a used amp if you haven’t looked at the guts, to see if it’s rusted out or if it’s about to catch on fire or already has I was one to take things apart when I was a kid, and I do tinker now when something needs maintenance or repair, but I don’t take things apart just because I do like looking at hand wired tube amps and pedals though
I worked at a big box music store. Someone sold us an American Fender. I looked at it and there was no fine adjustment hole on the body, but there was on the neck plate. The body was a warmoth, neck was fender, and so were the electronics.
So I personally wouldn't walk into a shop and demand they take the back of an amp off so I can inspect it, or take the neck off a guitar before I buy it. BUT - if I'm looking at a product review, then yes, I would like to see as much info as possible. For example - it would be nice to see how an amp is wired, and what tubes are they using. And it was awesome when Dylan took the neck off the 40th Anniversary Squier Tele, to show if the binding was real or just painted on. There's a difference between a good, thorough product review, and what I would ask to see in a shop.
I had to take the neck off my custom shop strat because it was unplayable when received. Had to adjust the truss rod. It now plays great. Maybe just didn't the change during shipping.
I do my own tinkering like pickup swaps, pots, caps, jacks if needed etc. so whenever I get a new guitar at home I always peek in the electronics cavity just to see how it was wired etc. I also like looking at pedal guts for whatever reason (plus there’s a lot of times internal trim pots that can be adjusted). I do sometimes drop an amp chassis even on a new amp and not a vintage one just to admire how nice or crappy the wiring is. But if it sounds good it sounds good. I’ve declined to swap pups I didn’t like in one of my Collings (a 360LTM) just because the wiring and soldering was done so well it’s a work of art and I don’t want to mess up a Mona Lisa lol.
As a Raleigh native and former ‘professional musician’ (I lived in a van in abject blissful poverty), who’s needed repairs on many an amp in my day… all I can say is depending on his mood, don’t touch things when with him… or look at them… or him… definitely don’t speak too much… and ffs don’t ask how long the job will take or how much it’ll cost… but at the end of the day, your amp will sound better than ever. So it’s worth it.
I had a American 62 reissue Strat for 20 years and a 52 reissue Tele for 20 years and never took the necks off. Played great. Im a beliver on not breaking that connection unless you have to.
I was curious about a 70s Strat at a shop and the guy grabbed it very quickly and said "Let's take it apart!" I had o stop him saying it wasn't necessary. It seamed like he just likes taking guitars apart and was looking for a reason to. Another boutique shop said they take all of their guitars apart before bringing them to the floor. Guitars take about 2 weeks t get to the floor after receiving them at this shop.
I did ask at a guitar center to open a peavey 5150 straight cab to make sure it had the right sheffield speakers in it. The dude didn't seem too happy because it's a bunch of screws but I was passing through and couldn't easily return it. I offered to do it, took the rest of the screws off myself and luckily they were all original. Can't be too carefully with vintage speaker cabs.
6:25 it's funny you say that because I have an old closed back Jet City cabinet with Celestions in it that I haven't sold because people always want me to open it to show them the speakers. I bought it new. It's the same spec listed online. Not going to chance messing it up just because someone has trust issues. It's a great sounding cab, too.
Marie Kondo those guitars! Only keep those that truly bring you joy. My last 2 guitar purchases were returns. They disappointed me so I'm on hiatus with acquiring any more. My next purchase will probably be a Sire guitar.
I just got a Sterling Stingray bass today and the first thing I did was take the neck off to check for issues I read about online. Turns out it didn't have any of those issues.
I don't feel like taking apart a working guitar is necessary other than, as Jonathan said, verifying a vintage instrument, but I do enjoy looking inside amps. I do feel like it would be in poor taste to open one up inside the store.
Tangential AITA question: Some 40 years ago I was visiting San Antonio from out of town, looking for a classical guitar to replace the one that got stolen. I ducked into a little one-man guitar sales and tech shop and had a great conversation with the owner. I tried out the only used mid-range classical he had in stock and it felt nice to play. But the tone was pretty muddy to my ear. Callowly, I wondered out loud whether the grooves that had been cut into the saddle for the strings (making the saddle essentially another nut) might be the cause for the muffled output. "Tell you what," the guitar guy said, "I'll pop in a new saddle and you come in tomorrow and see if you like it." I even went to hear his group at a club at the edge of town that night and it was a pretty good show. Next day the guitar guy smiled broadly and presented that same guitar with a shiny new saddle in the bridge and ... thud. The tone was exactly the same and I couldn't see my way to buying it, and I regretfully told him so. Boy, was he peeved at the time he spent on my behalf. We talked a few more minutes but he was still scowling when I left. So was 25-year-old me the jerk in that encounter?
eh, NAH really. Dude tried to go above and beyond to make a sale, but youre not obligated to buy anything. If you really, honestly, didnt have intention of buying it anyway you probably should have said "dont bother", but its whatever.
He may have gotten his feelings hurt and had to get over it. I make guitars for myself and a dude pointed out an issue I didn’t notice. I knew he was right but it but I have to admit it took me a day or 2 to come to grips with it. In the long run I appreciate him immensely because he makes me better.
I did take the back off my 2nd hand Blues Jr but that was because it’s impossible to tell whether it’s a mk iii or mk iv without looking at the colour of the components. The good news was that it was iv.
I know what video you are referencing in this video. However, when a company says hand wired on the chassis and it’s only a few things that’s not very honest. When some says “hand wired”, my mind and most others think point to point or at least close to it. Several molex connectors pushed in by hand is not hand wired. Don’t move the goal post because you can’t make it.
If they used eyelet board construction with chassis mounted tube sockets, they'd be blowing fender out of the water, but the way they did it you'd be better off paying less for the vintage ones
The only product I have ever done this with is Ceriatone Amps, and that is only because their wiring is so nice that i dig taking a look inside the chassis to see how amazing the wiring looks. lol it's the geek in me...
I've only ever bought one guitar with the intention of actually modding it (or de-modding it) - A FSR Player Strat Fiesta red with matching headstock that had a perfect neck joint and resonance, but was HSS so I immediately made it SSS. I have changed plastics - The black pickguards on my Vela and SG to white pearl because black is lame. Aside from those, it's all been repairs. I almost always buy new from dealers, so checking for shenanigans isn't really something I usually worry about. Huge shipment of Customs? C'mon be mine!
I totally get the amp thing... You want to see whether anyone has been inside of it monkeying around... if it's ever been serviced or not... Maybe someone replaced a bunch of stuff or modded it in a sketchy way... You want to know that before paying top dollar... cause caps need replaced. They had a shelf life of about 20 years...
I must be the poster boy for bad guitar buying behavior. Yesterday I asked about a Custom shop Strat and they said they were too busy. Well, they seem pretty busy but I guess it's more on me than them. I'll hang my head in shame and live with the ones I have until I shape up this bad behavioir (whatever it is).
I think it makes sense for used stuff and really for vintage stuff. I recently picked up a 73 Telecaster Thinline and before I left the house I asked the tech at the shop to pull the picguard. I really got the vibe that everyone was a little annoyed by this. Once we got it off we found a nasty route someone had done years ago. I don’t think the current owner even knew if was there. I still bought the guitar but we did negotiate. It made the guitar more of a players guitar rather than a museum piece.
@@michaeldesrosier1068yes it does matter, especially if it is vintage. That’s not how the guitar is supposed to be It doesn’t mean it’s a bad guitar, or worse than it was before, but it’s not what it appears to be. And it’s possibly a bad thing.
@@michaeldesrosier1068 vintage guitars are valued on several considerations just a couple examples - 1 collector condition / 2 player grade , a guitar that has been changed or modified is no longer a collector condition and can effect the $ value a lot, if the body has been routed out and then covered up by the pick guard, or the pots or pick ups changed are examples of things that you can't see with out some disassembly- so if you pay full collector value without checking you can loose a lot of $$$
I tend to not mod stuff, if I like it, I buy it, and that has worked well I have switched knobs, which doesn’t affect sound and is partly cosmetic, but affects functionality as some knobs are easier for me to change/adjust, especially on the fly. Switch tips is really for looks, as are some other minor things, but those are easily reversible, and I would if I sold that guitar. I have done more than new knobs or switch tip type of stuff on two guitars, one was my first electric, years later. I also took apart anything you could take apart on it, and learned a lot from that It required some repairs, as it was a less expensive guitar I also upgraded some parts for quality and s9me for looks I kept the amount I spent down though and didn’t go to crazy The other was used & already modded, and a great price. I bought it with the intention of modding it It did need some new parts as well. If someone bought either one as is it would be good to know what they are getting
I see No reason to buy a new in the box amp or guitar. If I'm buying a used/vintage Fender I deff. want to pull the pickguard and maybe the neck. It's the only way to check for extra routings, replaced pickups and pots. All of which I've seen, all of which have brought looks of surprise to the seller of the "mint" guitar. Once bought a Fulltone OCD at a yard sale because of the fandom hype. I got home and I was sorely disappointed. about 6 months later I open it up and the board was burned, and it looked like parts had been changed and added. I was surprised it worked at all.
I bought online from two different retailers they sent me used guitar (clear play wear, scratches and worns strings) and when I told them they said it's brand new has been on shop floor played by customers. That's all fine, but disclose that and don't charge me RRP. I now ask for a guitar that has not been opened, and this is the reason for it.
Open up every amp you buy before purchase or immediately after receiving to go over the circuit to make sure it's built well. Solder job etc..If I had bought one of those new Gibson Falcons without seeing inside it first I would have been pissed. Fact is, amp innards shouldn't be hidden from us. Takes a minute to open them up
I'll restring a guitar after purchase... that's pretty much it... I just couldn't imagine asking a store to disasemble an axe before purchase... I been a "roll the dice" guy and run with a purchase... it's usually a very high end instrument so there's trust built in to the purchase... the risk is buyer's remorse...
Is this a response to Brad the Guitalogists video,? Or an actual customer who wanted to take the falcon apart? My Favorite Esteban guitar had An angel wings bridge (hilarious)
Well I guess my earlier comment offended someone but I'm testing the theory on negotiation and not giving myself time to decide it I am ok with the deal tomorrow morning. I like the rest of what you guys had to say but to make a big money decision with the pressure of people you may not know right there doesn't seem very fair to the customer. I understand the point, I don't think buyers should be expected adhere to a unwritten rule like that. Have a good week and I'll report on my adventure.
Make sure to disassemble a car you might want to buy as well. I always bring a cherry picker and hydrologic jack to the lot. This one time, I rented a crane to lift a house I wanted to buy off its foundation, and so glad I did! Gotta be a smart consumer, people.
Hahaha I didn’t know there were others. Short of removing the neck, I open up all my new amps and guitars. Make sure everything is in the right spot? And or just to see what it looks like inside!! Curiosity mostly. Lol
I recently bought an acoustic. Went to my local shop, asked to put my jacket and belt behind the counter I said I didn’t want to scratch anything. When came to check out he knocked 15 percent off and said thank you for respecting our merchandise I wish more people thought about it.
If your buying a brand new fender ultra lux. Then no there is no reason to take it apart. Or a fender squire or about a million other guitars. But if someone is selling a broadcaster for an incredibly great price then yeah I’d want to look in to it.
Been playing for 25 years and never pulled apart a new guitar. Unless modding after a few years. If it feels good and plays good that’s all I need to know.
I feel bad because I don’t have a big space or a big wallet but I want to support the artists and builders who make and turn me on to so much cool stuff. What happens is I end up buying a lot of unnecessary cords and picks lol.
Guitar Center is a rip off … Have bought 2 guitars from them and 1 being the Jimmy Page Dragon used and was t a good price.. Finally got one and not for $1600 but few hundred off and get home only to unbox it and the saddles were messed up and the volume knob had a short so couldn’t control it right and the neck was messed up once I took it to a tech to get it setup and adjusted right only to hear I need to replace the neck and strings couldn’t be lowered anymore nor could I bottom load it😡 Got it for Christmas and was just little short of 30 day return and they wouldn’t do anything but say they could fix for another couple hundred after paying my tech $125 🤯 even though they bought it in and apparently didn’t check everything and sold it. Don’t get me started on the other guitar! You should check EVERYTHING that you are going to buy and if someone doesn’t like it.. that’s a red flag and move on!
Maybe guitar manufacturers should start putting those warrantee sticks on guitars that they put on games systems, etc. I feel like once you disect (depending on the extent) a piece of gear, it's yours now.
Stopped in a store during a road trip as they had a model amp I wanted. The little brother to my Peavey Special 130. Looked good, nice price. It had an issue in the preamp, bought it anyway for the parts value. Took it to my amp tech who broke it down and ordered parts, Will cost me more that what I thought but I have it in hand, The time to buy is when its for sale, and for cash Gear Acquisition Syndrome Anonymous meetings are every Tuesday after band practice..... My name is Max and I am a guitar player
My assumption is that small retailers are inspecting their inventory before they put it out on the floor. That would be the ethical thing to do if you’re a reputable brick n mortar. It would save a lot of headaches on both the seller and consumer side. That being said, we’re living in the Information Age where everyone and their momma is a “ discerning “ consumer, expert and feels like they have the right to scrutinize everything about anything so there’s that.
If the guitar isn’t right when I try it I pass. I’m not going to fight a guitar to be what inspires me. I’ve only mod’d one amp, a blues junior and still sold it a year later.
1991 USA fender Stratocaster deluxe with preloaded emg pickguard candy apple metallic maple neck. If the tech helped me decide to buy I would tell a friend and that friend would be a new loyal customer
I have been tinkering in the guts of guitars and amps since I started playing in the 80s. I don't do extensive work on acoustics because I lack the skills and tooling. To me, it's half the fun for me.
If the gear you’re thinking about purchasing is not new and it’s expensive, you’re darn right I’m going to take it apart. If the shop or private seller says no, walk away. I’ve been restoring vintage amps for many years, mostly for me and players who are my friends and family. There is a growing trend out in the selling market, EBay, Reverb ect… The term “fully serviced “ is everywhere, which would be great. Except when you ask what was done you get it was “fully serviced”. No pictures, no receipt, no lists of parts. Why would a qualified amp tech not take pictures while the chassis is out? Spraying a half can of electrical cleaner is not fully serviced. We’re being bombarded with scams everyday, so we’re going to have to take the back off.
If buying new, there's no reason to look close up. All the info is out there. Used is a different story. Especially with amps. Just ask first. Always look at the back. Check to see if any of the screw heads are stripped, worn, or rusted. That's a good indicator that something has gone on with the amp. With permission, investigate further.
I was buying a combo amp from guitar center used in Raleigh one time, and I was checking out the back down on one knee, when the salesman came over to me and says are you checking the oil?😂
Ive been burned, literally on a used amp i bought online. Also had my world shattered buying a used FCS strat that has a warped neck that prevented proper intonation. Everything used gets a good hard look.
Most dealers will take a guitar apart if real money is being exchanged, why wouldn't the customer do it? I take some guitars apart to make sure they are real, mostly Fender type products. There are a lot of fakes, re-decaled squire necks, pickups changed, etc. I want to make sure the guitar is what the seller says it is..
I think most situations in life the main rule of don't be a dou###bag seems to apply. There is a time to get mad and vent frustrations, but if your fair, honest, and not a pain in the rear things work out.
Guitars under a grande... Like a MIM. Ill buy those guitars basically as a KIT. That's pre-assembled. I know Im going to take it apart and replace everything on it. I buy the guitar to do that to it deliberately. Stuff over $1800 and beyond up to the boutique (I can't go over $8K ever that's just my hard line). Those guitars I buy the as is. My ultra Luxe.. Didn't touch it. It was just how I wanted.
It's gotta be but I think they're missing his point that if you're reviewing it and people might buy based on your review, maybe you should take a minute and show them what they're about to buy
@@robertdearden3434 yup, and I don't think he even "called out" Casino to begin with? I know he did call out some who gave it glowing reviews, and have an allotment sitting in their showrooms. I do agree with his sentiment that for what Gibson is asking for those amps, the build quality definitely isn't there, and I'm glad he took the time to let us all see it in some detail.
I bought a Modern player Starcaster this week. It comes with CuNiFe pickups ($500) but I’ll have to take them out to verify that they are legit. Even though he sent pics I’ll make sure they are what is in the guitar.
Maybe here's the way to look at it that has everyone's feathers ruffled...so a 65' deluxe for example stock in 1965 was made and offered for hobbyist consumers and the professional consumers and it was to the standard of the professional....now as time has went on the Musical instrument companies have accounted and separated those markets to obviously maximize profit increase to satisfied shareholders/stocks etc etc. and with that said the consumer marketed product is still increasing to prices(inflation yeah I know but fiat currency sux and the Jykell island shanannigans didn't help either iykyk) that once held tour/performance worthy build quality but are not reflected in current product and price. #1 this is a response to guitaroligist who has some points...but presented in a manner that obvi. is gonna illicit certain types of responses. 2. in this "knee jerk" reaction from you guys idk...I get it on y'alls in Casino Crew but you could have maybe framed this better just keeping it real 100 cause I care bout'you guys... oh well just treat your Neighbor as yourself ;)
If we are talking new gear, it’s absolutely stupid to be opening it up or taking it apart. USED gear is another story. These days with the advances in aftermarket bodies and necks, overseas fakes, etc, it can definitely be difficult to determine whether the piece you’re looking at is original. And for used amps the questions come up for mods or other repairs. That’s all I got.
In my 63 years alive I have never went in a store and wanted to tear something apart to look at it. People go in and if they like how it plays or sounds they buy it. Now if you’re buying something vintage it might be another story. You guy’s do a fine job at showcasing products and you are not required to tear them apart !
Come on man a couple of times maybe 2 or 4, 7 tops. It's not just me everybody does it. Right, right? Why can't you just let it go? You probably look down your nose at me when the first few credit cards are declined too but eventually I get to one that works. Also would it really hurt you to help me bring my toolbox into the store from the car when I come to look at stuff, sometimes I get some strings or something when I'm there.
I think if you’re buying new, don’t take it apart. Expensive used or vintage gear I’d kinda expect to see the guts. But if it’s like an old tiesco or something who cares
Is this video due in part to the video that a guy released on the Gibson Falcon and bitterly complained that no RU-vid channel opened it up? I forget the guys name and I don't follow him because I think he's a ass. IMHO. For me, i don't have a desire to open up my amps, my guitars is a different story lol. I like to verify my guitars. I suppose if I had bought a vintage amp then I might look inside to verify.
the guitarologist partly -at least- inspired this. The gibson falcon is a good contender to take backs off because it is a reissue of an old amp!! Don't pretend PCB VS point to point etc isn't a thing. Taking the back off to check this is not a big deal, you giving the impression it is... I've lost some respect for you, I can't lie.
Even worse is those board mounted tubes. Idk maybe I'm crazy but I feel that if an amp has board mounted tubes that it can never be worth over $1,000... falcon is listed at $1,799, yikes. I'm with Brad that at that price just buy a great vintage amp
The last person I would ever sell a guitar to is someone who needs to see the inside to buy. Sounds like a pain in the ass customer to me. Cheers Casino!
so many Estebans for sale on Boise facebook marketplace over the last few years. But disassembled guitars? I would never buy a guitar from a certain Gibson enthusiast RU-vidr after he had taken it apart.
