I played guitar for several years but was not very committed. I then bought a quality, great sounding acoustic guitar. Because I loved the tone, and the guitar was so much more playable than my previous guitars it drove me to play.
I can’t imagine dropping a few grand on a guitar without having played it first. Maybe I’m old school but I think there is significant value in having the instrument in a store.
If you can return the instrument if you don’t like it then I am willing to pay. Or if I have had great experiences with the brand then I am willing to buy without trying first. But then again I love Kiesel guitars which always had the direct model.
Eh with today's return policies its not so bad. I normally prefer to play a guitar first, for sure, but I'm not completely opposed to ordering them without trying as long as the vendor has a good return policy.
I see the logic in what you’re saying, but I’ve dropped a lot of money on guitars I’ve never played. Risky, but I haven’t been let down so far. Not as expected perhaps at times, but sometimes that’s a very pleasant surprise too. but I’d never buy a cheap guitar I’ve never played before. More risk there. I buy good quality brand and type including vintage guitars, so they have an intrinsic value for what it is. And With Reverb guarantees in place these days, I find the market to be pretty honest.
The return policies are okay anyway so it doesn't matter. There are some guitars like Aristides or Kiesel which are made to order where it's impossible to try it first before purchasing.
I had some truly awful gear, starting with a Car-boot sale nylon string guitar which hurt to play before getting a starter pack electric which became too small for me pretty quickly. Didn't matter, I got into a band with my best friend who was another guitarist and we squeezed everything we could out of the tiny little amps we had. After some years my parents upgraded me to a decent Squire and a Fender amp I can't remember the name of but it was loud and I could get a good clean and good drive with. Unfortunately my best friend was only in the country for his dad's military post which ended before I finished school and he moved back to the U.S. Without a band, and more importantly without someone that was pushing me to get better alongside him, I put the guitar down for about a decade. Only picked it back up again last year and I _constantly_ complain that I wish I'd stuck to it as a teenager, especially as a new dad who has a fraction of the free time I used to have.
I just ordered demo locking tuners from Sweetwater didn't realize I was going to have to drill out my turner holes. But got them drill out put the new ones in. Then realized one of the new tuners doesn't lock call Sweetwater they sent me more tuners right out. Great customer service!
I got my son a custom made Tommy Emanuel guitar and Rosner Di Capo 75 Amp. He loves it. My motto is buy once. If he wants another guitar, he can pay for it. ❤❤❤
Switches on PRS SEs...argh, yes they are terrible. Replacing the nut, switch, jack and pots is a must IMO, and fairly easy and cheap of you have some basic DIY and soldering skills. Then you'll have a killer!
I replaced the electronics on my SE, and it is a screaming killer guitar. It was good before, but now it is excellent. I swapped pickups, more for tonal preferences than anything, and I added a coil split....beautiful tones abound, and it is way a much better player than nearly any guitar I've tried in a shop. I intentionally compare it to guitars that cost 3-4 times as much, and I can't find one that matches it
Used on Reverb has been higher than new for years. Case in point, 2021 I was looking at the EPI Korina Explorer. New $649. Reverb selling the same used for $800+. Why I call it Greedverb.
I agree. The pitch pipe whistle tuner I started with in the '60's was pathetic and held me back. I still have the Sabine electronic I bought in the '80's. It was expensive at $75, but it opened the world to me, not to mention alternate tunings.
Glad I hung in to the end, 'cause I appreciated your words on the JCM 2000s! I don't have personal experience with the post-UK models--but the UK DSLs I've used have always been GREAT in all respects! Still have my UK DSL 201, which I recorded and gigged extensively with---including "Loop Gigs" where I was laying down faux (octaved-down) Bass lines through the speaker to a "57". Re-Tubed it ONCE...NEVER had a failure of any kind!
I've bought loads of guitars over the years, and my bottom line is I want a guitar I think is good, at a price I don't hate. So, let's go with the last three bought ( there was a 4th but I returned it) So, first up was a Yamaha Revstar. I bought it from Sam Ash Direct - a demo/open box/etc ebay store that is honestly undercutting Sam Ash retailers. So, I got it at about 60% of retail. Next was a Michael Kelly Patriot Decree from AMS, a minor blem. This was at about 70% of retail. But, the return policy was good enough that the price seemed right. The third was a 2004 Mexican Special Edition Stratocaster in Royal Blue.That was because I happened to wander into Grey Dog up in Prescott AZ. I know the guys up there, and I'm pretty sure they have a deal with Chris Fleming, former Master Builder at Fender. So, even though I'm sure I could have got it for about 100 bucks less on Reverb or something, the 549 it cost me seemed very fair. After all, 100 bucks for the finest set up you can get seems a bargain. I'm pretty sure Chris would charge more, if I bought a guitar elsewhere, and brought it to him. My point is- there are intangibles. Buying online or direct, sure, sometimes that's the best dollar to value. Buying from a select Mom & Pop, yeah, sometimes that's a great value. But it's all depending upon the individual sale. There is no universal. So, market trends are good to know, but it's still individual.
@satusmisled4182 yup, I realize it might come across that way- but I was trying to hit on three topics chatted about- buying online vs local stores ,the phenomena of " direct sales" and retailers selling open box or demo gear as " used"- to me these three topics come down to a " Five Watt World" kinda idea- getting the best gear for the least money.
The JCM id like most is the 800 simply due to its history with the NWOBHM era in the 80s . I saw one in England a few weeks back on holiday for £800 including the 1960A 4x12 cab ! That would be around 1000 dollars . It was in fantastic condition . The 2000 is a good amp but id rather have the 800 .
I bought a 10S guitar and the entire experience was a nightmare. It was one of the crackle finishes and it had areas buffed through clearcoat, dust in the finish, paint splatter, the neck was badly bowed, chipped edges, a knob fell off in the box, it was junk. This was direct from 10S, brand new. I went to return it and they agree right away but dragged out sending me a return label for almost 2 months and I eventually had to have Reverb intervene, at which point I had a label in 24 hours. However, then it sat in customs on their end for weeks and they wouldn't credit me until they physically had the guitar. I believe they just left it there on purpose, but I had to get Reverb involved again. Once again, thanks to Reverb, I had my refund within hours. I STRONGLY would suggest to avoid that company.
Fullers Guitar is a great local shop. I've taken lessons there and all the guys there are great doods that help out begnners and do a good job of making everyone feel comfortable regardless of skill level. they will give a legit (not 55pt inspection); an actual great set up and will get the guitar playing great and provide excellent customer service.
over $Au2200 for a wonky Tom DeLong MIM Strat, smh. I feel ya mate,...i swear folks can hardly believe me when i quote our market prices in forums and comments 😂
Regarding new guitars being cheaper than used ones, I just experienced this. I bought one of the RG550 Genesis guitars and was going to buy one used, but they were listed as the same price or MORE. So I just bought a new one instead.
The other thing about buying online vs locally is the variety, I walk in to my local guitar shop and they have maybe 15 pre-owned electric guitars and 20 new ones. But if you look at the used gear sections of online shoes your gonna see way more stuff and maybe at better price
Phil's not wrong. I bought a new EJ "Virginia" Strat yesterday from Tone Shop Guitars. $500 off list (18%). Great people, incredible selection and hands on experience. This place is the opposite of those antiquated, under stocked, unfriendly places we've all been to. Online shopping is good but this is great.
It's a good time for aquisitions. The glut of cheap and good instruments won't last forever. We're very lucky that such fine works are so accessible right now.
My recent Amazon guitar buying experience was horrible. While they say it can take up to 30 days to get your refund it never takes that long…until it does. Mine did. 31 days actually. I’d contacted them multiple times and received multiple answers. Never buy anything over $300 from them if you think you’ll return it.
First Electric: I went to GC on 2 different trips trying to find a sub $300 HSS strat that fit my big fingers, and found nothing that worked (new or used) although several had specs that I thought would work. On the 3rd trip, I opted to try any style guitar... and I found one of the three $150 Epiphone Les Pauls in stock played like a dream - so I bought it. [Edit: "like a dream" means I can fret many beginner chords at will, it resonates loudly when not plugged in, and I physically can get the guitar to more or less do what I want at my beginner player level... and no fret sprout. It is a $150 guitar, so I do have fret buzz on the low E, I can't quite get chord shapes in the upper octave, and you cannot intonate each string independently... (clearly many bridge complains online). So the benefit of finding 1 guitar out of the 30 or so that I tried - and one that I can play easily, certainly outweighs its problems at this point. Very happy with the purchase. I find it rare that you pick up and instrument and it just does what you think. I dislike Ibanez basses, but one time GC had a used Ibanez SRF706 6 string fretless bass in, and it played everything I imagined.. I closed my eyes to not see the fretboard, and just started playing along with whatever was playing on the intercom... Perfection. Whoever did the setup on that thing.... just wow... I regret not buying that thing, because it sold quickly. end of edit...] So even reading specs but still finding differences between guitars of the same model... I have no idea how I could ever buy a guitar online without touching it.
I wanted to order the new squier bronco in the limited edition ultraviolet color from my local store that's an authorized fender dealer, but they couldn't do it because it's only offered as a "web exclusive" directly from fender's website, so they cut out the middle man right there
ATTENTION: does Amazon humidify their warehouses that are storing guitars.....and, now that we have bought tons of guitars without cases, can we expect discounts on these, or are they leveraging this fact to be tough on price?
The part I dislike about buying a guitar online is that I never know until the guitar arrives whether I'm actually going to like the sound, or more importantly, the feel of the left hand on the fretboard. I think fitting the left hand to the guitar neck is as important as buying a shoe that fits. I've bought and returned several guitars (4 or 5), and I feel guilty about it. Sorry...I just can't help it. Should I feel guilty?
Lol, what you said at the very end. I had looked at several guitars during the show. Thankfully out of my price range, but maybe someday I could justify getting that Knaggs beauty.
That's a beautiful Rickenbacker. I really like that burst, whatever it's called. I usually really like black Rickenbackers, but that soft red burst is so cool. If anyone knows the finish name, I'd love to hear what it's called. Thanks. I know it's a bit ridiculous, but I want a Rickenbacker, but I want to hear what one would sound like with a humbucker in the bridge position. I hope it would still be kind of bright due to the wood they use. I'd probably use one of their high gain, hotter pickups in the neck position.
I had a Marshal DSL20. It was a fine amp, nothing wrong with it. But it's not my sound. Also, compared to my Blackstar Artist 15, it just didn't cut it. The Artist 15 has that punch at the string attack, it just sounds loud and alive! The DSL20 is good and it works fine as a pedal platform, but it just didn't give me the same pleasure, the same great feeling when playing.
when i worked at gc in 1999 they were the same amps, the 2000 was the single channel then it was the jcm200 dsl ( dual super lead) then the jcm2000 tsl ( triple super lead) the 3 channel. my bandmate bought the jcm 2000 dsl
Online shopping is thriving because people value convenience (laziness?) more than an experience. Going to Blockbuster was an experience you could have with your family and it was the sh!t on Friday night waiting for a new release. Going to the guitar store has always been an experience for me, even if I didn't buy something. And I enjoy building a relationship with the sales staff. I'm not saying convenience is evil because we need things like 7-11 where we can pull up, grab a Big Gulp, Big Bite, a lottery ticket and a pack of smokes in 6 minutes. I'm just saying that's not the way I want to buy something personal, like my guitars.
Im lucky enough I live 40 mins from sweetwater and there are two local guitar shops on my way. I still order things online from sweetwater though. But the guitars i buy in person when I can.
Thank you for the advice Phil, grabbed my titebond and worked some glue into that crack as soon as I heard your answer. Worked it in with my finger, but I'm not sure if I got enough in there as it's a very small crack so I got a syringe on order to make sure I get it properly repaired.
Is MusicMan / other companies that do smaller batch US guitars exempt from what you are suggesting regarding the cost of things declining / demand declining? I recently bought a Stingray Special from Long and McQuade (Canadian GC) and they told me that they have a 6 month backlog, i accepted to submit my order anyways. They just put out their 2023 models and finishes and the price of everything went up $300-$400 when i put my order in a few months ago. Not sure if thats just a MusicMan thing.
Man I kinda noticed this in guitar center when I went to buy a handful of patch cables and you can't not look at the guitars man and see if there are any good deals and low and behold there weren't any good deals all the used gear was priced like new gear dang near when a couple years ago in 2017 I caught my baby a 2017 fender American Elite Jazz bass for $1100 which at the time was $1700 off sticker I was in shock and immediately bought it and said the heck with the bass I initially came to pay $2000 Dollars for I do not regret that decision in the least it was new and on clearance because 2018 models had come out needless to say I jumped on that deal
Not sure these companies that want to sell direct understand and or have invested in the customer service required to mass market directly. I am not sure this will work. This is a huge part of customer service.
I think it depends on what someone is looking for. If someone is a newer player and needs help picking a guitar or needs tech & setup help that makes sense. I do like a mom & pop near me, but if a direct manufacturer is offering better pricing and they have a good enough return I’d go with them. Partially due to stores not always having inventory I’m interested in.
From Leo: I agree, no amount of gear teaches you to play guitar. A good playing guitar that will not hold you back and a decent amp that sounds ok is all you need with a budget for weekly lessons. That will make a guitar player, not premium gear.
Maybe it’s my area?? I’m in Pennsylvania ( the north east) and I’m not getting a vibe that these dealers are willing to give these deep discounts. I was just in a store today that sold mainly Gibson products. Like Kramer, Epiphone,Gibson ect. When I asked if he or Gibson was having any discounts or first time buyer programs. He smiled and said I can knock a few bucks off. And this has happened 4-5 times in different stores. Just so you know. I’m looking to buy a Gibson les Paul standard. Not a cheap guitar.
They will you just need to do your research and put his guitar up against another companies guitar..Tell them I'm buying one this week from one of these 3 companies what's the best deal you can offer on this guitar..I have done this with cars and guitars and it works..You have to be willing to walk out and don't act to excited about the guitar they have..Good luck man.
personally i will never buy a guitar online again... and i live in a remote town with a little music store servicing a huge geograph... and i have had some good results but the bad ones sucked and i hated dealing with returns, deliveries etc... people here still sell used great... my last 2 guitars and a used car... thanks phil! i am a buyer but local
Been looking for a custom shop strat the last few years. Finally bought one from a dealer this last week for $2500. Glad I waited and I’m seeing a lot of deals right now so something is going on with the market
used guitar prices are reminding me a lot like classic cars "no lowballs i know what I have" it is easier than ever to market nationwide and since these online merchants take such a large cut the sellers are having to inflate their asking prices to get what they want for their instrument.
Finally catching up on the full show... I discovered and since learned to appreciate fine Kentucky Straight Sipping Bourbons.. my favorite is the Four Roses Single Barrel (square bottle)... so tasty... but I still make The Face on the first sip. Add a couple black cherries... over a big cube of ice... yum yummy! 🥃😎🎸🤘🐦🥒
My Gibson Les Paul special has the same intonation issue. G string is about 12 cents sharp. I even put the compensated tailpiece that Tom Bukovac raves about on it and it still won't intonate. In the end I just tune the G a little flat to compensate and as long as I'm not playing cowboy chords (I don't on this guitar) it sounds perfectly fine.
yeah he really loves that music city bridge,...but i personally wouldn't trust anything other that a bad-ass style intonatable style bridge,...but yeah they aren't as comfortable or stylish as Tom's,...but it will intonate near perfect 👌
I started on crap gear. I really don't recommend it. I damn near quit playing when I was young because of said crap gear. I think the most important thing about your kid's first guitar is the adjustability of string height. The strings have got to be as close to the frets as possible without buzzing. A lot of kids give up if it's too painful.
I wish new cabinet prices would go cheaper than used ones.Or come down some.Been wanting the matching cab for my Fender Supersonic 22 head for years now.But at 899.99 i will keep running through other cabs for now.That is just an insane price for a Fender 2x12.
I’m sort of the opposite, if there’s something I’ve wanted for ‘years’ I’ll just bite the bullet, life is too short to settle for 2nd or 3rd best over a few hundred dollars
Do Mom and Pop's get a choice of what guitar they get? Like if a LP comes in with bad QC do they get a chance to refuse it? Or do they just get less copies of the guitar? Is there a Gibson rep that they can talk to or is it just luck of the draw?
What's the deal with Gibson explorer? Sweetwater is not restocking. So, I bought one just to keep from paying more in the future. Are they still making them?
Yamaha has great starter acoustic guitars at about $230. They play alright out of the box, really nice if a tech tweaks it a bit. Also Breedlove, Ibanez and a few others if you look around a bit. So much better than back in 1970.
I think the question on the direct sales is, as a customer, if I can't go somewhere and try out a wide variety of stuff and walk out with something within like 30 miles, I'm going to start online. I've got a guitar center within 30 miles but it tends to mostly get the bargain tier instruments. I think they have like 20 acoustic instruments across several brands with prices over $1000 and are dominated by sub $500 or even sub $300 instruments in the electric or acoustic space. The nearest Taylor dealer that isn't guitar center is like 90 miles away.
Mom & Pop online. The biggest store in my town is constantly out of stock, but they’ll take your email and notify you. To me that says, hey, we got a buyer at full price.
I was sad when our local Mom and Pop Fender dealer closed. However they refused to adapt. They didn't deal in used gear and sold all their gear at list price. Needless to say they did not make it. I wish I could drink room temp Bourbon from a water glass while wearing a white suit, all suave and sophisticated. I just can't. I keep my booze in the refrigerator and drink Bourbon by the shot or mixed with Coke. I know any many circles this makes me less of a man but whatever. I am too old to care.
I still have an old Yamaha, I did put in better pickups and a careful setup. Everyone who visits laughs at it at first until they pickup. No one can believe what a good guitar it is.
I got a Ibanez s470 at the Penn shop, it has hsh setup it sounds great in 1,3,5 positions but in 2 and 4 volume drops by half, any ideas on how to fix the problem would be appreciated
When I got the guitar it has a bad duzzing in the 2 and 4 positions on the 5 way switch I took it to the guitar shop and they rewired it, got rid of the noise, but didn't fix the volume problem
Come to think of it I bought my last 4 guitars off the internet...gulp... Ebay for PRS SE,3 differentbSquiers from Fender,GuitarGuitar and Andertons respectively.I don't drive and nearest shop is miles away,but I know before Co#id I would have gone on a bus for miles to go look and pick up a guitar.Shame on my laziness 🙈🙃
ATTENTION: .....in addition, those who made their purchases using the generous terms offered by Synchrony.....like myself, some as long as 48 months, interest free, need not feel badly about past purchases.....for those today thinking that they will be able to purchase at discounted price and procure extended payment plans....that my now be a stretch.
If Gibson tries to compete with the stores that sell their product they will lose a lot of customers. Players like having relationships with guitar stores they deal with. What will happen is the stores will just sell other brands like PRS, Heritage, Fender and others.
