Post: #1

I'm thinking on buying a guitar online (Amazon). I've never been much of an online buyer, and even much less regarding fragile things like a guitar. I'm scared it might get fucked up during the shipping.

I live in Honduras and I assume the shipping comes from the US.

Do you have any experiences ordering guitars and the state on which your product arrives?

Post: #2

Personally, I could never buy a guitar without handling it first. But I play mostly classical and flamenco, which is different than buying factory produced equipment that has some degree of consistency behind it. What guitar are you buying?

Post: #3

I wouldn't do that.

You'll have to pay to have it set-up at a guitar store at best anyway. You should really buy one after you've played it though. That is what I'd strongly recommend, for an electric.

If it is classical, no way should you order online in a million years.

Post: #4

What type of guitar are you looking at?

If it *does* get messed up in shipping, the retailer will replace it via filing a claims. Just make sure you get plenty pictures.

Most guitars in stores on the shop rack or setup like shit.

The best thing to do is learn to setup your guitar yourself. it's a simple matter of adjusting the trussrod usually 1/8 turn one way or the other, and lowering/raising the saddles a quarter turn or so each. Very simple stuff.

Most electric guitars play pretty consistently when they're produced from the factory. Every once in awhile you get a lemon or a real star, but overwhelmingly one is gonna play the next one.

Post: #5

Agreed, you really should try a guitar before you buy it. I almost bought a Gibson Goldtop unseen once, thank God i tried it first... way too thick neck for me...

Post: #6

I know, and I agree fully. However the variety of guitars over here is extremely limited, you see almost the same guitars in every store its annoying.

Setting up a guitar sounds really nice, but sounds hard and I barely have any time, which is a reason my playing has decreased. I want to buy this new guitar to get more inspiration.

I'm going to hit up the stores maybe tomorrow and see what they have.

Post: #7

(04-18-2012 05:03 PM)thedude3737 Wrote:  Personally, I could never buy a guitar without handling it first. But I play mostly classical and flamenco, which is different than buying factory produced equipment that has some degree of consistency behind it. What guitar are you buying?

(04-18-2012 05:27 PM)Kitsune Wrote:  If it is classical, no way should you order online in a million years.

You can order classicals online, provided it's from a top-shelf, professional boutique that will allow you to play the instrument in your home for 30 days with the opportunity to exchange, no questions asked. This is for advanced players and near-professionals, though.

Very few things here will be in the "affordable" range for the casual player.

Example:

http://www.guitarsalon.com/

Post: #8

(04-18-2012 06:47 PM)FretDancer Wrote:  Setting up a guitar sounds really nice, but sounds hard and I barely have any time, which is a reason my playing has decreased. I want to buy this new guitar to get more inspiration.

Inspiration comes better from jamming with musicians better than you.

Or FX pedals

Post: #9

If you're a casual player and are worried about a guitar being broken in transit, you could just buy one "prebroken", ie something like the Saga electric guitar kits. They actually get half-decent reviews, and you'd probably learn a fair amount putting them together. Reviews have been mostly pretty good; I'm considering one as a learner instrument because I really enjoy making things, plus they're cheap enough that you could learn a lot modifying one and not feel too bad about any mistakes.

Post: #10

(04-18-2012 09:07 PM)Tuthmosis Wrote:  

(04-18-2012 05:03 PM)thedude3737 Wrote:  Personally, I could never buy a guitar without handling it first. But I play mostly classical and flamenco, which is different than buying factory produced equipment that has some degree of consistency behind it. What guitar are you buying?

(04-18-2012 05:27 PM)Kitsune Wrote:  If it is classical, no way should you order online in a million years.

You can order classicals online, provided it's from a top-shelf, professional boutique that will allow you to play the instrument in your home for 30 days with the opportunity to exchange, no questions asked. This is for advanced players and near-professionals, though.

Very few things here will be in the "affordable" range for the casual player.

Example:

http://www.guitarsalon.com/

guitar salon is cool, they have a showroom in santa monica. Tuth, you play classical? I was gonna do this shit professionally before cooking...

Post: #11

(04-18-2012 04:42 PM)FretDancer Wrote:  I'm thinking on buying a guitar online (Amazon). I've never been much of an online buyer, and even much less regarding fragile things like a guitar. I'm scared it might get fucked up during the shipping.

I live in Honduras and I assume the shipping comes from the US.

Do you have any experiences ordering guitars and the state on which your product arrives?

What I meant to say was, what style do you play? If you just want something to jam around on, I'm sure you could pick up a decent used Vox or Ibanez for dirt cheap and get it through http://www.guitarcenter.com

Post: #12

Just buy from a trusted dealer that will allow you to return the guitar if you are not satisfied with it.

I've bought several guitars online from http://www.mandolinbrothers.com and also http://www.gruhn.com

No problems whatsoever thus far with any of them and I have never had to send anything back.

Post: #13

(04-18-2012 10:57 PM)thedude3737 Wrote:  guitar salon is cool, they have a showroom in santa monica. Tuth, you play classical? I was gonna do this shit professionally before cooking...

Yeah. I've been to that showroom. Very top-shelf.

Post: #14

Did not read responses but I would advise against buying a guitar with out playing it first

Post: #15

Do you trust the Honduran postal service?

How much you looking to spend?

If it's a PRS or anything upper-end, better go get it yourself or have a visiting friend bring it along.

As for places to buy, I always use ebay. I brought a mint PRS 8 years back, saved about $2000 off the retail price, probably $1000 if it had been from a store.

Post: #16

Asian made guitars like this are pretty much consistent in construction:
http://www.sagamusic.com/catalog/product...brandid=13

If you are going to spend over $1000 on a luthier instrument, you have to play it before buying.

Post: #17

Just came from a guitar store, I saw beautiful guitar and immediatly wanted to try it out. It felt awesome, exactly what I needed. I'm never buying a floating bridge guitar again, what a pain in the ass, a pain I have to endure for so many years.

Post: #18

China makes knock off copies of a lot of high end guitars. You can search for and buy them from http://www.aliexpress.com . There's YouTube videos of guys reviewing the quality of them out there.

Here's one from the China Guitar Skeptic




The guitar pictured sells for about $250. The real deal one goes like $4k. You'd probably have to drop another $200 on quality pick ups. But the guitar itself gets decent reviews.

Post: #19

If you buy from a reputable dealer there should be nothing to worry about. I bought a SG online and it was perfect when it came.

Post: #20

This is an old thread but I give two thumbs up to buying guitars online.

Post: #21

Probably not for the casual beginner player, but definitely has a selection of nice lower end guitars, my current favorite obsession;

http://www.themusiczoo.com/

I have ordered a few online, but I generally buy them in person. I am not afraid of buying them online because almost any guitar can be set up to your specs, with exception to neck shape. Any music store with a guitar repair can do this. Most have generous return policies. Attending a music camp this summer lead by Steve Vai, Vernon Reid and Guthrie Govan. Nervous to say the least!

Post: #22

(05-03-2014 02:29 PM)Sawyer Wrote:  This is an old thread but I give two thumbs up to buying guitars online.

Many guitar companies are having problems with quality control (especially Gibson). I highly recommend buying guitars in store so you can play them first. There are simply too many lemons out there to trust you are getting the best guitar for your money.

I purchased all four of my Gibsons in store after playing them. They all play like a dream, and I set them up about every season to accommodate for climate change. The only guitar I purchased without playing was my custom built G&L ASAT. However, with custom shop guitars you will hardly ever come across a lemon.

Post: #23

^^That's a very good point about new guitars.

I should have been more clear. I've only ever bought used guitars online from well-repped eBay sellers. Highly repped eBay sellers are meticulous about describing the pros and cons of their instruments (to avoid bad ratings).

New guitars from Amazon or someplace similar would be a different story altogether and I would proceed with extreme caution.

Post: #24

(06-05-2014 12:53 AM)ddjembe mutombo Wrote:  

(05-03-2014 02:29 PM)Sawyer Wrote:  This is an old thread but I give two thumbs up to buying guitars online.

Many guitar companies are having problems with quality control (especially Gibson). I highly recommend buying guitars in store so you can play them first. There are simply too many lemons out there to trust you are getting the best guitar for your money.

I purchased all four of my Gibsons in store after playing them. They all play like a dream, and I set them up about every season to accommodate for climate change. The only guitar I purchased without playing was my custom built G&L ASAT. However, with custom shop guitars you will hardly ever come across a lemon.

I'd always advise to play one first. They have different weights and feels. I've got to say, I hate Les Pauls. Even if you're a big guy, they're heavy and uncomfortable. Always check the necks of Mexican Strats. They tend to go after 2 years - if they're older than that, they're safe.

Post: #25

Would you buy a car without test driving it?

I've spent hours at the store handling a half dozen instruments I was somewhat interested in buying and found that none of them were to my liking. And then I found one that wasn't even in my radar that felt right that I bought.

The other thing too is that even chains like Guitar Center have techs handy that can fine tune the guitar for you. For a retail job it's pretty sweet that they can spend a lot of downtime just playing and call it work.