Did I pay too much for this guitar?

[dominus]

Re: Did I pay too much for this guitar?

Crack in the neck pocket on a new guitar is unacceptable. Send it back.


Also, that's a rosewood fretboard, not maple. (Very few BC Rich guitars will come with a maple fretboard.)

 

[BTMN]

Re: Did I pay too much for this guitar?

Crack in the neck pocket may be why it was 45% off. Was it in the scratch and dent section or was it a returned new item? Finish and even minor wood cracks seem to be my biggest peeve about bolt on necks.

BTW, welcome. :cool2:

 

[ginormous]

Re: Did I pay too much for this guitar?

Thank you to those members who have kept this from becoming anything less than a respectful discussion, specifically Funkfingers.

I am an admin, and it's important to us for everyone to keep things civilized and well-intentioned.

Χάρης (or should I say "Harris"?), welcome to the SD forum.

We are indeed an opinionated bunch, and we can be passionate about things to the extreme, but we love music. People tend to act bizarre about who and what they love.

To the original question: In my experience both in front of and behind the sales counter, a deep discount (40% or more) means the goods are less-than-factory-spec.

If it plays well, there's no reason to return it, unless the crack and the stain bother you. Oddly, there are people paying extra for a "pre-aged" or "road-worn" model, where it's intentionally beat upon in the factory to make it look like it's been in the bars and on stage for decades. Not my cup of ouzo.

On the other hand, don't feel obligated to keep it: returning it means a deeper discount for the next guy.

Long story short -- it's your call. Do what feels best for you.

My experience with buying online has been positive so far. I much prefer trying something out, but I've been lucky with my purchases from the US website Sweetwater.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Did I pay too much for this guitar?

Here we go:

Number one - are you collecting or are you playing? If you are a player - ONLY one thing matters; How does it feel and sound? If it works rock on and who cares.

Edgecrusher was also spot on about Chinese production. Good guitar is good. There are many way cheaper was to make them, and make them better than someone called a "luthier"

Now - the guitar itself….

Glue from nut? If that bothers you, perhaps you need to consult a therapist about cronic pickiness. Whatever. And as I mention, if you are a collector, this ISN'T the real deal sig, so you failed there as well. Personally, I'll leave a bigger mark in a week if it is just around the house.

Now - the neck crack - and from what I can tell, that is what it is, a legit issue with the structure of the neck pocket - not a finish flaw…..THAT is an issue. Unless you want to shoot a little glue and clamp. In which case you got a tremendous deal.

As for the Duncan comparison, pickups are pickup[s, they all sound different. No reason you should expect them to sound the same (not necessarily better)


I just picked up an 80's Warlock, and I love the pickups in it. May leave them period. Only your ears can decide that, but live with them for a while.

 

[Χάρης]

Re: Did I pay too much for this guitar?

Crack in the neck pocket on a new guitar is unacceptable. Send it back.


Also, that's a rosewood fretboard, not maple. (Very few BC Rich guitars will come with a maple fretboard.)

It looks like rosewood on the sides but it's maple.

Here we go:

Number one - are you collecting or are you playing? If you are a player - ONLY one thing matters; How does it feel and sound? If it works rock on and who cares.

Edgecrusher was also spot on about Chinese production. Good guitar is good. There are many way cheaper was to make them, and make them better than someone called a "luthier"

Now - the guitar itself….

Glue from nut? If that bothers you, perhaps you need to consult a therapist about cronic pickiness. Whatever. And as I mention, if you are a collector, this ISN'T the real deal sig, so you failed there as well. Personally, I'll leave a bigger mark in a week if it is just around the house.

Now - the neck crack - and from what I can tell, that is what it is, a legit issue with the structure of the neck pocket - not a finish flaw…..THAT is an issue. Unless you want to shoot a little glue and clamp. In which case you got a tremendous deal.

As for the Duncan comparison, pickups are pickup[s, they all sound different. No reason you should expect them to sound the same (not necessarily better)


I just picked up an 80's Warlock, and I love the pickups in it. May leave them period. Only your ears can decide that, but live with them for a while.

I know that this isn't the good quality sig, I already mentioned that in the original post. But your overall feedback makes sense, thanks. Oh, and I didn't expect the seymour duncans to sound the same (obviously) otherwise I'd be disappointed I mainly got the guitar because I think it had good features for 300 euros, but since I haven't bought many guitars in my life I thought of asking if I paid too much for this one.

Thank you to those members who have kept this from becoming anything less than a respectful discussion, specifically Funkfingers.

I am an admin, and it's important to us for everyone to keep things civilized and well-intentioned.

Χάρης (or should I say "Harris"?), welcome to the SD forum.

We are indeed an opinionated bunch, and we can be passionate about things to the extreme, but we love music. People tend to act bizarre about who and what they love.

To the original question: In my experience both in front of and behind the sales counter, a deep discount (40% or more) means the goods are less-than-factory-spec.

If it plays well, there's no reason to return it, unless the crack and the stain bother you. Oddly, there are people paying extra for a "pre-aged" or "road-worn" model, where it's intentionally beat upon in the factory to make it look like it's been in the bars and on stage for decades. Not my cup of ouzo.

On the other hand, don't feel obligated to keep it: returning it means a deeper discount for the next guy.

Long story short -- it's your call. Do what feels best for you.

My experience with buying online has been positive so far. I much prefer trying something out, but I've been lucky with my purchases from the US website Sweetwater.

Thank you for the feedback, I will take it into account. I have been playing the guitar a lot to see if I should keep it or not and so far I'm impressed. Would it be worth it if I upgraded the pick ups? Or should I get a more expensive instrument that has better features + better pick ups? By the way what does 'less-than-factory-spec' mean? Thanks again.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Did I pay too much for this guitar?

What is the focus on "What it is worth" about?

Guitars have terrible resale values period. Upgrades almost NEVER add much, if anything to resale value, except to the rare person who wants THAT particular upgrade. One man's JB / Jazz upgrade is a terrible choice to a fan of A2P's, for example. So while you may put $150 worth of pickups in it, I'm not paying 2 cents more, because those are not the upgrades I want. Also, upgraded to death Epiphone is, at the end of the day, Epiphone. I could buy a real low end Gibson for the same price as the awesome upgrades.

 

[dominus]

Re: Did I pay too much for this guitar?

It looks like rosewood on the sides but it's maple.

Found the guitar via an image search. You're right, the binding and the angle of *both* your pics threw me.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Did I pay too much for this guitar?

Crack in the neck pocket may be why it was 45% off. Was it in the scratch and dent section or was it a returned new item?

That's what I was thinking/wondering as well. I thought it may have been listed as a "B Stock" item or something of the like.

 

[ginormous]

Re: Did I pay too much for this guitar?

Thank you for the feedback, I will take it into account. I have been playing the guitar a lot to see if I should keep it or not and so far I'm impressed. Would it be worth it if I upgraded the pick ups? Or should I get a more expensive instrument that has better features + better pick ups? By the way what does 'less-than-factory-spec' mean? Thanks again.

If guitars didn't need a pickup upgrade from time to time, the Duncan company wouldn't exist. Of course, there's a bunch to choose from here, depending on what sound you're going for. That will likely tip the scales for you.

"Less-than-factory-spec" = a clearance item, a store model that's been damaged. In the US retail business, they go by many names: "scratch & dent", "B-stock", "demo" (for 'demonstrator'), etc.
These are usually the items that have been on the shelf for a while.

Aceman has a valid point. If you buy a guitar, it's a personal item. It fits your hands, and your style. Any upgrades will only add to your own personal value, rather than what anyone else wants.

 

[Lovegun]

Re: Did I pay too much for this guitar?

That's what I was thinking/wondering as well. I thought it may have been listed as a "B Stock" item or something of the like.

Thomann sells B Stock items also. They are clearly listed as B Stock items and they have the text slight traces of use. If the op returns it, I think his only option is to get his money back, if it is a B Stock item.

 

[Χάρης]

Re: Did I pay too much for this guitar?

After playing for 2 days I noticed some weird sound coming from the high E string. It's not the common string buzz sound, I think it comes from the bridge. First I thought it has to do with the neck but I'm not even sure. I gotta record that somehow.

 

[greekdude]

Re: Did I pay too much for this guitar?

Χάρη, I just read about the discount. Thomann never ever puts an item on discount unless it has a problem. The bigger the discount the bigger the problem. 45% was the discount you said? I'd return the item and steer clear off Thomann. Go to a real shop and play a real guitar. Buying online for 300 EUR will get you bouncing guitars between you and the online shops to eternity.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Did I pay too much for this guitar?

Thomann never ever puts an item on discount unless it has a problem. The bigger the discount the bigger the problem.

If this is true then, the answer to the opening post question is, no, you did not pay too much.

You got precisely what you paid for.

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Did I pay too much for this guitar?

This thomann guy sounds like a real jerk.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Did I pay too much for this guitar?

Thomann is a European mail order outlet. Their prices are lower than major rivals. Viewed from the UK, Thomann prices resemble UK MSRP minus UK Purchase Tax.

 

[blaise.brown.7967]

Re: Did I pay too much for this guitar?

You need to return that guitar to the dealer to hold them accountable & cruise the guitar shops in your area. Good deals are to be had by buying used guitars. It's even fun doing it!!

Sent from my LGMS395 using Tapatalk

 

[Χάρης]

Re: Did I pay too much for this guitar?

This is getting weird actually. I sent them an e-mail to cancel another order I did 2 weeks ago, received an 'ok' e-mail but the order was still there (on the website). A couple of days ago I received an e-mail from them asking me to pay for that order and I told them ' I already cancelled it ' and they finally removed it. Also after browsing bunch of guitars, both cheap and expensive I noticed that on many instruments there's information missing from the back of the headstock. Call me crazy but I think they're trying to rip off people. I'm definitely sending this piece of garbage back and I ain't paying no shipment.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Did I pay too much for this guitar?

Well, if you love the guitar and it does what you wanted it to for the price then it doesn't matter what we think.

That being said, I do think for the same money you could have gotten something better BUT that is just my opinion.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Did I pay too much for this guitar?

This is getting weird actually. I sent them an e-mail to cancel another order I did 2 weeks ago, received an 'ok' e-mail but the order was still there (on the website). A couple of days ago I received an e-mail from them asking me to pay for that order and I told them ' I already cancelled it ' and they finally removed it. Also after browsing bunch of guitars, both cheap and expensive I noticed that on many instruments there's information missing from the back of the headstock. Call me crazy but I think they're trying to rip off people. I'm definitely sending this piece of garbage back and I ain't paying no shipment.

What sort of order can you do and not pay for it immediately? Ive dealt with thomann many times and never seen an option like this but maybe its not something available in italy.

What info on the back of the headstock is missing? Are you talking about blurred out serial numbers? Most guitars have little to zero information on the headstock.

I see nothing weird going on. Either you bought a scratch and dent or you received a defective instrument. It happens nothing weird about it.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Did I pay too much for this guitar?

Well, if you love the guitar and it does what you wanted it to for the price then it doesn't matter what we think.

That being said, I do think for the same money you could have gotten something better BUT that is just my opinion.

But what is "better"... and make sure its something available in europe for that price. Many things that guys in the US say are "better" even used stuff you cant find in europe at those prices.

Hell here used American standard strats sell for close to MSRP in america. If the shipping and import taxes didnt rape you, it would be worth it to shop in America.