Kam
Shaftologist
Re: Top Ten Stupid Rules For Buying a Guitar
Yeah, I'mma just go on ahead and steal that.
Yeah, I'mma just go on ahead and steal that.
Top Ten Stupid Rules For Buying a Guitar
- Thread starter ExplorersRock
- Start date
TheLivingDead
Dawn Of The Shred
Re: Top Ten Stupid Rules For Buying a Guitar
I'm honored.
I'm honored.
MetalManiac
Li'l Junior Member
aleclee
Major General GAS
Re: Top Ten Stupid Rules For Buying a Guitar
Some rules I've broken:
Some rules I've broken:
- No Floyds. Now I love my EBMM Axis. I still prefer non-Floyd guitars because they're easier to setup and intonate but I'll at least consider them now.
- No LPs. Did I break this when buying PRS Singlecuts?
- No Strats. I kind of broke this with my Squier but in my defense I bought it to remind myself why I shouldn't spend good money on a Strat.
- 24 frets. I no longer prefer 24 fret guitars because it's so much harder to get the neck pickup to sound the way I like. I don't often go that far up the neck anyway.
- Amps need tubes. I gave this up a few years ago and couldn't be happier playing through a digital rig.
TheLivingDead
Dawn Of The Shred
MetalManiac
Li'l Junior Member
Re: Top Ten Stupid Rules For Buying a Guitar
The only Rule i have is never go to anyones place to make a sale. I know its not buying, but nonetheless..They will beat you down , kick you in the nuts, and send you home with your tail between your legs.
Besides that, always try the gear, or bluff that you will be trying it out even if you can't.If you bluff, the guy will assume that youll try it, and wont normally blatantly try to sell you a piece of junk. If you dont, youll get probably d*cked just by the law of averages.
Always assume something is messed up-never assume its good.
Theres almost alwaays something the seller is hiding , unless the guitar is mint.use that to negotiate the price in your favor to at least pay fopr the gas you spent to drive to do the deal.
No matter what it is, when you pick the guitar up in your hands, sigh like you are disspointed ( 50 bucks off), then ask his price gain..when he tells you, whistle like ;"Whao boy..ugh uhg!"
save yourslef a hundred bucks...he needs the money at least as much and usually more than you want the guitar.
The only Rule i have is never go to anyones place to make a sale. I know its not buying, but nonetheless..They will beat you down , kick you in the nuts, and send you home with your tail between your legs.
Besides that, always try the gear, or bluff that you will be trying it out even if you can't.If you bluff, the guy will assume that youll try it, and wont normally blatantly try to sell you a piece of junk. If you dont, youll get probably d*cked just by the law of averages.
Always assume something is messed up-never assume its good.
Theres almost alwaays something the seller is hiding , unless the guitar is mint.use that to negotiate the price in your favor to at least pay fopr the gas you spent to drive to do the deal.
No matter what it is, when you pick the guitar up in your hands, sigh like you are disspointed ( 50 bucks off), then ask his price gain..when he tells you, whistle like ;"Whao boy..ugh uhg!"
save yourslef a hundred bucks...he needs the money at least as much and usually more than you want the guitar.
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Powdered Toast Man
New member
Re: Top Ten Stupid Rules For Buying a Guitar
I've never thought of making rules when it comes to guitars. I have certain things that I like and things that I dislike, so I'm not tempted to buy or even try things I'm not interested in. I've never been a fan of Les Pauls from a style perspective, but last year I decided to pick one up while in the store. I held it for all of a few minutes and was like, "No." and put it down.
The only guitar I've ever picked up that really truly surprised me was very recently - one of the 70's Firebird Tribute series. I did not expect such an incredible and unique tone.
I've never thought of making rules when it comes to guitars. I have certain things that I like and things that I dislike, so I'm not tempted to buy or even try things I'm not interested in. I've never been a fan of Les Pauls from a style perspective, but last year I decided to pick one up while in the store. I held it for all of a few minutes and was like, "No." and put it down.
The only guitar I've ever picked up that really truly surprised me was very recently - one of the 70's Firebird Tribute series. I did not expect such an incredible and unique tone.
ExplorersRock
X-Files Duckbucker
Re: Top Ten Stupid Rules For Buying a Guitar
Close! It was a Washburn Nuno N2. The N4 had a Duncan 59 in the neck. This guitar was the origin of the only rule I still follow when picking a guitar. It was mercilessly neck-heavy. I won't buy a neck-heavy guitar. No balance, no buy. I loved the reverse headstock though. This guitar also encouraged my dislike of Floyd trems. Not against them, but for all the trouble they give me, I don't use them enough to warrant having one as a necessity. Still, the right guitar with a Floyd is ok by me.
I still have preferences. I prefer 22 frets, 12" radius, c-shape or Gibson 60's neck, rosewood boards, humbuckers, etc. And body styles I prefer are Explorers and Strats. I do own a Les Paul and a Thinline Tele, and one day i want a nice 335. But no real rules beyond the neck heavy thing.
Close! It was a Washburn Nuno N2. The N4 had a Duncan 59 in the neck. This guitar was the origin of the only rule I still follow when picking a guitar. It was mercilessly neck-heavy. I won't buy a neck-heavy guitar. No balance, no buy. I loved the reverse headstock though. This guitar also encouraged my dislike of Floyd trems. Not against them, but for all the trouble they give me, I don't use them enough to warrant having one as a necessity. Still, the right guitar with a Floyd is ok by me.
I still have preferences. I prefer 22 frets, 12" radius, c-shape or Gibson 60's neck, rosewood boards, humbuckers, etc. And body styles I prefer are Explorers and Strats. I do own a Les Paul and a Thinline Tele, and one day i want a nice 335. But no real rules beyond the neck heavy thing.
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TheTranslator
New member
Re: Top Ten Stupid Rules For Buying a Guitar
Tone and (especially) playability are the only rules I abide by. Everything else is moot :cool2:
Tone and (especially) playability are the only rules I abide by. Everything else is moot :cool2:
TheTranslator
New member
Re: Top Ten Stupid Rules For Buying a Guitar
That used to be one of my rules, and to this day, I don't have the patience to change strings, intonation, etc, etc, and just bring it to a tech if necessary. However, I've built a big enough collection of tremolo equipped instruments of the same brand, and basically the same neck profile, that I can bounce from one guitar to the other in candy store fashion without a drastic change in feel, thus prolonging string wear. I don't bend strings near as much, or as intensely, as in the past, so a set may last YEARS without popping a string. Matter of fact, I can't even remember the last time I popped a string - perhaps before I started listening to Jazz players?!? :cool2:
That used to be one of my rules, and to this day, I don't have the patience to change strings, intonation, etc, etc, and just bring it to a tech if necessary. However, I've built a big enough collection of tremolo equipped instruments of the same brand, and basically the same neck profile, that I can bounce from one guitar to the other in candy store fashion without a drastic change in feel, thus prolonging string wear. I don't bend strings near as much, or as intensely, as in the past, so a set may last YEARS without popping a string. Matter of fact, I can't even remember the last time I popped a string - perhaps before I started listening to Jazz players?!? :cool2:
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Re: Top Ten Stupid Rules For Buying a Guitar
rule 1: If it is at least 10 years old and the neck is still straight and it plays great buy it.
I did not break this rule and therefore have the 1960's SG I bought in 1975 and it is still straight as an arrow and my favorite axe.
rule 1: If it is at least 10 years old and the neck is still straight and it plays great buy it.
I did not break this rule and therefore have the 1960's SG I bought in 1975 and it is still straight as an arrow and my favorite axe.
ex-250
Riffologist Extraordinaire
Re: Top Ten Stupid Rules For Buying a Guitar
Daw why did you give it away? I was just about to guess a Nuno.
Daw why did you give it away? I was just about to guess a Nuno.
T
tonello
Guest
Re: Top Ten Stupid Rules For Buying a Guitar
He said it was neck heavy. I don't blame him. Nuno's are notoriously neck heavy. Along with most SG's, but with the amount of extra hardware I've put on mine, it's pretty balanced now.
He said it was neck heavy. I don't blame him. Nuno's are notoriously neck heavy. Along with most SG's, but with the amount of extra hardware I've put on mine, it's pretty balanced now.
KeeperOS
Active member
Re: Top Ten Stupid Rules For Buying a Guitar
I only played it sitting down so I can't comment on the balance but man did it feel great...
See, one of the two guitars I said I regret on missing out on was an NX3, the Korean version of the N4 which included the Stephen's cutaway.
I only played it sitting down so I can't comment on the balance but man did it feel great...
constant mesh
New member
Re: Top Ten Stupid Rules For Buying a Guitar
Most of the time I'm just the expert eye when someone else is buying a guitar and rule #10 partially applies to me, because fret wear or worn hardware can pose a serious problem. Period. As second-hand guitars are generally awfully overpriced and most people are not reasonable when they sell their stuff, I always try and bargain. I think almost no one lists their guitars 50-100 bucks cheaper just because it has significant fret wear. And $100 hardly covers the cost of fret leveling in a proper shop.
Just recently got a very positive experience. A friend was buying an Ibanez EW and he spotted one for 320. Altough that guy didn't know to play a single chord, he was immediately symphatetic and very generous when I explained to him that these frets need to be replaced asap.
Most of the time I'm just the expert eye when someone else is buying a guitar and rule #10 partially applies to me, because fret wear or worn hardware can pose a serious problem. Period. As second-hand guitars are generally awfully overpriced and most people are not reasonable when they sell their stuff, I always try and bargain. I think almost no one lists their guitars 50-100 bucks cheaper just because it has significant fret wear. And $100 hardly covers the cost of fret leveling in a proper shop.
Just recently got a very positive experience. A friend was buying an Ibanez EW and he spotted one for 320. Altough that guy didn't know to play a single chord, he was immediately symphatetic and very generous when I explained to him that these frets need to be replaced asap.
