What would you do? Keep or Return?

[speed2dirt]

I bought a Wilde HSS strat on eBay last week and it just arrived. It was made by Bill Lawrence, the legendary pickup builder, in 1997. I paid $775 shipped based on a brief description that stated "A few dings & buckle rash but very good condition". See eBay link below. Upon inspection, there is much more damage than a few dings: numerous gouges through clearcoat into the wood, clearcoat is bubbling/pitting behind bridge, tons of scratches in various locations, buckle rash in 4" diameter on back, pots are scratchy, jack crackles, strap buttons lose, and the biggest issue... nearly 1/8" gap in neck pocket between neck & body. I literally fit 2 heavy picks in there with room to spare. Also, it sounds like the intonation is off and the neck may need to be shimmed and reset.

Anyway, I contacted the seller and asked for a refund. Within 20 minutes, he shot back an e-mail apologizing and said to send the guitar back and he'll refund the full amount. Cool, right? Anyway, he sent another e-mail 10 minutes later saying he sold it for his son and they'll refund $250 if I just want to keep it. So my question is: what to do? Do I keep it or send it back? It's extremely toneful wood unplugged. Plugged in it sounds even better. This morning I compared it to a 1995 Fender American strat unplugged and the Wilde guitar sounded so much more alive. The beat/relic look doesn't bother me but makes me think I overpaid and will have a tough time reselling it later. Is it worth $525 or am I better off returning it and buying something else? Advice?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rt=nc&nma=true&item=200578072855&si=ftahkzBSvuSOinutq5VslabbWiw%253D&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: What would you do? Keep or Return?

More pics?

I don't know, if it's that good then I would keep it but that also really sucks. I'd say ask if he will give you $300 off if you decide you want to keep it.

 

[speed2dirt]

Re: What would you do? Keep or Return?

I know, I figure it's worth $400-450 to me. I don't want to be greedy, but also don't want to get burnt on resale value. The big issue is the neck. The bumps aren't bad except the ones on the top. But it's also not a classic like a vintage Les Paul or Strat that would keep the value high even if it is beat.

 

[Barron1]

Re: What would you do? Keep or Return?

I'd return just on the principal that he wasn't completely honest with you

 

[uOpt]

Re: What would you do? Keep or Return?

I don't think it matter at all whether the gap is paper thin (which is very common) or pick thin.

For the money you can expect really tight.

But it will screw you on resell.

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: What would you do? Keep or Return?

Wow.... I think you should try to get it down to $450 at least now. That's guitar's a little beat up...... :eyecrazy:

 

[Bones]

Re: What would you do? Keep or Return?

I'd return just on the principal that he wasn't completely honest with you

Yep.

It sucks because of my idea of dings and scratches may be different from your idea. What is good is that it sounds good. It will be something you will have to think about, but I like to be the one putting all the dings and scratches on the guitar.

 

[phil_104]

Re: What would you do? Keep or Return?

I would return based on principal that you bought something that was described in a dishonest way. It also is quite beat up. I mean, I beat my hw1 strat on a regular basis, but that's some real wear right there, that was not described.

 

[The Dali]

Re: What would you do? Keep or Return?

Looks too beat up to keep for $500 IMO.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: What would you do? Keep or Return?

I know, I figure it's worth $400-450 to me. I don't want to be greedy.

You are not being greedy at all, so lets lose that thought first.

Second, you need to seriously decide what the guitar is worth TO YOU, and then settle with the seller.

If you really like the guitar, it is unlikely you will sell it anytime soon if ever.

 

[Low_fidelity2100]

Re: What would you do? Keep or Return?

If its a good guitar (you like how it plays/feels, and sounds)...then Take a partial refund and keep it. If you don't like how it plays/feels (regardless of how it sounds), then return it. Cause no matter how good it sounds, if you don't like the feel...you'll end up selling it eventually, and yer not gonna get much more than $400 out of it when you sell.

 

[Kam]

Re: What would you do? Keep or Return?

You are not being greedy at all, so lets lose that thought first.

Second, you need to seriously decide what the guitar is worth TO YOU, and then settle with the seller.

If you really like the guitar, it is unlikely you will sell it anytime soon if ever.

Yup...

If its a good guitar (you like how it plays/feels, and sounds)...then Take a partial refund and keep it. If you don't like how it plays/feels (regardless of how it sounds), then return it. Cause no matter how good it sounds, if you don't like the feel...you'll end up selling it eventually, and yer not gonna get much more than $400 out of it when you sell.

...and yup.

If I liked the guitar enough, then the only thing that would bother me would be that big old gap between the body and the neck. That might need some work. Other than that, the appearance doesn't mean a thing to me, the pots will probably be fine with a little clean and I dare say that almost every one of us probably has a spare jack or two lying around if, anyway.

So, yeah, what those guys said. Decide if you like how it plays, then decide if you like how it sounds and then try to figure out how much you could sell it for if you need to and try to bargain them down as close as you can to that figure. I don't know the specifics of the deal, but a $300 refund (or near enough) sounds fair enough to me.

Good luck, man.

 

[Travis H]

Re: What would you do? Keep or Return?

I dont know if I would even pay 300 for that. If you like it ask for more then 250 at least 375

 

[jcthejester13]

Re: What would you do? Keep or Return?

Treat it like I treat my women-

So what if it is all used up? Take what you can get.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: What would you do? Keep or Return?

Don't buy a guitar with resale value in mind. These aren't investments. You want investments, talk to Charles Schwab. You want a guitar, get a guitar.

Personally I'd return it, because with all the problems I wouldn't play it and it would sit unused, even if it did sound good, if I was not happy with it. But that's just me.

If you want to keep it, take the $250 he offered and be done with it.

 

[Lucid_Lunatic]

Re: What would you do? Keep or Return?

Send it back and get a Les Paul next time.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: What would you do? Keep or Return?

I'd return just on the principal that he wasn't completely honest with you

:yes11:

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: What would you do? Keep or Return?

Id return it. The pics you posted dont look anything like the ones in the auction. Seems like they used 10 year old photos of it to sell it. Seems a bit deceptive. If hes willing to refund I would go with that.

 

[75lespaul]

Re: What would you do? Keep or Return?

I pretty much echo what some of the other guys are saying here. If it talks to you, then take the refund. Can't hurt to try to get a BIGGER refund though. Worst case scenario is they tell you no and you get back $250. Questions I'd ask myself here are:

How hard are these to find.
Am I going to sell it down the road.
What will I regret more, keeping it and overpaying or sending it back.
Can I ever put aside the feeling that I got beat on the price.
Am I still going to love it after the honeymoon is over?
In five years am I really going to give a crap about the extra money I doled out, or am I going to be relieved that I have a guitar that I truly love.

When I pick up one of my guitars that I really love, I never think about what I paid. All I can think of is how glad I am that I have it. Whatever decision you make brother, I hope it's the right one for you.

 

[Aceman]

Re: What would you do? Keep or Return?

If there is one thing I hate, it is indecisive b!tches who can't figure out if they want to make an investment, or play it. If you are an investor - how it sounds is IRRELEVANT. Condition (and rarity + likely appreciation) is all that matters. You shouldn't even listen to it because as an investment instrument you SHOULDN'T EFFING PLAY IT. What did Nigel Tufnel say? DON'T EVEN LOOK AT IT.

Or, if you are a player, the only thing that should really matter is HOW DOES IT FEEL AND SOUND. If it feels good, and sounds good - it IS good. Play it. Write every song in your heart and squeeze out every note in your hands and make a righteous noise! And don't EVER sell it. and don't be a vain b!tch and worry about how it looks.

But NOOOOOOOO - some people have to buy it for 10 cents, play the crap out of it because it sounds great, and then sell it for $100. That's you. Sound greedy? Sound unrealistic? It should because it is. You have a guitar that by all accounts plays and sounds great - but it has a bit of history. If that's not enough for you get your J.D. and become a blues Blues Lawyer. Then price won't matter (unless it is too low to be respectable amongst other Blues Lawyers).

Bottom line - If you were making an investment they shafted you with obviously deceptive pics. Send it back. Serious investors whether drugs or guitars or paintings or whatever will tell you the merchandise is NOT for use. This should not even be an issue. Discount for this? Bah!

If you were looking for a player - shim the neck, take the discount, and you win. serious players will play the bejeebers out it and tell you they don't know or care what dings or marks get on it. Scratches and gouges on an Angel? It can still sing!

Milk toast people will make posts like this. I can't make your decisions for you. Call your mommy and ask her what to do if this doesn't help.

But if you want to walk the tightrope of playing and investing - it's a thin line. Small tip: Get used to falling off and hitting the ground. There is a very small margin for error either way - and I have very rarely met a guitar investor with enough sense to do it right.