Jay K
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I purchase many guitars online, about half acoustic and the other half electric. I believe doing this is riskier with acoustics because if they are kept in bad conditions (e.g., low humidity) or abused in other ways, significant damage can occur, more so than with electrics. But, in any case, on average I have done well with my online purchases ("online" meaning Reverb, Ebay, and Forum Emporiums, for the most part)
As above until recently I thought I had pretty good luck purchasing used guitars, including acoustics, online, and some were truly great purchases. However, a couple of recent experiences and another perhaps a year ago give me pause, and I'm curious whether others have had similar experiences and what they make of them.
The recent cases involved high-end acoustics in the $5,000 - $10,000 range used (in both cases the guitars would have been in the range of approximately $14,000 - $20,000 new). Although a lot of money to risk on a purchase, my thinking was that owners of such high-end guitars would keep them in decent shape. And one would think an owner of such guitars would (1) know if there were something wrong with them; and (2) keep them in conditions that would not damage the guitars, including at optimal humidity.
But the two I recently received (both advertised as "mint") each had some of these symptoms: severe bellying; loose x-braces; truss rods that did not work, among other significant problems. The one with the loose x-braces sounded dead when I played it.
So, how have others here fared in purchasing high-end acoustics online? I suspect many will say they wouldn't do it owing to the risks, but in my defense (if a defense is needed) I have purchased 3 Ryans, 2 Petros's, and about four Goodalls this way without any previous problems of significance. Was I more lucky in those cases, or more unlucky with the two most recent purchases?
A discussion of this (based on experiences, not dogma) would be helpful in my deciding whether to give up on these types of purchases or just write off the latest as bad luck.
Incidentally, the sellers of the two "bad" guitars did without resistance take them back for a full refund, so that did not become an issue. But nonetheless the experience of dealing with such a situation and the initial uncertainty (before contacting the sellers) about whether the sellers would be cooperative about a return and full refund was unsettling.
As above until recently I thought I had pretty good luck purchasing used guitars, including acoustics, online, and some were truly great purchases. However, a couple of recent experiences and another perhaps a year ago give me pause, and I'm curious whether others have had similar experiences and what they make of them.
The recent cases involved high-end acoustics in the $5,000 - $10,000 range used (in both cases the guitars would have been in the range of approximately $14,000 - $20,000 new). Although a lot of money to risk on a purchase, my thinking was that owners of such high-end guitars would keep them in decent shape. And one would think an owner of such guitars would (1) know if there were something wrong with them; and (2) keep them in conditions that would not damage the guitars, including at optimal humidity.
But the two I recently received (both advertised as "mint") each had some of these symptoms: severe bellying; loose x-braces; truss rods that did not work, among other significant problems. The one with the loose x-braces sounded dead when I played it.
So, how have others here fared in purchasing high-end acoustics online? I suspect many will say they wouldn't do it owing to the risks, but in my defense (if a defense is needed) I have purchased 3 Ryans, 2 Petros's, and about four Goodalls this way without any previous problems of significance. Was I more lucky in those cases, or more unlucky with the two most recent purchases?
A discussion of this (based on experiences, not dogma) would be helpful in my deciding whether to give up on these types of purchases or just write off the latest as bad luck.
Incidentally, the sellers of the two "bad" guitars did without resistance take them back for a full refund, so that did not become an issue. But nonetheless the experience of dealing with such a situation and the initial uncertainty (before contacting the sellers) about whether the sellers would be cooperative about a return and full refund was unsettling.
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