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Post subject: buying without trying
Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2013 4:00 am
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Rock Star
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Joined: Fri Nov 09, 2007 5:59 pm
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Location: ohio
if you're like me, you have somewhat limited access to all the great gear around. stores are limited in what they carry, and often times you find something you want that is not stocked in store.

do any of you just take a stab at it because it looks like what you want, and just return it?
do you travel a distance to find one?

I like my local small dealer, but don't fancy the idea of returning something that was special order- if they would even take it back. at least guitar center gives you a chance.

I have seen many guitars at a good price on the g.c. website, but without trying them, I am not sure I want to go thru with it.


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Post subject: Re: buying without trying
Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2013 4:03 am
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Joined: Tue Jun 29, 2010 1:20 pm
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Location: Indiana
I buy without trying more often than not, and rarely return anything. :)

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Post subject: Re: buying without trying
Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2013 5:02 am
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Rock Star
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Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 7:27 pm
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Location: Connecticut
from a reputable dealer the only problem should be the set-up...
It should arrive to your door set-up but that is a standard setup which may not be your preference.... Find out before buying if you can still return the guitar for another or a 100% refund and if you can have it set up to your preference....
If not than think about wether it is the guitar you wanted....

I rarely order without playing, but within 1-1/2 hour's drive I have about 7 to 10 stores to check out..

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Post subject: Re: buying without trying
Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2013 5:52 am
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Rock Star
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Pedals, tuners, cable testers, power supplies, etc. I will sometimes buy without trying but usually I'll do a YouTube search for sound demos first. There were two times that I bought a guitar sight unseen and I was disappointed both times so I won't be doing that again. I bought my wireless without trying but I have no complaints with the unit.

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Post subject: Re: buying without trying
Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2013 7:09 am
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Aspiring Musician
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If I was buying to play it, and was good enough to appreciate a good playing guitar, it would be essential to check it's tone and playability. However, I'm not good, have some hearing loss, so my love of guitars makes me more of a collector. I mostly buy used in "as new condition". I'm good at noticing any cosmetic/mechanical issues or a bad setup. I sometimes take a little 9V Honeytone amp with me if I'm meeting the seller at a neutral location and think there could be any electronic issue. The only guitar I ever bought used w/o seeing it first was a Rickenbacker 360 off eBay. By luck, it was perfect, but not something I would trust doing again unless it wasn't such a big monetary gamble and I could afford being disappointed.


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Post subject: Re: buying without trying
Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2013 7:42 am
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Professional Musician
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Joined: Thu Dec 11, 2008 12:57 pm
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Location: In a galaxy far, far away.
I have ordered in guitars twice and bought them both. Long and Mcquade offers a 30 day return policy, so I have no issue ordering something in and returning it if I don't like it.
All of our good Mom and Pop stores have closed down.

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Post subject: Re: buying without trying
Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2013 7:53 am
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I’ll buy Pedals online or at the shop without trying. I usually know what I’m after to begin with and watch youtube demos, reviews etc. If I’m not thrilled with the purchase, can always exchange. Amazon has good deals and if you buy from a “fulfilled” by Amazon vendor, returns are really easy and they cover all shipping costs. Only had to do that once though. Guitars I would definitely try out in the store if possible. My wife did buy me an Ovation for Christmas one year from MF and the it had problems after the 12th fret. They replaced it and I love that guitar but my next guitar purchase will definitely be at a shop.

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Post subject: Re: buying without trying
Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2013 8:09 am
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Professional Musician
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Joined: Sat Jan 29, 2011 6:10 pm
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Location: Elay
I've bought five guitars online without trying them. Three new, two used. I've only had to return one because of shipping damage and it was replaced immediately with no questions. But, I'm lucky because where I live I can usually find most anything I'm interested in to try out and be sure It's what I want before I order from online. So there really haven't been any surprises. But as you know, there's only one guarantee in life.

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Post subject: Re: buying without trying
Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2013 8:47 am
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Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 6:51 pm
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Yeah, I've taken several "stabs" at buying without trying and I've been
kind of lucky. I've only returned one guitar and there was another one
that I didn't bond with that I ended up selling locally. My preference is
to try before I buy, but sometimes GAS just takes over. :D

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Post subject: Re: buying without trying
Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2013 9:14 am
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Rock Star
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Nah, I'm way too picky about my sound. I even go as far as to bring a guitar or amp with me if I'm serious about a purchase. Straps, strings accessories are okay. I build a lot of my gear now too. I'm really fussy about guitars. I might go through a half dozen of he same model before I bond with one. It's not just setup, it,s weight and resonance. If it doesn't resonate unplugged, I pass on it. Probably all in my head. :lol:

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Post subject: Re: buying without trying
Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2013 11:54 am
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Rock Star
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Joined: Fri Nov 09, 2007 5:59 pm
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Location: ohio
I saw an interesting guitar a while back- the dean palamino. no one carries it around here, and lately I have seen a few from g.c at good prices. I have been wanting a p90 archtop for a while. since I do have the ability to return it, I may go for it. :lol: 8) :roll: if I can find one in the natural color


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Post subject: Re: buying without trying
Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2013 12:40 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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Joined: Sat Apr 07, 2012 5:12 pm
Posts: 327
Location: Canada
I've bought 3 guitars without ever trying them, and I love all of them. My next guitar will be bought without trying it first. It's just too hard to find lefty guitars to try before you buy.
I've only ever tried two guitars before buying them ... ended up selling both. I'm the kind of guy that falls in love with everything at the store, simply because I love playing. The moment I get them home and compare them with my other guitars, I end up realizing they just aren't the kind of guitar I'll ever play. :oops:


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Post subject: Re: buying without trying
Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2013 12:52 pm
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Professional Musician
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Joined: Tue Sep 11, 2012 2:14 pm
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I own 7 guitars, bought 6 of them.

Bought 2 in person and 4 online (after researching them firsthand at Big Box Music Stores).

Each of the 4 bought online came from reputable sellers with true no-questions-asked Return Policies and Free Shipping.

Fortunately, each of the 4 (2 New, 2 Used) were Keepers. This was really just a convenience because I wouldn't have had to pay return shipping, but would have had the hassle of packing them and getting them to the shipper.

I'm not known for being Cheap, but I am known for getting the most value for money in almost everything I buy.

Buying online, I avoided the 7.5% State Sales Tax on each. That saved me enough to get my Peavey Delta Blues 115 Amp New, also online w/ Free Shipping + No Tax, essentially for nothing... it was actually less than the Tax I saved on the 4 guitars.

That's a real reason to consider buying online.

But, as I mentioned, be sure of the Return Policy and do lots of local reseach before you buy !

cheers!

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Post subject: Re: buying without trying
Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2013 12:58 pm
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Professional Musician
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Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2007 6:07 am
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Location: Central WI
It's a crap shoot and you have to just be willing to accept the risk.

I have bought a few online, my Montara acoustic was an online purchase after playing one at a GC store, love it and still have it.

At one time I bought a "back up" only short scale jazz bass from Rondo Music, but it turned out to be really a fun one to play so kept it.

But, after having two Musicmaster basses, one Fender and one Squier, I bought a 3rd off Evil bay on a "can't lose" price. But it just turned out to be one of those basses that I just never bonded with. Could never put my finger on what was different about it but it didn't have the same feel. So I sold it at a comfortable profit.

Just cover yourself in advance by knowing either the terms of the seller's return policy or if there is a "resale" value to it before buying and you should be ok.


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Post subject: Re: buying without trying
Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2013 1:38 pm
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Hobbyist
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Joined: Mon Oct 29, 2012 10:09 am
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I always play guitars before I buy them but I did have to order a Surf Green American Special during Fenders Spring Break Sale this year because I couldn't find one. I bought it from Long & McQuade and was told if I didn't like it to bring it back and they would order me a new one.


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