I'm curious about your horror stories about ordering and receiving your newly arrived guitar (any brand will do).

Back in 2000 I ordered my Candy Green EC Strat. Fender didn't have that color in stock so I had to wait 30 days (a record time for Fender) to get my EC Strat.

Imagine my disappointment when I opened the box and case, pulled out my brand new Candy Green EC Strat to find a small crack in the paint at the neck socket just behind the neck. I was told that this was not unheard of so I let it go. Besides Fender can't control the temperature as its traveling around the country. It was winter so that’s not Fender’s fault.

Looking passed the finish I tuned the guitar up and gave it a test drive. I quickly noticed that the high "E" string was too close to the edge of the neck. This was a problem and I had no idea what was causing it. It turned out that the neck was put on crooked. The repair only took a few seconds to fix and I have loved this guitar ever since. It's the best guitar I own.

I also bought a, “AAA Ice Tea Burst Les Paul” and it has three flaws.
1. The nut doesn't keep in tune very well (Gibson uses crap material. Bone is the way to go).
2. One of the wholes for a tuning key screw was made too big.
3. The finish had cracked at the seams. I spoke with someone who explained that this has to do with the fact that Gibson doesn't take the time to let their guitars sit before they send them out of the factory. They polish them up and then send them out the door. I'm not sure if it's true, but it makes sense. Anyone who has ever opened up a brand new Gibson guitar knows that, "Gibson Smell." That's gasses from the finish escaping the case.

This was my 3rd Gibson and I'm more of a Fender fan.

Bought a brand hammer new Gibson Les Paul Studio in wine red / gold hardware. It has a flawless finish....but the neck has a hump where the body and neck joint is. A good fret level and dress ( on a new guitar! ) and she plays so sweet!
Also.....back in 2001 I bought a new American Series Strat and it came from the factory with stripped out grub screws in the bridge saddles.....every one of them was rounded out too bad to use lol. I think I have only purchased 2 guitars new that have been as close to perfect as is humanly possible. Every guitar will likely have something about it that will not suit you.....be it is not set up to your liking, a chip or ding in the paint, or a poorly cut nut......anything is possible. Always best to try before you buy.....but when you must order through the internet or whatever...it is always a crap-shoot. May be lucky, and you may be sick from buyers remorse. I think it just seems worse with the US made guitars because we seem to have higher expectations from them, so the minor stuff really bugs us.

I would never "order" a guitar unless it was a CS one-off where I could feel reasonably sure about its quality and suitability. I won't buy guitars sight unseen. Every manufacturer out there is having quality issues and/or has had quality issues sneak through including FMIC. My money stays in my wallet until any prospective guitar passes my own QC inspection. Some larger chain stores will move instruments from one branch outlet to another. Sometimes you can ask them to bring one in so you can try it and I have done that before but if I have to open my wallet or commit to opening my wallet before I even see it then there's no deal.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

The MIM Standard Strat that I ordered sight unseen from Sweetwater last year arrived in perfect condition. So did the Ibanez that I won in an on-line contest. It sat on my front porch for several hours in sub-20 degree F weather.

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Bill

I've had mixed success with purchasing instruments sight unseen. A few examples: The MIM strat I ordered from Sweetwater was perfect, as was my Cort Source (Ebay). I once ordered a FSR White Telecaster Deluxe from "The Friend" and it had screws falling out of the pickguard, a pickup that was actually missing a screw and some finish issues... not impressed.

I think Sweetwater does a great job however... but I suppose some of it has to do with QC from the factory too.

I ordered an American Deluxe, waited over 6 months, and when it arrived it was absolutely perfect.

I was a bit worried that something would be wrong or that it just wouldn't feel right but thankfully everything worked out.

I might would do it again.

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Support your local guitar shop.

I deal with Long and McQuade here in Canada and I have ordered guitars through them twice. They will take a $50.00 deposit and no commitment to buy it if you don't like it. The first time was for a Squier Jagmaster. It had no problems except during shipping, something puctured the box and put a small ding in the finish. I took it bak and the had someone take it out (with heat I think). I didn't want to exchange it for another as this one felt good and I didn't want to risk getting a lemon. The second time is now, and I am waiting for a Squier Telecaster Custom II. They told me it would be here in 2 weeks and its been 5 weeks and counting!

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Most of you probably saw my thread from a few days ago where I got my new strat and it obviously had been damaged prior to being shipped. Here's the link:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=51609
Besides the gash, the low E string buzzed bad, even when being played open.
Out of curiousity, does Fender ship the guitars in tune? This one, the Fender box had been opened and taped back shut and the guitar was in tune when I got it.

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'10 American Deluxe HSS Sunset Metallic
'10 JA-90 Thinline Telecaster
'15 Music Man JP-15 Blueberry Burst
'07 Les Paul Standard Faded LCPG #82
'14 Carvin ST300
'12 Carvin CS424S
'66 Guild Starfire IV w/Bigsby
'14 Warmouth Partscaster Daphne Blue

I bought my surf green AVRI 57 Strat online. No problems at all, whatsoever.

My cp 60s ordered thru sweetwater had a faulty neck, the thing
Wrong with it was the trussrod issue was to it's max, so
Couldn't go up in string gauge.

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"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present."

oogway, kungfu panda 2008

I ordered and American Special from zzounds.com about a year ago. The first was a sunburst finish that was beautiful but unfortnately, looked like someone took a metal file to the frets. After sending it back, I received a Red one (out of sunburst) that had a nasty gash in the bottom. They were very apologetic and were willing to give me $150. Neither boxes looked damaged so I'm not sure where this type of damage would have come from.

It's really a shame because it sounds like I'm dogging Zzounds.com, but I'm not. I have ordered 4 guitars from them, a pedal board and about 5 pedals. They are always kind and will work with you on prices. The last guitar I bought from them was an American Standard and it was perfect in every way.

It also doesn't surprise me to hear good things about Sweetwater. They actually take every guitar out, set it up, and test it before shipping.

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2010 American Standard Strat - Sienna Burst (Big Dippers)
2008 50's Road Worn Strat - 3 Tone
2004 Squire Strat - Gold
2009 72 Deluxe Thinline Telecaster RI - 3 Tone
2008 Taylor 426CE

Worst one for me was I ordered a guitar and some accessories 2nd day air and the accessories came 2nd day but no guitar till the 3rd day. BASTEGES!!!!

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I purchased both my AVRI '57 and my Am Standard from e-bay. Both were in perfect condition when they arrived. The AVRI had the factory set-up and I had the set-up redone. The Am Standard had an ok set-up but I redone it to my liking also. But as far as Quality goes they were both great. Some say they won't buy without playing one first. This is completely understandable and is probably the best atitude to have about buying guitars. I'm a sucker for a good deal and you can find some pretty good bargains on e-bay. I got my 2010 Am Standard for $750.00 with free shipping. Custom Shop Texas Specials already installed and the factory pups were sent with it. SKB OHSC and all the case candy too.

Buying from e-bay, just have to check the seller out really good and ask for extra closeup pics. And always ask if the guitar in the photo is the actual guitar you are getting. Even still there is a RISK involved always when buying blind.

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"Damn Right I Got the Blues"