Plenty of used American Standard and American Special Stratocasters are selling online (or are listed) at Guitar Center at prices as low as US$599-US$699, and there's also a Highway One Strat in HSH (a configuration I prefer) selling at US$529. I'm also looking for a Jackson Dinky DK2M, and there's one in inferno red (not generic black) selling at US$349. Even if I import, pay for shipping and taxes, I'll end up spending less than I would on a mid-range Ibanez or Schecter guitar, selling cheaper than the DK2M I want here, and save money on restoring the instrument to mint condition, and maybe a few mods.

Would you trust the gear listed as used on that site? I wouldn't expect much of a drop in quality if it was an American or Japanese origin instrument, but hopefully, the wear is not too much that a local luthier can't fix.

But these goods can't be shipped to India, and though partner sites Musiciansfriend and Music123 can, they don't have these items listed. I will then need a mail forwarding service, who will take any USA postal address for the site/shop to ship to, and then ship it here to India. I have no knowledge of this service, and the most reliable service providers, so I will need help from those who've done it in the past before proceeding.

Arjun,

Though I haven't purchased online, I have purchased a used Strat from a Guitar Center store 35 miles from home.
I've looked at some online and the store would bring it in for me to pick up at my local store. Guitar Center is a national chain here in the US, and quite reputable. My only drawback is What If I order the proverbial "Lemon" and I have a problem with the Strat.

As I said, I did pick mine up in person and had 30 days to return it.

I hope this might help you!

BTW! I love my "FatStrat" (HSS)

_________________
"It's, it's a beautiful instrument, it's a beautiful woman."
Stevie Ray Vaughn

Avoid it! You'll want to play whatever you are going buy. Use an amp that is the same or as close to the one you already use.

Several things: Guitar Center CAN ship used instruments to India, so you won't need a forwarding service. Secondly, if you are looking at that used instrument online, it will tell you which store has it, and you can email that store for specifics about that guitar. You can ask them to take pictures of specific areas and email them to you if you want.

Hope this helps.

_________________
1963 Princeton
1965 Twin Reverb
1968 Bandmaster
1970 Champ
1983 (?) Musicmaster
2012 Mustang III
West Grande (x2)
Acoustic G60-T
Marshall JTM 60

When I set my country preference to India on the Guitar Center website, they don't list anything except the Lagunas and other no-name instruments. I don't know how I can get them to ship that used Fender guitars here.

If I can avoid mail forwarding, it's really helpful. I don't know how to get Guitar Center's overseas delivery scheme to work. Will they also provide a hard case? It would definitely be necessary.

I had emailed one shop about a used Fender on sale for $599, but they didn't get back to me. Apparently, they don't reply to emails.

There are no used Fender American Strats (actually a single, solitary AmStd Strat) selling here, and these Guitar Center-US prices, even with shipping, duties and taxes, are delicious, and with an American Strat, quality is assured, so I've got this option open.

Trying before buying sometimes doesn't work here. A shop that's an official dealer for ESP, PRS and Gibson/Epiphone sometimes has rather poor quality models (I tested out some rather feeble PRS singlecuts) to try out, which may colour somebody's opinion of the guitars on show. I feel if you're sure of what you wish to buy, you don't need to try.

Arjun, I understand what you are saying. Also where I am, GC only displays the dreggs that it can't sell in the US. I think some companies are prohibited to sell to certain overseas destinations from the US because of trade agreements. I'm not sure if that includes used stuff. If you rely on a third party for the purchase, make sure they can be trusted. I haven't tried it but maybe Sweetwater can sell you a guitar. At least you can contact them. Best advice would be to find one locally & examine it hands on if possible. good luck

That restriction doesn't apply to used gear, no forwarding service is necessary for used gear. If emailing the store doesn't work, try emailing through the guitarcenter.com website, and you can ask for better descriptions, pictures, etc. They will contact the store that has it and get that information. If the guitar doesn't have a case with it, you can also buy a case and request that they put the guitar in the case before shipping it.

_________________
1963 Princeton
1965 Twin Reverb
1968 Bandmaster
1970 Champ
1983 (?) Musicmaster
2012 Mustang III
West Grande (x2)
Acoustic G60-T
Marshall JTM 60

I bought from several GC online used gears and always had good result calling the store for more info.

I've had good and bad experiences with GC. One time, I asked them to open up the electronics cavity and what arrived was not as described -- it was a frickin' mess in the electronics cavity...duck tape and unattached wires, but I was told it was stock. I should have known something was up via the lower price and when they tried real hard to sell the protection plan on this particular guitar.

When buying online, I always ask about the weight of the guitar first and then launch into questions about the tuners, the nut, the frets, etc. Then, I ask them..."what's wrong with the guitar?...Have you checked???...Have you played the guitar???, etc.", and then I'll ask them again.

A couple of stores were real cool and what arrived was *exactly* as described!

The ratio thus far is 1 bad experience, 3 good experiences!

_________________
"The individual is handicapped by coming face to face with a Conspiracy so monstrous he cannot believe it exists. The American mind simply has not come to a realization of the evil which has been introduced into our midst." J. Edgar Hoover

66% success. Well it's hit and miss with GC employees.

Hey- I just purchased a used Strat that I saw online at GC. I went ahead and called the store it was in, and lucked up in that I reached a sales guy who seemed both knowledgable and striaght-up. He took the time to look the guitar over and to assure me that it looked good. In turn, I called in my order directly to him, instead of ordering online, so he'd (presumably) get sales credit. I've called stores directly regarding stuff listed online at GC- first time I've actually pulled the trigger. Seems a good way to take advantage of such a huge resource. But then again, if I was unhappy w/what I got, a return entailed a short drive to my local GC. Obviously not the case for you, Arjun.
I'd suggest you check w/GC Customer Svc. (via the 800 #) for the straight scoop on shipping options to India.
Good luck!

Well, you've got to remember, if you're dealing with the normal salesdude, he's making minimum wage or just BARELY above. He's not the highest paid professional on the block.

_________________
1963 Princeton
1965 Twin Reverb
1968 Bandmaster
1970 Champ
1983 (?) Musicmaster
2012 Mustang III
West Grande (x2)
Acoustic G60-T
Marshall JTM 60

The best way to get it arranged for international shipping is, after you've called the store where the item is and asked your questions, call the 1-800 cust service line, and tell them you need to talk to "GC RSD" about a used item which is in a store. They have the ability to call the store to verify things, and can set up international shipping fairly easily. The local store guys may have never ever had to ship anything outside the country, so they may drop the ball.

_________________
1963 Princeton
1965 Twin Reverb
1968 Bandmaster
1970 Champ
1983 (?) Musicmaster
2012 Mustang III
West Grande (x2)
Acoustic G60-T
Marshall JTM 60

Oh my, international phone calls will be difficult to set up. I hope they'll at least respond to emails.

Can Fender forum members run something like 'used Strat of the week' where they review a used Strat at GC, in and out, and then decide if it's worth buying? It can help several customers who can't afford a new Strat off the shelf, but are a bit apprehensive of buying these used Strats.

That's a pretty good idea. However, how many guitar players do you know who wouldn't keep a keeper and walk away from the junk??? GC should do something like that in-house, or somebody should start an international consultation service! Would you pay a reasonable fee to have somebody who is *very* knowledgealbe do an inspection and provide you with a report on a guitar???

Even still, therer's no quarantee you'd be happy with what arrived.

_________________
"The individual is handicapped by coming face to face with a Conspiracy so monstrous he cannot believe it exists. The American mind simply has not come to a realization of the evil which has been introduced into our midst." J. Edgar Hoover