buying music gear online

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i've bought pedals online, which is pretty low-risk because i don't care much about cosmetics and either the pedal works or doesn't. but now i'm thinking about buying a used/vintage guitar online and i'm trying to figure out if the convenience and wider access are worth the risk and not being able to try before buying. do you have any guidelines for buying instruments online? is it worth it?

na (NA), Monday, 15 May 2017 19:15 (seven years ago) link

to be clear, i'm talking about an ebay/reverb/craigslist situation, not buying from an online store that takes returns.

na (NA), Monday, 15 May 2017 19:16 (seven years ago) link

I bought a '60s Harmony Rocket hollowbody off Reverb - it wasn't the cheapest on there but had lots of pictures and the seller didn't try to talk it up as the platonic embodiment of a guitar, etc.. Arrived safe and sound, I'm very happy with it.

El Tuomasbot (milo z), Monday, 15 May 2017 19:39 (seven years ago) link

Proceed with caution - what is it? I'd be happy to take a look/tell you what questions you need to ask.

jjjusten, Monday, 15 May 2017 19:55 (seven years ago) link

there's a specific guitar model i'm looking at but there are several listings on reverb plus one on craigslist if i want to drive to detroit to save a couple hundred bucks, so it's not so much one listing i'm trying to figure out but more just trying to assess the risks in general. i mean, there's the risk that someone's scamming you and trying to sell you a broken guitar, and there's the risk that you won't like how the guitar feels or sounds once you get it.

na (NA), Monday, 15 May 2017 20:25 (seven years ago) link

i've bought and sold a bunch of guitars on reverb and ebay over the last 18 months and never had a problem with any of them after following the basics of buying online - don't buy from people with little or no feedback, ask questions whenever you think you need to, bail if you get the slightest hint of anything untoward going on, and if you can help it don't spend more than you'll get back for it if you don't bond with it when it arrives and you want to sell it on again

The Patricia Routledge Meatspin Gif Has Made You Gay (bizarro gazzara), Tuesday, 16 May 2017 09:11 (seven years ago) link

five months pass...

I was offered a gift certificate to an online shopping site of my choice. I want a music gear site, maybe to use toward a new microphone. What's the best bet?

IF (Terrorist) Yes, Explain (man alive), Thursday, 26 October 2017 20:25 (seven years ago) link

does it even matter? are they all the same?

IF (Terrorist) Yes, Explain (man alive), Thursday, 26 October 2017 20:37 (seven years ago) link

Is reverb.com any good? Are their prices inflated?

IF (Terrorist) Yes, Explain (man alive), Thursday, 26 October 2017 20:37 (seven years ago) link

Reverb is basically ebay for musical gear. If that fits into the requirements for the gift certificate it’s definitely your best bet - a few things are “reverb” products but most of the stuff on there is stores and private sellers using it as a pass through. We’ve sold some things on there and it’s been great.

jjjusten, Thursday, 26 October 2017 21:01 (seven years ago) link

Uh hopefully you did not get a gift certificate from Pro Guitar Shop.

jjjusten, Saturday, 28 October 2017 03:46 (seven years ago) link

Because:

https://proguitarshop.reverbsites.com

jjjusten, Saturday, 28 October 2017 03:47 (seven years ago) link

FYI, this is a big deal.

jjjusten, Saturday, 28 October 2017 04:03 (seven years ago) link

Saw that on my instagram feed a few days ago and was immediately bummed.

he doesn't need to be racist about it though. (Austin), Sunday, 29 October 2017 17:12 (seven years ago) link


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