Would you / Have you bought an acoustic w/out playing it?

[nycgolfer]

Would you or have you bought an acoustic guitar without having played it? For example, from buy & sell section of one of the forums, craigs list, fleabay, online store, etc ...

[dhoenisch]

I've purchased guitars without playing them before, but have needed repairs. I get them cheap, fix them up, and give them away. I've also purchased two guitars without playing them that needed repairs, but I played ones just like it and knew what to expect. As for any other guitar for myself that I am going to play, I will want to make sure to play it before purchasing it.

 

Dan

[Abando]

Nycgolfer, I bought both of my Larrivees from reputable online stores. I love both guitars. I probably wouldn't spend much more than a thousand dollars for an instrument without playing it first. However, Larrivees are well known for being consistent and the two places I bought the guitars from had great reputations.

 

abando

[Scott Fonseca]

As long as the store has a great return policy, I do not see why I wouldn't buy one without playing it. As I said though, I have to be able to return it, no questions asked. Sometimes it's hard to find a guitar we like locally.

[Harmonycat]

I have bought all 14 of my acoustics without playing them. I sold five of them.

The good ones stay......the others are sold for a profit.

[EvilTwin]

I have purchased one guitar on eBay. Another was purchased by a friend of mine who knew I wanted a good '72 Tele Thinline -- I trusted his judgment, and was glad for doing so.

 

That's about it. I try to play a guitar before buying it, if at all possible.

[MattSkibaIsGOD]

I've done it with all 4 of my acoustics and i have never been disappointed.

[minus9]

I once bought a Larrivee OM-03R from an online retailer and it was a great guitar. I later sold it on Ebay and the buyer picked it up in person, so they got to feel better about the purchase and I did not have to worry about any potential problem with the shipping.

[ChiyoDad]

I bought my La Patrie Presentation that way. The seller had a return policy, so I was covered.

 

I kept the guitar but later found a factory defect. Godin honored their warranty and sent me a factory-fresh replacement built in September of 2007. The replacement sounds even better that the original one I bought.

 

If I'm buying without having played it, I want a good return policy from a positive-rated or reputable seller.

[ESL94]

 

As long as the store has a great return policy, I do not see why I wouldn't buy one without playing it. As I said though, I have to be able to return it, no questions asked. Sometimes it's hard to find a guitar we like locally.

 

 

I agree,

I have no problem buying if they have a good return policy.

[Whalebot]

I do it all the time, sometimes I get burned by playing it too long 30+days and then falling out of love with it past the point of no return.

[Hudman]

The last guitar I played before buying it was a Seagull S-6 I purchased in 1995.

 

I started buying from Musicians Friend and other catalog dealers after that. I switched over to internet dealers and Ebay a few years ago.

[Fred Fartboski]

Been buying acoustics and electrics online, sight unseen, for years. Just make sure you buy from a reputable seller with a good return policy. Also, use a good credit card for payment, like Amex, that offers buyer protection.

[Bitt81]

My Carvin Cobalt was obviously an online purchase...A good return policy that I didn't have to put to use. I also bought my first 12 string off e-bay. It was a beater that I only paid $75 for. On that one, I figured if it was useless, I wouldn't be out too much.

[Freeman Keller]

My Taylor was a gift from my wife - obviously I didn't play it first. And I guess you could say the same about all my home made ones - it is usually a surprise to string them up and see what we've got. I always figure that if they don't work we can have a marshmellow roast.

[Terry Allan Hall]

2X - one time (my "open D/DADGAD" Guild F-212XL) turned out great, one time (brand new '84 D-28 Martin) was very disappointing.

[DEP]

Many times, often with great results, sometimes not so great. I've managed not to lose any money though. I probably won't do it again (ah, the famous last words, "I'll never do THAT again". ). At this point, I'm pretty happy with what I have, so if I get another guitar, it's going to have to be something pretty special. Chances of that happening are greatly increased by playing first.

[nycgolfer]

The return policy is definitely an important point.

 

I'm surprised by the poll results so far - 17 yes, 4 no and 3 maybe. Since the players on this board are much more knowledgable about guitars than the average person and have a good idea for what kind of tone and playability that they're looking for, I would have thought that most people would want to be able to pick up and look at and play a guitar before buying it.

[DEP]

 

The return policy is definitely an important point. I'm surprised by the poll results so far - 17 yes, 4 no and 3 maybe. Since the players on this board are much more knowledgable about guitars than the average person and have a good idea for what kind of tone and playability that they're looking for, I would have thought that most people would want to be able to pick up and look at and play a guitar before buying it.

 

 

True enough, but look at it this way. If you only buy used, know what's a good price, have a real good idea of what your looking for, and if the guitar doesn't meet expectations, you can probably sell it and not lose too much or even make a little. It can be a relatively inexpensive way of trying out guitars that you don't get to see every day. And, occassi0onally, you find a terrific guitar. One of the gits that's a keeper for me was bought sight unseen, although I had heard sound clips first. Get as much information as possible, know what your looking for, and be careful, and it can be a really good experience. Do the opposite, and it can turn out bad. Very bad.

[Scott Fonseca]

I believe the rise of online vendors has made it so you can buy guitars without ever playing them. If a place has a good return policy, then the is very little risk with buying one sight unseen. If you don't like it, then give it back. I look at it as kind of an extended testing session.

[Stackabones]

I got both my Alvarez AC60SC (nylon string) & Gitane D-500 (Django-box) without playing them. Love 'em!!!

[HeartfeltDawn]

I've bought two through Ebay. The first was a Japanese Maya J-200 copy bought on a whim for

[scottgd]

I bought a 000-28EC from WWBW a couple years ago. I would of had no problem returning it if I were not 110% satisfied.

 

I did not need to return it.

[Samilyn]

Yes times three.

 

My Martin D12X1 and my soon-to-arrive Django Gypsy Jazz box were both Ebay finds.

 

Also purchased on Ebay was a vintage classical that I got for $20. I thought it was pretty, so bought it for wall art in my new music room. However, if I discover it's playable when it arrives, you can bet it won't get hung on the wall.

[flip333]

I've bought two awesome acoustics online that have yet to be matched by anything in the stores. ("Matched" means the best compromise of tone, appearance, playability, and price.)

 

I don't like buying anything quickly. If I wait, and it keeps coming back to me, then I feel good about buying something. Usually, the "one that got away" will come back again....