"Used" stamp on Headstock?

[pathofspirit]

I saw a nice Epiphone Standard LP, MIK. It looks, sounds, and play very good. It's in very good condition. $300.

 

However, on the back of the headstock it's stamped "used". What in the world does that mean? I've never seen a stamp on a headstock that says "used".

[Furtive]

It's b-stock from the factory. Look for the finish flaws. My Squier Affinity Tele has the same thing, and it sounds awesome unplugged. Very loud acoustically.

[ArKay]

Could be a factory 2nd, used = no warranty.

[pathofspirit]

OK - thanks. I couldn't find any flaw on this guitar and as I said, it plays and sounds great. The flaw might be very minor. Also, it's black so a flaw in the wood wouldn't show up as easily as it would in other finishes.

 

Do you guys think $300 is a fair price for this?

[schiz]

I have a Epiphone PR-6E TB (acoustic) that has the same thing. To my understanding this is a way of identifying a b-stock, or factory refurbished, guitar. You actually see this a lot on Epiphone and Ibanez. Although the Ibanez seem to hold there value a little better once they have been deemed USED.

[schiz]

Do you guys think $300 is a fair price for this?

 

I think it is a decent price if it comes with a HSC. Otherwise, Id try to haggle. But thats just me...

[tlbonehead]

 

Could be a factory 2nd, used = no warranty.

 

Yep. I've bought a number of guitars that way with no probs. Two of them were Epi Wildkats that had trapeze tailpieces instead of the stock Bigsby because a bunch of 'Kats arrived in the States with faulty Bigsbys. So they were retrofitted and sold with the traps, which was a major bonus to me.

[Saturn]

I used to do some online selling of guitars and I would get quite a few Epis from my supplier. The used stamp are from the factory. With Epi they would be guitars that were sold and sent back to them. They could have been sent back for any reason from the buyer didn't like it to the shop that bought it recieved over stock. Most of the ones I got had no visible blemishes or very small issues that were corrected by the factory then sent off to my supplier. If it was marked with a 2 that would be factory B stock from Epi that never made it to the hands of the comsumer.

[aliensporebomb]

I've also seen it where USED has been stamped by Music Go Round stores

to (in their words) "prevent people from trying to get a warranty claim

who aren't entitled to them".

 

In my opinion, what they were doing was plausible deniability - by wiping

out the serial that way they pretty much erase all evidence of a stolen

instrument by getting the serial gone.

 

If people then brought stolen instruments in, they could get the $ and

then not be busted later.

 

Sure, the customer would have a karmic stain but so would MGR.

 

Cheesy.

 

Mind you, not all music go round stores do this but the one that did locally

is out of business now and I suspect MGR kicked them out because they

switched to "music store" briefly before going under.

 

Also, a guitar I bought there had a FAKE serial number that they put on there

and had used stamped on the headstock. I found out later that the SN wasn't

a real one and the REAL serial was hastily attempted to be removed but they

were not completely successful at removal.

 

It apparently was part of stock of another music store that went under and the

employees were selling the guitars the other store gave them as payment in lieu

of paycheck...

[Saturn]

 

I've also seen it where USED has been stamped by Music Go Round stores to (in their words) "prevent people from trying to get a warranty claim who aren't entitled to them". In my opinion, what they were doing was plausible deniability - by wiping out the serial that way they pretty much erase all evidence of a stolen instrument by getting the serial gone. If people then brought stolen instruments in, they could get the $ and then not be busted later. Sure, the customer would have a karmic stain but so would MGR. Cheesy. Mind you, not all music go round stores do this but the one that did locally is out of business now and I suspect MGR kicked them out because they switched to "music store" briefly before going under. Also, a guitar I bought there had a FAKE serial number that they put on there and had used tamped on the headstock. I found out later that the SN wasn't a real one and the REAL serial was hastily attempted to be removed but they were not completely successful at removal. It apparently was part of stock of another music store that went under and the employees were selling the guitars the other store gave them as payment in lieu of paycheck...

 

 

Wow that was going on at one of the local Music-Go-Rounds? I go to the Roseville and Woodbury stores quite a bit and especially like the Roseville store. Some good guys there. Not to fond of the St. Paul store though. I'm trying to think of of a MGR that went out of business here. The ones I'm familiar with have all been around for a while.

[pathofspirit]

 

In my opinion, what they were doing was plausible deniability - by wiping out the serial that way they pretty much erase all evidence of a stolen instrument by getting the serial gone.

 

 

On this particular guitar the serial number is still clearly there. The "used" in stamped underneath.

[schiz]

On this particular guitar the serial number is still clearly there. The "used" in stamped underneath.

If its underneath the serial number sticker, that is a definite B-stock.

 

Probably not a damn thing wrong with it and probably never was.

[Saturn]

 

On this particular guitar the serial number is still clearly there. The "used" in stamped underneath.

 

 

From Epi it is probably legit. Epi is big on selling all of thier stock B or Used. My suppliers list was always packed with just about anything you would want from Epi. My favorite Shariton was Used from Epi.

[pathofspirit]

OK - I think I'm going to go for it. I'll be trading in a Squier Jagmaster with SD designed pickups. I really like the Jag but there's something about the LP I miss.

[schiz]

Congrats!

[Armitage]

It has nothing to do with being a second.

 

Those get stamped with a 2.

 

It's just a few large dealers (Music-Go-Round for one) who started devaluing guitars that way. They should be lit on fire in front of thier kids, and the kids shot.

[Saturn]

It has nothing to do with being a second. Those get stamped with a 2. It's just a few large dealers (Music-Go-Round for one) who started devaluing guitars that way. They should be lit on fire in front of thier kids, and the kids shot.

 

Epi stamps factory returns as "Used" and B stock with the "2". I bought and sold over 100 Epi's that were strait from the factory stamped "Used".

 

I have not seen a guitar at Music-Go-Round (at least not around here) that were stamped "Used" with the exception of a couple and they got them from the same place I used to buy my guitars.

[rocknhard]

My ex- had that on her back as a tattoo.

[schiz]

My ex- had that on her back as a tattoo.

Was that before, or after she was your ex?

[rocknhard]

Was that before, or after she was your ex?

 

I don't remember, but she played well.

[tlbonehead]

It has nothing to do with being a second. Those get stamped with a 2. It's just a few large dealers (Music-Go-Round for one) who started devaluing guitars that way. They should be lit on fire in front of thier kids, and the kids shot.

Not necessarily. I've gotten Epis stamped used as I mentioned, which had nothing to do with MGR.

[dimmypage]

I always thought companies did this to avoid warrany issues:confused:

[chiro972]

I have one marked 2nd. It is flawless except for some tiny black dots in a few spots on the white binding. They are under the final clear coats, so I guess they just marked it second and got rid of it. They are so small you can't see them from 3 feet away. Those used and seconds can be a great bargain, but they probably hurt resale down the road.

 

I'm still happy I bought mine.

[aliensporebomb]

The MGR that went under was in Bloomington.

 

At some point, they became "Music Store" purveyors of nameless strat

copies after MGR chucked them.

 

They then went under.

 

I was told that the large amount of new Jackson guitars they had in

stock actually came from the store "Music Off 10" in Moundsview that

went under. They were doing so badly employees were paid in new

stock in lieu of a paycheck. The former employees were visiting the

MGR stores in droves to try and get some real currency out of their

last "paycheck".

 

That being said, I do like most MGR stores and particularly like the

Woodbury operation, I've gotten at least two guitars from that store

and everyone there is really cool. They know me when I come in...

[Saturn]

 

The MGR that went under was in Bloomington. At some point, they became "Music Store" purveyors of nameless strat copies after MGR chucked them. They then went under. I was told that the large amount of new Jackson guitars they had in stock actually came from the store "Music Off 10" in Moundsview that went under. They were doing so badly employees were paid in new stock in lieu of a paycheck. The former employees were visiting the MGR stores in droves to try and get some real currency out of their last "paycheck". That being said, I do like most MGR stores and particularly like the Woodbury operation, I've gotten at least two guitars from that store and everyone there is really cool. They know me when I come in...

 

 

I forgot there was store in Bloomington. Not on my side of town. I've been doing business with the Woodbury and Roseville stores for years. I like both stores. I alway search thier web site for new arrivals. Found a few good deals over the years. The Roseville store stocks a good selection of parts and tubes. If I need something in a pinch I usually run down there.