Buying Guitars On Tha Intermawab

[Fugazi]

I need some advice.

I'm buying a guitar soon to replace the one I just sold, and it looks like I'll be doing so via the internet, manly because there ain't any decent music stores within walking distance, my girlfriend's sold her car and I ain't bussing or training it to god knows where to check out another guitar shop only to find that they've got F-A in stock, and have to order something in, which is the equivalent of committing to a purchase before trying anyway. It does slightly contravene my guitar-buying principles, but this is the situation I find myself in.

Now I'm aware of the score as far as online shopping goes, but I've never done it before with guitars. I know that if I order from a majorish shop such as thomann or GAK I'll be fairly safe, and usually at worst I'll have to set the thing up myself because they won't have. Does anyone have any anecdotal advice about online ordering, specific to guitars?

I'm pretty sure I won't be going with eBay at this point, too many unreliable sellers, too much rubbish gear and just generally far too pricey for second hand guitars. Recently I've seen some people paying more for a second hand strat than they'd pay for the exact same strat new. Crazy shit.

Not that I'm averse to second hand gear, but it seems that eBay's the only place to find it. Am I wrong?

Any advice much appreciated.

Oh, and at this point I think I'm after a Fender Stratocaster 60s Classic Player in sonic blue. Mad props to whoever can find me the best deal in terms of price/delivery charge/delivery time/extras.

[Miss 616]

I got my Vampire 5 string Bass from Thomman last year

arrived quickly and all safe in its cardboard carton. They take them as returns if your not happy I seem to remember.

[Casey]

Oh, and at this point I think I'm after a Fender Stratocaster 60s Classic Player in sonic blue. Mad props to whoever can find me the best deal in terms of price/delivery charge/delivery time/extras.

Like that? (http://www.musik-schmidt.de/osc-schmidt/catalog/fender-classic-player-60s-stratocaster-rosewood-neck-sonic-blue-p-18818.html)

[nathan_adler]

I'd try music ground in leeds (whilst you said you didn't want to travel to a music shop I completely disregarded that) - at worst you could phone them as, whilst they primarily deal with vintage guitars, their selection is immense so most likely there'd be something of interest. They have Fenders dripping out of every pore. Also, despite being grumpy M.Fs they can also set up and do any modifications at the shop to a high standard.

[Fugazi]

Like that? (http://www.musik-schmidt.de/osc-schmidt/catalog/fender-classic-player-60s-stratocaster-rosewood-neck-sonic-blue-p-18818.html)

I should probably indicate as a guide that GAK do 'em for £360, with under a tenner delivery. It's about the best deal I've found so far.

[Casey]

I should probably indicate as a guide that GAK do 'em for £360, with under a tenner delivery. It's about the best deal I've found so far.

Yeah was just making sure that's the guitar you meant (not really up on guitars etc).

[Fugazi]

I'd try music ground in leeds (whilst you said you didn't want to travel to a music shop I completely disregarded that) - at worst you could phone them as, whilst they primarily deal with vintage guitars, their selection is immense so most likely there'd be something of interest. They have Fenders dripping out of every pore. Also, despite being grumpy M.Fs they can also set up and do any modifications at the shop to a high standard.

Music Ground retails the Classic Player at £499. Even with the best negotiating will in the world I don't thing I'd get £140 off.

[Internets]

I should probably indicate as a guide that GAK do 'em for £360, with under a tenner delivery. It's about the best deal I've found so far.This (http://www.andertons.co.uk/acatalog/info_0141100372.html) one's £389, tenner next-day delivery.

[godonlyknows]

The strat is the gay man's tele.

[Fugazi]

This (http://www.andertons.co.uk/acatalog/info_0141100372.html) one's £389, tenner next-day delivery.

Again, that's another £30, and I also hear that Anderton's customer service pledge isn't worth the webspace it's printed on. Cheers though.

[Baby SOLD]

Dear max

why didnt you just keep that ESP you made?

lots of love, Rick x

[Fugazi]

Dear max

why didnt you just keep that ESP you made?

lots of love, Rick x

Several things.

First of all, the size and weight. It sounds a bit silly, but honestly that guitar felt like having a dead cow around your neck. It was crippling me to having it on my shoulders for several hours a week. Because of its size (explorer shape, but slightly larger and several inches longer) it was impossible to move without knocking it against something. It was balanced okay when stood up, but sitting down, forget it.

Secondly, I customised the guitar to do one thing very well, and it did. Unfortunately, it was fairly shit at everything else. Now that's not necessarily a problem if you're a totally metal guitarist in a totally metal band and all you want to play is Hetfield riff-o-rama stuff all day long, but I've got slightly broader tastes.

Thirdly, the guitar I made was an inferior copy of someone else's signature model. I personally have a bit of a policy against using other people's signatures, and in this case although I figured it was okay because it wasn't exactly the same and I built it myself, as it turns out I might as well have just shelled out on a Hetfield signature, for all the difference it made.

Fourthly (and perhaps cynically) the guitar I made was basically worthless, and was only ever going to decrease in value the longer I had it - But unlike real brand name guitars, it wouldn't start climbing in value again in ten or twenty years. That in itself is a good enough reason to get rid as soon as possible - The guitar I'm looking at now is a custom shop designed 60th anniversary Fender in a premium colour, not exactly rare but specific enough to become a sought-after model once it's been discontinued (which it will be fairly soon). I buy it now, keep it safe for a few years and I'll be sure that it will at least have held its value, if not doubled. I keep it safe for twenty or thirty years, it'll be worth some pretty big wedge.

Ultimately, I think most of the fun of the Explorer was making it. Now I've made it, it's great and I'm satisfied and I'd do it again because I know I can, and to a very high standard, but the result was a very one-dimensional guitar, a bit gimmicky, very difficult to live and work with, and basically not what I feel I want to be playing right now.

[rorshach]

The strat is the gay man's tele.

Yeah.... Not sure Hendrix would agree. Pshh.

[Baby SOLD]

Several things.

First of all, the size and weight. It sounds a bit silly, but honestly that guitar felt like having a dead cow around your neck. It was crippling me to having it on my shoulders for several hours a week. Because of its size (explorer shape, but slightly larger and several inches longer) it was impossible to move without knocking it against something. It was balanced okay when stood up, but sitting down, forget it.

Secondly, I customised the guitar to do one thing very well, and it did. Unfortunately, it was fairly shit at everything else. Now that's not necessarily a problem if you're a totally metal guitarist in a totally metal band and all you want to play is Hetfield riff-o-rama stuff all day long, but I've got slightly broader tastes.

Thirdly, the guitar I made was an inferior copy of someone else's signature model. I personally have a bit of a policy against using other people's signatures, and in this case although I figured it was okay because it wasn't exactly the same and I built it myself, as it turns out I might as well have just shelled out on a Hetfield signature, for all the difference it made.

Fourthly (and perhaps cynically) the guitar I made was basically worthless, and was only ever going to decrease in value the longer I had it - But unlike real brand name guitars, it wouldn't start climbing in value again in ten or twenty years. That in itself is a good enough reason to get rid as soon as possible - The guitar I'm looking at now is a custom shop designed 60th anniversary Fender in a premium colour, not exactly rare but specific enough to become a sought-after model once it's been discontinued (which it will be fairly soon). I buy it now, keep it safe for a few years and I'll be sure that it will at least have held its value, if not doubled. I keep it safe for twenty or thirty years, it'll be worth some pretty big wedge.

Ultimately, I think most of the fun of the Explorer was making it. Now I've made it, it's great and I'm satisfied and I'd do it again because I know I can, and to a very high standard, but the result was a very one-dimensional guitar, a bit gimmicky, very difficult to live and work with, and basically not what I feel I want to be playing right now.



and now i know.

[ben mourningwood]

I think you should go down the seven string road max....

[Fugazi]

I think you should go down the seven string road max....

Nah, I just got rid of one guitar because it was too metal and one-dimensional, I'm not going to buy a guitar that's even more metal and one-dimensional.

[ben mourningwood]

nah dude theres so much you can do with them than just metal. But i can see what your saying when people say 7 strings most people think of Korn . But for chords and shapes it opens so many doors doesnt have to be metal

[Miss 616]

nah dude theres so much you can do with them than just metal. But i can see what your saying when people say 7 strings most people think of Korn . But for chords and shapes it opens so many doors doesnt have to be metal

totally agree - I love my 7 string - its always interesting to play and throws up lots of baritoney possibilities. Luvly for Curey kind of things. My guitars definately not metal, though it can do that well.

On the downside, I find you gotta concentrate more when playing your standard chords if your brought up on 6 strings (pretty much all of us)

[Funk-star]

Yo Max,

I work at Hamiltons on Blackpool Road and we do a lot of Fender stuff. I just sold our last Sonic Blue 60s Classic Player t'other day. I'm ordering some more stuff from Fender on monday, want me to give you a heads up when we'll be getting it back in stock? Shouldn't be long tbh, usually Fender UK have them available.

It'll be £389.

[Fugazi]

Yo Max,

I work at Hamiltons on Blackpool Road and we do a lot of Fender stuff. I just sold our last Sonic Blue 60s Classic Player t'other day. I'm ordering some more stuff from Fender on monday, want me to give you a heads up when we'll be getting it back in stock? Shouldn't be long tbh, usually Fender UK have them available.

It'll be £389.

Do you guys have other Fenders in stock? I wouldn't mind nipping in to see what there is.

[Fugazi]

nah dude theres so much you can do with them than just metal. But i can see what your saying when people say 7 strings most people think of Korn . But for chords and shapes it opens so many doors doesnt have to be metal

I see what you're saying, but it's more to do with the kind of guitars that are available with 7 strings. All fast neck, high-gain humbucker stuff. Most 7 strings on the market are aimed squarely at the metal player. I kind of want to get away from that kind of thing.

[Miss 616]

Most 7 strings on the market are aimed squarely at the metal player. I kind of want to get away from that kind of thing.

true - tbh mine's the only 7 string I've really liked and its been discontinued for years

btw - Funk Star

do you do the Electromatic Gretsch range, as I'm doing my grade 8 in Oct and as a treat to myself am wanting one of the G-5122s :D ??

[Funk-star]

Do you guys have other Fenders in stock? I wouldn't mind nipping in to see what there is.

We've got a good selection, not big by any means yet. Basically, we're just trying to get the interest going after the demise of Sound Control. We'll be stocking a lot more in a couple of months.

However, we have got some really nice stuff in at the mo. On top of the usual Mexican/American Standard stuff we've a Deluxe Lonestar, 50s Classic Tele, a couple of other Classic Players hanging on the wall - all at the same sort of price. The Sonic Blue one you've been looking is one of my favourites though, just might be a week or so before we get any more in.

do you do the Electromatic Gretsch range, as I'm doing my grade 8 in Oct and as a treat to myself am wanting one of the G-5122s :D ??

Gretsch are now owned by Fender...we don't stock anything YET (although we might do in the future), but as Fender main dealers we DO have access to it. It might mean we have to get X amount in to sell one, but I could have a look into it if you want?

[Miss 616]

Gretsch are now owned by Fender...we don't stock anything YET (although we might do in the future), but as Fender main dealers we DO have access to it. It might mean we have to get X amount in to sell one, but I could have a look into it if you want?

Oooh - that could be very intruiging thanks. Im not about to get one just yet so if you are trying some out in the months ahead please let me know. I've only ever played a Solid body Gretch Electromatic Duo Jet and *LOVED* it, though it was too heavy for me - but something like the G-5122s is what I'm really wanting next (black of course :rolleyes:)

[godonlyknows]

Yeah.... Not sure Hendrix would agree. Pshh.
http://www.solarnavigator.net/music/music_images/Jimi_Hendrix_on_stage_fender_stratocaster.jpg
That ostentatious self-centred hippy faghand can suck my cock.

http://www.classic-rock-legends-start-here.com/images/springsteenflagbig.jpg
HETERO.

[Fugazi]

We've got a good selection, not big by any means yet. Basically, we're just trying to get the interest going after the demise of Sound Control. We'll be stocking a lot more in a couple of months.

However, we have got some really nice stuff in at the mo. On top of the usual Mexican/American Standard stuff we've a Deluxe Lonestar, 50s Classic Tele, a couple of other Classic Players hanging on the wall - all at the same sort of price. The Sonic Blue one you've been looking is one of my favourites though, just might be a week or so before we get any more in.

When are you in the store? I might swing by and have a play around.

[rorshach]

...Right you are, Dave. It is Dave, isn't it?...
Anyhoo.
Max, may I ask what your new directions in music are? What kind of sounds are you after?

[maaszy]

How about this guy? Often has some interesting kit.

http://fareastguitars.co.uk/

[Fugazi]

How about this guy? Often has some interesting kit.

http://fareastguitars.co.uk/

I've looked into the CIJ stuff, and what I've generally found is that it's a tad expensive, because prices have been artificially driven up by people who make absurd claims about Japs being better than Mexs or even USs, which from what I've seen is just not the case. I remember back in the early to mid nineties, when you could still get hold of a Fender Jap in stores, and they were basically thought to be somewhere between a Squier and a Mex. It's cool on one hand because you can get hold of models that aren't available elsewhere, but on the other hand it's just too costly for what it is.

[Fugazi]

...Right you are, Dave. It is Dave, isn't it?...
Anyhoo.
Max, may I ask what your new directions in music are? What kind of sounds are you after?

Hard to say, because as you know in music it's difficult to announce a direction and then follow it. I know what I don't want to do anymore, which is aim for ultra-high-gain, ignore about 95% of my influences, and churn out the same drop-D dross over and over again.

Gear-wise, it's fairly obvious to me what my problem was. High-output humbuckers through high-gain pedals into a fundamentally dry and characterless amplifier, you basically have two settings, "METAL" and "shit boxy clean sound". I even had a Noise Suppressor on full to make sure that everything was dead square and limited. I'm going to get a new guitar with a variety of sounds, a lot of character and way less output, a better amp with some valves in it (maybe even a combo, SHOCK!), and probably swap out my pedals for something a little more interesting, maybe play with some gain stages, line up two separate overdrives or something, definitely ditch that Metal Zone thing (though I'm gonna keep the Dunlop wha, it's lovely).

I can't imagine it being drastically different to what we've been doing, but probably closer to Machina in style than to the more recent stuff. A little freer, a little more melodic, a little more colourful. That kind of thing.

[Fugazi]

We've got a good selection, not big by any means yet. Basically, we're just trying to get the interest going after the demise of Sound Control. We'll be stocking a lot more in a couple of months.

However, we have got some really nice stuff in at the mo. On top of the usual Mexican/American Standard stuff we've a Deluxe Lonestar, 50s Classic Tele, a couple of other Classic Players hanging on the wall - all at the same sort of price. The Sonic Blue one you've been looking is one of my favourites though, just might be a week or so before we get any more in.

Mate, I know this is quite a big ask, but is there any chance you could jot down what models and colours you've currently got in, Fender-wise? I dunno when I'm gonna get a chance to drop in, but I'm definitely interested in coming to you.

[Fugazi]

F*ckshit.

Too much choice.

Deluxe Fat Strat:
http://www.guitarvillage.co.uk/admin/pages/upload/Fender/Strat%20Mexico/Fender_FatStratDlxAw_m.jpg

Deluxe Lonestar Strat:
http://www.guitarvillage.co.uk/admin/pages/upload/Fender/Strat%20Mexico/Fender_DlkLonestrAW_m.jpg

60s Classic Player Strat:
http://www.guitarvillage.co.uk/admin/pages/upload/Solids/Fender/Stratocaster/Mexico/60classicplayersonic_m.jpg

Mexican Standard Strat (pictured with maple neck, would buy rosewood):
http://www.guitarvillage.co.uk/admin/pages/upload/Fender/Strat%20Mexico/Fender-Mex_Strat_ArWhite_m.jpg

Mexican 60s re-issue Tele:
http://www.guitarvillage.co.uk/admin/pages/upload/Solids/Fender/Telecaster/Mexico/60sreissue-white_m.jpg

Mexican Standard Tele:
http://www.guitarvillage.co.uk/admin/pages/upload/Solids/Fender/Telecaster/Mexico/mexteleolywhtmn_m.jpg

Bloody hell.

Advice?

[thejoker]

I like the 60s Classic on looks alone.

[Pish]

Custon Tele 72?

[Fugazi]

Custon Tele 72?

That's about £150 - £200 more than I was looking to spend.

[Pish]

That's about £150 - £200 more than I was looking to spend.

Fair nuff. Bloody nice tho, I have the Squire version with better pickups in, cus i'm a pov.

[ben mourningwood]

i like the strat at the top. ive always wanted a wood finish strat like James murphys.

[Pod]

Lookswise: the top one. soundwise: Not a clue.

[Pish]

The look of all them bores the pants off me.

[Pod]

The look of all them bores the pants off me.

Guitar shaped guitars are boring? :S

[Pish]

Guitar shaped guitars are boring? :S

White is for walls to reflect light.

Used anywhere else other than a crisp white shirt or shoes. Then it looks boring and tacky, in the same way I hate gold.

"Any color as long as its black"

Also I hate the look of standard Tele's and I hate strats.

"Yes sir, I have Vanilla!"

[Funk-star]

Mate, I know this is quite a big ask, but is there any chance you could jot down what models and colours you've currently got in, Fender-wise? I dunno when I'm gonna get a chance to drop in, but I'm definitely interested in coming to you.

No prob, this is everything on the wall I think!

Squier Standards Black, Walnut, Sunburst
Squier Deluxe in Daphne Blue
Squier Vintage Modified Strat in Cherry Sunburst
Squier Telecaster Custom II P90 in Yellow*
Mexican Standard in Blue (White ones on their way in v. soon)
50s Classic Player in Shoreline Gold
60s Classic Player in 3 Colour Sunburst*
50s Classic Telecaster in 2 Colour Sunburst*
Deluxe Lonestar in Black with Tortoiseshell pickguard*
Highway 1 Strats - Black and Red
Highway 1 Tele - Blonde*
American Standards - Black, White, 3 Colour Sunburst
American Deluxe - Black with Coffee Pickguard
Vintage 52 Tele - Blonde
Vintage 62 Strat - Surf Green

We also do an interest free finance scheme which you might be interested in. Its over 10 months - take a price, divide by 10 basically. Easy way of breaking up the cost.

I'm off on holiday for the next 10 days, so if you do come in, I'm not gonna be around to chat to unfortunately! I've put a star next to the models that I personally rate and think you should look at.


edit: BTW we're one of the UK's biggest stockists of BC Rich guitars, just in case you have a change of heart and decide you want to go extremely metal : p

[DJGuitarThoughts]

hey dude if ur looking at buy online first read the bad reveiws of anything on the web and look at the truoble people are having with the stuff and p.s dont buy from gak there in store service is shite and its even worse online bought an amp from them online and when i got it first it didnt work and then they were not going to replace it for me which is bullshit o watch out for them plus many guitars that my friends and band have bought have come really badly set up look at smaller companys they usualy offer the best service as they want to keep ur business ebay shops are always good and cheap and there are many online shop that are cheaper than gak even though they claim to be the cheapest in europe lol thoman is a good one also bonner and nevada music as well are worth concidering

hope this helps

[MrAnderson]

hey dude if ur looking at buy online first read the bad reveiws of anything on the web and look at the truoble people are having with the stuff and p.s dont buy from gak there in store service is shite and its even worse online bought an amp from them online and when i got it first it didnt work and then they were not going to replace it for me which is bullshit o watch out for them plus many guitars that my friends and band have bought have come really badly set up look at smaller companys they usualy offer the best service as they want to keep ur business ebay shops are always good and cheap and there are many online shop that are cheaper than gak even though they claim to be the cheapest in europe lol thoman is a good one also bonner and nevada music as well are worth concidering

hope this helps
...aaaaand breath.

[Hex]

...aaaaand breath.




Breathe.

[MrAnderson]

Breathe.
yeah