Music Stores generally do not like us (and we don’t care!) because we always call them out for selling “Lemons” to unsuspecting customers. We will not stop doing exactly that because we believe that everyone deserves a fantastic Instrument that should be able to be adjusted to perfection by a Tech straight out of the Store right?
Too many “Music Stores” and Online Flog Merchants are GUILTY of selling Junk that needs work when the Item should have been returned to the Importer or Manufacturer and removed from sale. Alternatively If you buy any USED Instruments and Equipment online without trying and inspecting – then you get what you get. New Equipment usually has a Warranty but not all Music Stores are helpful when you point out to them that they sold you a “Lemon” right?
The Store’s Preferred “Tech” or “All Knowing Salesperson” usually mentions that they or their “repairer” have a magical “Humidity Room” which is usually the back of the shop storeroom until someone on the “knowledgable team” can tweak and restring it…. I’ve worked in these stores before and they are capable of this runaround for sure. If it is not fixed or replaced promptly – ask for a refund or take the issue to the Department of Fair Trading if you have too.
We wish we could go Instrument shopping with you , really… it would save a whole lot of Customer’s Grief. Make sure you always Try Before You Buy!! We would just pick each instrument you point at – have a quick inspection and say either “Looks Good – have a Strum” or “Nope – ‘Dont bother – It’s gonna need a Neck Reset”…
We absolutely DREAD telling Customers that their new pride and joy will need Major Repairs to achieve their playability and tone dreams – we always put ourselves in their shoes – you would want to know right?
So try not to be be offended when we point out issues on an Instrument. Believe me when I say that Guitar Luthiers and Techs are all busy enough and don’t need to upsell any work that isn’t needed to achieve a Customer’s usually high expectation, we try not to waste our own time or our Customer’s hard earned money.
Read on and as you get onto this Next Section – take note of the Next Picture, if it looks like that down either side – pass on that Instrument.
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Acoustic Guitars and Basses are the most Fragile Instruments out there and you need to do a few checks before you lay down your hard earned money on a new or used instrument. First of all you need to play the instrument and see if you actually like the Sound and Feel. Secondly I suggest you sight down the neck both on the Treble and Bass Sides looking for a Neck Set Issue that will ultimately lead to a higher action and needing a neck reset sooner rather than later. If there is a distinct “ramp” from where the neck meets the body, then take some money off the Sale Price to afford a Neck Reset if you want the action low in the future.
Not every instrument can come apart for a neck reset so choose a Quality (usually higher in price) Instrument. A rule of thumb is that if the neck cannot be adjusted straight with no bumps or ramps then it’s a NOT a cheap purchase – eventually every Acoustic Guitar will need a Neck Reset and possibly Fretwork. The same principles generally apply to Electric Guitars and Basses also, remember to always sight down both sides of the Neck, if it can’t be adjusted fairly straight without warps, high frets or ramping then move onto the next instrument.
This Very Expensive “USA Made M Brand” Guitar needs or will need a “Neck Reset” performed in future by your preferred Luthier/Repairer to have a nice low action, Factory fitted Medium (Heavy) strings at Concert Pitch and a few months on a boat in shipping containers or storage yards does not help the issue.
Also be sure to check for Cracking on either side of the Neck on the body top as this is a major repair needing the Neck removed and the entire guitar top replaced… see pic below…..
Acoustic Guitar/Bass Bridges – Be sure to check around the back and sides of a Bridge to see any evidence of it lifting. String Tension, Heat and Humidity help in eventually lifting a bridge so that it needs repairs. Look carefully along the top of a bridge next to and either side of the saddle – a lot of cheaper guitars develop cracking that is hard to see unless you go looking for it. Also beware of messy “Bonga’s Backyard Bunnings Aerospace Fastener/ Bridge Reglue” attempts like the pic below – A Nice & Tidy fastener job Bonga!!…… not…. We replaced the Bridge and it looks like new.. sorted.
The 12 String Guitar Bridge in the Picture below has a crack running through the rear line of Bridge Pin Holes…. We made a New Bridge to go onto the Guitar during repairs… sorted.
In the Picture below we have a Guitar with a “shaved bridge” to lower the action on a guitar that likley needs a Neck Reset to correct the high action. In our experience “shave bridges” are weaker and more likley to let go from the top and sometimes they even split as well. This Guitar needs a New Rosewood Bridge, A Bridge Reglue and will likley need a Neck Reset. A quick fix initially has turned into an expensive repair bill when the owner decides to get it fixed properly………
The Bridge in the Pic below has been sanded too thin (and unevenly) and was re-used in a Bridge Reglue when it should have been replaced, the previous repairs did not hold for very long and when it came to us we made a New Thicker Profile Bridge to go on the Instrument…. sorted.
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“Another Online Purchase Horror Story”…..
One time about 10 years ago a Customer bought me a Beautiful Black Gibson Les Paul Standard Guitar to do a Headstock Repair/Neck Refinish. He explained that he paid top dollar for this Guitar even though it turned up with a Broken Headstock. He went on explain that the photos sent to him by the “Seller” of the Guitar were only of the Headstock on its own or from the 1st fret down – no pictures of the whole guitar. When the Guitar arrived, he found the Headstock stashed in the Case Compartment and the rest of the Guitar in the case! He was very upset but not for long as we got it fixed for him over the next few weeks.
Buyer beware, if you can’t try out the “Gumtree/Ebay” Used Instrument you wish to purchase then you are taking a huge risk of being ripped off/scammed.
I have personally been scammed on Gumtree replying to adverts with a price that is “Too Good to be True”, I was lucky it was only a small amount, but it sucks to be ripped off – so don’t ever direct deposit with people you do not know personally, always pay cash in person or PayPal if you must buy out of your area! There are too many Scumbags keen to take advantage of you and spend your hard-earned money on “beer and crack” this weekend! Be vigilant about the PayPal thing because if they won’t use it – something is not right – or maybe they are going to be dishonest with your money.
I will be adding more pictures and topics to this page over the next few weeks so check back often!
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year & Safe Travels! 