This is a really nice buyers guide! One thing I would like to add (and you glossed over this briefly) taking advantage of the “make offer” feature. This is especially useful if you target used gear listed by individuals (ie not major music stores) that have been listed for a long time and haven’t sold yet. The longer it’s been listed, the more willing the seller will be to make a deal. It doesn’t even need to be the lowest price on reverb, the longer it’s been listed, the better. I’ve done this many times and have won gear for ridiculous low ball prices just because the seller wants to move on to a different piece of gear.
!!Question!! !!Question!! For anyone .. Does the placement of the pickups matter? Does the smaller resistance humbucker have to be at the neck and the higher resistance humbucker at the bridge? If I had 3 humbuckers what should the resistance be for each one (heavy metal sound)? Thanks
One more trick: "open box." It may not actually be an open box but a retailer can't advertise the guitar at a lower price than the manufacturer specifies. It's a legal agreement. To get around it, the retailer can advertise it at a lower price as long as it's an "open box" (even though it may be perfectly new and not opened). The idea is to look at different online retailers and see if the same model keeps coming up as an "open box." If you see this over and over again, chances are it was never opened but you'll pay less.
B-stock as well, depending on what's the issue sometimes you can get like half off because there's a scratch on the finish. Got a Washburn wv40 like that years back from a shop trying to get rid of old stock for $180 brand new because it had a 3/8 inch scratch near one of the points. And those were $500-$600 guitars.
Exactly. My friend got a B-stock LTD EC-401 which is usually around $800 for $600. It has the smallest blemish on the back, you can hardly spot it unless you know it's there.
Another thing: Buy a secondhand guitar with a good amp and sell the amp seperate afterwards! I've seen a Yamaha Pacifica with a Roland Cube 30GX go for €120. You can easily sell that amp for €80-100 where I live. €20 for a HSS strat sounds like a deal to me!
Quick tip: don't forget about Japanese brands. You can find great deals on brands like Fernandes guitars and they play just as good as their US brand counterparts.
One thing for sure the Japanese don’t build no junk. I noticed all the Electra brand guitar seem to be disappearing I think a bunch of the country guys bought up to make them into real Les pauls. I heard that there was some years that they actually made them for Gibson I don’t know if that’s true or not but if it wasn’t they copied them pretty damn exact and they played really nice it might be heavier but I like the old maple version I have a 68 but I have to do some repair on it now because it was in a fire. I had a 77 Electra custom that was really good playing. But I have heard a lot of the countries guys say that somebody is this the Japanese version or the real one so I know they’re using them. Any of those luthier’s over at the Motsumocu however it’s spelled plant they really know what the hell they’re doing they do some pretty fine work. I am really impressed.
Great video, Max!! About 10 yrs ago, I was looking for a jazz box to add to my growing arsenal and after months of looking for ES-335's, Joe Pass models, ES-175's, and many of their copies, I was about to give up when I found a Washburn J-3. This is an ES -175 look alike and it has a gorgeous tobacco sunburst with stock Washburn pups. It was a B stock and I my heart wasn't in it by then, but I bid on it on Ebay. Starting bid was $189. No one else bid on it, so I won. With shipping, I paid total $228. Bingo Bargain!! MSRP on this was $900, and my local store would sell this for 350-400 since it was a copy cat guitar. It plays great plugged in or not and I constantly get compliments on the sound and looks. Such a deal!!
There is another trick you missed. Reverb prices are sometimes inflated to cover listing costs. I found a Chapman ML2 on Reverb for $650 found out it was a guitar store and contacted them directly and the price was really $500 with free shipping and free setup from the tech department.
I used your guide to buy my first guitar. I got a 350$ guitar for only 150 because it was barely used and had a -9/10 condition. It only has 3 small scratches AT THE BACK. The guitar plays well and stays in tune with after market groover tuners. The guide made me get a good deal to fuel my passion and start a journey 🙂
@@malcolmhardwick4258 Nah...can't be. This video makes it a guaranteed sale. He just lost himself ... what did he drop it by, Thirty bucks..? He just lost $30, or whatever the figure was.
ZZOUNDS. Has jackson js 32 White and grey transparent. With Jackson branded Floyd Rose for 249.00 jackson are great I've got 5 of them. And also free shipping brand new I've ordered 6 guitars from ZZOUNDS. Love them guys!
Have you noticed how the price drops on so many PRS guitars. They make so many new improvements to their various guitar models so often that you can pick up a good quality used PRS for a couple of hundred bucks? Great tips MAX as always.
Two of my favorite guitars are B Stock instruments that were sold at a big discount. Some of the other tips bear some caveats: If you're purchasing a used guitar that's had any upgrades, you're assuming it has been done correctly. Also, you're assuming that the parts added to the guitar are actually what the seller states that they are, so there's a measure of faith involved.
Those are all good shopping tips. To supplement 3 and 5 there are closeout and clearance models. They're often Minor Blemished or Open Box. And, could be described as NOS. New Old Stock. My problem is that I keep trying to buy the guitars that I grew up with. For looks and sound. Even though I'm playing newer music. That's where re-issues and replicas from under brands like Epiphone and Squier are helpful in saving money too. Thanks.
Great advice, I myself got a smoking deal, absolutely killer, on a heritage 535 because it was a “b” stock. The only problem with it was a few tiny minuscule drops of paint overspray on the headstock logo. Was also a new old stock, a model year older at time of purchase. I saved literally thousands and still got a new factory warranty. I’ve challenged numerous friends to find the flaw, no one has yet!
Yessiree, this is what I do, of course the internet is a great place to shop & I’m a 58 year old man. I love my 0’3 Jackson S 3 MIJ in near mint condition at $400 + $40 to ship. How about my Cort KX5’s with Mighty Mite pickups. I got one for $152 w case & $30 shipping on ebay, great condition. Let’s just say it’s equal is a Schecter C1, & not the cheap ones! Stays in tune well. I even dropped it once & no marks on the finish & in perfect tune. Buyers, do your homework 📚
I do this myself, online and offline in town out of town, pawnshops, and there are some really great gear at great prices out there. One can always modify gear. It does not have to break your pockets. I take advantage of months of low payments at 0% interest deals on top of the line gear as well as other not so well known gear brands. For me it is about the playability, quality materials, workmanship and tone man and not so much about the logos nor signature models. If you just take the time and do the research or let seasoned pros such as MAX here help you find oustanding to excellent gear at outrageously lower pricing. The gear for anyone's budget is out there . Thanks Max ! ! ! 😎 Peace & Play 🎸 On . . . DDHarris 11-25-2019🤘🎸😎
And another tip for sellers. Keep the original parts (pickups normally) and place them back in the guitar prior to listing. Then list the PUs separate. The day of "flipping" guitars has come to slow way down. And some guitar's parts are worth more if sold separate then as a single guitar. Nice tips!
Love this video. I bought a Fernades new old stock Vortex flying V off Reverb after I watched this video. Brand new, mint condition, with Emgs for $239 shipped, in fact it's the same one you showed, with $110 off asking price. Sounds and plays awesome. Best deal I have ever found. Thanks.
Thanks Max great tips. The past couple of guitars that I've bought have been from the Guitar Centers Used Guitars. They have tons of them. So far I've come out pretty good with a great guitar! They list the guitar's from excellent, great, good, fair, so you might want to still look close at the guitar! Most of the time, I think that the individual store's take the photo and there not good at all. I've emailed the company about this problem, and told them that they might sale more of these guitar's if you could see them better, and I think their workinging on this problem! Todd P.
Hey Max your a pretty cool easy going dude. I appreciate you calmness in explaining guitars. If only thered be a drum max, haha!! I am a drummer but also love guitars. Keep up the great work and thanks for your insight on these beautiful killer instruments that we all musicians love.
I found an RG series Ibanez at a pawn shop for about $150 The pick guard had a few scratches but aside from that I haven't noticed any sound issues or any problems on the pick ups or neck. A steal in my book
Awesome video. About Fernandes- Couple years ago i bought b-stock fernandes bass guitar . It was very cheap with really nice specs and it was looking really great. I have played tons of concerts, recorded few albums with it and because of cheap price I did not hesitate to lend these guitar. So, this guitar played even more concerts and was on more recordings in other hands. Now I have much more respect for that instrument and i would not give that guitar to someone just like that. Fernandes gravity is really great believe me.
Best guitar I've bought in the last 3 years has been a $135.00 Grote Tele style with a set neck, rosewood fingerboard, abalone inlays and a flame top. The fretwork matches guitars in the thousand dollar range. I dont know how they do it but this truly is the golden age of cheap guitars so enjoy boys and girls......
Hi Max. Another way is to buy a ‘last year’ model. Gibson changes in 16 and started bring out new models every year so dealer had to clear the previous years guitars to make way for the newer ones. I got some killer deals on guitars I could usually only dream about
From Leo: Good Video. You gave a lot of good tips and examples. Upgrades are only worth it if they suit your style. For example, most people buying an ES 335 or a Gretsch hollow body really do not want Dimarzio Super Distortions, as great as they are. My best deal was a cosmetic "open box" return. A pea sized flake of finish off the back of the head stock saved me over $400.
I've been using several of these methods for a while with good results. I now have several higher end Epiphones with upgraded electronics, tuners, pickups (usually SD, Dimarzio, EMG, or Gibsons), and sometimes a hardshell case, for the same or less than the non-modified version of those guitars were going for without a case - often the seller throws in the original parts as well. A variation of this is to save overpriced upgraded guitars to your watchlist on Reverb. Eventually the seller will cut the price down, sometimes by as much as 50% - at that point, they are steals. Guitar Center's online used section is another good place to find deals. Sometimes they misprice more expensive guitars for a few hundred dollars under the going rate, others they cut the price on when they don't sell . I sort by most recent and check them out several times a week. I've gotten MIM Fender guitars and basses in near mint condition with a hard shell case for under $400. Also picked up a few Michael Kelly's with cases for dirt cheap there, because no one goes to GC to buy Michael Kellys. The nice part about GC online is that they only charge $20 to ship, and you get a 45 day no-questions-asked refund policy, where you only lose the $20 shipping charge. A great way to demo a guitar for a month and a half.
Max's loved ones arranged a guitar monomania intervention for him, which was ostensibly successful. Thereafter, he's endeavored lucrative new careers as a male model and voice-over actor, working four months a year & spending the other eight at his leisure in the South of France, where he has been secretly amassing a new collection, with Amazon delivering his guitars by drone. (Max and Philip Knight bonded very deeply when they were both patients in the Guitar Monomania Recovery Clinic, but as soon as they were discharged, both of them immediately relapsed!).
I have played an acoustic guitar for a lot of my life, but am looking at getting an electric and trying to learn to play some rock. I wish I had seen your videos on the Wolf and firefly when they first came out. The only place I can find a wolf is on the web site you put in the links but they are all B stocks with a repaired crack in the neck. Also, the only place I have found a Firefly in the green, which I love, like you have is on E-bay and I am watching it and will probably bid on it if it doesn't get to high. Right now it is at $305, but still has 4 days for the auction to end. At least it is brand new in the box. I will go looking around today at Guitar Center just to see what they have. Anyways, I enjoy the videos and have started following you. Look forward to future videos.
You have a very helpful channel, keep up the great work my friend. Just thought I'd throw in my 2 cents: If you find a listing on Reverb from Musicgoround, make sure you check out their site before you buy from Reverb. I recently saw a D'angelico Excel DC listed on Reverb at a really good price...when I went to their site I found the same guitar listed $90. cheaper. After inquiring about it they said the additional amount was added on to the Reverb ad to cover the cost of doing business there.
I used your approach to get a great deal on a Jimi Hendrix Fender Monterey Strat. It was a new blem with a couple of dents on the back, no paint chipping. I wouldn't have otherwise purchased it but the money saved more than paid for a really nice tweed hard case. Also got a like new Fender American 40th Anniversary Commemorative Strat with all the case candy & it didn't look like it had been played. I learned from you about upgraded pickups etc. & if I buy another guitar I will definitely keep that in mind. Thanks. 👍🎸🌞
Some of the best advice to start is to KNOW the value of guitars new or comparable in specs. Pawn shops and Craigslist is another great method as are some of the online sell stuff APPS where some unsuspecting mother is getting rid of her sons "old guitar". Also, when buying used pay close attention to condition as this plays heavily into the negotiation. Finally, if the guitars are made overseas, you can shop by "factory" most imports commissioned by factories such as World Music Korea or even Indonesia are excellent depending upon specs. Cort factories do a nice job as well. Cheers!
Excellent tips for axe hunting on Reverb!! I actually used a similar tactic to find the specific modifications I was looking for. For example I found a pristine Stratocaster ( Mex body/American neck/Fishman pickups). Some fantastic finds on Reverb. Hope everyone finds success using the site.
One seller tip: When selling chinese, korean or indonesian cheap-midprice guitar which was heavily upgraded by you. Always sell the guitar in OG shape and sell the hi-end pickups and hardware separately. It is gonna definitely make you more than when you sell it with the upgrades (as was mentioned in the vid). To rewire and swap the pickups is like an hour or 2 of work but it will definitely make you more money. I got myself a decent vault of hi-end hardware just by buying used heavily modified cheap guitars, putting back the og cheapo hw, selling them for +- the same money and keeping the good pickups and HW.
Another really good place that many people surprisingly don't know about is Guitar Center USED website. I've found some extremely killer deals there. Found a Randall warhead for $300 and they usually go for $1000 or more now, sometimes the employees don't give a shit and just put a price on it or they don't know exactly what it is or even try to research it.
Great guide with some awesome addenda by the community. Now, obviously this is 2 years later, so some sellers have modified how they do things. Namely, I've noticed that some... less scrupulous let's say, sellers are gutting upgraded parts, slapping cheaper hardware on and selling for the same price and then selling the hardware separately. Not always, but I've been seeing it more.
I started playing guitar July 10th in 1986. I have to say guitars today are built way better than what we had for most back in the 80's. Many guitars were hit and miss and if you wanted a really nice guitar you were going to pay some hard cash for it. Some of these off brand guitars today would have been a blessing for many of us back then who didn't have the money for fork out over a grand or more back in the 80's for a pro guitar.
I was expecting some click bait but some of these tips will be added to arsenal. Micheal Kelly guitars are actually sick as well, I had a micheal kelly patriot that a really loved.
Excellent job! Great tips, many of which I have used before. You can also find B stock or blemished models thru many online retailers. I bought a PRS SE 245 with a blemish for much cheaper and the blemish is unnoticeable with Sweetwater. It was an unbelievable deal!!
Hey Max, Thanks to this video I found a Fender Jazzmaster that had $100 knocked off the price-it was (I think) a floor model) I originally bought a Squier Paranormal-I fell inlove with it a first sight but it constantly goes out of tune, which seems to be a chronic issue with this model (even the Fenders) Oh well. I will hang it on the wall as the work of art it is. Thanks for your videos. They are great.
I have a Fernandez. It has active EMGs and is a very high quality piece. It's a Darth Vader model so it's just for wall hanging. Fernandez and Burney (that Rick Nielsen plays) are the same company. They are very well made.
This sound valuable advice is appreciated.... For now when I look out for a guitar it's eBay - Auction - lowest Price & Postage and fingers crossed... Actually my 3rd one came in that way... Suddenly wanted Black Strat style with Maple neck... Bingo.. Charity shop auction... $30
I just got a new Dean Vendetta XMT Electric Guitar with Tremolo (Satin Natural Finish) on Musicians Friend for $97.46 including tax, free shipping; some reviews think it's great; some think it's in need of work. But I can do a setup and round off and polish the frets myself... Now ...do I upgrade the pickups to GFS or Seymour Duncans? Perhaps. I'll know more when it arrives. But that's half the fun isn't it? That's why we get guitars... to play them ~ and upgrade them when needed. SRV customized his guitars. We can too. BTW: Dean XMT's Rating on Amazon and Guitar Center : 4 Stars out of 5 for value.
Great video Max! Maybe you could make a video similar to this, but with amps? I'm trying to figure out what I should watch out for when I buy a second hand tube amp
Recently bought a used Ibanez RG from 2002 japanese made for 2500 kr which is around $250. Has a nice gloss black finish, 24 frets, licensed Floyd Rose brigde and some Dimarzio humbuckers and a single coil in between. The only thing I had to to setupwise was to file down the fretends a little bit and changing to a new pair of strings and it played great
Good tips ! i recently bought on Reverb an Ibanez RGD7320z (7 strings) for 500$ (CAN) with the ibanez hard case. The guitar even had the pickup upgraded with Seymour duncan Nazgul/sentient but it was not listed in the description. But by the picture i could tell it was not the stock pickup. The orignal price was 999$ but i made an offer at 500$ and got it !
Another thing you can do if you live within short driving distance to the seller is simply message the guy and offer to buy the guitar with cash, off of reverb, if you can pick it up in person. I picked up a really cool Ibanez bass that way recently. Not only did I skip the shipping fee (obviously) but the guy took an additional $50 off because he appreciated the convenience (he was moving and looking to sell fast, so I guess I was lucky). He also saved on the Reverb commission, too.
As a "Bottom Feeder" myself, I usually lurk the pawnshops and find some amazing deals. Last one I got was an Ibanez S521. It was hanging on the wall next to an Ibanez Gio, and they BOTH had an $89 price tag on them!! The S521 sells new for $399.... and the only thing wrong was the 5th fret sits a little high. If you know what to look for, there are deals to be had out there.
That's the magic of electric instruments. A slab of wood, a stick of wood for the neck, bolted or glued together, attach a few pieces of hardware (bridge, nut, tuners, etc), install the circuitry and the pickups. From there it just needs to be set up and aligned properly. All pretty inexpensive materials, and inexpensive labor to put it together. The hardest part is probably getting the scale dimensions accurate (the installation of the frets, bridge, nut, etc). You can leave some of that up to a machine, and it'll come out basically perfect every time for only the cost of the electricity to run the machines. a robot knows EXACTLY where to drill for the bridge. Adjustable bridge saddles and the like mean that absolute precision is pretty unnecessary anyway. Pretty incredible. Thanks Leo Fender!
@@zerronyx1362 I've actually transitioned mostly towards guitar (electric, classical, and a 3/4 acoustic) just because of cost. A new set of strings and a bow cost more than a new guitar!
Hi Max, Happy Holidays to You and All. Great tips... There is one important thing that needs to be said. Buying used gear means your buying a guitar with significant wear and tear that can be "sight unseen". You also do not know if the used gear has any major defects or damage. And also to note, just because retail vendor web sites say they will assist buyers in disputes with user gear, some times they have a "neutrality" to both the seller and buyer. One other thing, is check with your credit card company and see if they have a department number for disputes and fraud.. it helps for new and used gear to go that route. After close to 40 years writing and recording music (under PRO: BMI, Inc) there has been more than one time that I had to go that route. The more support you have "after the sale" the better. - "So says Mr.Tom... and so it was written" ;-)
One of the key things that I do on any guitar center is to deal with floor management so that way I always ask for a deal cost below suggested retail price and sale and used cash on hand also check out the used and clearance department and they also have a guitar center outlet in San Yesidro in San Diego on where a buddy of mine found a nice America Highway one fender precision bass for 600 bucks with hard shell case brand new and it retail at 1,500 and got it for 600 bucks
The notion of getting a preowned guitar with mods is very familiar to me. I saw an Epiphone Les Paul in Cherry Sunburst upgraded w/ Gibson H’s at my old retailer’s shop in Sept. 1999. The retailer was only asking $400.00 USD for it, and I couldn’t say no. I played it most frequently from Oct. ‘99 until Dec. 2002 when a few things changed for me.
Have you ever thought about doing a video on pick up comparisons? With the man various pick ups on the market. it would be helpful to know what the actual differences of available pick ups and terminology. Pick ups are my most confusing parts to guitars, since I cannot afford to purchase enough to compare them. I see guitar comparisons, amp comparisons, even string comparisons. No pick up comparisons, even though these are the most important component on a guitar.
I was able to find a Sterling majesty recently loaded with Dimarzio pickups on ebay for a half of the price of the guitar new and ended up getting it even cheaper making an offer. I’ve done this many times.... it really depends on the seller and how long the guitar has been up on the site. It seems like I have more luck negotiating the price with pawn stores and music stores on reverb and ebay.
DBZ/Diamond guitars you can find for cheap on the used market because the brand name has no value and barely any advertising, but as far as I know the Korean made ones are built in the same factory as those $1000 Korean ESP guitars were (could be wrong). I got a DBZ Barchetta RX 7 basically brand new recently for $300 and it's a great playing guitar, mahogany/set neck/grover tuners/ emg 707s.
Another strategy is to be patient. If I'm looking for something specific, I'll just get a feel for what they sell for by looking at prices on sold items (but I don't think you can do that on Reverb). Give it time and you'll eventually get a killer deal. But definitely a great list you've got here!
Yeah, I had a Mexico Strat paisley edition (no paisley edition in American) that I put a full set of SRV pickups into, had it pleked and setup by a very good luthier and replaced the dime pots with the larger Fender American pots. Sold it because I found that I am much more comfortable with Ibanez, Kramer, ESP/LTD and such with thin necks and flat fretboard. Never got my money out back out of it. Back in 2011-2012 or so, there were some serious clearance deals on a lot of brands. I got a couple of Ibanez (what would be Iron Label in just a year or so for 250.00 each on clearance from Sweetwater. There were a lot of great deals at that time. Couldn't buy those guitars for less than 700 today.
Great video Max... I'm just gonna send this link to my students instead of trying to explain it all myself 🤣 Aside: My friend clued me in on Michael Kelly guitars a while back, that's a hidden gem company for anyone who cares to do some mining (Maybe a future review?)
Wow dude what a great video! It's great to hear some techniques and tricks for something behind the scenes like how to spot a good deal! More than just playing Awesome!
setup's are a great investment also, there was a guy out in lakeland florida, at guitar center, was a magician at fret, intonation and nut work, new strings and polishing, and he set up all their used guitars free of charge but was well worth an additional 100 bucks! imho
This is my exact jam. I got a Hagstrom Northen Swede made in Europe for 500$ shipped. Every other listing I have seen for these are $1100+. They didn’t know what they had :) that and patience saves pockets. I wanted a schecter E-1 evil twin, waited long enough and got one for $600. Haven’t seen one listed for less than $999 since.
Also, have a price you want to pay and save a reverb search for that guitar with a max price of what you want to pay. If you are patient you can almost always get someone to list under that price. I have gotten some nice guitars, amps, and pedals with that method.
Great video !!!!....i have GAS too......I just bought my 36th (current to my harem of ladies) and it's being delivered tomorrow!!!.....i already named her !!!!!!(I am running out of names) ....here is a great tip that I use - even if the seller doesn't list the instrument as - 'make an offer' I will personally email the seller and strike up a conversation with the person - after a friendly exchange - which happens more than not - I will than make an offer in the email - if they accept it - we arrange for them to pull and relist the guitar WHILE i am on the computer at the same time and I quickly move it to my cart .......this way of 'bidding under list' has worked for me on eBay and on Reverb .....Also - go to the *Music Go Round* home page - find a guitar u like and the store it's in - call that store directly and speak to a manager - tell them you will buy it immediately for (%???) Off and if they decline - tell them that if they change their mind to call you direct!!! .....I once had a mgr call me 6 months later cuz he was told to 'move product' and I got it for less than I originally offered (my music man John Petrucci Majesty on my Instagram page) ..........I have been collecting Guitars since 1977 and over 100 have passed thru my hands in these past four decades .....number #36 arrives tomorrow and my wife ......well......she told me I better take pix and log it In the safe because if I get abducted by aliens - she is selling my stuff the very next day!!!!..........I said to her - "you won't wait at least a week or two if I come back ???" .......she didn't even hesitate ......NOPE!!!.....
Hi Max it's great when we can capitalize on great equipment and extras when going second hand. I have made mods to guitars and will never be able to recoup the money. it realy is a buyer's market. Take care Max from your pal Helcat in Australia.
Good advice! Thanks. I would like to see a video about those "unknown" Brands, that you (or in general) are recommended for to be checked out. I am sure, there's a lot of good stuff out there.
I bought an esp ltd 256 for 300 bucks off a guy on facebook who swaps stuff all the time. He didnt know it had a set dimarzio 36th anniversary paf in it. It also had a upgraded tone pro bridge, grover tuners on it too. I took off all the upgraded parts of it and loaded it back up with cheap asian parts i had laying around. A few dragonfire pups, knock off grovers and a basic tune o matic bridge and sold it for 300. So i got free grovers, dimarzio pups and a tone pro bridge that I loaded into a Gibson studio I had and then sold the gibson parts for a couple hundred altogether 😆. If your looking for great brands no one wants carvin, peavey usa, and fernendes are good bets.
This is a really nice buyers guide! One thing I would like to add (and you glossed over this briefly) taking advantage of the “make offer” feature. This is especially useful if you target used gear listed by individuals (ie not major music stores) that have been listed for a long time and haven’t sold yet. The longer it’s been listed, the more willing the seller will be to make a deal. It doesn’t even need to be the lowest price on reverb, the longer it’s been listed, the better. I’ve done this many times and have won gear for ridiculous low ball prices just because the seller wants to move on to a different piece of gear.
Guns and Guitars Negotiating is a lost art. I always haggle, always. Gear is only worth what people are willing to pay.
Hey we miss you and your videos hope you are doing well regards.
You could talk about GunBroker.com my friend Love both channels and I am a drummer.
Guns and Guitars, cool name. The only way it could be better is if it was Guns, Guitars, and Surfboards.
!!Question!! !!Question!! For anyone .. Does the placement of the pickups matter? Does the smaller resistance humbucker have to be at the neck and the higher resistance humbucker at the bridge? If I had 3 humbuckers what should the resistance be for each one (heavy metal sound)? Thanks
One more trick: "open box." It may not actually be an open box but a retailer can't advertise the guitar at a lower price than the
manufacturer specifies. It's a legal agreement. To get around it, the retailer can advertise it at a lower price as long as it's an "open box" (even though it may be perfectly new and not opened). The idea is to look at different online retailers and see if the same model keeps coming up as an "open box." If you see this over and over again, chances are it was never opened but you'll pay less.
B-stock as well, depending on what's the issue sometimes you can get like half off because there's a scratch on the finish. Got a Washburn wv40 like that years back from a shop trying to get rid of old stock for $180 brand new because it had a 3/8 inch scratch near one of the points. And those were $500-$600 guitars.
Exactly. My friend got a B-stock LTD EC-401 which is usually around $800 for $600. It has the smallest blemish on the back, you can hardly spot it unless you know it's there.
Another thing: Buy a secondhand guitar with a good amp and sell the amp seperate afterwards! I've seen a Yamaha Pacifica with a Roland Cube 30GX go for €120. You can easily sell that amp for €80-100 where I live. €20 for a HSS strat sounds like a deal to me!
You're helping people save money which helps making music more approachable for more people. Good job Sir. Respect.
Just tapped the video and pressed like immediately.
Keep doing what you do, Max. You are amazing!
Quick tip: don't forget about Japanese brands. You can find great deals on brands like Fernandes guitars and they play just as good as their US brand counterparts.
One thing for sure the Japanese don’t build no junk. I noticed all the Electra brand guitar seem to be disappearing I think a bunch of the country guys bought up to make them into real Les pauls. I heard that there was some years that they actually made them for Gibson I don’t know if that’s true or not but if it wasn’t they copied them pretty damn exact and they played really nice it might be heavier but I like the old maple version I have a 68 but I have to do some repair on it now because it was in a fire. I had a 77 Electra custom that was really good playing. But I have heard a lot of the countries guys say that somebody is this the Japanese version or the real one so I know they’re using them. Any of those luthier’s over at the Motsumocu however it’s spelled plant they really know what the hell they’re doing they do some pretty fine work. I am really impressed.
Dude he totally went over that in the video.
Great video, Max!! About 10 yrs ago, I was looking for a jazz box to add to my growing arsenal and after months of looking for ES-335's, Joe Pass models, ES-175's, and many of their copies, I was about to give up when I found a Washburn J-3. This is an ES -175 look alike and it has a gorgeous tobacco sunburst with stock Washburn pups. It was a B stock and I my heart wasn't in it by then, but I bid on it on Ebay. Starting bid was $189. No one else bid on it, so I won. With shipping, I paid total $228. Bingo Bargain!! MSRP on this was $900, and my local store would sell this for 350-400 since it was a copy cat guitar. It plays great plugged in or not and I constantly get compliments on the sound and looks. Such a deal!!
There is another trick you missed. Reverb prices are sometimes inflated to cover listing costs. I found a Chapman ML2 on Reverb for $650 found out it was a guitar store and contacted them directly and the price was really $500 with free shipping and free setup from the tech department.
I used your guide to buy my first guitar. I got a 350$ guitar for only 150 because it was barely used and had a -9/10 condition. It only has 3 small scratches AT THE BACK. The guitar plays well and stays in tune with after market groover tuners. The guide made me get a good deal to fuel my passion and start a journey 🙂
That Jackson just got reduced even more, it’s $330 now.
Drew Barries he was probably also watching this video ☺
@@malcolmhardwick4258 Nah...can't be. This video makes it a guaranteed sale. He just lost himself ... what did he drop it by, Thirty bucks..? He just lost $30, or whatever the figure was.
ZZOUNDS. Has jackson js 32 White and grey transparent. With Jackson branded Floyd Rose for 249.00 jackson are great I've got 5 of them. And also free shipping brand new I've ordered 6 guitars from ZZOUNDS. Love them guys!
Using WIndows 7 in 2019, so hardcore
same!
#Vintage
Smartest choice in the Windows world.
Support for windows 7 ends Jan 14, 2020 I think. Time to upgrade. No more security updates.
Sayan Bhattacharya relax pajeet
Have you noticed how the price drops on so many PRS guitars. They make so many new improvements to their various guitar models so often that you can pick up a good quality used PRS for a couple of hundred bucks? Great tips MAX as always.
Two of my favorite guitars are B Stock instruments that were sold at a big discount. Some of the other tips bear some caveats: If you're purchasing a used guitar that's had any upgrades, you're assuming it has been done correctly. Also, you're assuming that the parts added to the guitar are actually what the seller states that they are, so there's a measure of faith involved.
I like the way this young man is just trying to help you get a great guitar on a budget instead of shredding to build up his ego..thanks!!
Those are all good shopping tips. To supplement 3 and 5 there are closeout and clearance models. They're often Minor Blemished or Open Box. And, could be described as NOS. New Old Stock.
My problem is that I keep trying to buy the guitars that I grew up with. For looks and sound. Even though I'm playing newer music. That's where re-issues and replicas from under brands like Epiphone and Squier are helpful in saving money too.
Thanks.
Great advice, I myself got a smoking deal, absolutely killer, on a heritage 535 because it was a “b” stock. The only problem with it was a few tiny minuscule drops of paint overspray on the headstock logo. Was also a new old stock, a model year older at time of purchase. I saved literally thousands and still got a new factory warranty. I’ve challenged numerous friends to find the flaw, no one has yet!
Thx for picking one of our adds it has been updated Keep doing what ya doing Love the Videos !!! :) Very Informative :)
Yessiree, this is what I do, of course the internet is a great place to shop & I’m a 58 year old man. I love my 0’3 Jackson S 3 MIJ in near mint condition at $400 + $40 to ship. How about my Cort KX5’s with Mighty Mite pickups. I got one for $152 w case & $30 shipping on ebay, great condition. Let’s just say it’s equal is a Schecter C1, & not the cheap ones! Stays in tune well. I even dropped it once & no marks on the finish & in perfect tune. Buyers, do your homework 📚
I can attest to everything mentioned. Been doing this for years and use all of those techniques. Killer video!
I do this myself, online and offline in town out of town, pawnshops, and there are some really great gear at great prices out there. One can always modify gear. It does not have to break your pockets. I take advantage of months of low payments at 0% interest deals on top of the line gear as well as other not so well known gear brands. For me it is about the playability, quality materials, workmanship and tone man and not so much about the logos nor signature models. If you just take the time and do the research or let seasoned pros such as MAX here help you find oustanding to excellent gear at outrageously lower pricing. The gear for anyone's budget is out there . Thanks Max ! ! ! 😎
Peace & Play 🎸 On . . . DDHarris 11-25-2019🤘🎸😎
And another tip for sellers. Keep the original parts (pickups normally) and place them back in the guitar prior to listing. Then list the PUs separate. The day of "flipping" guitars has come to slow way down. And some guitar's parts are worth more if sold separate then as a single guitar. Nice tips!
Thank you soooo much. As someone who’s starting out and is looking for an electric guitar, this is amazing.
Love this video. I bought a Fernades new old stock Vortex flying V off Reverb after I watched this video. Brand new, mint condition, with Emgs for $239 shipped, in fact it's the same one you showed, with $110 off asking price. Sounds and plays awesome. Best deal I have ever found. Thanks.
Thanks Max great tips. The past couple of guitars that I've bought have been from the Guitar Centers Used Guitars. They have tons of them. So far I've come out pretty good with a great guitar! They list the guitar's from excellent, great, good, fair, so you might want to still look close at the guitar! Most of the time, I think that the individual store's take the photo and there not good at all. I've emailed the company about this problem, and told them that they might sale more of these guitar's if you could see them better, and I think their workinging on this problem!
Todd P.
I buy most of my guitars and basses used from either guitar center or reverb
Hey Max your a pretty cool easy going dude. I appreciate you calmness in explaining guitars. If only thered be a drum max, haha!! I am a drummer but also love guitars. Keep up the great work and thanks for your insight on these beautiful killer instruments that we all musicians love.
Thank you for the amazing guide. Your channel is extremely helpful. Keep it up. You're saving all the guitarists out there so much money
I found an RG series Ibanez at a pawn shop for about $150
The pick guard had a few scratches but aside from that I haven't noticed any sound issues or any problems on the pick ups or neck. A steal in my book
Awesome video. About Fernandes- Couple years ago i bought b-stock fernandes bass guitar . It was very cheap with really nice specs and it was looking really great. I have played tons of concerts, recorded few albums with it and because of cheap price I did not hesitate to lend these guitar. So, this guitar played even more concerts and was on more recordings in other hands. Now I have much more respect for that instrument and i would not give that guitar to someone just like that. Fernandes gravity is really great believe me.
Fernandes was big in the 90s, they were awesome but short lived. The sustainer series were the best.
Best guitar I've bought in the last 3 years has been a $135.00 Grote Tele style with a set neck, rosewood fingerboard, abalone inlays and a flame top. The fretwork matches guitars in the thousand dollar range. I dont know how they do it but this truly is the golden age of cheap guitars so enjoy boys and girls......
Hi I just seen your comment and was thinking of getting that same guitar. Is it still holding up for you well?
Hi Max. Another way is to buy a ‘last year’ model. Gibson changes in 16 and started bring out new models every year so dealer had to clear the previous years guitars to make way for the newer ones. I got some killer deals on guitars I could usually only dream about
I got a Epiphone bb king lucille yesterday and i haven't put it down since 😍😍😍😍🎸😍😍😍best guitar ever
From Leo: Good Video. You gave a lot of good tips and examples. Upgrades are only worth it if they suit your style. For example, most people buying an ES 335 or a Gretsch hollow body really do not want Dimarzio Super Distortions, as great as they are. My best deal was a cosmetic "open box" return. A pea sized flake of finish off the back of the head stock saved me over $400.
I've been using several of these methods for a while with good results. I now have several higher end Epiphones with upgraded electronics, tuners, pickups (usually SD, Dimarzio, EMG, or Gibsons), and sometimes a hardshell case, for the same or less than the non-modified version of those guitars were going for without a case - often the seller throws in the original parts as well. A variation of this is to save overpriced upgraded guitars to your watchlist on Reverb. Eventually the seller will cut the price down, sometimes by as much as 50% - at that point, they are steals.
Guitar Center's online used section is another good place to find deals. Sometimes they misprice more expensive guitars for a few hundred dollars under the going rate, others they cut the price on when they don't sell . I sort by most recent and check them out several times a week. I've gotten MIM Fender guitars and basses in near mint condition with a hard shell case for under $400. Also picked up a few Michael Kelly's with cases for dirt cheap there, because no one goes to GC to buy Michael Kellys. The nice part about GC online is that they only charge $20 to ship, and you get a 45 day no-questions-asked refund policy, where you only lose the $20 shipping charge. A great way to demo a guitar for a month and a half.
Max's loved ones arranged a guitar monomania intervention for him, which was ostensibly successful. Thereafter, he's endeavored lucrative new careers as a male model and voice-over actor, working four months a year & spending the other eight at his leisure in the South of France, where he has been secretly amassing a new collection, with Amazon delivering his guitars by drone. (Max and Philip Knight bonded very deeply when they were both patients in the Guitar Monomania Recovery Clinic, but as soon as they were discharged, both of them immediately relapsed!).
I have played an acoustic guitar for a lot of my life, but am looking at getting an electric and trying to learn to play some rock. I wish I had seen your videos on the Wolf and firefly when they first came out. The only place I can find a wolf is on the web site you put in the links but they are all B stocks with a repaired crack in the neck. Also, the only place I have found a Firefly in the green, which I love, like you have is on E-bay and I am watching it and will probably bid on it if it doesn't get to high. Right now it is at $305, but still has 4 days for the auction to end. At least it is brand new in the box. I will go looking around today at Guitar Center just to see what they have. Anyways, I enjoy the videos and have started following you. Look forward to future videos.
i picked up one of those flatblack strats, it felt surprisingly nice and responsive
Since reverb doesnt work in my country I just look through facebook
I scored a fernandes the function strat for only $200
You have a very helpful channel, keep up the great work my friend. Just thought I'd throw in my 2 cents:
If you find a listing on Reverb from Musicgoround, make sure you check out their site before you buy from Reverb. I recently saw a D'angelico Excel DC listed on Reverb at a really good price...when I went to their site I found the same guitar listed $90. cheaper. After inquiring about it they said the additional amount was added on to the Reverb ad to cover the cost of doing business there.
You rock Max. Thanks for doing what you do for all of us guitarists.
I have to say I really enjoy your videos, they are informative and never boring! Thanks....
Glad you like them!
I used your approach to get a great deal on a Jimi Hendrix Fender Monterey Strat. It was a new blem with a couple of dents on the back, no paint chipping. I wouldn't have otherwise purchased it but the money saved more than paid for a really nice tweed hard case. Also got a like new Fender American 40th Anniversary Commemorative Strat with all the case candy & it didn't look like it had been played. I learned from you about upgraded pickups etc. & if I buy another guitar I will definitely keep that in mind. Thanks. 👍🎸🌞
Some of the best advice to start is to KNOW the value of guitars new or comparable in specs. Pawn shops and Craigslist is another great method as are some of the online sell stuff APPS where some unsuspecting mother is getting rid of her sons "old guitar". Also, when buying used pay close attention to condition as this plays heavily into the negotiation. Finally, if the guitars are made overseas, you can shop by "factory" most imports commissioned by factories such as World Music Korea or even Indonesia are excellent depending upon specs. Cort factories do a nice job as well. Cheers!
Excellent tips for axe hunting on Reverb!!
I actually used a similar tactic to find the specific modifications I was looking for. For example I found a pristine Stratocaster ( Mex body/American neck/Fishman pickups). Some fantastic finds on Reverb. Hope everyone finds success using the site.
Very informative. I watch all your videos!! Keep rockin brother
More great advice from Max! Thanks, the tips and tricks are sincerely appreciated!
One seller tip: When selling chinese, korean or indonesian cheap-midprice guitar which was heavily upgraded by you. Always sell the guitar in OG shape and sell the hi-end pickups and hardware separately. It is gonna definitely make you more than when you sell it with the upgrades (as was mentioned in the vid). To rewire and swap the pickups is like an hour or 2 of work but it will definitely make you more money. I got myself a decent vault of hi-end hardware just by buying used heavily modified cheap guitars, putting back the og cheapo hw, selling them for +- the same money and keeping the good pickups and HW.
Another really good place that many people surprisingly don't know about is Guitar Center USED website. I've found some extremely killer deals there. Found a Randall warhead for $300 and they usually go for $1000 or more now, sometimes the employees don't give a shit and just put a price on it or they don't know exactly what it is or even try to research it.
Great guide with some awesome addenda by the community. Now, obviously this is 2 years later, so some sellers have modified how they do things. Namely, I've noticed that some... less scrupulous let's say, sellers are gutting upgraded parts, slapping cheaper hardware on and selling for the same price and then selling the hardware separately. Not always, but I've been seeing it more.
I started playing guitar July 10th in 1986. I have to say guitars today are built way better than what we had for most back in the 80's. Many guitars were hit and miss and if you wanted a really nice guitar you were going to pay some hard cash for it. Some of these off brand guitars today would have been a blessing for many of us back then who didn't have the money for fork out over a grand or more back in the 80's for a pro guitar.
Looking to get back into the game and am shopping around. Really liking your videos!
I love that you're so excited about seeing a great deal.
Thank you for the buyers tips bro; highly informative. Just subbed. G&G brought me to your channel btw.
I was expecting some click bait but some of these tips will be added to arsenal.
Micheal Kelly guitars are actually sick as well, I had a micheal kelly patriot that a really loved.
Excellent job! Great tips, many of which I have used before. You can also find B stock or blemished models thru many online retailers. I bought a PRS SE 245 with a blemish for much cheaper and the blemish is unnoticeable with Sweetwater. It was an unbelievable deal!!
Hey Max, Thanks to this video I found a Fender Jazzmaster that had $100 knocked off the price-it was (I think) a floor model) I originally bought a Squier Paranormal-I fell inlove with it a first sight but it constantly goes out of tune, which seems to be a chronic issue with this model (even the Fenders) Oh well. I will hang it on the wall as the work of art it is. Thanks for your videos. They are great.
Well thank you for helping us out a little bit because every time you do a video the prices go up laugh out loud on all the less-expensive guitars
I have a Fernandez. It has active EMGs and is a very high quality piece. It's a Darth Vader model so it's just for wall hanging. Fernandez and Burney (that Rick Nielsen plays) are the same company. They are very well made.
This sound valuable advice is appreciated.... For now when I look out for a guitar it's eBay - Auction - lowest Price & Postage and fingers crossed... Actually my 3rd one came in that way... Suddenly wanted Black Strat style with Maple neck... Bingo.. Charity shop auction... $30
I just got a new Dean Vendetta XMT Electric Guitar with Tremolo (Satin Natural Finish) on Musicians Friend for $97.46 including tax, free shipping; some reviews think it's great; some think it's in need of work. But I can do a setup and round off and polish the frets myself... Now ...do I upgrade the pickups to GFS or Seymour Duncans? Perhaps. I'll know more when it arrives. But that's half the fun isn't it? That's why we get guitars... to play them ~ and upgrade them when needed. SRV customized his guitars. We can too. BTW: Dean XMT's Rating on Amazon and Guitar Center : 4 Stars out of 5 for value.
Best deal I had was an ESP LTD EC1000 CTM with original case for $200. Thanks for the tips!
Great video Max! Maybe you could make a video similar to this, but with amps? I'm trying to figure out what I should watch out for when I buy a second hand tube amp
Recently bought a used Ibanez RG from 2002 japanese made for 2500 kr which is around $250. Has a nice gloss black finish, 24 frets, licensed Floyd Rose brigde and some Dimarzio humbuckers and a single coil in between. The only thing I had to to setupwise was to file down the fretends a little bit and changing to a new pair of strings and it played great
Good tips ! i recently bought on Reverb an Ibanez RGD7320z (7 strings) for 500$ (CAN) with the ibanez hard case. The guitar even had the pickup upgraded with Seymour duncan Nazgul/sentient but it was not listed in the description. But by the picture i could tell it was not the stock pickup. The orignal price was 999$ but i made an offer at 500$ and got it !
This channel should be called Guitar MIN, not Guitar MAX, because you're always getting the least expensive stuff. Good man
Another thing you can do if you live within short driving distance to the seller is simply message the guy and offer to buy the guitar with cash, off of reverb, if you can pick it up in person. I picked up a really cool Ibanez bass that way recently. Not only did I skip the shipping fee (obviously) but the guy took an additional $50 off because he appreciated the convenience (he was moving and looking to sell fast, so I guess I was lucky). He also saved on the Reverb commission, too.
Awesome tip and insight on finding cheaper gems
As a "Bottom Feeder" myself, I usually lurk the pawnshops and find some amazing deals. Last one I got was an Ibanez S521. It was hanging on the wall next to an Ibanez Gio, and they BOTH had an $89 price tag on them!! The S521 sells new for $399.... and the only thing wrong was the 5th fret sits a little high. If you know what to look for, there are deals to be had out there.
All these guitar prices even new seem ridiculously cheap compared to violins.
That's because they are; it's frightening how much violins cost versus any mass market instrument.
That's the magic of electric instruments. A slab of wood, a stick of wood for the neck, bolted or glued together, attach a few pieces of hardware (bridge, nut, tuners, etc), install the circuitry and the pickups. From there it just needs to be set up and aligned properly. All pretty inexpensive materials, and inexpensive labor to put it together. The hardest part is probably getting the scale dimensions accurate (the installation of the frets, bridge, nut, etc). You can leave some of that up to a machine, and it'll come out basically perfect every time for only the cost of the electricity to run the machines. a robot knows EXACTLY where to drill for the bridge. Adjustable bridge saddles and the like mean that absolute precision is pretty unnecessary anyway. Pretty incredible. Thanks Leo Fender!
Boi imagine this for a cello player. Just a decent bow alone is the same prices of these guitars, and a immediate player cello is ATLEAST 1000
Upright bass players arent allowed anything under 2000usd....
@@zerronyx1362 I've actually transitioned mostly towards guitar (electric, classical, and a 3/4 acoustic) just because of cost. A new set of strings and a bow cost more than a new guitar!
Man, I had stopped buying guitars around 5 years ago...and then I found your channel yesterday. Geez....
Excellent advice! I actually got the Gus G. LTD 200 model used in mint condition for $210. The deals are out there, just have to look 🎸
Great Video. I just can't wait for you digging up the Chibson!
Hi Max, Happy Holidays to You and All. Great tips... There is one important thing that needs to be said. Buying used gear means your buying a guitar with significant wear and tear that can be "sight unseen". You also do not know if the used gear has any major defects or damage. And also to note, just because retail vendor web sites say they will assist buyers in disputes with user gear, some times they have a "neutrality" to both the seller and buyer. One other thing, is check with your credit card company and see if they have a department number for disputes and fraud.. it helps for new and used gear to go that route. After close to 40 years writing and recording music (under PRO: BMI, Inc) there has been more than one time that I had to go that route. The more support you have "after the sale" the better. - "So says Mr.Tom... and so it was written" ;-)
Excellent video! Flawless, just five easy tips to get good and budget guitars. You are a genius! Thanks for sharing. Like button!
One of the key things that I do on any guitar center is to deal with floor management so that way I always ask for a deal cost below suggested retail price and sale and used cash on hand also check out the used and clearance department and they also have a guitar center outlet in San Yesidro in San Diego on where a buddy of mine found a nice America Highway one fender precision bass for 600 bucks with hard shell case brand new and it retail at 1,500 and got it for 600 bucks
bro glad you appreciate other brands.. i stopped buying guitars just for the name. great tips
It’s like you’ve done this before! Cheers Max, great tips!
The notion of getting a preowned guitar with mods is very familiar to me. I saw an Epiphone Les Paul in Cherry Sunburst upgraded w/ Gibson H’s at my old retailer’s shop in Sept. 1999. The retailer was only asking $400.00 USD for it, and I couldn’t say no. I played it most frequently from Oct. ‘99 until Dec. 2002 when a few things changed for me.
Love the pick up the black guitar
Have you ever thought about doing a video on pick up comparisons? With the man various pick ups on the market. it would be helpful to know what the actual differences of available pick ups and terminology. Pick ups are my most confusing parts to guitars, since I cannot afford to purchase enough to compare them. I see guitar comparisons, amp comparisons, even string comparisons. No pick up comparisons, even though these are the most important component on a guitar.
I was able to find a Sterling majesty recently loaded with Dimarzio pickups on ebay for a half of the price of the guitar new and ended up getting it even cheaper making an offer. I’ve done this many times.... it really depends on the seller and how long the guitar has been up on the site. It seems like I have more luck negotiating the price with pawn stores and music stores on reverb and ebay.
DBZ/Diamond guitars you can find for cheap on the used market because the brand name has no value and barely any advertising, but as far as I know the Korean made ones are built in the same factory as those $1000 Korean ESP guitars were (could be wrong). I got a DBZ Barchetta RX 7 basically brand new recently for $300 and it's a great playing guitar, mahogany/set neck/grover tuners/ emg 707s.
Good call! I've always wanted to play a DBZ!
Another strategy is to be patient. If I'm looking for something specific, I'll just get a feel for what they sell for by looking at prices on sold items (but I don't think you can do that on Reverb). Give it time and you'll eventually get a killer deal. But definitely a great list you've got here!
Yeah, I had a Mexico Strat paisley edition (no paisley edition in American) that I put a full set of SRV pickups into, had it pleked and setup by a very good luthier and replaced the dime pots with the larger Fender American pots. Sold it because I found that I am much more comfortable with Ibanez, Kramer, ESP/LTD and such with thin necks and flat fretboard. Never got my money out back out of it. Back in 2011-2012 or so, there were some serious clearance deals on a lot of brands. I got a couple of Ibanez (what would be Iron Label in just a year or so for 250.00 each on clearance from Sweetwater. There were a lot of great deals at that time. Couldn't buy those guitars for less than 700 today.
Great video Max... I'm just gonna send this link to my students instead of trying to explain it all myself 🤣
Aside: My friend clued me in on Michael Kelly guitars a while back, that's a hidden gem company for anyone who cares to do some mining (Maybe a future review?)
Wow dude what a great video!
It's great to hear some techniques and tricks for something behind the scenes like how to spot a good deal! More than just playing
Awesome!
setup's are a great investment also, there was a guy out in lakeland florida, at guitar center, was a magician at fret, intonation and nut work, new strings and polishing, and he set up all their used guitars free of charge but was well worth an additional 100 bucks! imho
Thanks man! Great tips! Looking for those Micheal Kelly's guitar on reverb right now 😄
This is my exact jam. I got a Hagstrom Northen Swede made in Europe for 500$ shipped. Every other listing I have seen for these are $1100+. They didn’t know what they had :) that and patience saves pockets. I wanted a schecter E-1 evil twin, waited long enough and got one for $600. Haven’t seen one listed for less than $999 since.
Also, have a price you want to pay and save a reverb search for that guitar with a max price of what you want to pay. If you are patient you can almost always get someone to list under that price. I have gotten some nice guitars, amps, and pedals with that method.
Funnily enough I frequent the Music Go Round that is selling the MH1000 at 3:50. Great guitar honestly and I'm surprised no one picked it up yet.
Great episode man. I use these same tactics. Great explanation for everyone!
Great video !!!!....i have GAS too......I just bought my 36th (current to my harem of ladies) and it's being delivered tomorrow!!!.....i already named her !!!!!!(I am running out of names) ....here is a great tip that I use - even if the seller doesn't list the instrument as - 'make an offer' I will personally email the seller and strike up a conversation with the person - after a friendly exchange - which happens more than not - I will than make an offer in the email - if they accept it - we arrange for them to pull and relist the guitar WHILE i am on the computer at the same time and I quickly move it to my cart .......this way of 'bidding under list' has worked for me on eBay and on Reverb .....Also - go to the *Music Go Round* home page - find a guitar u like and the store it's in - call that store directly and speak to a manager - tell them you will buy it immediately for (%???) Off and if they decline - tell them that if they change their mind to call you direct!!! .....I once had a mgr call me 6 months later cuz he was told to 'move product' and I got it for less than I originally offered (my music man John Petrucci Majesty on my Instagram page) ..........I have been collecting Guitars since 1977 and over 100 have passed thru my hands in these past four decades .....number #36 arrives tomorrow and my wife ......well......she told me I better take pix and log it In the safe because if I get abducted by aliens - she is selling my stuff the very next day!!!!..........I said to her - "you won't wait at least a week or two if I come back ???" .......she didn't even hesitate ......NOPE!!!.....
Great advice, so happy I watched this video.
Great advice ,This is a fantastic Channel.
Hi Max it's great when we can capitalize on great equipment and extras when going second hand. I have made mods to guitars and will never be able to recoup the money. it realy is a buyer's market. Take care Max from your pal Helcat in Australia.
I own a Michael Kelly Telecaster. And I Love it. My favorite guitar.
I gotta say you do a great job. Thank You 😊
Good advice! Thanks. I would like to see a video about those "unknown" Brands, that you (or in general) are recommended for to be checked out. I am sure, there's a lot of good stuff out there.
I always buy B-stock when I can. Sometimes the scratches on the guitar look cooler and more unique than the flawless finishes.
Good point!
You mean you don't pay $100s extra for a hand reliced guitar?
I bought an esp ltd 256 for 300 bucks off a guy on facebook who swaps stuff all the time. He didnt know it had a set dimarzio 36th anniversary paf in it. It also had a upgraded tone pro bridge, grover tuners on it too. I took off all the upgraded parts of it and loaded it back up with cheap asian parts i had laying around. A few dragonfire pups, knock off grovers and a basic tune o matic bridge and sold it for 300. So i got free grovers, dimarzio pups and a tone pro bridge that I loaded into a Gibson studio I had and then sold the gibson parts for a couple hundred altogether 😆. If your looking for great brands no one wants carvin, peavey usa, and fernendes are good bets.
MAX!
Thanx man!
Great recommendations!
love
Steve Holliday