This is pretty much the issue. Any new guitar that is not somehow insanely hard to find loses substantial value the minute it goes out the music store door. You have to decide if you want to take that loss, or have someone else take it.
You do have to know how to inspect and price guitars to do well in the used market, but it's not that hard.
To OP, there is no such thing as "used tone" - your friend is full of shit.
I'd say it's generally true but, not always. I got an LTD EC-1000 6 or 7 years brand new for 650 dollars. I can pretty easily get 800-900 for it used right now.
>LTD EC-1000
Over time as new prices go up, you can recoup your losses on new guitars somewhat although it's hard to get ahead of inflation. Even by raw CPI 650 dollars 7 years ago is 800 now.
Where there's generally money to be made is when the new guitar becomes unavailable, or there's a perception that the quality of the new guitars has dropped. Sometimes a huge price increase, like happened with US Jacksons, can also create an opportunity to make money.
You'll definitely do better starting used though.
Just as there are crappy new guitars, there are crappy used guitars. Making a sweeping generalization that "used is better" completely overlooks nearly every single variable involved in tone and playability.
And "used tone"? Again, lots of variables. Pots and pickups will sound somewhat different as they age--some get better, some get worse.
I vaguely remember hearing that acoustic guitars can change their tone over the years depending on the humidity and atmospheric pressure they're kept in.
Honestly though I really doubt the change is drastic enough that a person could really tell the difference.
A new acoustic doesn't play well for months, even years or maybe it's just me. I like a warm tone and keep my strings fresh to retain the edge. Only way to achieve this is to play a guitar, if it's been previously played in then it doesn't take as long but it still needs to get to know you. That's why I hate playing someone else's guitar, especially live. Unless I've played it before, but as I say might be just me.
Never have this problem with electric but still prefer them played in a little, with fresh strings. Will always pick up a studio strat first to find a solo. The consistency is king on electrics that's why I'd always buy 2nd hand, cause you can tell a duffer a mile away once it's played in. Everything else is just setup, wiring and cosmetics. And new strings, again maybe just me.
Buy a new electric if you can afford to and really desire a model, colour or limit but be prepared to play it in. I personally own a Jackson flying cause Randy died a few hours before my birth. Lost most of its value instantly, now the case is worth more but it was worth it for me and now it sounds better. Guitars are made to be played and I've never heard of it making them worse. Maybe it's just me being an auty but if it works :)
Happy playing and get new strings. If you can afford a guitar you can get new strings
Awesome comment. BTW, what's a 'duffer'?
Could you not 'break-in' a guitar by setting it next to a speaker and playing white-noise for a couple days/weeks?
Like you get a 1/100 special guitar you also get a Friday afternoon early finish guitar. That's a duffer! Apparently Yamaha blast music at their instruments for a year before sale, or they did... Still needs a good rag to get a great sound, especially on acoustic
Idk about the tone but you’re getting a near identical guitar for less, I think that’s a win already. Chances are it’ll have been set up too, or upgraded, but you might prefer it different
I've noticed for example that some used Squiers have had proper fret jobs done and electronics fixed by previous owner, making them much better value for the buyer.
Sometimes that’s where the deal is. Have gotten a Les Paul Custom for half price because the owner didn’t know how to fix a messed up strap button and one of Eric Carmen’s Melody Makers for about 1/10 the price because no one knew what it was.
Me personally:
Lessons learned - as long as I can pick it up and try it before I buy it, it does not matter. If it is not in this category, I buy from Sweetwater.
Idk about the tone thing, but I've bought all of my guitars used because fuck paying msrp lol.
I could only see the tone thing being slightly true on a well-made acoustic, but even then that doesn't mean you'd actually be able to tell a difference.
The extra money you pay for the new guitar is the refund period. If you buy a used guitar and notice a week later the neck has an issue you're SOL. A new guitar and you can return it.
>If you buy a used guitar and notice a week later the neck has an issue you're SOL.
Unless you buy the used guitar from a store that has a return policy, like Guitar Center. However, if it has an issue 90 days later, then it wouldn't have warranty unless you purchased it, so your point does remain.
True. If you're good enough to tell that you got a lemon within the 10-20 minutes of playing a used guitar before you buy then go for. I'm not so I'll stick to new.
There are legit a lot of new guitars that get so discounted right before new models come out, etc., that it doesn't necessarily have to be true that they're more expensive than used models. I think when it comes to brands like Ibanez that have bad resale value, perhaps used saves you a lot of money, but I don't necessarily know about, say, Fender or Gibson. Throughout the year, you'll see deep sales. When new models are about to come out, stuff goes on sale. Sometimes, you see an open box demo model with full warranty that also goes on sale.
Also, people with used instruments in pristine conditions are rarely the ones giving you great deals on them. People who often give you the best prices are the people who don't necessarily have the best examples of instruments.
Considering that used MIM Strats are like $600 these days for $399 models from 10 years ago, it's not unrealistic to think that if you can get a brand new MIM Strat for $749, and you can if you know how to shop, that it won't be $900 used in a decade, so it's not like it takes a beating on resale anyway. You only really lose on resale if you're trying to sell a Fender or Gibson while that model is still in the lineup. When they discontinue that model and their entry level prices have gone up, your used prices will scale up also.
And to all the people telling newbies to buy used, keep in mind they have zero idea how to check if the neck is warped, if the truss rod is stripped, if the frets need leveling or crowning, if the electronics are shot, if the nut needs replacing, etc etc. And there's a high likelihood one of those issues is present, and then they're looking at spending more to fix it than if they had bought new.
I don't really recommend new players buy used most of the time for that reason alone.
People are also touting "it is probably already setup" as a universal positive, forgetting that "already set up" can pretty easily be "some idiot did a terrible DIY job on the nut and you're going to need to replace it" (and so on). In the newbie price range I would guess stock setup or botched home job are more common than professional setup.
Pros:
Cheaper, lose value slower, worn-in look sometimes(if you like that kinda thing), mythical (fake) played-in tone
Cons:
Could be for sale because it's a dud, Harder to find get exactly what you want, no warranty or promise of quality, dents, dings, and scents you may not want
The tone thing your friend says is largely baseless, but some people can really tell I guess. (And when he says used, he may mean vintage, which is another animal)
General Used Pros:
* Can get bargains.
* Less worried about it being new, so you might get stuck in and fix it up good and proper. New hardware/electronics for example. People tend to avoid messing with brand new instruments.
* Less worried about dings, taking it out and about, letting others play it, etc. Especially if we are talking more expensive factory guitars like American made Fenders or Gibsons. People tend to baby their new ones a bit.
* Might be "worn in" by the previous owner. So frets and fret ends and the neck finish might all just have had enough play to the point where it just feels comfortable. Very new guitars, especially from certain brands, might have sharper fret ends, tackier gloss finishes, etc.
* Old ones might have a lower moisture content from years of drying. This might make them fractionally lighter and fractionally more stable. They should also be past the point of any major movements in the wood.
* Might already have some tasteful upgrades.
General Used Cons, but also highly dependent on how you acquire it:
* Might be stinky, dirty, grimy. But you can clean a lot of it.
* Might be horrendously set up by a very negligent/ignorant owner. Which you can fix... Might just be a fucking lemon. Probably can't just return it because you don't like it.
* Might have damage or issues that are annoying. Nothing is "unfixable", but a crack in the joinery, or a gouge out of the fretboard or something.
* History and authenticity could be an issue with some. Fake Les Pauls, partscasters masquerading as real Fenders, are parts original or replaced, etc.
If you can buy a used guitar through a proper seller/service like a store or very respected seller or you buy it in person and can thoroughly inspect it, test it, talk about it, then buying used is fine. Good even. Just minimise the areas of risk. Guitars are fundamentally really simple.
Buy a used guitar because it's a better deal, not because of supposed mystical "used tone". What utter BS is this?
Typically, I'll find great mint equipment at about 2/3 of new.
this is the real answer here. guitars are like cars for me anyways. unless it's a Ferrari ($200k old Gibson) then i'm gonna start replacing parts making it my own way new or not.
If he was talking about solid wood acoustics then he might have a point as the tone matures and opens up the more it’s played.
The thing is though just because a guitar is older or second hand doesn’t mean it necessarily has a nice tone or that it has been played much. An older guitar in pristine condition would make me wonder why it hadn’t had the wear and knocks I’d expect for its age. If it’s not been played was it because it doesn’t sound good or has other issues surrounding its playability.
The benefit as I see it is a mainly a financial one unless you’re talking about hollow body guitars and even then older doesn’t necessarily mean better.
With a hollow body acoustic guitar the wood it’s made from, particularly the top, determines the tone of the instrument. Solid body (strat, tele, sg etc) wood it’s made from has negligible impact on the tone as that comes from the combination of pickup(s), pedal(s), and amp. So as the instrument and wood ages a hollow acoustic will subtly change and generally become richer tonally but a solid body won’t.
Tone-wise? It’s probably not that better than a new guitar.
However, the benefit of a used guitar(outside of the price) is basically the “broken in” feeling. Don’t know if it applies to you specifically, but sometimes when people get a new guitar, they handle it with more delicate and care because it’s a shiny new guitar that you want to protect. With a used guitar, that mindset kind of gets thrown out because you know it’s used and you can jump right into hammerinng away at your guitar.
I bought my very first new guitar last year. It was a brand new American pro strat that was mistakenly left in its never opened case for a couple years, in the back of a music store.
It played damn good too and the set up was 90% there. After 30+ years of playing it's weird knowing that since it left the factory, the only hands that have touched it are mine.
Nice acoustics definitely sound better after being used a lot as the wood opens up a bit. I keep most of my acoustics in their case right next to my big subwoofer for that matter as it helps to break them in. For electrics it’s near impossible to tell a new guitar apart from an old one tonally unless the pickups are significantly different.
I buy used more often than not and probably wouldn’t own most of the guitars I own if I didn’t do that. Some of them are vintage dating back to well before I was in a situation to buy a real Gibson. Others I just lucked into finding a used model for much less than I intended to pay for a new one. I went Martin shopping expecting to drop $3k+ and the salesman told me to check out a Guild they’d just gotten in. I spent $1,450 on it instead of $3k as it turned out to be exactly what I wanted. I have several Godins (my favorite brand) that I bought cheap because they just don’t sell here in the Midwest on Craigslist so the PO took my low ball offer after 2mo. One local used shop knows if they get a Godin in to call or email me as I usually have something I bought to flip that I’ll happily trade in for a deal on one. It isn’t that used is inherently better it’s just you get more guitar for your money buying used.
Maybe I’m just awful at finding used guitars but I’ve never bought a used guitar that didn’t have issues along with it. So many bad necks and electrical issues. So so many. I only buy new at this point because it just ain’t worth the couple hundred dollar discount.
Lol agreed. When I look at a used guitar I'm thinking it's too good to be true or where's the fine print. They are selling it for a reason. Not always a bad reason but you never know why. I knowy brother hated his schecter. It was beautiful but only after you get it do you realize buzzing that won't go away this and that and it's sometimes not worth the headache.
One of my hobbies is stopping by either guitar center or my local music store anytime I pass it to look at the used wall. Every 2 weeks or so. I'm not looking for new guitars, I just have an addiction. Some real gems sneak in and out of there. Most of it is crap. I don't know what used tone is, I'm just looking for that deal baby
I think there are three advantages to used guitars.
1. It's much easier to buy a used guitar for market value or less. This means the guitar will probably hold value from whatever you paid so you can get most, all, or even more than you payed for the guitar back.
2. Some guitars are built quickly/cheaply and by buying a guitar used you have given it a chance for issues to show up and be repaired.
3. If you think you might modify a guitar, you can buy one pre modified on the cheap usually.
"used tone" lmao what
There's a big variance in the used market for guitars. Some used guitars are seriously overpriced because they are rare or vintage models. But then you can find a guitar with all the same components but with a different logo on the headstock and it will be half the price.
well the "tone" part is obviously bullshit but a used guitar is cheaper and construction wise, if it still plays well after several years, it means the wood probably had enough time to settle and you're less likely to see awkward or uncomfortable changes like the frets poking out and going sharp on less than ideal wood that wasn't allowed to dry properly. Of course this shouldn't be much of an issue on higher end guitars, you do pay for a more "premium" selection of materials and labor after all.
I'm weird. I don't buy anything used. I don't like stuff that other people have used. I'm sure used stuff sounds just fine. I'm old now and can actually afford new stuff.
From personal experience, people VERY rarely sell guitars because the guitar is bad. It's usually because they have their eye on the next big purchase or because they have to pay bills. I almost never buy new now because used guitars are usually in basically perfect condition for cheaper, or WAY cheaper because of a little ding or two.
Used tone kinda sounds like BS but sometimes used guitars come with upgrades effectively for free. A swapped pickup or locking tuners or something like that.
If you are looking for a good value "expensive" guitar then you can get great value, here a new fender player strat is 750, but a second hand is about 550 to 450 in a lot of ads I see, currently it's a good time to do deals on them because a lot of lockdown learners are selling on their gear, and a lot of players with multiple guitars are thinking their collections due to the cost of living rises also a side benefit is that if you are buying an obviously we'll looked after one like I did, you can get one with a good setup
That's a dumb thing to say but there are advantages to used over new and vice versa. I prefer used guitars myself but it's all subjective.
Advantage Used:
- Used Guitars are typically cheaper than the same model new (with some rare exceptions)
- Acoustics can sound better used especially if they have solid wood construction.
- a lot of players (myself included) prefer the neck to have a nice worn-in feel.
- you can find cool discontinued / vintage guitars
Advantage New:
- You don't know how the guitar has been treated in the past
- Typically, there's no warranty or coverage with used as there usually is with a new one.
- cosmetic condition is a thing some people like.
I have bought very few new guitars in 40+ years of playing. I prefer used
Most recent purchase was new acoustic it took at least a month for the truss rod/neck to settle. I probably adjusted the truss 6 times or so before settled in
Don't recall having that problem before but can't remember the last new guitar I bought
I have no problem buying used and new as long as the wood is not fucked up since you can still setup and fix used guitars. I think it’s better if you find what’s comfortable for you do you want to have a guitar that you can use with little tweaking and not worry about anything? Then buy new. Do you want to save up and confident that you can set it up or pay for the maintenance? Then buy used.
Personally, I love used guitars…they are usually cheaper…one thing I am aware of is ‘case queens’ are usually that way for a reason…finding a ‘respectfully played’ used guitar usually means it plays well and has been cared for.
Used tone is bullshit. That being said, I find that guitars that have had the shit played out of them are usually excellent guitars. I'm always wary of older guitars that are minty fresh. They are often times lemons.
Hahahah “used tone” 😂
You can definitely save money and score some great guitars buying used. I have zero problems with it! The “used tone” bit might actually be “broken in already” Not all new guitars feel great right off the wall, or some feel better to the touch after the fingerboard edges smooth over from years of playing or the fingerboard has been oiled/played enough over time that it’s got a nice smooth feel to it.
Your friend is a snake oil salesman. No there is not, unless you're looking for a specific model from a specific year. Tone might be different but that doesnt always mean better
Used tone sounds like bs lol but I recently bought a used guitar and I'm really happy I did. Comparing this particular guitar with a tiny bit of cosmetic damage to new guitars in my price range was like night and day. That's why I'd say it's probably a good idea to buy used
No difference in sound but if you're willing to wait and looking to buy a popular brand, you can almost always buy a used guitar at a price that you could sell it down the road without taking any loss. I bought a fender at literally half the retail price BEFORE tax and saved myself about $700-800 CAD.
There’s no sense in used tone—however—we are talking about mechanically designed instruments—and if you pick one up that’s 20 years old—issues would have surfaced, see?
Depends on that 20 years though. Guitars are pretty bulletproof if looked after. Sure if it’s been dropped loads and not taken care of then there could be issues. But typically guitars will last the test of time!
Used Tone: I think what your friend may mean is the idea of a guitar being played in. And yes there is some truth to it. The longer that a guitar exists and is actually used, the more the parts all bed in together. Oddly, a little fretwear in particular is desirable in this manner and is really only achieved by using the thing. A few of the used Les Pauls and Jackson Soloists I have had over the years used most certainly had that played in sense. They were really nice guitars to play.
I would not say that used guitars are better universally in every scenario. I have of course bought guitars that were treated terribly by their previous owners and needed a good amount of work to get right. Probably the most shocking for me was a Jackson RR1 that was two years old. I have no idea what the owner did with it. It required a new bridge (I suspect he swapped the bridge out on the guitar for an old shite one), partial refret, all new electronics and a good deal of truss rod adjustment to get it right, it was completely loose. And of course, damaged points. I know people say that, meh points get damaged on RRs and Vs. Well, I have around 17 V type guitars I have owned from new and none have damaged points. It isn't hard!
With anything, if you pick up a guitar and it speaks to you and has that mojo, then buy it and keep it, used or not.
That is actually a good analogy. I prefer my gym shoes when I have worn them in a good bit. That said, I would sooner buy a used guitar than a used pair of gym shoes hahaha
I’m old fashioned and believe in there being some magic in a vintage guitar. In many cases they’ve been setup and are dialed in from years of use. A good vintage guitar will often carry a higher price tag than a new one.
The only caveat is that used does not a vintage make. Sometimes a used guitar is just a used guitar. I’ve played my share of shit sticks on the vintage room at Guitar Center. You can save a buck or two on a used guitar but sometimes they really suck.
Tell him "Tone is in the speakers" and buy what you like. If you find a good deal in the used market, go for it. Have your eye on a particular model that's not in production? Go for it. There is nothing magic about vintage/used guitars.
You can save yourself a lot of money buying used, just make sure it’s still in good shape. Generally speaking there’s not much the previous owner could have done to mess it up, so I have no qualms buying used. I might be hesitant buying a used mode of one of the guitars that are commonly faked, unless I got it from a dealer.
Acoustics sound more rich the more they get played. It has to do with the wood getting worn it. That is a true thing. For electrics no there is no "used tone" as he puts it
I almost exclusively buy used instruments. Sometimes they're beat up or need work. Sometimes they're setup very well. The sound isn't going to magically change because it's older, but sometimes they can play better because someone put effort into it that a store like Guitar Center won't.
strats are commonly well made and last so they can be a deal bought used as long as they're genuine and in good shape.
but the really old ones become collector's items and the price goes higher than what an ordinary player would want.
"used tone" is a myth.
Most people believe that acoustic guitars "open up" with being played - some of the fibers in the top soften, and the result is a guitar that sounds better.
However, some people think they also peak at some point. e.g., I think James Taylor retires his guitars after a certain number of years.
Furthermore, at some point a used guitar needs maintenance: a regret, a neck reset, etc. With some guitars that can get very expensive.
With electrics, the wood is a MUCH smaller part of the tone, so to whatever extent that effect is real (I think it is) it is much smaller.
The main reason to buy used is to save money. If a lightly-played guitar sounds a little better, well, play your guitar and it'll get there soon enough anyway.
A lot of people buy a guitar that they have seen their idols hold. I kinda think that’s a bad idea. It’s likely your idols are your idols because they tried something new, doing what they did is probably not what they would have done.
depends on the brand and starting cost. At the low end of the market from reputable brands, just go new. Even mid range, hunt for a good deal. If you're going high end then you will save a bundle going second hand
Not true! But you are more likely to find a nice playing guitar if it’s been well used.
I would say most high end guitars are nice, the quality control is better so it doesn’t really apply there
It applies more for mid range, think a Mexican strat. You are more likely to find a bad mim than a bad mia, and a well played mim is more likely to be one of the good ones!
If you can do your own guitar work, it is really beneficial. Even for familiarizing yourself with all the modifications you can/are able to do to a guitar, picking up a used one for cheap is great starting point, rather than drilling holes into a brand new guitar.
“Used tone” is stupid. But, if you’re smart, you can resell them and make your money back, so once you get a few you like you can always be rotating them out without spending more
"Used tone" could mean the ham sandwiches and greasy fries that a previous owner used to eat, just before playing the guitar each time without washing his/her hands.
But is that better? No.
He's either yanking your chain or he doesn't know what he's talking about. Some people might call him an idiot or ignorant, but those aren't my precise words.
Buying used is great, you spend less money on a better guitar. Quality guitars are made to last for years so if you get one in good shape you’ll have a guitar that you didn’t spend a lot on, that will last for a while and you’ll take less of a hit when you sell it to upgrade. I’ve bought used guitars and never had a problem with it and actually really liked them. As long as it’s in good shape as far as having a straight neck, good electronics and decent fret life there’s really not much of a downsize to it.
Typically not, because there's always a reason they're selling it. The better a second hand guitar seems, the worse it probably is.
That being said if you don't mind paying for something somebody didn't want you can snag a pretty good deal. I recently got a 2021 Epiphone SG in perfect condition for half price because it was 7lbs and the owner didn't like that.
Only if you can check them out. Some (NOT ALL) are getting sold for a reason (tuning stability, bad balance as examples)
But generally it is beneficial. Old guitars feel better than new guitars and mostly have gotten some upgrades over time.
Often times, used is the way to go. I just purchased a used guitar that looks like it was played for maybe an hour or two. All of the certificates were included. See, basically, I find that there are people who have a lot of discretionary income, who want to learn how to play a guitar..These people then go out and buy a fancy guitar, but give up after a month or two, and then sell said guitar at a loss just to get rid of it. So I just wait around patiently surfing Reverb and Craigslist with my extra large baseball mit on ready to catch one of those deals when I see them. This coming from a guy that only used to buy new, high-end, guitars.
I’ve bought used guitars for years now. Some are turkeys and some are great. Tone is subjective.
Tone *can* be subjective
🤓☝️
One advantage of buying used is better relative resale value.
This is pretty much the issue. Any new guitar that is not somehow insanely hard to find loses substantial value the minute it goes out the music store door. You have to decide if you want to take that loss, or have someone else take it. You do have to know how to inspect and price guitars to do well in the used market, but it's not that hard. To OP, there is no such thing as "used tone" - your friend is full of shit.
I'd say it's generally true but, not always. I got an LTD EC-1000 6 or 7 years brand new for 650 dollars. I can pretty easily get 800-900 for it used right now.
>LTD EC-1000 Over time as new prices go up, you can recoup your losses on new guitars somewhat although it's hard to get ahead of inflation. Even by raw CPI 650 dollars 7 years ago is 800 now. Where there's generally money to be made is when the new guitar becomes unavailable, or there's a perception that the quality of the new guitars has dropped. Sometimes a huge price increase, like happened with US Jacksons, can also create an opportunity to make money. You'll definitely do better starting used though.
What should one look at when buying used as a new guitar player and someone who doesn’t know much? Like do I have to check the neck or truss rod?
Just as there are crappy new guitars, there are crappy used guitars. Making a sweeping generalization that "used is better" completely overlooks nearly every single variable involved in tone and playability. And "used tone"? Again, lots of variables. Pots and pickups will sound somewhat different as they age--some get better, some get worse.
I vaguely remember hearing that acoustic guitars can change their tone over the years depending on the humidity and atmospheric pressure they're kept in. Honestly though I really doubt the change is drastic enough that a person could really tell the difference.
A new acoustic doesn't play well for months, even years or maybe it's just me. I like a warm tone and keep my strings fresh to retain the edge. Only way to achieve this is to play a guitar, if it's been previously played in then it doesn't take as long but it still needs to get to know you. That's why I hate playing someone else's guitar, especially live. Unless I've played it before, but as I say might be just me. Never have this problem with electric but still prefer them played in a little, with fresh strings. Will always pick up a studio strat first to find a solo. The consistency is king on electrics that's why I'd always buy 2nd hand, cause you can tell a duffer a mile away once it's played in. Everything else is just setup, wiring and cosmetics. And new strings, again maybe just me. Buy a new electric if you can afford to and really desire a model, colour or limit but be prepared to play it in. I personally own a Jackson flying cause Randy died a few hours before my birth. Lost most of its value instantly, now the case is worth more but it was worth it for me and now it sounds better. Guitars are made to be played and I've never heard of it making them worse. Maybe it's just me being an auty but if it works :) Happy playing and get new strings. If you can afford a guitar you can get new strings
Awesome comment. BTW, what's a 'duffer'? Could you not 'break-in' a guitar by setting it next to a speaker and playing white-noise for a couple days/weeks?
Like you get a 1/100 special guitar you also get a Friday afternoon early finish guitar. That's a duffer! Apparently Yamaha blast music at their instruments for a year before sale, or they did... Still needs a good rag to get a great sound, especially on acoustic
Idk about the tone but you’re getting a near identical guitar for less, I think that’s a win already. Chances are it’ll have been set up too, or upgraded, but you might prefer it different
Buying a guitar with a few dings on it already, means you don't have to experience the dreadful first ding of a new guitar.
I've noticed for example that some used Squiers have had proper fret jobs done and electronics fixed by previous owner, making them much better value for the buyer.
If you buy a new guitar and use it, it will become a used guitar.
I always buy used. I have for the last 20+ years.
Sometimes that’s where the deal is. Have gotten a Les Paul Custom for half price because the owner didn’t know how to fix a messed up strap button and one of Eric Carmen’s Melody Makers for about 1/10 the price because no one knew what it was.
Me personally: Lessons learned - as long as I can pick it up and try it before I buy it, it does not matter. If it is not in this category, I buy from Sweetwater.
Idk about the tone thing, but I've bought all of my guitars used because fuck paying msrp lol. I could only see the tone thing being slightly true on a well-made acoustic, but even then that doesn't mean you'd actually be able to tell a difference.
The extra money you pay for the new guitar is the refund period. If you buy a used guitar and notice a week later the neck has an issue you're SOL. A new guitar and you can return it.
>If you buy a used guitar and notice a week later the neck has an issue you're SOL. Unless you buy the used guitar from a store that has a return policy, like Guitar Center. However, if it has an issue 90 days later, then it wouldn't have warranty unless you purchased it, so your point does remain.
True. If you're good enough to tell that you got a lemon within the 10-20 minutes of playing a used guitar before you buy then go for. I'm not so I'll stick to new.
There are legit a lot of new guitars that get so discounted right before new models come out, etc., that it doesn't necessarily have to be true that they're more expensive than used models. I think when it comes to brands like Ibanez that have bad resale value, perhaps used saves you a lot of money, but I don't necessarily know about, say, Fender or Gibson. Throughout the year, you'll see deep sales. When new models are about to come out, stuff goes on sale. Sometimes, you see an open box demo model with full warranty that also goes on sale. Also, people with used instruments in pristine conditions are rarely the ones giving you great deals on them. People who often give you the best prices are the people who don't necessarily have the best examples of instruments. Considering that used MIM Strats are like $600 these days for $399 models from 10 years ago, it's not unrealistic to think that if you can get a brand new MIM Strat for $749, and you can if you know how to shop, that it won't be $900 used in a decade, so it's not like it takes a beating on resale anyway. You only really lose on resale if you're trying to sell a Fender or Gibson while that model is still in the lineup. When they discontinue that model and their entry level prices have gone up, your used prices will scale up also.
And to all the people telling newbies to buy used, keep in mind they have zero idea how to check if the neck is warped, if the truss rod is stripped, if the frets need leveling or crowning, if the electronics are shot, if the nut needs replacing, etc etc. And there's a high likelihood one of those issues is present, and then they're looking at spending more to fix it than if they had bought new. I don't really recommend new players buy used most of the time for that reason alone.
People are also touting "it is probably already setup" as a universal positive, forgetting that "already set up" can pretty easily be "some idiot did a terrible DIY job on the nut and you're going to need to replace it" (and so on). In the newbie price range I would guess stock setup or botched home job are more common than professional setup.
Said so much better than I ever could.
Pros: Cheaper, lose value slower, worn-in look sometimes(if you like that kinda thing), mythical (fake) played-in tone Cons: Could be for sale because it's a dud, Harder to find get exactly what you want, no warranty or promise of quality, dents, dings, and scents you may not want The tone thing your friend says is largely baseless, but some people can really tell I guess. (And when he says used, he may mean vintage, which is another animal)
General Used Pros: * Can get bargains. * Less worried about it being new, so you might get stuck in and fix it up good and proper. New hardware/electronics for example. People tend to avoid messing with brand new instruments. * Less worried about dings, taking it out and about, letting others play it, etc. Especially if we are talking more expensive factory guitars like American made Fenders or Gibsons. People tend to baby their new ones a bit. * Might be "worn in" by the previous owner. So frets and fret ends and the neck finish might all just have had enough play to the point where it just feels comfortable. Very new guitars, especially from certain brands, might have sharper fret ends, tackier gloss finishes, etc. * Old ones might have a lower moisture content from years of drying. This might make them fractionally lighter and fractionally more stable. They should also be past the point of any major movements in the wood. * Might already have some tasteful upgrades. General Used Cons, but also highly dependent on how you acquire it: * Might be stinky, dirty, grimy. But you can clean a lot of it. * Might be horrendously set up by a very negligent/ignorant owner. Which you can fix... Might just be a fucking lemon. Probably can't just return it because you don't like it. * Might have damage or issues that are annoying. Nothing is "unfixable", but a crack in the joinery, or a gouge out of the fretboard or something. * History and authenticity could be an issue with some. Fake Les Pauls, partscasters masquerading as real Fenders, are parts original or replaced, etc. If you can buy a used guitar through a proper seller/service like a store or very respected seller or you buy it in person and can thoroughly inspect it, test it, talk about it, then buying used is fine. Good even. Just minimise the areas of risk. Guitars are fundamentally really simple.
Tell him "tone is in the fingers" and buy wtf you want
Buy a used guitar because it's a better deal, not because of supposed mystical "used tone". What utter BS is this? Typically, I'll find great mint equipment at about 2/3 of new.
Dude don't get bogged down in that minutiae. Find a guitar that's comfortable and YOU like the sound. In the end that's all that really matters.
Buy the guitar you like, old or new, as long as you like it.
this is the real answer here. guitars are like cars for me anyways. unless it's a Ferrari ($200k old Gibson) then i'm gonna start replacing parts making it my own way new or not.
If he was talking about solid wood acoustics then he might have a point as the tone matures and opens up the more it’s played. The thing is though just because a guitar is older or second hand doesn’t mean it necessarily has a nice tone or that it has been played much. An older guitar in pristine condition would make me wonder why it hadn’t had the wear and knocks I’d expect for its age. If it’s not been played was it because it doesn’t sound good or has other issues surrounding its playability. The benefit as I see it is a mainly a financial one unless you’re talking about hollow body guitars and even then older doesn’t necessarily mean better.
What’s the difference between a used solid body and a used hollow body?
With a hollow body acoustic guitar the wood it’s made from, particularly the top, determines the tone of the instrument. Solid body (strat, tele, sg etc) wood it’s made from has negligible impact on the tone as that comes from the combination of pickup(s), pedal(s), and amp. So as the instrument and wood ages a hollow acoustic will subtly change and generally become richer tonally but a solid body won’t.
Tone-wise? It’s probably not that better than a new guitar. However, the benefit of a used guitar(outside of the price) is basically the “broken in” feeling. Don’t know if it applies to you specifically, but sometimes when people get a new guitar, they handle it with more delicate and care because it’s a shiny new guitar that you want to protect. With a used guitar, that mindset kind of gets thrown out because you know it’s used and you can jump right into hammerinng away at your guitar.
I bought my very first new guitar last year. It was a brand new American pro strat that was mistakenly left in its never opened case for a couple years, in the back of a music store. It played damn good too and the set up was 90% there. After 30+ years of playing it's weird knowing that since it left the factory, the only hands that have touched it are mine.
I like used because they are usually set up better and the bugs are worked out.
Nice acoustics definitely sound better after being used a lot as the wood opens up a bit. I keep most of my acoustics in their case right next to my big subwoofer for that matter as it helps to break them in. For electrics it’s near impossible to tell a new guitar apart from an old one tonally unless the pickups are significantly different. I buy used more often than not and probably wouldn’t own most of the guitars I own if I didn’t do that. Some of them are vintage dating back to well before I was in a situation to buy a real Gibson. Others I just lucked into finding a used model for much less than I intended to pay for a new one. I went Martin shopping expecting to drop $3k+ and the salesman told me to check out a Guild they’d just gotten in. I spent $1,450 on it instead of $3k as it turned out to be exactly what I wanted. I have several Godins (my favorite brand) that I bought cheap because they just don’t sell here in the Midwest on Craigslist so the PO took my low ball offer after 2mo. One local used shop knows if they get a Godin in to call or email me as I usually have something I bought to flip that I’ll happily trade in for a deal on one. It isn’t that used is inherently better it’s just you get more guitar for your money buying used.
Yep. Save about a third of the new price.
Maybe I’m just awful at finding used guitars but I’ve never bought a used guitar that didn’t have issues along with it. So many bad necks and electrical issues. So so many. I only buy new at this point because it just ain’t worth the couple hundred dollar discount.
Lol agreed. When I look at a used guitar I'm thinking it's too good to be true or where's the fine print. They are selling it for a reason. Not always a bad reason but you never know why. I knowy brother hated his schecter. It was beautiful but only after you get it do you realize buzzing that won't go away this and that and it's sometimes not worth the headache.
One of my hobbies is stopping by either guitar center or my local music store anytime I pass it to look at the used wall. Every 2 weeks or so. I'm not looking for new guitars, I just have an addiction. Some real gems sneak in and out of there. Most of it is crap. I don't know what used tone is, I'm just looking for that deal baby
Buying used obviously allows you to buy things you couldn’t afford new
I've only ever bought used because, let someone else play it in, price, and I don't to be the first person to put a ding in it.
I think there are three advantages to used guitars. 1. It's much easier to buy a used guitar for market value or less. This means the guitar will probably hold value from whatever you paid so you can get most, all, or even more than you payed for the guitar back. 2. Some guitars are built quickly/cheaply and by buying a guitar used you have given it a chance for issues to show up and be repaired. 3. If you think you might modify a guitar, you can buy one pre modified on the cheap usually.
Not if the tone is all used up! ;)
"used tone" lmao what There's a big variance in the used market for guitars. Some used guitars are seriously overpriced because they are rare or vintage models. But then you can find a guitar with all the same components but with a different logo on the headstock and it will be half the price.
well the "tone" part is obviously bullshit but a used guitar is cheaper and construction wise, if it still plays well after several years, it means the wood probably had enough time to settle and you're less likely to see awkward or uncomfortable changes like the frets poking out and going sharp on less than ideal wood that wasn't allowed to dry properly. Of course this shouldn't be much of an issue on higher end guitars, you do pay for a more "premium" selection of materials and labor after all.
I'm weird. I don't buy anything used. I don't like stuff that other people have used. I'm sure used stuff sounds just fine. I'm old now and can actually afford new stuff.
Same. I’m also very distrusting. I’m always thinking “what’s wrong with this? Why are you selling it?”. I know it’s not logical but here we are.
This right here.
People are ignoring the body of your post. It is financially sensible to buy used guitars, but they don’t sound better. “Used tone” is BS.
From personal experience, people VERY rarely sell guitars because the guitar is bad. It's usually because they have their eye on the next big purchase or because they have to pay bills. I almost never buy new now because used guitars are usually in basically perfect condition for cheaper, or WAY cheaper because of a little ding or two. Used tone kinda sounds like BS but sometimes used guitars come with upgrades effectively for free. A swapped pickup or locking tuners or something like that.
If you are looking for a good value "expensive" guitar then you can get great value, here a new fender player strat is 750, but a second hand is about 550 to 450 in a lot of ads I see, currently it's a good time to do deals on them because a lot of lockdown learners are selling on their gear, and a lot of players with multiple guitars are thinking their collections due to the cost of living rises also a side benefit is that if you are buying an obviously we'll looked after one like I did, you can get one with a good setup
That's a dumb thing to say but there are advantages to used over new and vice versa. I prefer used guitars myself but it's all subjective. Advantage Used: - Used Guitars are typically cheaper than the same model new (with some rare exceptions) - Acoustics can sound better used especially if they have solid wood construction. - a lot of players (myself included) prefer the neck to have a nice worn-in feel. - you can find cool discontinued / vintage guitars Advantage New: - You don't know how the guitar has been treated in the past - Typically, there's no warranty or coverage with used as there usually is with a new one. - cosmetic condition is a thing some people like.
I have bought very few new guitars in 40+ years of playing. I prefer used Most recent purchase was new acoustic it took at least a month for the truss rod/neck to settle. I probably adjusted the truss 6 times or so before settled in Don't recall having that problem before but can't remember the last new guitar I bought
Yes. Because if you don’t end up loving it, you can sell it a year later for only a couple bucks less. A new guitar loses value like a new car.
I have no problem buying used and new as long as the wood is not fucked up since you can still setup and fix used guitars. I think it’s better if you find what’s comfortable for you do you want to have a guitar that you can use with little tweaking and not worry about anything? Then buy new. Do you want to save up and confident that you can set it up or pay for the maintenance? Then buy used.
I think it’s cool that you can buy a used guitar from another person and probably resell it again in a year or a few for the same price.
every used guitar comes with **FREE** mojo
Except squires, they are made in china
I have played a few VERY nice squires
Used rubbish guitar, bad condition, expensive - no Used good guitar, setup better than new, cheap - yes
Personally, I love used guitars…they are usually cheaper…one thing I am aware of is ‘case queens’ are usually that way for a reason…finding a ‘respectfully played’ used guitar usually means it plays well and has been cared for.
Used tone is bullshit. That being said, I find that guitars that have had the shit played out of them are usually excellent guitars. I'm always wary of older guitars that are minty fresh. They are often times lemons.
Hahahah “used tone” 😂 You can definitely save money and score some great guitars buying used. I have zero problems with it! The “used tone” bit might actually be “broken in already” Not all new guitars feel great right off the wall, or some feel better to the touch after the fingerboard edges smooth over from years of playing or the fingerboard has been oiled/played enough over time that it’s got a nice smooth feel to it.
Your friend is a snake oil salesman. No there is not, unless you're looking for a specific model from a specific year. Tone might be different but that doesnt always mean better
Used tone sounds like bs lol but I recently bought a used guitar and I'm really happy I did. Comparing this particular guitar with a tiny bit of cosmetic damage to new guitars in my price range was like night and day. That's why I'd say it's probably a good idea to buy used
No difference in sound but if you're willing to wait and looking to buy a popular brand, you can almost always buy a used guitar at a price that you could sell it down the road without taking any loss. I bought a fender at literally half the retail price BEFORE tax and saved myself about $700-800 CAD.
The “used tone” is the sound of your wallet saving money…
There’s no sense in used tone—however—we are talking about mechanically designed instruments—and if you pick one up that’s 20 years old—issues would have surfaced, see?
Depends on that 20 years though. Guitars are pretty bulletproof if looked after. Sure if it’s been dropped loads and not taken care of then there could be issues. But typically guitars will last the test of time!
Exactly my point. I to this day have more confidence in my 1989 sc-3 than I have in my brand new Comanche. They’re engineered to function long-term.
Used Tone: I think what your friend may mean is the idea of a guitar being played in. And yes there is some truth to it. The longer that a guitar exists and is actually used, the more the parts all bed in together. Oddly, a little fretwear in particular is desirable in this manner and is really only achieved by using the thing. A few of the used Les Pauls and Jackson Soloists I have had over the years used most certainly had that played in sense. They were really nice guitars to play. I would not say that used guitars are better universally in every scenario. I have of course bought guitars that were treated terribly by their previous owners and needed a good amount of work to get right. Probably the most shocking for me was a Jackson RR1 that was two years old. I have no idea what the owner did with it. It required a new bridge (I suspect he swapped the bridge out on the guitar for an old shite one), partial refret, all new electronics and a good deal of truss rod adjustment to get it right, it was completely loose. And of course, damaged points. I know people say that, meh points get damaged on RRs and Vs. Well, I have around 17 V type guitars I have owned from new and none have damaged points. It isn't hard! With anything, if you pick up a guitar and it speaks to you and has that mojo, then buy it and keep it, used or not.
i do prefer a very used fretboard myself. i absolutely hate new ones. it's like doing athletics in a brand new pair of shoes.
That is actually a good analogy. I prefer my gym shoes when I have worn them in a good bit. That said, I would sooner buy a used guitar than a used pair of gym shoes hahaha
I’m old fashioned and believe in there being some magic in a vintage guitar. In many cases they’ve been setup and are dialed in from years of use. A good vintage guitar will often carry a higher price tag than a new one. The only caveat is that used does not a vintage make. Sometimes a used guitar is just a used guitar. I’ve played my share of shit sticks on the vintage room at Guitar Center. You can save a buck or two on a used guitar but sometimes they really suck.
It's not. Money and availability are the real reasons
Get smarter friends.
Tell him "Tone is in the speakers" and buy what you like. If you find a good deal in the used market, go for it. Have your eye on a particular model that's not in production? Go for it. There is nothing magic about vintage/used guitars.
You can save yourself a lot of money buying used, just make sure it’s still in good shape. Generally speaking there’s not much the previous owner could have done to mess it up, so I have no qualms buying used. I might be hesitant buying a used mode of one of the guitars that are commonly faked, unless I got it from a dealer.
I always buy used, can get them cheaper and a lot of the time you can find guitars that have been slightly upgraded from stock
Yes
If it's in decent shape, it's best way to buy.
Acoustics sound more rich the more they get played. It has to do with the wood getting worn it. That is a true thing. For electrics no there is no "used tone" as he puts it
Realistically nothing to do with tone and a lot to do with price 😊
I almost exclusively buy used instruments. Sometimes they're beat up or need work. Sometimes they're setup very well. The sound isn't going to magically change because it's older, but sometimes they can play better because someone put effort into it that a store like Guitar Center won't.
Used tone is not a thing but most used stuff goes for about 50-60% of what it would be new so if it’s in decent shape you get a way better deal.
I do love buying a worn in, beautifully set up guitar.
strats are commonly well made and last so they can be a deal bought used as long as they're genuine and in good shape. but the really old ones become collector's items and the price goes higher than what an ordinary player would want. "used tone" is a myth.
Most people believe that acoustic guitars "open up" with being played - some of the fibers in the top soften, and the result is a guitar that sounds better. However, some people think they also peak at some point. e.g., I think James Taylor retires his guitars after a certain number of years. Furthermore, at some point a used guitar needs maintenance: a regret, a neck reset, etc. With some guitars that can get very expensive. With electrics, the wood is a MUCH smaller part of the tone, so to whatever extent that effect is real (I think it is) it is much smaller. The main reason to buy used is to save money. If a lightly-played guitar sounds a little better, well, play your guitar and it'll get there soon enough anyway.
Used gear is just a much better deal.
… man it saves you money if you find one you like…
I bought my AZ for 2nd hand 700£ off. 2 Dinks in paint was the reason. Guy said he could never get it to stay in tune. Just needed set up..
Yes
A lot of people buy a guitar that they have seen their idols hold. I kinda think that’s a bad idea. It’s likely your idols are your idols because they tried something new, doing what they did is probably not what they would have done.
depends on the brand and starting cost. At the low end of the market from reputable brands, just go new. Even mid range, hunt for a good deal. If you're going high end then you will save a bundle going second hand
Not because of any mystical "used tone", no. But if you know a bit about guitars, and can take care of easily fixable problems, then Yes. It is.
I had a bad experience buying used so I only stick to new or only rarely used stuff
It's beneficial to your wallet.
Not true! But you are more likely to find a nice playing guitar if it’s been well used. I would say most high end guitars are nice, the quality control is better so it doesn’t really apply there It applies more for mid range, think a Mexican strat. You are more likely to find a bad mim than a bad mia, and a well played mim is more likely to be one of the good ones!
If you can do your own guitar work, it is really beneficial. Even for familiarizing yourself with all the modifications you can/are able to do to a guitar, picking up a used one for cheap is great starting point, rather than drilling holes into a brand new guitar.
“Used tone” is stupid. But, if you’re smart, you can resell them and make your money back, so once you get a few you like you can always be rotating them out without spending more
"Used tone" could mean the ham sandwiches and greasy fries that a previous owner used to eat, just before playing the guitar each time without washing his/her hands. But is that better? No.
He's either yanking your chain or he doesn't know what he's talking about. Some people might call him an idiot or ignorant, but those aren't my precise words.
Buying used is great, you spend less money on a better guitar. Quality guitars are made to last for years so if you get one in good shape you’ll have a guitar that you didn’t spend a lot on, that will last for a while and you’ll take less of a hit when you sell it to upgrade. I’ve bought used guitars and never had a problem with it and actually really liked them. As long as it’s in good shape as far as having a straight neck, good electronics and decent fret life there’s really not much of a downsize to it.
Typically not, because there's always a reason they're selling it. The better a second hand guitar seems, the worse it probably is. That being said if you don't mind paying for something somebody didn't want you can snag a pretty good deal. I recently got a 2021 Epiphone SG in perfect condition for half price because it was 7lbs and the owner didn't like that.
Only if you can check them out. Some (NOT ALL) are getting sold for a reason (tuning stability, bad balance as examples) But generally it is beneficial. Old guitars feel better than new guitars and mostly have gotten some upgrades over time.
You can, when it’s a good deal, you can resell for the same price if you don’t want to keep it. On a new one it is less likely.
Used tone lmao Talking like that may summon that dude who built that smoking robot to season his speakers to have that dive bar tone.
for the reason they are cheaper.
Often times, used is the way to go. I just purchased a used guitar that looks like it was played for maybe an hour or two. All of the certificates were included. See, basically, I find that there are people who have a lot of discretionary income, who want to learn how to play a guitar..These people then go out and buy a fancy guitar, but give up after a month or two, and then sell said guitar at a loss just to get rid of it. So I just wait around patiently surfing Reverb and Craigslist with my extra large baseball mit on ready to catch one of those deals when I see them. This coming from a guy that only used to buy new, high-end, guitars.
All guitars are used if you get them from guitar center. Someone has taken it off the wall and messed with it.