[QUESTION] To buy or not to buy a guitar without playing it first? Looking for insight pros/cons on ordering expensive guitars online.

The guitar you order might not be what you expect since you can't play it before you buy it. Be sure to check out the return policy with it in case it's not a good fit for you. There is also a risk with shipping something expensive. Buying in store is always better, but sometimes its not an option.

Have you played similar guitars? Perhaps guitars from the same brand/lineup?

Buying a guitar model that you have never played before is a fine thing to do imo if you have a decent idea of what you're getting.

Returns would depend on the company, but I think most do it. It would just be a good idea to try something similar and maybe make the hassle or a return less likely.

Edit: how expensive are we talking about? I'm thinking like $600-1300 when writing this. If we're talking about something really expensive maybe this doesn't apply.

When I’m looking for a guitar I need to fall in love with it. I’ve held perfectly fine guitars that I would be able to gig with no problem. But they are tools nothing more. On the other hand a guitar that really speaks to me has something special. And I can only find that by playing it.

So if I could get s guitar only by ordering it online I’d want to be able to send it back and get my money back no questions asked. Not store credit, not specific circumstances.. just I don’t want it and get my money again.

Luckily there are a lot of stores that do that these days.

I would say that you have some due diligence yourself. If you’ve never held a PRS I’m a 100% sure you’ll be able to try one near you. Maybe not that specific model but something close enough to it that you’ll be able to make an educated guess.

The one thing missing from ordering online is the store guy coming up to you with something left field you didn’t consider that turns out to be great.

In my opinion, especially with vintage instruments if you can, you should play it and see it in person...

Its entirely possible for a high end guitar to have a warped or twisted neck, high frets that require work, and many other ailments big and small... in the case of vintage guitars, leaking tone capacitors, spoiled wiring and rusted or seized pots aren't the norm per say but happen as well... not the end of the world but be advantageous to know.

As an experienced player you are well aware that every guitar can feel slightly different even with identical models and profiles...

Just an opinion

I’m split because I’ve had positive experiences with both sides of the argument.

I had a Gibson Explorer for awhile that I got directly from Gibson. I really liked that guitar, and had no issues with the way it played, or the way I felt playing it.

On the flip side, I have a G&L Asat that I came across after months of playing around with, and being unhappy playing, Fender Teles in the same make class. My experience there was: had I ordered the guitar I thought I wanted, I probably would have been unhappy with it.

I think it’s a good idea to, both, do bookoos of research and play with the type of guitar you are wanting, even if only for a half hour or so. Sometimes you’ll luck out and the guitar will be exactly what you wanted before you ever played it, but there’s just as much of a chance, if not more, that you will get it and run into something you don’t like about it that you could have spotted had you played it in person.

I have honestly had good luck. My two main electrics were bought sight unseen (to be fair, one is something I put together from parts). On the other hand, it can get expensive shipping guitars back. But not more expensive than a trip to a place with multiple stores and the pressure that goes with that.

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Ordered 4. Never been disappointed. I do get them set up by a Luthier/Tech, when I get them, though.

Do any of you have experience with ordering expensive guitars online?

I think 90% of my music purchases have been online due to lack of stock nearby. Most recently a £3,500 guitar that I'd also never touched before.

Was it a good experience?

Mostly yes. I'm incredibly tight sometimes, so I don't often get myself new gear. I often suffer from buyers remorse since I feel like I should save it constantly for emergencies/rainy days. Most recently I did actually have a bit of a panic moment when it was delivered and left outside my house. The box had also been opened.

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You have to temper your expectations somewhat. It's easy assume that more expensive = instantly amazing instrument. That leads you to building it up in your mind which can lead to disappointment and potentially buyers remorse. Buying used is a good way to avoid this since you make less of a loss if you decide you don't like it. Returns policies are nice, but often they aren't long enough to REALLY decide if you like something. By the time you realise that you potentially made a mistake, it could be weeks or months down the line. For some guitars, they really do just 'click' though.

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Are returns easy or not?

It's a store by store basis. Generally they're pretty good about it. You may have to pay a restocking fee and a delivery fee if you just 'don't like it'. Bit of a hassle to box it all back up; I'd save the box it arrives in just incase.

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Is this recommended/common? Not recommended? Is there a better approach?

I've always advised people NOT to buy from the internet. But that's because often the guitars that people are looking at buying are actually rather common in many chain stores and they just want the ease of ordering online. Sometimes, you have little to no choice and you won't know until you order it and play it. If the returns are good, it's just a bit of a waste of time and maybe a little money. If not it's a big investment, but you can sell it used and get atleast SOME of it back. If you TRULY can't try it, just do as much research as possible and weigh up whether it's really worth it to you. Can you really afford it and will you truly benefit from owning it? That's down to you.

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I've always thought you should play a guitar before buying one, especially expensive ones. But maybe that's changed?

In an ideal world; always try before you buy. But for high-end/specialist/unusual it's not feasible sometimes. It's always a risk, but at the very least you can expect the QC to be spot on for high end guitars. It's usually just down to general tone and playability of higher end guitars and they aren't always the right fit.

The more expensive it gets the more important it is to try it out first, unless the shop you are buying to has nice customer service and return policies. If so, there is nothing to worry about.

Literally did this twice in the past two weeks OP. I ordered an Ibanez from Evertune and a LTD Arrow from Guitar Center. Returns depend on where you buy it from. Typically I have an idea of what it's going to feel like by playing similar guitars. The Arrow hasn't gotten here yet but I already plan in sanding the neck and changing the pickups. Figure out what you do like and see if you can get an idea on YouTube or online reviews to get a base idea. If you're worried about not liking it make sure you find somewhere with a good return policy. I know Sam Ash let's you return online orders to their b&m stores iirc.

In the last 8 years I’ve bought a guitar each year on-line. All have been $2000 or more. All have been stellar guitars. Just lucky or maybe in that price range they are just great guitars. My purchases have been Taylor, Fender custom shops, and PRS

I've bought 4 EBMM guitars over the years, online, having never played them and never regretted it. Worth the punt I say.

The only way I would do this is after extensive discussion with the seller.

We do this regularly, there can be a lot of back and forth because returns aren’t in anyone’s interest. Still, this is why there are short term return policies.

Sometimes playability or feel, even tone, are not the prime factor in the purchase- especially true if it is a vintage model.

Does it look metal AF? Then buy it

The only pros are better selection and (maybe) price. It's just that those are such big pros. I could drive all over town and see maybe 3 used teles but online I can 100s if not 1000s in a mere moment. Everything else is a negative. It could be all kinds of screwed up, color might not be accurately shown, might show up broken, might never show up, etc not to mention if the feel/sound/fit/finish is good.

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