Do you purchase instruments online?

[Salyphus]

I asked this question on the 'where do you buy gear' thread but I think it's an interesting enough subject to merit its own topic. Do many people buy instruments like guitars and basses online? I don't buy a new guitar very often, but I feel that I need to play the specific guitar I'm going to get before buying it. Guitars aren't all that consistently made, and ones from the same line can still have a different feel. Plus I can't bear to think of what the shipping companies do to them? :eek: I guess a lot of people must do this though? If you do, is it because you are less picky, you don't think it makes such a big difference, or...?

[gtrmac]

I would probably buy almost anything but a guitar 'sight-unseen'. But I'm very picky about guitars. Sorry for the bad pun!

[randy clay]

I guess it depends on where you are. Me, I'm stuck out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, and though I have a few music stores around here, if they haven't got what I want to try, I'm out of luck. Or, I order online. Now, I haven't bought a guitar (bass or 6 string) online yet, I've been fortunate to find what I want locally. But, if I were to buy another one, I'd probably order a Carvin. They have a good return policy, and from what I've seen of their instruments, they look and feel first class. I do own PA and speakers from Carvin, and feel confident in ordering from them. Any other place, it guess it depends on the return policy, and whether you feel lucky that day... :eek:

[Audiobotica]

I've bought a Carvin LB50 mail order and a Brian Moore 2.13 special order sight unseen. Had to take the Carvin back for neck work. Had to send the Brian Moore back for electronics work. They're both excellent axes now and I'm glad I have them. Would I do it again? hmmmmm... let me get back to you... after the wounds heal. Yours in Music, Ben Fury

[Tom Capasso]

I bought a custom made bass from Mike Kinal - from across the country. I played another of the luthiers' instruments first. I couldn't do it without playing [i]something[/i] from the guy, but once I did I felt confident. I took a gamble on the electronics choices, which luckily worked out very well. I could do it with amps/speakers only if I tried one first. Tom

[Bob Keelan]

I ended up with an American Tele off of e-bay last year after throwing a lowball offer out there. I was a little surprised that I won but it worked out fine. For some reason I'm a little more squeamish about buying acoustic instruments vs. electric ones. bob

[-_dup1]

If it's some cheap percussion instrument, then no, I have no problem buying that sight unseen. But the more the price goes over $100, the more I need to try the instrument out for myself. That's the problem I have with [url=http://www.larkintheam.com]Lark in the Morning[/url] -- they have really cool catalogs and an amazing selection, but a lot of their stuff isn't cheap. Since I don't live near any of their stores, I can't try any of their products out to see if they will suit my needs. And while they have sound clips on their web site, there have been instruments I've been interested in where they DON'T have sound clips (nor could they get any -- I asked). For me, half of the value of an instrument is how it sounds and the other half is how it plays. If I can't experience at least one of these things before buying, I can't justify parting with the cash. Studio gear is a different story though. Through reviews and word of mouth, I believe that whenever I buy a RNC that it will most likely sound good and do what I want it to do. Instruments are much more personal/subjective, as they're an immediate extension of yourself. And that saying "one man's trash is another man's treasure" comes into play as well...

[Boggs]

I bought Carvin products such as my C980 Acoustic because I trust their reputation and I got to take it to as many shops as I wanted to for 10 days before deciding to keep it because nothing came close for double the price. Pretty easy purchace if you ask me... Boggs

[suspendedindusk]

I'm a Carvin junkie... so yea... I buy from them both online and over the phone. I've also bought things online and over the phone from Musician's Friend and AMS. I don't have the horror stories that many other people have with these companies. I've had some disappointments (not with Carvin, no...) but nothing that was too bad.

[Salyphus]

This is a really interesting thread, thanks folks :thu: A would definitely consider a custom-made guitar a whole different situation than an assembly line product, and might consider that by mail if I could afford it. I still would prefer to try before buying, but that isn't really feasible if you are having one custom made, though it would be preferable to at least try an example of the luthier's work first. I've also been tempted to get a Carvin axe for a long time. I've had one of their X-100B tube amps since around 1989 and have been really happy with it. Their guitars do seem like a really good deal, but I've never been able to try one. Maybe I'll drive down to their LA showroom some day. I'd be interested in hearing more stories about folks who bought an instrument online and how the experience went if anyone else has any to share.

[JES]

I'm usually a "play it before buying" kind of guy. BUT, an offer came along for a used Modulus Bassstar (love the three s's) for a good price a couple years back. I knew the seller was a reputable member of my bassists' forum, and I'd always liked Modulus basses. Well, he sold it to me and gave me a short tryout period to boot. Suppose the graphite neck took some of the suspense out of it. That bass is now my main instrument. Best, --JES