9 Essential Tips When Buying a Used Electric Guitar

This is a list of essential things to check when buying a used electric guitar. Some of these tips will also work for electric bass guitar and acoustic guitar. If you're buying a guitar in person be sure to check out these tips to make sure you're getting what you pay for.
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[@Eywadude]

Sorry for such a tremendously LONG post, but I thought it was necessary to go into detail about a few things. You covered many of the basics, but you missed some VERY important things to check before you buy. This is a post for the initiated reader who wants to learn some useful info about additional tips that will save you a great deal of money and heartache when purchasing a used guitar, so please read on... 1. *Truss rod.* While you did mention banging on the neck to check for a loose truss rod (this is a good first step), there is also another VERY key step to take when looking at the truss rod of a guitar. Always, and I mean always, always, ALWAYS(!!!) check the adjustment nut of the truss rod! You need to check it to make sure it's not stripped or tightened down to the very limit of its adjustment. If it’s tightened down to its very limit of adjustment, quite often this is an indicator of more serious issues with the neck, and should almost always be avoided. Unfortunately, there is not much you can do to remedy this and the guitar will either need to be re-necked, or the truss rod will need to be replaced, which is a VERY costly procedure, and oftentimes runs the risk of ruining the original neck completely. Also, especially in the case of Gibson-syle guitars, it pays HUGE to remove the truss rod cover to inspect the truss rod adjustment nut. This is the only way you'll be able to assure you are not dealing with a guitar that needs serious repair. By taking this simple step, you are preventing yourself from having to deal with a great deal of heartache and headache, not to mention spending a boatload of money to fix the issue. 2. *Check the neck for twist.* To do this, look down the neck at string level from the tail end of the guitar, looking towards the nut. What you are looking for is a gradual (or sometimes severe) twist in the neck. In almost all cases, if the neck is twisted, it will twist towards the low E string, as the thicker strings impart more tension, so if twist occurs, it usually twists in that direction. A very slight bit of twist is okay, but anything more than about a 5-10 degree twist is cause for concern. Neck twist can SOMETIMES be corrected with a refret, but most times more extreme measures need to be taken, and you can run the risk of breaking the neck while attempting to straighten it out, ruining it all together, or not being able to remove the twist at all. At any event, this is a very expensive proposition, and can oftentimes result in the neck needing to be replaced. This is another potentially money-eating issue that can also affect the value of a guitar, especially if it is a vintage piece. 3. *Neck pocket fitment and alignment.* For guitars with bolt-on necks, this is also crucial. First, have a look at how the end of the neck is aligned in comparison to the strings. If the alignment is off only slightly, this might not be a big deal. But if it is off-center by quite a bit, this may need to be remedied by either a simple cleaning of the excess paint or finish in the neck pocket (or even a shrunken pickguard), or in severe cases, it may need re-routing of the neck pocket and/or re-drilling the neck screws. Again, this not only affects the look and originality of a guitar, but it is also costly, and devalues the instrument as well. You will also want to firmly grab the neck, and try to see if there is any movement of the neck in the pocket. Ideally, it shouldn’t move. If it does, this means it will need shims to solidify it, or in extreme cases, it could mean that the pocket needs to otherwise be modified, which will cost money. Also, have a look at the angle of the neck in relation to the strings. If there are issues with dead spots high up on the neck, this might mean that the neck itself is not at the proper angle in the neck pocket. This can also apply if the strings near the end of the neck are a little high off the frets as well (but not always is the case in either situation). However, to remedy this, VERY thin angled wooden shims need to be made to correct the problem. You may be able to fix this yourself (if you know what you are doing), but it’s usually best left for a luthier to get it right. It can also be a tedious process of getting the angle and length of the shim just right. Again, more money. 4. *Make sure the whammy or tremolo system works properly.* I have to plead a bit of ignorance on this one, as I am mostly a Gibson guy, so I don’t know a whole lot about these kind of systems. But overall, I would say make sure that all the parts are there, and to make sure there are no loose parts and that everything fits properly. Dive bomb in either direction (not all trem systems can be pulled backwards though) to make sure there is no binding or any odd noises that may impart unwanted sounds into the sound of the guitar. Being plugged into an amp will help with this. Also have a look at the spring tension system in the back to make sure everything is working fine, and again, also make sure the springs themselves aren’t imparting any unwanted noises into the sound of the guitar (this can almost have an unwanted “springy” reverb-like effect on the sound). Springs can oftentimes be dampened with some kind of material, but I would assume not always(?). Again, I’m not an expert on trem systems in general, but I think these would be good first steps to make sure they are working properly. 5. *Cracks!!!* I’m a bit surprised you didn’t mention this one! :O ALWAYS have a look for cracks in the neck and body of a guitar. ALWAYS! Take your time and use good light to look for cracks in the neck around the headstock, the area of the tuners, and the heel of the headstock behind the nut area. This is especially important with necks made of mahogany or with ANY guitar with an angled headstock. You should also have a look for cracks around the nut slot itself as well, and make sure to have a look for any separation between the fretboard and the neck (if they are made with separate pieces of wood). Just generally have a close look at all the surfaces of the neck for cracks. Cracks can almost always be fixed, but again, this is going to cost you money to have a luthier fix them. As far as the body, again, have a look at every surface of the body, including the edges as well. Make sure to pay close attention to the output jack area, around the neck join area, as well as having a close look around the controls, the bridge and tailpiece (if the guitar has a tailpiece), as well as the pickup routings (if the pickguard doesn’t cover this area). Again, just slow down and have a good look all over the guitar in good light to look for any cracks. Very minute cracks might not be a cause for concern, but they CAN continue to migrate (grow) over time and turn into bigger issues. Also of note: make sure to have a look at any binding the guitar may have as well. Just pay close attention to any loose pieces, any separation of the binding, or missing sections. 6. *Strap Buttons.* While this is a relatively minor issue that can be fixed fairly cheaply, make sure the strap buttons are solidly attached to the guitar, and that the screws have not stripped the wood and are loosely fit. Again, this can easily be fixed by doweling, gluing, and re-drilling the hole, and the repair won’t be seen after the strap buttons are put back in place, but this will need to be fixed, and depending on your skills, you may need to have a luthier fix it for you, which means more money. Anyway, that’s all I can think of for now. I’m sure there are more minor things to look for, but the issues above are the ones that will cost you a fortune to have fixed and/or will affect the playability of the guitar itself. In some of these cases, the guitar might even be a lost cause, and should be avoided altogether. Look for these issues in addition to some of the things that Shane mentioned in his video, and you’ll be well on your way to making guitar purchases that won’t put you in the poorhouse. Cheers. :)

[@markvmmm]

I disagree. A second-hand guitar is a second-hand guitar, but if there a too many little damages than need repairment you will have to spend money. For the same amount, you can buy a brand new guitar.

[@CentaurusRelax314]

anonymous person Speak for yourself. ALL of the advice here is appreciated. You, as an individual, are free to disregard any or all of it. Pretty stupid to suggest that information shouldn't be offered. Especially after you've clicked a video specifically on the topic.

[@CentaurusRelax314]

Thanks, Eywadude.

[@MediaCenterGuitars]

Anonymous Person: You missed the point. The bottom line is to know what you are getting into and whether you can afford to fix what ails the instrument. These are all good suggestions; you should be glad you are among the elite who don't need to care.

[@DIYsCool]

Thanks Eyewadude. The added info will help save a complete noob with musical instruments like me. Since I can't figure out why there are four replies disagreeing with you and I see your post is tagged (edited), you must have resolved whatever annoyed them. Thanks for that as well.

[@toddblenkhorn7675]

I also check for other ads from the same person. There is a guy in my city that I have seen selling fender Stratocaster and fender telecaster guitars, and has other ads at the same time selling squier necks... i'm sure it's innocent.

[@pmayh3m]

These are the major talking points in summation. 1. Worn frets 2. The Choke Test. Bending string and it doesn't sound when bent hard. 3. Faulty Input Jack 4. Test all the hardware on the guitar. Check volume, tone knobs, pickups, pickup selector, tuners. 5. Check for pickup mods. Were the pickup switched out for aftermarket pickups. 6.Truss Rod Test. Check for rattling when hit the back of the neck with palm of your hand. If you a rattling then the truss rod is not connected properly inside the neck. It maybe difficult to adjust neck. If it plays well it should be fine. 7. Check the serial number. Be sure the guitar checks out and you can identify it properly and it is not a copy. 8. Plug the guitar in. 9. How does it sound? If you like the way it sounds buy it

[@pmayh3m]

@Nona Hussain you're welcome

[@BryanClark-gk6ie]

#1 being sober.

[@00dur]

I bought my second electric guitar, a 1996 American stratocaster, with a fucked truss rod. I didn't know it at the time, but eventually when the string height was to high and I took it to a guitar repair I got the sad news of the truss rod being broken. I'm not really sure how much in dollars I bought it for but the solution was to switch necks, which cost about half of what I bought the guitar for. So, check the string height, and if it's high, make sure the truss rod is working. Great video Shane.

[@jeremyduffield-harding3064]

Just one more thing to add, all these things covered in this video apply to so called 'new' guitars, most 'new' guitars in a guitar shop in theory are secondhand anyway, they are ex-demo instruments played by many people in the shop, they could even have fret wear, depending upon how long they've been out on display!

[@acoffeewithsatan]

BTW a suggestion regarding your last advice: if possible, bring with you your favourite amp (or the one you'll plug it in the most, whatever) and test it on your own amp - this way you'll know exactly how it will sound like with the hardware you have. If you try through an amp of the store or the seller's amp you might get a sound and then at home get disappointed at the one coming from your own.

[@shaahalmanger5928]

Most importantly check your pocket and see whether you have money or not .

[@qwertyuioplmzaswq]

😅 super overlooked fact.

[@kbkman7742]

frets are number 1 for me now, but also, always sight the neck! keep it in playing position/on its side and upright (not flat on its back), look down the neck from the headstock, down each edge and down the frets, and again from the bottom of the body. You can tell a lot about potential need for fretwork, issues with setup and whether there is a twist etc before you even play it. Always find a nice bright light to do this under. Structural stuff and refrets are much more complex and expensive jobs than fixing dodgy pots. I like to see a dead straight edge on both sides, even fret surfaces when i look flat down the fretboard, and the neck itself with a very slight bow towards the strings (or flat, it's personal preference). In the case of a backbow on a second hand guitar, I stay away because you don't know the trussrod works until you buy it and try to use it

[@Rectitude4U]

First thing I do is visually check the neck to see if it's true. Then play every string at every fret checking for fret buzz. Fret buzz can be caused by different things that can be easily fixed, but if the neck is warped you'll want to stay away. Then I look for cracks... everywhere. A crack can lead to big problems. Most of the stuff mentioned here is pretty easy to fix, so if its a good price (not MIM for an MIA price) go for it. Know what the price should be before opening your wallet. If it's too good to be true, there's probably something wrong.

[@jeremyduffield-harding3064]

My advice to anyone buying a secondhand electric: see it first, play it unplugged, look at all the points covered in this video, then, if possible, play it through a good quality 'acoustic' guitar amp; the reason for this is to hear the guitar, that's what your buying, not the amp. Then, play it through a guitar amp set up for your sound. If it sounds bad through the acoustic amp, you will know that there are sub-standard parts which you will need to upgrade, which is fine, most guitars have substandard parts, with the exception of PRS Core models and perhaps Collins.... You just need to be aware if there is more to spend to make that guitar sing. Some times you will have to spend more than you paid for the guitar to change these substandard parts.

[@lucaswood7602]

Ok whaaaat? No electric guitar sounds good through an acoustic amp. Why worry at all what it's going to sound like on equipment you would never use in a practical situation?

[@peanutbutterisfu]

Definitely plug in to check for a hum, if there is a high gain amp try on that amp. I had a nightmare hum with a Seymour Duncan invader. I thought I installed it wrong so I brought it to a music shop, they rewired it, I tried it there and wasn’t fixed. After bringing it back 2 more times and paying a few hundred bucks it still made a hum. I bought another pick up, wired it in myself and it was fixed. The music shop never refunded me, how they couldn’t have known the pickup was bad is beyond me. Super aggravating

[@innocentoctave]

This is a good beginner's guide. There are other problems, particularly with buying second-hand instruments from private sellers. One of the most common is that the instrument hasn't been played for some time, so you're faced with something that has old, dead, visibly corroded strings. The intonation will be out, and may not be correctable without replacing the strings. Strings that have been incorrectly attached, or never stretched in, can also give the impression that the guitar has all sorts of tuning stability problems, or even uneven fretwork, while in fact the tuners, nut, neck and bridge are all fine. Dead strings also give a false impression of the instrument's sound. It's amazing how many people trying to sell a guitar won't replace the strings and make sure the intonation is correct. You would think that they would want to make the best impression. My advice for people buying a guitar second hand for the first time would be to make your purchase from a reputable store (no, I don't run one). At least the instrument will be clean, the strings are likely to be good and the basic setup should be okay.

[@NICKWAPPERER117]

Paul B great advice! and it's such an easy fix too

[@Ozdeetwisted]

LightSound Geometry Sweetwater and Musicians Friend are owned by Guitar Center.

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

Agree plus if you find an issue with a used guitar at least the store is more likely to help resolve the issue.

[@totaltwit]

What's a "reputable store"? are they not all that? I've been in a reputable store and most of their new guitars I tried were out on intonation, I mentioned that to the guy who paused and said, "there's nothing wrong with them, the intonation sounds fine."I was half expecting the guy say that, I just wanted to see if he would.

[@TonyHookedonVanlife]

when meeting someone you DON'T know for a possible gear sale, DO NOT have them come to your home. Thieves will use craigslist, etc. to actually rob you or check out someone's home for valuables. Meet in a public place or even at the local police station.

[@WoahBoomshakalaka]

!HADOUKEN!

[@intheblues]

haha ;-) I wondered if anyone would mention that.

[@dabz4506]

WoahBoomshakalaka thats the most funny part 😂

[@WoahBoomshakalaka]

Hehe. You need a setup to cover some video game tunes! Maybe something a little more reliable than the Death by audio Bit Crusher lolol :D Keep on rockin!

[@codymcdaniel1773]

I’m a simple man, I see a telecaster and I click like

[@AuntAlnico4]

Cody McDaniel * it is a wonderful guitar isn't it ?

[@bealotcoolerifyoudid7217]

Lol I know right

[@tracyc7813]

I specifically look for guitars and amps that need repairs. But that's just me. Haha I do make sure the frets have enough meat on them and that the neck is not twisted and the truss rod works.

[@joelpickett812]

I think it's almost a nerdy thing to do but if you're buying a higher-end guitar like a USA Fender or Gibson, check the serial number and compare it to the specs of that year. It's just another way to validate if a guitar is actually genuine and it tells you if it has been modded - tuners, pickups, nut material, pickup selector, strap lock types, etc.

[@Oliver-ex3cs]

My two cents: if you love the way the guitar feels, go for it. feel free to put in upgrades worth more than the guitar itself to make it sound good, but the way it feels is the most important thing. just my opinion though

[@PaulGrahamGuitarst]

I would play every note checking for buzz or fret out as well as the bends. Check the intonation with a tuner. If it is out a bit thats ok but if its way off there could be some majors. Doesn't hurt to check intonation in different parts of the neck to.

[@Hankhill2112]

For those of you that are bass players All of these things still apply when buying a used bass....believe me

[@jeffreypircher5095]

I would add knowing the model your getting; so many guitars look the same to an inexperienced buyer. Check serial numbers Get certificates of authenticity Check the neck/intonation Know the difference in country manufacturing prowess: Number 1 rule though is trust the seller or admit when you don’t know what your doing and get a second opinion

[@johnmcclinton9124]

I've gotten good deals on guitars with worn frets. Learning to do fret jobs isnt thst easy, and tools aren't cheap. But it's been well worth my time and effort. Sometimes I find worn out necks really cheap. Im taliking American Strats. Fender American bodies can be had for a good price too. Knowing how to paint is another good craft to have in you arsenal. If you put your mind to it, the sky is the limit.

[@kdrake777]

If you are buying a used Gibson, make sure you watch a couple of videos on how to spot a Chinese fake! Look for a scarf joint on the neck, those are fake. Learn how to spot a repaired crack on a neck or acoustic top. When buying a vintage instrument, use a black light to spot cracks or other issues. Check out a channel called Trogly’s Guitar Show, he shows how to use a black light. Acoustic guitar have more things to watch out for like a loose bridge or loose braces etc. That’s a whole other video.

[@shartne]

I use some Deoxit on my pots and they work like brand new again its magic. Replace your jack with a SWITCHCRAFT #11 1/4 INCH JACK ---Mono--- for about 3 bucks on ebay they are the best. Fender Affinity squire are great copies. I bought a real nice neck from china for my strat looks cool too. Nice Tiger stripe wood too looks killer. I polished the frets but now I gotta drill the neck to fit it a little scared but I need some more time to do it. Been really busy. I put new Fender locking tuners on it. It fun to make Frankenstein strats.

[@jvin248]

Used instruments have that Mojo you can't get from new ones until you play them a long time. Budget for taking a guitar to get a pro setup around $50, even new from the factory will need this, cheap or expensive guitars will need it. A fret level can be be around $100 (half of that is the level and half is a full setup) and will make a $50 beater play like $1,000 guitar -- well worth the service.

[@1978garfield]

Good stuff. Here are a few I learned the hardway. It is very hard to tell if a Strat has a problem do to improper setup or broken hardware. I came across a Squire Strat cheap in a pawn shop. I did not see any obvious bow in the neck, the action was set way too low but I thought I could fix that. I get it home and finally figure out the neck is bowed the opposite of the way they usually go. You can't adjust that out on guitars with one way truss rods. I did not catch it because I had never seen a neck bend that way. Different Strat (actually a Sunn Mustang but it looked just like a Strat) different pawnshop. The bridge is tilted forward. I figure it just needs a spring tension adjustment. After I get it home and get the pick guard off of it I can see the body is cracked where bridge mounting screws go. If you ever buy a tube amp and after removing one of the tubes notice that the locator notch is broken on the tube, DO NOT put that tube back in. Yes you should be able to eyeball it. You may even get it right. If you get it wrong clouds of very expensive smoke will pour from your output transformer. I ruined a Peavy VTA 400 that way.

[@concretecurse6594]

I haven't been playing long so I really appreciate your videos pal. Thanks for putting this stuff out there

[@TTVZiggy1199]

Great job Shane this helps immensely. I'm really hoping to get an American standard Stratocaster now with your helpful tips I may be able to get a good deal. Rock on!

[@johnwallace2319]

Regarding feeling off about buying a gibson: some gibsons are just wonky, I picked up a gibson at a shop to try it out, about 3k euro, the thing felt like a fake even though i trust it was real. Even in this case, if ANYthing doesn’t feel right, even if its real, don’t buy, you’ll regret it.

[@charliedurham1954]

Great tips ! Thanks. The only thing I could add is _leave your emotions at home_-very important and everyone should know what I mean,thanks again,

[@Raccoon1400]

A few months ago I went to check out an Indie Rickenbacker 4003 copy bass. It looked really nice. Then I noticed that the action was really high despite the saddles being at their lowest, and the truss rod being set right. On closer inspection I saw the set neck join was coming apart! So I passed. A couple days later I saw the same bass being sold by someone else for parts, with the neck broken off! It hadn't just separated at the join, the wood broke! I really wish I had been able to buy the bass because it was exactly what I wanted. But I would have been screwed over if I hadn't caught this issue.

[@DMSProduktions]

All good tips there Shane! I'd add also, look for signs of refinishing on the body and especially the neck. It could have had impact/drop damage, a broken neck or headstock, esp on Gibson style, set neck guitars!

[@MrBuniekPolaczek]

I'm checking out a 70's Guyatone hollowbody tomorrow, so this vid may come very useful. Thanks for great stuff Shane, keep doing your thing!

[@jjulch]

If there are defects as you listed, sans a warped neck, you can always use worn frets and shoddy electronics as a means to talk down the price. Hardware too.

[@cowitch100]

Check to make sure all of the frets are seated properly in the fret board. Also note the condition of the board it self.

[@brettyonally5332]

I'm about to go guy a guitar and hope for the best. Thanks for the video!

[@glenmeyer2113]

if it's supposed to be a gibson, and the "gibson" sticker looks like it was put on by the seller's 4 yr old niece, it may be a fake. also, if it looks like "maestro" was scratched off, and you can still see the walmart price tag on it, it may be fake

[@rayross997]

Thanks Shane, the power of knowledge and experience. One on amps would be great also.

[@cugir321]

Other than the obvious stuff like cracks....check the neck at the body,....it there's a hump you will never get it playing well....you need to have the fret board leveled....sometimes you can slope the frets after the 12th fret but your better off buying something else unless you can do a fret job.

[@albertorivera7937]

Awesome! Shout out to JJ Grey and Mofro! Not many people outside of Florida/Georgia know these people. Their loss!

[@Somuntioalt]

This video is gold! Really useful, straight to the point, and I have to say that you seem like a very pleasant human! I really enjoyed it, and as I said, very useful! I'll be checking all that soon enough with I guitar I saw! hahaha

[@Livlos]

#2 will usually just be from not enough neck relief on a strat style...this shouldnt stop you form buying a guitar...unless the rod is busted...

[@PelicanIslandLabs]

@1:35 you say "a two fret bend" What is that? Did you mean a 2 semi-tone bend??? Thanks for another excellent vid.

[@TorstenSeemann]

JohnnyG yes.

[@andrewbutcher3391]

Quite difficult to find older used guitars that don't have any Fret wear. I had a new Strat for only a few months and it was showing signs of wear. I just acquired a 1996 Strat I love. It plays fine for me stays in tune and is not grooved but definitely worn right up the fretboard. I do have a great luthier that can fix it in due course though.

[@johnstoner8515]

I’m going to check out a mim strat for $350 today. I’m a total beginner and dont even know how to play but I hope its in good enough condition for me to want to buy

[@maraaleksandramalere4603]

how did it go?

[@jamalabdul2009]

Thanks Shane for sharing these tips!

[@allenwoody5909]

All good advice. I will echo some of the comments below. With the exception of a twisted neck and nonfunctioning truss rod (I would not touch these unless I had an extra neck lying around), most of the other items can be used as a means to barter the price down. A fret job can easily be $200 and is the most difficult to perform, but with a little practice and patience (on an old neck first) it can be done at home. IMO everyone who owns a guitar should be able to at least basic setup/intonation. Hey watch Woodeso to get started. You do great video. WooHoo.

[@suegates5]

Sincere Thanks, needed this!!

[@grandnaguszek7417]

You're not taking much of a risk buying a bolt-on neck guitar, set-neck guitars on the other hand offer more of risk. When buying a Les Paul or similar, check the string height in relation to the bridge height. If the bridge is set really low or bottomed out but the string height isn't low enough (for you) stay away. The guitar probably needs a neck reset and that's expensive.

[@songwriterjj6022]

To be fair, if it's a rare or desirable guitar, you can get it re-fretted.

[@ElisabethKitzing]

Great video! I guess the same goes for electric bass. Where did you buy the tee shirt. Love it!

[@bbreeuwer4577]

I think I missed intonation. With good brand guitars this is seldom an issue, but sometimes it can be very bad. So bad that it's not even possible to correct with the saddle. If you don't know how to fix that yourself (with using the truss rod), you need to spend some money to get the guitar fixed. I have come across an handful of guitars were it wasn't possible to correct the intonation at all.

[@ireneweand6994]

This video would have Me buying new only! What is WAXING a pickup? Another reason to go nuts.

[@allenwoody5909]

The pickup is dipped in wax to fill in the gaps of the wire to alleviate the movement of the wires in the pickup due to vibrations when playing.

[@BenDewhirstMusic]

Great advice Shane! The shirt is even better! Haha

[@corban48]

Thanks mate! Well laid out guide, straight to the point. Subscribed fo’ sho.

[@alexanderdelosreyes2802]

is it good if they bought the guitar over 10 years ago but barely used?

[@oliveranderson4558]

You can quite easily wax pickups ; melt down candle wax in a pot and dunk them in... Or remove any metal cover & don't bother

[@songwriterjj6022]

If it's a '59 Les Paul with fret wear, I'm buying it! Well, after I win the lottery!

[@MisterTee]

I always bring a black light to make sure the guitar doesn’t have cum stains. Laugh if you want but in my years of doing guitar repairs I have come across more cum stains than I can count.

[@bigfoothunter3044]

Wait, how? Why?

[@dalepal]

Thanks for sharing those tips.

[@Jeepjones85]

Great video, on a side note, the I'm on a quest for a red stripe Bandit and so is everyone else who watches you channel lol

[@thehunter24]

Is it really that expensive to refret a guitar in Australia? I live in Europe and have had to refret 2 guitars of mine, which usually costs around 30-40 Euros. A pain in the ass sure, but I wouldn't say it's a deal breaker. I had to refret a Fender TC90 I bought for cheap and it came out totally fine.

[@johnc7801]

Good video, but I really gave you the thumbs up for the cat shirt. ^ ^

[@k4vms]

Thank you for the education, it really helped !!!!!

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

Super helpful as may want to save $ by finding good deals on custom guitar in the future.

[@gdevelek]

How you omitted the straightness of the neck, I'll never know.

[@stan8613]

Great video and tips for anyone looking to buy used! This isn't related to the vid topic but I see a Bugera 5W on the floor. I'm considering buying a Bugera but have never played through one and am wondering what your thoughts are. I'd be looking at the higher watt versions btw. I currently play through an older VOX Valvetronix and am looking to get an all tube amp.

[@tigerbalm666]

This is the most useful tips I've ever watched! Thx. I just got a mint(still plastic on picks/guard...new to me) 2016 Tele Nashville! Sounds a lot different than my Powerhouse Strat, which is why I got it. Should I play the Tele through a tube amp to get the best tones?

[@sebasperotto]

Ir might be importante to stay... you better watchout these tops when buying used guitars... but you SHOULD Watch these things when buying new guitars... And, sadly, one of these problems mentioned will problaby come out...

[@randolphpatterson5061]

I wouldn't necessarily avoid a guitar with fret wear. A certain amount correlates to the amount of time that the guitar was in playable condition & was being used. By contrast, I'd be suspicious as hell of an old-but-untouched instrument. You'd have to wonder why nobody ever played the thing.

[@Mark-OutWest]

That observation doesn't mean anything. So what if the instrument was never or hardly played?

[@nevermind-he8ni]

Refretting isn't a big deal. Usually around $300 in my area. Some guitars are worth it.

[@jahmark9336]

Thanks dude, I'm in the market for a Tele don't know owt about them! Tip off a out frets much obliged great channel man

[@jeremybaker195]

I was buying a Cregs list guitar and the guy wanted to meet in a burger king parking lot. I have a converter that plugs in the cigarette lighter so I can plug in wall socket cords. I brought a champ 600 amp to check it out. some jumper boxes for jump starting a car also have wall outlet plug ins on them. a good idea for buying or selling and you are meeting the person out and about.

[@TheScreamingFrog916]

I do that to, or bring one of my better battery powered amps. Best of all though, is a Korg Pandora, with a good pair of headphones. The Pandora is a cigarette pack sized, battery powered headphone amp. Besides being a headphone amp, it is also a tuner and multi effects unit, with built in drum machine. Great for practicing on the road, before a gig, or plugged into an amp. Love em.

[@nicholaswoolfenden5254]

Avoid any vintage guitars selling below market value. The values have diminished a lot, google the model in a shop.

[@moreanimalspirits]

These are great tips.

[@ShlomirBareket]

your best review yet!!!

[@sebastianfernandez3067]

hey Shane, great tips! i see you like high action. I was wondering, what is the radius on that fretboard?

[@kawmic7]

This is why knowing the guitar is just as important, as learning to play the instrument.

[@katherinej7322]

Amazing help 😊

[@EM-df6mo]

Shane, What would you say is a decent Acoustic for someone who is tired of cheap acoustics, but doesn't want to burn the bank account for a good one?

[@lumptaviousshadows453]

Indiana brand.

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

+intheblues I love the cat shirt where did you get it?

[@Fernando-ry5qt]

You no longer use the Mustang III for gigs?

[@jpferraz4000]

watching 32 days late...so bad.

[@intheblues]

oh! What happened? haha

[@jpferraz4000]

intheblues Ahaha 6 of this 9. No problem. will never happen again! Great videos man!!!

[@Jeepjones85]

Speaking of squealing my Usa standard tell the G string is prone to ringing on the head stick above the nut. Have you had an issue like that ? I don't really want to put foam up there

[@byronofcalgary6985]

if you're buying a Pro guitar make sure it's a pro checking it out - nobody guts a Fender Mex for parts but Fender USA sure gets gutted with cheap junk put back in - I also got fooled by a 24 fret neck in a 21 fret body - untuneable - sure looked like an "off the rack deal" => => highly recommend angled humbucker Bridge pickup in a strat - diff world ! !

[@criskatan]

Said with a smirk, all the way through.

Truss rod! Also, fixing or replacement of the nut is not a big job.

[@JD-ks7vc]

Thanks!

[@jannatinkarlen8702]

10. check how it sounds unplugged

[@justthomas3565]

Say sir once again great video but do have a question from time to time you mention mods I see that for pedals amps and guitars could you explain mods to me thanks tom

[@OzTwanger]

Like the tshirt

[@DIYsCool]

Thanks for an excellent video. I am new to the scene even if the video is not so much of it is still new to me. ;-)

[@isabellabautista8610]

ok so I bought a practice cheap guitar online to get back playing. It came with steel strings and OMG its so f-ing hard to play. I think wasnt supposed to have steel strings cause its almost impossible to press on them ! Its hurting a lot and I know its supposed to hurt a little but this one feels like its gonna split my finger in half. Have someone experience something like that? please let me know. thanks

[@priscilla9115]

I wanna buy a used electric guitar off offer up but I’m scared I’m gonna get ripped off😔. I’m fairly new to guitar so I don’t know much does anyone have any tips ??

[@nevermind-he8ni]

My tip- don't buy a used guitar unless you or someone you know or can hire knows about setup. Almost any issue. can be remedied.

[@MartiniPinball]

So if a guitar needs fretjob just throw it away right, i mean why safe a guitar worth 2k because it needs a 300 buck fret job. Very short sighted advise

[@baydenyoung5417]

Forza Martini you're a Dumbass

[@SandeepSingh-zc5sh]

The majority of the time, its not worth the sellers asking price if that's the case. I think that's the point here

[@kennyolszewski1053]

Awesome

[@rammusic4387]

I would think it would be important to have a look at the neck, if it's bowed, or not straight, you might want to think twice

[@munadahal3302]

Sir plz give the review of electric guitr smiger sg-5

[@bvden]

you look exactly like sean evans from hot ones

[@Plumkal]

String bending has nothing to do with the nut :)

[@intheblues]

It will help tell you if the frets are worn, if the neck is bowed etc. I do that to make sure there's no dead spots. Sometimes though, if the nut is really cut low or crap, it could pose a problem especially on cheaper guitars.

[@cruzthree8883]

Plumkal if the nut isn't cut right, after a bend the string might not return to correct pitch for the open string.

[@DanzoSrife]

Thanks for the tips man! I bought a Jackson Kelly a few yrs ago and I thought I had a good deal for 200 bucks, but it costed me $240 for a setup and FRET job. I didn' think about looking at the frets or what that would cost me. I got this from a private ad listing. Now guitar center has a lot of used guitars for cheap, but I'm worried by the tiny pictures if the frets are any good. "Great condition" is too vague for me. Minor scratches? But how many? 1, 2 or 100? It makes me not consider used anymore and just pay a new price that's discounted during times of the year.

[@DanzoSrife]

So yea, there's some nice used guitars at Guitar Center I want that are shipping from various US locations in Guitar center (like way out of state) but I can't look at it personally. I'm not sure if i should trust buying it this way

[@DanzoSrife]

That's good thanks. So I could order from another state based Guitar center and return locally? Well that sure helps a bit. I wished the pics weren't so small and terrible on the used guitar listings online tho. It's still hard to make a purchase off of that. I'd have to literally trust the words Excellent /Great every instance.