Advice needed please...whether I should buy guitar in Hongkong or back SGP?

[NovicePing]

Heading Tom Lee music shop later or tomorrow... Not sure I should get here or back home.
Wanted to get a acoustic guitar to play pop songs, jazzy and sentimental songs... Budget ard S$350..
Which one I should be looking at? ... I should ask the salesman to play for me right since I'm new learner. Only had my first lesson last week.

Would love to keep learning for a long long time... Not a guitar I would dump after a year or two.

Can please advise?

 

[VidaK]

I think guitars in hong kong are more expensive, getting it in singapore is probably better so you won't have to worry about carrying it back and for other issues that you might have to return to the shop

 

[RicFreak]

I think guitars in hong kong are more expensive, getting it in singapore is probably better so you won't have to worry about carrying it back and for other issues that you might have to return to the shop

+1 Totally agree.
And if airline does not allow guitars onboard, you may check-in 1 pc and collect 2 pcs upon landing.

 

[harist13]

...you may check-in 1 pc and collect 2 pcs upon landing.

Hahaha... reminds me sometimes ago, I found an old ibanez that i liked while in Tokyo... the shop's staff advised me to split the strat and packed them into 2 parts so that the body-part could fit in my luggage and I hand carried the neck... It was a smooth sailing, i mean flying....

 

[NovicePing]

I'm taking back thru Cathay airline... Is it that bad that the guitar broke into two. :-( I thought I read from another thread that someone mentioned it is cheaper and can be done... Hmmm... Now I'm confused!
So it is not advisable if I'm buying an acoustic dreadnought guitar back SIN right?

 

[harist13]

When you checking-in the luggage, there will be special counter/ service for odd-shape, large or fragile items... but i'm not sure about the surcharge though.... Otherwise normally luggage will just be put on the regular running-belt and then on is a roller coaster ride...

 

[NovicePing]

Not sure hey have such counter in Hongkong airport or Cathay airline. Maybe I'll skipped going there... Haiz... No point anyway for a novice me :-( Maybe you guys are right.. Just get any one in Singapore!

 

[harist13]

It would still better off to buy locally.... further more the authenticity of the guitar you buy there is doubtful... a friend of mine bought a epiphone sheraton from there and turned out to be B stock (reject) from the China factory thats being dumped there...

For a budget of $350/- you would have much choices buying from here you can get; epiphone from swee lee, takamine from davis, swing from SV, tanglewood from tymc not to mention yamaha, maestro, citymusic... Soft.com often provides great choices of guitar but make sure the seller is reliable (check their history post) or get someone who is already a player to help you check the guitar. Shop around test all the guitars find the one that suits you... thats the advise fellow softies gave me when my son started guitar few years back...

BUT if you happen to be there (HK) or any other places... no harm looks around at their guitar shops... for pleasure... you might never know what you ll stumble into ... cheers

 

[NovicePing]

Thanks for the advices... Didn't go there after all... Timing too rush after getting stuck elsewhere. Decided to wait for another sale in Singapore before buying. Maybe year end sale will have better offer and I would have at least know how to play a song. Maestro is local brand... Seems like a nice one too !

 

[gooswyn]

in my opinion :

anything (guitars, pedals, amps, etc),
if you want to buy overseas, just find the item that NOT available in your country .

such as : limited edition guitar that you will not find it twice in your life , or the guitar brand that doesnt available in here, or a special edition wood that only produced in a very limited production

BUT , if it is available in your country (Singapore) , better you buy it locally.

 

[seeyoudownthere]

Depends really - overall the PIA in trying to get this aboard the plane is a major factor can over rule such actions and i've had luck at times. There is nothing wrong buying overseas as long as you know the place and that retailer is fine given I bought a taylor there several year back.

B-stock? How the hell can that be proved especially if the guitar is fine!? Lol...i think that would have been bought on the cheap anyway so that guy must have made a saving