Things ur Allowed to Do when Buying a Guitar

[AzNjT]

Hey ya'll

OKAY, as the title, lets say you were to go down to buy a guitar and you walk around and you like a particular guitar.

Now you ask to test it out and maybe you brought your own tuner or maybe you didnt. so when when you get the Guitar tuned, but some how the Intonation isnt perfect or completely off. Then you want to try it but everything sounds like shit, can you ask for a quick set up there and then ?

THEN if you happen to spot anything else is it possible to ask for another of the same?

SO-
My Questions are:

+ Is it possible to ask them to do a quick set up if the guitar is Not properly intonated and Affects your Testing ability

+ Is there a Specific amount time that you should keep in mind considering the amount of people in the shop that day ? should there be any pressure

+ What if you are dead on serious about buying the guitar but the guy refuses to issue you a seperate piece then the one you tried out. (depending on STOCK)

+ What if the guitar is in a "used" condition, being Dinged, tarnished and stuff like that


I guess thats about it, I've just always felt that pressure when im trying out a Guitar, like IF he is standing there and commenting, asking every 10 secs, "HOW? U WANT?" and whatnot. Also am pretty unsure about what I can and SHOULDNT do not to offend the sales person in the process of me making a purchase im a 110% HAPPY with.

I wouldnt mind paying IF im 110% satisfied with what im getting, that being Fully TESTED, CHECK, CROSS CHECKED.

So, Please, Help?

I dont want to screw up "my next purchase" and go through everything again.

 

[Plastic]

There's really quite a fine line.

About the set up part, I'm sure if the service is top notch, they'll help you do it, plus it won't harm them, and others can test the guitar aswell.

Specific amount of time? Now that's quite tough. You need time to kinda test it, I won't really like it when the sales person would stare down your neck or something.

Well, 3rd one, if there really is no stock, then nothing much anyone can do, if not, then you could always not buy it.

 

[AzNjT]

There's really quite a fine line.

About the set up part, I'm sure if the service is top notch, they'll help you do it, plus it won't harm them, and others can test the guitar aswell.

Specific amount of time? Now that's quite tough. You need time to kinda test it, I won't really like it when the sales person would stare down your neck or something.

Well, 3rd one, if there really is no stock, then nothing much anyone can do, if not, then you could always not buy it.

Hey, thanks for the speedy reply. on ur first point, are you refering to SET UP before purchase or After purchasing?

because perhaps it may be a fret thats not leveled and such and if you purchase and they tell you that okay, you have to go here and do this to have this leveled

OR if i could just ask then to do it before and eliminate the entire process?

 

[Plastic]

I meant before.
You see, I don't think it's right to have a guitar with flaws displayed out there, unless they stated it and are selling it at a lower price because of that. I'm sure if it's a problem they can fix, they would so people can have a better feel and probably end up buying.

 

[Crawldaddy]

Hmm.

Regarding instrument intonation, it depends on whether you're referring to an electric instrument or an acoustic instrument. Obviously intonation is harder to get right immediately on acoustics compared to electrics, unless the salesperson is qualified OR if a qualified person is around to assist.

If intonation is not spot-on for acoustics, you can either take the risk to purchase and let the shop get the intonation right for you (extra charge or not is another matter), or just simply try out another instrument. But let's face it... most of the time intonation on an acoustic depends alot on string action, if the action is relatively high, don't be surprised if the intonation is off as well.

For electrics, most of the time when I try one piece out, if I'm aware that the intonation is not 100% there I tend to let it slide, knowing that I can always adjust it myself once I purchase it.

Of course if the acoustic or electric guitar is of a rather high value e.g. >$2k then I would at least expect the intonation to be 90% there already.

Considering that there are few other customers around, and the salesperson refuses to assist your request for intonation adjustments then you have the right to walk away with your money or at least then state your intentions of purchasing. I'm sure they would take you seriously, or at least even more seriously.

Regarding brand new pieces, if the piece you have in hand is not completely satisfactory but you have the feeling that a brand new piece might be more promising... one has to be more open-minded, especially if that guitar is of limited stock or if it's a limited edition. If the store refuses outright to bring in a new piece just for your QC check... remember they are gambling on the fact that you might walk away empty-handed or purchase it immediately. If it's a piece that they have plenty of stock, then they really should not refuse.. unless the piece is somewhere in their warehouse, which is not close at hand.

If they grant your request, then power to you and them as well.

If a piece on display is not of "mint" condition... then we as customers have to ask ourselves... how many times have we accidentally knocked guitars against one another, especially when taking them down from their holders. Imagine the same process gets repeated over and over by different customers. You get the idea.

I've seen so many people in guitar stores being completely oblivious to this problem... their attitude is: "I'm sorry, but it's only once right? Can't be everybody also bing biang here and there right?". I'm sorry too, but that's just plain ignorant.

Given the above situations, place yourself in the salesperson's shoes... wouldn't you also keep both eyes on your customer, especially when their hands are on the instrument?

 

[Stillborn]

Hey ya'll
SO-
My Questions are:

+ Is it possible to ask them to do a quick set up if the guitar is Not properly intonated and Affects your Testing ability

+ Is there a Specific amount time that you should keep in mind considering the amount of people in the shop that day ? should there be any pressure

+ What if you are dead on serious about buying the guitar but the guy refuses to issue you a seperate piece then the one you tried out. (depending on STOCK)

+ What if the guitar is in a "used" condition, being Dinged, tarnished and stuff like that

Q1: some shops/salesperson may not entertain you, but no harm askin'...

Q2: i think 20-30mins is reasonable but this is subjective, sometimes the salesperson may not be hovering around you.....then you can take as long as you want....of cause usually doesn't happen :mrgreen:

Q3: personally its not a problem, i always take the one i tried out (provided no major cosmetic flaw) cause the one from their store may be a lemon...

 

[AzNjT]

omg Crawly ur SO- right!!

many times i went before its the sales person themselves whacking the guitar, and im positive i've never EVER- langa anyone's guitars before and always made sure the guitars were all Hanging straight down and not to the side..

but yeah, thanks for your detailed response.

KAY!

 

[kernelspy]

My Questions are:
+ Is it possible to ask them to do a quick set up if the guitar is Not properly intonated and Affects your Testing ability

I think you can only suggest to intonate the guitar if you already have the cash ready OR after you paid it. C'mon... it takes time in properly intonating the guitar so the sales person just want to make sure that you're buying it.

+ Is there a Specific amount time that you should keep in mind considering the amount of people in the shop that day ? should there be any pressure

My trick is to go to the shop and try the guitar almost everyday and see if it really 'speak' to me. Normal testing of guitar maybe 15-30 minutes both clean and distorted tone.

+ What if you are dead on serious about buying the guitar but the guy refuses to issue you a seperate piece then the one you tried out.

You cannot do anymore with this situation. Unless you want to wait for the next shipment to arrive.

+ What if the guitar is in a "used" condition, being Dinged, tarnished and stuff like that

Most of the guitar in SweeLee are not in a good condition anymore. I don't know ... maybe the ones that are hanging are just for display and testing purposes.

Personally, I would really request for a new guitar even if it is not yet properly intonated or tuned. I can just let our trusted luthier do their magic with it

 

[Gr3y]

I can just let our trusted luthier do their magic with it

you're saying you trust or don't trust or local luthiers? confusing