Poll: Your position regarding used gear

What is your position regarding buying used gear?

  • Never have, never will

  • I have, but never will again

  • I have, but never had a problem

  • I am a seller, and find the OP's reaction to be overblown

  • Pawn shops and used gear stores? You should know better

Results are only viewable after voting.
#61
I support local businesses and buy new when they have what I want.
Nowadays,this in not the case.

So I have no qualms with buying used.
And online to boot!
Especially if the item is discontinued model.
They're usually much cheaper.
 
#63
DuluthDank said:
Reverb and ebay and that are sort of a double edged sword. In an ideal world people would be trading in gear to the local music shop, supporting local businesses. That way you could pop into the store, be surprised by something cool, and try before you buy. These days it's rare to find great used finds in person like that, so taking the risk of shipping used gear is seems like the best option lots of the time.

Reverb and Facebook marketplace both come with their own issues. If you buy on facebook, you'd better know how to give an instrument a full diagnostic exam on the spot with somebody staring at you and tapping their foot.
Click to expand...
Historically we kinda get screwed selling gear to a big box music store.
Before shipping skyrocketed I did pretty well buying and selling on Reverb.
One year I decided to consolidate a bunch of my stuff (downsize)...I sold a Hartke 7000 (maybe 30 lbs?) and guestimated the shipping at $40 but I hadn't shipped anything in years. Shipping was almost $100! Lost my shirt. I no longer sell items id have to ship. Point is, Reverb (and eBay and Craigslist) sprung up because big box stores don't pay enough for used gear for most of us to horse trade.
The shipping debacle was the last nail in the coffin for me.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DuluthDank
#64
I usually have twenty something basses. That number might slightly drop , the majority were bought used although some were bought off the rack. The last couple were no longer in production so that was the only way to get them.
I’ve been fortunate to have dealt with great sellers , and bought locally , from other provinces , and sight unseen from the US. Importing becomes expensive with the exchange , shipping , and duty , but sometimes it’s the only way to acquire some instruments. I may never break even on the last couple I bought …. I do enjoy playing them. No regrets.
 
#66
The secret is to inspect the instrument thoroughly before buying. This (unfortunately) also applies on a few brands of new instruments.

I saw 40 years old basses that were straight as a marble and others that were only 10 years old and complete garbage.
 
#68
I've been burned a few times, and I've gotten some fabulous bargains. For me the thrill of the latter far outweighs any trauma from the former.
FWIW the worst lemon I ever got stuck with was a powered speaker I bought brand new. Sometimes a once-good brand gets absorbed by an evil mega-corporation for the purposes of milking the name & charging primo $$$ for garbage. IME that hustle is more insidious than the pawn shops & CL knuckleheads.
 
#69
The only total lemons I’ve ever bought have been new instruments…. All were able to be returned except one that took a few years to start to realize it’s potential as a lemon.

I expect used instruments to need a setup. Some of my favorites are ones I bought used.
 
#70
Once again, none of the poll options are usable because they are written as absolutes.

I buy gear both new and used. The more costly something is, the more I am inclined to buy new, or with a lengthy return period for used.

I have had used gear break and leave me with nothing, but it is a rare occurrence.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ricky Rioli
#71
I pretty much exclusively buy used basses and amps. Pedals too. Not really a rule I have but I find with Reverb you can get pretty much mint condition basses for a fraction of the cost sometimes. Also, I like my vintage basses so there’s really not an option there
 
#73
I’ve bought and sold dozens of basses on TB Classifieds. Never had issue with any of them. Saved thousands upon thousands of dollars. A used Roscoe, Lakland, Musicman, Sandberg, Lull, Fender etc… is always much more affordable used and usually has a little mojo attached if you do it right.

But Willy Nilly sight unseen horror stories seem to happen on eBay and reverb much more often. I’ve purchased 5 instruments from the verb with no issues, but could see how it can easily happen. The verb has its issues (fees galore) for sure also…
 
#74
Quite the opposite for me.
The only times I've had any problems was with new gear.
Amps that shorted out internally. (Four times with one amp and two other different amps )

Bass pickups and/or preamps have died within the first few days (3 different basses [Yamaha]... one bass [Schecter/EMG] was repaired several times)

Stomp boxes (MXR/Behringer/Boss)

The only problem I've had buying secondhand was not bonding with the equipment...
 
  • Like
Reactions: shoot-r and Lance Bunyon
#77
I prefer to buy used to save money, sometimes significant money. Let someone else pay for the joy of putting the first dents into it. Most times I’ve saved at least 50% off buying new. I bought a used Pedulla for $750 when new ones were over $3000 and two used Steinbergers for $550 and $750 when they were selling for over $1500 new.

The vast majority of my gear since I got my first bass (new) and amp (used) in 1973 has been used. I recall buying five basses new, the rest (about two dozen) used. The six I have left were all used. My two uprights were bought used, even my bow is used.

As far as amps, my current gigging rigs are made up entirely of used gear. I bought two combos and one head new, the rest of the amps I’ve owned (about a dozen) were used. I bought exactly three cabs new, the rest (about a dozen) used.

I’ve also owned about two dozen synthesizers over the last 35 years and I only bought two brand new and one as a scratch and dent, rest were used.

I never bought anything used that didn't function as it was supposed to. Maybe half of it was bought locally so I could try it first, the rest from private online sellers as well as online dealers.

What do I buy new? Accessories…cables, straps, cases and bags, mike and speaker stands, etc. I no longer own a PA but I bought about 75% of it brand new.
 
  • Like
Reactions: HolmeBass and B-Mac
#78
jTrolt said:
I've had it with buying used instruments. Overpaid (pretty much new price, scarce instrument) earlier this year from a 5 star, 100% trust rated seller on the 'verb, only to receive an unbelievably scungy slab of wood with a lot more dings than the photos could indicate, and really filthy frets. But at least it was salvageable.

But this one really has me saying, I'm done:
Friend finds a bass I'm looking for in a chain store specializing in used musical instruments, a couple states away. He says plays good, looks good, sounds good. I order it on line and have it shipped. No haggle, it was priced just right for what it is.
I receive it, am pleased with the look, general appearance and okay playability, but I see the action has a bit too much relief. You can guess where this is going...
Grab included truss wrench, and sure enough, spins freely. No resistance. Called my local tech, and yep - probably at least what I paid for the instrument to pull the fretboard, etc, as it's a dual - action truss rod, and no Stu-mac repair kit is going to get it working again. Major surgery.

Call retailer. They forcefully declare "shipping damage!". I say well, the box is remarkably clean and intact. They pass me to shipping manager, who says they checked the truss rod before it went out - what do you mean, it's broken? I describe just as I did above. I stated that, IMHO, truss rods don't pop in shipping, they get broken by ill-informed players that crank willy-nilly until it pops. I disclose my findings regarding the astronomical estimate to repair. But if you want to submit a claim to the shipper, that's your call...
Silence.
Hold please.
Okay - we're sending a return authorization.
Now, I can't say enough about how decent these people were through the whole process, other than their indignation over the truss rod. They were being extremely careful about making sure I saw every little blemish, even emailing more pics to verify prior to shipping. Packaging / padding was waaaay over and above any new instrument I've purchased. I am completely sympathetic to their situation, and truly believe their intentions were good, but they have an instrument that was likely a total loss when it came in their door. Completely sucks to be them.

My conclusion is, used instruments, especially those found at the local pawn/used gear outlet have an unacceptable regularity of latent issues, especially in the neck department. When someone wrecks their instrument in this way, only hope is a quick buck at the local used dealer, 'case they damn sure are not going to take the loss for their mistake. It's not like the guy at the counter can test the trust rod of every instrument that walks in the door. It would be like taking your car in for a trade and having them drop the oil pan to inspect the engine's crank shaft before assessing a trade in value.

So, since I cannot trust my fellow musicians to be forthright in their gear dealings, I will now stay firmly committed to buying only new gear. It just cost me several hours of distraction and a sizeable loss for the retailer because someone felt it best to grab some quick cash and shove a total loss into someone else's life than to eat their own sh@@.

End rant.

What's your experience?
Click to expand...
Used is the best way to go for value. You just need to be cautious and calculated and think clearly rather than let excitement get the best of you.
 
  • Like
Reactions: slagheap and MovingPitchers
#80
i purchase both new & used amps, cabs, accessories, but never, never, new instruments. the prices are laughable, there's no excuse for it, and often the quality is questionable to say the least.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back