Would you buy a guitar online?

[celticpilgrim]

From the likes of GAK or Thomann? I live in the sticks, so cannot easily get to a shop to have a 'feel' - I'm also a lefty which makes it worse!!!

What do folks think?

[Asterix]

It's not ideal.

But.. isn't there a law for distance buying that allows you send it back if its not what you wanted?

Not sure how it works.

[AdeTuono]

I've bought many guitars on-line, both e-Bay and on-line retailers. Never had a problem. GAK in particular have been excellent. Set-up has always been spot-on, and they'll match or beat any other genuine price. Last purchase from them was a Fender Roadworn 70's Strat and a Mesa-Boogie 5:25 Express. They dropped around £200 from their on-lne price to match another retailer.

[C2james]

i bought a marshall half stack from GAK and it was absolutely fine when it arrived.

[Laplace]

I bought my Deluxe Strat from GAK without any issues. However buying an acoustic I'd always personally prefer to get my hands on the instrument. When buying my Guild I played 3 of the same model all of which sounded a little different in direct comparison.

[GetCarter]

I've bought 5 new guitars online in the past few years from DV247.com - never had a problem. Legistlation means you can send it back for whatever reason and get a full refund including postage (out) within 7 days. Living where I do (middle of nowhere) it's the best way to buy.

[HUW JONES]

Just obtained an SG Special from Anderton's online. No probs. Also honourable mention to Dolphin for PA etc.Always worth a call to confirm guitar is physical and not on back order. Had to wait 5 months for a Fender Jazz a couple of years ago from a major online retailer.

[Thurbs]

Have got gear from GigGear & DV247, both top notch.

[gbbird]

I have bought several guitars on line, including some rather expensive Jacksons, and i have never had a problem. If you know exactly what you want, and can do the basics such as change strings etc (they always seem to come with very light gauge), you won't have a problem.

I can highly recommend GAK

[Bebee]

Bought many guitars on-line, if you're not happy with it, send it back, or get it set up to your hand!
GAK are fine, no problems with them, bought an Ampeg bass amp and cab from them, I had to sent it back three times until I got one that worked, not their fault but that of Ampeg. GAK sorted it without cost to me.

[The Lukas]

I've bought every guitar I own online (save one). Never had a problem

[chevy-stu]

Depends what you're spending. If it's £2.5k on a custom shop stat then it's gotta be worth the effort to go and try one in the best stocked shop that has what you, if it's £200 on a entry level Ibanez then online will likely be fine..

being a leftie means you'll have very limited choice on places that have what you want actually available in stock, and not on special order only.

[Big News]

My first 'proper' guitar - a PRS SE Soapbar, I found online at a shop 20 miles away; went down there with my dad to try it out and bought it there and then.

For my Fender Strat, I played one in a local guitar shop and bought the same model online from Merchant City Music.

I'm in the market for a new acoustic at the moment, and I'm having a right 'mare: I've narrowed my choices down to three guitars:

• Taylor 114e
• Martin 000X1
• Avalon DS100E

I need to have then with electronics for playing live, and so far GAK have only the Taylor in stock, nowhere seems to have the Martin, and there are only two Avalons for sale in the whole country - one is in London, without electronics (though they do have the Taylor in stock), and the one with electronics is all the way up in Leicester (who have neither the Taylor or the Martin).

How hard can it be to line find two mass-produces acoustics from arguably the two biggest acoustic manufacturers and play them together?!

[GetCarter]

The Martin has a much more full sound than the Taylor, but the Taylor is brighter. Can't comment on the other one.

[Big News]

Excellent, thanks! I wouldn't worry about the other one - they're a small Irish company, formed out of the ashes of Lowden, if you remember them? I've already played the Avalon and fell in love with it, but I still need to do a comparison between the Martin and the Taylor, then the winner of that vs the Avalon.

Bloody nightmare!

[davepoth]

I have bought two used, damaged guitars online. My '73 SG Standard was $750, but it needed work. After a long phone conversation with the shop that was selling it, I was happy it was as described and it was. I ended up spending £250 getting it fixed, and so it's now worth about what I spent.

My Tanglewood acoustic has a crack in the backboard. As a result it was reduced from £300 to £108. I couldn't go wrong really at the price so I wasn't that fussed. I never bothered getting it fixed and it's my main player.

[Dai Capp]

I bought a couple of guitars from DV247 - one was set up beautifully and the other was a bit of a dog but it didn't matter as I was having some work done on it straight away.

The set up guitar was a PRS and the other an Epiphone so I guess the PRS may have been done at the factory.

I've also bought stuff from GAK but only leads and pedals. Both companies pack the stuff well and deliver when they say they will.

Oh yes and Dolphin were bloody good as well...

[obscene]

Bought loads from GAK. Always been great. However the 3 month wait for a USA Jazz Bass (which rarely gets used being a guitarist) was slightly annoying.

[dern]

I wouldn't. I like going to the shop and playing the thing even if it's a day out to do so. Buying my strat from guitar village in farnham taught me that even though I had a list of guitars and the strat was at the bottom... the other guitars I wanted more could very easily feel like crap.