i will never buy a guitar before I play it again!

[DaveyO]

I just picked up a great Takamine  an16, cherry dread, spuce and gorgeous rosewood off ebay,
the guitar is perfect in everyway, quality and sound.great price.problem?
the neck is not to my liking , I have smallish hands and the neck is just a little thick for me.
arghhh.......its so perfect execpt for that.
I am trying to sell it or thinking about getting the neck shaved.
just wanted to rant,
Dave

[jeremy3220]

"i will never buy a guitar before I play it again!"

We can't always adhere to it but that's a good concept to try to follow. One should at least accept that it's a gamble and they are not making a fully informed decision in the sense of guitar comparison.

[Tycho]

I just found out that an artist I really like is selling off a few of of his guitars, and I'm inclined to buy one of his Teles sight-unseen....

[sneaky]

I`ve bought countless times off the web here and been disappointed very few times, but it can happen. Occupational hazard.

[hadden]

So many great deals on the web -- It's hard to say no. Sorry about your bad luck.

[DaveyO]

Update: traded the Tak for a Martin Dread( something I have played and am familiar with)
so all is well.
Dave

[Caleb]

The issue with my Tak is the opposite: the neck is too narrow, but I still love it.  In fact, I play it more than I do my Larrivee.

[RoundLakeDT]

Yeah, sight-unseen can be tough in two ways -- if you're not familiar with the brand or model, or if there's something 'off' about that particular instrument

I wouldn't buy a brand or model that I hadn't tried in person because of all those weird subjective factors like the neck finish & how it sits/feels, that 'hearing about' doesn't do anything for.  However I've had good luck buying something I thought I understood (a Larry OM) from a forum member here without test driving first

Dave

[jeremy3220]

I think the biggest factor people forget about isn't whether they will like the guitar they bought online or not but how would it stack up to other guitars had they tried them. Let's say I'm looking at vintage style rosewood OM's online and decide on a Breedlove OM; sure you may like it when it arrives but what if you had went and tried out Martins, H&D, SCGC, Bourgeois, etc? It would be foolish to think you had an idea of how all those sounded and played just by surfing the net, perhaps the Breedlove would have sounded nice but half the other guitars sounded better. Your goal was to get a great vintage style rosewood OM but the reality is if you didn't play anything other than what you bought you know next to nothing about them. That way when the next goober posts a thread asking about similar guitars you can offer your inexperienced opinion. 
>/End Rant:

[Danny]

I think the biggest factor people forget about isn't whether they will like the guitar they bought online or not but how would it stack up to other guitars had they tried them. Let's say I'm looking at vintage style rosewood OM's online and decide on a Breedlove OM; sure you may like it when it arrives but what if you had went and tried out Martins, H&D, SCGC, Bourgeois, etc? It would be foolish to think you had an idea of how all those sounded and played just by surfing the net, perhaps the Breedlove would have sounded nice but half the other guitars sounded better. Your goal was to get a great vintage style rosewood OM but the reality is if you didn't play anything other than what you bought you know next to nothing about them. That way when the next goober posts a thread asking about similar guitars you can offer your inexperienced opinion. 
>/End Rant:

Howdy Goobers! How Y'all Doin today.  Well this goober did what I never thought I would and bought a 00-09 FM online today. I think it's because I know they are very rare and what I really wanted. SO I jumped on it. I was going to fly to Atlanta so I could play it first, but I have the pics and it is from a forum member. PLUS THE PRICE WAS LOW. So I just had him ship it. We'll see how it turns out but I'm feelin great about it right now.
                                                                          Goober Danny

[L-fan]

  Howdy Goobers! How Y'all Doin today.  Well this goober did what I never thought I would and bought a 00-09 FM online today. I think it's because I know they are very rare and what I really wanted. SO I jumped on it. I was going to fly to Atlanta so I could play it first, but I have the pics and it is from a forum member. PLUS THE PRICE WAS LOW. So I just had him ship it. We'll see how it turns out but I'm feelin great about it right now.
                                                                          Goober Danny

Oooooh dude you've got to post picture of it when it comes.  That sounds like a one in a million git.

[L-fan]

Oooooh dude you've got to post picture of it when it comes.  That sounds like a one in a million git.

Oops, never mind, I found the pics already posted on this forum.  SWEET guitar!!!

[Danny]

Oops, never mind, I found the pics already posted on this forum.  SWEET guitar!!!

There will be more pics with goobers surrounding  it and flowers and who knows what while I play an open E and maybe a barre chord or two. But not to many, gotta keep it cowboy ya know

[flatlander]

Update: traded the Tak for a Martin Dread( something I have played and am familiar with)
so all is well.
Dave

In the meantime things worked out for DaveyO. Good deal, glad for ya Dave.

[old folky]

Yeah, sight-unseen can be tough in two ways -- if you're not familiar with the brand or model, or if there's something 'off' about that particular instrument

I wouldn't buy a brand or model that I hadn't tried in person because of all those weird subjective factors like the neck finish & how it sits/feels, that 'hearing about' doesn't do anything for.  However I've had good luck buying something I thought I understood (a Larry OM) from a forum member here without test driving first

Dave

I also bought an OM Larrivee from a member here without a test drive, although he had excellent photos and a good story with it.  My Martin came from a dealer in New York the same way, but it was brand new.   Old Folky

[dkoloff]

If ever looking for a Takamine......the EF261San...........has the smaller Santa Fe body and just an amazingly comfortable neck to play and a really great overall sound.

[saintandsinnerguy]

I don't play good enough to make neck problems an issue for me 

[canoe65]

I would never buy a guitar (example: via the internet) without first having it in my hands, playing it ... and letting my ears, eyes, nose and sense of touch guiding my head and heart.   

[Danny]

   Well I got my 00-09 Flamed Maple today. UPS delivered it on time in great shape. It is everything I wanted and more. I named it.... well forget that part.
                   Just want to say this was the first time I ever paid for a guitar to an individual and received it on a freight truck days later. But it all went 100% as planned and I recommend it. Especially if it was like my case and you know you may not get a chance again to find that particular git at a great price from a forum member.
                   One more thing, I KNOW you can tell what a guitar will be like if you TRUST people and you have some experience with other guitars. At least I can. Without ever having played that exact model or that specific guitar.
The only surprise to me with this 00-09FM is it is prettier by far than the pics and has a depth and resonance I was not expecting. ie. Pleasant Surprise. Now I can use the 300 bucks for a flite and 100 for a rental car and gas for upgrades or fixing the house up. I was ready to fly to Georgia to try it out first. And would have but David (seller) assured me this would work better. This time I have to say it did.
                                                                   Happy Danny

[Danny]

I would never buy a guitar (example: via the internet) without first having it in my hands, playing it ... and letting my ears, eyes, nose and sense of touch guiding my head and heart.   

Heh, that would go nicely on a Hallmark card.

                    ...In my hands, playing it...etc. etc.....guiding my head and my heart.

          It could be a new line for G.C. stores, free git greeting cards with every purchase.  OK I'll go to sleep now.