Worst Guitar Sale (or Purchase) of your life

[tbp0701]

When I sold quite a few guitars, amp, and a pedal a few years ago I avoided Craigslist and listed on forums, as my past experiences with Craigslist and Marketplace led to some odd interactions. (Including when I listed my tenor sax several years ago leading to some odd messages and requests for installment payments. I removed the listing and still have the sax).

Even with the niche forums, I received a lot of questions and some unsolicited advice, but no real takers. (Although one who asked several questions and said it wasn't for him then said he'd been so close to buying when I marked it sold). So I e-mailed the listings to a couple of the larger shops that deal in used gear, wound up loading everything in the car, and taking a trip. It was difficult, but I tried to avoid seeing what the shop would sell them for and how quickly.

As for buying, thankfully my instrument purchases haven't been too horrid. The worst was buying a Hamer Artist from someone on a forum that turned out to be far worse than described, with several random pots and wires in the case that the seller didn't care to discuss. Other than that, it was mostly buying an instrument I thought would "take me to the next level" but didn't, particularly a Collings acoustic I came to feel a bit guilty about owning.

Thankfully a return policy kept me from erring recently. As I've started playing bass I found a used Fender Aerodyne Jazz Bass at a local shop but couldn't get rid of mid-neck buzz. I took it to a tech who quickly diagnosed a bow in the wrong place, around the 5th fret, and likely a twist in the neck. I am a bit miffed none of this was mentioned and I didn't spot it, and when I returned it the sales person looked at the neck and said he saw the problem. Yet it was relisted as "good condition" and evidently sold. I hope the buyer knows about the issue and isn't struggling with the bass.

I wound up finding a Squier Vintage Modified 77 at a local, newly opened shop. It was marked as a Classic Vibe 70s, however, so I may have paid a bit too much for it, but it was well set up with flatwound strings and looks pretty much unplayed, so I figure I did all right.

 

[xxxadixxx]

While I do not enjoy the fees, Reverb has been my go to selling avenue and I have not had any terrible experiences though that is simply due to a low tolerance for crazies. I quickly dismiss people or ghost them if they start with silliness. As an example, I had a 2018 DC594 10-top (in very good/excellent condition) and some clown wanted to trade an LTD EC-1000 for it... straight up. People that are that clueless are not worth my time, hence why I avoid CL.

I did have a guitar shop in NV ghost me after expressing concerns with a new PRS Tremonti purchase a few years ago. It was a 2021 and the nitro seemed to be very thin such that simply putting it in a Hercules stand caused it to crack/chip on the corner of the headstock. PRS told me to work with the Dealer. We went through 3 rounds of emails and sending close-up pictures before they simply stopped responding.

So far all of the other Buyers and Sellers have been good to deal with.

 

[dogrocketp]

Another one from me, I looked for several years for an Anniversary SAS with Narrowfields in blue. I finally found one on Reverb. It was a bit more than I wanted to spend, but I had the money and bought it. It arrived in lesser condition than described, but I figured what the hell. I restrung it did a quick setup, and it wouldn’t stay in tune! The seller claimed he never had a problem. Then I noticed two very small cracks on either side of the neck pocket. Yup, all the way through. I took it to Philtone Music in Baltimore, had the cracks reglued and then buffed out. When I contacted the seller, he had disappeared. I did file a complaint. His name is Michael Hopkins.

 

[Alnus Rubra]

When you hear these kind of stories, it makes you so grateful for the transactions that went well and the decent sellers/buyers that I’ve had dealings with.

 

[dogrocketp]

I’ve had many go well. The odds are some will go South. I never worry about things going wrong, because they do. You find out what someone is worth in how they handle problems.

 

[Maertl513]

Update to #8.

As mentioned I drew my demands on the attorney of the insolvent company. A few days ago I received a mail by the company. My demands are approved and my body will be shipped to me. Currently it is on the way.
I had a chat with my luthier. He confirmed to build me an appropriate neck. It ain't aluminum but maple. It will be getting a reverse headstock (and hopefully he agrees on a cut out in the headstock likewise below (but I prefer a snailless headstock)).

20" radius, "my" inlays (scorpion at 12th fret, ⅓ fret blocks at the bass side) - as on my Red Scorpion.

31MAR25
Guitar was delivered, there was a several day lasting delay in vicinity of the sender. However, I got it back. And it is already on the way to Austria, Lake Constance, home of my luthier.

 

[SonicBlue]

Gibson. Lots of Gibsons.

The worst of which was a 2018 Brazilian board Custom Shop R9. Many problems, totally unacceptable for an instrument over $1500, let alone the $10k it was in 2018 money. That was the beginning of the end of Gibson for me, have moved onto better alternatives from companies who treat their customers and "the little guy" guitar builders much better.

 

[tubes10s]

I bought a used Gibson Chet Atkins SST on eBay years ago that was described as mint and in new condition. I talked with the seller before buying and they described it again in those messages as mint and like new. When I received the guitar, it was clearly well used with heavyx fret wear, nicks, dings, dents, and scratches all over. When I questioned the seller, they responded that the guitar functions as new and pretended that I was the one with a problem.

 

[archtop]

I bought a used Gibson Chet Atkins SST on eBay years ago that was described as mint and in new condition. I talked with the seller before buying and they described it again in those messages as mint and like new. When I received the guitar, it was clearly well used with heavyx fret wear, nicks, dings, dents, and scratches all over. When I questioned the seller, they responded that the guitar functions as new and pretended that I was the one with a problem.

The 2 eBay purchases I had where a guitar described as "mint" arrived trashed were both purchases from ministers who both responded to their misrepresentations by saying "I'm a minister, eBay will believe me and not you". And they were both right

 

[SonicBlue]

I know I mentioned a Gibson above but a close second was a Yamaha SG-1802 Gold Top received with a broken headstock - From a seller who already broke it before selling.

Foreign seller in Asia had photos of everything but the back of headstock where it meets neck, I didn't notice that pre-purchase.
It arrives international after about 3 months of delays and excuses with a broken headstock. Close inspection reveals the packaging was intact and unopened and there were missing pieces of wood from the neck that weren't in the case, proving it was broken before shipment.

Bought on Reverb, but did paypal instead (mistake) so Reverb was less than helpful and paypal was not helpful because it was past the window due to seller delaying shipment then sending it on a slow boat method.

To make a long story short, I fought with the seller for 26 pages of back and forth and finally just shipped it back to him expedited Fedex w/signature required at my cost of $400. Sent proof I sent it to him and that he signed for it in Malaysia and since he had received it back, Reverb finally refunded me, minus my $400 spend to return it, but said they would never do this again because I shipped it back without getting all parties to agree.

 

[TheCraftsman]

Biggest loss for me is an old Hondo II I was gifted, a natural LP copy and man it was awesome! I didn’t appreciate it at the time being a kid and not a Gibson or Fender etc but man if I could take one guitar back that would be it. That and fact my Bro who doesn’t play guitar got one of the first wave Jagstang which I loved to play but man it was like a concrete block on a strap

 

[SonicBlue]

Biggest loss for me is an old Hondo II I was gifted, a natural LP copy and man it was awesome! I didn’t appreciate it at the time being a kid and not a Gibson or Fender etc but man if I could take one guitar back that would be it. That and fact my Bro who doesn’t play guitar got one of the first wave Jagstang which I loved to play but man it was like a concrete block on a strap

I tracked down my first childhood guitar about 25 years after selling it by searching for it's serial number once a year or so. (Found the serial on an old photo) It popped up on an expired classified in eastern Europe from 3 years prior, google had just indexed some stale websites from the area so it showed up. It was no longer with that owner but I was able to track it down and bought it back. It's too long of a story to share right now, but still blows me away that I found it and have it back.

You could try going back to the person you sold it to, maybe they still have it or know where it is.

If you have photos of it or know the serial number, create saved search on ebay including searching description and search google for it periodically.

https://reverb.com/marketplace?query=hondo%20ii%20natural

https://reverb.com/marketplace?query=hondo%20ii%20

Hondo II (Natural,Les Paul) in Electric Guitars for sale | eBay

www.ebay.com

Or there is the Japanese way: Look for another one, or even a modern guitar with a similar attribute such as color and view it as the same, with the same regard and sentiment - it doesn't need to be the exact one. This is the Japanese way, where if something is lost, damaged by fire, earthquake, tsunami, etc. they simply rebuild it to the best of their ability and view it as the same thing. I thought that was incredibly powerful when I learned that. It's us that gives the item it's value in many cases.

 

[PXR5]

A good result selling PRS Bernie and Mira X as PX against a new Yamaha SG1820 and getting the same if not slightly more than if I'd sold them myself plus getting a good deal on the Yamaha. Worst sale having to sell my PRS Mcarty and my Hi-Fi when I needed money quickly guy drove all the way from Swansea to Norwich an evening to buy it as a present for his brother. I've regretted selling the Mcarty every day for nearly 12 years now. The Hi-Fi whenever I want to put an album on. The Mcarty I may soon have to replace.

 

[TheCraftsman]

I tracked down my first childhood guitar about 25 years after selling it by searching for it's serial number once a year or so. (Found the serial on an old photo) It popped up on an expired classified in eastern Europe from 3 years prior, google had just indexed some stale websites from the area so it showed up. It was no longer with that owner but I was able to track it down and bought it back. It's too long of a story to share right now, but still blows me away that I found it and have it back.

You could try going back to the person you sold it to, maybe they still have it or know where it is.

If you have photos of it or know the serial number, create saved search on ebay including searching description and search google for it periodically.

https://reverb.com/marketplace?query=hondo%20ii%20natural

https://reverb.com/marketplace?query=hondo%20ii%20

Hondo II (Natural,Les Paul) in Electric Guitars for sale | eBay

www.ebay.com

Or there is the Japanese way: Look for another one, or even a modern guitar with a similar attribute such as color and view it as the same, with the same regard and sentiment - it doesn't need to be the exact one. This is the Japanese way, where if something is lost, damaged by fire, earthquake, tsunami, etc. they simply rebuild it to the best of their ability and view it as the same thing. I thought that was incredibly powerful when I learned that. It's us that gives the item it's value in many cases.

https://reverb.com/en-nl/item/86668123-hondo-les-paul-vintage-70-s-japan-korean-maple-fretboard?utm_campaign=INTL-NL-Shop_unpaid&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google

This was she I don’t have the serial etc I was a teenager then

 

[SonicBlue]

https://reverb.com/en-nl/item/86668123-hondo-les-paul-vintage-70-s-japan-korean-maple-fretboard?utm_campaign=INTL-NL-Shop_unpaid&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google

This was she I don’t have the serial etc I was a teenager then

Snag it and fix er up!

 

[TheCraftsman]

I would but I’m trying for sth else

 

[PXR5]

I tracked down my first childhood guitar about 25 years after selling it by searching for it's serial number once a year or so. (Found the serial on an old photo) It popped up on an expired classified in eastern Europe from 3 years prior, google had just indexed some stale websites from the area so it showed up. It was no longer with that owner but I was able to track it down and bought it back. It's too long of a story to share right now, but still blows me away that I found it and have it back.

You could try going back to the person you sold it to, maybe they still have it or know where it is.

If you have photos of it or know the serial number, create saved search on ebay including searching description and search google for it periodically.

https://reverb.com/marketplace?query=hondo%20ii%20natural

https://reverb.com/marketplace?query=hondo%20ii%20

Hondo II (Natural,Les Paul) in Electric Guitars for sale | eBay

www.ebay.com

Or there is the Japanese way: Look for another one, or even a modern guitar with a similar attribute such as color and view it as the same, with the same regard and sentiment - it doesn't need to be the exact one. This is the Japanese way, where if something is lost, damaged by fire, earthquake, tsunami, etc. they simply rebuild it to the best of their ability and view it as the same thing. I thought that was incredibly powerful when I learned that. It's us that gives the item it's value in many cases.

I sold a JD Explorer years ago the neck was perfect. But the guitar didn't sustain great even though it was neck through and the pickups sucked. But I wrote alot of songs on that guitar. I now know the pickups can easily be replaced, I saw it in an add few years back but it had been sold by the time I found it. I'd buy it back in a heartbeat if I could find it again. It was very rare and not the Holigan model. I may have to get an Explorer some day made with the 50s LP style neck.

 

[TheCraftsman]

Iyoi can’t capture those things they are fleeting and only later you recall

 

[Moondog Wily]

The worst experience for me was a sale. I was broke and had to sell some things to make rent (I wanna say 2001 or so). I had a Dean Baby Z (I think that is what it was called) US made neck through body guitar in VG condition. Tried selling on CL, no bites. Took to several pawn shops and the best offer I got was $200. The a**hole even jokingly quipped to his partner when I said yes to that amount "you think I should pay $200 for a US made neck through body electric guitar?". Ha ha ha MFer! I never went back to see what they were trying to sell it for.

A close second would be, in the same moments of brokedness, trying to get some good money for my Steinberger XM2T bass (full body with locking trans trem). Never got an offer over $300 so I kept it.

 

[archtop]

I know I mentioned a Gibson above but a close second was a Yamaha SG-1802 Gold Top received with a broken headstock - From a seller who already broke it before selling.

Foreign seller in Asia had photos of everything but the back of headstock where it meets neck, I didn't notice that pre-purchase.
It arrives international after about 3 months of delays and excuses with a broken headstock. Close inspection reveals the packaging was intact and unopened and there were missing pieces of wood from the neck that weren't in the case, proving it was broken before shipment.

Bought on Reverb, but did paypal instead (mistake) so Reverb was less than helpful and paypal was not helpful because it was past the window due to seller delaying shipment then sending it on a slow boat method.

To make a long story short, I fought with the seller for 26 pages of back and forth and finally just shipped it back to him expedited Fedex w/signature required at my cost of $400. Sent proof I sent it to him and that he signed for it in Malaysia and since he had received it back, Reverb finally refunded me, minus my $400 spend to return it, but said they would never do this again because I shipped it back without getting all parties to agree.

I tried to help a friend who bought an ES-350 on Reverb from a seller in Malaysia (against my pleas for him not to buy an archtop from overseas). The guitar arrived completely over-sprayed with orange peel over the entire instrument. He also used PayPal and the seller seemed well aware that all they had to do was stall until PayPal's window to file and settle the claim had closed. PayPal was completely aware of seller's stalling tactics and just said "go hire a lawyer and sue us (PayPal)" if you want to re-open the claim. PayPal sucks.

At least there's a chance Reverb will be helpful, but Reverb's staff are far less knowledgeable of musical instruments since the sale to Etsy. I had a purchase a couple years ago that had some damage that wasn't disclosed, the Etsy/Reverb agent said I had to pay return shipping as it was a "preference based return" as it was my "preference" to have a guitar without cracks and gouges and the seller claimed that despite the undisclosed damage the "guitar played fine" so I had a functional guitar.