Used or New?

[MahlerGrooves]

I was wondering what thoughts you guys had on the advantages and disadvantages of purchasing previously owned instruments. Do you feel that being the original owner and watching the instrument grow and age is worth the additional price that usually separates a great condition used and something new?

[czech]

I bought my first new guitar 6 months ago and i dont think i'll buy too many more used ones. Its nie to get to break it in yourself.

[hcole]

I was wondering what thoughts you guys had on the advantages and disadvantages of purchasing previously owned instruments. Do you feel that being the original owner and watching the instrument grow and age is worth the additional price that usually separates a great condition used and something new?

Not to me it isn't, if I can find what I want in good condition then I'll always go used.

[mangold]

i prefer used. gives the guitar a soul. plus aged sounds better

[Tranman66]

i prefer new. i dont like used guitars at all. this is referencing. i wouldnt buy a used guitar unless its half the current value.

[MrMister612]

Without a doubt I would go used just because of the resale value. If you buy a guitar new, the next day it is worth half as much as you payed for it. If you go ahead and buy a used one, the value will never go down (on higher end brands anyway), it will only appreciate. So buying a used guitar is kind of like an investment. You can play the guitar all you want and then sell it later if you need to and make money. You cant do that with a new guitar until years and years and years later.

[czech]

Without a doubt I would go used just because of the resale value. If you buy a guitar new, the next day it is worth half as much as you payed for it. If you go ahead and buy a used one, the value will never go down (on higher end brands anyway), it will only appreciate. So buying a used guitar is kind of like an investment. You can play the guitar all you want and then sell it later if you need to and make money. You cant do that with a new guitar until years and years and years later.

ya, but i dont buy instruments with the intentions of ever selling them. I have yet to sell any of my instruments to this day.
there are pros and cons:

Cons for Used:
I take better care of my guitars than most others. Maybe they never used a humidifier, or left it sit with strings off.
parts may be more worn than they appear, so a tuner might be grinding, an electronic component might be buring out.
You dont know what kind of repairs have been made in the past. There's no CARFAX for a guitar.
Owning a new guitar is like marrying a virgin, only my best friend gets to play my guitar.

Pros for Used:
The sound changes with age, more drastically in the first year, so new you dont know exactly what it will sound like.
Value drops fast.
security that everything is new and will last: maybe a warranty.

[hcole]

Without a doubt I would go used just because of the resale value. If you buy a guitar new, the next day it is worth half as much as you payed for it. If you go ahead and buy a used one, the value will never go down (on higher end brands anyway), it will only appreciate. So buying a used guitar is kind of like an investment. You can play the guitar all you want and then sell it later if you need to and make money. You cant do that with a new guitar until years and years and years later.

Buying a guitar as an investment is generally a poor idea regardless of it being used or new, and to think that a used guitar is only going to appreciate in value is also not true most cases. There are certain guitars that have appreciated in value over the years (pre-war martins, d'angelico archtops are some examples) but when they were originally made nobody knew this price inflation would happen.

[MrMister612]

Buying a guitar as an investment is generally a poor idea regardless of it being used or new, and to think that a used guitar is only going to appreciate in value is also not true most cases. There are certain guitars that have appreciated in value over the years (pre-war martins, d'angelico archtops are some examples) but when they were originally made nobody knew this price inflation would happen.

Every brand name guitar (Fender, Gibson, Martin, eventually taylors) have appreciated over the years. People want vintage guitars, and you pay less for a used guitar and it becomes classified as 'vintage' quicker.

When you buy a used guitar you just have to do the research and buy smart, and while you may not make any money if you sell it within 5-10 years, it will start to rise in value. I'm not talking about some cheap used alvarez, I'm talking about used D-28's, carved top LP's, American Fender Strats & tele's. Those types of guitars will appreciate, and anything that you can use all you want (not abuse) and it still appreciate is a good type of investment. You just have to know what you are talking about.

But still, anyway you look at it, buying a guitar used is the way to go.

[czech]

Buying a guitar as an investment is generally a poor idea regardless of it being used or new, and to think that a used guitar is only going to appreciate in value is also not true most cases. There are certain guitars that have appreciated in value over the years (pre-war martins, d'angelico archtops are some examples) but when they were originally made nobody knew this price inflation would happen.

Every brand name guitar (Fender, Gibson, Martin, eventually taylors) have appreciated over the years. People want vintage guitars, and you pay less for a used guitar and it becomes classified as 'vintage' quicker.

When you buy a used guitar you just have to do the research and buy smart, and while you may not make any money if you sell it within 5-10 years, it will start to rise in value. I'm not talking about some cheap used alvarez, I'm talking about used D-28's, carved top LP's, American Fender Strats & tele's. Those types of guitars will appreciate, and anything that you can use all you want (not abuse) and it still appreciate is a good type of investment. You just have to know what you are talking about.

But still, anyway you look at it, buying a guitar used is the way to go.

No, anyway YOU look at it maybe.

[Tranman66]

Stop looking at guitars as investments... i consider them as personal items.

[hcole]

Stop looking at guitars as investments... i consider them as personal items.

I agree, and as far as guitars being an investment they are one of the poorest ways to invest your money if that's all you're looking at doing with them.

[mangold]

Stop looking at guitars as investments... i consider them as personal items.

I agree, and as far as guitars being an investment they are one of the poorest ways to invest your money if that's all you're looking at doing with them.

a nice condition martin d-28 from the 50's or 60's is worth more than most cars on the road, but i dont consider them investments either

[MrMister612]

I'm not saying buy guitars strickly for investment purposes

I am saying that if you buy a good guitar used, the value will only increase; so in essence it could be called an investment.

[czech]

I'm not saying buy guitars strickly for investment purposes

I am saying that if you buy a good guitar used, the value will only increase; so in essence it could be called an investment.

that statement is making baby jesus cry.