I like my guitars used and my amps new.

rhinocaster · July 13th, 2008, 05:57 PM

I've noticed that I tend to buy used guitars and new amps.

It's easy to see how a guitar has been treated, and a good solid body guitar won't wear out in my lifetime. I have two Teles that, if I had purchased them new, would have cost me about $6000. All told, I have less than $3000 invested in these instruments. Great bargins on used guitars!

Amps are a different story to me. I want to know how hard they've been run. I don't like the idea that someone may have been running a tube screamer into a dimed amp for hour after hour. I think amps are more fragile than solidbody, electric guitars, and I want to know how the amp has been treated from day one.

Effects can go either way for me.

Any preferences here?

TeleBrew · July 13th, 2008, 06:08 PM

I purchased my #1 Tele used, and it's like it was made for me. No telling what it would've been like brand new. It was broken it perfectly. Only paid $500 for it. Some of my partscaster was used (the body) and certain parts were new. It's quickly becoming as dear to me as my other Tele.

I like new amps, too, for the same reasons you mentioned. I prefer to abuse an amp personally.

Used guitars are great for me if they don't smell like cigarette smoke. I once bought a Les Paul Standard used on ebay, and it smelled like an ashtray, along with the case. Lesson learned - if I really want to buy something sight unseen, I make sure to ask questions about the items' history.

With pedals I could go either way, especially if the pedals is really expensive brand new, but I bought four out of the five pedals on my board new.

Rumble · July 13th, 2008, 07:38 PM

Both used for me. I've never bought a new guitar and never intend to. Maybe I'll buy a new amp some day, but probably not. There's nothing like a well worn Tele or Les Paul through a Fender, Marshall, or Vox with broken in speakers.

e-merlin · July 13th, 2008, 08:04 PM

I've only bought two new guitars and two new amps. All the other stuff was either used or stuff I've built.

Bill · July 13th, 2008, 09:05 PM

The first amp I bought was new. Used since then. Same with most of my guitars. Partly it's because I got more product for less money, unless there was a big sale on. The other reason I've bought used is that this is the only way to buy a '66 Deluxe Reverb after 1966.

Javlib · July 13th, 2008, 09:15 PM

and remember...

you can't play the BLUES on a guitar that has never been in a pawn shop!

robbysturgis · July 13th, 2008, 10:06 PM

...let me introduce you to my friend....

a 78 Deluxe Reverb Silverface....

rhinocaster · July 13th, 2008, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Javlib

and remember...

you can't play the BLUES on a guitar that has never been in a pawn shop!

My wife gave me a framed picture of that guy for a birthday a few years ago!

beep.click · July 14th, 2008, 01:46 AM

I generally prefer new for everything. The first 10-15 years of playing guitar, almost everything used I saw was used UP. Beat to ribbons; ABused. I've watched guys in my band buy used stuff, trying to save a buck, and they end up dumping more dough into repairs, or just eating it.

I have got some good used gear over time (Pro Reverb; Les Paul; Ric 12 string), but you're so completely at the mercy of what somebody is unloading, at a given moment. So much easier, as a rule, to go to a store, where they have 50-100 guitars and 2-3 dozen amps, all in one place.

D.K. Buchanon · July 14th, 2008, 04:14 AM

Might I add that I like my women how I like my coffee.....

Hot and full of liquor !

July 13th, 2008, 05:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
rhinocaster Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Oregon Age: 44 Posts: 1,219	I like my guitars used and my amps new. I've noticed that I tend to buy used guitars and new amps. It's easy to see how a guitar has been treated, and a good solid body guitar won't wear out in my lifetime. I have two Teles that, if I had purchased them new, would have cost me about $6000. All told, I have less than $3000 invested in these instruments. Great bargins on used guitars! Amps are a different story to me. I want to know how hard they've been run. I don't like the idea that someone may have been running a tube screamer into a dimed amp for hour after hour. I think amps are more fragile than solidbody, electric guitars, and I want to know how the amp has been treated from day one. Effects can go either way for me. Any preferences here? __________________ Just because I "Don't" get it doesn't mean I "Won't" get it!

July 13th, 2008, 06:08 PM	#2 (permalink)
TeleBrew Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Kittredge, Colorado Age: 36 Posts: 863	I purchased my #1 Tele used, and it's like it was made for me. No telling what it would've been like brand new. It was broken it perfectly. Only paid $500 for it. Some of my partscaster was used (the body) and certain parts were new. It's quickly becoming as dear to me as my other Tele. I like new amps, too, for the same reasons you mentioned. I prefer to abuse an amp personally. Used guitars are great for me if they don't smell like cigarette smoke. I once bought a Les Paul Standard used on ebay, and it smelled like an ashtray, along with the case. Lesson learned - if I really want to buy something sight unseen, I make sure to ask questions about the items' history. With pedals I could go either way, especially if the pedals is really expensive brand new, but I bought four out of the five pedals on my board new. __________________ "Where do you fit in pthtttpt magazine?" - Pete Townshend

July 13th, 2008, 09:05 PM	#5 (permalink)
Bill Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bay Area, California Posts: 2,613 58 Photos	The first amp I bought was new. Used since then. Same with most of my guitars. Partly it's because I got more product for less money, unless there was a big sale on. The other reason I've bought used is that this is the only way to buy a '66 Deluxe Reverb after 1966. __________________ B i l l B a e c k A journal of our year in London

July 13th, 2008, 10:06 PM	#7 (permalink)
robbysturgis Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: fairfax Posts: 499 5 Photos	...let me introduce you to my friend.... a 78 Deluxe Reverb Silverface.... __________________ In early '57, I bought a Fender Telecaster. ~ Johnny Rivers

July 14th, 2008, 01:46 AM	#9 (permalink)
beep.click Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: California Age: 49 Posts: 1,818	I generally prefer new for everything. The first 10-15 years of playing guitar, almost everything used I saw was used UP. Beat to ribbons; ABused. I've watched guys in my band buy used stuff, trying to save a buck, and they end up dumping more dough into repairs, or just eating it. I have got some good used gear over time (Pro Reverb; Les Paul; Ric 12 string), but you're so completely at the mercy of what somebody is unloading, at a given moment. So much easier, as a rule, to go to a store, where they have 50-100 guitars and 2-3 dozen amps, all in one place. __________________ "It looked like a giant green gum drop to me."

July 13th, 2008, 07:38 PM	#3 (permalink)
Rumble Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Georgia Age: 36 Posts: 842	Both used for me. I've never bought a new guitar and never intend to. Maybe I'll buy a new amp some day, but probably not. There's nothing like a well worn Tele or Les Paul through a Fender, Marshall, or Vox with broken in speakers.

July 13th, 2008, 09:15 PM	#6 (permalink)
Javlib NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Pueblo, Colorado Posts: 9	and remember... you can't play the BLUES on a guitar that has never been in a pawn shop!

July 14th, 2008, 04:14 AM	#10 (permalink)
D.K. Buchanon Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bloomington, Indiana Age: 51 Posts: 198 4 Photos	Might I add that I like my women how I like my coffee..... Hot and full of liquor ! __________________ This time I'm switching to glide