i.e. buying without playing, and did it work out (and does it usually work our for you).

Stuart

Stuart,
I have ordered guitars before that I have not played. Some due to the fact there were none anywhere near to try out, and others just because it was something I was looking for. At least I thought I was. I have even ordered guitars (or bought I should say) from builders I had only read or heard about. didn't even know what to expect other than "word" of others.

Personally, I would say I would say that I made out OK about 90% of the time. There have been a couple that just were not what I expected or wanted, or thuoght they would be. And I am here talking some being ordered directly from build.
Sometimes you just HAVE to take the chance or you won't ever get the chance. If that makes sense. Some guitars I am never gonna find in a shop down here. If I ever want to try one I am gonna have to take the chance and order one.

It's a gamble sure, but so is every day life. So live it, don't let it slip away.

Yes, commissioned site unseen, noted luthier, very special offer, exquisite woods, absolutely lovely execution, wonderful communication with the luthier, just not my sound. Sold it.

Hey Stuart,I've done the not seen/not played thing and my percentage is a lot lower than yours. In fact, it might not even be 50%. Seeing and playing is still the best way to go but I even make a lot of mistakes doing that. Once again,Collings are the safest bet I've found when buying sight unseen. I'd have to say 90% or better there.

My best experience was getting a Mcilroy A25c on e-bay from a real nice guy & good guitarist but I'd never met him or even seen a Mcilroy before. I took the word of a dealer,some reviews,and the seller and wound up with one of my favorite guitars ever.

There are a few dealers who have ripped me good. One in Carlsbad,CA and another in New Orleans with some kind of international flare. I won't mention any names but I do in private especially whenever anybody asks for a recomendation. You'd think these dealers would want a good reputation instead of ripping people off for a few hundred bucks. They'll get their moneys worth in negative advertising for sure and no more of my money.

I had Ervin Somogyi build me a guitar back around 1980 just because I liked what I heard on the Windham Hill label from Ackerman,Hedges,DeGrassi,etc.. Ervin was great to work with and built me a fine instrument. Unfortunately I traded it towards an old Martin OM-28. Sometimes I wish I still had it.That one worked out good sight unseen and built from scratch.

I've had good results from the following dealers/stores:

Jim Baggett,Mass.St. Music
Kim Sherman,Cotten Music
Steve Miklas,Acoustic Music Works
Buzz Levine,Lark Street Music
Larry Broido in Philadelphia
John Holman,Dallas TX

These are great guitar people who have treated me well and sold me some amazing guitars. Much love and many good recomendations to them.

Thanks for the feeback guys,

It worries me, tis true.

I'm going to head down to dream guitar in early June and I'll try a few - at least from builders of interest, though the neck widths aren't there for me in a couple of cases.

I would love to have tried that Sobell Model 1 that just sold. Something struck me about that sound, and the look. Majesty.

I don't know what I'll do yet, perhaps buy one and order one that takes two years. Or just order. Premium to order is around 3K, but when you think about it, it's only costing you what you can't recover when you sell.

Meanwhile, I think I'll order a Calton case and drag my 000 around with me to hotels when I travel. I'm always up at the crack of dawn (or a few hours earlier), and it'd be such a waste not to play that time away.

It'll be another 18 months I think before I'm half way to where I want to go as a player, but I'm starting to make some excellent headway now, and have begun writing.

Life is good.

I recall seeing the name of that town, Carlsbad, and will try to remember as I will be down in CA at some point. Luthier's collection has some nice guitars, though he doesn't seem to drop his prices like some stores do.

I notice that quite a few guitars have sold recently in many stores. A nice Ryan went at Guitar Gallery. Some I had my eye on. Saw a sexauer 00 or was it a 0 that looked to die for in CA. Madi I think. I think I'll be let down after this purchase, as the hunt sure takes time.

Was in touch with Kim, though I think Julius isn't producing many guitars these days. His only dealers don't seem to get any of his new guitars, and the inquiry I made re price through Kim is still unanswered, not by her, but by Julius. Nice guitars, but that worries me. That was a nice Borges that almost made it second hand to her shop in Tennessee. I wanted a sound file of that one - a mahogany with premium case for $6100. Good price. But it sold before it was even listed for sale.

Kathy seems very nice, and i love the sound of the 12 fret E', previously sold on dream. Sounds like a winning balad guitar.

Took my guitar in to get a set up after six months (in November) and they suggested I consider getting a refret, if that tells you how much I've been playing. 13-15 hrs a week these days.

But it's slow progress.

Caution sounds like the message.

thanks,

I don't mention a past experience I had either. Wasn't so bad, just left a questionable taste in my mouth.

I need honesty.

And yes, the Collings are dearly well made. Though tight. My Lowden, which I picked up from a Collector in mint, is fun to play with far more flexible strings, though not as well made as the Collings, and the nut width causes me too much grief. I've resold it and am going to take it with me to the buyer when I'm down at dream. Didn't lose a penny after all travel and taxes, though I did take a risk.

But as Rick says, sometimes you've got to.

Now I've owned three guitars.



Stuart

Stuart, even with some risk if you stick with a reputable dealer and buider you have a good chance of ending up with a great guitar. And if the dealer offers a trial period, say 48 hours or something, and you decide it just isn't what you wanted or not for you, send it back.

Now a custom order is another matter as that will most likely be yours. but something off the shelf, most good dealers offer a return policy on their good stuff.

Roll the dice, live a little.

Easy. The Blazer-Henkes OM28 Brazilian I got "on approval" almost two years ago. I took it as a favor to an old dealer friend who said "you need to try this guitar". I had every-and I do mean every- intention of sending it back. It's not a Collings. It has no truss rod, like a 1930 Martin. The Brazilian is very pretty, but not magical. Then I played the %$#%$ thing. It's in the living room now, where it will stay until the estate sale.

Sonoman,howzabout having us over for a play on that B&H? I'll be in the queue.

Stuart, a Sobell is worth the checking out.

Don't talk to me about Sobells or you'll depress me. Since the Model 1 sold and I was taken by it (dream). May not have bought it, but sure wanted to try. It sounded like magic.

His new prices area really expensive as he no longer uses anyone to help him build.

Sniffle.

Stuart

It probably doesn't qualify as a huge risk, but I bought my Martin 00015-S though My Favorite Guitars without ever played, or even seen the model except through pictures online.

Live and learn. It's a fine little guitar, but there's nothing about it that blows me away, it doesn't suit my playing style that well, and the fingerboard's pretty wide for my tastes. I've got a D-15 that I play every day, but somehow the 000 size doesn't do it for me. I'm thinking pretty seriously about trying to find someone to give it the daily blues/fingerpicking workout that it deserves.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Joe Dodson,

It's a shame about the negative experience with dealers. I live in the town next to Carlsbad, CA and have purchased about ten guitars there over the years. Although I've never engaged in a mail-order or internet-order transaction, I've never had anything but real positive transactions. They let me come in all day and spend a lot of time there and have always made a huge effort to get me all the information I need. It goes to show you how important it is for stores to consistently provide excellent service.

quote:

What's the biggest risk you've ever taken with a guitar purchase

Buying my D1A over the internet. Talk about scary! I had played one, but still... Turned out wonderfully, though.