Would a Mismatched Headstock Color on a Used AL Keep You From Buying It?

[andynpeters]

I would contact Customer Services, they might be prepared to replace the neck with one to the original specifications. Might be expensive though!

 

[klaveguitars]

I remember seeing that guitar on ebay a few months ago, I even bid on it. I think it sold for around $800 - 900. I didn't bid higher because it didn't have a compensated nut (the string spacing of the compensated nut is my favorite)

I remember the back story on it was, the original owner wanted a red guitar but with a natural headstock, so he bought two guitars and swapped necks, and sold the ones he didn't want.

 

[fsmith]

Get them to knock about $300 more off of the price and get a new neck... Unless the prices have really gone up that's what a new neck for my Petrucci was a couple of years ago.

You can then get the original finish on the headstock.

If it was a really good price I'd buy it anyway and refinish it.

 

[phatduckk]

it would bug me too. but if the guitar played like a dream id buy it and strip the red off the headstock and call it a day

 

[mbgreene]

An AL at a Great price is an AL at at a Great price. And I always thought guitars were made to play, not just worry about resale value. If it sounds good and feels good go for it.

You can always pretend that you had just enough dough to buy a beat up fourteen year old guitar with a backwards bridge that the shop owner calls the worst junker in the place, then just play the snot out of it. But at that point the resale value that may only be worth a million bucks or so.

Just my 200,000,000 cents

 

[straycat113]

Wow it is hard for me to fathom a shop doing that for anyone, unless the owner was in dire straits for cash to pay off his bookie. The price would just have to be to good to pass by, and you would just have to love the guitar. If you hear a tone monster that you are not going to part with then buy it, but remember down the road you will take a major loss on a resale even if the price is great that you are getting it at now. I am interested in the condition and the price to be honest, just to know that you are not over paying.

 

[gtrman66]

IMHO the tone and playability of the guitar are the important things and looks are secondary esp if the price is right.I agree some dickering is in order considering the mismatch but I wouldn't pass it up just for looks if the guitar has some serious mojo workin'

 

[DaPatrooch]

It seems like a weird match of colors, but you could get a custom red pickguard to match the headstock, maybe it'll look a little cooler idk haha. That or change the pickup covers and knobs to red ones. It could look cool I guess.

But you're buying the guitar for the guitar, not the color, so I say if the deal's good enough, then go for it.

 

[Slingy]

I wouldn't bother with it. How much is it?

 

[soupcon]

what's the price?

 

[DrGonzo5150]

An AL at a Great price is an AL at at a Great price. And I always thought guitars were made to play, not just worry about resale value. If it sounds good and feels good go for it.

+1000... As long as it sounds good and is great to play, I honestly couldn't care. Tone baby... Tone

 

[banjoplayer]

I remember the back story on it was, the original owner wanted a red guitar but with a natural headstock, so he bought two guitars and swapped necks, and sold the ones he didn't want.

That would mean somebody buys 2 guitars (maybe new?) to sell one in sunburst w/red headstock and a horrible resale value? That could probably make sense with 2 used ones but with 2 new ones it would be a financial desaster. Then it would be cheaper to order one with the exact colour/headstock.

So I would be very mistrustful as I think something in this story stinks. The optics wouldn´t bother me that much. But if you are 110% sure everything´s ok with this guitars and you can test, hear, see, smell, feel it and the price is ok it´s a hard decision.

 

[straycat113]

Still have not said what they were asking for it.

 

[koogie2k]

I am so hard on my guitars and basses on stage that I could care less if it did not match.

If it plays good and sounds good....that is good for me.

Do what some here suggested and see what happens. Good luck.

 

[Dizzy]

I'm gonna go on a limb and quote Rob here:

"Matching headstocks are for sissies"

But "MIS-Matched Headstocks are for Inbreeders ............ "

 

[Spudmurphy]

seems I'm just reiterating the viewpoint in this thread - it depends on the price - but if it felt so perfect to you then the price would come second.

Would be interesting to know what it's going for?

 

[jholcomb]

He was asking $825 shipped but now has decided to hang on to it...so I guess it's a moot point! Everything about it was mint except for some pick scratches on the guard and the mismatched neck.

 

[Stratty316]

I would not have mattered at that price... you can always sand it. As long as it plays like an AL, sounds like an AL and you are happy with it... who cares?

 

[THE_EB_KID]

Heck I have a trans red AL w/ a natty headstock
we could have done a switch-er-ooo!!!!

 

[jholcomb]

Well....I really wasn't able to move on it because of my recent prostate surgery, and he changed his mind in the interim. Maybe he'll change it back soon.