Greg Suarez
Well-known member
So, after a ton of research, I decided on a JPX-6 (you know, chambered body, pickup selection diversity, etc.). $2450 is the common retail price for a new one, which is a bit steep for me. I found two used models at out-of-state Guitar Center stores, one at $1800 the other at $1900.
I called about the $1800 one, and it did not have the original BFR case - just a plain TSA-style MM case. My OCD kicked in and automatically told my brain "no" to that one.
I called about the $1900 one. It had the original BFR case (good start). According to the sales guy on the phone describing a guitar that sat approximately 1500 miles away from me, it was in "perfect" "clean" "incredible" condition without scratches or blemishes. Okay, so I took it. I figured I'd save $550, considering my tight budget.
Except, they charged tax and shipping. So, the final total was $2072. Okay, well, I'm still saving $378. Right?
*sigh*
My trusty, friendly UPS guy delivers the guitar yesterday, and I open it with a bit of nervous anticipation. Will this really be a good deal?
Nope.
The case was mostly good, except it had a small snag in the faux leather covering. Okay, no biggie, I tell myself. I open the case to find a very smudged JPX with small amounts of white, waxy gunk in some of its crevices. The fretboard also seemed to have a slight layer of *something* on it. Oh, and a small dent on the face of the headstock of this "perfect," "clean," "incredible" guitar. And the LiquiFire pickup was loose. And when I opened the storage compartment inside the case there was nothing. No paperwork. No trem springs. No case keys. And NO TREM ARM.
I called MM and ordered a new trem arm for $27.50 (after shipping, which would take a week). And I was planning on getting a guitar care kit with body polish and lemon oil for the fretboard (which I don't already have because my other guitars have maple boards and I always wipe down the bodies after use) for another $20. Those extra expenses brought my frugal used guitar purchase savings down to $330, which is only a 13% savings over just buying a new one.
So, I called my local Guitar Center's manager and explained the situation. I will return the used JPX and he is going to refund me the entire purchase amount, including the shipping I paid, since I told him I am going to order a brand new JPX in exchange. He also agreed to waive the sales tax on the new JPX, so I can get it for $2450 out the door (which I told him I could if I bought it almost anywhere else online).
This makes me happy and far less disappointed in my latest purchase with GC.
Just for the record, the last out-of-state used guitar I purchased from GC was a completely different experience. I bought a used Fender American Deluxe Precision bass for $999 (new price $1699) that was in such amazing condition that it still had the pickguard plastic and promo stickers. It also had all of the case candy and paperwork. I had that shipped to my local GC store so I could pick it up there and not have it sitting on my porch for someone to steal. As soon as I opened the case, one of the customers came over to me and wanted to buy it. I couldn't part with it considering the deal I got on it!
I called about the $1800 one, and it did not have the original BFR case - just a plain TSA-style MM case. My OCD kicked in and automatically told my brain "no" to that one.
I called about the $1900 one. It had the original BFR case (good start). According to the sales guy on the phone describing a guitar that sat approximately 1500 miles away from me, it was in "perfect" "clean" "incredible" condition without scratches or blemishes. Okay, so I took it. I figured I'd save $550, considering my tight budget.
Except, they charged tax and shipping. So, the final total was $2072. Okay, well, I'm still saving $378. Right?
*sigh*
My trusty, friendly UPS guy delivers the guitar yesterday, and I open it with a bit of nervous anticipation. Will this really be a good deal?
Nope.
The case was mostly good, except it had a small snag in the faux leather covering. Okay, no biggie, I tell myself. I open the case to find a very smudged JPX with small amounts of white, waxy gunk in some of its crevices. The fretboard also seemed to have a slight layer of *something* on it. Oh, and a small dent on the face of the headstock of this "perfect," "clean," "incredible" guitar. And the LiquiFire pickup was loose. And when I opened the storage compartment inside the case there was nothing. No paperwork. No trem springs. No case keys. And NO TREM ARM.
I called MM and ordered a new trem arm for $27.50 (after shipping, which would take a week). And I was planning on getting a guitar care kit with body polish and lemon oil for the fretboard (which I don't already have because my other guitars have maple boards and I always wipe down the bodies after use) for another $20. Those extra expenses brought my frugal used guitar purchase savings down to $330, which is only a 13% savings over just buying a new one.
So, I called my local Guitar Center's manager and explained the situation. I will return the used JPX and he is going to refund me the entire purchase amount, including the shipping I paid, since I told him I am going to order a brand new JPX in exchange. He also agreed to waive the sales tax on the new JPX, so I can get it for $2450 out the door (which I told him I could if I bought it almost anywhere else online).
This makes me happy and far less disappointed in my latest purchase with GC.
Just for the record, the last out-of-state used guitar I purchased from GC was a completely different experience. I bought a used Fender American Deluxe Precision bass for $999 (new price $1699) that was in such amazing condition that it still had the pickguard plastic and promo stickers. It also had all of the case candy and paperwork. I had that shipped to my local GC store so I could pick it up there and not have it sitting on my porch for someone to steal. As soon as I opened the case, one of the customers came over to me and wanted to buy it. I couldn't part with it considering the deal I got on it!
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