7 String BFR @ GC- Good Idea?

[Prosthetic Rec]

I walked into Guitar Center today to pick up some picks and hopefully play a BFR (havn't played one yet)- lucky for me they actually had a 7 string (Walnut Flame). I played it for about half an hour and loved it- aside from a few things. The worst thing about it was how dried out the fretboard was. I have no idea how long the guitar has been there, and they keep it in a glass case above the door (not just laying out on a stand like most of the guitars) so I wouldn't think an unreal amount of people have played it....but WOW, it was just so dried out and kinda crappy. The tremelo seemed a little funky...I don't think there was anything wrong with it though.

The price tag on it said $29xx. I asked them if it was cheaper because of the new models coming out. The guy said "Yeah, but actually I think it's even cheaper than that, let me scan it..." After that we found it was actually going for $20xx (about $22xx after tax) because they're trying to get rid of it for the new model(s) coming in. I also asked if they could do something about the fretboard and he said they could get that taken care of (no idea what they're going to do about that...)

So, I still plan on getting a NEW BFR- because I want the new pickups and I want a quilted finish (not sure which color yet)...but I'm thinking about selling the JP7 I have now and buying this thing. Even though it was a store model, and not the greatest flame finish, and played by who knows how many people...do you guys think this is a good buy? I don't know if it will come with a EBMM case, but I'm pretty sure I can talk them down lower on the price. I'd like to hear your guys' thoughts on this...

Thanks

 

[Slingy]

As a rule of thumb we don't really talk pricing here. I don't like the look of dry fretboards either but rosewood dries out and needs to be nourished. Wipe it down with some wonder wipes and she will be good to go.

But hey only you can decide, if you must have it now, then get it. Or else order one and wait for it to be made for you.

Also get on GC's mailing list right away if you plan on making big purchases, you'll get a 10% coupon almost every month.

 

[Prosthetic Rec]

As a rule of thumb we don't really talk pricing here. I don't like the look of dry fretboards either but rosewood dries out and needs to be nourished. Wipe it down with some wonder wipes and she will be good to go.

But hey only you can decide, if you must have it now, then get it. Or else order one and wait for it to be made for you.

Also get on GC's mailing list right away if you plan on making big purchases, you'll get a 10% coupon almost every month.

Well without discussing the pricing of the guitar- there'd really be no point in making the thread. The pricing is really the only reason I'm even considering this guitar. I don't see it as being directly in competition with any other dealers (or am I wrong?) because it's an outdated floor model- I actually see it as buying a used guitar. It's actually probably in worse shape than most used guitars that have only been owned by one owner.

Like I said, I'm still buying a *NEW* BFR regardless of whether or not I get this one and I won't be ordering that one through GC.

I don't think a 10% coupon would work on a purchase like this though...do you?

 

[Jason2112]

Judging by your choice of words, you aren't really into that guitar so it really doesn't matter what any of us think is a good deal. If you like it, buy it.

 

[Lou]

If you like the guitar and the price is right, snag it.

 

[paranoid70]

Hey Prosthetic Rec... were you at the Fountain Valley store yesterday evening? I saw some guy talking with a Sales clerk who was holding a 7 string JP. Odd coincidence if that was you. I was trying out a nice Silhouette on a Fender Twin Reverb.

(To be honest, I was just killing time because I was very early to meet a friend in the area.)

 

[Ernieballplayer]

save your money and still go for the new BFR, im always worried about used guitars/ fret wear, electronics, so and so. and with that spare cash get another brand new EB, that's what i would do(did).

 

[Prosthetic Rec]

Hey Prosthetic Rec... were you at the Fountain Valley store yesterday evening? I saw some guy talking with a Sales clerk who was holding a 7 string JP. Odd coincidence if that was you. I was trying out a nice Silhouette on a Fender Twin Reverb.

(To be honest, I was just killing time because I was very early to meet a friend in the area.)

Haha, yeah, that was me. I don't know about that guitar now, I'm kinda having second thoughts. I've e-mailed some EBMM dealers and the prices are lower than I had anticipated, so I might just get a new one. I'd hate to save a few hundred bucks just to end up owning a $2k lemon.
Now that I just sold the guitar (today) I was using to fund this, I'll probably go back over there sometime this week to check it out again and maybe see what kind of deal they'd be able to get me.

 

[paranoid70]

Haha, yeah, that was me.

What a coincidence. I wanted to check out the BFR after you left, but I don't know what the clerk did with it.

BTW, you won't own a 'lemon'. EBMM will stand behind a new guitar you buy from GC. I definitely wouldn't worry about that. Dings and dents are out of their control obviously, but I am sure the guitar will play just fine.

 

[Slav123]

What a coincidence. I wanted to check out the BFR after you left, but I don't know what the clerk did with it.

BTW, you won't own a 'lemon'. EBMM will stand behind a new guitar you buy from GC. I definitely wouldn't worry about that. Dings and dents are out of their control obviously, but I am sure the guitar will play just fine.

I agree plus, you can use the GC 10% discount that will expire this month - 7/31/09 towards a purchase of a new EBMM guitar (even the BFR's!).

Slav

 

[bkrumme]

Sent a PM to you, Prosthetic.

 

[the24thfret]

I'd not recommend spending so much on a guitar if you're not completely in love with the thing. If it feels mediocre, wait until something better comes along.

 

[Prosthetic Rec]

What a coincidence. I wanted to check out the BFR after you left, but I don't know what the clerk did with it.

BTW, you won't own a 'lemon'. EBMM will stand behind a new guitar you buy from GC. I definitely wouldn't worry about that. Dings and dents are out of their control obviously, but I am sure the guitar will play just fine.

I saw him walking around with it for awhile, then he gave it to another employee and they put it back up in the case. Since

I agree plus, you can use the GC 10% discount that will expire this month - 7/31/09 towards a purchase of a new EBMM guitar (even the BFR's!).

Slav

I signed up for the mailing list, but it hasn't sent me anything yet. I probably won't be able to get this guitar before the 31st, is there anyway I could put it on layaway or something and have the coupon still apply?

 

[Prosthetic Rec]

Ok, update...I went to GC tonight to look at the guitar again. The fretboard isn't as bad as I thought. At first they said it shouldn't be a problem taking the 10% coupon....but then they said they couldn't do it because they'd be losing like $180- to which I should have asked them how much they were going to lose if they never sold it, but I hesitated.
At the price they're giving it to me for, they're still losing about 50 cents.

I'm still not sure why I can't use that coupon if they're taking a loss anyway?

 

[phatduckk]

I'm still not sure why I can't use that coupon if they're taking a loss anyway?

cuz most business dont like losing money. if they lose $ they'd prefer it to be as minimal a loss as possible.

as far as the fretboard goes - some wonder wipes or lemon oil will make it as good as new. shouldnt take more than 10 minutes

 

[Slingy]

Ok, update...I went to GC tonight to look at the guitar again. The fretboard isn't as bad as I thought. At first they said it shouldn't be a problem taking the 10% coupon....but then they said they couldn't do it because they'd be losing like $180- to which I should have asked them how much they were going to lose if they never sold it, but I hesitated.
At the price they're giving it to me for, they're still losing about 50 cents.

I'm still not sure why I can't use that coupon if they're taking a loss anyway?

Usually coupons can't be combined with other discounts. This is pretty standard business practice. If your getting a BFR at cost I'd take that deal anyday. If an instrument is actually damaged that is a whole other ball game.

Let us know what you decide.

 

[Prosthetic Rec]

I've got some of that dunlop fingerboard 'cleaner & prep' and 'deep conditioner'- I was told that'd do the trick.

I took some pics of it when I was there tonight. My camera isn't the greatest so this was the only one that came out decent:

It DOES come with the EBMM case (*whew*) and they're gonna dig that out tomorrow and tell me all what's in there. While I havn't put anything down for it yet, they've already rang it up for me (gave me a receipt) and set it aside.

 

[petruccirocks02]

I would get that in a heartbeat. If its new and on clearance you should get a warranty with it as well.

-Phil

 

[paranoid70]

'Not the greatest flame finish'???? It looks awesome to me! I definitely prefer the flame over quilt.

 

[eudaimonia]

If you don't love it, don't buy it. You save more money in the long run by not settling and just getting what you really want. That seems like a kick ass guitar to me, but if you aren't in love with the flame, don't bother. That's my 2 cents. If, however, the issue is just the fretboard, ask the GC people if they'll wipe down the fretboard now before you buy it. I've gotten them to do stuff like that for me when I was considering buying cheaper stuff, so I bet they'd do it for a more expensive guitar.