First Guitar Expo

Dash_Starkiller · #1 02-09-2022, 06:15 PM

Hey all, so I'm thinking of going to the Amigo Nashville guitar expo in March and I just have a few questions...

Should I bring my acoustic? I'm not dead set on selling but if someone happened to have one of the three guitars on my radar and were interested in working out a deal I am open.

How are prices at these sorts of things? I know things are inflated right now but would we be looking at fair prices or is someone going to be asking $5000 for an LG-0 with a plastic bridge?

Just a few thoughts as to what to expect, as I've never been to one of these and wanna go prepared. Thanks!

LuckyDan · #2 02-09-2022, 06:26 PM

I haven't been to an Amigo show but I've been to a few Dallas International Guitar Festivals. If Amigo is anything similar, be prepared to do a lot of walking and standing. Seating is limited to a few scattered stools and those are occupied by vendors. If you're bringing your guitar, you'll be lugging it the whole time.

As for buying and selling, some dealers deal, some have a take it or leave it attitude.

I attended more to see the rarities, not to swap, but then I don't own anything out of the ordinary that would appeal to a swapper.

Dash_Starkiller · #3 02-09-2022, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuckyDan

I haven't been to an Amigo show but I've been to a few Dallas International Guitar Festivals. If Amigo is anything similar, be prepared to do a lot of walking and standing. Seating is limited to a few scattered stools and those are occupied by vendors. If you're bringing your guitars you'll be lugging it the whole time.

As for buying and selling, some dealers deal, some have a fake it of leave it attitude.

I attended more to see the rarities, not to swap, but then I don't own anything out of the ordinary that would appeal to a swapper.

Thanks Dan, yea I figured I would be carrying it around. Not a huge deal but I just don't want to bring a guitar for no reason haha.

Bob from Brooklyn · #4 02-09-2022, 07:13 PM

Some shows give you a discounted price of admission if you bring a guitar.

dnf777 · #5 02-09-2022, 07:30 PM

Everything Dan said, and IME, they tend to shift from a seller’s market to a buyer’s market as the show winds down. I would try not to buy until the closing hours, when bargains emerge. Of course, you risk missing out by waiting, but thats the game!

It is also caveat emptor. Many sales will be final. Most are good, honest folks, but in every crowd, there will be a con or two lurking. Ive had lots of fun at expos, and lightened my wallet occasionally…

EZYPIKINS · #6 02-10-2022, 05:43 AM

Took a Les Paul to a guitar show once. My friend had a booth. Actually a table.

Reminded me of a car show. And I've been to enough car shows to not like being tied to one spot.

I did have a guy almost ready to trade me a Gibson SJ-100. But he backed out at the last minute.

A guy from Norm's got his hooks into him.

tbeltrans · #7 02-10-2022, 07:03 AM

With regard to taking a guitar as possible sell/swap, but you are not really sure you want to get rid of it...

Earlier this week, I went to a local shop that a line of CF guitars that I was interested in seeing out of curiosity (discussed in the carbon fiber sub-forum). I already knew from the specs of these particular guitars that they were not something I would jump on right away, so it was "safe" to just check them out to satisfy my curiosity about the new kid on the block. They also have what is probably now the nicest selection of Taylor guitars too.

I debated bringing along my second Taylor K14ce that I got in a trade just prior to the onset of COVID lockdowns. I decided not to bring it because I didn't want to do an impulse type trade that I might regret later. Also, I made sure to play that guitar before going to the shop so that my memory of it was clear before trying their Taylors, looking at possible trades.

In the end, I am glad I took these precautions because I ended up not doing anything, and therefore still have my K14ce. To me, it is the nicest Taylor I have played yet because it is such a nice fit for my playing style and is very comfortable to play. I can use it for open tunings and keep my original K14ce for standard.

It is the impulse of GAS that leads to seller's remorse, in my experience. So taking care to not put myself in that position seems a god idea. However, since this guitar show is a one time event, not bringing your guitar along could also be a missed opportunity. Only you can decide what the best option is, but I posted just to provide a possible alternative perspective.

Tony

Misifus · #8 02-10-2022, 11:45 AM

Just a thought, but as it's your first such show and you haven't decided for sure to sell, added to the fact that it will be too noisy to really appreciate the fine points of any guitar tone, why not just go solo to find out what it's like and how you like it?

zcregle1 · #9 02-10-2022, 12:06 PM

I have not gone to an Amigo show but I have gone to the Bee 3 Vintage show that they hold in Philly many times (they hold them in other states too). In terms of selection, you are definitely going to find stuff that will peak your interest, things you knew you wanted to check out and things you didn't know you wanted but after finding it and playing it you cant leave without it. Guitar shows in general will inherently have a selection better than any store or stores you can get to because of the concentration of dealers and people like yourself bringing in instruments. At the Bee 3 shows, if you bring an instrument you get in for free, so even if you don't want to sell, just bringing one and walking around with it saves you a couple bucks upon admission. If a dealer has something you are interested in, ask them if they can escort you and the guitar to a quieter area at the show (in a hallway off the showroom for instance) to get a real sense of the tone of the guitar and you aren't competing with all the EVH wannabes. Cash is king so always recommended to bring some with you. As previously stated in another post, dealers are more likely to make deals towards the end of the day (if it's a multiple day show, the last day in the last few hours) because they want to make as much as they can and have less stuff to bring home since that carries cost to the dealer, so if they can make a decent deal and come out ahead from their investment or at least break even, they are more inclined to deal. But overall, from my experiences, dealers are at least willing to wheel and deal. Seldom so they stick to the price they have listed on the tag.

Hope these tips help and hope you enjoy your first show!

Be prepared, it is a bit overwhelming at first but so much fun.

Dash_Starkiller · #10 02-10-2022, 12:15 PM

Thank you all for the awesome insight. I think I will bring my guitar but try and keep as much composure as I can haha.

Puddleglum · #11 02-10-2022, 03:19 PM

I love guitar shows but most of them are geared more toward the electric guitar players. Most of the time there are few acoustics, and you can’t really hear what they sound like because of all the noise.

The Growler · #12 02-10-2022, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dnf777

Everything Dan said, and IME, they tend to shift from a seller’s market to a buyer’s market as the show winds down. I would try not to buy until the closing hours, when bargains emerge. Of course, you risk missing out by waiting, but thats the game!

It is also caveat emptor. Many sales will be final. Most are good, honest folks, but in every crowd, there will be a con or two lurking. Ive had lots of fun at expos, and lightened my wallet occasionally…

I agree. Buying late the second day found vendors not wanting to lug things out. Cash helped too.