Do you generally purchase new or used and why?

[Athens]

Except for the 12 string in my sig, everything I’ve purchased has been used.

As long as you know what to look for you can avoid most problems and you can buy a better guitar than if you bought new for the same money.

Plus you get a guitar that’s aged and opened up a bit.

[sayheyjeff]

All used here. I like to get the best I can for the dollars allotted. That can only be done buying used. These days, I have also found myself in the trade market rather than the purchase market. Just found it’s easier to deal with relative values in trades.

Jefg

[Lillis]

Either is fine with me. I do like newer used models. I’ve bought two used 2021 models this year at nice prices.

[Chipotle]

Yes. Because reasons.

Okay, not trying to be (too) flippant. It depends on the guitar, the deals I can find, timing and all sorts of unpredictable factors. I've bought used, I've bought new. I've been happy (and unhappy) with both.

[rstaight]

All of my acoustics have been purchased new. Doesn't mean that I don't look at the used market though.

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by bigbang

…So, why do YOU buy used or new?

Hi bb
My practice is play-before-pay, so I rarely ever purchased from a place where I had not played the instrument.

The exception was a Voyage-Air VAOM-06, for travel in an RV, in the SUV for trips and on planes. I didn't (and don't) care how is sounds in the room. I wanted the neck size, scale, and action to match my other guitars so when I was practicing I was actually practicing on an instrument with near identical specs to my main instruments.

I had a K&K Pure mini installed for live play. Surprisingly, it sounds great in the room too! I bought it used from the inventor.

My 'life' guitar (the Olson) was commissioned after playing Olsons, & hearing several live in a non-amplified setting. I was confident of Jame's ability to build what I asked for.
He exceeded my expectations.

Similar with my Bashkin. I'd played over a dozen of Michael's guitars before commissioning mine (his shop is 40 minutes from our home), and it turned out better than any of the others of his I'd played. I've since played many as good as mine, and a couple better.

The Kronbauer was a gift. I'd played it several times over a couple year period, and it was a great guitar. After it was gifted to me, it was obvious the projection into the room exceeded what I could hear while playing it (especially playing in ensembles). I had a side port added, and it resolved my issues totally.

I've had the same 5 acoustics from 12-30 years.

Olson - 30 years
Bashkin - 17 years
Kronbauer - 17 years
Voyage Air - 12 years
Recording King - 15 years

So new and/or used hasn't been the question for me.

This is what I'm looking for…

• Tone with me playing (especially in the range above the 15th fret on strings 1-2)
• String Balance with me playing
• Playability (adjustable)
• Projection
• Sustain
• Attack
• Intonation (which can be adjusted)

Hope this adds to the discussion…

[RichardN]

I buy used unless I happen to come across something in a guitar store I can't live without. I don't mind a guitar showing its age, especially if its electric.

Right now I have a 2012 Bourgeois I recently bought and a Northwood that was about 3 years old when I bought it. Both are in perfect condition, not a single flaw.

[The Bard Rocks]

I purchase very few, but they have all been new, at least in the last decade or two. It seems I get wants and desires that are very specific and the only way to get what I want is to have them made to my specs. Another, much smaller factor is that with new I get a warranty.

Nothing wrong with used and you are definitely money ahead that way. Oddly, my banjos and other instruments are nearly all very old (even older than I am, if you can imagine such a thing), bought used of course. Maybe I am easier to please with these.

[Cypress Knee]

My guitars are all used except for one because I could not find what I wanted in a new buy.

That includes a Martin Grand Jumbo 35 (only 111 made)
A Martin Norman Blake 000-28 (only 333 made)
A Martin custom shop D-14 slotted add/cocobola (only one made)
A Westerly Guild F-512

[Skip Ellis]

Almost always used as I know I'll probably sell at some point and want to get as many $$$ out as I can - it's the just the businessman in me. I used to own a music store - they're all merchandise to me. The rare exception was my recent custom build of a Brook Lyn that I ordered just the way I wanted it and paid, not only for the guitar, but shipping from the UK and 8.7% import duty into the States. From a business standpoint, it was not the wisest thing I've ever done and I would lose big $$$ if I were to sell it so, in a way, I feel stuck with it and, as nice as it is, I still play my 000-18 more. I build my own electrics so that doesn't count.

[hohen]

Always buy new and never sell. Too many land mines in the used guitar market.

[jaymarsch]

Mostly new or custom for me. Over the 55 years that I have bought guitars - a total of 15 - 3 custom ordered, 2 demos, 1 B stock, 1 used, 8 new.
Of the 5 that I still own - 2 custom, 1 demo, 1 used, 1 new.
I have been lucky to live near a variety of fine guitar shops and the guitars that have offered what I was looking for have been mostly new instruments. Nothing against used at all but I more conveniently find new stock to play.
Best,
Jayne

[Glennwillow]

Do you generally purchase new or used and why?

I almost always purchase new after finding a good discount. The reason: most sellers want too much for their used equipment.

However, I have bought some fairly expensive custom, luthier-built guitars used. In the case of those instruments, I got good deals on the used guitars. Same for my Guild F-512 12-string. A person can often find good deals on used 12-strings because people tend to give up on them.

- Glenn

[Nama Ensou]

Always buy used and new only when it's just not available on the second hand market. Every electric guitar/bass I've bought has been used and I've only bought a total of four acoustic guitars new, ever, because they simply weren't available otherwise.

Electronics is another story though, as I tend to follow newer technology, and once again, just not available other than brand new. Most sound equipment and keyboards I've bought have all been new, by default.

[Silly Moustache]

mmm, I was "given" a custom made" 0028, by my wife in 1998, so that was new!
I bought my first Collings 12 fret dread new in 1999.
I bought an Eastman AR805e new in 2007.

and my last three purchases - my Waterloo WL12 in 2016, my Eastman E20-P in 2019, and my Eastman E40-00 new in 2020.
Everything else was bought used.