Thanks. Great secret.
The thing about me is that somehow I just don't really trust used gears, especially when it's in the thousands of $$. I mean, there's nothing wrong with it but it's just the way I feel because I don't know what it's been through and where. I got to get over this feeling, man. Help me; convince me to think positive.
I've seen great deals on gears before and I want it so bad but it's just not happening, the trust just ain't there.
It would've saved me thousands if I buy used gears in the first place.
I think I'm going to put up a poll about this.
Virtually all my gear and instruments have been bought used. Some exceptions of course - like digital gear - but mics, instruments and analog gear are mostly used. If you buy used, you need to know the value of your intended purchase, do your due diligence as to the Seller, and take certain precautions. For example, unless I know or am pretty familiar with the Seller, I virtually always pay with Paypal using a credit card. While I have only had a few problems with buys, in one case I did have Master Card reverse the charge on a guitar ($1200). Using a credit card allows you to do this, even when Paypal isn't helpful (I know, I know). I've had Paypal reverse payments as well, but as we all know, they are pretty unreliable in the help department. Ideally, you vet the Seller well enough not to have problems.
I've bought a fair amount of gear off the GS board from frequent posters. While it is not universally safe, I've never had a problem there. Most posters there provide enough information about themselves (web site, studio or business name, e-bay name, etc) to give you a pretty good idea of who they are (and where they live and where their children go to school).
I've bought a lot of stuff off e-bay and the usual e-bay vetting admonitions apply. Check the number, dates and kind of transactions. Ask questions. Call them up and talk to them. Use Paypal and a credit card.
Various audio shops on the web also sell used gear. Sometimes you have to search on their web page, but it's there. I bought my API pres for $600 each with tags from a dealer. Musicgoround can also be a source of decent buys. I've never had an issue with anything I bought from a dealer. Of course I call and ask about it before I buy and I use a credit card.
Sometimes, though, you just luck out. I was up late on Thanksgiving a couple years ago when A-Designs first started rolling out their 500 series pres. Peter, the owner, put up a deal on the GS board to get feedback on their new pres (answer a survey) and the participants got to buy one of their pres for @$550 (they list for $900 and street for $800). I got a Red. Later, after talking with Peter about his new pres, he sold me a P-1 for the same price. I've since traded the Red for
the Purple Audio Biz (sounded too much like my APIs) and bought a second P-1, used, for @$550. One of those right time right place moments.
Instruments are another story since it is always best to play them before buying. Again, you need to know something about condition and value (and details to make sure things are "correct" if you are buying a vintage instrument). I've bought a guitar out of the newspaper (1983 LP Standard for $300 - played it first), off the GS Board (70s ES335td - but from a frequent poster who I called and chatted with) and mostly through vintage and used instrument dealers I trusted. The only guitar I've bought through e-bay was the charge back I described above.
So, buying gear used is certainly doable. The trick is to minimize your risk and accept that you can't do it entirely risk free.
