Agree.. many many times have bought used and in general the HR stuff is alright.
Recently noticed however, old budget gear failing on me.
Stuff from the 1990s or 2008...budget old rack units developing meters burning out, channels dying, crackling knobs that dont go away....
Microphones I'm more skeptical and prefer new, but man! when a expensive mic is half off , roll the dice?
imo the used prices are often silly these days and as Ive mentioned before, like a SM7b new at $350, im not paying $325 for a used one. (Especially when Front End Audio has free shipping and no tax.).
The high priced used stuff is a joke, when you add shipping and tax and its nearly as much as a brand new one with warranty and 30day return.
For example, a bad deal... I just bought 2qty used Art units from two different used dealers and both were crap and old, one refunded my cash and the other didnt... the unit brand new was only $215, but I paid $135 and $165 and about got burnt on two old units both faulty or soon to be. But my Grace Design unit for example, is like brand new and still runnng, my used KRK USA speakers are very very old, but still blaring loud and my DynAudio BM5 monitors used are still in beautiful health and old.
Another thought is buying old obsolete stuff can go bad, a unit failed on me and the OEM isnt interested in repairing and has no parts because its old and obsolete maybe 15+yrs ago. So now its a dead channel and not worth spending money on as its budget stuff...lol
I try to stay away from used live gear, its often been dropped or puked on.
Guitar Center charges tax, and shipping, but often its worth it to order pickup in store. You can try the unit before leaving the store....several times I get a refund right then if its a piece of crap and never take it out of the store.
For preamps, solid states seem to be less troublesome, imo. The budget tube preamps seem to be the worst. As I mentioned especially when hitting 10+yrs, ...its old budget gear, like a ART piece for $250 & 10yrs old, when a new one is $350. Just get a new one. imo. The old one will probably have a meter go out, then maybe a channel etc.. my experience.
good luck...