Anybody else bought a guitar for what it looks like?

  • Thread starter Thread starter rob aylestone
  • Start date Start date
RFR said:
Going back to the original topic, I’d say there’s a hell of a lot of people buying a guitar solely on looks.

So many are buying from Sweetwater and other online sites. Instead of the days of going into a shop and trying out guitars, you just look at the pics, often times just on a phone. You click the purchase button, pay your money and wait for it to arrive.

If you don’t like it you send it back. :D
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That last part....

I would NEVER buy a guitar without playing it. Not in a million years. Until I learned how forgiving return policies had become. Ive since bought that SoCal above and a gold top LP (2017) without playing them.
 
PorterhouseMusic said:
That last part....

I would NEVER buy a guitar without playing it. Not in a million years. Until I learned how forgiving return policies had become. Ive since bought that SoCal above and a gold top LP (2017) without playing them.
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I think 8 or so of mine were bought used without playing them first.
 
I'm not knocking veneer. I'll buy a guitar with veneer if it looked good.
That guitar has a plastic rim around the top, which really says veneer.
 
Farview said:
It's possible that looks have something to do with it for me...
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A man who likes odd shaped guitars.
My axe was pre-Gene Simmons:
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TalismanRich said:
I come from the printing industry and saw how that segment grew over 40 years.
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I worked for 10 years for a company that make the printheads used to "print" the designs you see on signs, posters, window blinds, tile, even bedding.
They also made the printheads that are used in 3D rapid prototype machines.
Amazing technology.
 
These days if you want something in particular it is quite likely you will buy something you don't get to play first. I've gotten several that way and been okay with all. You can prowl music stores but there ain't all that many any more and go ahead and find a '75 Yamaha SG2000. Lol.

I would have said no to a looks only purchase but I remembered my ASAT Deluxe. I got back into guitar after a 15 year hiatus and the first "good" one I got was totally about the look. (To be fair the rep was good too.)

*edit - I didn't notice the glare streak in the pic. DOH!
20250611_172731[1].webp
 
That Tele is actually a G&L ASAT Deluxe. Might as well be a real one, it was made on the original tooling. Leo bought all that shit after CBS moved production to Mexico.

Anyway the Lester is my Ronno tribute. 1980 Custom. All original I just had the top sanded off and cleared.
 
PorterhouseMusic said:
Schwing!
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Yeah I'm still in love. The only difference from the original is it's a 3-piece top as opposed to the 2-piece top on Mick's and his was a '68 so had different pots, caps (bumblebees on the original) and whatever differences in the pups. I thought about trying to hunt up a '68 but it would have been a lot more money. I did find some bumblebees but YIKE$!! Yeah I passed.
 
Old Music Guy said:
@Sky Blue Lou is mostly correct. G&L made 2 versions: solid body and semi-hollow Thinline. That's what you have.
Nice axe!
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Thanx. Not sure about "mostly". Lol. A buddy of mine has the ASAT. Basic solid body with some optional pickup choices. The ASAT Deluxe was the thinline. I believe that was only available in sunburst finish with the Seymour Duncans and a coil tap. Made in Fullerton CA on the original Fender tooling.

Thanks all for the kind words. I wish my playing was as good as they look.
 
Old Music Guy said:
Nice LP!

found .022uF Emerson paper/oil BBs on Amaz*n for 30$
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Yeah stuff is out there. I "built" Ronno 20 or so years ago. At the time original Sprague bumblebees were well over $100 each IIRC. As I recall the project came in right around $2500 all in without the period-correct pots and caps. Guitar was around $1800 and the rest was the refin, new bridge and tail and knobs (I think the blacks were on it and I bought the speed knobs.
 
Sky Blue Lou said:
Thanx. Not sure about "mostly". Lol. A buddy of mine has the ASAT. Basic solid body with some optional pickup choices. The ASAT Deluxe was the thinline.
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Now that is absolutely correct. IT confused me too because there were in fact two models.

FWIW: I've been retired for a while now. In one life, I worked in electronic engineering 30 years in R&D. I know a few things about capacitors. I could rattle off, just from the top of my head, 10 different capacitor materials. From ceramic to paper/oil BBs. At the end of the day, a capacitor has one function: to store an electrical charge. How fast a capacitor charges, and discharges is a function of the input current, and the discharge resistance (which is usually ground). That's why a cap, in a tone control circuit, is "fed" from a pot and the other end is at ground. You all know this.
Whether a cap is a cheap 1 penny ceramic, or a 100$ BB, the only IMPORTANT spec is the tolerance. Cheap caps can have a tolerance of +/- 20%. When you start moving up in grades/materials/cost the tolerance gets tighter.
Lile any other electronic component, after production, they are tested, and then "binned" based on the test results. The bins could be +/- 1%. 2%, 5%,, .... The tighter the tolerance, the more $$$.
If you have an Orange Drop that is .022uF that is within 1%, and a BB that is .022uF that is within 1%, or a polystyrene .022uF within 1%, I would bet 2$ to a donut that NO ONE would be able to tell any of them apart. Thought the cost can be 1$ for 1, 100$ for another. It's the actual capacitance that matters. Better materials last longer, stand up better with use, and are generally better. But spending 100$ for a .022uF cap is beyond my sensibilities.
When designing circuits, cost is ALWAYS an issue. But there are some components that you don't want to skimp on. BUT, there is always a cheaper alternative, that will be just as effective in the long run.
"Spend your pennies wisely" I was once told. Put you money where it does the most good. Using a 100$ capacitor would have put me on the wall of shame, if not fired.
 
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