Best guitar & bass for under $400

[louloomis]

no............. I'd rather buy a guitar direct from Rondo than having to go to Guitar Center and try one of the pieces of shits you suggested (and later be disgusted with them and come back home all disgruntled and hold a grudge against Squier and plotting world destruction).

trust me (and whoever suggests Rondo)

Hi. As far as not knowing whether something is good or not (since you don't already play). If you know anyone who does, bring 'em along. What about calling up a local guitar teacher and saying "Instead of me paying you 1,000.00/hour for the guitar lesson, how about if I pay you 1000.00/hour to meet me at such and such a store." Or maybe 20.00/hour - whatever they charge.

I didn't know much when I bought my first axe and I narrowed it down, then called on the payphone at SAM ASH IN "EFFIN" HEMPSTEAD, NY WHICH IS NO LONGER EVEN THERE...and called my teacher on the phone and he helped me make the purchase. I'm sure any guitar teacher out there would do it even if for the possibility of getting you in for a lesson. What about "I'll sign up for my first lesson if I can call you from the store."

C'mon....we're not in hell here. There are still some real people out there to help.

As far as Rondo Music. I don't know about that recommendation. I've tried some of their stuff and it's pretty sub-par if you ask me. Amazingly cheap and good in that way, but, I just can't recommend the stuff I've tried. Still haven't tried out the 6 string basses tho....

LL

 

[apl]

I totally agree that you will find the best deal in buying a used guitar or bass from a private individual......

Get a second-hand guitar
Chances are you'll go far
If you get in with the right bunch of fellows

 

[rxQueen]

Hi. As far as not knowing whether something is good or not (since you don't already play). If you know anyone who does, bring 'em along. What about calling up a local guitar teacher and saying "Instead of me paying you 1,000.00/hour for the guitar lesson, how about if I pay you 1000.00/hour to meet me at such and such a store." Or maybe 20.00/hour - whatever they charge.

I didn't know much when I bought my first axe and I narrowed it down, then called on the payphone at SAM ASH IN "EFFIN" HEMPSTEAD, NY WHICH IS NO LONGER EVEN THERE...and called my teacher on the phone and he helped me make the purchase. I'm sure any guitar teacher out there would do it even if for the possibility of getting you in for a lesson. What about "I'll sign up for my first lesson if I can call you from the store."

C'mon....we're not in hell here. There are still some real people out there to help.

As far as Rondo Music. I don't know about that recommendation. I've tried some of their stuff and it's pretty sub-par if you ask me. Amazingly cheap and good in that way, but, I just can't recommend the stuff I've tried. Still haven't tried out the 6 string basses tho....

LL

uh yeah sorry if I sounded offensive but i it just seems like all other brands can do much better with their value and beginner line, seems like they're not even trying.

 

[WERNER 1]

Now that is "Takin' Care of Business"!!

 

[gvarko]

Flea Bay

$400 can go really far on Ebay. My theory is to always get the best body / neck I can afford. Pickups don't mean much because I usually swap them out. I have bought at least a dozen guitars on Ebay and never once had an issue.

Naturally an Ebay guitar will need new strings and a setup at a minimum. But then I have bought new guitars off the rack at Guitar Center that needed that as well.

As for not liking it upon receipt, simply re-list and re-coupe your money. I have never taken a loss on an Ebay purchased guitar.

 

[louloomis]

Yeah, that's a good idea. Bear in mind, though, that you can always get screwed on Ebay by someone trying to dump a lemon off on you either unknowingly or knowingly. In a store, you might have a chance to return something defective. Ebay is harder to do that.

However, if you, let's say, spent 150.00 on some '80s era Ibanez guitar or something, you're better off than spending probably 400.00 on something new in some lame-ass store. Like this person said, typically you could always swap out the pickups, if you need to, although I'm sure there are situations where the routing, etc. would make it cost prohibitive. This is the exception though.

LL