50k, somebody is gonna have a good Christmas

I bought a guitar off the wall at Guitar Center when they had 4 in stock, they looked at me like I was crazy and discourage me from purchasing the guitar off the wall. I like how it played... that is the one I wanted!

Had a new CS Strat at a shop I worked at with a neck twist. Our guy in the back said "This neck still wants to be a Tree. We can't sell it". The (almost) customer was very grateful.

As someone who used to build guitars for a living....it always shocked me when someone would want to return a guitar after 30 days... The excuses were always very imaginative, and often did not align with what they posted on social media. ex: "this guitar just isn't for me, it never played right" one customer claimed, and yet their social media showed them playing it every night on their 2 week tour through Canada. 🤦

Great video. I remember the days when the guitar you played from the hook in the guitar shop was the guitar you went home with. You had the time to discover if that guitar was the guitar. Second hand guitars were not 'vintage ' but 'used. The days of massed produced guitars makes me feel like I'm shopping for a new pair of running shoes. Walk around the store we've got a pair in the back your size! While I wouldn't expect to go home with a shoe that 50 people have had their sweaty feet in I am quite happy to go home with the guitar!

50k! Well done guys, you deserve this success and more. Thank you for the entertainment and information! Happy Holidays!

MERRY CHRISTMAS GUYS! Love the videos and truly enjoyed my visit to your store back in the spring. Hope to make it back down there again. Beautiful town and great store. I literally start my day with your videos. Some read the paper, some watch moring shows - I watch Casino Guitars.

Nice PRS hanging up behind y'all , have a great holiday guys!!

You guys make my morning.. Love watching and love the knowledge

Ive seen it in the background for a couple vids now! Gongrats to you guys for hitting 50 thousand subs! Love the videos!

🍻 WOOHOO, 50 Thousand Subs, awesome CG. Took a bit, but you got there. 🍻

Too many times have I played a guitar on the wall, bought one in the box, and absolutely hated it because it didn’t feel the same. Now if I love the one I’m playing, that’s the one I’m buying

Absolutely love and appreciate this video as a Guitar Shop owner.

I haven't subscribed yet, haha! But this channel is growing on me. I like these talks about guitar shop experiences and the stories you have to tell, keep it up guys and happy holidays!

I had to deal with this issue recently. I ordered a Reverend Warhawk DAW from Guitar Center. When the guitar arrived, it had clearly been used. The plastic covering on the trem cover on the back had been rolled back in places from use, there were a few scratches on the back plate covering the electronics, and there was a smudge along the side. Also, the box was for a Reverend Billy Corgan Z-1 instead of a Warhawk, none of the paperwork was included, and the tremolo bar was missing. I called Guitar Center and they agreed to a discount and referred me to the store that had shipped the guitar to have them find the tremolo bar and send it to me. Three weeks passed and no trem bar, so I called again. The manager of the store said that he could not find the trem bar, and that he remembered the guitar because it was a return (and a local GC store doesn't see many purple Reverends, so it's not like it was a black Squier Strat). So I never did get the trem bar. In the end, it turned out that the scratches on the back plate did not penetrate the plastic covering, the smudges wiped off easily, and I was able to buy a trem bar for $20 from the Reverend web site. While I ended up getting a guitar that was perfectly fine for a pretty good discounted price, I would have preferred to not go through the headaches. When I order a new guitar, I expect to receive a pristine guitar with all required parts. Something that hung on a wall for a while is fine, but if there are visible flaws, or the guitar has been sold and then returned the seller should let me know and I can either cancel the order, or work something out BEFORE the guitar is shipped. The buffoonery ended up losing Guitar Center my business. Since then, I have bought a Rickenbacker 330 and a Les Paul from Sweetwater, and I could not be happier with their care and attention to detail.

I recently purchased a guitar that I was watching out for and really wanted mainly because of the model and the weight. I finally found it and placed the order, only to find out moments later that someone else bought it 10 minutes before I did. I was very discouraged, mostly because this guitar was no longer in production and I would never again find it a this weight. Suddenly I check the shop again 3 weeks later and the guitar had been returned much to my surprise. The buyer said he didn’t like how it sounded. I immediately bought it as a new one and when I first played it I agreed with him. However having 21 guitars, mostly custom shop and boutique ones I knew exactly what the problem was. So I spent a few hours with it adjusting pickup height and minor setup adjustments and now the guitar is an amazing instrument. In the end it was one of the most satisfying guitar purchases I’ve ever made. The guitar is a 70th anniversary fender broadcaster weighing in under 7lbs. Sometimes you just get lucky.

Awesome video have a happy holiday season also a fantastic happy new year

Just wanted to say Merry Christmas to both of you and your families and thanks for putting out the most awesome content on KZfaq I can't get enough I just love every minute of it all the quirkiness and all the great information it just makes my day keep on doing what you guys do cuz we love you man Merry Christmas to casino guitars and all of your families from kowal guitar life

Thank you guys for the videos this year! Can't believe you have to explain this to people, but I guess there are novice buyers who don't know and general knuckleheads out there. Hope you guys have a happy and safe holiday season!

50K Congrats guys! I see it hanging in the background. :)

50k subscribers. Congratulations guys!

Nice 50k subscribers. Congrats.

I work in a bike shop and we never sell a bike to a customer in the box it came in. We unpack it and PDI it, Pre Delivery Inspection, to make sure there is no damage and it is working correctly and is safe to ride. It can then sit on the showroom floor for many weeks. It is still a new bike.

Congrats on the 50k subscribers!!!!!!!!

Really helpful. Thanks.

great video again . Always learn something . Good lesson be honest with people they respect you for it and you feel better also

Geez, you guys were serious today! Didn't change the subject and brought up movies until the very end! 😊

Fantastic topic! I couple of years ago I ordered a PRS McCarty 594 online with GC. When it arrived, it was very dirty and dusty, and a large chip on the headstock. I went to return it at my local GC and they gave me a healthy discount which made it worth me to keeping it. I love this guitar and it's my favorite go to from the others in my collection. I ordered a new guitar and understood the NOS aspect but that unit was beat up. In the end it was still the guitar for me at the right price.

Heck yeah!!! Congrats on the 50k!!!

I buy a few used guitars every year (sell a few too) and one thing I find a LOT that no longer surprises me is loose truss rods. Got a guitar this last Monday. It took a full turn to get any tension on the truss rod. Once set up it played well. A 12 year old pawn shop find Epiphone Genesis that came in original factory hardshell case. A good setup and new GHS David Gilmour string set and she sings. Fun little axe with previously upgraded nut, roller saddle bridge and micro-adjustable tailpiece. I love finding good used stuff. Conversely a stripped out truss rod hex socket on imports is the most common major fault I find on used guitars. What do you guys see in used stuff you get? Lesson: If you don't have the right size metric Allen key for your import DO NOT TOUCH your truss rod. You will strip the socket and your guitar will then be good only for parts. And DO NOT USE a METRIC hex key for an American made Fender, they are SAE sockets. I carry a small screwdriver and a flashlight so I can check this on used stuff I may be looking at. I keep them in my vehicle when I am out guitar hunting.

I bought a guitar off Ebay that came from an independent shop in Ohio. Being that it was the first time I ever bought a guitar off the internet I was somewhat leery but I decided to go ahead and buy it. The guitar was listed as a floor model and by the serial number was 3 years old. Long story short, I got what was basically a brand new guitar, didn't have a scratch on it anywhere, at a good price and I love the guitar. I assume the shop was able to get rid of something that they needed to move and from where I sit, it worked out great for both of us.

In November of 2022 I purchased a "preorder" shop exclusive guitar from CME. Pre-order, to me, meant that the guitar hadn't arrived at the store as it was still in production. If it was still in production I stupidly assumed it would be a 2022 model. But, alas, when it arrived it was a 2019 and it did have some sharp frets too. Dug a bit and learned that the same guitars were offered at CME in 2019. Basically, Gibson "demo shopped" the ones that did not sell (added a neck pickup in my case). I bet the sharp frets were why it did not sell, but whatever. I sent that junk back, and CME only charged me like $40 for the return shipping.

I've only ever owned a few cheap acoustics over the years and I bought 2 Taylor academy series, 12 and 12n,this year after a 17 year gap of not buying. The guy in the shop asked if I wanted him to grab from stock room, or take the ones I was playing. I'm so glad I took the ones I was playing. I have noticed when I go to shops now and try the same models, they are not quite the same. Another thing I have noticed is being at someone's house, picking up their guitar and wanting it, not the model or make, their actual guitar! Anyone else get that? Great video and great advice guys! 😁👍

You guys are awesome. 🎉

My parents used to buy floor model appliances to get a discount for minor dings and scratches. At the time there were 4 kids in the house & they figured the exterior was destined to get dinged anyway.

All good information - thanks. As a customer, I think it benefits both the store and me to establish a relationship. I respect the opinion of the staff at my local guitar store; they have always steered me right. That’s why they are my first stop when Inwant or need gear. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Congrats on hitting the 50k subscriber mark. Happy Holidays!

Baxter thanks again for playing my guitar before we got to the shop lol.

I bought an acoustic guitar off the shelf because it sounded amazing and it had some scratches, but the sound was unmatched by the ones that were new in the back of the store.

One time I asked GC to go in back and bring me a new guitar still sealed in the box. They had one in back and were happy to bring it out. I liked, I bought it and I am the only person who has ever played it. An ES-339 arrived at a local shop on a Thursday. They unboxed it, priced it and hung on the wall. Two days later I walked in, saw it and bought it. Nobody had touched it. I'm also the only one who has ever played that one. It's nice to buy a new guitar that doesn't have everyone else's cooties all over it.

Congratulations on crossing 50K in subscribers! Hard work and consistency have worked out well for you. On this topic, the dingbats outnumber the rest of us. On multiple occasions, I have picked a guitar off the wall, liked it and decided it was worth buying, and then was presented with a different guitar in a box, that was no where near as good. I have also been in the situation where the guitar on the wall, looked and felt like it had been dragged down a highway behind a 1972 Vista Cruiser for several miles, and then the seller tried to tell me it was new and that the price was fixed. No thanks. I have been successful with some Gibson B stock (there are many) and in Canada at least, the distributor collects them all together and then sends them on tour. On the subject of returns, deal with a professional shop. If you have treated the instrument well and it just doesn't suit, return it as quickly as possible. If you have not treated the guitar well and expect a full value return, the idiot in the room may be you.

i recently purchased a new guitar..when i inspected it, there were clearly 3inches of pic scratches past the volume knob..the setup was great.scratches on theback from something...i reported it to c.r.. they offered me 56 dollars off...not even close to what they sell a used one for..so i did return it...the next one was perfect.. just a minor setup...i do not regret sending it back..

A friend worked at a small guitar shop and got in a Les Paul Black Beauty with a warped neck that they sent back to Gibson. A couple months later it was hanging on the wall at GC with the same warped neck.

Congratulations 🎉🎉 on the 50k.

I am amazed you guys are good. Like the videos. I bought 3 fender custom shop guitars two years. Not a fan of returns. Only one acoustic Martin had burls. On top. Not seen pics Had no idea it’s kinda rough

great video and inserting discussion here in Canada the major retailer has a 3 teir kind of system new, demo, used so usually if you return a guitar there is a slight restocking fee if you have a habit of retuning guitars then those become demos

I've only ever had one issue related to this, and that was guitarcenter selling me a new player strat that came obviously used. Like no plastic on the pickguard, scratches all over it, and it was in a gibson box and had no case candy. I called them and they blamed it on an employee and did a full refund.

I agree with your guys’ test driving a car analogy. Also custom shops charge more for dents, dings and scratches.

You guys are always fun.

Congrats on the 50K

I bought a great Taylor from Casino and Baxter literally played the two in stock and told me which one he would recommend since I was in NJ. Now I feel like I have a celebrity played guitar!

Here's my 2 cents: If an online-buyer returns a guitar, it can still considered to be a new one - provided that the guy didn't go totally beserk while testing it. No need to call it "used" and sell it at a neck-breaking discount. That's simply because it hardly makes a difference *where* someone tries the instrument out - be it in the shop or at home.

Every guitar has been played before the first owner plays it, multiple times by multiple people, most out of necessity, builders, techs, etc. I worry more about condition than who’s played my guitar. Plus…I buy used typically anyway.

I've only ever returned one guitar which was an acoustic that I just didn't like the way it played at all. I've kept all the others including one that came from a shop (not Casino lol) that claimed they carefully inspect every guitar before they sell it. It arrived in a condition that was unplayable. The bridge was installed incorrectly which made the strings sit so low the pickups were actually pushing into them. It turned out to be a relatively easy fix so I kept it, and I really like that guitar. Stuff happens so I don't mind putting a little effort in if the guitar has potential. Great video.

I've returned one guitar in my life... Recently. A Yamaha thinline acoustic. New. White. Loved it. Because I play electric. All the write up on this model says it's built more like an electric. Action. Neck. ECT.. but. I'm 6'2" with fairly large hands. I like an Ibanez wide 14" radius fretboard Neck. This Yamaha had a narrow neck. Not necessarily thin depth. And narrow is beyond my comfort zone for a neck when I've been playing wider necks. Like most of my other 30 electrics and Acoustic.. so I did file the bottom of the bridge slightly to lower the action without really affecting the break angle of the strings .. and the nut. Same thing. I polished the frets..I'm not sure if I ground off a little "fall off " from the top 4 frets . I do on most. Very slight increasing towards the end.. I have radius blocks and crowning files and. (Well. I build /Modify Guitars for a hobby. See owning 30+ Guitars). I do this to most Guitars.. (except Floyd Rose locking nut. That I file the fretboard/neck under the nut to lower it slightly) so. I sent back a slightly better playing guitar. Way down tuned to avoid string tention. And all original case candy type stuff. Included. . But. On the other hand. I've gotten inexpensive Ibanez GIO electric guitar supposedly NEW from idk? GC. Or muscian frnd. Or something. And it obviously had frets finished. Rounded edges. Set up near perfect. Where in Ibanez doesn't send them from factory like that... So. I guess I'm saying. It's not always bad to get a litely played new Guitar....(or s lovingly kept up old Guitar)

Henry Goldrich of the famous Manny's guitar shop in NYC used to tell customers, "You try it, you buy it", as he did not want the shop's guitars to be scratched. So he knew what "new" was and what wasn't.

Just returned my guitar to GC and got a new one went back a week later my old guitar was back up for sale but with a used tag so I’m happy to say they are doing it right

I really like used guitars - they’re cheaper and sometimes play or sound better. I must admit I also love great new guitars on the rare occasions I’ve been able to get one.

GRATS ON THE 50K

It’s a challenge for the smaller brick and mortar places. I’ve gotten some good deals on “open box” and returned guitars from a large online seller but those were brands that are super consistent quality. You aren’t playing with the same margin and you are a place where we can walk in the door and do a test drive. If I can test drive it and we can haggle a little face to face even if you can’t bend on the price that has value to me and I’m willing to pay for that privilege.

Congrats on 50k...😊

I've only took one acoustic back. A Martin off the wall with pickups. The was too hot and picking everything. Took it back next day to GC and told them it's too much. No issues even tried a few others with a close amp setup for something that worked.

When I worked at GC, people would make up excuses all the time for reasons they didn't want to keep their gear. It's like GC has a 45 day return period, for whatever reason, yet people would want to lie and say there was something wrong with the guitar. Then it would end up on repair order for a month waiting to get checked out to find out there's nothing wrong with it. Like you guys said, just be honest and say it's not the right guitar for you and they will most likely be more willing to help you out.

I served a 12 year sentence in music retail and our stores had a very liberal return policy... after too many people buying say speakers on a Friday and returning them on a Monday (after a gig) that return policy became less and less liberal. Related: some time ago Amazon suspended some accounts for excessive returns, not sure how it is now.

50k time for the sky !! Woot congrats y’all. On topic : if the guitar hanging on the wall has seen abuse and is no longer in a condition that warrants a new price I would ask for a new one or if the problem doesn’t bother me use it to get a better price :)

After a horrible experience with a Jim Root jazzmaster ,(pickups fell out, input jack loose ,bad switch etc) I'll never buy another guitar without playing it . Great videos btw

GRATS on 50k!!!

I enjoy the guitars hanging on the hook at my local shop. They are always dialed in and I never need to do a major set up. I’ve never had that issue but, I have purchased used guitars that are definitely new guitars with the plastics still on em. If I try a guitar out and like it I buy that guitar not the one in a box out back.

Guitar Center Stores don't like to sell their wall models of guitars or floor models of amplifiers. A few years ago I went to a GC to buy an amp. I played through one that was a floor model. I liked it told the sales person I wanted to buy it. They told me they couldn't sell it to me, but they had one in a box in the store room they could get me. I insisted on the one I played and they sold it to me. The reason they didn't want to sell the floor model was the speaker had already been broken in from people using it. New speakers don't sound as good as ones that have been played a while. They also gave me a discount because it was a demo model. It wasn't damaged in any way and worked fine. They don't want to sell the demo guitars because they were probably already set up and the boxed ones aren't. You would have to bring the boxed guitar back for a set up which they could charge you for. They don't want to sell a wall model and have to set up a boxed one to replace it. It's extra work for them. 😉

I bought a Gibson J45 from guitar center, played one in the store, but ordered a new one through the store. When the guitar came in it was pretty dirty with smudges, some sticky stuff on the body and neck, and a chip in the heel. The manager said it was probably one of the wall at another store, I can order a different one, or sell it for a used price. So I got the guitar for a thousand dollars cheaper, and a free setup.

I am the kind of person who has trouble letting go of guitars once I have them in my possession. 😂

I own 2 Les Paul 58 Reissues from the Gibson MOD Shop,. one is completely stock but has the red dye bleeding into the binding I saved $1500, the other was modded with Burstbucker 2's, black plastics has a couple of finish blems with minor scratching I saved $2500 on that one. Both are VOS and both are stamped MOD not DEMO. I love saving money whenever I can because ultimately they are gonna get nicks and dings anyways.🤘😎🎸🏍

Congrats Gents.

There is a distinction worth mentioning. A guitar taken out and played or adjusted by the shop is very different than a guitar hung on a wall for a year or more and played by 100s of people.

I feel anything on the wall that a lot of people have molested is a used guitar. I would always ask for some off the price. I purchase a lot of my gear from SW, but in my experience they are FOS on their 55 point inspection.

My tele has higher action. My luthier would say that’s too high, but it’s comfortable for me and it means less buzz and the string tension is tighter for me.

Hell yes on 50k subs dudes!!! 🤙🏻🤙🏻🤙🏻

Then there's the other side of this coin in which certain online seller(s) may (MAY!) sell guitars as "open box" or "used" that could truly be a customer return or, on the other hand, might actually be a spanking new, sealed box guitar listed and sold as "used" or "open box" in order to avoid the wrath of a manufacturer who enforces MAP. There's kind of a rumor like that out there regarding certain seller(s) and in my (admittedly limited) experience it seems to be true.

If the guitar is belmished or had been previously returned in a "not new" condition, then it should be the shops responsibility to notify the new customer and let them know everything that went wrong with that guitar insted of leaving it up to the new customer to find out once they get the guitar.

I got an awesome single cut, purple, flame maple. B stock, or Blem and I haven't found a fault in a decade of ownership.

This is a good topic, I like to buy from small local guitar stores to help them out , but i am also spoiled buy buying from places like sweetwater were my guitar is superbly new fresh out of the box. I just recently dropped 1200 on a guitar from my local guitar shop on a (new guitar) that has been sitting there for over a year with scratches and personality. Idk.. I love supporting local stores, this was the way it was in the past and memerable, but its hard to beat actually new out of the box, game changer for shure🤷‍🤷‍

There's a music store in Australia that allows 100 day, no hassle returns, but they re-list the returns at a discounted price, and you can only return those if they are "significantly unlike" the condition advertised. Their prices (new prices) are really affordable too, and they seem to offer great quality.

I remember a customer, loved a 335 that I had on the wall. But wanted a new one in box. I mentioned that it may not feel the same. He said he understood. I got him one NIB. He took it home and called a few days later to complain that it felt aweful and felt like a totally different guitar. I politely reminded him it was and told him he could return it if in the same condition. He came back wanting the other one that I had just sold. He was upset that I didn’t just hold it for him. He had said he didn’t want that one. He had also scratched up the back really bad and I had to charge a restock.

What is that awesome yellow guitar hanging on the wall between Jonathan and Baxter..? A kind of mashup of Les Paul, Tele, and a Jazzmaster with that subtle offset. Beautiful.

I can see it both ways, sometimes you want the exact guitar off the wall if it plays well or has a particular figuring in the wood. Some people would rather be the only person who has touched the guitar after it leaves the factory. Sometimes a guitar is off the wall and has a few cosmetic defects and you might be able to even negotiate a few dollars off the price.

I tried a pretty good acoustic bass that was hanging in a local store. I told the guy in the store i wanted it, he then said, "oh, we got a brand new unboxed one in the storage room". I bought the unboxed one, came home and it didn't sound/feel the same.. So, now if i try something i like i will just get the floor model.

This was a great vid. I have purchased a "new" guitar from a big box store. I took it back to the shop to have their guitar tech look at it. Now I did not tell the tech I purchased it from them. The tech told me to return the guitar and run it had some major issues. I new it has issues but I did not know how bad it was. When the tech seen me walk up to the cou ter and say I want to return it he looked like he had made a major mistake. I love guitars and I only care if it is scratch or something like that if I am paying 3000 and up. I think that a played guitar is fine but not scratched up or dinged. But if I am paying 500 to 700 ya I get it as long as it does not look like some tried to relic it I am fine. I want a guitar that plays well and sounds good. I do not just hang them on the wall I play my guitars. But great video I do agree some people take it to far but not all shops look at the guitars or even really care. Happy holidays to all.

I recently went to GC and Sam Ash. 30% of of the hangers at GC for the $500-$1000 guitars had the foam damaged/missing and the guitars were just hanging on bare metal bars. Being taken on and off multiple times a day, that's gonna take a toll on a spot that your hand will touch constantly. The employees also routinely banged the guitars into others as they took them off the locked hangers for me. These were American Fenders, so not cheap. I only played one guitar at Sam Ash ($900 Fender) and the body was in worse condition than any guitar I've owned for years, even 1990s guitars that have had multiple previous owners. I fully expected to see a used tag, but it was new. I'm a people pleaser who is inclined to take what's on the wall, and I'm big on supporting the businesses I want to stay in business. But those experience made it pretty difficult.

Thanks y'all. Definitely do a video on return gear excuses! That sounds like a winner! Congrats on 50k. Here is to the next 50k!!

I appreciate what retailers' problems are with returns. When I'm in a shop and find something that I'm interested in after playing it I'll either take that one off the wall or ask for new out of box that I can play if the one off the wall had a few issues. I let the salesperson/owner know this before I even try any instruments just so nobody is uncomfortable.

I'm super respectful at guitar stores. I ask permission to play any guitar first whether it is a cheap or expensive guitar. I make sure my hands are clean at all time before I touch any guitar and am very careful.

Heard the comment about Sweetwater not being a brick and mortar store. It is very much a real store and not just online. I lived 50 miles from it and was there often.

It's How it Plays, Feels and Sounds and nowadays with trend towards Relic Guitars as a Buyer, its fairly easy to Date Year and models of todays instruments and NEW OLD STOCK sometimes is Discounted at first . The Current Market is ever changing and Mom & Pop Stores have almost been absorbed by Corporate Giants so Deals are few and fair between.

I just bought a Gretsch Electromatic and 27 days after taking it home I started seeing cracks in the binding, on the neck, next to the frets. My guitar shop had a 10 day return so now I'm going through the Fender/Gretsch warranty process and it sucks. The worst part is dealing with the Luther's at the service centers. Fender seems to want to replace it but both service centers have held up the process. The first one told me to go after the dealer that sold me the guitar, not Fender. The second shop has had it for a month and hasn't even called Fender about it. I want a new guitar and I want it now. I had to save and pay on layaway to have that. They need to get it back to me.

I couldn't agree more with Baxter's statement. I always take returns no questions asked, but I have still had people intentionally damage a guitar so they could say it was defective. No need to do that! Just say it's not for me, it just doesn't feel right for me, I don't think I can bond with it, etc.. It's all good. Sometimes people and a guitar just don't match.

Like some other people in the comments here, I'm generally fine with full price if a shop display guitar looks new and yeah, I want the one that I played - not something from a box in the back. However, if it's obviously a bit beaten up, scratched, or has other issues relating to shop wear, then I'd probably hope for a discount. That being said, I'm a guitar maker in Japan. I display one-of-a-kind instruments fairly often and people approach them with a wide range of levels of respect. Most are careful, but sometimes you'll hear the dreaded headstock "chonk" sound, or the scrotum-tightening "screeeeatch" of the back of the instrument sliding against a belt buckle. If I have five guitars on display for, say, a weekend, it's rare that at least one wouldn't get some kind of damage. Luckily, I can generally bring instruments back to "new" with a simple refinish if the damage isn't too bad (hooray for nitro!), but that's not going to be possible for a lot of guitar stores. Also, I mostly do electrics, which are a bit more robust. Acoustic makers have it far worse. Those guys that do that soundboard tapping stuff waaaaay too violently on a high-end instrument and crack the top? Players who drag bracelets or watches across spruce soundboards, or who knock the lower bout against a table and put in a huge dent? I've seen luthiers in tears a couple of times at the end of shows.

Big al loves you guys!❤

I could see wanting mint in original box if speculating on what might be a vintage or collectable. Gotta know the market, how many to be made and be willing to hold for decades. Wish I bought a Hello Kitty back when. Prices reportedly have jumped up.

I'm currently in a return process for a new Heritage H150. Sweetwater is cool about. I just got it yesterday and I have to pay to ship it back,I'm ok with that 100% but I'm getting a new Magnatone from Sweetwater as well. It's a great guitar but I'm regretting not getting the Magnatone. I told my Sweetwater rep and he was cool as hell about it.

Just before lockdown in the U.K. (like the Friday before. March 2020) I wanted a classic vibe strat. Went into a shop & saw one I liked. I also knew about the revamped range & this was an older one. £400 (special edition) & I saw proper new ones for £300. After negotiation got it cheaper than that one. The guitar was 2014! It was on display for 6 years. Don’t doubt it was new, just unsold for 6 years. But is an unsold 6 year old guitar actually new?