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Buying Historic unseen. Experiences?

Tweety

Member
Joined
Sep 3, 2007
Messages
181
I am looking to buy a R8 or R9. The choice here in Europe is pretty poor so I'm looking at bringing in one from the US. I know you need to try as many as you can but its just not possible here. I would be interested in anyones experience who has done the same and which dealers you think are good and offered good advice,

Thanks for your help.
 

Hammerhead

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 16, 2003
Messages
1,144
I had a good experience with Wildwood Guitars when buying my R4. I'm in Europe too (Scotland), but I had them mail it to me in NYC. Went very smoothly and I got a great guitar for the kind of cash that wouldn't buy a Standard here in the UK.
 

Plankspanker

New member
Joined
Jul 16, 2001
Messages
3,797
Unseen or unplayed? Certainly you're going to buy a specific guitar, that you've seen some pictures of and know the details on.
I would not buy one based on being told you're going to get the next one that comes in from the manufacturer.
If you buy from a well known dealer, chances are you will not be disappointed, and will have the opportunity to return it usually at your own cost, which is a small price to pay in most cases.
 

Red Baron

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 14, 2004
Messages
6,774
I've bought all my historics sight unseen from the States - and I've been lucky, there are some very trustworthy forum dealers who will look after you, Mark Bishop for instance... also consider some of the forum members ads in the classified forum.
 

keef

Active member
Joined
Jan 27, 2002
Messages
5,006
Bought one at Dave's, and one at Mark's.

I told them which kind of tone I prefer. Dave then selected one BRW R7 out of his inventory for me after A/Bing them - it's my best new electric, truly killer.

Mark also emailed some notes on the used R8 that I was interested in - I was absolutely not disappointed.

I would rather not buy a new expensive guitar unseen from a dealer who is not a guitar player.
 

alexanderja

New member
Joined
Feb 12, 2007
Messages
1,379
Ive had three from the US now. As long as you shop from a reputable seller and ask the right questions you are safe as houses.
- Travis at Vintagevault guitars has been good to me in the past,
- Well established Forum members have been honest,reliable sellers in my experience.
- If I was to be buying another now I would seriously take a good look at Snakebite Music's site. Todd and George are well known Forum members and very Knowledgeable and experienced. They have a good selection of Killer guitars.
If you've seen a good selection of photos and had good answers to good questions you should be ok.........Ive been very pleased with all three of the guitars ive bought overseas.
 

HappyGilmour

Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2007
Messages
714
I bought Lola from the dodgy :drac above and was not diappointed. Just joking Jake !! :hall :punk
Sure you can go to a shop and choose from a selection of one. Play it . Chances are it will sound great, but with nothing to compare it to, how will you really know ?
Distributors are not passing on currency shifts, so I can buy three from the US for the price of one here. Distributors are also screwing local retailers and don't deserve your coin.
Go with the reccomended dealers from here and you will do fine.
I have also bought a Gretsch sight unseen and was overwhelmed by the perfection and quality, Japanese manufacture of course.
 
B

B-Squared

Guest
I bought my R9 on eBay, a risky venture at best.

I got a great guitar, but found the volume pots less than desirable. They had very little taper--basically on or off. I dropped in a kit from RS Guitarworks and that fixed that.

The quality of the instrument is undeniable--I don't think you can buy a bad Historic, IMHO. Did anyone else experience bad pots on the inside?

BB
 

professor

New member
Joined
Jul 22, 2001
Messages
4,889
I've bought dozens of used instruments over the internet, both from dealers and individuals. I generally shy away from buyning "new" because I don't want to be the one to take the depreciation hit.

I've never gotten a "dog", but I have turned a lot of guitars that didn't quite make me swoon. But because I didn't buy them "new," I was able to resell them for close to -- if not exactly -- what I paid for them.

If I was not willing to "take the chance" on an instrument like that, I would have never had the opportunity to acquire ANY of the fine instruments currently in my "stable," including my number one gigger, a '53 ES-175.

Knowing how to ask the right questions goes a long way toward protecting yourself, as does accepting the fact that a guitar that someone else LOVES might not be the guitar that YOU love...

Half the fun is in the search. Good luck!
 

ajboston

Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2006
Messages
148
I had a great experience ordering/shipping from Guitar Gallery (Vic Dapra). Guitar was packed extremely well and totally lived up to the photos/descriptions he provided. He even threw in a copy of his latest book on Bursts.
 

ColsBlues

New member
Joined
Aug 21, 2007
Messages
7
I took a chance on my R7 before knowing anything about Historics .. I didn’t even see it because it came directly from Gibson i.e. still boxed (do you really need to see a Gold Top .. ?seen one seen em all – new that is).

As one poster above said when you haven’t got any other Historics to compare it with how do you know its any good? All I knew it was a hell of a lot better than a Standard and it had cost me about the same due to the exchange rate. So you’re don’t have too much of a financial risk because you can off load it for much the same price if needed and the general quality of these guitars means that its going to be good for someone if not you.

I am going to do it again as soon as I can afford it but this time a burst is required. I will spend more time with the pictures this time because a Burst is very visual. I know its gonna sound great though.
 

TT100

New member
Joined
Jul 22, 2002
Messages
4,724
Knowing how to ask the right questions goes a long way toward protecting yourself,

Very true.

If buying from an individual, ask if the truss rod works. Remember too, that "upgrades" don't necessarily enhance the value of the item. They're only valuable if the buyer would have made the same changes.

I've bought three unseen and unplayed. A Townshend SG (Ron's Guitars in CT), a Firebird V (Forum Dealer Center City), and my R4 from a forum bro.

All excellent, no regrets except the first two weren't Les Pauls.

:spabout

TT
 
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mfretton

New member
Joined
May 29, 2007
Messages
156
I bought my 2004 R0 unplayed from the USA (try even finding one in the UK) from Tom Marazzo - he's on Gbase as Tommy's House of Wayward Guitars, and on eBay. I asked a lot of questions, looked at the pictures, then took the plunge. I'm delighted with the guitar, but not sure you can go too far wrong with an Historic, as I get the feeling they're much more consistant in qualiry than mass-produced LPs.
 

buckwild

Active member
Joined
Mar 4, 2005
Messages
630
I had a great experience ordering/shipping from Guitar Gallery (Vic Dapra). Guitar was packed extremely well and totally lived up to the photos/descriptions he provided. He even threw in a copy of his latest book on Bursts.

I'll second this. Vic is a fantastic dealer to work with and packs the guitar with extreme care.
 

kink56

Les Paul Froum Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2004
Messages
7,672
Every one of the Les Pauls I have ever bought, around 40 by now, I have not seen or heard....other than pictures....so far, so good.
 
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