Electric guitar for noob

[MileHighGrowler]

(01-17-2022, 12:57 PM)Sled21 Wrote: I used to be that way until I found Sweetwater. They not only put up a stock photo of a guitar, they take detailed pictures of every single guitar they sell from every angle, so you can see the woodgrain you're getting, the serial number, etc. Then they run an inspection on it before they ship it. If you get it and don't like it, return it free with no hassle at all. I've probably bought 7-8 guitars from them, both electric and acoustic. Plus one Mesa Boogie MkV 10/45/90 combo amp with no problem at all. When I bought my MkV, it was a returned item, marked down because it was supposed to have a small scratch on the switchplate. Got a heck of a deal on it, being a returned item. I called them and the salesman went and looked at it, and said otherwise it looked in perfect condition. When it arrived, it was perfect, looked like new and never out of the box, and I still can't see any scratch on it. The reverb did not work though. So, where the reverb plugs in there are two unmarked RCA plugs in the back. I pulled them off and switched them, and the reverb works perfect. I suspect that is why the original buyer sent it back. Saved me 400.00 off new.

I've not bought a guitar from Sweetwater, but I would without a second thought.  Like Sled says, they sell guitars individually.  Not just by the model and then you get whatever is laying in a warehouse.  My understanding is that you can even choose a specific guitar if you like the finish on one better than another, for example.  Sweetwater has great customer service, too.  I've bought a lot of other things from them, and they seem like just genuinely cool people.  

And I think at least getting your hands on a player model strat is wise.  I think it's an awesome guitar.  Mine has a humbucker in the bridge position (a "fat strat"), but hands down my favorite guitar in my collection.