Grandpa Larry Posted September 29, 2008 Posted September 29, 2008 There are several Ebay listings for B Stock AJ500 Masterbilts. I'm not refering to the scratch-n-dent items on MF or AMS, many of which are customer returns (so I'm told). I'm talking about the guitars that have "USED" stamped on the back of their headfstocks. One of my guitar students is in need of a quality instrument, and I'm considering recomending one to him. Have any of you any experience with these?
geelinus Posted October 4, 2008 Posted October 4, 2008 For practical purposes, "B-stock" guitars have no problem. I've purchased a couple of "B-stock" Epis -- as well as an Alvarez "second" -- and could find no significant reason for any of them to be categorized as inferior in any way. On one of them, the natural finish was off by bit in shade from the norm (just a wee-bit too orangey) -- but it wasn't noticeable without having another model right next to it. I still have no clue as to what was wrong with the other two guitars.
bloozeguy Posted October 4, 2008 Posted October 4, 2008 True, you can get one that is practically indistinguishable from brand-spankin' new, but isn't there the possibility of just the opposite happening? Seems to me you gotta play the particular box you're getting, too, if at all possible. Yeah, you can get a really sweet deal, but it still strikes me as a crap-shoot. When I got my AJ500, I ordered (May '07) from an out-of-town store where I had played the very guitar I got, rather than order from the on-line stores at all. Turns out I'd be still waiting if I had ordered the particular model from an online store. Knew what I was getting, it actually showed up, and is a fabulous machine.
theDeuce Posted October 4, 2008 Posted October 4, 2008 I have a friend that works at a shop that refurbs factory returns. They only use instant glue on repairs, so your hide glue guitar may not be. Check the return policy, just in case you don`t like it.
Red 333 Posted October 5, 2008 Posted October 5, 2008 There are several Ebay listings for B Stock AJ500 Masterbilts. I'm not refering to the scratch-n-dent items on MF or AMS' date=' many of which are customer returns (so I'm told). I'm talking about the guitars that have "USED" stamped on the back of their headfstocks. One of my guitar students is in need of a quality instrument, and I'm considering recomending one to him. Have any of you any experience with these?[/quote'] MF also offers 2NDs or B-Stocks from time to time (different from the customer returns, which are sold as Scratch 'N Dents or Blems). These are marked on the headstock by a 2ND over or near the serial number. The difference is that as an Epiphone dealer, when MF sells a guitar marked 2ND, it retains the lifetime warranty, by agreement with Epiphone. Guitars marked USED (or 2ND sold by a third party) do not. Also, I believe 2NDs sold by MF have minor cosmetic issues only; some of the B-Stocks sold by eBay retailers have been refurbished or had other problems fixed. For instance, some of the B-Stocks I've seen advertised on eBay do not come with original hardware, pickups, or electronics, in the case of electrics. So, buying thm from an eBay retailer may be a bit of a crap shoot--do your homework and ask questions before bidding. You may indeed get a gem, but there is the possibility you will not. You will not get a warranty (like most anything else on eBay). I've purchased three Epiphone 2NDs from MF: a Jack Casady bass that has a minor discoloration on the headstock veneer that you can only see in a certain light; a Broadway that has a small scratch in the spruce top underneath the poly coat near a pick up mounting ring--otherwise it's perfect and incredibly well made for the money; an EJ160E that has a small crack near the P100 pickup on the pickguard side, presumably where it was tightened too much on assemby; I always have to point it out to people, or else they'd never see it. In all three cases, I've seen guitars at Guitar Center being sold as new that were in MUCH worse shape, having been out on display. Aslo, I've bought MANY Scratch 'N Dent guitars from MF, and only returned one due to an issue I couldn't live with: some knucklehead used pliers to turn the thumbscrews on an Elitist Casino, and it left rings scratched on the top around the posts. Luckily, they had another and swapped it. It needed a truss rod adjustment and had a slightly high fret near the neck joint, which I dressed. Otherwise, every other blem has had minor (if any) issues. Usually, the more expensive the guitar, the fewer the issues (as the first buyer seems to have more respect for it), or the more subjective they are in nature. For instance, I bought my Gibson J160e as a Blem, and the only thing (except not simply liking the guitar) that the original buyer may have taken issue with is that the binding at the end of the fretbaord has little cut from when they shaved the fretboard after laquering. Most people would never notice. It's an artifact of the handmade nature of the guitar. And, the guitar will get a lot worse damage during its playing life. However, since Blems are a customer return, this is somewhat of a crap shoot as well. Fortunately, you have generous return and exchange priveliges, which you do not usually get on e Bay. Anyway, you asked specifically about the eBay retailers: you can get a very good deal (though be careful, some of them ask prices that are close to new). Just make sure you understand there's no warranty, read the description carefully and look out for vague desriptions of what is wrong, study the pictures to see if there's any issue they did not describe (VERY common), ask follow up questions of the seller, and understand the terms of the trial period or return policy, if any. Masterbilts have been reliably excellent sounding and constructed guitars, by the way. Red 333
stone1281734000 Posted October 5, 2008 Posted October 5, 2008 I'd never buy buy B-stock or a "Second" from e-bay unless I was familiar with the seller or they promised to pay return shipping if the item had serious issues.
firedupforhim Posted October 9, 2008 Posted October 9, 2008 Buy your b stock from musiciansfriend. They have free shipping on these models and would take a return.
theDeuce Posted October 9, 2008 Posted October 9, 2008 Buy your b stock from musiciansfriend. They have free shipping on these models and would take a return. Normally I'd agree fully, BUT MF has the 1st quality regular AJ-500's on CLEARANCE for $449. The scratch n dent listing is $455. Mention code MF10/12 and get 10% off. $400 ain't bad for a new one of those. BTW, MF has AJ and EF models on Clearance. Is MF done with them or are they factory discontinued?
Purple_String Posted October 9, 2008 Posted October 9, 2008 Normally I'd agree fully' date=' BUT MF has the 1st quality regular AJ-500's on CLEARANCE for $449. The scratch n dent listing is $455. Mention code MF10/12 and get 10% off. $400 ain't bad for a new one of those. BTW, MF has AJ and EF models on Clearance. Is MF done with them or are they factory discontinued? [/quote'] Gee! There is a 10% discount code?! If only I have known this sooner... I also had experience with buying scratch'n'dent on MF. I ordered a cherry Epi LP Studio which was almost $100 off from new price. Free shipping of course. When I got it, besides a broken high E string, I searched for scratches on the body and headstock -- there is not! Then I tried playing. Then I found out there were two cracks in the finish on both side near the neck, more than two frets long! I contacted the same night with MF, and got it returned with free shipping label. Today, I am expecting the delivery of another Scratch'n'dent from MF. An Epi EJ200CE, ordered it at $303. This guitar new has raised from $399 to $349 around yesterday on MF. If the scratch'n'dent one I'm receiving today is acceptable, that is a heck of deal. I had experience with scratch'n'dent with GC online too. Back in six months ago, I wanted to buy an Epi John Lennon EJ160E. The price new was $499, but there was shown in stock a scrath'n'dent one on GC. So I took a chance and ordered. But out of no reason, my order got canceled by GC. I thought maybe it was because there was only one item and another customer ordered it first. But a few days later, I still saw it shown to be in stock. So I ordered a second time. It got canceled again with a short notice via email... I ended up buying a new one from Sweetwater. They provide more real photos along with serial number and origin of manufacture. Well, for me, I mainly order guitar online. I live in a small town. The only not-too-small musical store does not provide Gibson stuff. I have to drive up or down at least 1 hour to a guitar center store. I haven't bought a thing from Guitar Center, and, based on my experience before, probably will not either. Musician's Friend is a good online dealer. The only downside is that they ship free with order over $99 normally and some items need additional shipping fee. Same Day Music ships the same day with order over $49, if the order is not placed too late. Sweetwater ships free with everything they have. I once order a tuner winder for under $3 and got shipped free via FedEx. Their collection is not to broad, but they got lots of Gibson replacement parts.
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