Tim Plains Posted December 7, 2008 Posted December 7, 2008 Do you find on-line reviews helpful? I do to an extent, but don't actually rely on them. Guitars, amps...whatever? Ever made a purchase based just on reviews? I read a few on them, primarily Harmony Central, just to get an idea but always try out the product.
AXE® Posted December 7, 2008 Posted December 7, 2008 Wowzerz Timmy. I like this subject. Do I read them - Yes. Do I find them helpful - Yes. I don't take much merit in Harmony Central. ( more hacks than a Venezuelan Med School ) But Guitar World on line I do check into pretty regularly. But ultimately if Rich likes it it's good ...
Ian Martin Posted December 7, 2008 Posted December 7, 2008 If I'm buying something that I feel necessitates others opinions or demos (a must for effects pedals), I try to be as objective as possible. Reviews from dealer sites, Harmony Central, YouTube, and Guitar World (the latter having great demos).
RichCI Posted December 7, 2008 Posted December 7, 2008 It depends on the source. Harmony Central: 1 in 50 might be useful. Most of those clueless geeks who write reviews there do so after getting whatever piece of gear they now own then playing it for 5 minutes in their bedroom. But, sometimes you get someone who actually writes a review after owning the gear for a few months and actually plays with a band. Don't get me wrong - bedroom reviews are useful too for gear I plan to use strictly at home, but most of the stuff I buy isn't for that purpose. ToneQuest Report: Those guys are picky as hell. If they write about it, then it's probably good. If they don't write about it, it didn't make the cut. However, they tend to be some real cork sniffers and not everything they review is all that practical for a lot of players (how many people spend $2k for an amp to play with in their living room?). But, again, if they review it, you can go shopping with confidence. Guitar Player mag: Hit or miss. They have to bow to advertisers but they do seem to try to be as objective as they can. For me, I like sound clips and YouTube videos. Sure, it's tough to gauge a piece of gear with someone else playing a guitar through an amp using a tone that might not be the same as what you use, but you can still get a pretty good idea of what you're getting into. The hardest ones to judge are the dirt boxes as you have to be able to separate the box from the amp plus suspend your idea of perfect tone frequency-wise and listen to just the way the box breaks up. The best sound clips I've run across are the ones on Seymour Duncan for the pickups. They use the same guitar into the same amp with the same player playing the same riffs to compare their pickups. I haven't bought any Seymour Duncan pickups but that'd be one of the first places I'd go to see if I can find something outside of the booteek dudes.
ninety1vee Posted December 7, 2008 Posted December 7, 2008 use them as a basis, i never buy anything w/o trying it
MikeRom Posted December 7, 2008 Posted December 7, 2008 You have to know how to read them. Does the person have an axe to grind? Actually own the thing? Been playing for more that 10 minutes? Stuff like that. Then you can decide if the review is going to be usefull.
GuitarJunkie Posted December 7, 2008 Posted December 7, 2008 As far as sites like Harmony Central, I use it to guide me as far as any further research needed. And as slinger said, you have to know how to read them. If I see the same recurring issue with a certain product, then I start going to more technical sites too see how much merit there is to all the complaints. If it's all 100% positive, I still do my own homework, but I feel a little more comfortable going in. (more hacks than a Venezuelan Med School) That's why I went to Hollywood Upstairs Medical Academy.
guytar1 Posted December 7, 2008 Posted December 7, 2008 I'm rather glad I looked in to the reviews for the ES-339. It was helpful knowing just how much repair a new guitar would need. I weighed the possible risks of the bad reviews against the pros of the good ones and got it anyway.Damn glad I did, but even happier that I knew what "may" be coming in the UPS truck.
daveinspain Posted December 7, 2008 Posted December 7, 2008 I always do tons of research before making a purchase... Reviews are part of the process. Read about it, inquire about it, compare prices, try it out.... Also keep in mind sometimes good reviews are paid for.... Marketing, marketing , marketing
Bluemoon Posted December 7, 2008 Posted December 7, 2008 I think it is a great way to narrow down the choices before heading to the store or learning about reliability issues, etc.
retrosurfer1959 Posted December 7, 2008 Posted December 7, 2008 As guide only but sure it helps information of almost any kind always helps to make a informed decision
Thundergod Posted December 7, 2008 Posted December 7, 2008 I dont, most are writen by fanboys hehehehe.
AXE® Posted December 7, 2008 Posted December 7, 2008 If Rich-Thunder and Junky like it it's good enough for me...:D
saturn Posted December 7, 2008 Posted December 7, 2008 I've never bought something based just on reviews, but I have not-bought something. I really liked the price and features on the Carvin MTS3212 and planned on ordering one until I read too many negative things about it and it scared me off.
SRV-Zeppelin Posted December 7, 2008 Posted December 7, 2008 I don't find online reviews overly useful, nor do I read them regularly. Some guitars can be too individual or hit-and-miss- you might find a review that says a certain guitar is awesome, only to play one in a store and find that it sucks. I use sites like MF frequently to browse guitars and their features so that I have an idea of what I want to try out in the store, but I don't actually read the reviews.
Thundergod Posted December 7, 2008 Posted December 7, 2008 Who voted no??? ...think I did... sorry man...
HeadCase Posted December 7, 2008 Posted December 7, 2008 Reviews... hmmmm. I read 'em.... just cuz. Magazines.. forget about it, they're selling stuff. User reviews.. most are people in love w/ what they just bought, doesn't mean I will be. If I see negatives in any reviews... those could be red flags I need to consider. Other-wise... do your own homework.
Thundergod Posted December 7, 2008 Posted December 7, 2008 Reviews... hmmmm.I read 'em.... just cuz. Magazines.. forget about it' date=' they're selling stuff. User reviews.. most are people in love w/ what they just bought, doesn't mean I will be. If I see negatives in any reviews... those [i']could[/i] be red flags I need to consider. Other-wise... do your own homework. +1
AXE® Posted December 7, 2008 Posted December 7, 2008 Honestly I bought my las two pedals based on reviews and trying out the ones that were in my range. I'm very happy with both. The Guv'Nor is sweet, it'll hold me over till I get back on my finances and get my Marshalls back.
Thundergod Posted December 8, 2008 Posted December 8, 2008 The guv'nor is sweet indeed. I only pay attention to the bad reviews most of the time, the good ones most of the time are biased.
Homz Posted December 8, 2008 Posted December 8, 2008 I only read negative reviews. Many people who spend 2k+ for a guitar wont give it a bad review cause they would feel like a chump for spending 2k+. If you only read the negatives and evaluate them on their content you can through out the BS ones pretty easy. Then what ever is left may have some merit. IMHO
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