Buying a used electric guitar can be more fun than buying a new one if you like instruments with character worn right in.
In fact, these instruments are available from lots of sources both online and off -- but for many buyers,
Most musicians will tell you that you really need to play a guitar to see if it’s the right one for you.
However, good used Strats are available at fair prices and can expand your musical horizons while letting you experience the customizations -- and damage -- made by other players.
You may find some great offers in guitar magazines and local newspapers, but shopping online is simpler in the long run.
You usually get detailed, high-resolution photos before you even make contact, so you’re one step ahead of the seller with your research instead of having to struggle to keep up.
Search online and you’ll find plenty of websites offering very high-end Stratocasters at collector’s prices.
Other sites offer text-only classified listings that don’t even begin to tell the story of an instrument or its seller.
That’s why eBay makes a great choice when looking for used Fender Stratocasters.
In addition to offering a selling format that’s comfortable and familiar, eBay sellers usually include detailed photos of the exact item they are selling along with text that lists out flaws.
On eBay, you can also easily contact sellers to ask questions. The site offers a communication mechanism that gives you direct contact.
Several levels of buyer protection are built in, too.
The feedback system gives you a clue about a seller’s history, and if you pay with PayPal, their buyer protection policies protect you, too.
Even with these protections, a little common sense makes you even safer.
Don’t get sucked in by offers that don’t seem realistic.
While you may be able to find an exceptionally good value on a Stratocaster on eBay, don’t expect that to be the case.
If the price seems too low, there’s probably something wrong with the instrument that the seller isn’t disclosing.
If you choose your used Fender Stratocaster carefully and on a respected marketplace, you’ll get what you paid for -- and you may find a surprisingly good fit, too.
If you aren’t careful, however, you may be stuck with an inferior guitar and a bad experience -- neither of which you can easily shed.
Tell us what you know about this guitar
Upload your images, or send us the url to your video. We'll embed it on this page, and give you plenty of feedback.