Condition Guide:
Brand New:
These are products that are in the box as received from the manufacturer which come with the original warranty.
Second-Hand:
This refers to any product that has been previously owned and/or used by someone. It's a term that can cover a wide spectrum of conditions, depending on the age of the product, how thoroughly it was used and how well it was looked after. We will always strive to point out any imperfections or give an idea of the general state of the guitar.
NOTES:
All second-hand instruments are fully set-up and restrung in store, we'll never sell an instrument unless it's playable and at its best!
This guide refers mainly to guitars/basses but can also apply to other products such as effects pedals.
B-Stock / Ex-Demo:
Instruments can sometimes arrive to us straight from the factory with some small imperfections as no two guitars are ever made exactly the same. Any imperfections will be mentioned in the product's description.
Ex-demo guitars tend to be in better condition, having come in to us brand new but may have picked up some wear from being tried out or clumsily walked in to in the shop!
Not all guitars (particularly second-hand guitars) will include their original packaging, as boxes are sometimes used from one guitar to ship another.
Second-Hand Glossary:
Definitions of terms used in our second-hand descriptions
Surface Scratches:
Surface scratches (light abrasions to the finish) tend to be the first sign of wear to appear on even the most well looked after guitars and, depending on the severity, can usually only be seen up close or under a particular light.
Scratch:
More severe than general surface scratches, a scratch will be deeper and more noticeable.
Ding / Press Mark:
Where an impact or bump leaves a dent in the finish of the guitar. Press marks tend not to take any paint or varnish off the finish but simply leave a small dimple. A ding may be a little deeper and may leave a small chip or some cracks in the finish.
Chip:
Where an impact or bump takes off some paint/lacquer or, in more serious cases, some of the wood itself.
Stress Crack:
Where a stress, impact or change of temperature causes a crack in the paint/varnish. This is a purely cosmetic problem and doesn't affect the wood or structural integrity in any way.
Crack:
Oops! Cracks or breaks can occur when a guitar is involved in an accident such as being dropped or stood on.
Cracks and breaks directly affect the wood of the guitar and the general structural integrity. If one of our guitars has had a crack or break, we will not put it out for sale unless we are 100% certain that it has been repaired to a state as good as or better than before it happened.
We'll always be upfront if a guitar has had a crack or break repaired.
Note: This photo is of an extreme case and is in an unrepaired state.
Buckle Rash:
More severe than surface scratches, where a guitar has been played at around waist height and has had a belt buckle or zip/button from clothing rub against the back of the guitar causing an area of abrasion.
Note: This photo is of quite an extreme case!
Fret Wear:
Sometimes guitarists like to stay in their comfort zone, meaning that certain frets get used more often than others. This can leave wear in the frets where strings have been constantly pushed against them. This tends to start off as a cosmetic problem, though it can be a warning that the frets will soon need levelling/crowning.
Fret wear may also include wear on the fingerboard itself.
We will always specify when this affects how the guitar plays.
Binding / Lacquer Shrink:
Changes in temperature can cause wood to grow and shrink slightly over time. These changes can make the lacquer or finish to crack uniformly in affected areas or for binding to look different.
This is especially common in older/vintage guitars.
