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Ebay Guitars Guide



The CheapGuitarZine official Ebay Guitars Guide is here to direct you to awesome electric and acoustic guitar deals while arming you with advice to avoid any fraud or scam artists. Ebay is the first stop for cheap guitars. Using an informed mindset, very good deals are to be had on Ebay. Some of the best deals on the Internet come from Ebay.

But you have to do your research and protect yourself from being ripped off! If you're apprehensive about sending your hard-earned dollars to strangers, I'll show you how to go about safely shopping and purchasing guitars, using my 9 years of Ebay and online guitars buying and selling experience.
Ebay Guitars Buying Tips
  • Always search for specific models Don't just type in "cheap guitars," you'll come up with lots of cheap JUNK! Narrow down your search by using the following terms, vary them according to whether you're searching for electric or acoustic: Fender Squier guitars, Squier 51, Dean guitars, Epiphone Les Paul, Yamaha electric guitars, Ibanez guitars
  • Look for sellers with 98%+ positive ratings High positive ratings (98% positive and above) indicates accurate descriptions, fair & fast shipping, good customer service and a willingness to work with buyers after the sale
  • Always check seller ratings for negatives High and frequent negative ratings from past buyers mean stay away, regardless of the number of positives that. Negatives should be far and few between. Every seller has them, but frequent negatives can be an indication of bad customer service.
  • Be wary of casual sellers They can be identified by the following: Low overall ratings, as in less than 100 (even though all are positive); lots of buying history rather than seller history in feedback; casual, immature or even unprofessional responses to email questions We've bought from these types of sellers before, they always inadequately pack their guitars, leading to possible damage from the shipper. These items are often inaccurately described in the auction and come with lots of surprises: take the Squier 51 for instance: we're going to have to restring it, adjust the bridge saddles and possibly lower the action.

  • Use a Credit Card and PayPal Stay away from Ebay Guitars sellers who only accepts Money Orders. Honest sellers will take credit cards and other forms of payment because they sell good products and their customer service is high.
  • Look for a Buyer Protection Statement from PayPal and/or a return policy clearly stated in the auction.
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    Know Your Search

    First of all, do some research. Doing a blind search for "cheap guitars," for instance, will only lead to a bad experience. Being that you're reading this website, the research part is in the bag.

    Some examples should help to make your Ebay experience better (and more affordable).

    Our current favorite on Ebay right now is the Fender Squier 51.

    We recently won a Squier 51 on Ebay and absolutely love it! If you haven't done so already, read our review of this guitar by clicking here.

    New and used Squier 51's are popping up daily in black, blonde and tobacco sunburst. Blonde and tobacco models are more sought after and scarce, while black ones are readily available and the cheapest. 51 parts--bodies, necks, pickguards, control panels--are often found on Ebay due to the large number of players who customize them. Subscribe to the CheapGuitarZine if you'd like to learn more about building or modifying your own electric guitar. Subscribers to the zine and regular visitors here alike know my feelings about the Squier 51. So it'll come as no surprise that I've devoted a page on this site dedicated to monitoring Squier 51 activity on Ebay.

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