Buying online

Just wondering if anyone has ever considered buying or actually bought guitars online directly from the US (from www.music123.com for example) ? They have excellent prices on Ibanez guitars, which is still very good value after shipping costs and UK custom duties. It just seems a little scary for

I've bought loads of stuff online, when its just commodity stuff. I'm too touchy-feely to buy personal stuff online - I wouldnt buy a guitar without seeing it, fiddling with it, knowing I was going to want to play it.

I suppose it depends what would disappoint you, & whether a new guitar is a commodity or a very personal thing.

How well do you know & trust the brand, & how much are you investing? A Mexican Strat is a Mexican strat IMHO, but half the £1600+ Gibson Les Pauls Ive seen in shops have (IMHO) very poor detailing & finishing - so I'd *have* to examine a Gibson before buying it.

If you are looking for an RG570 and are still considering a UK based buy, you'd be well advised to check out www.guitarstrings.co.uk . They've got a grey nickel RG570 (not the 570ex) ready to buy off the website for only £420 which to my mind is ridiculously cheap. Don't forget p&p though!
http://www.guitarstrings.co.uk/search_details.asp? ID=741

I think it must be christmas stock that they didn't shift and they just want it sold.

Daniel C.

Cheers for that, Daniel C. It is quite cheap comparing to other UK retailers, however it is still around £100 more then I would pay if ordered from the US (including custom duties and delivery). BTW, does anyone know what's the difference between RG570 and RG570EX apart from cosmetic stuff (finish, inlays, etc) ?

The inlays are different (dot's vs. jagged mirrored shark fins). I know that the 570ex has got some fancy material down the sides of the fret boards (it's not binding tho). It's a bit like alabone (sp?), It shimmers different colours. I don't know if the 570 has that. The trems are different too. The 570 has the original Edge trem, whereas the 570ex has the lo-pro edge. I believe they are both as functional and as stable as each other, the lo-pro is just designed so that it doesn't get in the way as much.

There are plenty more educated than me about this though. Check out www.jemsite.com which has some info (i think) about the different trems.

Daniel C.