Dealbreakers. What are yours?

[Hollowway]

Re-finish especially if poorly executed.

This is a huge one for me, too. As soon as I see, “the finish is not perfect, but…” I move on. That means it’s more hideous than Jake in khakis.

 

[John]

This is a huge one for me, too. As soon as I see, “the finish is not perfect, but…” I move on. That means it’s more hideous than Jake in khakis.

Yeah, that type of disclaimer is an instant red flag. Even more of the case on some instruments listed with higher asking prices where this is the case.
Well, regardless of the amount they're asking, it's practically a shoe-in for that "You tried" cartoonish gold star type of energy.

 

[SalsaWood]

Bridge pickup only. Never understood why you'd want to pay for a guitar that has at most half the tonal options of a guitar with a neck pickup

They're actually pretty great for metal since you don't have any magnetic field from a neck pickup leaching energy from the strings, and with more basic wiring configurations guitars tend to sound very slightly clearer. I thought it was stupid for the longest time, especially since I solo on the neck or middle pickup settings, but I have come around. If only they were more common.

 

[STRHelvete]

Bolt on construction
Floyd roses or Evertunes
Truss rod adjustment on the bottom of the fretboard
Headless designs
7+ strings

 

[BenSolace]

I'm pretty adaptable, but "vintage " piss yellow maple stains, "vintage," equally piss-yellow binding (has to be slightly off-white cream at most) and heel-adjust truss rods where you have to take the neck off can fuck off. I mean, how the fuck are you supposed to make fine adjustments without spending hours taking the neck on and off constantly. Surely it would cause the threads on the neck to strip prematurely?

I'm also unlikely to buy a guitar that has a stop tailpiece unless it's a Les Paul shape. TOM is fine but it needs string thru body. Also Floyds - I'll take a vintage style trem at most.

Very unpopular opinion around here but I hate reverse headstocks. Not so much the way they look but how it feels to turn the tuning peg/string up.

 

[works0fheart]

"But do they offer a V shape?"

- No stainless steel frets is a no no for me now days mostly.
- Gibson, Fender, or any of the other dad rock-esque brands.
- No Floyd/Locking system
- Big ass neck heels
- Shitty upper fret access
- Graphics on bodies (usually). I don't need a band's logo on my guitar. I'm not in the band.
- Too many knobs. Just need volume. Every guitar I've ever had with a tone knob I forget it's there and when I remember that it's there I realize how useless it is.
- More than 1 pickup. As a metal guitar player I've learned I don't really need a neck or middle pickup. They're nice sometimes, sure, but eh.
- 22 frets

 

[Spicypickles]

I’m really struggling to think of an actual “dealbreaker”. I like variety and have all kinds of shit - 20” to 9”radii, vintage trems, Floyd’s, single coils, buckers, TOM’s and hipshots, 21 , 22, 24 frets, stainless and nickel frets, light shitty rosewood boards and maple/ebony ones.

I just like gear I suppose. If it doesn’t feel good and resonant, I don’t like it. I guess that’s it.

 

[RevDrucifer]

7.25" radius is the only thing I can think of.

Because I'm a cheap bastard, I tend to look at guitars I can swap stuff out on to get what I want, so there's plenty of things I wouldn't prefer on a guitar, but don't let it hold me back from getting it if 75% of the guitar is what I'm looking for.

 

[sell2792]

Three & five-way blade switches, on any guitar.

Toggle switch or bust.

 

[Neon_Knight_]

Neck profile that isn't at least as thin as a Wizard II
Gloss neck finish
Square heel joint
Single-cut (or shallow double-cut)
TOM bridge
Not having in-line tuners

Basically, any guitar that isn't the polar opposite of a Gibson LP is a deal-breaker

 

[ThunderUnderground]

Artist name on the inlay at the 12th fret or similar, ive grown to dislike most inlays actually, especially shark tooth/shark fin types.

Re-finish in non OEM colour, especially if poorly executed.

Extra holes drilled for pots or switches.

I forgot one of the main deal breakers for me.

Set Necks.

My OCD isn't built to deal with cracks in the finish around the neck join... Bolt on, Neck Through, or No thanks 👍

 

[jaxadam]

If she smokes, doesn’t have a job or any hobbies, is too into herself physically, and likes to gossip. Those are the dealbreakers.

Oh, we’re talking about guitars!

 

[jephjacques]

builder is a known shithead/bigot

 

[wheresthefbomb]

-relic finishes - no hate, I'm just not paying for that like it's a feature
-costs more than $2k
-floyd rose, kahler, evertune
-headless/offset blob
-"signature" inlays, graphics, etc

 

[CM_X5]

Square neck heels on set necks
Nut break angle to tuners
Binding on neck

 

[Steinmetzify]

Any kind of trem. They can all fuck off back to fucktown with that shit.

 

[BenjaminW]

21 frets and single coils that aren’t noiseless.

 

[mogar]

3 words kill most potential deals for me....

"Call For Price"

As soon as you introduce another step between me and a purchase, I just move on.

 

[lattjeful]

Vintage-style truss rods where you have to take the neck off. Fender deviates from vintage spec, even on their vintage-inspired lines, so why that is the one thing they stick to is such a mystery. It's put me off of buying so many decent guitars because I just can't be assed with it.

 

[DarrellM5]

Neck profile that doesn't suit me.
Pink guitars.
Weight - has to be sub 9 lbs and preferably sub 8 lbs.