eBay, bodies, necks, caveat emptor...

[NovasScootYa]

Old Fender bodies are very expensive and a hot commodity but when buying without close examination on eBay always ask either by e-mail or preferably a phone call if there are any cracks visible around the neck pocket even if the seller describes the body as having no cracks. Don't assume eBay sellers with flamboyant monikers such as amazingguitars&amperage know a thing about anything because chances are they do not. Cracks along the neck pocket are sometimes out of sight, hard to spot and in some cases it maybe the reason the body is for sale. And, anyone who claims neck pocket finish cracks are "normal" is blowing smoke. Other than for instruments exposed to extremely humid or dry environments most pocket cracks are caused by the neck striking something, etc.
As for Warmoth guitar necks found on eBay...Why anyone who has visited the Warmoth site
would bother to purchase a used Warmoth neck on eBay is beyond me. It would be far better
to purchase a new bread and butter Warmoth neck for less than $200.00 delivered
than it would be to get a fancier sounding deal on eBay, a deal that may have a problem created by the seller either by carelessness or a calamity. I.E. Some neck mounting screws included with custom neck plates may have a different thread pitch than Fender screws. Should a new owner use Fender neck screws following aftermarket screws the neck threads will be distorted, etc. Chances are good a seller on eBay will not mention what kind of neck screws were used and chances are just as good a mesmerized buyer won't ask.
eBay is a great site but caveat emptor...buyer beware.

 

[Velcro]

Just listening to my old 'the end'(doors) vinyl  :headbang:

 

[NovasScootYa]

Just listening to my old 'the end'(doors) vinyl  :headbang:

When the music's over please turn out the  :sign13:  :sign13:  :sign13: and post something that will help this forum save money and build a better guitar. Thanks for your reply.

BTW, What's the difference between a musician and a pizza? One can feed a family of 4.

 

[Jusatele]

Old Fender bodies are very expensive and a hot commodity but when buying sight unseen on eBay always ask either by e-mail or preferably a phone call if there are any cracks visible around the neck pocket even if the seller describes the body as having no cracks. Don't assume eBay sellers with flamboyant monikers such as amazingguitars&amperage know a thing about anything because chances are they do not. Cracks along the neck pocket are sometimes out of sight, hard to spot and in some cases it maybe the reason the body is for sale. And, anyone who claims neck pocket finish cracks are "normal" is blowing smoke. Other than for instruments exposed to extremely humid or dry environments most pocket cracks are caused by the neck hitting something, etc. Obviously 35 + year old Fenders had plenty of time to receive a few a hard hits.
As for Warmoth guitar necks found on eBay...Why anyone who has visited the Warmoth site
would bother to purchase a used Warmoth neck on eBay is beyond me. It would be far better
to purchase a new basic bread and butter Warmoth neck for less than $200.00 delivered
than it would be to get a fancier sounding "deal" on eBay, a deal that more
than likely has a problem created by the seller either by carelessness, accident or calamity. I.E. Some neck mounting screws included with popular customized aftermarket neck plates have a different thread pitch than Fender neck screws. Should a new owner use Fender neck screws following aftermarket screws the neck threads will be distorted and weakened when the neck is mounted. Chances are very good a seller on eBay will not mention what kind of neck screws were used and chances are just as good a mesmerized buyer won't ask.
eBay is a great site but caveat emptor...buyer beware.

I have a different twist on Ebay
I consider it the bane of buyer protection
you are buying a product sight unseen, from a person who's honesty is unable to rate as if he gets a bad rating he just starts a new account, from guys who lie to off product, you have no storefront to take it back to, and if you are ripped off very little will be done to help you, the process is so hard to keep up with that you soon fall out of the system. I tried years ago to get back on a 125 dollar item and I found that you are in a void. One where no one wants to acept jurisdiction and Ebay has a long list of stuff you have to do and keep up on, miss one and you claim is dropped,

So why are so many bodies, necks, parts etc now available on ebay? Because the name Fender is hot. They are making the correct assumption that in the heat of desire you will pay to much money for a part you cannot touch because it says Fender on it. Parts that had to be replaced with new parts that have a Fender stamp, or serial number can demand a lot of coin on ebay, One of the trends I see now is Fender necks with numbers being sold. You know with a good printer, a few cans or ReRanch antiqued nitro and a cheap suppliers of necks, a trip to the Fender site to gather info about serial numbers and I could sell 75 dollar necks for 400 dollars all day long.

Buyer beware on ebay, The fact is a lot of guys are buying either unusable junk or forgeries more than those used parts are a deal.

 

[stubhead]

I would NEVER buy a used neck unless the original and ONLY screws used were included. Once you run two different screws into the same hole, you're gaaked. In fact, I'd be hard-pressed to see why I'd ever buy a used neck anyway. I'd rather save for another month or two and get a new one - I'll do my own wear 'n' tear, thanks. :hello2:

I like Ebay for what it is, I've found some really good bargains (THREE heating pads for $20!) but as the item gets more expensive my likelihood of use decreases. :sad1:

 

[TomPerverteau]

The Warmoth neck I got for my project guitar on eBay ($81 shipped!) has pretty much 0 wear.  And I had to drill new holes in it anyway to fit the Warmoth body I got on eBay ($46 shipped!).

 

[Nightclub Dwight]

While I like to browse on Ebay, I mostly just use it to buy either inexpensive items or vintage bicycles (my other obsession.)  Its a lot harder to fake a vintage bicycle than a vintage guitar.  Old bicycles were made differently, and if someone went through all the trouble to recreate one, well, aside from being highly unlikely to the educated eye, it would probably end up being a very good rider if you bought it carefully. 

Unfortunately, as Stubhead and Jusatele pointed out, there are just too many variables when buying guitar parts on ebay.  Plus, a lot of a guitar's appeal is its "feel."  How many of us have walked into a music store and tried every guitar they had, and only one spoke to you as being "the one?"  You just don't get that kind of assurance on Ebay.  In fact, its probably the guitar that no one in the store wanted, so its being sold on Ebay for that very reason.

If it were truely a great guitar, it could be sold locally so much easier.