gooo2889 wrote:if you're buying used...buy from someone/somewhere, that you can play through before making a decision.
if new...shop for best price and play through similar model at local guitar store.
I think this is a good philosophy in most cases, especially if you're considering buying something used/b-stock from a vendor that you're never heard of. There are a lot of little "mom & pop" vendors online that don't tell you all sales are final, or there's a restocking fee, etc.
In the context of this particular thread, we were discussing Musician's Friend specifically. I think that all of the musicians on this site have heard of Musician's Friend, and perhaps even bought something from MF in the past. They guarantee all of their purchases for 45 days, even clearance items. I do agree with your philosophy of "play it before you buy it." However, if you find a great deal on something that you happen to need, like CK's bass amp, or my Ibanez ATK700 (retailed around $750, and I got the bass, strap locks, gigbag, and leather strap for right around $360), why not buy it if you have the opportunity to return it? In the case of my bass, the ATK700 arrived in perfect condition, and has been a great additional to my studio bass arsenal, and I use it regularly on country and jazz recordings. Sometimes, buying "sight unseen" isn't so bad. Its liberating -- perhaps you should try it sometime.
From my personal experience, I have always gotten a better price online than at a music store, and have always had good experiences buying b-stock and clearance items from MF specifically.
