re: How do you buy guitars?

I'll throw another sleeper option in the ring ... guitar shows. Kinda like gun and knife and boat shows, held all over the country. Booth format, dealers from all over the country. Think flea market with axes galore. THOUSANDS of new, used and vintage guitars under one roof.

Closest relevant shows to the BRLA market are in DFW. The Arlington, TX, show in the fall is vintage centric. The common consumer shows that mix new and used, vintage and modern, however, is the Dallas show (Apr.29-May 1 this year).

I will have a double-size booth at the Dallas show this year - our first ever - for our handmade in-house guitar pickups (carondeletpickups.com), complete with a dozen test-drive instruments and some of our pickup users doing demos. Come by and say hi.

Many take credit cards but COLD HARD CASH AND/OR COOL TRADE-INS ARE KING at these shows. Not only do they have everything under the sun brand-wise and price wise that you can test drive before you buy, you can bring trade-ins, you can tirekick and haggle and wheel and deal.

If you've never shopped guitars this way, I strongly suggest you try it. Google "vintage guitar shows" to find a fast rundown.