Buying a Guitar From Pancho

So, you’re in the market for a fine left handed guitar and you’d rather not be involved chasing one at eBay or other online auction sites? You’re at the right place! I currently offer 30-50 different electric and acoustic lefty instruments that constantly changes as the collection grows.

You can rest assured and buy with confidence as the pieces listed herein are what I consider keepers for my personal use. My feeling is that there isn’t a single ‘cull in the bunch’.

I will always provide you with an honest assessment of the instruments virtues in respect to build quality, appointments, value, and provenance. As a lefty player you are most likely well acquainted with the drill we southpaws go through to buy a new or used axe online - a drill that right handed players wouldn’t dream of having to endure.

It goes like this - first, you find a lefty guitar that appeals to you in most aspects. Then you contend with other interested bidders. If the guitar is a Gibson or Fender then more often than not there will be many lefties putting the axe on their ‘Watch List’. Hopefully you win the auction at a fair price for its type, age, and condition. You make your payment and hold your breath as its being shipped, if it even gets shipped! Unlike a righty, you probably weren’t able to find an equal or closely similar instrument at your local music shop that you could test out and get a feel for whether it’s just right for you and your style of music.

When you guitar arrives(or not) you basically cross your fingers and hope you actually like it. Given that you may have never seen a certain model in lefty mode before or may never see another one again you don’t necessarily hold out to get the guitar or bass in the color you’d prefer or with the appointments and options that you actually want.

Lefties, like the proverbial beggars, can’t be choosers. Upon arrival you also find out whether the sellers description is honest and accurate. If the seller doesn’t offer an inspection and approval period of perhaps 1-7 days then no matter how you feel about the guitar now, it’s yours to live with. In short, if you didn’t purchase at a store, you pay your hard earned money and hope you like what you bought! With prices that can be in the thousands we often must make a seriously risky roll of the dice.

What other consumer group is subjected to being painted in a corner to buy anything? When the seller does offer an approval and return policy it’s usually limited to the guitar being as the seller described. Whether or not you like it doesn’t matter, it’s now yours to keep. For instance, you may have thought a double cutaway, semi-hollow guitar like a Gibson ES-335 is your next ‘must have’ guitar. Let’s also presume you’ve never played a semi-hollow or hollow bodied axe and are not aware of these styles of guitars to give feedback.

As you test drive your new baby you realize that the feedback issue is not something you want to contend with and a solid body electric would be more suited to your taste. Let’s say the seller provided an accurate description and was totally upfront and honest about everything.

Guess what? You now own a guitar you aren’t really happy with! Oh joy. It only makes sense then to be as informed as you can be when entering unknown territory with your money on the line.

My promise to you is that the descriptions will be 100% honest and accurate. The photos you see will be of the exact guitar for sale - not a generic manufacturer photo or an image of a reversed righty. I will have information at the site that describes in detail the various types and different categories of electric and acoustic guitars and basses.

These details include tonal attributes, construction methods, and aesthetic options so you can get as good an idea as possible for what the model or category offers. Hot links will be provided to get even more information from the manufacturers and user review groups. A well informed prospective buyer is at the top of my list of priorities as a seller.

Payment Terms

Payment can be made with money orders, cashier’s check or bank transfer, and personal checks(USA only). All payment methods must clear the bank before the item is shipped. I have a valid Paypal account but with such small potential profit margins I’m not prepared to accept Paypal as a payment option unless the buyer is willing to pay the Paypal fees on top of the purchase price. Paypal fees range between 2-5 - 3.5%. Thank you for your understanding in this matter. As I further develop the site and broaden the range of instruments for sale to eventually include brand new guitars I will offer Paypal as well as the other major credit cards. Please check back frequently to find out when these payment options become more comprehensive.

International Sales

At this time sales will be limited to buyers from all 50 states and Canada. Sales to the UK, Europe, Japan and elsewhere will be offered as soon as a reliable shipping format is drafted and tested to ensure smooth, problem free, affordable service.

Shipping

Shipping via UPS Ground or Fedex Ground will be a flat $50 for a guitar and case or gig bag to the lower 48 states. Guitars without a hard shell case or gig bag will be double boxed. Buyers in Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands must contact me for a shipping quote. Insurance is not included in the $50 fee. However, it is recommended and relatively inexpensive no matter how valuable the item may be. For all the guitars I’ve had shipped to me or shipped to others over the years fortunately no insurance claims have had to be made. At this time I’ve not shipped or received guitars from overseas so I have no experience to know whether the many horror stories I’ve heard about overseas shipping and customs clearance are true or not.
Expedited shipping is always an option for an extra charge. If interested please e-mail your request at the time of purchase.

Lefty he can't sing the blues All night long like he used to The dust that Pancho bit down south Ended up in Lefty's mouth The day they laid poor Pancho low Lefty split for Ohio Where he got the bread to go There ain't nobody knows All the federales say They could have had him any day They only let him slip away Out of kindness I suppose from "Pancho and Lefty" by Townes Van Zandt