So you're back for more great guitar gear buying info? Glad you did and welcome to my part three installment of "How to find Great Guitar Deals". Again, if you want to go back and read my previous articles just click on my name that links you to my previous articles. As always I welcome your comments and thanks for visiting FG.

CRAIGS LIST, the "other" internet buy/sell site - Like eBay, Craig's List (CraigsList.org) is another national buy/sell internet site where you can find great deals but it works very differently. Yes, Craig's List services on a national level, coast to coast but 1- unlike eBay there is no auction. You list your item, set a price, and prepare to haggle with the potential seller/buyer who answers your ad. Also 2- unlike eBay, 99% of the transactions are done on a local level. In other words you literally meet the seller. By the way the upside of Craig's list is that I don't think there are fees for buying or selling. Not sure how they make their money but OK, and like eBay to set up an account is free. Here are a few tips when making a deal on Craig's List:

1. When you find the item you're interested in buying make sure the asking price is within a reasonable price range to what its actually worth. If you read my other articles you'll know that research is KEY to knowing what to pay. If the seller is priced way out of the ball park don't bother, it just shows they aren't in-touch with reality and the interaction with the seller will probably be negative. Let it go.
2. Beware of the crazies out there. If you see an add yelling at you in ALL CAPS that they are VERY firm on the price, and they will curse out anyone who tries to haggle with them I have two words for you - STAY AWAY. Maybe the seller is just frustrated but why take a chance on meeting someone unstable.
3. Speaking of unstable ALWAYS meet in a public place. If the seller (or buyer) insists on going to your place or insists that you go to their place - STAY AWAY. Keep it public, keep it in the open, keep it safe. All the transactions I've made via Craig's have ALWAYS been in the parking lot of a busy local mall, and Yes, I've definitely made some killer guitar deals through Craigs List and lived.

One of my most recent Craig's List acquisitions is a NOS (new old stock) still in the box Fender Deluxe Lonestar™ Stratocaster®, Rosewood fretboard, HSS pups, Brown Sunburst finish that I scored for $225.00 with case. At that price it's of course the MIM version but still nice. As the shopper guru do I always get the deal? Hell No!! Here's what just happened to me last week and I'm still feeling the pain. I have been toying with the idea of getting back into drumming and I started browsing for a vintage set of Slingerland drums ((fyi, vintage Slingerland and Gretsch drums are like the "gold standard" in used drums - a good investment). Mid-life crisis you say? Maybe but cheaper than a candy apple red Corvette. So I finally found a great set at a great price on Craigs List and I immediately called the seller only to find out the Slingerlands were sold the day before. Oh well, we can't win 'em all but we can always try... Moving on to Retail Stores - Before we get into "chain" super stores and the internet retailers I want to remind you that there is a strong possibility to find great deals in the Mom & Pop stores too. A few months ago I was looking to buy a tribute guitar in memory of my Father who passed away. He loved all the jazz guitar greats and I thought how cool it would be to learn some jazz chords and buy a hollowbody jazz box. I decided on an Epi "Swingster" but when I couldn't find the exact color I wanted a friend of mine suggested I visit one those local Mom & Pop Music stores . Low and behold they had one in the transparent cherry stain finish with hard shell case I've been looking for. What a great experience, the very knowledgeable sales person was actually the owner and I not only bought a guitar but made a friend. I still stop in every now and then to say hello and look over their inventory.

OK, back to the big boys let's start with: Sam Ash Music who has 45 stores in several states as well as a strong retail internet presence (SamAsh.com). Sam Ash is where I scored a great deal on the Crate V50 tube combo amp. Another music company I've had good experiences with is Musician's Friend (Musiciansfriend.com). They are a 100% internet based retailer and what impressed me about this company is IF you let their mgmt staff know about any problem or concern you may have, they will bend over backwards to make the situation right to keep you as a happy customer. Read below how the "Deal God" was smiling at me with an unbelievable deal on a Epi LP. In a past life I was CEO of a national QA & Operations consulting firm with a 27 year success track record so I look at how customer service is handled VERY carefully. One of the largets retailers is Guitar Center. Like Sam Ash is both a brick & mortar and internet based music store. They have 225 stores and has the best and maybe the only retailer that takes used instruments seriously. If you go to GuitarCenter.com and click on "Used Gear" you will be amazed to find they take the time to list all the used gear on-line in all of their 225 stores across the country. Also, I believe if you are not happy with any used gear you buy, you can return it to any of their retail stores or ship it back. I personally recently bought a used Blackstar all-tube amp head and my overall experience was excellent! I would definitely do it again.

Another internet music stores I recommend is Music 123 (Music123.com), actually Musician's Friend, Guitar Center, and Music123 are all the same company. They were consolidated by Bain Capital (along with Brasswind & Woodwind, Music & Arts, Harmony Central, and a few other companies). While each brand runs independently with each offering different deals, they all share the same warehouse and call center. I've heard that Music123 coupon codes are the only of those companies which do not seem to have the laundry list of company exclusions and occasionally allows stacking of discount codes too. Other cyber retailers to name a few include: American Music Supply, ZZounds, and Same Day Music which are also a conglomerate.

OK, now it's time for the good stuff with hands-on buying tips:

1. GET ON THEIR MAILING LIST. Trust me, it's really worth it. You never know when they'll shoot you an email saying the item you've been hunting for is having a blow-out sale and selling at a ridiculously low price. Show the retailers a little love by signing up for their news letter and you'll get it back tenfold.
2. DO COMPARISON SHOPPING. If there's one retailer you like better or prefer to do business with for whatever reason, such as reputation, or not charging tax or shipping and you find the item you want selling for less somewhere else, ask the sales associate if they will price match. If they say no DON'T GIVE UP, in friendly tone just ask for the manager. Most of the time the manager will do more to provide a pleasant customer experience.
3. LOOK FOR COUPONS. Sometimes with the right coupons you will get a sale price on top of another sale price on the same item. My next real-life example actually combines tip # 1 AND tip #3. I live in one of the areas that was heavily hit by Hurricane Irene. In preparation of the storm my wife and I batten down the hatches and took all the needed precautions in our home and waiting to hear if our area was going to be evacuated. We weren't but with nothing else to do but wait out the storm I was bored and stressed. My readers already know that I find browsing the internet and shopping for guitar gear very relaxing and for whatever reason I decided I needed to find a deal and buy an LP with P-90 pups. Maybe a little stress related insanity? Probably, but it kept my mind off the impending doom. As if on cue Musicians Friend sent me an email (read Tip #1) two days before Irene hit saying they were having a blow-out sale on a really nice Epi LP Custom 1956's reissue with P-90's which regularly sold for $549.00 now on sale for $299.00 WITH A BONUS GIFT - a deluxe Epi LP hard shell case. NICE!!, but do I leave well enough alone? NO!! I googled "Musicians Friend discount coupons" (read Tip #3) and again like magic I find $45.00 OFF on all purchases $299.00 and greater coupon. So the whole shebang cost me a total of $254.00 with no tax and free shipping. It was like the Deal God himself came down from the heavens and said; "ADRIAN, buy this guitar NOW!!" and so I did - Take my advice, never argue with the Deal God.
4. WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS JUST ASK! My wife wanted to buy me a bicycle for my birthday and I decided on one of those retro looking beach cruisers. Hey, if I'm going bike riding - I gotta look coool doing it! So off we went bike shopping at our local bike shop. They had a beauty with old style double bar frame, heavy padded quilted triangle seat, a front basket for our little Chihuahua; "Mr. Peppi", and all the extras. It was just what I wanted except for the price. Even though it was a gift I would not, and could not let my wife pay retail, it just goes against my grain. So after a few weeks went by we decided to stop by the bike shop again just to see if the bike was still there and it was. The sales associate told me the bike's been on the sales floor for a while and the store manager would definitely work with me on price. I'm in my comfort zone because I love to haggle and all in all, after the carnage I got the price down 25% off the already discounted price. Like I said, when all else fails it just pays to ask because as we say in New York; "If you don't ask, You don't get". If you're too shy or embarrassed to ask, no problem - Just whip out your charge card and pay retail!!

IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ: Here at The Frugal Guitarist we try to offer something for all our readers BUT we need to hear what you want to see more of. Reviews?, How to's?, or whatever. Feel free to contact me Adrian Webb, or Will Chen and let us know. We want to hear from you! Thanks.

Future articles & reviews include:

1. Low cost mods to get the best million dollar tone out of your current gear.
2. Head to head review with Blackstar vs Blackheart 5 watt all tube amp heads.
3. How to find Guitar related FREEBIES on the net and from retailers too.

Again, thanks for visiting FG and stop back often because we constantly have great, new content. See you next time, Adrian Webb