Dealbreakers. What are yours?

[Emperoff]

Recent discussions of age-old topics such as pickups, SS frets, 22 vs 24 fret guitars or Original Floyd Rose vs FR-1000 tremolos made me curious about what things people consider as a total dealbreaker when purchasing an instrument. Something that can be completely trivial to one person can be unbearable to others. To me the most offending stuff are things that I can't change no matter what.

I'll start. There's only one thing that makes me discard a guitar instantly, and that's a TOM bridge. Since I rest my forearm on the guitar when playing, they're just uncomfortable. And the worst part is that they add an angle to the neck towards your body, which is also awful for ergonomics.

Bolt-on guitars with huge square heel joints would be a close second. I can work with those at least, but would be restricted to only one of my bands (as I play less solos and most of the don't go up high), and I'm sure they'll get less playtime at home as well.

Shoot!

 

[MaxOfMetal]

Block inlays without binding and/or missing the first fret. Just feels so incomplete.

 

[thorgan]

Pickup rings

 

[SalsaWood]

Non-recessed trem, burl top, satin finish, Evertune bridge, neck profiles.

 

[Crungy]

Wrap around bridges. No thank you sir.

 

[soliloquy]

Guitars feeling dead and plasticy in hands. Not as resonant

 

[Thesius]

24.75 scale. Pickup rings most of the time.

 

[gnoll]

Inlays that are not real mother of pearl on Jacksons and Les Paul Customs.

Logos that are not ESP on "ESP" guitars.

Basically anything that makes a guitar look like a cheap version of itself. It feels like an impostor. I'd much rather have a cheap guitar that isn't trying to be something it's not. If that makes sense.

Oh, and also direct mount pickups.

 

[col]

Neck profile. Abalone. Fancy large inlays.

 

[ThunderUnderground]

Artist name on the inlay at the 12th fret or similar, ive grown to dislike most inlays actually, especially shark tooth/shark fin types.

Re-finish in non OEM colour, especially if poorly executed.

Extra holes drilled for pots or switches.

 

[jaxadam]

Flavor of the month djentsticks.

 

[Crash Dandicoot]

Knob / toggle switch placement. I feel the EBMM Petrucci stuff is the only sensible layout, honestly. Knobs out of the damn way and the switch in an easily accessible area you won't accidentally hit.

 

[Robslalaina]

poor fret access
burl tops
trans finishes over flat looking veneers
complicated electronics that can crap out on you
tramp stamp fretboard inlays
abalone

 

[ArtDecade]

Guitars with Star inlays (sorry Marty and Richie)
Guitars by YouTube personalities and Periphery

 

[CanserDYI]

Definitely artist inlays.

 

[tedtan]

I can work with most things, but don’t like a 7.25” fingerboard radius at all.

 

[youngthrasher9]

Cheaply made FR style bridges. 1000 series or better for me, and I’m still probably not gonna buy a Floyd equipped guitar unless it really tickles my fancy.

 

[budda]

If it has a floyd rose, a very D neck profile or an uber-thin neck im not buying it. Learned a couple times at this point.

 

[Captain Shoggoth]

Lack of inlays - makes a huge difference live - satin painted (ie not natural) finishes, 20" radii

 

[mastapimp]

First that come to mind:
- V profile necks
- Vintage Fender radius below 9.5"
- Single block inlays that have model/artist/brand
- satin/matte finishes on guitar body
- Kiesel anything