Know Your Gear Podcast with Phillip McKnight

Episode: The Scams and Tricks People Do When Selling or Trading Guitars
Date: March 29, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the everyday realities—and pitfalls—of buying, selling, and trading guitars, especially in the used market. Phillip McKnight, drawing on his decades of experience both as a guitar tech and former store owner, shares the most common scams, tricks, and modifications people use to devalue or pass off guitars deceptively. Interwoven with listener Q&A, personal stories, and technical tips, the episode offers a practical guide for any guitarist looking to avoid costly mistakes when considering a new axe.

Key Topics and Insights

1. Scams, Tricks, and Common Devaluations in Used Guitars

(Starts at ~17:31)

A. Typical Scams and Buyer Pitfalls

• Modifications that Devalue Guitars:
  Many sellers modify guitars (e.g., pickup swaps, rounded fretboard edges, swapped tuning keys) and revert them before selling, but underlying changes can impact value and playability.

  • “Everyone’s got their go-to thing to do to a guitar, and that devalues the guitar.”—Phillip (22:40)

• Pickup Swapping (Notably With Fender John Mayer Strats):

  • Owners remove the valuable original pickups (e.g., Big Dipper pickups), substitute cheaper sets, and buyers get surprised when it’s not as advertised.
  • “We never had a single John Mayer Strat ever come in on trade and actually had the Big Dipper pickups in them.” (23:55)

• Tuners and Headstock Issues:

  • Aftermarket tuners are installed, and original ones reinstalled for resale, sometimes leaving reamed holes and poor fit that leads to tuning instability, cracked finishes, or even splits in headstocks.
  • “If somebody put, you know… yank[ed] the tuners out... they’ve reamed the hole out bigger and that’s a big deal.” (26:48)

• Screw Damage as a Red Flag:
  Check for stripped or chipped screw heads. It’s a strong indicator someone’s opened the guitar up, possibly modifying or swapping parts.

• Swapped Bodies/Necks—‘Franken-strats’:

  • Some mix-and-match bodies and necks (e.g., an American Fender neck on a Squier body) and try to pass it off as a more valuable instrument.
  • Sellers frequently claim, “just selling for a friend,” sometimes to mask their own involvement or knowledge.

B. How To Protect Yourself

• Inspect physical modifications such as tuners, pickguards, screw heads, and fretboard edges.
• Always check internal routes, stamps, and stickers to confirm the authenticity and origin.
• Don’t buy from sellers who avoid questions (“I don’t know anything, selling for a friend”).

Quote Highlight:
“If you don’t do your diligence now, you bought the bad thing from them. Now, good news for them is they're no longer gonna be a victim—but you are.”—Phillip (33:16)

2. Evaluating and Returning Guitars Bought Online

(Starts at ~36:48)

• The Old vs. New Retail Reality

  • “We used to try before we buy. Now we buy before we try.”
  • Online buying often requires returns if a guitar doesn’t meet expectations.

• How Major Retailers Handle Returns

  • Sweetwater and Guitar Center both expect returns as a part of doing business, with Guitar Center often the easiest for walk-in returns.
  • The increase in returns is largely attributed to rising guitar prices making buyers more critical.

• Advice for Shoppers

  • Don’t feel bad about returns if the policy allows it.
  • To support small shops, avoid excessive negotiation if you think you might return the item.

Quote Highlight:
“As much as I like to support mom and pops, I definitely go to Guitar Center or Sweetwater [when unsure]—it’s so effortless.”—Phillip (48:10)

3. Scrutinizing Value: Are Pricey Guitars Worth It?

(Starts at ~1:59:00)

• Public Perception and Scrutiny:
  Expensive, custom-shop guitars are often maligned as overpriced, especially by those who would never buy them.
• Phillip’s Experience:
  Despite owning and reviewing guitars at every price point, no super-expensive guitar (“$4,000+”) has replaced his affection for more affordable favorites (e.g., PRS Mira at $1,200 new).
• “You’re not missing out”:
  Custom-shop options add exclusivity or prestige more than tangible musical benefit for most players.

Quote Highlight:
“If you’re not in the market to buy a really expensive guitar... you’re not missing out.” (2:02:40)

4. Q&A Highlights and Notable Tips

A. Fretboard Edges—Rounding and Sanding

(Starts at 03:30)

• Prefers scraping with a razor blade for precision; avoids sanding/“crushing” techniques due to potential for uneven results and long-term wood “waviness.”
• “Most fretboards that feel nice are just very subtly rounded. Don’t make this harder than it needs to be.” (07:45)

B. Nut Work—Shim vs. Replace?

(2:46:10)

• Shimming a nut is a valid budget fix if you lack nut files and tools; not everyone needs to cut a new nut from scratch.

Memorable Moment:
Recalls meeting with Stumac, who asked why he shims nuts instead of cutting new ones: “Not everyone needs $100 nut files for one job; I’m always looking for how to do the most with the least amount of tools.” (2:50:30)

C. TC Electronic Thrust BQ500 $179 Bass Head—Why No Competition?

(1:02:00)

• TC Electronic’s ultra-low prices, driven by Behringer’s manufacturing scale, scares off smaller competitors like Monoprice, plus limited distribution increases backorders.

D. Sustainiac vs. Digitech Freakout—Best Bang for Buck?

(2:12:23)

• If you want the “sustainiac” effect on a budget, the Digitech Freakout pedal does a great job for most—get one used for ~$200.
• “If you haven’t played a Sustainiac, you wouldn’t notice what you’re missing with a Freakout pedal.”

5. Factory Work and Conditions: Career Progression in Guitar Building

(2:31:00)

• Phillip talks about visiting the Cortek factory and others, discussing pay grades, entry positions, and the drive to move up to “better” jobs (e.g., sanding/buffing is lowest rung).
• Taylor Guitars’ unique employee-ownership structure will be explored in an upcoming factory visit and video.

Notable Quotes and Timestamps

• On Used Guitar Scams:
  “Everyone’s got their go-to thing… and that devalues the guitar.” —Phillip (22:40)
• On the “Selling for a Friend” Excuse:
  “That’s the fastest way someone can play the ‘I didn’t know’ card when you find a Squier body under an American neck.” (34:40)
• On Modern Shopping:
  “We used to try before we buy, now we buy before we try.” (36:47)
• On Gear Returns:
  “Guitar Center is the easiest... just walk it right back in the store.” (48:10)
• On Scrutinizing Expensive Guitars:
  “You are, you’re gonna get run through the ringer—that’s the game you’re in if you build expensive guitars.” (2:00:08)

Memorable Listener Interactions

• Reconnecting With Past Customers:
  Listener notes, “I actually grew up going to Phil’s old store in Chandler and Dobson.” Leads to a story about a former student inviting Phil for a (rare) beer to celebrate a wedding. (Among the lighter, reflective moments of the episode.)

• On Repair Expectations and Negotiation:
  Regarding a listener’s fret sprout issue:
  “You can reach out to Guitar Center and say, ‘hey, look, the fret sprout happened’… Have three solutions ready for them to refuse, not just complaints.” (2:21:23)

Listener Q&A (Selected Highlights)

• How to Detect a Squier Body Under an American Strat Neck:
  • “Look for internal route patterns, pickguard screws, and especially body stamps or stickers. I have videos on this!” (~2:16:58)
• Why Shim a Nut?
  • “Because not everyone needs to spend $100 on nut files for a job they’ll do once or twice.” (2:46:13)

Episode Takeaways

• Vigilance pays: When buying used, learn to spot red flags from physical and technical details.
• Modern buying involves returns: Don’t feel guilty about taking advantage of policies at big-box retailers when buying what you can’t try in person.
• Value is subjective: Expensive gear may offer exclusivity, but it’s not inherently “better” for most players.
• DIY is approachable: Simple fixes and mods can be done with minimal tools if you know the method.

For More

• Second Channel: Check out Know Your Gear 2 for pedal/amp reviews, gear clinic clips, and bonus podcasts.
• Patreon: Free and paid tiers now available, including access to clinic replays and community posts.
• Full video Q&A on fret sprout repairs, nut shimming and more available on the second channel and Patreon.

Closing Quote:
“You’re always trying to do the most with the least. That’s the working musician way.” — Phillip McKnight

(Summary by AI — full context, details, and stories in the episode itself. Timestamps refer to reference moments within the episode’s main discussion.)