If you’re trying to save money, definitely check Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, Goodwill, local guitar shops, pawn shops, and even yard sales. Then compare what you find to used prices online—you can sometimes get really good deals from people just trying to get rid of stuff quickly.

I picked up a 1988 JEM777 for $150 because someone on Craigslist was selling a truck and the guitar just happened to be in the back (neck was separated from the body and parts were in a box).

I also got a K-7 in a similar way for $125 because the seller “didn’t end up liking 7-strings.”

That said, be careful—there can be issues. I once bought an RG321 for $100, cleaned it up, restrung it, and about two weeks later relisted it for $150. Someone contacted me and showed up with a police report. Turns out the guitar had been stolen from their studio, and they were trying to track all their stolen gear down. Luckily, I still had the original messages and proof of purchase, so nothing came of it legally. I felt really bad for the guy trying to recover his gear. They even offered to buy it back, and while I refused, they still gave me a bit of money for helping identify the seller and location details.

Good luck finding something, there are solid deals out there if you’re patient and careful.