What photos never tell you
This page supports the guide How to buy a used guitar without getting burned.
Photos are useful, but they are one of the most misleading parts of buying a used guitar. Even honest sellers often rely on photos to describe things that photos simply cannot show.
This is where many bad purchases happen. The guitar looks fine, the price seems fair, and the listing feels detailed. The problem is that many of the most expensive issues only appear under string tension, during adjustment, or while actually playing the instrument.
Why photos create false confidence
Photos show surfaces. Guitars are systems.
A guitar can photograph beautifully and still have serious problems that affect playability, tuning stability, and long-term reliability. Most sellers are not hiding these issues. They simply do not know how to detect them.
If you rely on photos alone, you are relying on appearance instead of function.
Neck problems photos cannot reveal
Photos cannot show:
Whether the truss rod works or is frozen
How much adjustment is left before the rod bottoms out
Uneven relief under string tension
Subtle neck twist from bass side to treble side
Neck movement that only appears when tuned to pitch
A straight-looking neck in photos does not mean a healthy neck.
Fret wear that hides in plain sight
Photos rarely show the depth of fret wear accurately.
What photos miss:
How deep grooves actually are
Whether fret crowns still have usable height
Uneven fret wear across strings
High or low frets that cause isolated buzzing
Choking during bends higher up the neck
Reflections and lighting can hide wear completely, especially on nickel-silver frets.
Tremolo and bridge wear you cannot see
This is especially critical on guitars with tremolos.
Photos do not show:
Worn knife edges on locking tremolos
Ovaled pivot posts
Saddles that no longer hold intonation screws firmly
Tremolo studs pulling forward under tension
Micro cracks around bridge posts
A tremolo can look clean and still refuse to return to pitch.
Electronics issues photos never capture
Photos cannot tell you whether electronics are stable.
Photos do not show:
Intermittent signal loss
Pots that cut out at certain positions
Pickup selector switches that fail under vibration
Cold solder joints
Poor-quality wiring repairs
“Looks original” does not mean “works correctly.”
Structural issues that only show under stress
Some cracks and failures only appear when the guitar is tuned and played.
Photos cannot show:
Hairline cracks that open under tension
Neck pocket movement on bolt-on guitars
Repaired cracks that were not reinforced correctly
Soft wood from moisture exposure
Separation at glue joints under load
These issues often reveal themselves only after the guitar has been in your hands for a few days.
Why more photos usually do not help
Asking for more photos often creates a false sense of diligence.
More photos still cannot show:
How the guitar feels
How it responds to adjustment
Whether it stays in tune
Whether it plays cleanly across the neck
At some point, better questions matter more than better images.
What to do instead of trusting photos
If you cannot inspect the guitar in person, focus on information photos cannot provide.
Ask about:
Truss rod function
Neck condition under string tension
Fret wear and prior fret work
Tuning stability during real playing
Any issues that affect playability right now
Clear answers beat perfect photos every time.
When photos are useful
Photos are best used to confirm:
Overall condition
Obvious damage
Completeness of parts
Cosmetic wear
Originality clues
They should support your decision, not make it for you.
Where to go next
Used guitar inspection checklist
Red flags and deal breakers
Questions to ask any seller
When a setup claim is meaningless
If you are evaluating a tremolo-equipped guitar, read the Floyd Rose buyer guide before buying.