How to tell if a used guitar has neck or fret issues (what a shop looks for)

Start here: the fastest way to tell is a quick play and a straight-edge check — if buzzing, dead frets, or a visible bow show up, the neck or frets need work. These problems affect playability and how a shop values the instrument.

Quick answer: what to test first

Answer up front: play every string across the neck and check a straight line along the frets. If notes buzz or choke out, frets are uneven, or the neck has a visible bow or twist, it flags a repair or lower offer.

Step-by-step checks you can do at home

Before you bring a guitar to the shop, run this short checklist so you can describe issues accurately and avoid surprises:

• Sight down the neck from the headstock toward the body to spot a forward or back bow.

• Press each string at several frets while plucking behind your finger to check for buzzing or dead spots.

• Run a straightedge or a long metal ruler across several frets to spot high or low frets and gaps.

• Check relief by holding the string at the first and last fret and observing gap at the middle frets.

• Look for sharp fret ends or dents along the fretboard edge that indicate past neck work or heavy wear.

• Tune the guitar and play chords up the neck to judge whether intonation drifts badly.

Do these in good light and with the guitar tuned; a poorly tuned instrument can hide or exaggerate problems.

What a shop checks when you bring it in

At the counter, the shop will repeat your quick tests but also inspect how repairable the issue is and how fast it will resell. Expect the shop to:

• Confirm structural issues: severe warp, loose neck joints, or truss rod failure cut resale options.

• Assess fret condition: worn crowns, deep grooves, or uneven fret heights can require fret dressing, refret, or partial work.

• Consider electronics and setup: a guitar that needs a complete setup plus neck/fret work lowers net offer.

The shop also thinks about how quickly the instrument will sell locally — a well-known brand with light fret wear moves faster than an obscure model needing a refret.

Why each problem changes the offer

Neck and fret issues fall into two buckets: quick fixes and heavyweight jobs. Quick fixes (truss rod adjustment, minor fret dressing) are cheap and fast, so the reduction from ideal value is modest. Heavyweight jobs (refret, neck reset, twisted neck) are time-consuming and costly; the shop discounts more to cover parts, labor, and resale risk.

Other factors that change the offer:

• Brand and model reputation: familiar, collectible models keep value even with some wear; cheap or unknown brands lose more.

• Cosmetic condition: playable but beaten-looking guitars sell slower, so offers drop further.

• Market demand: if similar instruments are selling fast in Vancouver, the shop may be willing to take on a repairable guitar at a higher price.

Signs that point to specific repairs (quick reference)

Fret wear that shows deep grooves at the string positions usually means partial or full refret. A smooth but slightly low fret here and there is often dressed during a setup. A visible forward bow or a neck that won't straighten with truss rod turns signals a structural issue; that may require a reset or neck replacement.

Two brief physical notes: frets that have thin, shiny grooves at the string contact points are worn; a neck with a visible curve when sighted down the fingerboard indicates relief or warp. Keep these descriptions short when talking to the shop — they'll confirm with tools.

How to present the guitar so you get a fair assessment

Be honest and bring basic info: make, model, any recent repairs, and how it plays for you. Demonstrating the problem (point out which frets buzz, where notes die) helps the shop diagnose without needing immediate teardown. If you already had a setup or refret quote, mention it — that moves the conversation from guesswork to numbers.

Avoid getting too technical; focus on playability. If the guitar plays clean in the first five frets but buzzes higher up, say so. If the truss rod is stuck or turns with no effect, describe that as well.

Key takeaway

• Do simple at-home checks: sight the neck, use a straightedge, and play every string across the fretboard.

• Small setup issues lower offers a little; structural neck or major fret work lowers offers much more.

• Be clear about symptoms and any prior repair history so the shop can price accurately.

• A known brand in decent cosmetic shape will usually sell faster even with minor neck or fret issues.