A practical checklist for buying a used electric guitar

A used guitar can be excellent value, but cosmetic condition tells you very little about whether it will be enjoyable to own. Before paying, I check the neck relief, fret wear, truss-rod movement, tuning stability, electronics, bridge hardware and whether the instrument has suffered a poor repair.

I also play every note on every string, both clean and with enough gain to reveal rattles or noisy electronics. A slightly scratchy pot is inexpensive; a twisted neck, lifting bridge or badly worn frets can change the value completely. If buying online, I ask for close photographs of the fret ends, nut, neck joint and bridge, plus a short video showing the controls working.

What is on your non-negotiable inspection list, and which faults are reasonable bargaining points rather than reasons to walk away?