How does the charity part of the business work?

A portion of the proceeds from donated instruments and equipment go to offering free lessons. We are not an official not-for-profit! You cannot deduct donations from your taxes. It's too expensive right now to become one. If you're a lawyer and want to help Orphan become one pro bono, well, heck, gimme a call.

Does Orphan Guitars do consignment?

On certain items. We keep 33% of the sale price plus whatever it costs us to repair it to selling standards. Email for full details.

What are your return policies?

All used guitars and amps and effects pedals are sold "as is".

To be eligible for a return, your item must be in the same condition that you received it, unworn or unused, with tags, and in its original packaging. You’ll also need the receipt or proof of purchase.

Used guitars and amps may be returned for store credit only within 7 days of purchase. They must be in the same condition as when you bought them.

BE ADVISED! Amps and pedals will be in working order when you leave with them or you will have been informed of its existing maladies. After that you are subject to the terrifying will and whims of the Amp Gods–and they are notorious pricks.

Any new guitars are warranted by the manufacturers. Each manufacturer specifies the warranty for their guitars. While we are not warranty service providers, we can help facilitate smaller repairs or replacements from the makers as necessary. 

We offer a 7 day "no questions asked" return. As long as the guitar isn’t damaged, we will offer a full refund. Full store credit is available within 21 days of purchase. 

Effects or accessories (cables, unused strings, capos, etc.) can be returned for refund or exchanged within 7 days of purchase date.

As of 2/16/24

What is a "lawsuit" guitar?

Let me tell you! Because for a couple decades in the '70s and '80s, Some Japanese companies were copying American guitars and making them as good or better and way cheaper than the USA, Gibson and Fender, etc got super pissed and eventually sued the crap out of the Japanese until the Japanese just changed the shape of the headstocks a little and kept on making awesome cheaper guitars. So the pre-lawsuit guitars that are exact copies are often referred to as "lawsuit" guitars. They are the best thing in the world. An amazing guitar for half the price. 

Does Orphan Guitars buy and/or trade guitars, amps, or effects pedals?

Yup. It's not guaranteed your stuff will be what we need right at the moment, but it works out quite often.

Do you change strings?

Yup. $20. Or I'll teach you how to do it for $20. Teach a man to fish and all that.

How long do guitar repairs normally take?

A basic set-up is normally up to 10 business days or so, depending on volume. This is a very quick turnaround time, btw. Other more complicated repairs vary. If parts need to be ordered, then it's determined by when we get said parts. In Covid times, allowances must be made for slower delivery of parts and the occasional Covid scare among the guitar techs that may delay things. Any time frame quoted to you by Orphan Guitars is not a guarantee.

 

Is there a guarantee on repairs?

If work done on a guitar, amp or electronics fails within 90 days of repair being picked up by owner, we will fix it again at no charge, UNLESS a part or electronic component purchased from a third party fails. We'll have to charge you to fix that. Occasionally, you may be informed that a repair being made is a bit of a band-aid and can not be guaranteed. Such repairs will only be done after client approval. In these cases, we will not repair them again for free if they fail within 30 days.

We're real cool about this stuff, but used and vintage guitars are fickle creatures, so you be cool, too. Then everything will be cool. 

Do I need an appointment to bring in repairs or donations?

Nope.

What kind of donations do you accept?

We will gratefully accept almost any guitar, banjo, ukelele, or mandolin. If an instrument is too costly or complicated to repair, we will just strip it for parts. We'll tell you what we're going to do with it, so it'll be up to you whether to leave it or not. We also happily accept guitar parts, hardware and electronics.

Same goes for amps. Effects pedals, however, we may not know they're too far gone till after you've donated. So, sorry if they end up in the scrap heap. You're still a rad citizen.