I'm wondering if guitars (and probably other instruments too) are getting older/worse while in shops and what are the consequences for the buyer?
If it matters I'm talking about an electric guitar.
For example: I want to buy a guitar model that I know was released by producer 10 years ago and it's still available in shops. Should I worry about when it was really produced? It could lay down somewhere in a shop for some years, even in a box, but still I would buy not a brand new guitar.
Is there a way to check the production date? I know that the top models have their serial numbers but I mean some cheaper ones.
I'm from a small town, so the best option for me to buy the model I want is to buy online - therefore I won't be able to play it to test it.