Guitar Buying Tips

Things You Should Consider Before Buying A Guitar

Buying a new guitar, whether acoustic, classical or electric, is an extremely important decision that any professional guitarist or aspiring guitarist has to make at some time or the other in his or her life. To buy a guitar, you have to first know what you are looking for. This could be quite challenging, as there are several different styles, makes, types, models, and colors to choose from. All you have got to do is figure out which is the best guitar for you – not a very easy decision to make!

If you aren’t sure about what it is that you want when buying a guitar, then you could probably end up spending way too much for something that you are not satisfied with. On the other hand, getting yourself a good ‘deal’ might just about make your day.

What kind of music do you want to play?

When learning to play the guitar, the basic skills that are required of you are the same irrespective of the kind of music you are interested in playing. However, when you are out there deciding to buy that guitar, things change. There are some guitars that are more suited for a certain style of music than others. So, choosing your guitar correctly will keep you from making costly mistakes. What styles of music are you interested in playing – Jazz, Classical, Blues or Rock n Roll? Taking this into consideration, you will be able to decide whether to buy a classical, acoustic or electric guitar.

What level do you belong to – Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced?

If you are a beginner, then it advisable to buy a classical or an electric guitar, as these two types tend to be easier on the fingers. However, players with smaller hands might find the wide neck of the classical guitar harder to play.
For intermediate and advanced players, price and quality, personal choice and musical style are the key factors to consider when buying a guitar.

What is the tonal quality of your guitar?

The tonal quality is the sound made by each individual guitar. When the strings are strummed what sound do you hear? Does it sound soft, deep, dull, bright or tinny? A good guitar should be able to resonate clearly.

How is the action of your guitar?

The action is how high or low the strings are strung on the fret board. This greatly affects the playing capacity of the guitar. If the strings are strung too high then it becomes harder to push down and you will find yourself working more than is required to play the guitar. On the other hand, if the strings are strung too low, than they will probably interfere with the frets and this may cause a peculiar buzzing sound. So, it is very important to check each fret before buying a particular guitar.

Is the neck of the guitar straight?

For the intonation to be consistent, the neck of the guitar should always be straight. This would mean that when a certain chord or note is played are specific points on the neck, it will always remaining tune. If the chord or note sounds out of tune, then it is probably because the neck is crooked. So, always check to see if the neck of the guitar is straight.

How much are you willing to pay for your guitar?

If you are a beginner, then there really is no need for you to spend a lot of money on your guitar. Before you get started, you should know what your budget is. For instance, if you only have $200 to spare, then there is no point in wasting time looking at the more expensive guitars. There is always time for you to upgrade later.

Now that you have considered these issues, it’s time to get started! If you aren’t very knowledgeable about guitars and how to go about buying them, here are a few tips to help you make the best choice.

Tips For Buying that New Guitar

These few tips on how to buy the perfect guitar are to help make your buying experience frustration-free, easy and a lot more fun. These tips will help you make a better decision when it comes to buying a guitar and will help you save up on a lot of time as well as money. Yes, it is very easy for all of us to become excited at the very thought of owning a new guitar. However, this excitability can lead to compulsive decision-making that may make us feel disappointed and regretful in the future.

Beginners

If you happen to be a beginner, make sure you take advantage of the package deals that are available in the market. This will help you save up on a lot of money. Package deals generally provide guitars with a few extras like a shoulder strap, case, picks, tuner, and so on. For instance, the Yamaha GMDLX acoustic guitar package is a brilliant package that provides all sorts of features and accessories. It includes a gig bag, a solid spruce top guitar, a digital tuner, strap, DVD guitar lessons, picks and strings – all this at extremely affordable prices! The Ibanez IJS20 Jumpstart electric guitar package comes replete with a GAX guitar, a guitar stand, GTP10 10-Watt guitar amp, an electronic tuner, picks, padded gig bag, guitar strap and guitar cable.

Your Hand Size

People with smaller hands should go for 1/2 or 3/4 size guitars. Also, nylon-stringed guitars and electric guitars are easier on the fingers, making them the best choice for you.

Who To Buy From

Buy guitars from established companies with good reputations for excellent service and quality merchandise. Some well-known brands are Yamaha, Ovation, Ibanez, Fender, Gibson, Martin and Taylor. Yamaha guitars are considered to be the best for beginners since they are always well made and they have a wide selection of models to choose from. Once you reach the intermediate or advanced level, you can upgrade to another guitar if required.

Second Hand Guitars

People generally sell their guitars second hand at local music stores, so you’ll probably get a good deal. Ask you local music storeowner if he or she is planning on holding a promotional ales campaign. Some storeowners will even put your name up on a mailing list to keep you informed of any upcoming special offers and discounts that they might have in the future.

Go through college campus bulletin boards and newspapers or even through the classified ads. You’ll probably find some of the greatest dealers here. Other great sources are college magazines, the Internet, music stores, etc. at college, most students are generally in need of some extra money to pay for expensive books or tuition, so they end up selling their instruments to get this money. Take advantage of these opportunities and always be on the look out for an interesting offer.

Buying Guitars Online

Buying a guitar on the Internet can be another amazing way to save time and money, but always make sure you are buying a reputed brand and find out what the company’s return policy is like. Some company’s have a 30 day return policy, giving you just enough time to make sure the guitar is perfectly alright, while some company’s give less time than that. Browsing through the Internet will give you some of the best deals ever, as there are hundreds and hundreds of online sites that cater to servicing their clients. Company’s also offer money back guarantees and free shipping services, so if at all you find that there is something wrong with your guitar, you can always return it for another model.

Follow these tips before you go guitar shopping and you’ll probably save up on a lot of time and a lot of money! What’s more, you’ll also end up with the guitar of your dreams!