How Do I Buy A Guitar?

by Paul Mowbray

Rehearse two or three short pieces that you know (or simple patterns in you’re a novice). Vary styles:  fingerpicking, strumming, and soloing.  Play these on the guitars that you try out and use them to compare the guitars – keep as much as you can the same to hear the different voices of the instrument.

Take a friend along and have them play the same tune on different guitars. Or have the sales person play for you.  You stand out front and listen.

Different rooms have different acoustics. Take this into account in assessing the sound.  In a loud and noisy room it may be difficult to tell the difference.

Consider what the important qualities you are looking for are and jot them down. You should probably include; sound description, neck characteristics, aesthetics, electronics or not, reputation of builder, and other such things.

Consider your price range and ask people who know guitars if you are being realistic, and what trade offs you may have to make.

If there is a guitar you know of that you really like, note it's playing characteristics, it's neck dimensions and shape, how big the body is, etc., and if possible bring it along as a reference.

Pay attention to set up. Of course any guitar that is not damaged goods can be set up and adjusted for string height and intonation, but always question the guitar that is not set up well. How will you know about its playability if it is way out of whack?

There should be no pronounced buzzing of the strings against the frets when you play any note in a normal fashion. If you do not yet play, get someone else to demonstrate.

Look down the neck from the bridge end. You should see a slight dip in the neck, which is desirable, or at least a fairly straight neck. No frets standing up much higher than the others. Definitely no hump or back bow. Say hmmm in a serious way. This may impress the sales person. Practice this at home first to increase credibility.

Solid top acoustics are much more desirable. Make sure that you hear or see the words, "solid spruce top", or cedar, or whatever wood, if you want a solid top.

Try to predict how and when you will be using the guitar. Soft fingerpicking will be heard nicely alone at home, better have good electronics and amplified sound if you want to be heard through a live mix with a band. Buy a guitar that does the job you want it to do!

Try guitars of all sizes, from a parlour guitar to a jumbo. You want to feel comfortable. If you're going to be standing up performing, check that out.

Electric guitars can have a lot features. Do your research. Definitely know what style you will be playing. A Floyd Rose whammy system is only desirable to a driving whammy player; a fat box electric can be hell in a punk band.

Ultimately you are looking for a guitar that inspires you to play (this is true for beginners too). You want to that you can't put down because everything you play sounds good. Don't settle for less, budget considered of course. If you are a total beginner you are probably looking for a good deal on a reputable brand from a reputable store owner who stands behind his/her products. Buy a more expensive specialized guitar when you are a player. But always buy a playable guitar. Bad guitars cause great pain, then they break and sit around in basements looking like they have some value, which they don't.

Be kind. Life can be good and music is one of the best parts.

©paul mowbray, 2007