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Although buying a guitar may seem like a simple task, all of the necessary options and decisions can quickly get you in over your head if you're not prepared. Luckily, with a little process of elimination beforehand, your guitar buying experience can be much more manageable. This page will guide you through everything you need to consider when learning How to Buy a Guitar.
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Introduction: How to Buy a Guitar
- Whether you're buying your very first guitar or looking to add a new one to your collection, a lot should be taken into consideration when purchasing an instrument. Because it can be a considerable investment that can end up as a rewarding hobby or even an eventual career, it's good to be sure you are buying the perfect guitar for you. This article will walk you through the steps you should take when you've decided to buy a guitar.
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Step 1: How to Speak Guitar
- If you are new to the world of guitar, there are a lot of terms that you may be unfamiliar with. For those who have some experience with "guitar talk," you can skip to Step 2. For the rest of you, here are some things that you may hear in this article and during the process of buying:
- Amp/Amplifier - A separate electronic device used with electric guitars and acoustic/electric guitars to amplify the sound
- Axe - Slang term for a guitar
- Back - Describes the wood piece in the back of an acoustic guitar body, closest to your body while playing
- Binding - A plastic strip that outlines the guitar body, purely for aesthetics
- Body - The large part of the guitar in which most of the resonance is made
- Bridge - Where the strings are anchored to the body of the guitar
- Electronics - The wires and electrical components inside electrics and acoustic/electrics
- Fretboard - the front surface of the neck which you place your fingers on when playing
- Frets - The metal strips that go across the fretboard
- Head/Headstock - The part of the guitar at the end of the neck containing the tuning pegs
- Inlay - The shapes or designs carved into the fretboard, often made of abalone and in the shape of dots or rectangles
- Machine Heads - Same as "Tuning Pegs"
- Neck - The long, thin part of the guitar
- Nut - The plastic or graphite strip between the head and the neck with grooves in which the strings lie
- Pickguard - The plastic plate often found on guitar bodies to protect the finish from scratches made by the guitar pick
- Pickup - The part of the guitar that "picks up" the vibration of the string and transforms it into an electric signal to send to an amplifier (some acoustics have pickups, too)
- Pickup Selector - The switch that allows the player to choose which pickups to use while playing
- Sides - Describes the curved and contoured wood piece of an acoustic guitar body which connects the top and back
- Sound Hole - The hole in the top of hollow guitar bodies
- Strap Button - The small protrusions from the body on which a guitar strap is attached
- Top - Describes the top wood piece of an acoustic guitar body containing the bridge and soundhole
- Tuner - An electronic device used to aid in the process of tuning the guitar
- Tuning Pegs - The knobs on the head of the guitar used to tune the strings
- Whammy Bar - A metal bar attached to the bridge which manipulates the pitch of the string when pushed or pulled
Step 2: Choose a Guitar Type
- Before you start looking for a guitar, you first need to decide what type of guitar you want. Musical styles, budget, and convenience can all factor into this decision.
Electric
Electric guitars are used for just about every style of music, including rock, punk, pop, blues, alternative, country, R&B, jazz, etc. They use steel strings like acoustic guitars, but usually of a much lighter gauge (thickness) so they are generally easier on your fingers. Electrics tend to have more options for those on a tight budget. However, keep in mind that if you buy an electric you will also have to buy an amplifier which can add to the cost considerably. High-end amplifiers can cost thousands of dollars, but a small beginner's amp can usually be found for around $150-250.
- Electric guitars are extremely versatile and can easily fulfill your need to crank the volume to 11 and act like a rock star! They also come in many different shapes, styles and looks to fit any personality.
- PROS
- Usually easier to play
- Extremely versatile, used for any style
- Many budget options
- Easy to maintain
- Countless different looks
- Play with a pick or fingerstyle
- CONS
- Requires amplification
- Amps add to cost
- This also makes them less portable
- POPULAR ELECTRIC GUITARS
- FAMOUS ELECTRIC GUITAR PLAYERS
Acoustic
Acoustic steel-string guitars are also a very popular choice for beginners and seasoned vets alike. Although you don't need to buy an amp if you get an acoustic, they generally run higher in price because of the craftsmanship that goes into building one. Many high-end acoustics sell for $1,000 - $5,000, but there are some much cheaper options around the $200-300 range as well. Acoustic guitars are usually a bit tougher on your fingers because of the heavier strings, but if you get used to them the transition to electric will be smooth and easy should you choose to switch. They are optimal for both finger-style play and strumming with a pick, plus many have the option of plugging in to an amp if you're looking for a bit more power (these are called "acoustic/electrics").
- Acoustics are great for singer-songwriters and people who like to start up party sing-alongs. They are very commonly used in rock, pop, country, and folk music. They tend to be more delicate than electrics and require more care and maintenence.
- PROS
- Play anywhere
- No amplification required
- Great for social gatherings
- Good for many styles of music
- CONS
- Requires more care and maintenance than electrics
- Higher end models are expensive
- Harder on fingers than electric
- POPULAR ACOUSTIC GUITARS
- FAMOUS ACOUSTIC GUITAR PLAYERS
Classical
Classical guitars are similar to the acoustics we already discussed, only they are equipped with nylon strings instead of steel. Nylon strings are thicker, rounder, and softer on the fingers. Classical guitar fretboards are wide and flat and they are used almost exclusively for classical and flamenco guitar styles. They are made for finger style play as opposed to using a pick, and their price range falls in roughly the same area as their steel-string counterparts. Classical guitars have a full and beautiful sound, but because of their limited stylistic range, most people tend to start out with a traditional steel-string acoustic or an electric guitar unless they are specifically interested in classical or flamenco music.
- PROS
- Nylon strings are easiest on fingers
- Beautiful and unique tone
- Excellent for classical or flamenco styles
- CONS
- Limited stylistic range
- Wide fretboard can be tough on smaller hands
- Requires more care and maintenance than electrics
- POPULAR CLASSICAL GUITARS
- FAMOUS CLASSICAL GUITAR PLAYERS
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Step 3: Choosing Your Price Range
- There are guitars available for all different kinds of budgets. Guitar prices can range anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars. Although many things can factor into the price of a guitar, it is mainly affected by the quality of wood and parts it is made out of, as well as the level of craftsmanship that went into building it.
How much you can expect to pay
- Affordable Guitars: On the budget end of the spectrum, you should expect to pay around $150-$500. There are plenty of great beginner guitars to choose from in this price range, such as the Fender Standard Stratocaster. You may find some guitars for under $150, but if you can afford it, a few extra dollars can go a long way to ensure the level of quality of your instrument.
- Mid-Level Guitars: This price range for guitars is usually in the ballpark of $500-$1000. You can get some very nice instruments in this price range that will reward you with years of quality. The Fender American Stratocaster (a higher-quality version of the Mexican-made "Standard Strat") is an excellent mid-priced guitar. Mid-level acoustics, such as the Martin D-15, often run up to about $1,200.
- High-end Guitars: There are also many higher-end guitars for over $1,000. Gibson Les Pauls usually run around $1,000 - $2,000. Paul Reed Smith guitars are expertly crafted and usually fall into the $1,500 - $2,000 range. High-end acoustic guitars are commonly over $2,000.
- Examples: Paul Reed Smith Custom 22, Gibson Les Paul, Taylor 714
Craftsmanship
- Craftsmanship involves the care and effort put into the construction of a guitar. The more attention that is paid to this process, the longer the guitar will last and the better it will sound. Here are a few things to know about how it will affect the price.
- A guitar that has been mostly or entirely hand-crafted will always be more expensive than one that has been made exclusively with factory machines. You're paying extra for the time and labor that goes into ensuring the highest quality instrument possible. All kinds of instruments can benefit from a human touch, although there are many quality machine-made guitars as well.
- An easy way to check the quality of craftsmanship in a guitar is to take a close look at its construction yourself - gaps in the wood, visible glue, sloppy finishes and generally "cheap" looking components can be easy to spot.
- The sound of a guitar has everything to do with its construction. A well-made instrument will just sound better.
- American and Japanese made guitars generally tend to have higher quality craftsmanship than those made in places like Mexico and Korea, although there are always exceptions so use your best judgement.
- A well-made guitar will last longer and feel better to play. Poor craftsmanship can lead to problems in the long term, particularly with wood warping or shoddy electronics and hardware.
- Electric guitars have variations on how the neck is attached to the body.
- Bolt-on necks are the cheapest. This is when the neck is attached to the body using 3 or 4 metal bolts.
- Set necks are when the neck is glued to the guitar body. It is more expensive and comfortable to play, and although many would say this option provides the best tone, some argue that the direct wood-to-wood contact of a bolt-on construction makes for the best sustain and tone.
- Neck-through is when the neck piece actually extends through the entire guitar body. It is the least common and usually the most expensive.
- There are many shapes, sizes, and styles of guitar bodies.
- Electrics can have one of 3 body constructions:
- Solid bodies are made of one or more pieces of solid wood. They are the most common and are useful in any musical situation.
- Hollow Bodies are made of wood pieces that form a hollow inside. They are generally much larger than solid bodies and cost more. Because of their warm tonal qualities and natural sustain, they are often used for jazz.
- Semi-Hollow Bodies have interiors containing a combination of solid wood and hollow cavities. They often share tonal characteristics with hollow bodies but are usually smaller in size.
- Electric guitars can feature bodies with or without "cutaways," or areas where the body meets the neck that are carved out to make it easier to access higher frets with your fingers.
- Acoustic guitar bodies are always completely hollow and have names such as "dreadnought" (the most common guitar shape) and "grand concert." Some acoustics also have cutaways.
- An "archtop" is a guitar top that is contoured rather than flat. This adds to the price.
- For smaller hands, 3/4 size guitars are available.
Don't get overwhelmed
- When it comes to any musical equipment, a good rule of thumb is "what you see is what you get." Some things to remember:
- Usually the more expensive an instrument is, the better made it is and the better it will sound and feel.
- If you are a beginner, your ear may not yet be developed enough to distinguish between the tone of a cheap guitar and an expensive guitar, so it often makes sense to start with a more affordable model and upgrade as you improve as a player.
- Determine your level of commitment. If you're experimenting with a new hobby and unsure of whether or not you will stick with it, play it safe and stick to a less-expensive purchase. If you're fairly certain you are serious about playing music, it may be worth your while to invest a little more in your instrument.
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Popular Guitar Brands and Websites
- Alvarez - Acoustic guitar manufacturer
- BC Rich - Electric guitars, popular among hard rock and metal players
- Brian Moore Guitars - Custom and progressive electrics
- Carvin - Direct-to-customer electric and acoustic guitar sales
- Cordoba - Classical guitars
- Danelectro - A retro electric guitar manufacturer
- Epiphone - Gibson's budget line
- ESP - Electric guitars popular among metal players
- Fender - One of the most famous brands with Stratocasters and Telecasters
- G&L - Started by the founder of Fender
- Gibson - Their Les Paul guitar is one of the most popular of all time
- Godin - Quality Canadian guitar manufacturer
- Gretsch - Best known for their hollow body electrics
- Guild - USA-made electrics and acoustics
- Hamer - Specializes in high-end electrics for pros
- Ibanez - Probably the most popular Japanese brand for electrics and acoustics
- Jackson - Best known for their Randy Rhoads model
- MusicMan - A division of Ernie Ball Strings specializing in high-end electrics
- Martin - Hand-crafted acoustics, one of the most popular brands
- Ovation - Specializing in electric/acoustics
- Parker - Unique and revolutionary electric guitar designs
- Peavey - Known more for their amps, they make Eddie Van Halen's signature guitar
- Paul Reed Smith - Expertly crafted high-end electrics
- Rickenbacker - A classic company known for their 12-string model
- Seagull - Godin's acoustic line
- Squire - Fender's budget line
- Takamine - Acoustic guitars in all price ranges
- Taylor - A very popular acoustic guitar maker with many quality models
- Washburn - Electrics and acoustics in all price ranges
- Yamaha - A multi-faceted company, one of the world's largest instrument makers
Testing the guitar out
Have a store employee tune it for you and explain all of the features of the instrument.
- Ask them questions to determine why this guitar would be a good fit for you such as:
- Does it fit the musical style you would like to play?
- Why does this model cost as much or as little as it does?
- Does it have all the features you would need (e.g., do you need your acoustic to have an output jack to plug it into an amp)?
- Make sure it feels comfortable to you. There are many body styles and sizes for guitars, and an uncomfortable instrument is an easy way to guarantee that you won't play it much.
- Play chords and scales in all areas of the neck. Because certain things can indicate an instrument is poorly made or in need of immediate adjustments, pay attention to some key questions:
- Does it feel good when playing both low and high on the fretboard?
- Does it sound out of tune in certain areas of the neck?
- Do you notice any buzzing sounds or dead notes in particular places?
- Take a close look at the construction and finish of the guitar for any scratches, blemishes, wood gaps, warping, etc.
- When trying an electric guitar, plug into an amp and listen to the clean tones first to really get a feel for how it sounds. Adjust the tone knobs and pickup selection to hear the range of tones it has to offer. Then try adding distortion or other effects.
- If you're trying an electric/acoustic, play both unplugged and through an amp to hear how each option sounds.
Looks matter, too
- Although sound and feel are most important, consider the image of the guitar as well. While some guitars, such as Fender Stratocasters, tend to have a universal look and crossover well into many genres, you may not want to buy a Washburn hollow body if you want to play metal or a Gibson Explorer if you're primarily into jazz.
Step 5: Purchasing Your Guitar
- So now you've finally chosen the perfect guitar. You have two basic choices for buying it: from a store, or online.
Buying Online
- PROS:
- Find almost any guitar model that exists, including rare models that would require a special order from a store
- Shop from the comfort and convenience of your living room
- Buy new from mainstream sites or secondhand from eBay or Craigslist
- Often no charge for sales tax
- CONS:
- No way to play an instrument before you buy
- Shipping costs for buying or returning items can be pricey
- Often don't have the chance to negotiate price.
Buying In-Store
- PROS:
- Play before you buy
- Avoid shipping costs
- You have the option of haggling the price down
- CONS:
- In-store selection will inevitably be slimmer than the endless options of the internet
- Less comfortable environment, must deal with sales associates
- There are many big chain music stores such as Guitar Center and Sam Ash that have multiple locations, big selections, and low prices, but sometimes lack a personal touch due to employees dealing with multiple customers. Mom-and-Pop stores often have more rare pieces and a little more personality than their corporate counterparts, but usually the prices are higher and the overall selection is smaller.
Step 6: Enjoying Your Guitar
Now that you've bought a guitar, there are many things you can do to enjoy it for years to come.
- Learn to play. Try starting with Mahalo's guide to How to Play Guitar for Newbies and dabbling with the many free music lessons that exist online. You may want to take lessons from a teacher or friend in your area for a more hands-on approach.
- Start a band. Get together with some friends to also play instruments - drummers, bassists, fellow guitarists - and start up a band. You will improve your playing and have fun at the same time. Try playing your favorite songs or writing songs of your own.
- Accessorize. There are countless toys and accessories you can get for your guitar. Beyond the tuners and straps we discussed before, there are countless effects pedals that can make your guitar sound cool, such as distortion, chorus, flanger, phaser, delay, etc. Even experimenting with different kinds of string brands and gauges can change your sound.
- Take care of your investment. Change your strings regularly to keep dirt from building up on the fretboard and to keep the guitar sounding great. Don't leave your guitar in direct sunlight or extreme temperatures. Clean dirt and grime off of the guitar and its strings to protect the wood finish. You can buy polish, polishing cloths, and other cleaning accessories at any music store.
- Let the pros do their thing. Every once in a while, bring your guitar to a professional guitar maintenance person, or luthier, to get it set up properly with neck and string action adjustments. Luthiers often can be found in your local music store. If you are particularly interested, learn how to set up a guitar yourself.
