How to Buy A Guitar

There are thousands of designs out there, which one will help you learn best?

Whether you're buying new or used, online or from a store, make sure you know these two factors before you buy.

Test the Sound

I highly recommend at least going into a store that sells guitars and asking a store clerk to test the sound of a few different types of wood. That way, even if you end up buying online, you know from what type of wood you want your guitar made.

Test the Size

Take the guitar and place the bottom of the guitar on the ground. Make sure the guitar comes up to or a little above your waist. Then make sure your hand is able to wrap around the neck of the guitar and your thumb and third finger are able to touch. Watch my video to see how it's done.

Buying New:

Whether online or from a store, the most important two factors to consider are: size and sound. You normally won't need to worry about wear-and-tear or poor manufacturing when buying new from a store.

Obviously, if you're buying online, you can't test the sound of the guitar you may want to buy, nor can you test the height of the guitar from floor to waist.

Buying Used:

Ebay? Craigslist? Yard Sale? There are plenty of well-loved guitars out there that are well worth the deal. If you're just starting out, if you're not quite sure how quickly you'll progress, or if you're not sure how long you might be playing guitar, a less expensive option is a smart route to take.

I always recommend, whether you want electric, bass, acoustic, or classical, go into a real guitar store, and have a clerk give you a quick sample of the sound. You want to make sure that what you're buying is what you expect.

Imperfections to Look Out For:

1. Check the neck: look along the neck to ensure there is no bowing. If it's straight, holding the guitar up to your neck and looking down from the base to the head, you will see the top. If it's bowed up or down or somewhere in the middle, you should be able to catch that from this angle.
2. Inspect the bridge: the bridge is where all the strings are bolted down at the bottom. No part of the bridge should be buckled or bowed. If it is, pass it up and don't look back.
3. Hold the frets: hold down all strings along the second and the twelfth frets. Make sure each fret in between is touched by all strings.