Tips On Buying Your Guitar

Now that you have an idea about what types of guitars are available to you.  You are ready to go into the music store and buy your first guitar.  It is exciting to be purchasing your first guitar but keep a few things in mind before heading out to the local music store.

First, be patient.  You do not have to purchase the guitar immediately.  Make a minimum of two visits to the music store.  Also, don’t let the salesman intimidate you.  You are the customer and you are the one in charge.  You should also do some research before you buy your first guitar.  The internet offers a wealth of information about guitars.  If you are armed with knowledge, you can use that knowledge to your advantage.

Also, remember to recruit help if you need it.  If you have a friend or family member that plays the guitar, take them with you to the music store and it can help you choose the guitar that is right for you.   If you don’t have anyone to come with you, ask the employees at the store questions.  Don’t be shy.  You can get a decent deal on a guitar if you have enough discipline. 

If you are a new guitarist, trying out a guitar in the music store may be intimidating.  There may very well be other guitarists in the store who think they need to show off their skills.  They have a need to impress others with their great guitar licks and chords.  This can be intimidating; of course you’d like to be able to show off like this as well.  However, stay focused.  Your goal is to find the best instrument for you for the least amount of money.  

When you enter the store, look around until you find an instrument to your liking. The store employees should give you a sturdy stool.  They should also give you a pick but it is probably best to bring one of your own.  If you are trying out an electric guitar, it should be plugged into an amplifier that is similar to the one you are going to use. 

To hear the sound quality of a guitar, don’t be afraid to strum the strings hard.  Listen to the guitar’s sustain and listen for problems such as buzzing strings.  If you cannot hear the guitar well, ask to be put in another room or to be moved to a part of the store that is quieter.  If you come up against music store owners that frown on you tuning up the guitar or vigorously strumming, politely hand the guitar back to the owner and take your business elsewhere.  It is important to know how a guitar sounds before spending your hard earned money on it. 

You should also keep in mind that when trying out a guitar you don’t need to play something complicated.  Play something you are used to playing.  Concentrate on how the guitar sounds and feels. 

Do not pay attention to the people who may be listening to you.  Play every fret on the neck of the guitar and be sure that you don’t hear any buzzing.  Be sure that if you are playing an electric guitar try various pick-ups and listen for any pick up noise you don’t want. 

Try out many different guitars in the music store.  Ask a lot of questions and take notes on each guitar you try out.  You should jot down the make, model and price of the guitar.  Find out what kind of wood the guitar is made from.  Make a note of anything you like or dislike about each guitar you try.  After trying out a few guitars head home and consider what you discovered that day. 

After you have played a number of guitars and found some that suit your taste.  Research the companies who make the guitar you are considering purchasing.  There are websites available that can help you familiarize yourself with the companies and their instruments. 

The majority of guitar company websites provide specifications for each of their guitars.  You may also find additional information on the guitar you want to buy.  Check the guitar company website for warranty information as well.  The websites will most likely have contact information so you can e-mail or call them with any other questions. 

Of course it goes without saying that a guitar company website will be biased so you will need to discover what other guitarists think of various guitars.  The web has many, many sites that have user reviews of guitars.

When looking at these reviews take note of the amount others have paid for their instruments and seriously look at any criticisms.  You should be careful of those who give their own guitar a perfect ten.  A lot of reviewers will not offer constructive criticism.    

Look in your yellow pages to find music stores near you.  Think about visiting each store and trying the guitars they have for sale.  Call the music stores and inquire to see if they carry the type of guitar you are looking for.  If they do have it in stock, have the store quote you a price. 

Sometimes you may run into a store employee who does not want to give you a quote over the phone.  If you say that you are about to purchase a guitar somewhere else, they will most likely change their mind.  Note any differences in prices when calling music stores. 

If after your initial research you are still not sure of what guitar is right for you, go to FretBoard, an online bulletin board that helps guitarists.  Someone should be able to assist you.