Buying A Guitar

Buying a guitar can be an intimidating experience, particularly if you aren’t yet a proficient player. How can you choose the right instrument if you can’t even play it? But, the fact of the matter is there are some practical techniques you can use in selecting and buying an affordable instrument.
This chapter outlines some basic buying strategies that will work for you. These include pre-shopping tips: distinguishing among different types of guitars (drawing on the information from Chapter 2), fitting an instrument to your body type (and style of music), a brief over-view of the common guitar brands, and whether to buy from a local music shop or by mail order.
Even if you could afford to own Eric Clapton’s Stratocaster—and generally speaking you should buy the best guitar you can afford—you may have to be practical. This means buying a guitar . . . that won’t empty your savings account. This chapter shows you how.
Before Shopping
As with all major purchases, it is important to do as much research as possible beforehand. Sources of information will be other players, teachers (local colleges may have a guitar program), and for those with access to the Internet a host of manufacturers’ advertisements.
There are also guitar newsgroups on the Internet, which offer the opportunity to read the experiences of others and to ask for opinions.
Remember from Chapter 2 that there are several types of guitars made to play different styles of music. Before shopping, listen to different players and determine what kind of instrument you would like to play. While you may be able to learn on any instrument, it is better to select one that closely approximates the style you want to learn.
How Much to Spend
It may be wiser to borrow or rent an instrument for the first few months, until you deter-mine your level of commitment to playing. On the other hand, an old, battered, poorly constructed instrument may be so difficult to play that you’ll be discouraged from learning. It’s a good rule of thumb to purchase the most guitar you can afford. Generally, guitars hold their resale value—some in fact grow in value over the years. Buying a very cheap guitar may be self-defeating, because it may not suit your playing style or be so poorly made that it is difficult to play.
Acoustic vs. Electric
Many young players start out on an acoustic instrument because they can’t afford a good-quality electric instrument and amplifier—or their parents can’t stand the noise made by a beginning electric guitarist! Learning on an acoustic instrument will probably be a good experience for most players, even those who only aspire to playing speed-metal. But remem-ber that the two instruments are quite different, and that you’ll need to master a new set of techniques once you start playing an electric.
New vs. Used
A good used guitar can be an excellent value. Many people buy instruments and then discover that they simply lack the time or capability to play them. You can sometimes pick up a real bargain by scanning the local want-ads.
Here’s a checklist for evaluating a used guitar:
1.Make sure the tuning machines all work and turn easily.
2.Check the body for cracks. Any crack, no matter how small, is a bad sign. 3.Check the neck for warping. Press a string down at each end of the fingerboard. It should touch all the frets.
4.Try playing a few notes and chords; see if the guitar responds easily. 5.Ask the owner if he/she is the original owner. Determine if the instrument has ever been repaired.
Shopping Tips
Once you determine what kind of guitar you want to buy, the next thing you need to do is determine how much guitar you can afford.
Many guitars are made in the Far East today, and there’s nothing wrong with their crafts-manship. New American-made guitars tend to be more expensive, so most beginners are going to end up with an imported one. Luckily, the Asian makers make reasonably good guitars in all the popular styles, but obviously if your main interest is the classical/Spanish style, you should look for Spanish imports as well.

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