The Guitar Buying Guide

Whether you’re buying your first guitar, or planning of picking up a replacement or an upgrade, the following is a list of some of the things (not necessarily arranged in any order) that anyone looking to purchase a guitar needs to keep in mind:

1. Proficiency: What is your level of guitar-playing proficiency? Are you a complete beginner who’s looking to pick up his or her first axe, or someone who’s learning to play the guitar and looking to move on to something better?

For beginners, for instance, it might be a good idea to start off on an acoustic, since it is a bit harder to play and master than an electric guitar. Once you’ve got the basics right on an acoustic, you will find that that transition to an electric is an easier one.

2. Musical Preferences and Interests: Secondly, you need to know what kind of guitar you want. Broadly speaking, you have the choice between an acoustic or an electric guitar, and the kind or type of guitar that you choose will ultimately come down your musical tastes and preferences.

Different guitars produce different sounds. It all comes down to the kind of music you want to make. For instance if you’re a rock/metal or a blues player, you’ll certainly need to get an electric axe for yourself. Folk guitarists should get nylon or steel-stringed acoustics, while bass players should obviously look into getting a bass guitar for themselves.

3. Location: Furthermore, where you intend on playing will also determine the kind of guitar you get. For instance if you’re a beginner and can see yourself practicing or playing alone in your room, or with a few band mates, get an acoustic.

On the other hands, guitarists looking to join a band, or those of plan on playing live will have to go for an electric guitar (or an acoustic-electric). The sound of an electric guitar can be amplified, which means that they provide two advantages over acoustic guitars: (a) their sound can be manipulated/changed easily, thanks to effects pedals and distortion, and (b) they’re ideal for playing live, such as at large venues, for a gig, or outdoors.

4. Budget and Cost: Another major consideration would be budget. When it comes to money, there are a few important elements that should be considered.

Firstly, never make the mistake of buying cheap, especially if you’re a beginner. I’m not telling you to get a fancy, flashy, super-expensive guitar, however most beginner guitarists looking to buy their first axe usually make the mistake of buying a shoddy $50 instrument to ‘test the waters’, and get a better axe when they get good. Big mistake! As a beginner, make sure you get a decent, branded instrument, such as a Yamaha (acoustic) or an Epiphone (electric).

Cheap guitar are hard to play, often sound terrible, don’t stay in tune, and are hence not fun to play. If there’s anything that will put a beginner off guitar-playing for the rest of his life, it’s playing on a cheap, shoddily-built guitar.

Conversely, a good instrument is a joy to play, stays in tune and will almost always sound terrific (provided it’s in tune). And you probably won’t need to spend too much on it either – excellent acoustic and electric guitars can be had for less than $200-300 easily. Even less if you look in the used/second-hand market.

Electric guitars are usually considered to be more expensive, and while this may be true, it’s a bit of a misnomer as well; electric guitars are expensive because of the additional equipment that needs to be bought with them. This includes an amplifier (amp, for short), cables, effects pedals and the like.

5. Portability: Electric guitars are not only heavier (thanks to on-board electrics), they are also not the most portable instruments out there. This mostly has to do with the fact that they do not produce any sound of their own, and have to be hooked up with amplifiers and effects pedals in order to produce a sound. Which is why you will need to carry extra equipment like a bulky amps and cables, not to mention the extra weight, everywhere you go. And let’s not forget, electric guitars have to be near an electricity source at all times.

Acoustics are quite portable. Yes, they’re bigger in size than electric guitars, however since they produce their own sound and hence do not need to be plugged into an amp, they can be easily carried around and played no matter where you might be, making them extremely portable instruments.

6. Stores vs Buying Online: After you’ve determined the kind of guitar you want to buy and have a fair idea of the amount of money you’ll be willing to spend on one, it is time to determine how you would go about with the actual purchase itself. You have two options here: going to your local music store, or buying online.

Both these options come with their own set of pros and cons. Music stores, for instance, might be far away from your location, however they’re usually the way to go for beginner musicians. Because being able to see, play and test a couple of guitars out in person is usually the best way to buy a guitar, especially if it’s your first one. And the only way to do that is by going to a guitar store. Make sure that you take your own pick with you, and take your time in the store by checking a bunch of guitars and playing something that you’re familiar with. Get the guitar that feels and sounds the best of the lot.

Folks who have a fair bit of an idea about what they want to get, have done their research and/or have their mind set on a particular axe might be better off buying online. Online merchants such as eBay, or specialty instruments stores such as Guitar Center usually have a big inventory or new and used guitars. You can find some really good guitars here, such as signature or limited-edition models that are not available in stores. Above all, your guitar will be delivered to your doorstep, which will save you time and gas.

Pro tip: Go to your local guitar store to check a bunch of guitar, but don’t buy one there. Check online for the same models for better deals (you’ll almost certainly find better deals online), and buy online instead.

7. Guitar Body Types, Necks and Strings: I recommend going to this eBay link to learn more about different characteristics of acoustic and electric guitars. It explains in detail, the various elements of acoustic and electric guitars, including body types, neck types, string types, etc.