Amateur guitarists can feel confused while buying a guitar. In fact, even those who know the instrument well become apprehensive and selective while choosing the same. Not just a guitar, any musical instrument should be bought with utmost care, as even a minor snag or glitch can affect its performance. Since guitar comes in a variety of types, choosing the one that suits your purpose becomes another challenge. In case you are baffled with all these considerations and want some help on how to buy a guitar, read the article and find some valuable tips in this regard.
Choosing A Guitar
- The first thing to consider before you buy a guitar is the type of guitar you want to go for. You have many options to choose from, such as a steel-stringed acoustic guitar for folk and blues, a nylon-stringed acoustic for classical music, or an electric or electric bass guitar for old rock and roll, among others.
- If possible, talk to fellow musicians and know the type of guitar they use and take an opinion on the type of guitar that will suit your purpose. You can also seek the opinion of a guitar teacher, if you like.
- Research on all the brands of guitar, with the help of price guides, guitar magazines and the internet. There are some guitar models that appreciate in value as they age. It will do good to buy them.
- You can also consider buying a second hand model, rather than a brand new one. However, you need to know your stuff really well to get a good bargain, in this case.
- When you buy a guitar, do look for a straight neck, a well-balanced body and frets that are smooth and flush. You can strap on the guitar and hold it in the playing position to make sure that it’s well balanced, not too heavy and comfortably fitting around the neck.
- Play the guitar to see whether the tuning keys operate smoothly, as also to test the sound quality of each string. See if you like the sound and can easily press down the strings. Any buzzing or clicking is an indicator of problems with the guitar.
- In case you are going for an electric guitar, plug it into an amp and play. Listen carefully for any cracking or humming. Also check the controls of the guitar. Bad cord can lead to humming, which can be replaced with a new one.
- Before you decide on the model that you buy, it is advisable to try on several models to see which one suits you the best. Also, make sure that the price of guitar includes the guitar case as well.
- Since the retail price of the guitar is always negotiable, you can try to get a good bargain. Check out if the guitar stores are offering any discounts or accessories and decide accordingly.