Choosing a new guitar can be an exciting and daunting venture all at the same time. Which kind should I get? How do I know if the one I like is any good? How do I know if I am getting the “deal of the century” or if I’m getting “ripped off?” These and other questions cross the mind of many guitar buyers as they search for the perfect guitar for them. Here are some simple tips to keep in mind when on your search to choose the right guitar for you.
1) Analyze your playing style. Look at what style of playing you have been doing or would like to do in the future. This will give you a good idea for what type of guitar you should steer toward. If your goal is to play bluegrass then don’t get too enamored with that red Flying V electric guitar with the flames on it.
2) Do some homework. Take some time to do a little bit of research on which guitars go with the type of music that you want to play. Look at videos, television, or the internet to see what guitars the players in the style you are seeking to learn are playing. Ask your friends or ask questions on a guitar forum on the internet. Get some good information and opinions. Spend some time getting some good information and opinions on which guitars go with that style. Don't get lost in the details just start to formulate some ideas of what guitars you think you might want to look for.
3) Glance into your wallet. Get a rough idea of what you want to spend. In the heat of the moment at the music store when emotions are high and the salesman is salivating and that $6000 guitar is gleaming in your hand is not the time to objectively analyze how much you can afford to spend on a new guitar.
4) Take a trip to the music store. Go down to the local music store, hopefully a big one with a large guitar selection, and spend the afternoon taking guitars off the walls, plugging them in, and playing them. Allow yourself to dream a little bit. Develop some ideas about what guitars you like and don’t like.
5) Pay attention to body shapes, the feel of the neck, & how it sounds. These three issues determine greatly your personal feel for the guitar. Does the guitar feel heavy? Does the neck fit your hand well? Does the size of the guitar feel comfortable against your body or does it seem unwieldy and awkward? If you’re listening to an acoustic, does the sound of the guitar have a clear high-end “sparkle” to the sound? Is the lower register of the guitar sounding full or does it sound “boomy”? If you’re listening to an electric guitar, does the guitar, with no effects, sound great in all of the pickup settings?
6) Keep the salesman at bay for a while. For me, I prefer to just look around for a while and develop some ideas and preferences on my own before I'm ready to get the salesman’s opinion or information. Getting too many details and opinions too early from an aggressive salesman will often times clutter and confuse the issue. Remember, the goal is to walk out the door with the guitar that is right for you not the salesman’s favorite guitar.
7) Be open to your heart, not just your head. For most people, a guitar choice is a personal decision. You and that guitar are potentially going to be in each other’s arms for years to come. While you are at the music store gazing across the wall of guitars, find "your" instrument; find the one that appeals and speaks to you. Don’t negate this personal dimension to your decision. Get all the relevant information you can but don't buy a guitar off of information, buy it because you love it, it sounds great to you, and you feel great playing it.
8) Look around and do some more homework. Don't buy the first guitar that catches your eye. Go to different stores and look online as well. Hone in on the make and model of the guitar that you are leaning towards. Learn about the various models and their differences. Learn the prices other stores or on-line companies are asking for the same or similar instrument. Be an informed shopper. If you find a guitar that you really like and might be worried it will get snatched up before you get back, put a deposit on it and have the store hold it for a day or two.
9) Make Your Decision & Negotiate The Deal. Once you have found the guitar that you want, as you are negotiating the deal, make sure the case is included in the deal. Also, try to get them to include a "set-up" job on the guitar as part of the deal. A “set-up” job will adjust the action of the guitar, the distance between the strings and the fretboard, which can make a huge difference in the playability of the instrument. This will need to get done anyway to make the guitar as playable as it can be and often times, when asked, the store will consider throwing this in in order to “clinch” the deal. Also, ask about add-ons like an extra set of strings, a strap or a tuner.
10) Go home and start practicing. Guitars were made for playing and making music. Use your purchase as a stepping-stone to inspire you to the next level in your playing. A new level of playing awaits you and your new guitar can be the catalyst to practice with renewed energy and make music with a fresh passion.
P.S. As you are walking to the car carrying that new guitar, mentally prepare yourself for that first scratch. It's like when you buy a new car. The first scratch is coming. It's not a matter of "if" but a matter of "when". Don't think of it as damage, think of it as adding character to your instrument. Happy Shopping!
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