If you are planning to buy a guitar, you've got lots of things to think about. There are many factors that you should consider as you make your selection if you want to get the best possible instrument for your money.
A guitar is a major investment. For most musicians, it's much more than a monetary investment, it's an emotional investment as well. All serious musicians who love their music will tell you that they love their instruments. During a purchase, that means that you've got to consider both the quality of the guitar and the way that you feel about it before you make your decision to buy.
We can't help you with the emotional connection when you buy a guitar. What we can help with is all the "other stuff." The following tips will help you make sure that you get the most for your money.
Setting the Budget
Unless you are a millionaire, chances are that there is a set amount of money that you can afford to spend. Before you can start shopping, you've got to know what that number is. However, it is important to note that if you have a very small amount of money to spend, you may want to wait to buy a guitar until you have more. A decent starter guitar is going to cost at least $400 or more, and a good guitar is more likely going to cost over $1,000.
Deciding Between New & Used
Vintage guitars aside, there are some risks associated with purchasing a used guitar. This is especially true if you don't know much about guitar construction. Many beginners will purchase a used instrument thinking that they are getting a great deal, only to get frustrated when they try to play it because it's simply not in decent playing shape. Sometimes the required repairs end up costing more than a new guitar.
So, purchase a used guitar with care. If you want to buy used, make sure that you can have it looked at by a qualified luthier or guitar repair person before committing to buy it.
Start by Looking at the Exterior of the Guitar
The first thing that you should look at as you choose your guitar is the exterior of the instrument. Check out the body - look for scratches, dents, scuff marks, and any other imperfections on the body of the guitar.
Look Down the Neck
As you look down the neck of a guitar, it should have a slight downward bow, which is necessary for string relief. Avoid a perfectly straight neck or one that is bowed upward as this will affect the action.
Check for a Truss Rod
If you are planning to buy a guitar that is electric or acoustic, you'll want to check to see if the guitar has a truss rod. Classical guitars do not have them as they'll affect the playing quality. In other instruments, the truss rod is important as it will make neck adjustments much more simple.
Look for the Presence of Metal in the Bridge
You do not want to see metal in the bridge area of any guitar that you are considering. One way that you can be sure the bridge contains metal is if there are two decorative mother-of-pearl dots on either side of the bridge. That's a sure sign there is metal underneath them. Metal will ruin the tone of your instrument.
Consider the Fretboard Material
Fretboards are typically made of either rosewood or ebony. Ebony is typically found in the best guitars and is preferable because it's harder and will last longer. However, rosewood is completely acceptable and is used often. You can tell the difference between the two because ebony is a closed-grain wood and rosewood is open-grained.
For lots more tips on buying a guitar, as well as guitar reviews and much more, visit the buy a guitar section of Ultimate Guitar Online.
Griffbrett Gitarre
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