5 Things To Consider Before Buying A Guitar

So you’re in the market for your first serious guitar. You think you’ve got it figured out, but how do you know it’s a match made in heaven?

Usually, you’ll know right away. There’s that inner instinct; that feeling you get when you meet eyes with that pretty girl across the room (cue any Michael Bolton song). 

But don’t leave your big decision up to destiny alone. That guitar you’ve been dreaming about for years may not be the one after all (cue that girl’s hunky boyfriend).

Here are some things to consider when you are looking for that first serious guitar, acoustic or electric. 

First of all, don’t rule out a guitar just because it doesn’t say Gibson or Fender on it. These companies make great guitars, but so do Ibanez, Norman, PRS, Danelectro, Yamaha, and many additional smaller companies. 

Second, don’t base your decision on the look of the instrument alone. There are a number of factors to consider when buying your first serious guitar, acoustic or electric. You might know what you want it to look like (everybody has their ideal “rockstar” guitar), but playability, sound, and style play a huge role in finding the right axe.

1) Playability

Is the neck too thick? Too thin? Too wide? Does your hand slide up and down easily? 

The neck is an incredibly important part of your instrument. You want a guitar that feels comfortable in your hands. Can you reach every string with ease?

Necks are made in all different profiles. Smaller hands tend to like slimmer neck profiles, larger hands like chunkier profiles. Try out as many as you can, and keep tabs on which feel the best in your hands, and look for guitars with that important feature.

If a guitar is more comfortable for you to play, you will have less trouble practicing on it, leading to more efficient practice, and more enjoyment from your instrument. 

2) Sound

This is a big one. 

If you’re shopping for an acoustic guitar, just simply listen to it. Listen from playing position, and listen from an audience position (get someone else to play it so you can step back). 

You will probably want to plug it into an acoustic guitar amp or loudspeaker if it has a pickup, to hear how it translates. Putting a better quality pickup into an acoustic guitar you like can be expensive and troublesome. Make sure you like both!

If you’re looking for an electric, find an amplifier that you like. Don’t use a very expensive amp, they will often make almost any guitar sound great. Plug into a few moderately priced amps on neutral settings to hear how each guitar compares. Keep the same settings for each guitar. Doing this, you will hear the difference in the pickups. Better pickups will have a clearer, often louder tone. 

3) Pickups

A good guitar sound starts with the pickups.

Single coil pickups will sound thinner, with more high-end definitions and overtones. Humbuckers (dual coil) will sound thicker and warmer. Both work for different applications. 

Generally speaking, single coils are heard in more delicate music (blues, soul, country), and humbuckers are heard more in aggressive styles (hard rock, metal, heavier blues).

4) Body Style

To keep it practical, larger guitars will have a bigger, louder sound, and smaller guitars will have a thinner, more defined sound. 

If you want an acoustic guitar that can easily fill a whole room, look for one with a big body (Epiphone Jumbo acoustics sound huge!)

If you want an acoustic that’s a little more chime-y and twangy, try an Ovation. 

Electrics carry a similar principal. If you want a round, fat tone, go for a bigger body style, if you want something more twangy, go for a smaller body. 

5) Price

Let’s be real. A bigger price tag does not make a better guitar. Again, it’s all about playability and sound. Some would argue that Mexican-made Fenders ($599 and up) are just as good as American-made Fenders ($1199 and up). They are often right.

Randy Bachman’s go-to workhorse guitar is an Epiphone Goldtop, which you can buy new for under $700.

Having said that, a higher price often means higher quality parts. Guitars that are made in America often have better quality parts and better workmanship. Not always, but often. You’ll notice better sounding pickups, noise-free pots and switches, and more stable tuners. 

Quality workmanship goes a long way when it comes to the details. 

Your first serious guitar will likely be with you for years to come. Invest smartly. 

Now you can go to your local music store and spend a good chunk of time trying out guitars. Don’t buy one on your first trip; do your research at home to make sure you are getting the one that’s right for you. One of the guitars you try will stand out more than others. If you are still drooling over it after playing it for a while in the store, it might be the one. 

I guess destiny does play a small role. 

(Cue Michael Bolton).