How to Buy a Used Acoustic Guitar
Like fine wine, guitars just get better with age. Older guitars often sound better than their newer counterparts. Still, there are some “gotchas” to look out for. We’ll discuss what to look for when shopping for a used acoustic guitar in this article.
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Instructions
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How to Buy a Used Acoustic Guitar
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Music stores are a good starting point when you begin your search for a used acoustic guitar. But don’t discount other great sources for finding a good deal on a vintage instrument. Used guitars can be found at garage sales, flea markets, pawnshops, classified ads, craigslist and other computer bulletin boards. Tell your friends that you’re looking for a used instrument; you would be surprised at the deals someone might have stuffed away in a closet or under the bed. Timing comes into play as well in your guitar search. Just before tax time and around the holidays is always a good time to go guitar shopping. Guitar owners may be looking for a few extra dollars to spend on gifts or to hand over to Uncle Sam.
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A good used guitar can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Some of the best well-made brands of used guitars to look for include Guild, Gibson, Martin, Larivee and Taylor. Good deals on lesser-known brands can be found. Keep your eye open for National, Older Epiphone models, Kalamazoo, Kay Archtops, Vega, Washburn from the ‘30’s and ‘40s and older Gretch acoustics. It’s probably best to steer clear of older Ovations and Fender. American made guitars do cost more, but they are generally considered to be superior to guitars made in Japan, China and Korea. Look for the label and see if it’s made in the good old USA.
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Check the sound of the guitar and the way the instrument plays. Play every note on the fretboard and check for buzzing. If it buzzes, it might just need a simple adjustment of the trussrod or it could require a neck reset or new frets. A setup from a luthier (a craftsman that specializes in repairing guitars) could cost under a hundred dollars or more, depending on the adjustment involved. Check the back, sides and headstock of the guitar for cracks. Cracks are expensive to repair. If there are little hairline cracks on the top or soundboard of the guitar, it’s probably just “checking.” Checking is cosmetic and won’t affect the sound of the guitar. The overall look of the guitar can tell you quite a bit: does it looked cared for and look like it’s in good shape overall? A guitar that’s been abused or left next to a radiator in a home to dry out is almost always a bad investment.
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Check the bridge of the guitar. The bridge is where the strings are connected to the soundboard, close to the rear of the guitar. Look on the front and back of the bridge and see if you notice if the bridge is starting to pull up or is raised off the top or soundboard. The saddle is the piece of plastic or bone that sits on top of the bridge. Does it look worn down or broken? Replacing a saddle isn’t expensive, but setting it up properly usually requires a luthier to file and set the saddle. After you’ve given the guitar a good inspection, play it. See what it sounds like? Does it sound balanced and full? Are the strings hard to fret on the guitar? Use your common sense. If it sounds great, appears to have been well cared for and fits your budget, adopt it. Nothing feels better than a new “old” Guitar.
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Tips & Warnings
Pick up a copy of "Gruhn's Guide to Vintage Guitars." It's invaluable to used guitar buyers.
