Things You'll Need:
- $200-$300
-
Step 1
At this point, I'll assume that you're just curious about the guitar, and that you don't know that much about it. That's fine! It's only natural to want to go into a guitar store and be shown some different pricing options. Don't go uninformed! While your local guitar dealer may have some very helpful information, he/she will be extremely biased. Read! Read about different features of guitars and learn what you want out of the instrument. Some things to consider are the style of music you want to play and ease of maintenance. Look on websites like zzsounds.com or musiciansfriend.com and select an instrument that you're interested in. Print out the specifications of the guitar you like best and keep them with you while guitar shopping.
-
Step 2
Now it's time to actually go to a guitar store. Avoid "big box" stores like Best Buy and Costco at all costs because the instruments on display there are almost always in a sad state of disrepair and the staff is uneducated. A medium-scale specialty music retailer like Guitar Center or Sam Ash is a great place to go because the instruments are generally properly set up, tuned, and freshly strung. The best place to go, in my opinion, is a privately-owned "mom and pop" music shop. You'll get genuine, personal service and the instruments at these stores are usually top-notch. It's worth it, even if everything costs a bit more.
-
Step 3
No matter what any salesman says, you can get a very decent instrument that will take you right up to the professional level in the $200-$300 price range. There are even cheaper instruments, and you're free to consider them, but be extra aware and follow all of my advice to the letter.
-
Step 4
Many music stores like to push "combo" packs that include a guitar, an amplifier, a gig bag, and other accessories. These are a bad idea for numerous reasons, mostly because you can't play the guitar before you take it home, and the guitar is often very poorly made. Accessories can often be purchased on the internet for a fraction of their store cost. You can get a used starter amp on ebay or craigslist in the $20-$30 range. Even though the salesman will try to pressure you to purchase one of these kits, don't buy it because he/she is trying to sell you a low-quality, high-margin item.
-
Step 5
After picking your store and doing your research, go to the guitar store and tell the salesman what you're looking for. Show him your specifications and ask him for three models to choose from. It doesn't matter at this point if you can actually play or not, you're going to be checking the guitar over for various things. Also, be sure to request an instrument without a Floyd Rose tremolo system. The Floyd Rose is a tremolo system that's highly stable, but also very complex. For the beginner's market, any instrument with A Floyd Rose will be a maintenance and tuning nightmare.
-
Step 6
There are several things to check on each guitar. First and foremost, look at the neck. It should be flat and level if you look down it from the body end of the guitar. It's normal to have a small amount of upward bow. Beware of necks that look twisted or have high or low spots, these instruments are junk. You may be able to coax some notes out of them, but they'll ultimately limit your playing ability and cause great frustration.
-
Step 7
Check the fit and finish of the frets. There shouldn't be any sharp edges sticking out above or below the fingerboard. These edges are a sign of poor fret finishing and will greatly hurt your playing ability. Next check if the frets are level. This is done by simply playing every note on every string. Each note should ring loud and true. If some notes buzz or in worse cases "plink", then either the neck is warped or the frets are uneven. In either case, pass up that specific instrument.
-
Step 8
Check the playing action. The strings should be no more than 1/8" from the top of the 12th fret. If you feel that the guitar is difficult to play, ask the salesman to adjust it for you. Most salesmen should be happy to accommodate your requests.
-
Step 9
Finally, check the electronics. Plug the guitar into a high-gain amplifier. There should be no buzzing or noises of any sort. (Guitars with single coil pickups will have a mild hum... this is normal.) Turn the knobs to make sure there is no crackling. Switch the pickup selector to every setting and make sure all of the pickups work.
-
Step 10
Be picky! It will pay off. Some salesmen may act like you're wasting their time, but the reality is that you're spending your hard-earned money and putting it in their pockets, so you have every right to be picky. Don't settle for anything less than your perfect instrument, even if it's below $300.
-
Step 11
If you're in a retail environment, don't try to haggle! It's perfectly fine at a pawn shop or a thrift store, but haggling stresses out the salespeople and makes you look foolish. Don't do it!
The only exception is that if there's something wrong with the guitar you can usually get some sort of discount. Also, in instrument being out of its box doesn't count. The musical instrument industry relies on having display models. The instruments on the sales floor are well-cared for and usually in great condition. It's perfectly reasonable to request one new in the box, but you're expected to buy it if you open it. -
Step 12
Salesmen will often try to sell you all sorts of add-ons and accessories for your guitar. Don't buy any of it; these are just high-margin filler to get the salesmen more commission. Everything else can be purchased online. The only accessories you should buy on the spot are picks and an extra set of strings.
-
Step 13
Congratulations on your new purchase! Keep an eye out for my future tutorials on how to get started playing!
