Tips on Buying an Electric Guitar

Buying a guitar is a huge investment. No one understands this better than a guitarist. When we buy a guitar, we want to make sure it will last.

Longevity is key when it comes to our equipment, and it can be hard to find that certain guitar when every single brand on the market is spouting a stream of perfect claims.

Today, we are going to go over some tips that will help you to buy a guitar that is right for you.

First things first, budget. Your budget plays a key factor in buying an electric guitar. Although most of us don’t like to admit it, for the most part it is true; you get what you pay for. Guitars are no different, and while there are a few exceptions to the rule –not many—most of us will never find them.

Used guitar or new guitar?

This is an important question, and you should ask yourself right away which route you would rather take. In the case of budgets, a used guitar can be perfect, as you will be able to get a higher quality instrument for the same price as a brand new, lower quality guitar.

While you may have that need deep down inside your gut to see that shiny plastic on the pickups and cavity covers, not to mention the fresh tags hanging from the neck, take into consideration that these are only face value.

Pickups are another thing you should consider, especially if you are a beginner. Beginner guitarists tend to fall into the latest trend and are extremely impressionable. If this is you, take a moment, a breath, and relax. Do your own research. We have written an article on a guide to guitar pickups here.

Don’t buy into a guitar just because it’s new and your favorite guitarist plays it. Be a detective and scrutinize each and every aspect of the guitar, especially the pickups because as you advance, your taste will change, which means those stock pickups may not sound so great anymore. Many mid-range guitars offer better pickup choices, including EMG’s and DiMarzio’s.

Finally, think before you buy. Don’t buy a spur of the moment, cool looking pointy guitar just because it looks like a medieval weapon. You may find that three months later you are sitting around regretting your purchase due to the fact that it no longer looks cool. Comfort comes before looks.

A guitar that is comfortable can be painted to look nice. A guitar that is uncomfortable cannot be changed; you will be stuck with it. Keep your opinion open until you sit down and play the guitar. This will avoid not only careless purchase, but also unjust premature opinions.

So long as you sit down with a guitar and feel it is comfortable, you are on the right path. If you plug it in and the guitar roars to life, then you are in the home stretch. The final step is comparison. Don’t fall in love right away. Guard your musical heart and try out another guitar. Compare the features, the playability, and then base your decision from there. Good luck!

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