How To Buy An Acoustic Guitar

If you are looking to buy an acoustic guitar and are inexperienced, the process can be a bit daunting. Here are some guidelines and tips to help with the decision making process.

Time spent looking at the big picture will help to avoid costly mistakes and frustration later on! Rushing out to get the first thing that comes along is not a good idea.

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Why do you want to do with the guitar?

If you are only going to play at home, as a hobby or for your own personal enjoyment, your needs will be much different than if you plan on playing at church or in performances.

You need to know how much you can afford before you begin your search, this will help you look at what you actually can afford. It is a little like shopping for a car: you start out looking at a Honda Civic and soon the salesman has you putting money down on an Acura!

How much can you afford?

Acoustic guitars range in price from under $100 to over $100,000! For somebody just starting out, and on a limited budget, plan on spending between $100 and $350 for a guitar you can actually play.

Whatever you do, avoid the toy type instruments, or one that is just plain poor quality. You are only setting yourself up for a disappointment. It will not sound good, your fingers will hurt like crazy, and it will be hard to tune.

For an acoustic-electric, you can plan on at least $300 for a decent one. You will also need some kind of amplifier to go with it. Many makers offer good package deals when you buy everything at once.

A classical guitar is a good choice for a beginner. This is because they are generally easier to play, cost less and there is a good selection available. Personally, I used a classical guitar for a few years, until I could afford a steel string acoustic.

Visit a guitar store first

Buying a guitar online, from a catalog, Ebay, or from the newspaper is a great way to save money. The obvious disadvantage is that you cannot play it! This is why it is good idea to visit a guitar store and have somebody play them for you. Take a friend who plays, if possible. The salesman usually is a guitarist as well, and can give some good recommendations.

If you find one you really like, go for it and buy it! If you wish to save some money, you can buy it online, once you know the Brand and model number. The disadvantage to this is that it is more difficult to get service, if you develop a problem. On the other hand, most guitar stores have a repair department and will work on any guitar, even if you bought it someplace else.

Here is a great place to buy an acoustic guitar...

What to look for

How does it feel in your hands? If you are a small person, you might not be able to play a big Dreadnought or Jumbo, a parlor size guitar would work much better. A parlor is quite a bit smaller than the others, but sounds great! Taylor makes a Baby Taylor, which is very popular.

Some popular brands for beginners are: Washburn, Ibanez, Epiphone, Ovation, Taylor, and Fender. You can also get good deals on better used acoustic guitars, such as: Martin, Taylor, Takamine, Guild and Gibson.

Your hands need to fit on the neck so you can play it. If it is too narrow, your fingers will bump into one another; if it is too wide, it will be hard to reach each note. You will be able to find just the size you need; there are so many sizes and styles that one will certainly work for you.

How does it sound? Is it bright and cheery, or muted sounding? Both have their place and you ear will tell you which one is best for you. The guitar should resonate when you play it, that is the sound should be sustained for a while and have an almost ringing tone to it. A poorly made guitar will simply not be able to resonate, and the sound will be muddy.

Get the best one you can afford

Buying a quality instrument will greatly enhance your playing and encourage you to keep on playing. A good guitar will be much easier to play, sound vastly better, look great, and give you the inner satisfaction of making good sounding music.

Invest in a few accessories

Get a hardshell case, it will protect your instrument from drying out, getting things dropped on it, and bad weather. A gig bag does not really protect very much and can give a false sense of security.

Make sure you buy a humidifier. These do not cost much, and will keep the wood and glue from drying out and cracking. This is probably the best single thing you can do for your acoustic guitar.

Spend a few dollars on a tuner. This will help you develop a musical sense and make it easier to play with other people. Plus, you will not spend precious practice time trying to tune your guitar.

Keep it clean, clean your hands before playing and wipe down the strings after playing. This will make the strings last much longer and sound better. Use a cleaner such as Martin Cleaning solution for the body and fretboard.

Learn how to play the thing!

Don't just noodle around and fumble along on your own! Take some lessons, go to jams, play with friends, buy an online guitar course, buy a course you can take with you, but get some good instruction.

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