Buying a Guitar?

Important steps to follow before the “BIG” purchase!

Written by: www.pinolguitars.com

Have patience – You do “NOT” need to buy it “NOW”.

Maintain control - We have the buying power, and thus we are in charge!

Research - Web is a great place to find info on guitars. Use it to your advantage!

Get help -   Possible, recruit a friend who plays guitar to help you choose an instrument. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and you do not have to be an expert guitarist to get a good deal on a good guitar. What you do have to be is a disciplined shopper. Do your best to ignore everyone else, and keep focus on finding the best guitar possible.

Get set up properly- Find a guitar that appeals to you only, not your girlfriend or playing buddies. Remember, you have to be the one practicing alone for hours and hours.

Play the guitar the same way you would at home- To hear the tonal qualities of a guitar, it needs to be played at a reasonable volume. Strum the open strings hard - listen to the sustain, and note problems like buzzing strings. If you hear any problems once you get the guitar contact the manufacturer and let them know the problem immediately.

Play something you're comfortable with- Now is not the time to show off. Concentrate on the guitar, not on who is listening to you. Play each fret on each string on the neck slowly, making sure there are no buzzes. If you know how, check the guitar's intonation. If playing an electric guitar, try all of the different pick-up combinations, and listen for unwanted noise.

Take your time- Write down the manufacturer of the guitar, the model number, and the price. Ask what type of wood the guitar is made of. Note any special likes or dislikes you have about each guitar. Fortunately, the web is filled with sites that archive user-reviews of guitars. Check the guitar review for critiques of both acoustic and electric guitars. When studying these reviews, take special notice of the prices people paid for the instrument, and carefully consider all criticism.

NEVER- Pay list price for a guitar. Just as in car prices, the list price of a guitar is usually greatly inflated.

With this knowledge, you should be able to bring home a new guitar you are happy with, at a price that won't bust your budget. Best of luck, and happy hunting…