Guitar Online

Cost-cutting is the new “in thing” given the recession. One of such ways of saving money can be found in your music. You don’t have to buy a new guitar if you need one, especially when you’ve only just begun playing, how about a second hand guitar instead?

You may want to guarantee that you’re getting value for your money by buying an expensive and brand new guitar. You should realize, however, that the same model could be bought at a much cheaper price if it was previously owned.

Your problem now lies in the determination of whether or not you are getting great value for your money. Getting a second hand guitar is a serious matter. However, the task becomes less daunting by just doing some research. A lot of times, newbies who can’t even haggle for a simple thing will find it even harder to haggle with sellers who vend them guitars at higher prices. Thus, a bit of research can help you in buying used guitars.

What happens now when you’ve found someone, whether through the classified or from a friend, who sells a used guitar you’d like to buy? Don’t rush into buying the guitar — you need to take some careful measures first. Buying a second hand guitar is no joke when you are trying to save money.

You should not be daunted by the task of inquiring about the instrument. It would be wise on your part to ask for all the technical details and specs. If you did your research, you should know this already. Most of the time, it helps to research about how much that guitar usually sells for, and whether or not consumers are happy with it. This gives you an advantage over vendors who might be persuading you to buy their guitars.

You must also be sure to ask how the guitar has been handled in the past. Ask if it’s been dropped or has experienced any trauma anywhere, so you know if you need to get it fixed. You would not want to suddenly find cracks on it in the future when you’re already using it. Do not forget to ask about the age of the guitar. This is how you determine if it has been maintained properly. Hopefully, the guitar’s previous owner has cared for it well.

You should check the guitar in two methods when you inspect it. Take a few steps back and see if there are any obvious dents, then up close. If you don’t spot anything wrong with the entire thing, then good for you! A few scratches and dents are fine. But when it comes to rust in any part of it at all forget about it. This means that the guitar has not been maintained properly and will not perform at its best for long.

It is a must for you to thoroughly examine the neck of the guitar. Check it as if you had a gun in your hands.Ensure that the neck looks unbent from that viewpoint. Look at the part where the neck and body merge down the bottom. Do you spot parts that have been glued on, or cracks that are sticking out? If you see these, it’s not a good sign. You must also examine the guitar’s action. Make sure the strings are straight all throughout and that there is an equal distance between all of them. It is better if the strings are closer to each other, this makes them easier to press. If they touch the board though, that’s one more red flag.

If all those points are cleared, it is finally time to actually test the guitar.

Check that each string produces the right pitch. It doesn’t matter if its tuned well, you can do that later, but make sure that each string plays the proper note in the proper position. If the intonation of the guitar is messed up, you have to spend on having it fixed by a guitar technician. You can test this by playing a chord; the E shape bar chord is usually the way to go when you’re testing it on each fret. Take note if it can keep its pitch until the bridge of the guitar.

If you wish to purchase an electric guitar, be sure to have an amp on hand, whether it is yours or the seller’s. You can use the remainder of this guide to check it as well.

Put the volume on full blast and start playing. Experiment with the tone switches by alternating soft and loud volumes. Press all the switches to make sure they are working well for the effects they are meant to do. Be on the lookout for any strange sounds that the instrument might be making. You can examine this by strumming a chord and also experimenting with the sound controls. If it does have any scratchy noises, then you are going to need to have it maintained on a regular basis for a few years. But if the guitar is still quite new, then you should not buy it.

However, just because you are happy with the sound of the guitar does not mean that the rigorous testing process is over. You also have to double check with newer models to compare the sound. Request for a sample from a music store. If it doesnt sound right, then it is time to search for another vendor. Lack of experience in playing guitars should not be a hindrance for you! This is a matter of assuring the guitar’s condition, and not a public spectacle.

Don’t forget everything you’ve read here before making a decision on any guitar purchase. Feel free to bring someone else a long to help you determine what you should do as well. Purchasing a guitar is not like buying a new wardrobe, as it won’t be as cheap, but having a guitar of very good quality will have its long term benefits.

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