Buying a Guitar
January 24, 2008 at 05:45 AM
The one subject that I am asked about over and over again,is “Earl, I want to buy a guitar” “Where do I go and what should I look for?”
Well this can all be a very loaded question. I have played guitar for 25 years. I have taught guitar on and off. I have bought sold and traded guitars over the years as well.
Let’s start with the mot common. I want to start playing and I don’t know where to start. The old school thought on this is you have to start on an acoustic guitar—WRONG! Whether it is an electric or an acoustic guitar, guess what? It’s tuned the same and it has the same notes. Why would you need to start on one or the other? With the amount of competition between manufacturers these days, you, the consumer ends up being the winner in the end. When I started you really had to look hard to find a quality instrument that fit in your budget. These days you can find more than a value for $250 or less.
The first thing I tell people is to go to your local music store. (I prefer the independents,however they are becoming extinct at a rapid rate, so your only choice may be a “box” store) I tell people to go to the store and browse. If your buying it for someone, bring them with you. Look around the store and see what models bring a smile to your face. Of course 9 out of 10 times the model you really like is $2000 or better. The idea here is you don’t really know anything about guitars with the exception you saw your favorite guitar player playing that guitar or you just really like the way it looks. Now that you have found a particular “style”, you can ask a salesman if they have an import model or a model similar that may cost a fraction of the one you liked. Chances are they will have it or it is available. For instance ou picked out a limited edition, custom shop Fender Strat for $3500. Fender has a beginner line called Squier, which will look identical to the $3500, but will cost less than $200. In fact they will have it packaged with an amp.strap,cord picks etc…what you need to get started for under $300. (This also applies if you would rather have an acoustic guitar—no amp). So the obvious question is “What makes one $200 and the other $3500?” The answer varies depending on the models. To start with, most custom shop and/or limited edition things are made in the USA. Second they are either made by a team of builders or a single builder. These 2 factors alone will drive the price up. Sometimes they do things like have anartist sign the guitar or number them as part of a collection. These are things that will hopefully make them a future collectable and make them an investment grade guitar. Now lets get back to the other issue-materials. A imported guitar will most likely be machine built. The woods will be laminated as opposed to solid. The overall materials will be less quality. However, again the big factor in these is the labor rate of a custom USA builder. As I stated earlier,with competition so fierce these days, chances of you getting an instrument that is shoddy or not playable is rare. I always suggest taking a friend who plays or even your guitar teacher to help you pick out a guitar from the playing stand point.
So to recap you are going to live with this guitar, so find one you like the way it looks and its going to make you want play, instead of throwing it in the corner. There is nothing worse than the parent who goes to the music store to buy his kid, who loves heavy metal, a nylon classical guitar because he didn’t ask his kids opinion. If you spend the time and invest the money, the chances of the kid taking an interest and learning to play are greater.
A budget of $300 or less will get you everything you need to get started. If your throwing it around, then buy the $3500 guitar for your first guitar and throw a little my way!
-Earl Smith