On Buying Your First Guitar

By Randy Haines

A good place to start is with the story of a friend of mine, whom I will call Christopher, (because that is his real name, and because I know he will read this and be kicking himself) asked me to help him buy a guitar to get started. His interest was in classical guitar.

So Christopher and I hit the local music stores and looked at a dozen guitars or so. We ended up at the same store where I had bought my last guitar, and found something there to his liking. So he bought himself a pretty nice guitar and spent a little over $700.00. He also got a case, a set of strings and a couple of free lessons thrown in with the deal. Not a bad piece of work.

When we got back in the car, he asked me if I thought he had made a good purchase. I told him that it would depend upon what he did with the guitar now that he had it. If he learned to use it, then this would be money well spent. If it ended up sitting around collecting dust, well, then that would be a waste of over $700.00.

Guess What?

That's right, Chris ended up taking the latter path.

In the following I offer advice that I hope will help you avoid making the same (expensive) mistake Chris did.

First off, think long and hard about the kind of music you eventually want to play. Many people claim that no matter what style you want to play, it is always best to start on an acoustic guitar. They argue that starting on an acoustic will develop your finger and hand strength better. I say "pish tosh" to that. (It doesn't really mean anything but it is a lot of fun to say, try it.) Playing an electric guitar strung with 9- or 10-guage strings does not require the same degree of strength as playing a steel string acoustic strung with 14s. If you want to play Motley Slayer, then don't get an acoustic guitar, it will not hold your interest as well as an electric.

From the very beginning, get the right kind of tool for the job. Do you want to play Albeniz's Cordoba? Then get a nylon string guitar. Do you want to play campfire songs? Then get a steel string acoustic. Do you want to rock out to some Judas Maiden? Then get an electric. In the end, you will be more likely to persevere in the effort of learning to play if you are playing a guitar that you like and that is suited to the job at hand.

On getting a used or new guitar.

It's hard to say whether a beginner should buy a used or new guitar. It all depends upon that person's needs and capabilities.

Buying a used instrument can be a good choice for beginners. Typically, you can get a decent guitar for a better price if you buy it used. The hazard of buying a used guitar is that you may be buying one that needs repair. For example, a used electric could be wired improperly. A beginner might not notice this, and it is not cheap to have someone rewire a guitar. But there are plenty of good used instruments out there to choose from. Some very experienced guitar players buy used instruments exclusively. Consider this: there are more guitars sitting unplayed in peoples closets than there are guitars being played. Some of these used guitars are in very good shape.

There are also many affordable "budget" models on the market. These are brand new guitars that are reasonably priced. They may look great thanks to an impressive paint job, but they are often made with substandard woods and components.

The best thing you can do, if it is possible, is to find someone who knows about guitars (and preferably your chosen musical style) to go with you. If none of your friends fit this description, then try to find a guitar instructor who is willing to advise you in your purchase. Look at several different stores, and make sure to ask lots of questions, for example:

If the answer to the last question is no, walk out. (If you want to score big points with music store personnel, ask them for a cloth and some guitar polish to wipe the guitar down with when you are finished with it.) Trying out a guitar is very important. Even if you don't know how to play, you need to actually try the guitar. If it's an electric, then play through an amp. If it's an acoustic, then hit the strings with a bit of force. You need to evaluate the tonal qualities of the guitar, and be aware of any potential sound problems. In particular, you should listen for buzzing or other odd, unpleasant noises. If you don't know any songs or chords, then just hit notes. For example, you can play all the open strings and play some notes on each string at different places on the neck. Let the notes ring out and just listen to the sound.

As you are trying out many different guitars, you might want to make notes about them. You can note down the manufacturer, model, price, and anything you like or dislike about the guitar. Find out what kind of woods the guitar is made of. Spending a few minutes jotting down the details can really help you when it comes to making your decision. Finally, when you've been to a few different music stores and tried out plenty of guitars, go home. You will most likely regret any impulsive purchases, so resist the temptation to "buy it now."

It's quite useful to look up some online info about the guitars you have looked at. It's often a good idea to corroborate the claims of salespeople. If, for example, you go to a guitar manufacturer's web site and find that a guitar is made of a different kind of wood than what a salesperson told you, then there is reason to be on your guard when dealing with that particular sales person (and that store in general).

Once you have decided which guitar you want to buy, go back to the store a day or two later. Now I've got some advice that could save you some money: Music equipment is vastly overpriced. Don't be shy about bargaining with salespeople. When you bargain, you should temporarily think of the music store as the enemy, and the sales people as evil. Under no circumstances should you pay the "manufacturer's suggested list price." Bargain.

Here are some tips for negotiating deals with salespeople: First off, never give them the impression that you have definitely decided to buy the guitar in question. Instead, tell them that you are thinking about it---but also have your eye on a couple others---and are still trying to make up your mind. An effective ruse here is to try out some other guitars, even if you already know which one you really want. After doing this and asking for a little more info, you can then ask in a roundabout way, "So, what kind of deal can you make me on this?"

See what they have to say. For added leverage, you can mention that you are looking at a couple guitars at other stores and that they are less expensive. If you can't convince them to reduce the price, you can try to get them to add some accessories to the deal. Perhaps they can throw in a case (if the guitar doesn't come with one); or a dozen picks, a strap and a set of strings; or a guitar stand. If they offer lessons, you could ask for a couple of free ones. If you feel like you are taking advantage of the store, remember this: salespeople will never close a deal unless they are making a profit.

On choosing a brand.

When choosing a brand of guitar, "to each his own" is the phrase that comes to mind. This is too personal a choice for me to be able to offer more than very general advice. When you look for a guitar, you shouldn't judge it based on brand or model, but on how this particular guitar feels to you. As a personal note, my main guitar is a Gibson Les Paul. Despite not liking most Les Pauls I've played, there was something about this one that won me over. You have much to gain by being open-minded when it comes to brands and models.

Another thing that is important to understand is all guitars are not created equal. You can play a fifty-dollar guitar and fall in love with it; you can play a $4000.00 guitar and think it sucks. Someone else could play these same guitars and get the opposite impression as you. Knowing what you like in a guitar, as with learning to play, takes time, so remember to be patient. My first guitar cost all of eight dollars. I bought it at a swap market when I was eight years old. It was complete piece of junk, but it got me started.

Deciding on an instrument is not easy, particularly in the early learning stages. And there is only so much you can learn from an article like this one. So you should do as much research as you can before making a purchase. Get out there and look around, talk to people and try to educate yourself. Additionally, you need to understand that as you progress on your instrument your interests will change. Change and development are natural parts of the learning process. Buying your first guitar is very much a learning experience, and it is highly likely that your first guitar will not be your last.

In closing, let me end with some final advice: When you get your guitar, make sure to get a guitar stand as well. Take your guitar home, take it out of the case and put it on the stand. Keep it there as opposed to in its case. You are more likely to play your guitar if you don't have to take it out of its case each time.

Good luck with your purchase and your first forays into learning to play!

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