Choosing a Good Quality First Guitar

Previously, we talked about why it’s important to not cheap out on your first guitar, but to make an investment in your guitar-playing future. This can sound like a scary prescription, though, because guitars can range from $50 to tens of thousands… and even into the millions for collectible axes. So how do you find a quality guitar, and what can you expect to pay?

1. Play it

In a beginner’s price range, many guitars are mass-produced, but they’re not like products made of plastic or metal which have a great deal of consistency. By the nature of wood (even some laminated woods), each guitar has its own unique sound, or “voice,” so several guitars of the same model may sound quite different. If you have the opportunity to play a guitar before buying it, you can choose the one that has the sound you prefer. And if you’re not quite skilled enough to play it adequately to decide what sound you like, bring along a guitar-playing friend or ask a store employee to play the guitars for you to hear.

2. Find a Local Music Store You Can Trust

Local music stores are very often owned and operated by people who are passionate about music, usually skilled players, who take great care of their customers time and time again. Find a store where the staff are musicians, repairs can be performed in-house, and where the shop is an authorized dealer for good quality brands (and can interface with the manufacturer for warranty repairs). You will also know that the instruments you buy will be properly set up for playability, and that you can return for regular adjustments to keep them in top condition.

3. Buy the Best You Can Afford

Putting a significant investment into your first guitar demonstrates your commitment, and helps motivate you to keep playing through challenges. If you only put $50 into an (unplayable) instrument, it’s easier to quit than if you have a few hundred dollars invested.

To show you’re serious about playing, then, do you have to spend $1,000 (or more)? No—there are nice guitars available at just about any price point. But plan to set aside (or save up) at least $200 to get out of the “toy” guitar market. Sometimes you can find that great deal that’s less that $200, but before you go shopping and get tempted by a cheap price tag, set a realistic minimum so that you bring home a guitar that will stand the test of time.

Acoustic guitar prices are usually split into “below” and “above” $500. The under-$500 group is most affordable, but also most difficult to sort through, as quality can vary wildly. There are outstanding gems in this group, but there are also guitars you can strum once around a campfire and then go ahead and turn them into firewood. The over-$500 group certainly has variety (even in quality), but you’re more likely to find consistency across models and brands, and the differences more often add up to playing preferences than drastic swings in playability and tone. You might do some online research and consult friends to focus on a few options you want to play in person. Online reviews can be helpful, but listen more to those posted by experienced players versus the glowing 5-star reviews from enthusiastic first-timers (“This was my first guitar and in the week I’ve been playing it looks beautiful and is awesome!”). Likewise with 1-star complaints from novices. Long-time players can critique more adequately and give more specific reasons for their ratings. With this research and the advice and expertise of guitar-playing friends and store staff, you can find a few options across price points and then make a decision on the best guitar you can afford.

4. Should I buy online?

If you’re an experienced guitarist and familiar with maintenance and setup, then you don’t worry as much about buying online (if it’s a decent instrument but needs a little TLC, no big deal). But for the beginning or novice, buying a musical instrument online can be scary (you haven’t test-played the guitar, you wonder if it will survive shipping, you don’t know if that online photo was doctored and it’s going to be super ugly when you open the box). But buying online can also be a great way to get access to instruments you might not find locally, and sometimes with great offers unavailable elsewhere. So how do you successfully purchase online?

The answer is similar to the importance of finding a good local music store. In fact, find a local store that also sells online. You’ll have the benefit of buying from musicians who also specialize in taking great care of their customers. The guitar will be set up professionally before being packaged carefully and shipped (with insurance) to your door. They’ll stand behind their instruments and as authorized retailers of top quality manufacturers, you can trust that the guitars they sell are authentic and will be covered under the same manufacturer warranties as instruments you’d purchase in person.

Can you get a great guitar online? Absolutely. Do the same research on your online store choices as you do on your local store choices, and you can find a virtual music partner for all your instrument needs.

And of course, stop by and visit us whenever you’re in town!