Purchasing a used guitar has a lot more perks besides a cheaper price. Used acoustic guitars have aged, the wood has had a chance to dry out which brings out the most beautiful sounds and the instrument over all has matured.
I’m going to introduce you to six things you should look at before buying a used acoustic guitar. While most of these points stand for an electric guitar as well there are a few things about the electronics you should check along with these 6 items. After reading this you should be able to go into any used instrument shop and pick out the gems from the racks.
1 – How Does the Guitar Look?
The look of an instrument isn’t as important as the sound it is important that you like it. Note any bad scratches or cracks.
2 – What’s it Sound Like?
The strings on the guitar are probably quite old and a new set could do wonders for the sound. If you really like the instrument consider spending the $5-$10 bucks and buy your own set of strings to put on the guitar to see how it sounds.
3 – Check the Neck
A neck reset is the most frequent maintenance item done to newly purchased used guitars. Take a look at the neck and ensure it’s straight, do this by looking downwards from the head stock towards the body. Take a look at the action, is it too high? Too low? Check to see that the neck has a truss rod to keep it straight and true.
4 – Inspect the Bridge
Take a look closely at the bridge, is it pulling away from the body. Often times this can be repaired, but too much tension can cause a serious repair.
5 – Cracks?
As mentioned in #1 above, bad cracks should probably be avoided but small ones can usually be repaired for under $100. This is a personal decision but if a guitar looks like it hasn’t been cared for, it likely wasn’t , so unless it’s a guitar you really want I’d pass it up.
6 – Check the Body for Soft Spots
Push around on the top of the body, be careful not to push too hard just hard enough to notice any soft spots. Some times reinforcements inside let go. These are repairable how ever it’s still good to know what you’re getting into and what potential costs you might have to incur after purchasing.
One issue can be how do you shop for a guitar if you haven’t learned guitar yet? If you’re not sure how it should sound how can you test one out?
One option is to purchase a guitar instructional dvd before you buy your instrument so you’re armed with a bit of knowledge about how to play a few chords before you start shopping. A course like Learn and Master Guitar would be a good one to check out.
Another option is to bring a friend who plays guitar with you to view any used instruments. This is probably an easier alternative since they will have an idea what to look and listen for.
If you take your time when shopping you can find a great deal on a used acoustic guitar, just be logical about it and try not to let any one thing such as a the look of the guitar make your decision for you.
