How to buy a used acoustic guitar

How to buy a used acoustic guitar

1.

Music stores are a good starting point when you start looking for a used acoustic guitar. But do not discount other good sources to find a good deal on a vintage instrument. Used guitars are available in garage sales, flea markets, pawnshops, ads, craigslist and other computer tables. Tell your friends you are looking for a used instrument; You would be amazed at the offers that someone may have filled in a closet or under the bed. Timing will also play in your guitar search. Just before tax time and around, it is always good to go on guitar. Guitarists can look for a few extra dollars to spend on gifts or hand over to Uncle Sam.

2.

A good guitar can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Some of the best made brands of used guitars to look for are Guild, Gibson, Martin, Larivee and Taylor. Good offers on lesser known brands are available. Keep your eyes open for National, Older Epiphone models, Kalamazoo, Kay Archtops, Vega, Washburn from the ’40s and ‘old’ Gretch acoustics. It’s probably best to cope with older Ovations and Fenders. American guitars cost more, but they are generally considered superior to guitars made in Japan, China and Korea. Look for the label and see if it is made in the good old USA.

3.

Check the sound of the guitar and how the instrument is played. Play each note on the fret pad and check for buzzing. If it buzzes, it may just need a simple adjustment of the pantyhose or it may require a headrest or new frets. A setting from a luthier (a craftsman who specializes in repairing guitars) can cost under a hundred dollars or more, depending on the adjustment. Check the back, sides and main body of the guitar for cracks. Cracks are expensive to repair. If there are small hairline cracks on the top of the guitar or soundboard, it’s just ‘#. The control is cosmetic and did not win over the sound of the guitar. The overall look of the guitar can tell a lot: does it look so neat and look like it is in good condition overall? A guitar that has been abused or left next to a radiator in a home to dry out is almost always a bad investment.

4.

Check the guitar bridge. The bridge is where the strings are connected to the sound card, near the back of the guitar. Look at the front and back of the bridge and see if you notice if the bridge starts to pull up or is raised by the top or the sound card. The saddle is plastic or bone that sits on top of the bridge. Does it look worn or broken? Replacing a saddle is not expensive, but adjusting properly usually requires a luthier to file and the saddle. Once you have given the guitar a good inspection, play it. See what it sounds like? Does it sound balanced and full? Are the strings difficult to threaten on guitar? Use your common sense. If it sounds good, it seems to have been well taken care of and fits your budget, adopt it. Nothing feels better than a new â & # x20AC; & # x153; old â & # x201D; Guitar.

Tips and warnings

Like good wine, guitar only gets better with age. Older guitars sound better than their newer counterparts. There are still some â & # x20AC; & # x153; gotchas & # x201D; to look out for. We discuss what to look for when shopping for a used acoustic guitar in this article.