Buying a guitar? Our checklist with 5 handy tips
Whether it’s your very first guitar or your twentieth, the question stays the same: what should you look out for so you don’t come home disappointed? In our workshop we regularly work on instruments that were bought just a little too quickly. Beautiful guitars, every single one of them, but often with underlying problems. This checklist helps you avoid that, whether you’re buying new, second-hand or vintage.
Buying a new guitar
A new guitar is often the safest way to avoid a bad buy. It’s usually the most expensive option too, though. Our advice is simple: only buy a guitar you’ve first held in your own hands. Pay close attention to the setup as well. Sadly, new guitars aren’t always set up properly at the factory. On top of that, guitars are exposed to all sorts of temperature swings during transport to the music shop, and wood is very sensitive to changes in humidity. That’s why new guitars almost always need to be set up again. A good music shop will do this for you, but sadly that’s not always the case. So take a critical look at the guitar you’re buying. Not sure about a specific model or guitar brand? Have a look at the MusicGear website for handy gear reviews.
Buying second-hand: our checklist
When buying second-hand there are a few things to look out for. These items are hard to judge from a photo, so make sure you always play an instrument yourself before buying it. On sites like Reverb this unfortunately isn’t always possible, so consider using local sites like Marktplaats when buying used instruments. With a second-hand guitar you’re not entitled to a factory warranty, so please be careful and avoid unpleasant surprises.
- Frets. Run your fingers across the frets. Deep grooves under the strings indicate wear. Small irregularities can be fixed by levelling the frets. If the frets are worn down very low, a refret (new frets) is needed, which is a costly job.
- Neck. Look from the headstock along the neck towards the body, as if you were sighting down a rifle barrel. A slight, even bow is normal – a clear twist or irregularity is a sign of underlying problems.
- Truss rod. Ask whether the adjustment nut still turns smoothly. A seized or stripped truss rod is a costly repair and on some instruments can’t be repaired at all.
- Nut. Check for hairline cracks and for slots that are worn too wide. Problems with the nut cause not only fret buzz, but also issues with tuning stability.
- Originality. Have the pickups, bridge or tuning machines been replaced? This doesn’t have to be a problem, but it does affect the value of the instrument. With vintage instruments, pay attention to the serial number. Never buy on impulse – make sure you know what you’re buying.
- Electronics. Always plug the guitar in for a moment. Test each pickup individually and listen for crackle when turning the volume and tone controls.
- Wood and finish. Look out for any cracks in the top (especially on acoustics), moisture damage or a loose bridge. These can be very expensive and time-consuming repairs.
Why every guitar deserves a setup
New or used, chances are your purchase hasn’t been set up for your playing style, string gauge or preferred tuning. On electric guitars and basses it’s all about the string action, intonation and pickup height. On acoustic and classical guitars it’s usually about the saddle height and the neck relief. We believe that every guitar can sound good, even an entry-level model. Therefore, consider a professional setup by one of our luthiers. Booking an appointment is easy via the contact form.
