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What To Look For When Buying A Guitar. |
By:
Terry Booth |
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what to look for when buying a guitar.
Terry Booth
Buying your first guitar can sometimes seem like a traumatic experience. There are so many guitars to choose from and the price range is enormous. One of the first steps in your decision making process will be whether to buy an acoustic guitar or an electric guitar. This decision should be based on the type of music you like and that you will hope to play.
If you like your heavier rock'n'roll music or particularly like lead guitar then your choice will likely be to buy an electric guitar. And don't worry. There is no rule that says beginners can't start with an electric guitar. Just remember to listen to how it sounds on the type of amp you will buy.
Don't be pressured into buying an electric guitar though. There are still some beautiful songs and sounds produced by acoustic guitars and they are much more easy to take around with you. There is nothing better than having a sweetly strummed or plucked acoustic guitar on that bush retreat.
Just as the range of guitars can seem endless, so can the range in prices. There are some well known brands and models that typify the history of the guitar such as the Gibson Les Paul or the Fender Telecaster and you will pay a lot more for these. You can however buy guitars that are copies of these original vintage guitars that are cheap to buy and provide a solid guitar experience.
Your choice here is a trade-off between various priorities which will depend on what type of person you are. It is no different to buying a car. Some people buy cars for the prestige and high end performance while others buy a car that gets them from A to B. It is common for guitar addicts to dream about buying a guitar that makes their friends and even strangers go wow as soon as they hear what type of guitar it is. This won't interest some other people who will be happy with a guitar that sounds "ok".
If you're not buying strictly according to name and known quality then your choice comes down to balance, playability, sound and look. The look is an easy one to cover off. You want a look that matches your type of music and your personal style. If you're a big hairy guy with numerous tatoos and body piercings who thrashes out heavy metal songs then you're not going to be happy with a lilac colored baby acoustic.
The sound and/or tone of the guitar can often be a personal preference. Some people naturally prefer the more acute harder edge to a fender as opposed to the more well rounded fuller tones of a gibson les paul. The same applies to buying acoustic guitars. You may prefer the deeper fuller tones of a large bodied guitar. If you're just starting out this may not seem so important.
The balance and playability of the guitar is important because of the hours you will spend playing it. Balance and weight are factors and it is a good idea to make sure you are comfortable playing in both a standing up and seated position. The weight and shape of the guitar will influence how it feels for you. Also check the action of the guitar. In other words how hard is it to press the strings down to the fretboard as you move up to the higher frets. The action can be altered but you would hopefully buy a guitar that felt good out of the box. Many people spend hours looking down the neck of the guitar to ensure it is straight but the truth is that it should have a slight forward bend, known as neck relief. This ensures that the strings don't buzz when pressed.
The main thing is buy a guitar that seems right to you. Not your friend or the shop salesman. I recommend buying a guitar at the top end of your budget as later on you will appreciate the better quality and tone. Then you will end up with a much more enjoyable experience.
About the writer: Terrence Booth is another keen guitar fanatic interested in anything relating to http://www.guitarplayersworld.com/ buying guitars. He has accumulated all the information needed to http://www.guitarplayersworld.com/buy_guitar_online) buy guitar into the one place.
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Article Source: http://www.statssheet.com/articles/article71276.html |
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