Choosing The Right Guitar
Do you know buying a guitar is not that simple? Yes, it’s true.
I actually realized when it happened in my case. I know you must be curious to know what exactly happened, so without any delay, let me share with you my first ever experience of buying a guitar.
It’s March 2020, just when the COVID phase is about to start, a few days before, I asked many people like my friends, family, and relatives that I want to learn guitar, and honestly, very few of them told me about guitar brands like Yamaha, Gibson, etc. which are quite common.
But the truth is, apart from Yamaha and Gibson, there are several other guitar brands available in the market which I was not even aware of. Yes, exactly.
So, the next day I started realizing that why not do some research on it and know about brands? And that’s exactly what I did.
After a couple of days, I went to the store but here I did a mistake. I instantly purchase a brand new guitar (techno brand), which I never heard about.
Now, here 3 questions arise:
- Why I buy that guitar?
- Is my research done well? Or did I miss any brand?
- Is this what I needed?
So, let me clarify here ladies and gentlemen!
The mistake I did was, believing the store person who convinced me before buying by saying, this techno brand is one of the best brands in Malaysia.
He was so good at speaking and later explained more in detail about the brand where I got addicted. And out of curiosity, I purchased it.
Also, another fact is that I knew lockdown will be going to start in few days and once it starts, everything will be shut down, and I desperately wanted to utilize my free time during lockdown by learning guitar.
So once I purchased, the next big thing all I need to do is to practice for at least 20–30 mins in a day. That’s what I did.
But after a couple of months, slowly strings tend to lose their vibrancy and begin sounding dull wherein I was losing interest more frequently. So I decided to sell my old guitar and luckily I purchased this time a brand new YAMAHA F280. But this time, my research didn’t go wrong and I was absolutely delighted and loved that guitar.
YAMAHA F280: A Remarkable Acoustic Guitar, Exclusively MADE FOR INDIA!
This is a perfect starter with a brilliant echo sound and a game-changer in the segment of Acoustic Guitars!
I highly recommend this guitar for beginners but it’s not a compulsion because everybody has their own choices. I fell in love with this guitar because when I first hold it in my hands and started playing strumming, it sounds beautiful.
It’s a wonderful guitar and is very lightweight at an affordable price.
So, whether it’s your first guitar, or your 5th or 10th, make sure you’re making the best guitar-buying decisions.
The very common doubts that comes often in our mind for anyone are:
1. Should I buy a guitar online or buy it in-store?
My answer is, it’s always better to go directly to the store and purchase it.
2. Which guitar should I buy? Acoustic or Electric?
Well, this is definitely an up-front question and you’ll need to ask yourself. But for beginners, an acoustic guitar is the best one to start with.
So, before purchasing any guitar, just follow the steps below for a better understanding of an instrument.
Top 6 things to consider before buying a guitar
1. Do your research
Nowadays the internet is the best option where you can find more information about any product. So start browsing, there are plenty of reliable websites from which you can choose.
2. Check for Price Comparison
You have to ask yourself how much do you want to spend money on a guitar. Once you figured it out, you’ll save a lot of time when searching your local guitar shop.
3. Check for the body type
If you decide to go with an acoustic guitar, some prefer a shallow body guitar because it’s easier to reach around and play. Others don’t mind a full body and bigger size. And then some may also prefer a rounded back Ovation guitar. Since comfort and feel are large parts of playing the guitar, you should always try out different body styles to see which you like the best.
4. Good to buy a second-hand guitar or a new guitar?
Well, I always recommended buying a new guitar because of the latest cutting-edge technology, with a brand new look and feel. And of course with manufacturer’s warranty.
But here are a couple of things you need to check before buying a used/second-hand guitar.
- Check how does it sound?
- Does it look damaged?
- Is the neck bowed?
- Is there a truss rod?
- And, here’s a big one, do it play if plugged in?
If the guitar has a pickup, plug it into an amplifier and test it out before buying it.
5. Should I stick to top brands?
Well, you might think you need to start with a Fender or Taylor or maybe Yamaha, but if this is your first purchase, don’t worry about names, simply have an idea about different brands as well.
When you’re searching for a guitar, just think about how it feels when you play it and how it sounds.
In my opinion, Top brands = Quality.
As I said earlier, go for the affordable price range initially.
6. What else is required?
Just like new shoes which don’t come with socks, guitars require some accessories right?. Yes, absolutely correct.
You’ll probably need to grab a small amplifier, a tuner (if required), guitar cables, a fresh set of strings, a cleaning kit, a guitar strap, and a case.
A tuner is not mandatory because nowadays there are many tuning apps available like guitartuna to tune your guitar. However, some guitars have inbuilt tuners as well.
Conclusion
So finally I must say that guitars are substantial investments. If your instrument doesn’t meet your expectations, it can be quite an expensive mistake. So whether you choose to buy a guitar online or in-store, remember to do so with cautious optimism.
Ask Yourself The 3 Basic Questions Before You Purchase Any Guitar Brand
- How does it look?
- How does it sound?
- And, How much does it cost?
So Keep Learning & Enjoy Playing! Cheers!
