Things to look for when buying a guitar.

Moe_Zambeek · July 2015

This may seem obvious to many, most of us old hacks probably think we know what we're looking for when buying a guitar....however even these days I still buy stuff then discover what turn out to be serious flaws

So - what are the things to check when buying a guitar?

My own process - inadequate as it is - involves fairly cursory checks of paint / finish, nut and fret finish, visually only. Then I play it and if the electronics work and I like it, I buy it. Then I take it to @ICBM who tells me what's wrong with it!!

I am sure though there are some basics I should be checking from a more dispassionate point of view.

Anyone want to chip in to build the ultimate 'buying checklist'?

mike_l · July 2015

Moe_Zambeek said:

My own process - inadequate as it is - involves fairly cursory checks of paint / finish, nut and fret finish, visually only. Then I play it and if the electronics work and I like it, I buy it. Then I take it to @ICBM who tells me what's wrong with it!!

Don't take it to ICBM, you'll have a perfect guitar........ :-B

RaymondLin · July 2015

1 - its a real not a fake

2 - check for possible repair jobs and damage that was and wasn't described

3 - strum it and listen to it acoustically

4 - plug it in and play, feel up and down the neck, how it feels, action, sound, turn all the knobs and listen for scratches.

usedtobe · July 2015

How cool does it look? How cool do YOU look with it strapped on?

streethawk · July 2015

Given that no guitar is irreparable, most of it relates to asking price vs cost of repair.

Otherwise, buy new and reserve your right to return it to the shop.

If you're buying used, two fundamentals spring to mind:

Gibsons - check for neck cracks/repairs.

Vintage - do your research and check for replacement parts and previous repairs.

Expensive used acoustics - get a mirror on a stick through the soundhole, check the bracing, bridge area etc.

Twisted neck is a pretty big one and not so easy to diagnose.

Pick each note as an open string and check for buzzing, could need a new nut/recut.

Volume balance between the pickups? I dunno. Bloody minefiled!

Sassafras · July 2015

Single coils.

usedtobe · July 2015

Duplicate post. Ignore me..

Skipped · July 2015

Check the Seller.

HAL9000 · July 2015

Not having the word 'Gibson' on the headstock.

not_the_dj · July 2015

Having the word 'Gibson' on the headstock.

Skipped · July 2015

1. Discover how the word Gibson came to appear on the headstock.
2. Discover why the seller needed to see the word Gibson on his cheap/expensive Singlecut guitar.

No....Scrub 2.
There is simply not enough time to go into that.

ESBlonde · July 2015

Head over heart (easier said than done). In the old days we took a guitar playing friend along who was hopefully less passionate about the guitar and spotted things for you.

If you are buying vintage and paying the premium, be vary suspicions and careful.

On regular guitars many things can be fixed inexpensively if you are handy. But a refret, twisted (as opposed to bowed) neck, intonation (acoustics) or a neck reset for a fixed joint will be costly. Cracks and rattles in acoustic bodies usually require a luthier and his tools.

Finally know what the going rate is, if you find you don't like it can you flip it without getting screwed.

streethawk · July 2015

ESBlonde;697635" said:
Head over heart (easier said than done). In the old days we took a guitar playing friend along who was hopefully less passionate about the guitar and spotted things for you.

If you are buying vintage and paying the premium, be vary suspicions and careful.

On regular guitars many things can be fixed inexpensively if you are handy. But a refret, twisted (as opposed to bowed) neck, intonation (acoustics) or a neck reset for a fixed joint will be costly. Cracks and rattles in acoustic bodies usually require a luthier and his tools.

Finally know what the going rate is, if you find you don't like it can you flip it without getting screwed.

Oh yeah, neck reset is a biggie.

Babones · July 2015

RaymondLin said:

1 - its a real not a fake

You mean, like an air guitar?

Moe_Zambeek · July 2015

Some (

) interesting responses. To take it further: how to check neck for alignment? How to identify high (or low) frets?

What are the acceptable range of bridge heights in Gibsons?

I suppose what I was getting at originally was, can we crowd source a buying tips wiki / sticky. I realise that was a big ask here

Perhaps Streethawk is correct, it's too much of a minefield to distill down to s simple list.

thomasross20 · July 2015

Do you want my comprehensive list? Lol

crunchman · July 2015

Most important thing: does it sound good?

If I pick it up and strum a few chords and it doesn't sound good then the rest is a waste of time. If it sounds good then I check the other stuff. Personally I'm not that fussed about cosmetic stuff as long as the neck is straight and it sounds good.

ESBlonde · July 2015

@Moe-Zambbek
Sight down the neck and see if the action remains similar/constant either side of the neck. A dip at the same spot by the same amount is OK and the truss rod will sort that (unless some twunt has broken the thread - worth checking if the neck has a bad bend).
Fret all positions and listen for a buzz (but naff action makes this less than perfect). Fret leveling is or can be a DIY thing to a degree.
Look at how the neck is set against the body on a set neck Gibson, you want the fingerboard almost parallel to the body and the bridge not sat up high on it's posts to get a low action. Very early LPs were actually slightly too low for modern playing action and you find some 52 LPs with the bridge filed away under the adjuster nuts to get a low playing action.

Anything that looks too good to be true usually is!

Neil · July 2015

Apart from checking for neck twists, ( I guess sighting down both sides and along the fingerboard is the only way to do this) I look for body pocket cracks on bolt on types - can't stand that.

57Deluxe · July 2015

...does it make me more attractive to women...

ESBlonde · July 2015

57Deluxe said:

...does it make me more attractive to PEOPLE...

Fixed that for you ;-)

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Things to look for when buying a guitar.

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