What To Keep In Mind When Looking At Used Guitars For Sale

Buying a new guitar is great, but there are quite a few drawbacks. Maybe you’ve found a guitar that is no longer made and you fell in love with it; maybe you just don’t have the need for a brand new guitar; maybe you are looking for a certain tone, vibe, or feel that new guitars just don’t offer. Whatever your reason may be, there’s always a plethora of used guitars available. It is easy to get sucked into the allure of finding that perfect used guitar for sale, but if you overlook a few aspects, then you may be in trouble down the road. Take some time to educate yourself about what to look for in a used guitar and you will be better off when you finally decide on your perfect axe.

First and foremost, you must decide what kind of guitar you’re looking for. Acoustic or electric? Solid body or semi-hollow body? Single coil pickups or humbuckers? All of these options and more are at your disposal. Decide now what you’re looking for in detail and you’ll be leaps and bounds ahead of those that have just blindly walked into the guitar store.

After you’ve decided on the make, model, and features of the guitar that you want, start checking out sources of used guitars for sale. The most accessible and convenient is the chain guitar stores. These stores often take in guitars so that players can trade up to a better or different guitar. Because of this, you will often find some nice guitars for sale. They have most likely been looked over, inspected, set up and restrung so that they are in the best condition when they hit the sales floor. The issue enlies in the fact that these will most likely be the most expensive used guitars, especially because the people who have taken them in know what they are worth and have a fair amount of experience when it comes to guitars and selling them. This can be a good way to go if you are flexible and have some money to spend, but there are cheaper avenues.

In addition to the chain stores, there are mom and pop stores. These are usually smaller shops and may exclusively offer used guitars for sale. In this case, you have someone who is knowledgeable when it comes to guitars, but may not have the same amount of business expenses, so they may be able to offer you a better deal on the guitar. In addition to the aforementioned factor, you may also be able to haggle with the owner or sales person, as they are ultimately in control of their own profits. This is probably the biggest advantage of the smaller stores out there.

You also pawn shops, but I would really recommend staying away from these places, unless you are already walking into the shop with a good amount of your own knowledge about what you’re specifically looking for. The main reason I say avoid these particular places is because they do not specialize in selling guitars or musical instruments. The one upside that you may be able to encounter is that they may not know what a particular guitar is worth, and therefore if you know more about the particular make and model you are able to get a better deal than you would find in a regular chain or smaller musical instrument store. That being said, most people do not have this kind of knowledge about guitars, so it is advisable to stay away from these particular places.

Then of course you can always look online. Places like EBay and Craigslist are great places to look. These sites can be a great starting place to find out more about particular makes and models of guitars, their prices, features, and more. The one downside that you are most likely aware of is that you cannot actually play the guitar before you buy it. Therefore the color and specifications may be different than the description online due to differences in perception between buyer and seller.

When you have come in contact with the guitar that you are content on buying, you need to take some time to look at the condition that the guitar is in. Take a look at the finish; is it in good shape with lots of luster or is it chipped, cracked, or otherwise in bad condition? How do the electronics work? Does the guitar sound clear when you plug it into an amplifier, or does it crackle and sound less than ideal? How is the action on the guitar? Is it to your liking or does the guitar need to be adjusted? Will the people who currently own the guitar set it up to your liking for a nominal fee? How is the neck on the guitar? Does it look straight or does it seem bowed or in otherwise bad condition? All these things and more are what you need to take into consideration when looking for a guitar.

With a little bit of due diligence and common sense finding used guitar for sale and buying it can be a rather hassle-free experience. Just remember, take your time, don’t get lured into buying a guitar that does not meet your standards, and take the time to pay attention to the details; in the end it will pay off and you’ll be much happier with your purchase and the playing that goes with it.