Buying a guitar can be stressful. It is easy to become like a kid in a candy store. The variety of choices can be so overwhelming that you settle for getting a new pedal or strap rather than invest in a brand new guitar.
First of all, you have two choices: buy online or buy in-store. There are pros and cons to both methods.
To a large extent, the accessibility of online music retail has changed the game. But there is definitely charm and practicality in buying a guitar in-store.
When considering how to buy a guitar there are several things to think about. Some factors are exclusive to buying online and others are exclusive to looking in-store for a guitar.
There is also some more general advice that applies wherever you buy your guitar.
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Whether you’re reaping the benefits when learning guitar on your own with the help of blog posts or with an app that has online guitar lessons you can always improve technique and proficiency through concerted practice.
If you are someone who prefers a guitar app to help you while learning to play guitar, then see our list of guitar apps that we have reviewed.
Buying A Guitar: 15 Helpful Tips
- Browsing. The advent of online retail has made browsing for a guitar a lot easier. If you want to buy a guitar online there are plenty of reliable websites from which you can choose.
- Price Comparison. Be aware of how the different retailers are pricing the same guitar. Price is key when considering what to look for when buying a guitar.
- Accessibility. You’ve got to be practical when buying a guitar. Is it easier for you to shop for a guitar online or in-store?
- Second Hand. The second-hand market is booming. Some even say it is the best place to buy a guitar.
- Discover a Gem. With the number of guitars now available from online guitar stores, you are more likely to come across the perfect guitar for you.
- Check Return Policy. If you’re not 100% sure that this is the guitar for you make sure that the online guitar store you’re buying from has a reasonable return policy.
- Hands-On Experience. Buying online means you won’t get to play it much before you are committed. There is nothing worse than getting a good looking guitar that won’t bend to your will when you try to play it.
- Unreliable Sellers. Beware of dodgy dealers. You should keep this in mind whether you are browsing an online guitar store or going to look for the best place to buy a guitar in person.
- Personable Service. There is an invaluable quality to the expertise and personable touch you can get in music stores. It can make a huge difference especially if you have questions about how to buy a guitar that suits you.
- Try Before You Buy.
- Opportunity to negotiate. Negotiation is a dying art but it could make a significant difference for your bank balance.
- Limited Accessibility. Be aware that it may be difficult to get to some music stores.
- Choice. When you are browsing in-store there is a limited choice of guitars. If you know what you want already this shouldn’t be a problem. But if you are still unsure an online guitar store might be preferable.
- Consult Other Musicians. Lean on the experience of other guitarists. They may know the best place to buy a guitar in your area and could give you some extra tips on how to buy a guitar online.
- Trust Yourself. Even if you know the best place to buy a guitar you still need to trust that finding the right one may take some time.
Let’s discuss some helpful tips that will ensure you know what to look for when buying a guitar. We want to help you get the guitar that suits you!
Buying A Guitar Online
There are plenty of places to buy guitars online. More than ever, people are choosing to stay at home rather than trawl the high street in search of the perfect guitar.
1. Browsing
Online shopping makes browsing easy. You don’t have to leave the comfort of your own home. Within minutes you can look at hundreds of guitars from a variety of online stores. A good local store may have a couple of hundred guitars to try. Most online retailers have thousands of guitars to browse.
If you are buying a guitar from Amazon you can be browsing one day, select your guitar and have it arrive at your house the next day. This sort of accessibility is what makes online shopping so popular. When you visit Fender’s online shop browsing can very quickly lead to purchasing without any hassle.
2. Price Comparison
Buying a guitar online allows you to compare prices accurately. It is difficult to get a full scope of how a guitar should be priced if you are only buying in-store.
Buying online enables you to look at the same guitar on a number of sites and compare the prices. This will help you get the best tool for your money and may also help you get a few accessories in a bundle.
3. Accessibility
Shopping online is often the most practical option. It may not always be possible to visit several guitar stores in person. Buying online is the most accessible option if you live far away from a big city or a good guitar store.
This may not be something you think of if you live close to lots of guitar stores. But it is an important factor when it comes to browsing for guitars. Most people don’t have the time to spend several afternoons noodling around guitar stores.
4. Second Hand
Browsing online is now a great way to buy good quality second-hand guitars. There are plenty of dedicated websites to choose from if you are interested in buying a second-hand guitar.
As well as specialized guitar websites you can also get great deals on the Facebook Marketplace, eBay, and Amazon. Reliable chains like Andertons and Rich Tone Music also offer great second-hand options that you can browse and buy online.
The second-hand market has never been thriving more than it is now. The accessibility for buyers and sellers to interact online is enormous. The chances of you getting a good second-hand deal online have been amplified by online accessibility.
SEE ALSO: Understanding What Makes The Top 10 Types Of Guitar Unique
5. Discover a Gem
When browsing the many online retailers it’s just possible that you come across a gem of a guitar that would have been impossible to find in your local guitar store.
You can find great guitars straight from the makers themselves. No middle-man required.
Being able to go straight to Fender and Gibson and discover which style of guitar suits you is perfect. These websites and many others extend your reach and let you browse a wider variety of guitars.
6. Check Return Policy
Before you splash any cash make sure you check the return policy on the guitar. What may seem like the perfect guitar may not feel so great after a few weeks.
You want to have the ability to be a bit indecisive especially if you are making a considerable investment. Ensure communication between you and the seller is clear to avoid any misunderstandings.
Some online guitar stores will give you a week to two weeks to decide whether you want to return the guitar. That is plenty of time to work out if the guitar feels right in your hands.
It is hard to understand the nuances of the guitar’s feel and tone in a couple of hours. If you know you’re not 100% sure about the guitar but you still want to buy a guitar online good return policy is a must!
7. No Hands-On Experience
This is a huge downside to buying a guitar online. It is important to be able to try before you buy. This is not usually possible if you are buying online.
The best you can hope for is a good returns policy. But often if you aren’t feeling the guitar after a few weeks playing then you are out of luck. It is hard to judge a guitar just by looking at the pictures online.
A good way of gaining a feel for the instrument is by watching videos online of other people playing your guitar. If you are buying online, this is the only way to get a feel for the sound, texture, and style of the guitar. For some people not being able to try before they buy maybe a deal-breaker!
8. Unreliable Sellers
You are more likely to come across an unreliable seller online. This is because they have less accountability. It is difficult to lie to somebody’s face and tell them their new guitar is the genuine article when in fact it is a piece of junk.
If you are buying a guitar in a store you know exactly what the guitar looks and sounds like. You also know exactly who the seller is and where they are based. This can be a bit trickier if you are buying a new guitar online.
It is relatively simple to misrepresent the quality of a guitar online especially if you are buying second hand. If the guitar arrives damage the seller could claim it happened during transit and it’s not their fault.
These are not things you need to worry about if you a buying in-store. But they may be a cause for concern if you do intend to shop online for your next guitar.
Buying a Guitar In-Store
This is the classic way to purchase a guitar. To some people, this is the only way you should do it. For some nothing beats holding the guitar in your hands and saying “this is the one!”.
9. Personable Service
It is difficult to replicate personal in-store service online. If you visit a good store you will be able to get personal advice from experts that know your situation. This could prove the difference between getting a dud and purchasing your dream guitar.
Your whole purchasing experience can be greatly improved by a friendly attendant who knows what they are talking about. There is a certain social element to guitar shops. To their annoyance, many people go there just to play around on the guitars. It is a great place to be surrounded by fellow musicians and get good service.
10. Try Before You Buy
Obviously, buying a guitar in a store will allow you to try various guitars. This process could be invaluable if you are someone who is particular about how the guitar feels in your lap. If you are thinking about making a serious investment you can spend hours playing and experimenting with guitars.
Being able to try before you buy is an irreplaceable thing. You can’t do this if you shop online. Most guitarists would recommend having a go on your guitar before you even think about laying any money down. It will enable you to try your guitar in different settings. And if you are thinking about buying an electric guitar you can play with several amps and pedals.
SEE ALSO: Which Is The Easiest Guitar To Learn For Beginners?
11. Opportunity to Negotiate
Buying a guitar in-store may give you the opportunity to negotiate. When it comes to price there is not a lot of freedom to negotiate online. It is reasonable to barter about the price with the seller if you have spent the whole afternoon in the shop and seriously intend to buy the guitar.
While browsing online is good for comparing prices, you may be able to get a better price by going to the store. The opportunity to negotiate should not be undervalued.
12. Not Always Accessible
The major difficulty with buying a guitar in-store is that it is not always an accessible option. For many people, it may be tricky to get to a good guitar store that sells the guitars they want.
The ease of online purchasing has meant that more and more people stay at home. A guitar store is a great place. And if you pass one by chance you might go in and have a look. But if you have to drive 2 hours to get there it is not always the best option.
13. Limited Choice
A guitar store is limited by space. Some mega-chains may have the space to display thousands of guitars but this is rare. Your local guitar store will probably have a couple of hundred guitars at best.
It is not always easy to find the best place to buy a guitar. The limited choice makes it less likely you will find the right guitar for you.
Some Extra Tips
14. Consult Other Musicians
If you are friends with other musicians or guitarists ask them for their opinions. Most likely you will be able to rely on their collective knowledge.
Hopefully, they will know the best place to buy a guitar in the area. If you let them know what kind of guitar you are looking for they can also keep an eye out for you. They can direct you to their favorite online guitar stores and make it easier for you to buy a guitar online.
A community of musicians is a great thing. Consult them when it comes to gear and when it comes to making a big purchase like a new guitar.
First-hand knowledge is invaluable in these situations. Experienced musicians will know how to buy a guitar without wasting time and money.
15. Trust Yourself
Buying a guitar is a big step. If you are a beginner the experience can be daunting.
Hopefully, we have helped you know what to look for when buying a guitar. But you still need to trust in your intuition. There are probably hundreds of guitars out there that you could play but only one will be your first.
Choose wisely and trust your choice. Whether you intend to buy a guitar online or off some guy out the back of a van the experience should be exciting.
If you are dedicated you will spend hundreds or even thousands of hours with this instrument. It is worth taking some time to ensure you get the right guitar for you.
SEE ALSO: 13 Easy to Find Guitar Accessories You Will Absolutely Benefit From
Choosing the Right Guitar
What to look for when buying a guitar?
Ultimately, there are good and bad things about both methods of purchasing a guitar. And there is plenty to think about whether you intend to buy a guitar online or in-store.
If you want to get the right guitar you first need to evaluate your position. What is your budget? Are you close to any guitar stores? Do you place more trust in an online retailer or a local store? What is your favorite kind of guitar? How does the guitar feel? And what does it sound like?
Where is the best place to buy a guitar?
Many guitar stores now have an online presence. So you can use a combination of both online and in-store methods to purchase a guitar. If you see a guitar you like online you may be able to go try it in the store. This would be ideal but it is not always possible.
Thankfully most online guitar stores provide plenty of information about their guitars on offer. Even if you have no idea how to buy a guitar they give you enough specs, info, and images to let you know exactly what you are buying.
It is always a good idea to spend some time playing your guitar before you buy it. Guitars are often 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. Enjoy playing!
What is your dream guitar?
Share in the comments below!
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