Tips for buying used electric guitars
Buying a used electric guitar can be an excellent way for beginners or players on a budget to purchase an instrument of a better quality than they could usually afford if it was brand new. The benefits of buying second hand instruments are rather compelling, amazing quality for a bargain price is probably the best reason to get one. Of course there are also drawbacks to purchasing a used guitar. Many second hand 6-strings can have very serious faults which aren’t apparent at first glance. This article is intended to help those of you considering purchasing a used guitar find the right instrument.
It goes without saying that there are some real bargains out there. Despite what people may believe there are some really honest people who are really desperate to sell their instruments and will offer quality instruments at extremely low prices. A friend of mine bought a mint condition Standard Gibson SG from a student who was going travelling; it only set him back £200 ($340), a fraction of the instrument’s original price. But in order to ensure you are actually getting a bargain and are not being taken for a ride, let’s look at some things to pay attention to.
The first thing you need to do before looking at used electric guitars is research. You don’t need to just research the original price of the model in question, guitarists also need to ask around and find out what a reasonable price for a used version would be. Perhaps even more important than this, readers should investigate if guitarists have had any problems with these guitars. It is often the case that many used electric guitars suffer from the same recurring problems; you should try and avoid these.
Most sellers are very honest about the state and history of their instruments. The majority of people would much rather be open about the guitar they are selling to avoid any kind of confrontation which might occur if the buyer realises he’s been lied to. When purchasing a used electric guitar it is essential to ask the seller about any damage that the instrument might have incurred and how long they have owned the guitar for. If you find that seller is being intentionally vague or not forthcoming with this kind of information it may be a good idea to look elsewhere. This is especially important when buying a cheap electric guitar because these instruments tend to have questionable build quality.
When inspecting used electric guitars you need to be aware of what to look for and where to look for it. For example, rusty strings aren’t really that much of a problem because they can be easily replaced, but rusty pickups and hardware are a not worth the risk. If you see rust it’s usually best to walk away.
You also need to pay close attention to the neck of the guitar when making your inspection. The necks of many cheap electric guitars tend to twist and bend rather easily due to adverse environmental conditions. Never buy a guitar unless its neck is absolutely straight. A twisted guitar neck can ruin the action of the instrument and make the guitar almost unplayable. Twisted necks are also notoriously difficult to fix too.
Readers should also pay extra attention to the neck joins, any cracks may be a tell tale sign that the instrument has been seriously damaged in the past. It is also essential to check the action (the distance between the strings and the frets) of any guitar you’re buying. If the action is too low it can cause unwanted fret buzz which will have a negative effect on the guitars tone. On the other hand, an action which is too high can make the guitar incredibly hard to play. Whilst the action of a guitar is rather easy for a technician to fix, you’re still best off having to avoid any unnecessary expenses if at all possible.
I hope you have found this article helpful. Used electric guitars can be either a blessing or a curse depending on the state of the instrument you purchase. I would advise any reader to do their homework before inspecting any instrument in order to ensure they know exactly what to avoid. It is imperative to conduct a thorough inspection any instrument before you commit to purchasing it, this is especially crucial when considering cheap guitars.
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