Certainly, buying your first guitar involves considering several factors, including the kind of music you want to play. Our experts have compiled some facts to help you avoid making a hasty decision and purchasing the first guitar you come across. The information will also help evaluate the kind of guitar you want to buy within a specific budget. If you are keen for more info, check out our comprehensive guitar-buying guide below.
Get the Right String Action
String action is the measurement of the space between the guitar strings and the surface of the fret. If the action is too high, it will be difficult to play the guitar. Besides, it may get very painful for a beginner’s fingers. When you are buying a new guitar this holiday, look for one with low action. Ideally, it should range between 1-2.7 millimeters for electric and acoustic guitars. For nylon-string classical guitars, the string action should be 3-3.6 millimeters. You can have the string action of your new guitar adjusted or set up professionally
Buy the Guitar, Not the Brand
The most experienced guitar players around the world recommend that one should not buy a guitar based on the brand name. Notably, some guitars are may be of very high quality but from an unknown brand.
On the other hand, a guitar may be from a known brand but with very low-quality material and accessories. That implies that one must be vigilant to check the quality of the guitar and not the brand. If you are not sure, you can ask for referrals from guitar teachers or seasoned musicians.
Budget for the Accessories
Once the actual guitar is purchased, one may forget about obtaining the extras needed due to anxiety and excitement. Some accessories that may be required to make playing guitar effective including an amp, guitar cases a stand, among others. When buying your guitar, you need to obtain some of few common accessories that are budget-friendly for beginners. You need to select picks of the right material and thickness that can help you strum or pluck without using your fingers all the time. When choosing straps, it would be best to check the length depending on the desired length or type of guitar that you have acquired.
Be Ready To Spend
You can spend all the money in the world on a guitar. Even so, your first guitar as a beginner does not have to cost that much. Typically, a good guitar for a beginner should range between $200 and $500. When buying a guitar this holiday, check to ensure that you get a discounted price that is between the recommended price ranges. Even so, avoid buying a cheap guitar that is probably costing less than $150. It is prudent to note that expensive guitars are more durable, have better tone, and are easier to play. Therefore, you could spend more than the range suggested here. The more you spend, the better your guitar will be.
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