Three things to keep in mind while you are selecting a guitar are: type, cost, and quality.
TYPE
To select a type of guitar, first determine what style or styles of music the guitar will be used for. Certain guitars lend themselves to particular styles. There are three basic varieties of guitars:
Classical (nylon string) Steel String (box guitar) Electric
There are many brands and variations within each basic type of guitar, but the three main categories are classical, steel string, and electric. You can play any style on any one of these guitars, but certain styles are usually associated with one or the other.
The nylon string guitar is usually associated with classical or flamenco music. The neck is a little wider allowing more space between the strings for the fingers of the picking hand to fit between.
Notice how the tuning keys face toward the back on a nylon string (classical) guitar
The steel string guitar, sometimes referred to as a box guitar, is associated with acoustic music such as acoustic rock, bluegrass, folk music, or any style where the guitar is strummed as an accompaniment to the voice.
Notice how the tuning keys point out on an acoustic (steel string) guitar
Acoustic guitars come in a variety of body styles and sizes: 3/4, Concert 0, Concert standard, Grand concert, Auditorium, Dreadnought, etc.. The larger the body of the guitar, the louder the volume. Wood materials and strings will also effect the volume and tone.
The electric guitar has the advantage of being able to greatly control the volume. It is often associated with lead playing for all kinds of music. The electric guitar usually has lighter strings and lower action which makes it easier to play.
Keep in mind that all of these guitars can be used for any style. No guitar is exclusive to one style. People play lead on all of these guitars as well as rhythm. People play rock-n-roll on classical, steel string, and electric guitars. People play country on classical, steel string, and electric guitars etc.. It is strictly up to the preference of the individual as to which guitar they choose to play.
COST
Know how much you have to spend and then do some comparative shopping.
Most dealers are willing to bargain with you either by lowering a price or throwing in some extras such as a guitar strap, picks, tuners, or stands. Be sure to ask.
The old saying, “You get what you pay for,” holds a lot of truth concerning the materials and craftsmanship. On very expensive guitars, much of the extra expense is for the inlay and artwork.
Please work into your budget the cost of a tuner and a new set of strings. Perhaps you can negotiate with your dealer for these extras as part of a package deal. Tuning is something that you can learn the process of how to, but to become good at it takes practice. Like taking a novice to the golf course and showing them how to stand, where to look, how to hold the club, and how to swing. Even though they have learned the process of how to hit the ball, it takes practice before they become good at it. The electronic tuner is a tool which will help you train your ear and it will take away any fear of attempting to tune your guitar.
QUALITY
As I mentioned before, guitars are available in a variety of sizes, styles, shapes, and craftsmanship. All of this has an effect on the quality and sound.
One way to learn about quality is by comparison. Visit your local dealer and ask to look at a medium priced guitar ($250-$400), and also look at more expensive ($500+) guitars. Ask them to explain the difference between the two guitars and what justifies the difference in pricing.
Examine the tuning keys. Are they made of plastic or metal? Metal is better quality than plastic. Are they the original tuning keys, or have they been replaced? (extra screw holes) Do they fit snug and are all of the parts there?
Are the frets worn? Are they excessively grooved or flattened? Most guitars have some fret wear unless they are brand new. Frets can be replaced, but that is an added expense. Are the frets inlaid smoothly and evenly? What is the craftsmanship of the pearl inlay and artwork like?
Is the action good? The action is the distance that it takes to push the string down to where it makes contact with the fretboard. Is the neck straight, or does it need adjusting? Does the neck have a truss rod so that it can be adjusted if it ever needs to be? If the neck has a visible bend or twist in it, don’t buy it. Guitar necks are supposed to have a very slight concave bend, but this bend is almost not visible to an untrained eye.
Very, very important is that the harmonics are true. This will determine if your guitar can be tuned! Have the dealer check this for you. If you are buying the guitar from an individual, you will have to check this yourself.
Check each string individually
Begin by lightly placing your finger on the 1st string directly above the 12th fret. Don’t squeeze down, just lightly place your finger on the string.
Pick the note and it will “chime” somewhat like a tuning fork.
Next, fret the same note by placing your finger directly behind the 12th fret and this time, do squeeze down to where your finger on the string makes contact with the neck.
Pick this note and it should sound the exact same pitch as it did when you were lightly touching the string. If the pitch is different, then the harmonics are off and the guitar will not tune. Be sure to check each string.
When the harmonics are off, it means that the length of the string is wrong. On most electric guitars, the length of a string is adjustable by the simple turn of a screw. However, acoustic guitars have a fixed bridge which means that you can’t adjust the string length.
Continue to check the quality of the guitar. Play every note on each string to make sure that there are no dead spots, high frets, or buzzes. A dead spot is a note that doesn’t play. A high fret will cause a string to buzz. We have to be realistic about buzz, or fret noise. There is a trade off between good action, which makes the guitar easier to play, and fret noise which is a result of the strings being closer to the neck.
The Body
On the body of the guitar, check the construction. Are there any blemishes? What materials were used? Tap the guitar all around and see if there are any rattles. On acoustic guitars, is the face (top surface) made of a singe piece of wood, or is it a plywood of some kind? Usually, the more expensive guitars use a very straight grained spruce, cedar, or redwood for the face of the guitar. A this face will give the guitar more resonance.
Check all of the stress seams. These are where the neck meets the body, where the bridge attaches to the face. Visually inspect these areas and make sure everything looks OK and that nothing is pulling away from where it should be. Of course, look at the general condition of the whole guitar.
If it is an electric guitar, plug it in and make sure everything works. Do the volume and tone knobs function? Does the pickup selector switch work? There should not be a great variation in volume as you switch between pickups. There might be some hum as you increase volume, but it should not be obnoxious.
Make sure that you are satisfied with the tone. Strings, which pick up, materials the instrument is made of, etc. will all have an effect. Good luck! Don’t forget to get that tuner.
Notice how the tuning keys face toward the back on a nylon string (classical) guitar
Notice how the tuning keys face toward the back on a nylon string (classical) guitar
