Buying Your First Electric Guitar

By WorkshopLive, My friend Ray used to work in one of New York's great guitar stores. He said that for most of the people he sold guitars to, if the color was right, the guitar sounded fine. (He also said that, with all of the gorgeous guitars that hung on the wall in that store, they made most of their money on picks and strings. Who knew?)

Anyway, it's probably a good idea to think a little more deeply than that when you're buying your first electric guitar. Here are a handful of things to consider before you venture into We $ell Guitar$. There are also one or two things you should write on the palm of your hand in magic marker to make sure you don't forget them while you shop.

1. Comfort. If you're not comfortable with your guitar, you won't play it, and it won't matter whether it sounds good or stays in tune. It should feel good in your hands. You should feel cool sitting behind it. The neck and action should be adjustable (ask the salesman.) If you're a small person, or have small hands, get a small guitar with a skinny neck. Try it with a strap to see how heavy it is when you sling it around your neck.

2. Sound. Don't sweat it. If this is your first guitar, your idea of what sounds good in a guitar will probably change a lot as you learn to play. Also, your ability to extract different sounds from the instrument will improve as you learn. For now, if it sounds good, it is good.

3. Money. Aha! The big question! How much should I spend? Think about this: for $369, a company called Carvin will sell you all the parts you need to make an electric guitar (except paint). These are good, solid parts - not top of the line, but certainly not junk either. So: if your price is below that - lower than the cost of the unassembled parts - what are your chances of getting a good guitar? Yes, there are guitars available for less than $369, and they may be playable. But in the long run they probably will never be more than OK. If you're thinking, "I'll get something real cheap in case I lose interest," maybe you're better off waiting six months to see if you still want one then. Gives you time to bone up on your positive thinking, too. (This is a good time to remind you that whatever you spend on the guitar, you're also going to need an amp, a case, a strap, a cable - at least. Probably a tuner and a metronome, too. They all cost money. So, wh! atever your budget is, you may have to bump it up if you've forgotten them.)

And, while the budget is the budget and you shouldn't bust it, you shouldn't look at this just as a financial transaction. The pleasure, growth and satisfaction you will get from playing guitar are what you're buying, not the instrument, and that stuff is the real deal and completely beyond price.

4. Bells and whistles. Guitar players like knobs, dials and switches as much as crows like bright shiny objects. Don't bother. Effects and stomp boxes get better and cheaper every six weeks, so wait until you know what you want. We $ell Guitar$ will never, ever run out of stomp boxes.

5. New vs. used? Whatever you think about new vs. used cars, the same thing applies to new vs. used guitars. New is more expensive, new has a warranty, new hasn't been tortured by somebody else. Used may be cheaper, or you may get more guitar for the same money. Some guitars are only available used. Do you trust the person you're buying from? That's what matters.

6. On-line vs. in-store? There are arguments both ways. On-line is probably cheaper (don't forget shipping) and offers greater selection; in-store lets you hold it in your hands before you buy it, and take it home the same day. And while it's nice to have a personal relationship with someone at the store, bear in mind these guys move around a lot. Your buddy at We $ell Guitar$ today may be working 50 miles away at Axe$ R U$ tomorrow.

Just don't spend hours trying every guitar in the guitar store and then go and order one on-line. And don't bring the internet price into the guitar store and expect them to match it, plus set the guitar up for you, plus show you how it works, plus help you pick an amp, plus throw in some free picks - there are reasons why guitars are cheaper on-line.

7. Quality. Low end guitars are mostly made in places like Mexico, China, Malaysia and India - just like cars, sneakers, watches and computers. The quality at the low end has improved dramatically in recent years, so as long as you buy from a guitar store (or site), you have a good chance of getting something that's playable. If you buy your guitar at the same place you buy your paper towels, though, all bets are off.

Some tips for in-store shopping:

1. Skip school. The more people in the guitar store, the louder and more annoying it will be, as lots of bad-to-mediocre players try out guitars at volumes they can't get away with at home. The salesmen will be busier, too. Go at 11:00 AM. Tell the teacher the guys at WorkshopLive said it was OK.

2. Louder sounds better. When it comes to musical sounds, people often mistake volume for quality. In other words, if you play two guitars side by side, you're likely to prefer the louder one just because it's louder. Fiddle with the knobs until they're at the same level; then decide.

3. Amps. Amplifiers contribute as much to your sound as guitars. If you're buying both, you're really shopping for two instruments at the same time. Pick the guitar first.

If you're just buying the guitar, try all your candidates through the same amp, and make sure it's in the same price / power range as the amp you have (or the one you're planning to buy eventually.) Every guitar sounds goods through a 100 Watt Marshall amp that goes for $3,000. When you get home and plug your new guitar into the 5 Watt Pignose you got for $75, it's going to sound a bit different. If you're going to play through the Pignose, test through the Pignose.

4. Setup. Ask the store to set up the guitar before they sell it to you; that means new strings, setting the action at the right height, making sure the neck is straight, making sure the pickups are at the right height, and making any other necessary adjustments. None of this will have been done when they hang the guitar on the wall to sell it. You'll be amazed at the difference it can make. They may charge you for it, but it's worth it. Don't take the guitar home without it.

The Wrap-up
1. Be comfy.
2. Don't get carried away.
3. Relax. Pick a cool one, take a chance, and enjoy it. You'll have years of pleasure.

Buying your first electric guitar - you never forget your first love.

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