Buying a used guitar has many perks besides costing less. Used acoustic guitars have aged, the wood has had a chance to dry out which brings out the most beautiful sounds and the instrument over all has matured.

In this article I’m going to be talking about buying a used acoustic guitar, but many of these points are the same for a used electric guitar. After reading this you should be able to go into any used instrument shop and pick out the gems from the racks.

1 – How’s it Look?

While looks aren’t everything it’s important that you like it. Note any bad scratches or cracks.

2 – What’s it Sound Like?

The strings on the guitar are probably quite old and a new set could do wonders for the sound. It could be worth buying a set to put on the instrument if you’re really keen on buying it but just aren’t sure if it’s the old strings causing the sound to be a bit below par for your liking.

3 – Inspect the Neck

A neck reset is the most frequent maintenance item done to newly purchased used guitars. Take a look at the neck and ensure it’s straight, do this by looking downwards from the head stock towards the body. Take a look at the action, is it too high? Too low? Check to see that the neck has a truss rod to keep it straight and true.

4 – Inspect the Bridge

You should look at the bridge to see if it’s pulling away from the body at the back. Often times this can be repaired, but too much tension can cause a serious repair.

5 – Cracks?

As mentioned in #1 above, bad cracks should probably be avoided but small ones can usually be repaired for under $100. Use your own judgement here, but if a guitar looks really beat up, it probably was, so unless this is a diamond in the rough pass on it.

6 – Push Test

Push around on the top of the body, be careful not to push too hard just hard enough to notice any soft spots. Once an a while an reinforcement will let go inside. These are repairable how ever it’s still good to know what you’re getting into and what potential costs you might have to incur after purchasing.

A question that comes to mind is what do you do if you’re just starting to learn guitar? How can you test out a guitar if you’re not sure what it should sound like?

One option is to purchase a guitar instructional dvd before you buy your instrument so you’re armed with a bit of knowledge about how to play a few chords before you start shopping. A course like learn and master guitar would be a good one to check out.

You could also take a friend along who can already play guitar. This can be easier since an experienced player will know what to listen and look for.

If you take your time when shopping you can find a great deal on a used acoustic guitar, just be logical about it and try not to let any one thing such as a the look of the guitar make your decision for you.

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There is another side of acoustic guitar buying that I seldom hear discussed. It could be called the supernatural method.
I am one of those sentimentalists that believes the heart and spirit of the luthier is somehow imparted into his work.The guitar produces another vibration that does not come from the strings. An instrument made by a life in gloom and dispair will have that could of deppression hanging over it for ever!” Might be a good choice if your strictly into the blues. An instrument generated by the life of the creator will in turn generate life to its owner.

A mass production guitar can still have soul. Every model originated in somebodies mind. The wood used to be a tree growing in a forest somewhere in this wide world. How many years of sunshine and rain are stored in that dreadnought or solid body? Perhaps hundreds of men and women around the world helped to get that guitar to you? If the truth were known would more of us prefer to frequent a guitar store than a museum displaying the art of dead Van-whoever. OK, I do enjoy looking at dead Van’s work but give me a well stocked guitar gallery any day.

I once was visiting a local music store.This time I did not come to the store with an empty pocket and I wanted to buy a guitar. There had been an acoustic electric by Takamine that I was interested in. This was not the first time I had handled this instrument. The guitar played, sounded and looked great but something inside me was not satisfied. As perfect as it seemed to be it was leaving me a little disappointed somehow. the Takamine was not with me when I left the guitar display and made my way to the exit. I was about to exit the building but I felt compelled to look towards the used instrument section. I was in that area of the store a few minutes before. I had looked at an interesting electric guitar but had no intention of buying one.
I went back to the used guitar corner and immediately my eyes zoomed in on a Tobacco Sunburst Crafter. I had thought that Crafter made mass produced cheap guitars. This guitar looked well made. This guitar and I were made for each other. That guitar came home with me. I believe that guitar called to me.
There I said it, the guitar called to me. I seem to be a guitar store psychic.

You might say it was just chance but I believe it was meant to be. I am certain that music is a much deeper experience than just vibrations in the ear. Even while shopping for a fingerstyle  acoustic guitar.  Happy shopping!

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It is common for guitar lovers of all abilities to have old masters of guitar that they look up to and try to style themselves upon.

In most cases it is not possible to play like any of the greats as there are so many variables at play when creating sound and tone.

What exactly contributes to the sound and tone of a guitarist is a multitude of elements such as the style of guitar being played, the type of pickups, the guitars tone and volume settings, the type of guitar strings used, and of course the type and settings for the amplifier – and this is even before considering the actual guitarist and how they bend the strings.

Two legends of guitar immediately come to mind when one thinks of the Blues style of guitar playing and those players are John Lee Hooker and BB King.

The Epiphone BB King Lucille electric guitar is a classic blues masterpiece designed originally by Gibson and used by BB King for some time now. It is an absolutely beautiful looking guitar and has some really neat features for varying the tone while playing.

BB King is the penultimate performer playing to audiences in most years, 5 nights a week, and this living legend is well into his 70’s.

An inspiration to all us guitar bunnies who continue to plug away at the guitar. Follow BB’s lead and you can keep performing for audiences at your rest home!

Another great guitar I want to put up for consideration is the Epiphone Sheraton II – a personal choice of John Lee Hooker in the middle of the 60’s .

John Lee’s life is the story of blues legends – having grownup in a family of poor farmers in the South he lived through some of the toughest times in US history – the Depression followed by WWII before settling in postwar Chicago where he worked at Ford during the day and played guitar at night. His real fame came in the late 70’s with his hit album ‘The Healer’ and he acted in the cult movie “The Blues Brothers”. The legend John Lee died in 2001 and he left behind an extensive legacy of his particular music style.

An acoustic guitar was John Lee’s guitar of choice in the early part of his career, then he moved to an electric guitar while playing in Chicago, and in the 60’s switched to the Epiphone Sheraton II guitar.

The quality of guitars produced as reissues of those used by guitar masters is significantly extremely high and the goal is generally to honor the name or memory of the guitarist.

Owning such guitars provides a guitarist an opportunity to get some feel for the guitar equipment that the blues masters used.

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You can see it, can’t you, as you head into your first guitar lesson? The future star, making their entrance! And then the fantasy vanishes and you drop to earth with a big thud. You don’t get to play a note, but spend that whole first lesson learning “the basics.” If you’re wondering whether you really need to spend so much time on those, the answer is a resounding yes. Before you learn to play a note, you need to lay a solid foundation of knowledge about your guitar, to prepare for all that glory that comes later.

The Guide for Learning Guitar series of lessons at www.about.com is a perfect example of the correct process in action. Take the first lesson, which starts out with all sorts of important information about the guitar itself: what the parts are, how to tune it, and even how to sit down and hold it correctly. You learn how to hold and use a pick, and how to press your fingers on the frets properly. It isn’t until almost the end of the first lesson that a few simple chords are mentioned and a sample scale is taught.

You can use the analogy of a car to explain why one’s early guitar lesson may be about the basics and end up rather boring. While most drivers don’t know how to fix their engine, they do understand how to use the pedals and steering wheel, check the oil, put in antifreeze, use the instruments on the dashboard for heating, rear window defog and air conditioning etc., and often they can even change a flat tire. In the same way, a beginner acoustic guitar student needs to learn to perform general daily maintenance to keep their instrument working. And they need to drive, or rather play it properly, to avoid damage to themselves and to the guitar.

This is why every guitar lesson in the beginning should include some of this basic knowledge about the guitar and how to use it. Even if a student only wants to learn guitar chords and go off and play folk music or loud rock and roll power chords, they will be lost if they can’t deal with the most foundational elements of their own instrument. Creation of musical masterpieces will come eventually. But they’ll stand on a much more secure foundation if the student gets “the basics down” first.

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Can you learn to play guitar online and not bother with formal lessons? That’s what many websites claim, when they offer to teach guitar proficiency in just a few sessions. The prospect is certainly attractive if you aren’t sure you want to commit to the expense and time of real life guitar lessons. But it might be wise to stop and think about whether you would be learning properly, or whether you might miss something important by not studying with a real live person.

In the past, you might have avoided taking lessons by studying on your own from guitar lesson books similar to those used in a teaching studio. But now you can learn guitar online as well, in two formats often used in combination. Written web pages provide diagrams showing where to position your fingers and what combinations of positioning will create which chords. But as online video technology has increased in power, written descriptions are often supplemented by videos showing you how it’s done. And sometimes the written material is eliminated altogether, with the video and its commentary constituting the entire lesson.

While it’s true that if you learn guitar online you’ll actually get to see a demonstration of how actions should be performed, which you’d never see with a book, you may still be missing something. Qualified teachers who are able to see you play can detect flaws in technique on the spot, and immediately give a demonstration to correct them. If you take formal guitar lessons, then you get the benefit of this sort of guidance, which you simply can’t get from a pre-taped or written lesson.

The personal oversight and training in formal guitar lessons may not be necessary if you just want to learn casually, and don’t plan to go much farther than your own entertainment. If, on the other hand, you are learning guitar with some professional goal in mind, then you simply can’t do without the one-on-one lessons taught by those with advanced training. Even for casual playing, you may still hope to benefit by learning professional techniques right from the start. It all depends how dedicated you are and where you want to go with your music.

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Building a powerful acoustic set list with your band can be a very rewarding experience. This type of music can often spark emotion that electric music simply does not. There are several key aspects to keep in mind however. You need the right type of low tone, the right type of percussion, and you need to play in the right type of environment. You also need to learn how to properly perform this type of music and how to properly record it.

Low tones are just as important in acoustic music as they are in electric music. When playing an acoustic number electric bass lines can often be to over powering to properly accompany the guitar. There are several options to fix this. One option is to have another guitarist play the low tones on a six string. A single guitarist can also accomplish this with his thumb while playing the normal guitar part. If these options do not fit you then try setting your bassist up with an acoustic bass.

The proper type of percussion will also help set the right type of mood for the acoustic music you are playing. Traditional drum kits do not sometimes fit, unless played softly. Keep in mind there are many types of hand percussion like bongo drums that compliment acoustic arrangements. A tambourine or bean shaker might also keep the beat appropriately.

Playing the proper environment is often overlooked. It is a very important part of the acoustic set however. It helps to accomplish the right type of sound. An environment with good projection and acoustics is very important. The tighter the better. Any audience members should always be moved in as close as possible. A guitar that produces loud clear tones is also preferred. The dreadnought acoustic guitar often works very well for such a thing. The best quality is achieved from this.

The musician must play acoustic music a very specific way to achieve the best type of sound from it. The person playing tends to be sitting in some kind of a chair. They also try to relax themselves as much as possible. It is very important that this type of music tend to run slower as well. Do not forget this when translating from an electric or rock set. Fingering is usually the choice although picks are also used. The alvarez acoustic guitar is a very good instrument for pickers.

Not only should this music be played in a certain way but it also has a certain way to be recorded. The best quality of recording is achieved through this. An acoustic guitar with an electric output is a very useful tool for recording. This gives the benefits of electrical recording but delivers an acoustic sound. Ibanez makes a lot of these and you cannot go wrong with an ibanez acoustic electric guitar. If traditional acoustic instruments are used simply use boom microphones. Strategically place them at the feet of the people playing. There are also some microphones that were designed to be attached onto the body of a guitar. Keep all these options in mind.

Learning to master the acoustic sets can help your act out for so many obvious reasons. The benefits are often great. The number one benefit is to display your band as a versatile one.

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What makes the Fender Stratocaster an outstanding guitar is the unique, intimate sound which comes from the three single coil pickup configuration. Although they can be a little loud at times and need time to learn to handle at high volumes, they do have an edge to them  that is perfect for that rock n roll sound. They have a great fit and finish, with amazing attention to detail. I’m know others would say I’m sure that the Stratocaster holds tuning very well. The action on my Stratocaster was setup about right for me, which is a plus as well. you will often find that the factory settings on some guitars higher than they need to be. I chose a maple board for my Fender Stratocaster as it seems to glide smoothly, as well as a satin neck which is nice and smooth. They do comein a variety of wood finishes, but it depends upon what is right for you. The American Standard Stratocaster comes with a new bridge, with improved bent-steel saddles for that increased resonance and sustain. The saddles keep that classic look and tone, but with some modern improvements for example spacing, slot elongation as well as height screw length.The bridge has been made to complement the 22 medium jumbo frets and rolled edges which gives you more space for your fingers . They also elongated the string slot to reduce friction and string breakage, while which improves the string break angle over the primary contact point. Besides all this the fact that the Stratocaster is after all one of the most sought after guitar tells you a lot.

I bought my Stratocaster on the net from Music 123, which is a great site if not just because of their prices, but because they are so honest with their reviews. The items they sell are top quality. My Stratocaster was available with several finishes including the wood finishes and colors as well as a number of optional pickup covers, knobs, and tips.

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