How to Buy Your First Guitar

Steps

1. 
   

   
   
   
   

   
   
   Find some income. Some guitars are around $1000, or if you're in the market for a Les Paul, $3500. Basically get the best guitar you can afford to get at the time. It makes a difference.
   
   

2

1. Open up a savings account at your or your parents' bank. They might have to put it under their name if you are under 18.
2. Put as much money as you can in there, and make sure when it goes in, it doesn't come out. Only withdraw the money when you're going to buy the guitar.
3. Decide ahead of time which guitar you want. It is very important that you decide the exact make and model and that you stick to it.
4. 
   
   Every weekend, call, go online to, or go to some local guitar stores. Don't only go to the extremely large ones, but try to find some small, privately owned ones also. Check there for your guitar and start writing down the store name, price, whether it is new or used, and what condition it is in. This should start to get you a good idea of how much it will cost.
5. Be patient. Don't get anxious and buy the first guitar you see. You need to wait it out. After 2 or 3 months, you will find an amazing deal.
6. 
   
   When it comes time to buy the guitar, take a friend that plays guitar with you to get it. They will help you decide if it is in good enough condition, and will keep you from buying it on impulse. Don't be afraid to do this more than once. If the guitar is not right for you, keep waiting.
7. Once you decide on buying it, make sure you haggle. Guitar stores always mark up prices, and with a little pressure, you can make them bring it down. Especially if it is used.
   • Good things to say:
     • "Well, I don't really have quite enough right now..."
     • "I think I saw it cheaper at (insert store)."
     • "Um... I think I'm going to shop around a little more... maybe find a better deal."
     • I think they have it 'round 300 bucks cheaper in Mexico.
     • If you take 100 bucks off the price, I'll take it off your hands right now.
8. 
   
   Now you have that guitar you've always dreamed of, and you don't have to go broke.

This video will assist with Tip #4 "Decide ahead of time which guitar you want."

Tips

• Buy a used guitar. They are usually just as good as a new one (and they are already broken in). Just make sure it is in good condition first and it will save you a lot of money.(If it's an electric guitar you might have to replace the frets because they start to fret-out/flatten once they get old.)
• Be patient
• This does not work for amps. They usually can't be marked down, and used ones may break easily.
• eBay is great for guitar-musical instrument purchases. You can find stellar deals here. The only thing is, don't let 'creditcarditis' get a hold of you. Know what you want -- don't get anything else. *** If purchasing an expensive Gibson or Fender, or any other "investment" type of guitar most will have certificates, or the serial number can be verified by the manufacturer, BEWARE OF COUNTERFEITS, this is a huge market now, and every type of expensive guitar is being ripped off. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is!
• Other good online sites to buy guitars are http://www.musiciansfriend.com &http://www.americanmusical.com American Musical Supply offers easy interest free payment options, splitting the cost of equipment over three to five months.
• If you are just starting out, play a lot of cheap guitars until you find one that feels decent. Buy that and play it until you've saved for that expensive dream guitar. You'll be in a much better position to appreciate the good guitar and it will vault your playing forward.
• Refer to the page: How to Get a Great Guitar Sound For a Low Price

• Warnings

  • Be careful, the salesmen will probably try to sell you a beat up guitar or an overpriced one. The more money you pay, the more goes into their pocket.
  • Ask yourself, why do you want an expensive guitar? Just to say you own an expensive guitar? People, besides other guitarists, like guitars that sound good -- not ones that look amazing or cost thousands of dollars and sound or play like garbage. While higher priced guitars *usually* are better, this is far from always the case.
  • Remember, it is the guitarist, not the guitar, that makes one a musician. If you don't even play guitar, or play poorly, wait until you can do that expensive guitar justice. Or else, you'll just look like a poser with a nice guitar.