Skip to main content
Music Radar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Guitar Amps
  • Plugin Week 25
  • Guitar Pedals
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Artist news
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Software & Apps
  • Drums
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About Us
More
  • Plugin Week A-Z
  • You Oughta Know
  • Fake AI band
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Wrecking Crew
Recommended reading
Jason Isbell plays a Martin dreadnought onstage in Norway
Artists Jason Isbell has some advice for any young player who has just bought their first acoustic guitar
Acoustic Guitars From Parlour to Jumbo: The beginner's guide to acoustic guitar body shapes (and which one is right for you)
Taylor GS Mini on a black wooden floor
Acoustic Guitars Best 3/4 acoustic guitars 2025: Portable playability from Taylor, Martin, Yamaha, and more
Yungblud
Artists Yungblud reveals his secret to making acoustics sound massive – and hints at future signature model
native instruments
Music Production Tutorials "As nuanced as the real thing, but only if you know what you're doing": The ultimate guide to plugin guitars
Harley Benton HBJ-45E SBK
Guitars Harley Benton unveils dreadnought inspired by a classic workhorse – and it is crazy affordable
Deals of the week
Gear & Gadgets MusicRadar deals of the week: Enjoy a mind-blowing $600 off a full-fat Gibson Les Paul, £500 off Kirk Hammett's Epiphone Greeny, and so much more
  1. Tutorials
  2. Guitar Lessons & Tutorials

What to look for when buying a guitar

Tuition
By Ed Mitchell ( Total Guitar ) published 3 January 2016

Tips on how to get the right instrument

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Introduction

Introduction

The old expression ‘you buy with your eyes’ is never truer than in that moment when you’re handed a gleaming new guitar in a music shop.

Be smart, though, and don’t rush into anything. Even if you have your heart set on a particular make and model of guitar, try a couple of different examples in your price range, which will help you confirm that you’ve made the right choice. eBay is littered with dream guitars that people soon got bored with. Really think about what you want. Impulse buys can haemorrhage money when you try to move them on.

Here are some more tips…

Page 1 of 13
Page 1 of 13
1. Always plug in

1. Always plug in

Unless you’re getting your guitar by mail order or via eBay, never buy one without plugging it in first. That’s guitar buying 101. You need to know that everything works as it should.

Page 2 of 13
Page 2 of 13
2. Check controls and switches

2. Check controls and switches

Run the guitar through the clean channel of an amp. Test each control and the pickup selector switch. If they sound scratchy, let the salesperson know. The controls probably just need cleaning.

Page 3 of 13
Page 3 of 13
3. And… action!

3. And… action!

Pay attention to the guitar’s action (string height). It should be set at a height that’s comfortable to play without any fret buzz. If the action isn’t right for you, ask if it can be adjusted.

Page 4 of 13
Page 4 of 13
4. Test the setup

4. Test the setup

Check for fret buzz and choking strings by playing (and bending where possible) all over the fingerboard. Always use the clean channel on the amp for this – a dirty sound can mask any problems.

Page 5 of 13
Page 5 of 13
5. Try another one

5. Try another one

If the music shop has more than one example of the guitar you’re interested in buying, then try them all. It’s amazing how different two seemingly identical guitars can feel or sound.

Page 6 of 13
Page 6 of 13
6. Be realistic

6. Be realistic

If you have a 10-watt practice amp at home, don’t test your potential purchase through a Marshall stack in the music shop. You need to know how good the guitar sounds with your gear.

Page 7 of 13
Page 7 of 13
7. Get effected

7. Get effected

It’s always a good idea to take your effects pedals with you when you’re trying out new guitars. Of course, let the sales staff know that you have them to save embarrassing shoplifting accusations…

Page 8 of 13
Page 8 of 13
8. Inspect the body

8. Inspect the body

Give the guitar a good looking over before you part with your money. Make sure that any bumps, dents and scratches are meant to be there (like on our relic’d Esquire). If not, bring them up.

Page 9 of 13
Page 9 of 13
9. Tool up

9. Tool up

All guitars come with included tools. Often that’s just an Allen key for the truss rod adjustment. If it’s an acoustic guitar, you might get some plastic shims to adjust the bridge saddle height.

Page 10 of 13
Page 10 of 13
10. Get an Allen key…

10. Get an Allen key…

If your prospective purchase comes with a locking vibrato, don’t leave the store without an Allen key for the locking top nut. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck when you want to change your strings.

Page 11 of 13
Page 11 of 13
11. …and another one

11. …and another one

The string clamp bolts on a locking vibrato’s bridge saddles are adjusted with the top nut key, but you’ll need a smaller key for the bolt that holds the saddle in place. Make sure you get that, too.

Page 12 of 13
Page 12 of 13
12. Read the small print

12. Read the small print

Finally, find out what your warranty covers. Don’t expect it to cover you for broken strings, but serious structural and electrical faults should be included. You need to know this stuff.

Page 13 of 13
Page 13 of 13
Ed Mitchell
Read more
Jason Isbell plays a Martin dreadnought onstage in Norway
Jason Isbell has some advice for any young player who has just bought their first acoustic guitar
From Parlour to Jumbo: The beginner's guide to acoustic guitar body shapes (and which one is right for you)
Taylor GS Mini on a black wooden floor
Best 3/4 acoustic guitars 2025: Portable playability from Taylor, Martin, Yamaha, and more
Yungblud
Yungblud reveals his secret to making acoustics sound massive – and hints at future signature model
native instruments
"As nuanced as the real thing, but only if you know what you're doing": The ultimate guide to plugin guitars
Harley Benton HBJ-45E SBK
Harley Benton unveils dreadnought inspired by a classic workhorse – and it is crazy affordable
Latest in Guitar Lessons & Tutorials
Close up of a person holding an acoustic guitar bathed sunlight
Ignite your inner guitar god for just 27 cents a day with TrueFire’s July 4th sale - save 60% on online lessons
MusicNomad fret tuition
Can you fix your guitar's frets yourself? We try three innovative approaches from MusicNomad to investigate how they might conquer a major cause of fret buzz
George Harrison
How to play like George Harrison on The Beatles' Abbey Road
MusicNomad guitar fret cleaning
"You owe your guitar the chance to be its best": How to clean and polish your guitar frets a better way
Jimmy Page
Play like Jimmy Page! Exclusive video lesson
Music Theory
How learning and understanding chord symbols can prove a major benefit for sharing your musical ideas
Latest in Tuition
Odin 2
Fantastic (free) plugins and how to use them: The Wave Warden Odin 2
ableton
8 things you can do with Ableton Live's updated Auto Filter device
Best VST synths
Don't know where to start with virtual instruments? We're here to help
Guitarists
How to record virtual and live instruments more smoothly by taking stock of your sample buffer
Compressor settings
The ultimate compression cheat sheet – go-to settings to help you make better music
GForce Software Oddity3
How to master virtually any software synth

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...