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Buying A Used Guitar
There are many fine guitars out there to be had for a song. Why? They’re used. The only reason most of these guitars aren’t going for a lot more is that no one famous has ever been photographed playing them. The irony: someone like Kurt Cobain plays Mustangs because they’re cheap and available, becomes famous and has his picture complete with Mustang splashed over every guitar magazine in Christendom. The next thing you know Mustang prices are through the roof and the next generation of poor struggling kids has to find a new mule.
Buying Tips
Buying used can be intimidating, especially if you don’t have the experience of having owned many guitars. (I’ve owned more than 65, many bought used.) Here’s a few tips culled from years of prowling music stores and pawn shops. Remember that very few things can actually render a guitar unplayable, and many of these can be remedied with simple adjustments. Also keep in mind that nicks, scratches, dents, etc. are cosmetic in nature and in no way effect the playability or sound of the guitar. The amount of this unavoidable damage you can live with is a personal call.
The Neck
Sight down the neck from the bridge. The neck needn’t be completely flat; a slightly concave curve, called relief, is fine. Most guitars have a truss rod that can be used to adjust this. Unless you’ve had some experience doing this, best leave it to a pro. Play every note on every string up and down the neck. Even if you don’t play much up high, check it anyway — its nice to know those notes will be there when you want them. If you’re a lead player, bend all notes as far as you normally do in the areas where you play. Sometimes a high fret that doesn’t manifest itself otherwise will cause a bent note to "fret out". Remember that actions on electrics can be adjusted at the bridge and, to some extent, with the truss rod. Action above the 12th fret usually won’t be affected by truss rod adjustments.
The Bridge
Most tune-o-matic style bridges are fairly bullet-proof. Just make sure that all the intonation adjustment screws (the fore and aft adjusters on the individual string bridges) are still there, and that the big screws on each side that control the overall height aren’t stripped at there heads. Fender style bridges are adjusted with tiny hex wrenches, and sometimes these sockets can be stripped, or packed with old dirt and hand cheese. On an acoustic, make sure that the bridge is glued flat to the top, and that the top is flat. A slight hump south of the bridge is OK, but any warping between the bridge and the neck is a no-no. Most acoustic bridges are non-adjustable, so be happy with the action before you buy, or get it professionally lowered. (And remember, once you go low, you can’t go back up short of buying a new saddle.)
Electronics
Play the guitar through an amp like yours, or better yet, bring in your amp or effect processor to the store. Check that all the coils of all the pick-ups work by tapping on them with a little metal screw driver when they should be active. The resounding “pop” will let you know. A little crackle in the pots (the tone and volume controls) or the switches is OK and can probably be fixed with some spray-on electronic “bath.” (Most music stores will have this around somewhere. If not, Radio Shack.) A crackle in the output jack, or an intermitent signal here, is a little more serious, although it can probably be fixed by opening it up and re-bending the contact arm. If its an acoustic electric, play it through a PA or an “acoustic guitar” amp, not an electric guitar amp. The lack of high end on these will make it sound awful.
Strings
In all likelihood, the strings on the guitar will be old and dead. A store might be willing to put new strings on for you, but most won’t. So factor that in: the guitar will sound a lot better with new strings.
Bargaining
Don’t be intimidated. Aim low. All they can say is “no.” Get some handy catch phrases: “What’s the best you can do for me on this?” “I really need some better numbers on this.” “How about $150 and my Vox Bulldog?” Good luck, and remember: Work Hard, Sleep Late and Play Something Good!
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Photograph
- Will Collins playing his prized Guild S-300D, which he purchased used for $200.