used guitars
What to Check for When Buying Used Guitars
Mike Jerry
Used guitars are often sought after because they are usually more affordable than new ones. They make great starter instruments for new students of music. Because they've been used, it's important to know what to look for when buying one. They should be checked for such things as scratches on the soundboard and string height. Both of these indicate the quality of the instrument. There are other things to look for as well. Read this article to learn more about what to check for when buying one. This way you can be sure that you are getting your money's worth.
The trick to selecting good used guitars is determining how hard they have been used. The salesman telling you it was only played by an old man on his way to church on Sundays won't sell many used guitars. Looking for obvious signs of wear, will.
First, look at the soundboard for scratches that would indicate some really hard playing. That may not make it a bad investment, but if you think you may have to replace the sound board, just move on. That's an expensive and tricky project. Most electric guitars have a pick guard protecting the top sound board finish, which can easily be replaced.
Look for signs that it may have been dropped or thrown out of frustration or anger. This could affect the balance of the instrument and is a main reason some instruments become used guitars. Look length wise down the neck for twists or bowing of the fret board, or finger board as it's sometimes called. See that the strings are an equal distance from the board for the entire length.
Time Takes a Toll on Guitars
It's not uncommon. Especially on acoustic guitars, for the strings to be slightly higher from the fret board the closer it gets to the body, but the string height will affect the action on used guitars. Since few people are able to play an acoustic guitar really close to the body, this detriment probably won't make a major difference.
Check to make sure the tuners on used guitars are strong enough to hold the tension and stress of the strings. Too many times they will weaken over time and slowly cause the guitar to go out of tune. While this is not a major problem and one that is easily fixed, it may affect the price you're willing to pay for the instrument.
Another common problem with used guitars is the bending of the neck adjustment rod. There is a steel rod which runs through the neck from the body to the nut. An adjustment bolt inside the body is used to adjust the action of the guitar bringing the neck closer to the strings or vice versa if the strings buzz against the fret lines.
If the previous owner had a habit of changing all the strings at once, removing them all at the same time, it's possible that rod became bent due to the repeated lack of tension supplied by the strings. If you believe this is the case, you may want to keep looking.
First, look at the soundboard for scratches that would indicate some really hard playing. That may not make it a bad investment, but if you think you may have to replace the sound board, just move on. That's an expensive and tricky project. Most electric guitars have a pick guard protecting the top sound board finish, which can easily be replaced.
Look for signs that it may have been dropped or thrown out of frustration or anger. This could affect the balance of the instrument and is a main reason some instruments become used guitars. Look length wise down the neck for twists or bowing of the fret board, or finger board as it's sometimes called. See that the strings are an equal distance from the board for the entire length.
Time Takes a Toll on Guitars
It's not uncommon. Especially on acoustic guitars, for the strings to be slightly higher from the fret board the closer it gets to the body, but the string height will affect the action on used guitars. Since few people are able to play an acoustic guitar really close to the body, this detriment probably won't make a major difference.
Check to make sure the tuners on used guitars are strong enough to hold the tension and stress of the strings. Too many times they will weaken over time and slowly cause the guitar to go out of tune. While this is not a major problem and one that is easily fixed, it may affect the price you're willing to pay for the instrument.
Another common problem with used guitars is the bending of the neck adjustment rod. There is a steel rod which runs through the neck from the body to the nut. An adjustment bolt inside the body is used to adjust the action of the guitar bringing the neck closer to the strings or vice versa if the strings buzz against the fret lines.
If the previous owner had a habit of changing all the strings at once, removing them all at the same time, it's possible that rod became bent due to the repeated lack of tension supplied by the strings. If you believe this is the case, you may want to keep looking.
