1. Know your budget.
Set your budget with long term needs in mind. If you are a new player, always factor in a few needed accessories:
- A Hard Case or Soft Gig Bag is essential for protecting and transporting your guitar.
- A Digital Tuner is essential operating equipment for keeping your guitar in tune.
- A Guitar Stand is helpful for keeping your guitar safe when not in it's case
Also, having your guitar out and available will encouraging practicing!
- A Music Stand is needed for holding sheet music & books.
- An Amplifier will be needed if you are playing an electric guitar.
- A Cable is needed to connect your electric guitar to your amplifier.
2. Know what kind of music you want to play. For example, do you want to be amplified? Do you want to play classical music or rock? This will make a difference in the type of guitar you purchase.
3. Only buy from someone you trust!
Like always, use your gut and intuition when determining trustworthiness.
4. Don’t buy a toy guitar!
If buying for a child who wants to learn to play, don’t buy a toy guitar. A bad guitar will actually discourage a young learner from continuing to play. Buy a guitar like you would a pair of shoes for your child. It should feel comfortable now and yet have some growing room. Your child's hands will not "out grow" the guitar but his or her ears will as they become more discerning.
5. Be sure the guitar is "set up" right for you.
Be very sure that the guitar is “set up” properly, allowing for the easiest playability. Buying a guitar that is not set up is like buying a car that is not tuned up, has flat tires, and no power steering. Getting stuck with a guitar that has not been set up can be very common when buying over the internet, from discount warehouses and infomercials. Internet discount warehouses & box stores simply don't offer this kind of essential service. When you buy from us, you get a guitar that is setup properly! And if you need any adjustments within 90 Days of purchase, bring it in and the best guitar technician in Winnipeg will adjust it so that it is right for you!
6. Be sure the guitar is the correct size.
A large “dreadnought” body size will probably be too big for most children and small adults, making it uncomfortable to play. Many guitar stores only stock larger guitars so new buyers don’t realize they have a choice. Very young children (ages 4-7) may even want to start out on Ukulele.
7. Buy as much value as you can.
Try and get the best product for your money. Compare the guitar you are interested in with other guitars.
Things to look for are:
- Quality of wood (body & neck)
- Quality of electronics (pickups)
- Quality of hardware (tuners, Bridge, ect...)
- Feel and comfort
- Use your ears and listen to what sounds best to you
*Remember that you get what you pay for.
8. Beware of big “bundling.”
“Bundling” is a trick that retailers do to lure customers in. They will offer an attractive price for a whole kit of products. (for example a guitar, amp, DVD, cable, picks, and pitch pipe for a great price) Customers get attracted to the quantity of products listed and don’t realize that some of the items are poor quality or of little use. Examples of "bundled" products include pitch pipes, unpadded gig bags that are nothing but a glorified garbage bag (your gig bag should be padded!) and guitars that are not set up properly. Uneducated customers are also lured into making one buying decision on the whole package, trusting that all the parts of the package are good. Taking the time to buy the best value for each product is most times the best route to go.
At Quest Musique, we put together packages of things you actually need as a guitar player and that won't be unsatisfactory! We don't sell products that we believe are poor value!
9. Because there is no guarantee that an instrument will increase in value, we encourage people to buy a guitar based upon how it looks, sounds, and feels right now without thinking about what it may be worth later. If the instrument increases in value, that’s just icing on the cake after years of playing and enjoying it.
12. Acoustic vs. Electric…
Ahh the age old question: Should one start with an electric or an acoustic? We believe that one should start playing the instrument that they are most passionate about. This passion will motivate the player through the tough learning curves. If one likes the sound, image, and “cool factor” of their instrument, they will be more likely to stick with it. If they are “stuck” playing an instrument that doesn’t meet the image they want, they will be more likely to be discouraged and prematurely quit. Electrics require a bit more gear which will increase the initial cost of starting. Acoustics don’t require electricity. Both are equally easy to play if they are set up properly. Ultimately, most guitar players will own both. Both are a blast!
We think that buying your guitar should be a comfortable and fun process. Stop by the Quest near you! Our knowledgeable and friendly staff would be happy to guide you every step of the way!