What to Look For
Type of Wood
The sides, backs, and tops of guitars are traditionally made from wood, and the type of wood a guitar is made from will help determine not only the price but the sound too.
Spruce is very popular for the top of a guitar and will produce a very balanced cool tone. Cedar tops are often used for classical guitars.
The backs and sides of a guitar do not play as much a role as the top when it comes to tone quality, but it is important. A guitar made of maple will give you a higher sound (more treble), which is popular for the “twangy” sound in country music. Similarly, mahogany will also produce sounds on the higher end and because it’s a heavier wood it will hold a note longer. The pricier rosewood offers the whole range – high to low (bass) and everything in between. Woods like mahogany, walnut and koa are all less expensive alternatives to the rosewood – and the wood of woods is the Brazilian rosewood, probably not realistic for a first-timer.
Keep in mind, these differences in sound can be very subtle and noticeable only to a trained ear, so at the entry level price construction will probably be more important.
Laminated Tops
Some guitar tops, usually the least expensive, are not a solid wood surface. Instead it’s a hardwood laminate or veneer. You can tell if it’s a laminate if you see layers on the edge inside the hole in the center of the guitar. If it’s solid wood you’ll see the grain right through. Laminate tops tend to “deaden” the sound.
Neck
Check that the neck of the guitar is straight and doesn’t curve to the left or right. If it isn’t straight it can affect the sound and create a sort of buzzing. It can be fixed but you should check it out before buying.
Bridge
The bridge anchors the strings on the top of the guitar and it’s important that you check to see that it hasn’t separated from the guitar itself. So make sure there isn’t a space between the bridge and the top of the guitar.
Size
Guitars are available in a variety of different sizes to accommodate every type of player at every age. They come in four sizes: quarter, half, three-quarter, and full. Full size is obviously the most popular, but if a young child is starting out you may want smaller. Just remember though, that’ll probably mean having to buy another guitar in a year or two depending on how quickly the child grows and if they continue to play.
Size will also affect sound. Bigger bodies will result in a bigger, fuller sound with more volume and depth.
Cost
You can pay anywhere from a couple hundred to several thousands of dollars for a guitar. Price will be affected by things like the type of wood, quality of finish and the parts used.
Buying Used
If well cared for, buying used could save you up to half the price of a new one. A good used guitar that’s been played a lot can even sound better, almost as if it’s a well-groomed engine. Just be sure to ask a lot of questions. And check it out thoroughly for cracks around glue joints and edges, as well as the bridge, to see if it has lifted at all. Running your hand down the neck to make sure it’s straight is a good idea too, although even if it’s not it’s usually a pretty easy repair job.
Test It Out
Even if you’ve never played a guitar before, it’s wise to actually strum a few chords when examining various models in the stores. It’s a personal feel and sound so trying different guitars is the best way to find the right one. Even try the ones way out of your budget just for comparison. And if you don’t have a clue how to play yet, also have someone in the store play a few chords for you to help you choose.
What's Out There
Guitars come in a variety of wood types, all offering different sounds and price tags. Brands come with different reputations and their quality will be largely determined by how they’ve been made. Hand made will usually give you a superior product. Solid wood construction will also give you better sound
Most guitars will have steel strings, unless you’re playing classical or flamenco (then you’ll want nylon strings).
Our Tests
We asked award-winning musician Colin James to test out four acoustic guitars ranging from entry price to high end. An audience comprised of expert guitar manufacturers and The Shopping Bags listened with our backs to the guitars – making it a blind test.
Fender
Laminated top
Cost: $260
Yamaha
Solid spruce top
Cost: $640
Guild
Mahogany
Cost: $1200
Martin
Spruce top; rosewood sides
Cost: $2600
After having a chance to listen to Colin play each of the guitars it was amazing how different they all sounded.
- The Fender sounded a little fuzzy especially on the high notes.
- The Yamaha’s sound was black, without much personality.
- Once we got to the Guild you could definitely hear the jump in price – it had much more clarity and a richer tone than the first two guitars.
- But, the Martin was our clear winner by all measures, colourful with much more depth and richness to the sound.
To play and to listen to, the Martin wins, but with a $2600 price tag we’re not sure it’s a realistic purchase, especially if you’re just getting started. So, our advice …a guitar you can take anywhere and have fun with without spending a whole lot of money – the Fender – our experts definitely agreed. Then, when you get really good you can work your way up to a higher end guitar when you can really appreciate the difference.
After You Buy
Care & Maintenance
Be careful when it comes to exposing your guitar to the elements. This includes any humidity or dryness that can cause the wood to warp and come apart or crack. Acoustic guitars with a solid top rather than a plywood top are more vulnerable to hot, cold, wet and dry conditions. General cleaning with a dry soft cloth to remove oil and perspiration after playing will keep your guitar in the best possible shape. A good rule of thumb is to wipe down your guitar with very mild soapy water whenever you replace your strings. It’s also best to purchase a case to store it safely.
Lessons
Take some lessons to get the basics to get the most from your guitar. You can also purchase lessons on video or DVD which work for some people. Remember, to improve your playing you’ve got to do lots of it!
Thanks To Our Experts…
Award winning musician Colin James jammed for us and gave his own personal guidelines for choosing a great guitar. John Larrivee Jr. of Larrivee Guitars has been making high quality guitars for over 20 years. Larrivee Guitars builds over 10,000 guitars a year for people all over the world! We were very fortunate to have experts of this caliber to share their extensive guitar knowledge.
If you’re thinking of taking guitar lessons, you’re obviously going to need a guitar. The acoustic guitar is a good way to get started since you don’t need an amplifier as you would with an electric guitar – it’s instant music anywhere, anytime. But when you can spend thousands of dollars how do you know what to buy, especially before you even decide if you’ll stick with it. We’ll give you some important information before you head out shopping so you won’t end up playing the blues.