What Kind Of Guitar Should You Buy?

If you have a guitar that you like, by all means use it. If you don’t have a guitar, or have one that you don't like, let’s talk about what you should consider in a new guitar.

First, there are two different kinds of guitars - acoustic and electric.  They are pretty different, but are both equally awesome.  Here’s a short comparison:

Acoustic 

• • Make their own sound, so they don’t require additional equipment
  • Are generally harder to play, because the “action” is higher and strings are thicker
  • Geared towards softer genres and quieter environments (not amplified)
  • Less sonically versatile, but loved by purists

Electric

Require additional equipment to be audible, starting with an amplifier and cables

• Are generally easier to play, because the “action” is lower and strings are thinner
• Great for all genres, but especially suited for loud environments and genres
• More sonically versatile, as the sound can be altered with pedals, modelers, etc. 

The absolute most important thing to consider with a new guitar is playability.  

Electrics are (by their nature) easier to play because of their thinner strings and lower action. Action is the distance from the string to the fretboard, which is what your fingers will have to account for to get a note to sound. 

Therefore, if you don’t have a preference, I alway recommend an electric for beginner guitarists because the initial physical hurdles of playing are smaller, thus increasing the chances of the new player sticking with it and being successful.

But - if you love the acoustic guitar, really want to play the acoustic, or already have one - by all means go for the acoustic. It’s not that much more difficult and shouldn’t be viewed as such.  

And frankly, most players have both acoustic and electric guitars in their collection. 

The next main thing to consider is price, or more specifically, you’re budget.

If you know you only have $300 you can invest in a guitar, then that’s your deal. Don’t fight it.  You don’t need to get an expensive first guitar in order to be successful. 

But remember - if you want an electric guitar you will also need an amplifier and a cable to get started. This will invariably increase your cost, so this is something you need to consider. 

Now, I must mention that there are many “packs” out there that sell the guitar, amp, and cables together for a very low price - but just like all entry-level packages (regardless of industry) - they are generally of poor quality. 

The one thing you can’t do is get a cheap (poorly made) guitar. 

I can’t stress this enough. If you purchase a poorly made guitar that doesn’t stay in tune and has action so high that you can’t even press down the strings, there’s little chance you will enjoy learning and stick with it.  Don’t handicap yourself right out of the gate with a guitar that fights you.

Make it easy on yourself. Buy a quality guitar the first time.

So how does one do this? Easy - go to the store and play everything in your price range. Buy the one that feels the best to you.  Period. 

Don’t let look, brand, color, features, etc. take priority of the feel of the guitar in your hands. Even if you don't know how to play yet, you will be able to tell if the action is too high, if the neck is too thick or too thin, etc. 

And one more thing: don’t be afraid of used gear! Used gear is fantastic!

Buying a used guitar is not like buying a used car.  Buying an older quality instrument is ALWAYS a better choice than buying a new instrument of lesser quality. I cannot stress this enough! Especially if you are on a tight budget, buying older gear that is of high quality is absolutely the right decision. Quality is always the right decision, with anything in life. Don’t be afraid to buy a 20 year old guitar as a beginner for $300. It may have cost $1000 new and is just as good if not better then new guitars with a similar sticker price today.   Good hunting!!!