Buying a Guitar

Are you looking for advice on how to buy your first guitar? We’ve got loads of really helpful information on shopping do’s and don’ts for musicians.

We’ve had quite a few articles over the year dealing with the topic, ranging from going into the music store for the very first time to buying used instruments to making sure you’ve thought about your guitar’s shape when it comes to making a purchase.

Buying a guitar, or any musical instrument for that matter, can be an emotional ordeal. We’d like to share some helpful advice on what to think about before shopping for a new instrument. If you arm yourself with a little knowledge before heading to the store and you’ll likely enjoy your time there a lot more. We have tons of articles and advice on buying guitars and equipment. Many of the questions you may be thinking of asking might have already been answered here.

Most beginners will want to know what kind of guitar to buy first â€" an acoustic or an electric? Each has its own benefits which this article explains.

If you’re going to take up the ukulele, be sure to get an instrument and not a toy! Here are some tips on finding your first uke.

Buying a gift for a guitarist doesn’t have to break your budget! Here are a lot of gift ideas for the musician in your life â€" all under $30!

Guitar Noise contributor and Forum Moderator Vic Lewis lists his reasons for not playing guitar with a pick, or “plectrum,” if you prefer.

Some beginners give up on guitar after a short time. David explains why the physical shape of your first guitar may be why your first efforts at playing are more frustrating than they should be.

Here’s a very useful article from Mark detailing how easy it is to keep all your gear under control, especially if you play gigs. Wish I’d read this thirty years ago!

Buying a guitar can be an emotional ordeal. We’d like to share some helpful advice on what to think about before shopping for a new instrument.

In this article Greybeard has managed to condense volumes of information and opinions on guitar picks, all culled for our readers and visitors to our Forum pages. Here’s pretty much anything you could possibly want to know about this subject in one convenient place!

In his second chapter of this two-part piece, Bill Cozzo details the stages of choosing and then installing the right replacement pickups for his guitar. As usual, he gives us a wealth of detail and information, making something as intricate as the whole procedure a snap to understand and appreciate.

In response to a reader request, Nick Torres tells us all about the things to look for and consider when buying a used acoustic guitar. This article should definitely be in your clip and save file!

Christmas can lead to all sorts of binging on things, from food to strap locks! Before you go plunging into the nearest music store, it’s a good idea to have an honest assessment of what you actually need. John Tucker relates to us some thoughtful ideas based on his experiences on the subject.

More often than not, buying a second guitar is more daunting than buying your first. All sorts of things are running through your head and, as the cliché goes, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. Contributing Guitar Noise reader John Tucker recently went through the pangs of choosing a second guitar and has kindly taken the time to give us his thoughts and observations on the matter.

Bill Cozzo helps us get through the first step in choosing a new set of pickups â€" deciding what we want in the first place! And then knowing how to get what tone we desire from our guitar.

Laura examines the finer details of the acoustic vs. electric debate through her own experience with these two guitar types and shows how they are indeed two totally different takes on the same idea.

Many “no-name” brands are actually, generally speaking, good. A “no-name” brand is a brand that has no brand marking or simply a brand that isn’t “famous”. Then, there are also the famous companies, and there are many to take a look at. Of course you should be the one determining which brand and model is [...]

If your starting off there are two good choices to pick. There are many packaged deals out there, mainly around $300. They generally come with a guitar, amp, picks, strings, gig bag, and all the other little things needed to get you started. The drawback of these is mainly quality. After you get better you [...]

Here is the lowdown on British bass guitar amplifiers. We detail the similarities and differences between the various amps and give you some help choosing.

Here’s a look at the guitar’s anatomy and physiology. In this article, Tony Nuccio explains the mysteries behind a guitar’s scale length.

This is the second installment on buying a guitar amp. We will focus here on the intermediate player and go a bit deeper into the quest for tone.

A primer on bass amps for beginners. Here’s what you need to know when you look for something a little bigger than your first practice amp.