trying out guitars in shops

[snappyfool]

i have had a cheapy standard beginner's guitar for a year or two now and looking to buy a better guitar (you may have seen my thread about getting an american telecaster in another thread. might not be looking at something that expsnive now though.)

reason for wanting a new guitar is due to me starting to notice the downfalls of my current guitar.

anyway, i want to shop around and i want to try out several guitars in each shop to i get a good idea. what are the kinds of things i should test out? i know the importance of feeling comfortable with a guitar, but i am also interested in looking out for any faults in the guitar - hoping you guys can tell me any common issues that i can look for by playing etc.

[lesterpaul]

learn "stairway to heaven" then pick out the guitar you're looking at and play it throught the loudest amp they have really loud ...lol

nah for me i like to just get a good feeling neck and see how it plays unplugged, i think it should be comfortable to you then look at cosmetics or features ...if your were wanting an american tele but its too pricey play a mexi tele you'll still be happy

[john daly]

Originally Posted by snappyfool

i have had a cheapy standard beginner's guitar for a year or two now and looking to buy a better guitar (you may have seen my thread about getting an american telecaster in another thread. might not be looking at something that expsnive now though.)

reason for wanting a new guitar is due to me starting to notice the downfalls of my current guitar.

anyway, i want to shop around and i want to try out several guitars in each shop to i get a good idea. what are the kinds of things i should test out? i know the importance of feeling comfortable with a guitar, but i am also interested in looking out for any faults in the guitar - hoping you guys can tell me any common issues that i can look for by playing etc.

if at all possible try playing the guitar you're thinking of buying in the shop through an amplifier that you will be using at home.It makes a huge difference to your tone.

[mikeh]

I agree that the 1st thing I do is play an axe unplugged to make sure it feels good in my hand. I've always felt that if the unplugged sound is decent, the axe will sound good amped. Obviously the action and the condition of the neck and frets is the focu at this point.

I also agree that if possible, try the guitar through the same type of amp (or something very close) that you plan to use. I play every fret position looking for string buzz and I play harmonics in several locations to determine if additional set-up is needed.

Only after it feels good and sounds good do I worry about the construction and cosmetic issues.

You can get a decent Mexi Tele, for much less than an American Tele.

I also agree about playing Stairway to Heaven loud, the saleguys expect that and normally will offer an additional discount

[freshmattyp]

If you're after a tele, the Korean made Lite Ash Tele's are super sweet. You might also want to check out the Japanese made ones from the 80's. Mine is an MIJ 62 Reissue in Candy Apple Red, It weighs in at about 6lbs. I always try to find a lighter weight guitar, they seem to resonate better unplugged and sound better plugged in

[Easto]

I would also suggest going for "Feel". If a guitar isn't going to feel right in your hands while you're playing I see no reason to buy it. You then want to take into consideration how the guitar sounds. Try it though a couple of different amps in the store to get a better feel for how it's going to sound in the real world.

[lesterpaul]

Originally Posted by mikeh

I also agree about playing Stairway to Heaven loud, the saleguys expect that and normally will offer an additional discount

and if it still doesn't sound like a good deal, break into "smoke on the water" got me a sweet deal on my strat

[Light]

Try `em all, and then ask the store if they have a good return policy. What you want is the ability to take the guitar to a good independent repair shop, and have them look it over. Remember, most new guitars need to be setup, so while the feel is important, it can not be your overriding concern. Most important is how it SOUNDS. A good repair shop can make anything play well, but we can not change the basic sound of a guitar with out significant expense.

At any rate, you should look for a neck which is not twisted. Fret at the first fret, and somewhere between the twelfth and the fifteenth frets on the low E string. Look at the gap around the middle of the length of string you are holding down. Do the same on the high E. The gaps should be about the same, and if they are wildly different you probably have a warp (twisted) neck. This is NOT something you want to try and deal with. Sometimes it is not a problem, and can be played that way. Frequently it is a problem. Don't risk it. With new guitars, this should not be a problem, but it is easy to check.

The thing you do need to worry about with new guitars is loose frets. They are actually fairly common, and most warrantees do not cover the repair, even when it is an obvious flaw in materials and workmanship. Run a chromatic scale up and down each string, listening for buzzes (so this through an amp, as electric guitars usually buzz when they are unplugged, and these buzzes can not be heard through an amp most of the time). There are a number of reasons why a guitar will buzz, but if it is limited to one or two frets, a loose or tall fret is a real possibility. Again, you don't want to deal with it. If you really love the guitar, take it to a good shop and see if what they have to say, but if the guitar does not other wise blow you away, don't bother.

Personally, I don't buy the "play without plugging in" thing. Who cares what it sounds like unplugged? I have played some guitars which were crap unplugged, but when they were plugged in had a sound that could not be found anywhere else (Mosrites come to mind, or most Rick's and every Hofner ever made). The pickups are so important to the sound of an electric that listening to it unplugged gives you no relevant information. But hey, I only play a couple thousand guitars a year, so what do I know.

It is always best to play through an amp which you are familiar with, preferably the one you have. But that is only really relevant if you like your amp. If you are getting by with a beginner’s guitar, you are probably using a beginner’s amp as well. So, play through a lot of different amps. Find a COMBINATION of guitar and amp you like. That way, when you decide to get a new amp, you know what you are after. The other thing to remember is; it is easier to bring a guitar when you shop for an amp than it is to bring an amp when you shop for a guitar. Unless of course you are a fan of the Pignose.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

[gvarko]

Originally Posted by snappyfool

(you may have seen my thread about getting an american telecaster in another thread. might not be looking at something that expsnive now though.)

The guitar was marked $800 and change, w/ hard case etc. After I made the purchase I noticed on the reciept they had the case rung up seperately. The case price was $99.00 and I talked the guy down $100 on the tele..

Anyway I returned the case and ended up paying $670 for the tele w/ tax out the door.. I can't imagine getting more guitar for the money..

Don't be afraid to haggle with the store associates, or ask for the manager if need be...

[snappyfool]

thanks guys, you've given me a lot of advise. the only thing i'm worried about now is whether i will actually be able to know whether the guitar i'm playing is good, or better than the guitar i just tried... or even if it's better than my current guitar! although i think i've been playing enough to have some idea

and yes, i mostly play through a 10w(hah) practice amp at home, so i'll try to play on something similar. prehaps on a couple bigger that i'm likely to upgrade to later.

[apl]

Absolutely the best $300 guitar you can buy today...

[Richard Monroe]

I don't know about "Smoke on the Water", but I've found "Taking Care of Business" by Bachman Turner Overdrive will usually get you a pretty quick discount. I'll go half way with Light. I don't usually listen to solid bodies unplugged, but hollow bodies I do, especially because I often play them that way late at night when my wife is sleeping. There are times when I mic the body of an electric being used to impersonate an acoustic (think Pinball Wizard), so I really do care what the guitar sounds like unplugged. I put the cab in another room and then blend the 2 tracks to taste.
Also, a lot of hollow bodies don't have an adjustable bridge, so intonation becomes more critical. Intonation problems can go way beyond set up problems with hollow bodies.-Richie

[turnitdown]

Tell the sales guy that you need to examine the guitar's "feedback characteristics"... put it in fron of an amp, and turn it up... walk 20 feet away, and just hold a hand to your ear, and make discerning faces....

[Rickson Gracie]

I just bought a Mexican Fender Telecaster Standard from Guitar Center for $349 and I like the sound and playability of this guitar over my 04 American Fender Strat that I paid $900 for. I compared it to the Highway 1 US Tele at the store and the tone was much sweeter on the mexican. Fit and finish is great too.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/...se_pid/510068/


DEFINITELY check it out. You wont be dissapointed. Read the user reviews on Musicians Friend.

[MarkIV123]

The Mexican Fenders are pretty good actually. Strat and Tele. The biggest difference you'll notice is the build quality and NOT THE SOUND. For example the bridge and tuners will be of a lesser quality and the plastic knobs and pick-up selector will feel a little more chincy and not as smooth.

But, overall the price difference these days between the American and Mexican Fenders is a little outrageous.

Also, buy from a place that has a good return policy like Guitar Center or Sam Ash. These places usually offer 15 or 30 day no hassle same as cash or credit return policy. Trust me, I'm that ass who returns a bunch of shit just because its fun to play with stuff for a day or two and then get bored with it and return it. Don't let the salesperson intimidate you either. Your money is valuable.

[comfused]

strap the guitar around your neck !
it plays totally different then sitting on a chair with the axe on your legs

[bigdaddyd]

Ive taken a different approach. Not one that I would suggest, though. Just learning to play, my knowledge is pretty lacking, so....

I go into guitar center, find a guitar that I think looks really cool. You know, gold accents, some pearl inlay. Buy, take it home. then plug it in and play it. Either way, my suckin' chops dont have to be on display for everyone to hear at GC. This worked great for me for the first two years, as my first Epiphone ended up having a nonrepairable twisting neck. GC refunded my money after a year. I got to go shopping all over again. Thats when I got my gold on gold, pearl inlay Schecter. Purchased it because it looked cool, and they said Schecters were ok.

I'm getting a little better, and will begin applying all of your advice when I buy my next ax.

Either way, I have a FlexIII and a Vetta- both 212 combos, so my amp department can make any piece of crap I drag home at least sound pretty good

D

[MarkIV123]

Yeah, I love Guitar Center's return policy... I have 'tried out' so much stuff from them, even a PRS Custom 24 and Mesa Triple Rect. with no problems returning them. Sure, it is a pain driving back and forth all the time, but it is nothing short of the feeling on Xmas morning when we were all kids playing with that new toy for the first few days and then the magic wears off... just don't loose the damn receipt!! Trying stuff at home really is the only way to tell if you like something.. I think it's fair too.. The manufacturers and retail chains have F-ed us so many times in the past with different policies and such.....