Used Guitars

Used guitars can be a great bargain for those interested in buying a guitar but don't want to invest the amount of money needed for a new guitar.

Vintage guitars are especially popular these days, especially guitars made in the united states. Many guitar models were stopped being made in the united states in the seventies. These used guitars are approaching the thirty year mark, making them very popular with collectors and guitar traders. They are also with musicians who are looking for that classic sound.

Used guitars can be bought online on auction web sites as ebay. The internet is becoming an extremely popular way of searching for and purchasing guitars. The web allows you to purchase from the owner direct, thus avoiding the middle man mark up. And of course there are many musical instrument dealers operating on the web, so that option is available also. The internet allows you to compare prices easily and there are no geographical boundaries. The only downside is that you can't actually try out the instrument unless you happen to live in close proximity to the person selling the guitar.

When buying a used guitar, check to make sure all the parts are working correctly. The tuning, tone and volume knobs and controls should all move smoothly and make no strange static noises when turned. The guitar neck should be straight and there should be no loose parts on the guitar. If the guitar is electric, plug the guitar into an amplifier and try out all the the different pickup settings to make sure they are all in working order.

When buying a used guitar there are a few basics you will need:

• Check to determine if the neck of the guitar is warped or bowed. If the neck of a guitar is warped, the strings halfway down the neck will be too high off the fingerboard. or the strings will be too close to the fingerboard, and a buzz will occur.
  
  
• When the nut or bridge is too high, the strings will be hard to press down. This is commonly referred to as "action" of the strings. Strings that are too high are know as having bad action. Doesn't hurt to ask how the action of the guitar is.
  
  
• Make sure the guitar is the correct size. Find a used guitar that is easy and comfortable to play. Ask if the neck is standard, wide or narrow. If you have small hands, a narrow neck might work best.
  
   
• Ask about the finish and general mechanics of the guitar. Ask if the tuning pegs work correctly and smoothly. Is the finish chipped or fading?