How to determine the quality of a guitar?

Mannoroth

After visiting a few music stores the last couple of weeks I realised that one cannot always fully rely on what the store clerk tells you. One guy will tell you one thing and at the next store some other oke will tell you the exact opposite. Even different guitar techies will sometimes tell you different things.

I know very very little about guitar hardware, and would like some hints on how to judge the quality of a guitar (Specifically electric guitars). When you pick up an axe for the first time, how can you tell if its a cheapy or a good quality guitar? People have different preferences, but in general - how do you inspect an instrument? If someone placed a real Gibson and some cheap replica before me, apart from the brand how would I really know the difference?

Some comments on materials used, for example different types of wood, would also be useful!

Squonk

Electrics - I have no clue, all I know is that my Peavey T-60 sounds good unplugged compared to some of the cheaper guitars.

Acoustic - You will have to trust your ear on this one and Research the model number etc. I have found in most music shops, the clerk doesn't have a clue if it's a solid top or laminate etc, or even the makeup of the woods. The tone should tell you if it's real or not.

flatfourfan

Mannoroth wrote:
Some comments on materials used, for example different types of wood, would also be useful!

The internet is your friend on this one. With a brand and model you should be able to find out the wood/ hardware etc. Mahogany guitars seem to be the industry average and I've had it on 5 guitars. Bass wood seems to be on the cheaper guitars and ply laminate seems to be on the budget guitars.

I go armed to a music shop with what I want pretty much already decided. I RARELY even listen to what a salesman has to say, because they have their favs and they also get commission and are sometimes told to flog the slow sellers, I just want to test the gear before I buy it.

You'll have to define cheapy guitars, because I have an ibanez ARX-300 thast has the fit and finish of a way superior guitar and that guitar new is under R4000. Also had an Ibanez Gio that is a sub R2000 guitar that had a very similar feel to a way more expensive RG470 that I owned that sells for almost 3 times the price.

Sub R2000 and you should feel it straight away. Tuners used usually have a thin plastic feel to them and the neck nut is usually a thin plastic POS.

Sebber

There are a lot of different factors that can indicate quality, or lack thereof, of an instrument. Also, not all instruments are equal when it comes to fit and finish, by which I mean judging the quality of, say a Strat-style guitar means you'll be looking at different things than you would if you were judging the quality of (say) a Les Paul-style guitar.

Generally speaking the fret job is the first place I look: watch out for sharp fret-ends, also on a brand new instrument the frets should be highly polished, mirror-like. Examine the neck to ensure it's straight and not bowed. Make sure there's no wobbles or rattles on the tuning machines. Then check the finish, make sure there's no nasty finish accumulated on any of the contours of the guitar's body, or around the neck join. If a bolt-on neck check how well the neck fits in the pocket. If the body (or neck) is bound, examine the binding all the way round to confirm the execution of the binding is clean.

Really, there's so many variables when it comes to judging quality I can't fit them all on here. It would help if you gave an indication of your budget and what sort of guitar (other than "electric") you're looking for.

Mannoroth

Sebber wrote: There are a lot of different factors that can indicate quality, or lack thereof, of an instrument. Also, not all instruments are equal when it comes to fit and finish, by which I mean judging the quality of, say a Strat-style guitar means you'll be looking at different things than you would if you were judging the quality of (say) a Les Paul-style guitar.

Generally speaking the fret job is the first place I look: watch out for sharp fret-ends, also on a brand new instrument the frets should be highly polished, mirror-like. Examine the neck to ensure it's straight and not bowed. Make sure there's no wobbles or rattles on the tuning machines. Then check the finish, make sure there's no nasty finish accumulated on any of the contours of the guitar's body, or around the neck join. If a bolt-on neck check how well the neck fits in the pocket. If the body (or neck) is bound, examine the binding all the way round to confirm the execution of the binding is clean.

Really, there's so many variables when it comes to judging quality I can't fit them all on here. It would help if you gave an indication of your budget and what sort of guitar (other than "electric") you're looking for.

Thanks, these are the kinda tips I'm looking for. Nothing in particular I want to buy right now, just wondering what "queues" people use to judge the quality of a guitar. Obviously there will be varying levels of quality, a 5K guitar could do a great job but will off course not be of the same quality of a 20+ K Gibson.

ezietsman

Mannoroth wrote: Obviously there will be varying levels of quality, a 5K guitar could do a great job but will off course not be of the same quality of a 20+ K Gibson.

Do not determine the quality of a guitar by its price alone, it is not a given that a R20k guitar will be better built than a R5k guitar, although one would expect them to be. Listen to Sebber, you MUST look at the guitar in detail to determine whether it was well-built or not. Also, being well-built doesn't make it sound good. Wood varies and a cheaper guitar may have better acoustic properties than a more expensive one. This is usually not true but it certainly is very possible.

Bob-Dubery

Mannoroth wrote: Thanks, these are the kinda tips I'm looking for. Nothing in particular I want to buy right now, just wondering what "queues" people use to judge the quality of a guitar. Obviously there will be varying levels of quality, a 5K guitar could do a great job but will off course not be of the same quality of a 20+ K Gibson.

Don't judge a book by the price sticker!

As with many other types of product, sometimes with guitars you are paying for the name.

And guitars are a game of diminishing returns. You don't get twice as much guitar for 20k as you do for 10k, you don't get twice as much for 40k as you do for 20k etc.

Mannoroth

I once had a Cort X when I first started out, the spacing on the 19th fret was larger than on the 17th, thats a bad thing right? ? ? ?

Averatu

Its all about price, and how impressed everyone is. Actual quality is irrelevant.

Sebber

Mannoroth wrote:Thanks, these are the kinda tips I'm looking for. Nothing in particular I want to buy right now, just wondering what "queues" people use to judge the quality of a guitar. Obviously there will be varying levels of quality, a 5K guitar could do a great job but will off course not be of the same quality of a 20+ K Gibson.

No worries man: buying a guitar can definitely feel like you're investing in a "big ticket" item, whether you're a youngster looking to drop a couple of grand on an entry level instrument or you're one of us more "mature" types (not behaviour-wise, necessarily), who can/do/will spend significantly more than that.

As the other guys said: price doesn't guarantee you quality, so the higher up the price-scale you're looking you owe it to yourself to examine the instrument more thoroughly (well, ALWAYS examine an instrument that you're looking to buy for flaws thoroughly). For example, I've seen some pretty awful finishing on "high-end" Gibsons over the last few years that you wouldn't see on an Epiphone or Tokai. And yes, of course, the name on the headstock (or grill-cloth) can carry its own price-tag.

guidothepimmp

Averatu wrote: Its all about price, and how impressed everyone is. Actual quality is irrelevant.

:?

8)

AlanRatcliffe

There are hundreds of things to look for to judge the overall quality, from the big stuff like how good the finish and fretting is, all the way down to small details like: if the pickguard screws are straight or not; how much filler is around the inlays; how well the binding is jointed; colour bleed at edges and over binding; visible polishing compound; how good the plating is; etc., etc., etc..

The really good builders pay attention to the small stuff, the cheaper ones tend to pay attention to the outward looks, but give themselves away on the stuff that's harder to see at first glance. You can be sure that a builder who is anal enough to take the time removing fuzz from control cavities before painting or glue drips inside an acoustic or hollowbody has paid good attention to the important stuff you can't see, like neck joins.

I look at guitars very differently from other people - I want a good unplugged tone and nice quality woods and good construction of the neck and body. Anything else I can change.

IceCreamMan

Averatu wrote: Its all about price, and how impressed everyone is. Actual quality is irrelevant.

i reckon price is the leading indicator of quality ...yip before eveyone jumps up and down and calls me a bourgoisiese pig an all..hear me out.

price is a factor of cost and cost to make something is an indication of its quality, specifically in guitars...the more it costs to make it , the more it will be a quality instrument... the correlation between price and quality is prolly higher than any other factor mentioned here.

and of course its not an absolute ..there are examples specifically when compared to brands that extract a premium for their name, name adds nothing to quality by itself ..

flatfourfan

I saw a certain article on Gipsum guitars. (no names mentioned here) that stated that a Los Paulo ( pro signature model) cost a little over $390 to build, list price is a little over $3900.

1) To have the name Gipsum on the headstock, you the consumer are paying 40% of the guitars value
2) To have Los Paulo on the headstock, you the consumer are paying 5% of the guitars value
3) To have the pro players name on the headstock with the flashy paint job, you're paying 15% of the guitars value.

The cost of a guitar includes so many other things that actually have nothing to do with making the actual guitar.

Bob-Dubery

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: I look at guitars very differently from other people - I want a good unplugged tone and nice quality woods and good construction of the neck and body. Anything else I can change.

Yeah. Saddle And Nut, who has some very fine instruments, has a similar methodology. He gives an electric a couple of strums without plugging in. If that goes well then he gets interested and starts looking at other aspects.

AlanRatcliffe

flatfourfan wrote: I saw a certain article on Gipsum guitars. (no names mentioned here) that stated that a Los Paulo ( pro signature model) cost a little over $390 to build, list price is a little over $3900.

Materials only I'm sure. Factor in labour and the price skyrockets.

Bob-Dubery

Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
flatfourfan wrote: I saw a certain article on Gipsum guitars. (no names mentioned here) that stated that a Los Paulo ( pro signature model) cost a little over $390 to build, list price is a little over $3900.
Materials only I'm sure. Factor in labour and the price skyrockets.

Absoloodely. Plus there will always be some sort of markup so that the maker can (whisper it) make a profit.

I can't put numbers to it, but it seems to me that at the high end the biggest single cost must be the labour.

Mannoroth

Understanding all you need to know about guitar gear can be quite overwhelming - Not even to start talking about Amps and Effects.

I think I must start allocating 30 mins of my practice time to researching guitar gear!

Isis

One thing I've picked up on over the years involves the bridge on a guitar. Bad Floyd Rose bridges, flame maple finishes, and the in/famous H-S-H pickup configuration will add to the price of a guitar without significantly adding to the quality and in most cases even detracting from the quality of the build. If you find any of these features on budget guitars and even higher end budget guitars, rest assured that it will, in all likelihood, be a rubbish guitar.

As far as I'm concerned I find myself in the minimalist camp. The less bells and whistles the better. If you want a fully equipped, high quality guitar with a nice finish you are not going to pay R3000 for it.

deefstes

Averatu wrote: Its all about price, and how impressed everyone is. Actual quality is irrelevant.

Actually, it's all about the decal on the headstock. Nothing else matters as long as the decal on the headstock is right.