How to determine the quality of a guitar?

Mannoroth · 2012-01-12T10:31:39+00:00

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!

markbuchanan

Interesting stuff, I've been playing guitar (mostly electric) and still can't quite figure out what makes some sound better than others.
I noticed that all my best electric guitars sounded very solid even when strummed acoustically. Its gotta be the wood, and the some of all the parts.
I've tried to customise tons of guitars to get them to sound better, but the core sound acoustically always remains. Must be good wood.
My favourite electric guitars I got are 1968 original Jazzmaster, and a 62 re-issue Jap Strat...And they both have a similar solid( not twangy and slightly hollow) sound when strummed acoustically....thats my 2 cents worth ?

Averatu

deefstes wrote
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.

I think we're on the same page.

Bob-Dubery

deefstes wrote
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.

Just get the case. That's all you need. Word will go around that you have a [fill in the name of famous guitar] once you've allowed people to get a glimpse of the case.

You get your significant other to whisper things like "Bob only takes the [famous guitar name] out of it's case once a month, when he's stone cold sober and there's no distractions around, to check the in-case humidity and put new strings on. He's saving if for his retirement because by then there will be no trees left and that guitar will be worth a fortune."

?

Greenwitch

This is how I came to choose my guitar I am going to buy.

Budget(most important factor)
What type of music am i playing and what would best suite my needs
When you have a few Ideas of which guitar, then start researching the hardware..
Test resonance of the instrument without plugging in(Listen for loose bits) and does instrument feel comfortable in your hands
Because of my low budget I chose an instrument where I could upgrade the pups later on

my 2c and this was just my process

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