When you decide to purchase a guitar, although you may have an idea of just what kind you want, it pays to have a close look at the choices the guitar store has on offer. Obviously you will be drawn by looks at first, but you really should pick it up and see how it feels when you are holding it and give it a strum to check out how it sounds.
You may feel a little intimidated playing the guitar in the store, but it is essential to try before you buy. By having a play with it, you will know whether the tone is what you are looking for and that the guitar suits you on a physical level. If it is an electric guitar you are after, make sure it is connected to the same kind or amplifier that you intend to use, as if not, this can make is sound completely different.
Start by strumming the open strings quite hard so that you can hear the sustain. Listen closely for any strings making a buzzing sound and make sure when you play each fret on the neck that there are no fret buzzes. Ask if you can play the guitar in a quiet space within the store if there is a lot of noise going on around you and you cannot hear it properly. If the sales staff in the shop do not appreciate you trying out the guitar, then you should think seriously about buying from that particular store and consider taking your business to another store where you can listen to the guitar properly before making a purchase. If your knowledge of how to play a guitar is limited, then take someone with you who knows what they are doing.
If you can, its good practice to make a written note of the guitars you try. This way you are less likely to get muddled up about which one was which. Write down the make, model, how much it costs and what it looks like and this will make things easier, if you are not buying on the day, but going home to have a think about it. It is necessary to spend as much time as you need in the store looking and trying out the various guitars for sale, before making a final decision and never let the staff of the store, or anyone else for that matter, push you into making a hasty choice.
With a short list of maybe two or three, carry out an on line search for these makes and models and you will probably be able to discover much more about the guitars than the store assistant could ever tell you. Obviously the brand name websites will be doing their best to sell you one of their models but if you are unsure you can always log in to one of the many forums to post your questions and await answers from experienced guitar players, who will be all too happy to give you the benefit of their experiences when buying a new guitar.
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