When choosing a new guitar, establishing its quality beforehand can be of the essence. Most guitars share a wide range of similar features; however, there are a few tell-tale signs that can help differentiate between an instrument that’s worth the investment and one that isn’t. Here’s what you’ll want to be looking out for when buying a new guitar:
Here are a few simple ways to know if a guitar is good.
- Conduct a visual inspection for damage.
- Check the guitar for low action.
- Confirm the guitar’s pitch accuracy and intonation.
- Ensure the tuning knobs work well.
- Inspect the guitar’s neck.
- Check the soundboard for cracks.
- Inspect the guitar body for loose parts and cracks.
- Test the guitar’s electronics.
- Evaluate the materials.
- Assess the sound quality.
- Ensure the guitar is comfortable to play.
This article will explore some of the simplest ways to determine if the guitar you own or you are about to purchase is in good condition. So, read on to learn more.
Related: best travel guitars, best thin neck guitars, and best starter guitars. Our rundown of the best guitar brands covers the basics in one place.
1. Conduct a Visual Inspection for Damage
It may seem like you have a lot to consider before choosing the right guitar. You should not let this overwhelm you because the factors you should consider are pretty straightforward.
The first simple and obvious way to determine if a guitar is of good quality is by conducting a visual inspection for damage. A simple visual inspection can help you isolate any glaring issues early on before checking the guitar’s components for specific problems.
Watch out for obvious problems such as broken or missing strings and tuning pegs during the visual inspection.
Finally, use the opportunity to determine the guitar’s aesthetic appeal and style. The guitar’s look and style are more important than most guitarists imagine or are willing to admit. For instance, guitars that lack position markers along the fretboard are relatively more difficult for some guitar players, particularly the novices.
You get immersed and lost in the feeling more when you enjoy the look and style of the musical instrument you use to express yourself. Therefore, don’t overlook the guitar’s look and style during your visual inspection, even if it has no visible damage.
2. Check the Guitar for Low Action
Another simple way to check if a guitar is good is to confirm if it has low action. Action in guitar terminology refers to the strings’ height from the fretboard. Usually, the greater the height and space between the fretboard and strings, the tighter the guitar strings are. This makes it difficult to press down on the strings when playing the guitar, slowing and ruining the playing experience.
Additionally, greater action gives the guitar strings more tension, causing them to inflict pain and sores on your fingertips after prolonged playing periods. This will inevitably affect your playing progression as you can only practice effectively for limited periods.
You should measure the strings’ height from the fretboard at different points along the guitar’s neck to determine how much action the guitar has. Your guitar should have low action measured at 5/64”. If the measurement turns out higher than that, the guitar has high action, indicating a bad guitar.
The guitar’s action does not have to be a deal-breaker because you can adjust it. The adjustments usually depend on the type of guitar at your disposal. However, the easiest method of fixing the action entails raising or lowering the bridge if it has individual string saddles.
Turn a screw clockwise to raise the bridge and anticlockwise to lower it. Remember to keep the same height on both sides of the saddle.
If the action is off due to a floating tremolo bridge, you can only adjust the string saddles after adjusting the bridge tension, and if it’s too high at the nut, your only option is to file the component.
Take note that this cannot be undone. Therefore, don’t embark on a DIY fix if you’re unsure about how to proceed. Generally speaking, it’s always a good idea to hire a professional technician or purchase a new guitar with no issues regarding its action.
I recommend using an allen wrench to turn the screws safely when it comes to guitar action adjustment. Consider using the Nobrand IVU Creator Allen Wrench (available on Amazon.com). It’s a handy tool for guitarists that you can carry on the go inside your gig bag.
3. Confirm the Guitar’s Pitch Accuracy and Intonation
The next simple way to know if a guitar is good or not is by checking its pitch accuracy and intonation. Usually, guitars need to be well-tuned before you can play sensible melodies. Each string needs to be adjusted to a specific pitch for the guitar to be tuned perfectly.
So, how do you check if the guitar has the proper intonation?
The easiest way is to use a guitar tuner application. Multiple applications exist that listen to the pitch of the string you play and offer feedback on the level of correction you need to make.
If you don’t have a guitar tuner application or another reference point, play a harmonic on the 12th fret, then play a note on the same fret the usual way. The guitar is well-tuned if the pitches match. However, the note is higher or flatter than the harmonic, the guitar is off and needs adjustment.
4. Ensure the Tuning Knobs Work Well
Another simple way to know if a guitar is good is by testing the tuning knobs. You must always ensure the guitar’s tuning knobs work correctly, given their crucial function. The tuning knobs enable you to correct the pitch on the guitar strings whenever you need to.
Turn each tuning knob at least one full rotation up and down and ensure they turn easily without resistance. The tuning knobs should also move each gear when turning without snapping the guitar strings.
If you notice that the tuning knob turns loosely without tightening or loosening the strings, they are faulty and need replacing.
Fortunately, they are relatively cheap and easy to replace. Therefore, faulty tuning knobs don’t necessarily make a guitar bad, provided you are ready to replace them.
Should you choose to replace the faulty tuning pegs, I recommend purchasing SAPHUE 6R Guitar Tuner Pegs (available on Amazon.com). They are universal size machine head tuners fitting almost all acoustic and electric guitars. They are also made from a metal alloy, which is solid and durable.