I waited to write about my experience with my Guitar Center used guitar purchase. I wanted to make sure I wasn't over reacting to so here goes.

I love eBay. There are lots of great sellers and having Paypal as a backup is comforting but there is something to be said for purchasing locally, well sort of locally.

I have been secretly searching for my guitar for some time. I'm sure you have a dream guitar or I should say a guitar you would like to add to your collection. I'm not talking about that vintage Les Paul or one of those prewar Martins. I'm talking about something you want but maybe can't afford at the moment or an usual guitar that rarely comes up for sale.

In my case it's the Ibanez R-400 aka Ragtime. They stopped making them in the 80's. Back then I had no idea they existed. A few years ago I saw one and knew I had to add it to my collection. The most striking thing for me was the cutaway and the fact thast you had access a two octave register. The other thing I liked was the D-sound hold, kind of reminiscent of those Maccaferri guitars the Django thing. The headstock looked great and the binding just added to it's beauty. These features are totally subjective. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder as they say. Playability is another thing and that too is subjective. I play mostly finger style but I can pick a little. In my opinion this guitar works for me on both levels. Now the reason I'm telling you this is because I finally found one and bought it.

Here's what happened. Like I said this guitar is sort of an odd ball. You don't see many of them around. When they come up at auction the people who want them are willing to pay top dollar. Supply and demand. Guitars as with other commodities are worth as much as what ever the seller has the nerve to ask.

I went to the Guitar Center's used gear site. I found the guitar for a mere $349!!! To me that was a bargain. The guitar was at one of their stores in North Dallas Texas. I live in suburban Philadelphia so I talked to the guitar guys at the closest store which is in Wilmington Delaware. They told me if I purchase the guitar with a very small shipping fee I could check it out and if I didn't like it for any reason they would refund my money including shipping. Now maybe I shouldn't be saying this and maybe it isn’t company policy but how could I go wrong. If I didn't want the guitar they would simply put it up on their used guitar rack. I called the Texas store and asked about the condition of the guitar. The guy in Texas put me on hold went in the back got the guitar. He answered all of my detailed questions right down to the location of the scratches. It arrived in Delaware in about a week and it was exactly as described.

The point is that I found a great guitar, at a good price. They have stores in over 40 states so chances are there's one near you. The use gear department is somewhat overlooked by many because they don't think about having it sent to their local store and don't want to deal with sending it back if they don't like it. People are always trading in gear. Face it most of us want to upgrade, get bored with our equipment or just have, I cant believe I'm saying this, too many guitars.

I had a great experience and I wanted to pass along this tip. Search online, call the store and talk to a sales rep about the condition, go to your local Guitar Center, make your purchase there and have it shipped there. If you don't like it get your money back. If you're happy with the purchase congratulate yourself on a great deal.

Guitar packages are a great value for someone just starting out on guitar. Beginner guitar players need a few basic tools and it's nice not having to shop around.

It goes without saying that the most important part of the guitar package is the guitar itself. Just about all of these guitars are sold separately. Usually they are the “bargain” model but that doesn’t mean they're poor quality. The big guitar manufactures have a reputation to maintain. They don't want to sell you junk and risk their reputation.

Mass produced guitars being built today are for the most part are pretty good quality. The whole process with lasers pinpointing the exact spot to attach, drill and glue has made for constantly good guitars. Machines eliminate a great deal of human error. Of course the human element does play a part. Occasionally you read a review about the poor quality of an instrument but that seems to be the exception. Quality control is an issue that all companies address in their own way.

The reason most guitar packages cost about the same is the cost of building the guitar. Simple things that add cost but little to the sound quality are the binding and inlay on the fretboard.

The more important features to look at are solid wood as opposed to laminated top the type of woods used in the over all construction of the guitar. The machines or tuners also play a part but as long as they keep the guitar tuned I'm not too concerned.

If you're buying an electric guitar package the amp is a totally different issue. You can look for special features like a reverb setting but the basic settings of treble, bass and overdrive are the most common.

The speakers are usually small, between 6 to 8 inches and a 10 watt or so drive. Try to find something with a headphone jack so you can practice without disturbing the neighbors.

The other items in these packages are all a matter of personal taste.

Extra set of strings guitar strap, picks, tuner, guitar stand, gig bag and instructional book or DVD are pretty standard.

I personally can't imagine not having a guitar strap. The strap has a few advantages for me. I have a bad back and while I can't stand for long periods of time my vertebrate tend to compress and it can get very uncomfortable. The other advantage is singing. When I stand I'm a little more elongated. Seems I have more room in my lungs and I can sing better.

All in all guitar packages are a good value to the beginner guitar player and a great way to get you started.

I always wanted to know how is a guitar made. I know the basic principals of guitar making but I came across this video that takes you through all the steps at a quick pace. While guitar factories differ in their output and equipment for putting guitars together they all go through a similar process.

The best woods for guitar tops are lightweight since they vibrate more and produce better sound. Typically you will see cedar and spruce. Mahogany is is also used but it's much denser. Solid wood is preferred. Laminate or thin pieces of wood layered on top of each other are less expensive and are associated with cheap plywood. The other significant feature of the top is the size of the sound hole. Just remember the larger the hole the more treble or high end. The smaller the sound hole the more bass or low end. Most guitars have a rosette inlay around the sound hole. Purely decorative but a nice touch. Cheaper guitars have a decal but this is the exception.

The sides of guitars are made of mahogany or other denser woods. To bend the wood it's put in hot water to soften it up and put in a form to make it's shape. Commercially it is put in a heated press but if you check out a luthier store you'll find simple forms where the wood dries into it's shape. The sides of the guitar are glued to blocks of wood. Mahogany and poplar are common.

Pieces of wood with grooves cut into to making it flexible are glued to the sides. It's called kerfing. This gives you the surface you need to attach the top and back to the sides. Kerfing is usually made from basswood or mahogany. The top and back of the guitar needs bracing since the wood is so light. The most common is the x-bracing that crosses just under the sound hole. Guitar manufacturers place bracing in other parts of the top and bottom for reinforcement. Placement, thickness of the wood and shape all affect the sound and different designs offer advantages since it controls vibration at different points. After the top and bottom are glued together the binding is put around the sides.

The neck is put together next. A groove is cut and an adjustable rod is set in place, Usually a solid piece of mahogany or hardwood is cut and laid out followed by a fretboard of rosewood, ebony or another hardwood being glued to it. The frets are measured and cut and put into place.

The machine or tuners are set into place. The neck gets set into the body, the most critical part since it affects the action, tone and playability. The bottom bridge is attached and the nut at the top of the neck is put in place, The saddle sets onto the bridge. This is that piece of plastic or bone that the strings go over. The strings go in and the bridge pins lock the strings in place. Commercially it all looks pretty simple but putting it together in your workshop is a little more complicated. This is just an overview. There are plenty of guitar kits available for anyone wanting to make their own guitar. All offer varying degrees of difficulty. You can get kits with the body already put together while others are more challenging.

 
I have, through my guitar playing career, taken lessons at the local music store and at the studios of nearby teachers. I can’t say it worked very well for me. Along with my short attention span I have the problem with practicing. It’s not for wanting to learn. I have that drive but I think people learn in their own way. A teacher has an agenda. An experienced teacher can probably tell a students skill level after the first few minutes. They have their own approach. This can be helpful for the beginner. I have had to correct some bad habits over the years. I have a double jointed thumb and it's a bit of a problem when trying to hold down a bar chord. Another problem I had was that I rested my picking hand on the bridge. I think a teacher can help you with those sort of things. I never learned to read music but I did figure out tablature. I think there comes a point where the student knows what works best.
 
One of the great things about a guitar DVD or download lesson is that you can keep going back to it. You don’t have to remember what the teacher said or look at your notes. You can learn at your own pace and the way you want to learn. DVD ’s for the most part come with some sort of physical paper or something to look at with the tab and perhaps some sort of explanation. I’ve seen DVD's with the tab right up there on the screen to follow along. The way I approach it is that I look at the lesson and make it my own. I’m an aspiring acoustic player. Fingerstyle has always been my passion. It’s one thing to learn a pattern but it’s entirely different when you are learning new finger positions and you’re playing a variety of 4th notes and 8th notes. I break it down measure by measure playing it over and over until that muscle memory clicks. Sometimes it doesn’t and I get frustrated. If that’s the case I work on another phrase or measure and come back to it later. Like I said we all learn differently and DVD and downloadable lessons are an inexpensive alternative to a music teacher

I've seen a lot of used guitars on eBay over the years. I think I know a good deal when I see it. There are great deals but they seem to be snatched up pretty quickly. Competition is huge on this site and those last minute bids make it exciting. One of the problems is the prices.

A guitars value is whatever the seller has the nerve to ask.

There is an especially desirable guitar model I have had my eye on but never had the money at the time to bid on and buy. I've watched the auctions. This particular model doesn’t always get a lot of views if you check out the counter at the bottom of the page but the guitar always sells in spite of what I think is a high reserve. The guitar I'm talking about is the Ibanez R-400 also known as the Ragtime Special. In my mind it is one of the coolest looking guitars. I play fingerstyle for the most part. The cutaway bout and the neck gives you a 24 fret range. That's 2 full octaves. Not that I play that far down the neck but what a great option for an acoustic guitar. The sound hole has sort of an oval shape. It reminds me of those french guitars that Django played. This guitar is definitely a looker. I got to see one of these up close and personal so to speak. I attend an acoustic round robin once a month and a guy showed up with one. I don't have the nerve to ask him if it's for sale and he only brings it on occasion. It's not easy being obsessed with a guitar you want. What makes it even more of a challenge finding one of these is that they stopped making them in the early 80's. Oh well...I may be bidding against you in the next auction.

The first thing you notice when you play the Martin DCX1E is the unusual neck laminate. They use this on their lower end guitars. It has a strange look to me. They didn’t try to hide the fact that it is a laminate. In fact they seem to enhance its appearance by showing the layers wood. Granted Stratabond is probably stronger than any other guitar necks it’s less appealing to me. You’ve got to give Martin credit for their earth friendly nature. They recognize exotic woods are being depleted and they are looking for ways to build quality guitars with the resources available. The back and sides are made of HPL (high pressure laminate). Most guitar makers are building guitars with this material. The fingerboard is made of Micarta, another composite material. It also features a Fishman Classic 4 Sonicore preamp system with volume, bass, treble and midrange slider controls. Most reviewers will tell you this is a great sounding guitar for the price. Martin is creating great sounding, durable guitars from nontraditional materials. This Martin guitar is made in Mexico come with a lifetime warranty.

The Yamaha FG700 is considered an entry level guitar but you wouldn’t know it from the sound. The action is great but a little high if you play on the down the neck. Like all good dreadnoughts it has a booming bass but overall pretty it’s pretty well balanced. This guitar features a solid spruce top, rosewood fingerboard and bridge. The back, sides and neck   of this guitar are made from nato wood. If you haven’t heard of this variety of wood you soon will. Nato is available in large pieces. It’s strong, dense, very durable and it polishes up nicely. Many guitar manufacturers are using this instead of the traditional mahogany. It may be a cheaper wood but it has excellent properties for certain parts of the guitar. You will more than likely see this wood in future guitar construction. It has a nice high gloss finish and chrome tuners. There is white binding around the sides of the guitar that’s a nice touch. The guitar stays in tune during hard strumming but and has a nice light touch when you fingerpick. I didn’t notice any flaws on the guitar I played but I have heard of sloppy gluing that got by the quality control folks. This is purely cosmetic but worth mentioning. I really like this guitar and would definitely check out the FG700. As with all guitars sound is purely subjective so play everything you can get your hands on and find the sound that’s right for you.

Yamaha is a huge company. They have their name on everything from motorcycles to boats to clarinets but don’t let this fool you. They have factories in Japan and Taiwan and to my knowledge do not outsource their guitars. Pretty average but for the price you can’t go wrong.

I am a guitar addict. I love guitars. I especially love used guitars. I can’t help it. It’s part of my DNA. It’s one of those recessive genes that has its way with me every time I go into a guitar store or browse a flea market. Sure I gawk at every new guitar hanging on a rack and occasionally pick one up and play a little. They’re great. They look pretty and sound wonderful. Problem is they lack character. They haven’t quite matured quite yet. Where’s the history? Where’s the mojo? I’m not feeling it.

I get a little rush when I’m at a yard sale and see a guitar with a darkened patina. I give it the once over. Check to see if the bridge is coming up or if there’s any lifting on the body. I flip it over and check where the neck meets the body. Solid. Another once over and I play my first chord. Tune it up. Start to do my little fingerpicking thing to test it out. I love it. Tuners look good. Check the frets. I always like to check the frets. I look for grooves cut into them. Most guitars show wear on the first fret.

One of the worst things I hear from a seller is “Make me an offer.” I always avoid that question. I once made what I thought was a reasonable, if not generous, offer to a seller. You would have thought I called him a dirty word. Totally insulted by my offer which he apparently thought was too low for the guitar he was selling along with assorted tools and his kid’s old toys.

The problem with buying a used guitar is placing a value on it. There’s always the book value which is a nice guide and a place to start. But experience tells me a guitar is worth whatever the seller has the nerve to ask or what ever you are willing to pay.

At some point used becomes “vintage”. Sellers will often use that adjective to describe anything over 25 years old in an attempt to increase the value of that piece of junk they found in the trash.

Great for slide players usually refers to a guitar with poor action and a neck that has seen better days. They may also add the phrase “little fret wear”.

I know how much a set of strings cost. That’s a given. Replacing a new saddle is easy but I’ve spent the better part of an afternoon trying to find one that came close to matching the old one. I ended up fabricating it from some composite material.

Having said that I still like the look and feel of a good sounding used guitar.

eBay is my favorite place to find vintage guitars. You can search and find some of the most amazing guitars. It's a great history lesson. Every guitar has a story. Some guitars are flawless...pristine...mint condition. Other vintage guitars on eBay are a little less than perfect. While I can appreciate the perfectly preserved vintage guitar I also appreciate the survivors. The guitars that lived through the depression and a world war are still a treasure. This is where you can find a bit of a discount. Tuners that aren't original, small cracks, missing pick guard...all part it's history. How may of us make it through life without a few repairs. In most cases they have a great patina and the aged wood sounds so sweet. I even look at the project guitars. You can find some very interesting guitars if you take the time to search. If you're into vintage electric guitars you can find parts to complete your project. eBay categorizes vintage as pre-1980's. Of course you'll find all sorts of guitars thrown into that category. As with anything in life beauty seems to be in the eye of the beholder. I personally like the old parlor guitars. The small size and narrow waist is pure art. The peoples guitar. Something you could imagine being played when radio was the entertainment center. Look through the listings and your likely to find some of the coolest vintage guitars on eBay

Many guitar makers produce left handed guitars. At one time they were almost impossible to find but since about 13% of the population is left handed it makes good business sense. One of the biggest dealers in left handed guitars is Southpaw Guitars in Houston Texas. They've been in business for over 25 years and are one of the best known left handed guitar dealers in the country. They sell quality left handed guitars and are authorized dealers of famous name brands. My experience is that very few small retail music stores carry left handed guitars. Many left handed guitar players are content to play right handed guitars. The set up for an acoustic guitar is simple enough involving a new nut and having the saddle angle corrected. You can add another pick guard where you'll be strumming but I wouldn't recommend removing the old one since you will always have it's "shadow". I suggest buying a true left handed guitar. One that is braced and designed for the left handed guitarist. There is simply no substitute for an electric left handed guitar because of the cutaway design. The large music chain stores usually carry a small inventory of left handed guitars and what they don't have they will order. I have found the best selection is online. There is a lot of competition among sellers to get you buy and there are deals to be found. Especially on eBay. Have a look at the listings below. Check out the online chain stores and if you want a really good left handed guitar contact the folks at Southpaw Guitars.

Left Handed Acoustic Guitars

US Auctions Australian Auctions Austrian Auctions Belgian Auctions Canadian Auctions French Auctions German Auctions Hong Kong Auctions Indian Auctions Irish Auctions Italian Auctions Dutch Auctions Polish Auctions Singapore Auctions Spanish Auctions Swiss Auctions UK Auctions

Best Match Time: ending soonest Time: newly listed Price: lowest first Price: highest first Price + Shipping: lowest first Price + Shipping: highest first

NEW Planet Waves Acoustic Guitar Humidifier GH    US $7.08

Gibson Heritage 12 1969 12 String Acoustic Guitar RARE    US $1,995.00

Yamaha GL1 Guitalele Half Guitar Half Ukulele NEW    US $99.99

Martin D 28M Elvis Presley Limited Edition Guitar Acoustic Guitar NEW    US $5,800.00

Guild GAD F40 Blonde Grand Orchestra Acoustic Guitar w Case NEW    US $799.00

Martin D 41 Special D41 Dreadnought Vintage Series Acoutic Guitar w Case NEW    US $3,899.00

Martin 00 Stauffer 175th Anniversary Limited Edition Acoustic Guitar NEW    US $5,995.00

1994 Taylor K 10 Koa Dreadnought guitar a very rare find    US $1,595.00

Santa Rosa Child Acoustic Guitar A613    US $15.50

Fender CD 140S Acoustic Guitar Natural FREE Shipping USA    US $199.99

View Page:   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10

Left Handed Electric Guitars

US Auctions Australian Auctions Austrian Auctions Belgian Auctions Canadian Auctions French Auctions German Auctions Hong Kong Auctions Indian Auctions Irish Auctions Italian Auctions Dutch Auctions Polish Auctions Singapore Auctions Spanish Auctions Swiss Auctions UK Auctions

Best Match Time: ending soonest Time: newly listed Price: lowest first Price: highest first Price + Shipping: lowest first Price + Shipping: highest first

Dean Bret Michaels Z Signature Electric Guitar NEW    US $599.00

Fender 50th Anniversary Guitar Amp Set NOS BEAUTY    US $5,995.00

ESP LTD H 1001FM Flame Top Electric Guitar See Thru Black NEW    US $749.00

Dean Boca 12 12 String Electric Guitar Black NEW    US $349.00

Dean Baby V 3 4 Size Electric Guitar with Case Titanium Ice Finish NEW    US $219.00

Fender Classic Player Baja Telecaster Tele Electric Guitar Blonde Finish NEW    US $799.99

Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special Guitar w Gigbag Candy Apple Red NEW    US $799.99

Gretsch G6118T 125 125th Anniversary Guitar NEW    US $2,499.99

Fender Standard Stratocaster Strat Electric Guitar White Chrome Pearl NEW    US $499.99

Dean VMNT Rust in Peace Dave Mustaine Signature Electric Guitar w Case NEW    US $995.00

View Page:   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10