Buy A Guitar: Should You Buy A New, Used, Vintage, Antique, Or Collector Guitar?

By Mike Furlong

Open the case on a brand new shiny quality guitar and it's like opening the door to a new sports car or sedan. Pick up a fine collector guitar and you can just feel the crafsmanship and the skill that shaped instrument. But which should you buy?

For collectors or speculators, the the answer may well be the same ... either one ... new or used. Collectors are mainly interested in the beauty, crafsmanship, historical value, or ownership history of a guitar, not the playability. As a collector, you should pick the guitar you like, buy it, and enjoy it. Speculators are mostly concerned with increase in monetary value. And if you're a speculator, then pick the guitar you think will appreciate the most, hold onto it for whatever period you like, and then sell it. If you make money you chose right. If not, you made a bad investment. My advice to you, buy low and sell high!

So this discussion is primarily for players, although there are a few points of interest to collectors and speculators.

If you're buying it to play, then, which should it be?

In general, new guitars from quality, reputable manufactures are going to have the edge in playability. Machine tolerences and woodworking equipment tolerences are better than ever. Computer-controlled lathes and other computer-controlled manufacturing and quality control instruments and procedures ensure that new guitars are more consistent and standard than ever before ... although it may cost you more money up front than a used guitar.

But before you give up on used guitars, let me raise another issue. Are you looking for an acoustic or electric guitar? Many people feel that as acoustic instruments get older, they sound better. As the wood ages it can dry out or undergo other subtle, but noticable changes, which can enhance its sound. For the entire guitar its characteristics such as moisture content, hardness of the varnish, adhesiveness of the glue, strength of the joints, and other vitals can change as it grows older. Stradivarius and other violin makers of the late 17th and 18th centuries created instruments that are prized today, not just as collectors' items, but sought by virtuoso performers for their beautiful tones.

For the most part an electric guitar gets most of its sound quality from its electrical components: the pickups most notably. This is especially true of solid body guitars. Aging contributes little to improved sound from electrical or electronic devices. Pickups, volume, and tone controls get noisy. The wear and tear of frequent use damages the contacts and other small parts. And although they can be cleaned or replaced, sometimes it is more expensive than new equipment.

What kind of warranty or guarantee is available. Frequently there are no warranties or guarantees with used equipment. And sometimes getting the service is difficult even if there is a guarantee.

Is it stolen? Guitars are easily transportable and easy to sell, so it seems that musicians and guitarists in particular are frequently targets of thieves. Before you buy a used guitar I would recommend that get the serial number and then search the web for "stolen guitar" or "stolen guitar registry". Double-check the instrument and report it if it is stolen. You will be doing the right thing!

Is it genuine? Are you able or qualified to identify a counterfeit from the real thing?

What about the residual value? If you like to trade guitars frequently, you should be aware that a quality guitar whether new or used maintains a reasonable residual value. However, not every used guitar becomes a collector's item. And many people are leary of used instruments for the reaons mentioned previously.

What about buying over the Internet using the world wide web? If you are buying a guitar, make sure you are dealing with the website of a reputable dealer. This will protect you from some of the issues mentioned above such as stolen or counterfeit items. Check through old issues of guitar and music magazines at the library. If a music store has been in business a long time you can probably order from their website safely. But make sure they sport what I call the web safety logos. Logos from Verisign, the Better Business Bureau, and other authorities are the first step. But logos are easy to copy, so check them out! If you have trusted friends who have ordered from them, ask for their feedback. Check out their return policies and make sure they have insured shipping available. If you're dealing with an individual, I would suggest using one of the web escrow services to ensure that you receive your guitar before payment is released.

The bottom line?
Well for me it's playability. And in general, for the best playability, warranty, or guarantee, it's hard to go wrong with a new guitar from a reputable music store or website.

Mike Furlong

I like to play guitar, talk about guitars, and collect them. So many guitars, so little money!
Check out
Electric Guitar Advisor   or my blog Electric Guitar Advisor Blog

Article Source: Mike Furlong

 

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