How to Buy a Used Acoustic Guitar
Ooooooooh, don’t you dare turn up your nose at used guitars. That’s precisely the reverse of what you should be thinking. If you offered me two guitars, exactly the same except one was brand spankin’ new and the other had been gently played for the past 30 years, I’d pay more for the used one. Let me give you eight reasons why.
1. The wood ages and the sound matures, bringing out overtones you never knew existed.
When you buy a new acoustic guitar you need to be very careful the first several years that they don’t dry out or get too much humidity. Why? The wood hasn’t settled into its cured state yet. Curing of wood is so very important that done right the wood goes for a pretty penny. The old forest wood that is being pulled up from the bottom of the Great Lakes is prohibitively expensive. Some believe that Stradivarius aged his wood under water so that the cells would lose moisture slower and also be affected by anaerobic bacteria. Personally I haven’t got time to wait, so I’ll go with a used guitar. Now maybe you can’t tell the difference, but you will be able to tell the difference in the next item.
2. Used guitars are generally a lot cheaper, 50% less than what they retail for isn’t uncommon. The PK30 from Tacoma sells for $1469 US online, you can get it from guitarweb on Ebay with a cosmetic finish flaw for $749. That’s a practically new guitar. My 1979 Flyde Orsino cost me $300. New that guitar is $1500. To get the tone that my 25 year old guitar has you’d have to spend $2000-3000. All those numbers are retail folks.
That brings up an interesting point, I classify “used” guitars into four categories: old used, new used, refurbished, needs work to play.
Here is how I break them down:
Old used is at least 10 years old. These guitars have a history. They weren’t turned over just because a new model came out. Most have been gently played or played and forgotten. This is where I recommend you buy. The best bargains are here.
New used is less than five years old. “I bought it for my son and he lost interest” guitars fall into this category. “I thought a better guitar would make me play better” guitars fall in here too. Generally these are low to mid range guitars. Still you can find some decent bargains in here too.
Refurbished guitars are factory seconds or used trade in guitars that have been fixed by a reputable dealer like my friends at guitarweb on Ebay. You can find some great deals on very recent models at places like this. If you go this EBay route, look for a seller with lots and lots of positive feedback.
Needs work to play is something you should just steer clear of, unless you find a 1943 Martin that needs a new neck for $200. Buy it and take it to your local guitar shop to be fixed. The other time you might buy a guitar like this is if you are looking for a specialty guitar. For instance an old archtop Jazz guitar could be had for next to nothing. Take that into a luthier to have the neck reset for a couple of hundred bucks and you could have a real gem.
3. Most guitars don’t get used that much in the first place. More people give up rather than stick to playing. I have no idea what the actual numbers are, but I’m sure there are more guitars in basements, under beds, in attics that aren’t being played than there are guitars being played. Wouldn’t that be nice to find an old Fender Strat that was only driven to church on Sundays by a little old lady?
4. The design of the guitar hasn’t changed much, if at all, in the past 30 years. Not that I need to elaborate on this one, but aside from pickups, not much else has changed.
5. There is something satisfying about bringing the guitar home, taking off the strings, vacuuming out the inside, cleaning the fretboard and body, restringing with fresh new strings and hearing that first chord.
6. Used guitars are not like used cars. Used guitars are like vintage wine or cigars, they get better with age.
For instance, this will link you to a page with a 1943 Martin that is listed for $9000. Click on over to the next page and you’ll see one listed for $135,000.
7. There are woods available in older guitars that are no longer available. Brazilian Rosewood for example, is only available now in three piece backs. Why? Because all that can be logged now are Brazilian Rosewood stumps. True you can find really high end guitars that have solid Brazilian backs, but if you are reading this article you probably aren’t looking to spend six grand for a guitar.
8. Older guitars are often handmade. Why is that better? Because each individual unit was examined by hand every step of the way. Sometimes cutting to laser precision doesn’t make the best sound out of a naturally grown piece of wood. Luthiers used to tap the tops and listen to make sure the tone was right all over the top and they still do in high end guitars. That doesn’t happen in an assembly line factory.
Okay, let’s pretend I convinced you. What do you need to check to make sure the guitar is in good working condition? Well here is a list of 10 things to check.
- How does it look? Does it look like it was well taken care of? Does it look like it was well played but still in good shape? If a guitar was well cared for it shows. I like mine to look slightly played in, so I know a guitarist was caring for it.
- How does it sound? Play every note on every fret of every string. Make sure it doesn’t fret out. Could be a sign of needing a fret job, or worse yet a neck reset. If you bend strings, bend ’em and check out the sound. Pay attention to all of the frets, not just the ones you play. Pay special attention to the ones at the sound hole end of the fret board.
- Speaking of the neck here are five handy dandy tests.
a. Sight down the neck from the side. The neck should appear pretty straight. A little bit bowed is okay, a lot is not. A hump where the fretboard meets the body is a good reason to put the guitar down. Also make sure the neck is not twisted from side to side.
b. Hold down the low E string at the 1st and 12th fret, or wherever the neck meets the body. Now look at the 6th fret, can you just barely see light? If you think you could fit a first string under you are good. Any space greater than a 6th string and you need some setup work, possibly a neck reset if the action is too great and there isn’t enough saddle or bridge. See comment below
c. Gently push the neck to and fro, up and down; it shouldn’t give at all. It may flex a little, but the neck socket should be like a rock.
d. Look at the neck joint at the body, it should be flush.
e. Look at the joint of the fretboard and the top, it should fit snug. - Check to make sure the neck has a truss rod. Reinforced is okay, truss rod is better.
- Check out the space directly in front of and behind the bridge. Both sides should be relatively flat. If the back bulges up a lot behind the bridge, or sinks in front, put the guitar back. A symptom of this is very high action. Some bulge and sinking is to be expected, but the distortion should be less than half of the bridge height.
- Speaking of action, how is the action at the 12th fret? Is it how you like it? If not, see number 7.
- Check out the bridge and saddle. Is there any room for the saddle to be lowered? Is there any room for the bridge to be lowered? If both have been lowered as much as they can be, it’s a sign the neck probably needs to be reset. The saddle shouldn’t have big grooves in it either, that’s another sign of a desperate need for a neck reset.
- Little cracks are not a problem, big cracks are. Use your best judgment. They are cheap to fix.
- Push down lightly on the top all over and listen for creaking. If it creaks one of your braces may be unglued.
- Listen to it. Try to disregard the strings, they are probably older than dirt. Does it sound like a new set of strings would make it sing? If you really think you might buy it, ask the shop to put on some new strings. If they won’t, buy a set yourself and put them on. $4 spent to test the thing isn’t much.
Some of the problems above may be acceptable to you. I sometimes buy good guitars with necks that are coming off the body. I know ahead of time that a neck reset($200-300), or new frets($10 each), or a top crack($50) is going to be necessary and bargain accordingly.
What are some good brands to look for? Well, to each their own, but here is what I look for:
Lesser know names: Fylde, Grammer, Springhill-(Fender), Mossman pre-’76, Weymann, Marwin, National, Vega, Washburn (30s and 40s)
Better known: Guild, Epiphone or Epi – archtops, Kay archtops, Gretsch, Yamaha LL series, Gibson, Takamine – (high end only), Alvarez – (high end only)
Well known (and hard to find a bargain): Martin, Taylor
High end but sometimes a good deal: Everett, C. Fox, Froggy Bottom, Lowden, Huss and Dalton, Northwood, Lakewood, Brook, McIlroy, Breedlove
Probably should steer clear: Any old Ovation, but there are exceptions. In general plastic doesn’t age as well as wood. I do love the new ones though. If you find a refurb, that might be a great deal.
Not even if you paid me: Any acoustic Fender from the mid 70s with a Strat headstock, huge neck block and broomstick support inside.
And two more I just wouldn’t buy: Any old used twelve string. New used maybe, but the string tension over time is a force to be reckoned with. Any laminate top guitar. What’s the point? Laminate tops are strong, so strong they don’t really improve their tone with age. If you are just looking for a knockabout, this may still appeal to you.
Where should you go to get them?
Here are my favorites:
Looking to save a buck or two on a new used guitar? Can you live with a crack repair, bridge reglue, finish defect? If yes head to guitarweb on EBay. 5157 positive feedback ratings can’t be a fluke. They go through cycles on guitar brands, Gretsch is really popular now, Garrison was a week or two ago, Takamine is ever present and some good deals on Tacomas can be had. They also have a large selection of Electrics and inexpensive acoustics.
Strictly high end guitars – Shoreline Acoustic Music. Looking to step up to a better quality guitar? This is definitely a must browse site. Shoreline has McIlroy, Taylor, Martin, Lakewood, Brook, Fylde, Northwood and whatever anyone has traded in. Some great deals, (don’t confuse great deals with dirt cheap, these are high end guitars), can be found on their Dutch auction page.
All types of guitars can be found at Elderly Instruments. Got $135,000 burning a hole in your pocket? Well they have a Martin for you. Elderly also has guitars for $200 so you should be able to find a vintage guitar in your price range. Elderly does the best job of describing the condition of their guitars that I have ever seen.
Buffalo Brothers has a nice selection of mid to high end guitars and includes a special section for lefties.
Did I hear you say you want a bargain? You want something off-beat or maybe just a fun place to shop? Go to Fat Dawg’s World Famous Subway Guitars. Not only do they have a little of everything, they have good prices and a great return policy.
One other choice you might want to consider is a pawn shop. If you’d like to learn more go and read A-Js article Where to Find Great Prices.
I hope this helps you in your quest for ancient tone.
Good luck and if you have questions, I’m just a forum away.
Teddy
December 7th, 2016 @ 12:24 pm
Thank you for your suggestion on how to buy a Used Acoustic Guitar. I agree that we should begin using an used guitar.
I’ll be back soon to your nice blog.
Cheers Teddy
Samuel T. Cummins
October 17th, 2016 @ 1:13 pm
Great, actually, I want to buy a guitar for me in this article will come in handy. Buying used is the cheapest way to get a high quality guitar, but many people don’t know how to buy a used guitar safely and effectively. Thanks for sharing.
Samuel T. Cummins
July 9th, 2016 @ 12:02 pm
Buying used is the cheapest way to get a high quality guitar, but many people don’t know how to buy a used guitar safely and effectively. This tips are helpful to us in many ways to understand which we can acquire used gear, and give us all the information to start bargain hunting
lanton
July 9th, 2016 @ 11:51 am
Great. Thanks for sharing onfo
eric crayon
May 27th, 2016 @ 2:25 am
Thanks for this great post and comments . I am new so I decided to buy a used guitars . I found some good options but one of my friend adviced me to buy a new guitar for beginners . When I check the price on the net , I realized that new one is more economic for me Because it is for beginners . So I bought new acouistic guitars . If I will be a profession maybe I can choose used one but for my situation it wasn’t logical .
Gin
December 8th, 2015 @ 8:36 pm
Nice post Nick, I own two second handed guitars and I love how “worn-out” they look and sound. Thanks for the advice!
William
December 6th, 2015 @ 10:51 pm
I just bought a used Goya 12 string it’s old bout 8 years
It a g410
I’m proud of it but the rosewood on the fretboard shows years of use any tips for getting this beauty back to former glory
Trevor
November 24th, 2015 @ 3:26 pm
Full disclosure, I am the Business Development Manager for a new startup, an online social musical gear exchange site, NinthBeat at http://www.ninthbeat.com. We specialize in affordable used gear and telling a story to go along with your equipment.
I agree with most of what Nick says in this article. Buying used takes away the price depreciation that a new one will experience, and there are much better used guitars out there than not. However, Nick said that it is difficult to get a new guitar to be broken in, and that is why he prefers used, but he doesn’t know how/if the used one was properly broken in either.
Lots of really good advice here. Never be shy to bring in a professional luthier or tech to inspect and give his opinion.
Broderick Joens
June 9th, 2015 @ 12:24 pm
I have never owned a guitar in my life, but I have always wanted to. Growing up in the south, my family had the blues playing on almost every radio. I know B.B. King had a few old guitars he played with, and his sound was amazing. Your comment about the age of the guitar makes me wonder if that was what I enjoyed so much about his sound as a kid.
John
December 6th, 2014 @ 9:05 pm
Thanks for the quick reply! I think I will go with new, especially at my beginer level.
John
December 6th, 2014 @ 1:34 pm
I’m looking at a Sea Gull S6 plus spruce. Looks brand new. I’m a beginner and don’t really know what it should sound like yet. He wants $300. Do you think that’s a deal?
Paul Hackett
December 6th, 2014 @ 5:53 pm
Understand, it’s really hard to give an opinion on a specific guitar. Whether or not it’s a good deal will depend on how the buyer feels. Whenever possible a beginner should get someone to go with them to look at a new guitar. I think a Seagull is a nice guitar for a beginner to have. A quick search online shows you can get a new one for under $400.
Buying from a local music shop is generally a safer move for someone who doesn’t know what they’re getting. I know this article is about buying a used guitar, but it’s not easy for someone who doesn’t play guitar to examine one. If you’re just starting on guitar, there are several options for new guitars in the same price range. Unless there is a big savings compared to what this guitar costs brand new, I’d go with a new one. At least buying from a small local store you can always go back with questions.
Kathy
August 4th, 2014 @ 8:15 pm
Hi Nick, I’m looking at a 1949 Goya G20 classic guitar. It appears to be in very good condition and has a very nice tone. The guy says it needs $150 worth of work on the fret board and bridge to make it perfect. I don’t think I could look at the neck or bridge and know if there were any serious problems. The only thing I noticed was that the bridge was well attached but appears to have been reglued as there was visible white glue in the seam. It’s not cheap, the guy wants $350— with a trade-in — a new acoustic bass that I don’t ever play. Are there key things I should check on a guitar like this? I’m trying to decide if I should take a chance or move on.
Thanks for your time. Kathy
Nick
June 26th, 2014 @ 3:18 pm
Just FYI, Number, subsection 3B isn’t true. This is all about truss rod and neck bow. I think I cut and pasted two sections together originally, but it has nothing to do with needing a neck reset. It might have to do with needing a new neck altogether if the truss rod can’t be adjusted to compensate.
Nick
June 26th, 2014 @ 3:21 pm
Number 8 that should say.
James Smith
April 7th, 2013 @ 7:24 pm
I had a Fender Palomino and played t for over 20 years until t was stolen. It was an excellent guitar with a beautiful tone. True, it needed a set up when I first bought it, slightly used. That’s why I got it cheaply, the seller didn’t know to do that. After I had the same problems with playability, I took it to a good shop. They only charged me about $30 for the set up (it was 1967) and it was perfect after that and I never did a thing but change the strings.
I now have a new fender and, after not laying for over 20 years, my CD 60 CE is beautiful. Yes, it needed a set up, too. Oddly enough, it was also about $30 but I live in Brazil now and the luthier likes me. :)
Mario Velazco
January 22nd, 2013 @ 12:28 am
thanks for all the tips, I would like to ask you a question a have a Martin dx1ae is natural finish I would like to spray a glossy top coat are this will affect the sound?
Nick
April 9th, 2013 @ 4:13 pm
Probably not much as long as you keep the coat thin.
Kevin
June 9th, 2012 @ 8:13 pm
I’m looking to talk to a couple people who’ve actually bought or plan to buy a used guitar online or through ebay, craigslist, etc. I really think that there are merits to initially shopping for a guitar online, but it seems like most people who are in the market would tend to go to guitar center. Anyway, I started a new site to help people find used instruments and guitars online but so far it’s still too new to know if the concept is a good one.
David Hodge
June 10th, 2012 @ 8:53 am
Hi Kevin
Being left-handed, I’ve had to buy most of my instruments online. I think many people do because they think they might get a good bargain. The trouble is that every instrument is very much a matter of feel and comfort and it’s obviously impossible to do that online. You can even go out and check out instruments at a store and then go and order the very same make and model online and end up having a totally different instrument in regard to how it feels and plays. That’s the true gamble with buing online.
I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve been incredibly lucky with my purchases. That may not always be the case in the future.
Hope this helps with your research.
Peace
Tod
March 15th, 2012 @ 8:48 pm
Nick, There is only anecdotal evidence to support many of your statements here, you write as though they are fact. I don’t believe that is a good idea.
Cheers
Nick
April 9th, 2013 @ 4:05 pm
I know this is an old comment, but puh-lease, it’s an article not a scientific treatise. I stand by used guitars are cheaper than their new counterparts,(unless they are collectibles), wood sounds better, or at least stabilizes as it ages and once wood settles it’s much less likely to have problems with humidity. The brands I picked as good to look out for are purely subjective, however they were built well and have stood the test of time.
However, I have changed my mind on Ovations. I love them and think they can be quite the bargain used.