What Should You Think About When Buying A Guitar?
There are so many choices of makes and models when you go to buy a guitar today that it can be overwhelming. Why buy one and not another? This little article tries to clarify some of the issues.
Why do some guitars cost more than others? There are few things to consider.
For acoustic guitars, the type of wood used is a factor. Mahogany and other, more exotic tonewoods tend to cost more. The quality of the finish and/or special custom finishes can help decide your final cost. Worksmanship tends to get better as the price increases. USA models cost more and may justify that cost by being made in a custom shop environment (such as Washburn and Parker USA models, for example). Generally the quality and complexity of the guitar binding and type of inlays on neck and headstock, as well as fancy decorative elements tend to bring up the price. The tolerance between adjoined elements can be more precision on the more expensive instruments. You’ll generally pay more for a guitar with a hard case as opposed to one with a gigbag or one that just comes in a box. A more expensive guitar may have been designed with specific features that help in playability.
For electrics, all the above can apply. In addition bolt-on necks versus set necks can be a factor. A set neck takes more manufacturing time but tends to increase sustain as a rule. Bolt-on necks are fine, but do not necessarily maximize sustained tone. The electronics can be critical in determining price. Boutique type pickups with a reputation for the highest quality tone may be a part of what makes a guitar more expensive. Special active pickups can increase price, as can Piezo pickup additions. More elaborately designed tuners can be more expensive, but they may help avoid string slippage as well. If the guitar has a body style that is labor intensive to manufacture, the price may go up.
The brand itself can determine price. Pound-for-pound and feature-for-feature, a Washburn guitar, for example, may be a much greater value at a certain price than a competitor.
Beyond price, you may be looking for a guitar with a style and performance design that is geared to a particular kind of music—the Parker Jazz guitar for example, versus a guitar that is more attuned to power chords, high volume shredding, etc.
Needless to say, Gapplegate Music stands behind what we sell because I would never represent a brand of instruments (or anything else) that I did not believe in.
Get in touch with me personally if you have a question on any guitar and I’ll try to be helpful!
--Grego Applegate Edwards
Why do some guitars cost more than others? There are few things to consider.
For acoustic guitars, the type of wood used is a factor. Mahogany and other, more exotic tonewoods tend to cost more. The quality of the finish and/or special custom finishes can help decide your final cost. Worksmanship tends to get better as the price increases. USA models cost more and may justify that cost by being made in a custom shop environment (such as Washburn and Parker USA models, for example). Generally the quality and complexity of the guitar binding and type of inlays on neck and headstock, as well as fancy decorative elements tend to bring up the price. The tolerance between adjoined elements can be more precision on the more expensive instruments. You’ll generally pay more for a guitar with a hard case as opposed to one with a gigbag or one that just comes in a box. A more expensive guitar may have been designed with specific features that help in playability.
For electrics, all the above can apply. In addition bolt-on necks versus set necks can be a factor. A set neck takes more manufacturing time but tends to increase sustain as a rule. Bolt-on necks are fine, but do not necessarily maximize sustained tone. The electronics can be critical in determining price. Boutique type pickups with a reputation for the highest quality tone may be a part of what makes a guitar more expensive. Special active pickups can increase price, as can Piezo pickup additions. More elaborately designed tuners can be more expensive, but they may help avoid string slippage as well. If the guitar has a body style that is labor intensive to manufacture, the price may go up.
The brand itself can determine price. Pound-for-pound and feature-for-feature, a Washburn guitar, for example, may be a much greater value at a certain price than a competitor.
Beyond price, you may be looking for a guitar with a style and performance design that is geared to a particular kind of music—the Parker Jazz guitar for example, versus a guitar that is more attuned to power chords, high volume shredding, etc.
Needless to say, Gapplegate Music stands behind what we sell because I would never represent a brand of instruments (or anything else) that I did not believe in.
Get in touch with me personally if you have a question on any guitar and I’ll try to be helpful!
--Grego Applegate Edwards
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