Tag: saving money

I dream of someday having the money to walk into a guitar store, point at a guitar high up on the wall (you know the ones), and hand over my debit card without breaking a sweat.

Until that day happens, the price tag matters.

If you’re like me and still not independently wealthy (despite wishing really hard), you’ll be guitar shopping on a budget for the foreseeable future too.

And that means you want your dollar to stretch as far as it can.

The good news is that you can find good deals on quality gear. But how do you do it? What are the tips and tricks? How can you get solid, playable gear while on a tight budget?

Here are five strategies to get you there.

Sleep on it

It’s important to remind ourselves often that guitars are a luxury. We don’t really need them; as strange as it sounds, billions of people have lived fulfilling lives without them (I know — I don’t get it either).

That truth, as uncomfortable as it is, can help us. Even though we might feel an incredible urge to buy a specific guitar after watching a YouTube demo (or 10…okay, 50), we don’t ever need to make a purchase right away.

This can help us avoid overpaying because of our emotions. At the very least, if you plan on buying a guitar, sleep on it. Maybe even put it in the back of your mind for a week or a month.

I’ve found that for most guitars, my interest level waned considerably after sitting on the idea for a few days.

In fact, I’ve probably saved more money not impulse buying guitars than by any of the other strategies below — combined.

Research, research, research

But say you’ve got a guitar living rent free in your head. You’ve slept on it, considered it, and you still really, really want it. (Don’t feel bad; I’ve got two of ’em right now.)

At this point, it’s time to research.

What exactly is it about this guitar that piques your interest? Is it the color? The pickups? The carve of the neck?

Moreover, are you in love with just the style or look of the guitar, or does it matter what brand it is? Is there a certain production year or years you’re looking for? Do you want to mod the guitar in any way? Are there any defects you are willing to live with or that won’t bother you (or that you can easily fix)?

Additionally, what do other guitarists who own the guitar say about it? What are its pros and cons? Are there mods that everyone seems to do, and if so, why might that be the case?

Furthermore, how much does it cost? What are similar models selling for on the open market? Are you in a buyer’s or seller’s market, and might things change in a few months?

The more information you can gather, the better. The more you can dial in exactly what you’re looking for, what the consensus about the guitar is, and what prices the market will bear, the better you are setting yourself up to find and pounce on the right deal at the right time.

Consider lesser-known or less expensive brands

Even if you do have your heart set on a very particular guitar, if you’re open to it, you can find some great deals for lesser-known brands.

If you are dying for a Stratocaster, it’s worth checking out the Godin Progression, for example. Or you just might find a comparable G&L on Reverb that could be just as good as a Fender.

Likewise, if you have your eyes set on a Gibson SG, you can do yourself a favor by trying out a similar Epiphone model. You could end up walking out of Guitar Center with a $400 guitar that you liked better than the $2,000 one you thought you wanted. (Or maybe not, but the point is it’s free to try, so what’s there to lose?)

The downside here is the resale value. The reality is Fender, Gibson, and PRS are going to hold their value better over time than other, less common or less expensive brands. It’s just the nature of the beast.

So if resale value is important to you, this may not be the best route to take. But if you’re willing to potentially lose a little on the back end, it’s a great strategy to spend less.

Buy used

This is the no-brainer tip. Buying used is almost always cheaper than buying new.

I have had a great deal of luck buying used over the years. I’ve bought multiple “used” guitars — at used prices — that, for all intents and purposes, were new. Some of them still even had the original plastic covering the pickguard, tuners, etc.

There are also some real clunkers on the market, of course. But if you have a discerning eye and are willing to be patient, you can find amazing used guitars at amazing prices.

Ask for a discount

YouTuber Phillip McKnight (if you don’t subscribe to his channel, seriously — just do it) recommends that anytime you buy a guitar, ask for a discount. It doesn’t hurt, and as long as you are respectful about it, the seller just might say yes.

In fact, a lot of sellers are willing to cover sales tax or give you a 10 percent discount just to get the guitar out the door.

Obviously, you don’t want to be silly about it — no one is going to knock 50 percent off their advertised price. But it is possible to save a little scratch just by asking. And even if it’s only $50, that’s still $50 in your pocket!

There are always deals to be had

Buying guitars on a budget is doable. And there is always another deal. If you know how to look, you can amass a very nice collection without breaking the bank. But it does require patience, knowing your stuff, being willing to expand your options, and a bit of boldness.

What are your tips for guitar buying on a budget? What have you found that works that I didn’t cover? Let us know in the comments.

I’ve been on Team Cheap Guitar for a long time.

I own a veritable mom-and-pop shop’s worth of $200-$500 guitars — enough that I’m not entirely sure of the exact count (it’s somewhere north of a dozen). In fact, to this day, I’ve never paid more than $600 for a single guitar, amp, or pedal.

And I can tell you with certainty that everything I own plays and sounds just fine.

Furthermore, in close to 30 years of playing, I’ve never had even a single person give me a hard time for playing an Epiphone instead of a Gibson or a Squier instead of a Fender.

(Side note: I do have a Fender — an acoustic guitar, their budget parlor model, which comes in at under $200 and is great to take camping. But I digress…)

The truth is, there are so many great affordable guitars now that there seems to be no reason to spend thousands of dollars on a top-of-the-line instrument.

But then last year, I bought an Epiphone SG that really amazed me. And I began thinking, how different would a Gibson SG be? The Epiphone is amazing — would a Gibson be better than amazing?

I also started to realize that there were realistic scenarios whereby I could, for the first time in my life, afford an American-made guitar if I so chose.

But what about those great-playing-yet-easy-on-the-budget imports that I love and cherish? Wouldn’t I be wasting my money to buy one guitar worth four or five others that in all honestly played just fine? Or was I starting the transition to Team Expensive Guitar?

This got me thinking about the reasoning behind the choice to buy (or not buy) an expensive guitar. I’ve almost always stuck within a self-imposed $500-per-instrument limit, but that was more a factor of my disposable income than anything.

So are there any valid reasons to purchase a US-made guitar when a cheaper import version exists?

To that end, I’ve come up with a list of pros and cons when it comes to buying a high-end guitar, along with some commentary on each one. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this subject, too, so feel free to leave a comment!

Reasons not to buy an expensive guitar

It will make you a better player. 

True, a better guitar will help you play better…to a point.

A $75 Glarry is probably going to hamper your ability to play with extremely high action, terrible intonation and fretwork, and so on.

A $200 Squier will likely play decently but will need work to get it up to par (unless playing on gritty frets and cheap tuners is your thing, in which case, good for you!).

A $500 Epiphone or PRS SE will almost certainly play well out of the box.

But once you go above that $500 mark, the law of diminishing returns starts to kick in. You end up paying for accouterments and flourishes that look cool but provide little benefit in the actual playing of the instrument.

There is just no real-world scenario where a $2,000 Gibson is four times better than a $500 Epiphone. Realistically, it might be 5–10 percent better when it comes to playability, and slightly more when it comes to components.

But past a certain point, you’re paying for a decal. If becoming a better player is your main goal, it’s probably good to stick with that $500 axe and just practice more.

Everyone will know if you play an inexpensive guitar and will laugh at you behind your back. 

Unless you are talking with a fellow guitar nerd, absolutely no one knows or cares about guitar brands.

Ninety-nine percent of people on Planet Earth couldn’t tell a Les Paul from a Danelectro, much less a Squier from a Fender. And the only people who would judge or laugh at you for such a faux pas are guitar snobs, and who the hell cares what they think?

Virtually no one cares what the name on your guitar’s headstock is. You could rock a Harley Benton and the audience would be oblivious. (Heck, everybody thought Slash played a Gibson for years.)

So if looking cool in front of other people is your bag, there are better ways to accomplish it than forking over a couple grand for a gold-top Les Paul.

Expensive guitars are the only quality guitars on the market. 

This was probably true in 1985. It’s demonstrably false in 2023.

Factories in China and Indonesia have gotten very good at making guitars. And with the advent of CNC machines, the same exact neck or body can be made anywhere in the world. You can find $200 guitars that will blow your mind (I’m looking at you, Harley Benton).

The main difference in quality at different price points is how much hands-on time and QC work the company is willing to pay for. But all that does is reduce the odds of flaws or mistakes getting through. You can still find amazing guitars for cheap and expensive guitars with obvious quality defects.

We’re getting to the point that even budget guitars often have extremely good quality, which means spending a ton is no longer necessary to get a good-playing instrument.

Reasons to buy an expensive electric guitar

You are a professional musician. 

Okay, I admit it — if making music were my day job, I would purchase the absolute best gear I could possibly afford. I’d probably even make payments. It’s my livelihood, after all, and I would want the best tools for the job.

But even then, I would still probably use less expensive guitars on tour and leave the primo ones for home and studio use.

You look at your guitar collection with resale value in mind. 

If you are an actual guitar collector, it makes sense to stick with the big brands (e.g., Gibson, Fender) because they tend to hold their value over time. From an investment standpoint, expensive guitars are absolutely the way to go.

You’ll never make your money back on a Squier Bullet, but a 1990s Ibanez JEM? That’s not a bad spot to park your cash.

You just want one. 

At the end of the day, this is the trump card. Buying a guitar is always an emotional decision, not a rational one.

No one needs a guitar. We can all live without them. Rather, we buy guitars because we like them and they bring us joy. And because of that, no justification is required (except maybe to your spouse).

This is where I’m at in my journey. I love all my cheap and mid-range guitars, but I would also like to own a more expensive guitar at some point — just because I want to.

But here’s the thing — that’s okay. I’m learning that for many decisions, “I want to” (and its corollary, “I don’t want to”) can be its own justification.

Focus on what you want, and to heck with other people

The bottom line is, if you have the money and can afford a high-end guitar, then great — buy it and enjoy it!

And if you’d rather spend less, get a more affordable instrument that you can still enjoy, and pocket the difference, then great — do that!

But don’t think 1) that your choice is somehow better (or worse) than the next person’s or 2) that you need to justify your choice of guitar to anyone (or they to you).

Instead, the better approach is to enjoy the guitar you have, buy what you want, and don’t worry about what anyone else does or says. I promise you will at least be a happier player as a result. 🙂

In many ways, we are living in guitar heaven today.

There are countless brands and styles of guitars, almost all of which you can purchase with the click of a button. And these guitars come in all shapes, sizes, and, importantly, prices.

In one sense, this is great: you can get literally whatever you want whenever you want it. In another sense, it’s not so great: with so many options, it can be easy to feel paralyzed. How can I make a good choice? How can I know I’m buying the best guitar when there are so many out there and I can’t try them all?

This is a big question that deserves a longer answer than I can provide in this article, but I do want to tackle one portion of the answer today.

I want to give some advice on how to choose the best guitar for you based on your needs and budget. And instead of suggesting various brands, which is always going to be subjective, I’m going to stick with price ranges.

But first, it’s important to consider a few questions you’ll want to ask yourself if you are in this predicament.

How much do you want to spend?

This is the biggie. There is no right answer to this question; it’s all about your comfort level. Some people adopt a “go big or go home” approach and buy a Gibson Les Paul straight out of the gate. I have a friend who did this. He decided he wanted to learn to play the guitar, and he wanted a Les Paul. So he dropped over a grand on a nice, new Gibson.

Other people have a harder time justifying spending that kind of cash. Maybe their discretionary funds are more limited, or maybe they just can’t bear to spend four figures on one guitar. I’ve been playing for decades, and I don’t own a guitar I spent more than $600 on.

Price is all about comfort level: how much are you willing to pay for an instrument? With price points ranging from just a few hundred dollars to upward of $10,000, it’s wise to give this some thought before pulling the trigger on a new guitar. And remember, if it feels uncomfortable, it’s probably too much.

How much (and where) do you plan on playing?

I’m primarily a living-room guitarist. While I am good enough to be in a band (and it’s something I’d like to do when my kids are out of the house), it’s just not a big priority for me now. I do play in church once a month, though. I need an instrument that is good enough to work in that setting. That’s why I play Epiphone, PRS SE, and Danelectro guitars, to name a few. They do the job and I enjoy playing them. They are quite literally “good enough.”

Now, if I were a professional musician, you can bet your bottom dollar I would acquire the absolute nicest, most expensive guitar I could possibly afford. That’s because now it’s no longer about simply enjoying playing or volunteering for the occasional worship service. Now my guitar is a necessary tool to make my living.

In my actual job, I’m an editor and writer, and when I started I bought a very nice MacBook. Yes, a lower-priced Windows-based system would have done the job, but I didn’t want to take any chances with my livelihood — I wanted the best tool for the job.

How good do you want to get?

I suppose this is similar to the last question, but it’s worth asking yourself how good you plan on becoming. Are you happy with strumming cowboy chords in your bedroom? If so, there are plenty of very inexpensive guitars that would suit you perfectly. Do you want to become talented enough to start a band or record albums? In that case, you are going to want nicer gear. Is your sole aim in life to become a professional musician? If that’s you, it probably makes sense to up your budget considerably if you can.

Do you care about resale value?

High-end guitars tend to retain value over time better than cheaper guitars. It’s entirely possible to purchase a four-figure guitar, play on it for several years, and then sell it for a profit. I can honestly say I’ve never had that experience with a lower-end guitar. I have made most of my money back, but I’ve never personally come out ahead. But that’s okay, because I’m not purchasing guitars as an investment — but that may be an important consideration for you.

Finding the best bang for your buck

Another way to look at the monetary aspect of how to choose a guitar is to consider the optimal return on investment. This strategy takes the above questions and tries to boil the answers down into a single overriding value or expectation.

In fact, you can sum up this idea pretty easily as follows:

• If affordability is your top concern, look for a guitar in the $200-$300 range.
• If getting the best value for your money is your top concern, look for a guitar in the $500-$600 range.
• If the brand name or resale value is your top concern, look for a guitar selling for $1,500 and up.

Possible purchasing scenarios

Let’s finish by looking at a couple of scenarios to see how we can apply these ideas.

Josh, a new guitarist

Our first guitar buyer, Josh, is a teenager who’s just getting into the guitar. He’s been playing his older brother’s Mexican Strat but wants one of his own. He’s managed to save up $400 but doesn’t want to spend it all. Although he wants to get much better and be in a band someday, right now he decides price is the most important factor. He looks around and finds a used Squier Classic Vibe Strat in good condition for $300.

Amy, an intermediate player

Our next buyer, Amy, has been playing the guitar for a few years and wants a better instrument. However, as a young 20-something, she doesn’t have a lot of discretionary income. She decides to take her time and save up enough money to purchase a slightly used PRS SE Custom 24 at $600. She knows it’s a very serviceable, quality instrument that she can use for many years.

Ron, who wants a “lifetime” guitar

Our last buyer, Ron, is in his 30s. He recently received a very nice bonus at work for selling over his quota. Not needing the cash for anything pressing, he decides to treat himself to a nice new guitar. (Importantly, his wife is on board with the idea!) He decides that he wants to buy an American-made instrument. After looking at his options, he orders a brand-new Gibson ES-335 from a local dealer. He also manages to get a discount by talking to the owner and ends up paying just under $3,000. He knows it will be a joy to play and a reminder of his past success, and should he ever have to sell it, he will likely make his money back.

A game where everyone can win

In each of the above scenarios, the person thought about their situation and bought the right guitar for them and their budget. The surprising part is, everyone was happy with their purchase — but this is because they considered their budget and values before pulling the trigger. They knew what they were willing to spend and why, and as a result, they were able to narrow their search and find the right guitar.

I heard a new term the other day: “case queen.”

It turns out, “case queen” is slang for a guitar in your collection that is so expensive you are almost (or actually) afraid to take it out of its case and play it. The terror of getting fingerprints, scuffing the finish, or — God forbid — buckle rash is so great that you can’t handle the stress of “enjoying” the instrument.

Fortunately, I do not have that issue because I don’t buy expensive guitars.

A caveat — don’t @ me!

Now before I go any further, I want to be clear: I am not judging anyone who owns or prefers to play expensive guitars. Playing the guitar should be above all else fun; otherwise, why on earth would you do it? So if your definition of “fun” includes owning one or more high-end, expensive or rare guitars, then that’s great! I applaud you and wish you the best.

But for me personally, I have learned over the years that I am not that guy.

Now, if someone gifted me a beautiful Private Stock PRS worth ten grand, would I take it? You better believe it! But in the world called “reality” (where I at least try to live most of the time), that just isn’t going to happen (although I do accept tips!). And even if I were independently wealthy, I doubt my tastes would change much. Well, except for probably buying myself a Tesla bot.

My budget-guitar-buying manifesto

This post, then, serves as a bit of a manifesto. It’s a list of the reasons why I personally choose to buy relatively cheap guitars — generally $500 or less. I’d be curious to know which reasons resonate with you.

1. I’m a hobbyist.

The ugly truth about me is I do most of my playing in my living room. The only time I really get in front of people is the one time each month when I’m on my church’s worship team.

If I were a professional musician making a living with my guitar skills, I would buy the absolute best guitar I possibly could. But as it stands, I can play anything I need to play — and have lots of fun doing it — with a PRS SE or an Epiphone.

2. I’m on a budget.

I only have so much money to spend on superfluous things like guitars. I understand that I don’t actually “need” any guitars to have a rich, meaningful life and that any time I purchase a new instrument it is basically a splurge. That makes it exceptionally difficult to justify a $2,000 purchase when I know good and well there’s very likely a $500 purchase that would give me a very similar guitar with 95 percent of the quality of its expensive cousin.

Which brings me to my next point…

3. It’s not 1990 anymore.

In the olden days, it did often make sense to only buy American-made Fenders and Gibsons. I started out on an import Squier back in the ’90s, and let me tell you, that was not a good guitar. That cheapie Squier soured me on the brand for decades, in fact.

Generally speaking, the quality was just not there in cheap guitars 30 or more years ago. Thankfully, that is no longer true today.

Factories in Korea, Indonesia, and even China have significantly upped their game. And with the advent of the CNC machine, it’s only gotten better. It’s possible for any factory anywhere in the world to cheaply and efficiently make guitars with incredibly tight tolerances, leading to many very playable guitars in the under-$500 category.

4. The beauty of the used-guitar market.

The only new guitar I’ve purchased in the last several years was an Ibanez semi-hollow I got for my 40th birthday. Apart from that special occasion, I virtually always buy used guitars. But the amazing thing about used guitars is you can often find them in like-new condition. In fact, I’m looking at six of my instruments right now, and five of them fell into this category. And the last two guitars I bought, I had to actually double-check with the staff that they were used and not new. A couple of them still had the original clear plastic covering on the pickguard and tuners.

The internet has only helped in this regard, as sites like Reverb and Guitar Center’s used marketplace make it possible to shop around the world to find the best deals. Throw in local music shops, and for me, at least, there’s almost no reason to buy a new instrument when I can find the same instrument in the same condition for 30 percent cheaper.

Wrapping it up

This is my rationale for buying so-called “budget” guitars over high-end models. Based on my circumstances, my budget, and the tools and knowledge I have access to, it just doesn’t make a lot of sense to spend big bucks on a guitar. That’s not to say I won’t ever make a big purchase like that, but I can pretty confidently say it’s not going to happen in the near- or even mid-term future.

So how about you? What guiding principles do you use when buying a guitar? What’s your comfort level, and what makes you nervous? Or better yet, what’s your counterargument for purchasing a high-end guitar? Let me know in the comments!

My friends are always amazed at my wife’s and my ability to find deals.

One of our favorite activities is to drive over to Value Village and look for deals. Then later, something will come up in a conversation and we’ll say, “Oh, yeah, I got [that thing worth $50 new] from the thrift store for $5.”

People think we’re just lucky. It is true that luck may play a part in our ability to find bargains, but I would argue the truth is we put ourselves in a position to take advantage of luck when it happens.

The same goes for my ability to score deals on guitars. Today, I’d like to share with you some of my secrets, in the hopes that one or more of these tips can save you a little extra cash the next time you are in the market for more gear.

Research, research, research

There is simply no substitute for research.

Only once in my life have I gone to a guitar store with the intent to make a purchase without having a good idea of what I was looking for. That was special — it was my fortieth birthday. (I ended up with a very nice Ibanez semi-hollow body, by the way.)

In every other instance, I spend a lot of time researching before getting serious about buying. What kind of guitars are out there? Which type of guitars would complement my collection, rather than duplicating an instrument I already own? What are the quality brands that fly under the radar?

I spend a lot of time researching before getting serious about buying.

When I bought my SX earlier in the year, I knew exactly what I was looking for: a Strat-style guitar with a natural finish and a maple fretboard. I’d been on the lookout for months, and so when I stumbled across the SX — a brand I knew was good despite the low price — that matched my specs exactly, it was an absolute no-brainer.

Understand the law of diminishing returns

Based on years of experience, I am firmly convinced that you can buy an incredible electric guitar without breaking the bank.

In fact, I’ve found over the years that the sweet spot is between $400–600. Up to that amount, you are generally paying for higher quality as the price goes up in a nice, linear fashion. In other words, it’s reasonable to assume my $400 used Epiphone SG is “twice as good” as my Epiphone Les Paul Special — and this bears out in playing the instruments.

I am firmly convinced that you can buy an incredible electric guitar without breaking the bank.

Once you start inching your way towards four figures, however, the relationship between quality and price significantly diminishes. I recently tried out a US-made PRS Custom 24 at a guitar shop. To my fingers, it felt and played identically to my import SE Custom 24. It was in no way “worth” paying an extra grand — or more — from a quality standpoint. (That’s not to say it isn’t worth the extra money for other reasons, by the way. But I personally don’t value those reasons as much as the quality factor.)

Look for “new” used guitars

In my current collection of around a dozen instruments, I only purchased two of them brand-new. The rest were used. In almost every instance, however, those “used” guitars had almost no wear and tear. Several of them, in fact, still had the clear plastic protective wrap on the pickguard. And for the last two guitars I purchased, I had to double-check with a store employee that they were in fact used — because they were flawless.

For the last two guitars I purchased, I had to double-check with a store employee that they were in fact used — because they were flawless.

The fact is, people buy guitars with the intent to learn to play all the time, but instead they end up leaving the instruments in their closet for years. Eventually, those guitars end up in a place like Guitar Center, which legally must sell them as “used” even though it’s likely they’ve never encountered so much as a guitar pick.

And, of course, being used, they are cheaper. It’s these kinds of deals where you can get a whole lot of guitar for $500 or less.

Be patient

Once you’ve dialed in the kind of guitar you want and your price range, and you have the mindset of buying a “new” used instrument, it’s time to wait.

Being patient is by far the most important aspect of finding any deal.

Ultimately, being patient is by far the most important aspect of finding any deal. You’ve lived your entire life without whichever guitar it is you’re dreaming about at the moment— you can wait a few more months (or a decade, in my case). If you patiently search online sites and local guitar stores, one of two things will happen:

• You will find a deal on the guitar you are looking for.
• You will realize you didn’t want the guitar as much as you think you did.

In the first case, you’ll be happy because you scored a good deal on something you wanted. In the second instance, you’ll be happy because you didn’t spend a bunch of money on a guitar that wasn’t right for you.

Either way, you’ve won.

I hope these four tips will help you the next time you are in the market for a new guitar. What additional tips would you give someone looking for gear? Let us know in the comments!

My friend Anthony recently started playing the bass guitar.

He had been wanting to learn for some time, and he finally asked me to go down to the local Guitar Center to help him decide what to buy.

Although I am primarily a guitarist, I can play passable bass (and banjo), and I’m familiar enough with basses to help a brother out, which is what I did.

With my help, he was able to pick out a shockingly nice bass/amp combo for not a ton of money.

It’s great fun to be able to help a friend out like this, but unfortunately, if you’re reading this and looking to get into playing guitar, you’re probably not anywhere near me, so I can’t meet you at your local guitar shop and help (as awesome as that would be).

So while I can’t coach you through your first guitar purchase in person, what I can do is lay out some broad concepts that can help you narrow down your options and make a good choice you will be happy with for the long term.

Looks matter

Although I don’t consider myself a vain or shallow person, this is one area where looks definitely matter. I can’t stress this enough: you must love how your guitar looks.

If your guitar doesn’t catch your eye — if it doesn’t make you want to pick it up every time you walk by — then you aren’t going to practice on it as much as you should. It’s just how it is.

I can’t stress this enough: you must love how your guitar looks.

Take the time to look at a bunch of different guitars online. What styles do you like? Which guitar makes you stop and drool a little? Which ones can you see yourself playing and it just feels right?

I remember walking into a guitar store several years ago and seeing a PRS Vela on display. My heart immediately skipped a beat and I almost bought the thing right then and there without even playing it, but at the last minute my sensible self reminded me that I didn’t have a spare $1,200 to spend. (It’s still my dream guitar, though.)

This is the kind of weak-in-the-knees connection that you would ideally like to find, although admittedly for me that’s rare. But at the very least you need to narrow down your search to instruments you find sexy, beautiful, or eye-catching.

Feel matters

Once you’ve narrowed down the list to aesthetically pleasing guitars, you need to find one that feels right.

Guitars are funny, though. Two identical Fenders may feel worlds apart. One might feel inspiring in your hands, while the other feels flat. It’s extremely difficult to quantify feel, of course, but you’re looking for a connection with your instrument.

And the best-feeling guitars I own aren’t necessarily the highest-quality or most expensive ones. I have a cheap Seagull S6 Folk acoustic and a cheap SX Strat copy (both of which cost under $200) that won’t win any beauty contests, but they just have something special about them. I like to say that they have “the mojo.” I can’t explain it, but I can feel it.

The best-feeling guitars I own aren’t necessarily the highest-quality or most expensive ones.

If you’re a complete beginner, you would do well to befriend a player you trust and have them help you with this. But to the extent that you can, try to put your hands on as many instruments as possible and just see which ones you connect with and leave you wanting more. And if a guitar doesn’t resonate with you, put it down and move on.

Price matters

We are conditioned as consumers to expect more from a more expensive item than from a less expensive one. But with guitars, the law of diminishing returns is a real phenomenon.

It’s true that, in general, a $2,000 guitar will be better than a $200 guitar, but it will not ever be ten times better. Likewise, a $4,000 guitar might only be 5% better than one costing half as much. And, there are $200 diamonds in the rough as well as $2,000 duds.

Over the years, I have noticed a few truths about guitar prices. First, you can expect more value for your money for guitars priced up to around $500–600. After this, the differences in quality really start to get minimized, and you begin paying for “upgrades” that may or may not enhance your playing experience. (And oftentimes you’re simply paying for the logo or name on the headstock.)

Second, lower-priced and entry-level guitars have seen drastic improvements in quality in the last 20 years. With the mass adoption of the CNC machine and the rise of quality factories in Indonesia, Korea, and even China, there are some absolutely killer $200 guitars on the market today — so good that I’m not sure how these companies are making a profit.

When it comes to budgeting for your first purchase, just know that you can get a very good guitar that will last you up to a lifetime for $500 or less. Of course, if you’ve always wanted a real Gibson ES-335 and you have the money, then by all means, go for it! But otherwise, $500 seems to me to be the sweet spot — the biggest bang for your buck — with plenty of even lower-cost guitars that have tremendous quality and playability.

With the mass adoption of the CNC machine and the rise of quality factories in Indonesia, Korea, and even China, there are some absolutely killer $200 guitars on the market today.

At the end of the day, if you are looking to get into playing the guitar, you need to take into consideration how the guitar looks, how it feels, and how much it costs. If you are willing to do a little research, try out some guitars, and know your budget ahead of time, you can find a guitar that will bring you tremendous joy and fun in your journey.

Good luck and happy hunting!