How to Buy a Good Acoustic Guitar

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Updated: December 29, 2019

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Buying an acoustic guitar is a daunting proposition if you don't know what you're looking for. There are a mind-numbing number of guitars out there with different features, dimensions, and materials, each claiming to create the best sound. At the end of the day, it's all about finding the best guitar for you -- and buying a good acoustic is more about personal preference than exact science.


  1. 1
    Play the guitars in a music store to find the sound you like best. You're expected to play a guitar before you buy it, so don't be shy. Better yet, play 10 different guitars, comparing the sounds from one to the other. Do you want a deep, big sound, or do you want a brighter ring to your notes? Play a few chords and notes up and down the fretboard to measure the responsiveness at different points, as well as ease of play.
    • If you've never played guitar before, it might not be wise to drop a lot of money on a great guitar until you know it will stick. For the first few lessons, ask some friends if they can lend a guitar. Once you know some chords and songs, you can test them on guitars you might buy.
    • When you're serious about a guitar, take it into a sound-proofed room to test out. Strings on the other guitars in the room will create sound when you play a guitar (sympathetic vibration), making the guitar sound better than it actually is. Most music shops will have an amp room in the back.
  2. 2
    Ensure that the guitar is comfortable and easy to play. If you like the sound but can't play it, opt for a smaller guitar. A key point is that the bottom groove should fit comfortably on your right thigh. Sitting upright, you should be able to strum with your elbow at right angles to the neck, and your wrist flexible. But there are some other, more subtle things to check on a good acoustic as well:
    • The Action: How high above the frets are the strings? On good guitars, they will be close. Cheap guitars have "high action," meaning you must push much harder to play a note.
    • Neck Width: How easily can you reach the top strings with your fretting hand?
    • Body Size: Dreadnaught guitars are big, and have a similarly rich sound. A concert acoustic is much smaller and thus brighter. If you're playing alone, sitting down, the big size can be nice. But if you're part of a band and like to move, you might want something slimmer.
  3. 3
    Select a guitar that fits your style. Different types of acoustic guitars are best for different genres. While the descriptions below are generalizations, they will be helpful when picking out a guitar for beginners:
    • Traditional Acoustic: This is the classic guitar, with a big body and an open sound hole. It is used a lot in folk, rock, country, and pop music, but can be heard in almost anything.
    • Traditional with Pickup: If you see a panel with buttons and a quarter-inch input jack, this means you can plug the guitar into an amp without sacrificing the rich acoustic tone. If you plan on playing with a band, they are highly recommended. Very versatile.
    • Electric-Acoustic: These hybrid guitars are used in jazz and world music, and can only be adequately tested through an amplifier. Generally more specialized.[1]
  4. 4
    Know the difference between laminate and solid-topped guitars. The most important thing for your guitar's sound is the piece of wood on the top. There are a lot of woods used for different guitars, depending on the sound you want, but the most important thing to note is whether or not it is laminate or solid-topped. If you don't know, or it doesn't say, ask a store clerk.
    • Solid: This is one or two matching pieces of wood, lined up with the grain in the guitar. It produces a clearer, richer sound than laminate, but is more expensive.
    • Laminate: Is 4-5 pieces of thin wood pressed together, usually plywood. It has lower volume and tone quality but is still a good option for a cheaper first guitar.
  5. 5
    Check the construction up and down the guitar to ensure a well-built guitar. If you've played the guitar, love the sound, and feel like it fits your style and comfort, then it's likely a good guitar. There is one final set of checks, however, that make sure it is well built and ready to buy:
    • Tuning pegs are easy to turn.
    • There is no excess glue, chips, or marks of other shoddy construction.
    • All pieces feel securely fastened, no wiggle or movement.
    • There is an adjustable truss rod. Ask the store clerks if you cannot find it.
    • The neck (not the fretboard on top of the neck) is roughly even with the top of the guitar.
    • String height is low, especially at the first fret.[2]

Community Q&A

Add New Question
  • Question
    I want to buy a guitar online. How do I know if it's the right one for me when I can't play before purchase?
    Community Answer
    You really can't know. I recommend going to a music store and trying them out, especially in the case of an acoustic guitar. You don't have to buy it in the store, you can test it out and then go home and find the same one online, but you're going to want to hear it first. Another option would be searching YouTube for the type of guitar you're thinking of buying and seeing if there are any videos of people playing it.
  • Question
    Do the strings get easier to press after playing with your guitar? Because in a music store some guitars have strong strings.
    Community Answer
    Sometimes, yes. Or, if you were to buy a guitar and thought the strings were too hard to press down, you could get a lower gauge (thinner) set and install them on the guitar.
  • Question
    What is the meaning of the black plate under the soundhole of an acoustic guitar?
    Community Answer
    The black plate is the pickguard. It protects the body of the guitar from scratches. If you play fingerstyle, it isn't a problem. But, if you use pick, sometimes it may make scratches on the guitar, so the pickguard is mounted on the guitar below the soundhole.
  • Question
    What's an adjustment truss rod?
    Kusuo Saiki
    Community Answer
    A truss rod's job is to counteract that tension and allow the player to adjust how much (or how little) the neck bows. Adjustment truss rod is just adjusting the tension and how much (or how little) the neck bows.
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    • If you are a beginner, have an experienced friend tag along and help examine the guitars with you.
    • Before making a final decision, it wouldn't hurt to read some reviews online.
    • Try not to just rely on salesman opinions; feel the guitar as if you are one with it.
    • Make sure you have enough money to buy one. A good guitar should, at least, cost 150 US dollars.


    • Buzzing sounds can occur even if it's a good guitar. Sometimes it's not a question of how good a guitar is, but if it is set up. A new guitar usually doesn't come from the factory in perfect playing shape. It needs adjustments. Some things you can adjust yourself (like the bridge adjustment) but other things are best done by a professional. So if you want that new Gibson (or whatever) to play the sweetest it can, take it to a pro at a real music store and have them set it up for you.

    Article Info


    Categories: Buying Guitars | Acoustic Guitar

    In other languages:

    Español: comprar una buena guitarra acústica, Italiano: Acquistare una Buona Chitarra Acustica, Русский: купить хорошую акустическую гитару, Français: acheter une bonne guitare acoustique

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