The Definitive Acoustic Guitar Buying Guide ★ Acoustic Tuesday #139

This definitive acoustic guitar buying guide uses a 5-step framework to help you choose what acoustic guitar to buy. For the 5-step framework and examples on tons of guitars, be sure to watch this episode of Acoustic Tuesday!

Buying an acoustic guitar can be a tricky process. By following my 5-step framework, you'll have a guitar you feel confident purchasing. Before you watch the video, be sure to invite your significant other/partner to watch with you! Having your +1 on board will help during the buying process.

To get things started, let's dive right into the acoustic guitar buying guide...

Step 1. Evaluate the Guitar's Looks
You might be thinking that this is not that important. You might think the sound is the most important part of a guitar. But you need to be attracted to your guitar visually. This doesn't mean the guitar needs to be flashy and blingy.

Instead, you want to feel as if the guitar is calling to you and you are inspired by just the "look" of the guitar — whether it's worn, straight grain, or matte finish. If you're drawn to a guitar visually, you're more likely to look at it and feel the need to play it.

Step 2. Evaluate the Guitar's Sound
Ideally, you want to be able to play the guitar you're thinking of purchasing. If you can't play it try finding a variety of demo videos with high-quality sound. When you listen or play the guitar, I want you to stop for a moment and ask yourself, "Can I still feel that guitar resonating in my body?"

I want you to find a guitar that feels so amazing, you can't see yourself without it. This means something different for everyone. Every guitar player has their own preference on timbre and tone and volume, so just make sure the guitar you pick resonates with you.

Step 3. Evaluate the Guitar's Playability
When buying a guitar, playability is an extremely important factor. For this step, I want you to take into account the things you cannot change about a particular guitar. For example, you can change the action, string height, or strap button placement. Things you cannot change are nut width, neck profile, string spacing, body width, etc.

You want to feel comfortable when you're trying out guitar. If anything feels too big, too small, or just not right, don't be afraid to move on. If you don't feel comfortable playing it, it'll be that much harder to motivate yourself to play that guitar.

Step 4. Evaluate the Guitar's Versatility
This might not be applicable to you if you're looking for a specific type of guitar to round out your guitarsenal. However, for most guitar geeks, you want to find a guitar that can do a wide variety of playing styles. You'll want a guitar that can grow and flex with you as you discover new concepts, styles, and genres of acoustic music!

Make sure the guitar you're thinking of buying can do both fingerpicking and flatpicking. You want this guitar to be by your side through your acoustic guitar journey.

Step 5. Evaluate the Guitar's Level of Inspiration
This is difficult to do, but just know that each guitar has a story. The guitar that inspires you the most typically has a story behind it. Even if your buying a new guitar, the story attached to that guitar is the story of the manufacturer. The story of a Taylor guitar, fresh out of the factory, is different from the story of a new Martin guitar. Which story resonates with you the most?

If you're looking at used or vintage guitars, also take into account the story of the previous owners. You want this guitar to inspire you and bring joy and fulfillment into your life.

What do you think of this 5 step framework? Did it work for you? Are you planning on using this definitive acoustic guitar buying guide? Let me know in the comments below!

If you need more practice on deciding whether you should buy a guitar, make sure to watch the full episode. I'll be evaluating three different guitars and applying this 5 step framework to each of the guitars.

If you want to see more of the notes I have on this episode, be sure to visit Acoustic Life today!

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