Once you get your little body inside of a guitar store, there is a distinct protocol that should be followed. Here are our tips:
- After spotting a guitar that you like, walk up to a sales rep and tell him/her that you'd like to play it.
- If you know nothing about guitars, try to find a friend who does to come with you (or at least have someone show you a few chords to play). Do NOT let the sales rep play for you, because the sales rep will be some guitar god that will make everything sound good. No matter how bad you are, YOU should be the one playing it.
- Likewise, don't let the salesperson plug your guitar into some monster amp, because an amp will make even the shabbiest of guitars sound good. Trust your ear - you know what garbage sounds like.
- Always comparison shop. Listen to a guitar that's way out of your price range, and work your way down to the worst. That way, you'll know exactly what you're paying for and what you're missing.
- If you think the sound is good, then you should do a quick check for "fret buzzing." A fret buzz occurs when the wood is warped. When you pluck a fretted note, it should sound clean. If you hear a buzzing or weird vibration, then send the guitar back, and ask for a new one. You should also test the harmonics and octaves around the fretboard to make sure everything sounds in key.
- Once you've found a guitar you like, talk to the salesperson and make sure that you can get cool little services with your purchase, like a warrantee or maybe a free lesson or some wood polish.
- Then go on and buy it. Learn how to play guitar. Practice every day. Write a hit song. Score a record deal. Get some groupies. Then get a midget sidekick - only then will you know you've made it.
