Recently, we had a guitar ship into our tech office that was cause for general alarm. First, it was made in some third world country by people who probably wouldn't know the difference between a guitar and a bass. Second, it had a retail price of $189.00. Finally, it had a plywood body....That's right! I said it....Plywood. It was like a bad horror movie so I couldn't help but dive in. As I tuned the guitar to pitch, I gritted my teeth hoping the bridge was not going to fire back at me. I don't remember how much time passed between tune up and my final strum of this guitar. Primarily, because I was having such a good time playing it. It sounded good. Felt nice. It was lightweight. This guitar put a lot of things in perspective for me and posed some questions. Was I taking for granted that price dictates quality? Did I judge this book by its cover? Should I turn my head because a guitar is not made of an exotic wood. Or because the guitar kind of looks like the classic? Could I fall in love with a cheap guitar and still show it to my friends without risking total embarrassment? I want to tackle these questions and see if they are misconceptions in pricing and if there is a way to buy good inexpensive stuff.
Guitars are built for virtually every budget. We've seen plenty of horror shows in our dealings with instruments, especially dealing with imported products made of laminated plywood or even particle board! But as in all guitars, there are two factors that are the most crucial in deciding an instrument: playability and tone. The wonderful cheapy mentioned before happened to have a really nice feel to the neck, the action was set low from the factory, and the neck was arrow straight. The pickups were surprisingly responsive and the axe felt as heavy as air in my hands. In my mind, I could use this guitar for practice or even studio (when no one was watching), but to show up on stage or at a jam session with friends where reputation is surely on the line, would be a horror I just could not face. Granted, the guitar was not perfect. The tuners and hardware were made of low grade metal, any excessive use of the tremolo would send it out of tune, the 5 way switch looked like it wouldn't have a ton of life on it, and the finish showed the plywood ridges. But, for $189, who cares. Again, the most important factors are sound and feel and this axe scored high in both of those categories.
Are you ready for some cheap guitar action? My first word of advice would be to let your wallet do the talking first. Establish a budget. Also, test some guitars out, preferably on the used market (ie pawn shops, used stores, trade in lots). Test these guitars with your eyes closed so you don't totally deceive yourself. Over the years, especially when I was younger, I often purchased gear because it looked good. Then realizing, after play, that the guitar did not sound or feel right for me. In the late '80's, I saw an ad for a cheap, but hip looking combo amp with distortion and a "loud" button to deliver wailing overdrive. The amp had cool looks, the ad showed a star playing it, and it was sponsored by a large name manufacturer so I opened my catalog and ordered it. What did I receive? Easily, the worst amplifier I have ever laid my ears on! It was garbage and it was too expensive to send back to the store. Raise your hands if this has happened to you before? Don't be shy. To be a musician is to be swayed by a manufacturer into hoping that their product is somehow more magical than the rest. Bottom line, your eyes will not make such a sound decision as your ears and fingers will make.
The guitar I mentioned first didn't do much for my eyes. When I addressed it, it said to me, "I'm a cheap plank, don't expect too much from me!" But, when I started playing it, the sound was full and rich and the satin finish neck was fun to grab. Only later, after I realized what a good deal this guitar was did I begin thinking that it wasn't so bad-looking after all.
When you venture out to the music shops or pawn shops to start testing your budget beauties, you will want to find the guitar that comes alive in your hands and sounds great. Find an instrument that easily sparks your imaginative play. If you have to force it, it is probably not the guitar for you. If you have to convince yourself that it sounds nice, it is probably not the guitar for you. How will you ultimately know which guitar is for you? Easy! You'll be playing really well with it. I am a strong believer in the concept that good-sounding gear will actually make you play better. So try out some guitars this weekend or in your spare time. See how your playing reacts to the guitar. That will be the difference between holding some beautiful tone-wood in your hands or if you're holding driftwood!
Don't get caught up on action as a sign of quality in a guitar. That is an easily adjustable or compensated feature on most guitars. So, unless the guitar does not have a removable saddle or a nut or a truss rod, do not base your rating on action. Some cases you want to watch for however, too high of action on an electric or an acoustic can mean that the neck is warped or the truss rod is bent. If high action is due to either of these two issues, exercise your right to walk away or return the product as a defect to the manufacturer. Some stores can help you with that. If you are looking at a pre-owned instrument, just walk away if these issues arise.
Finally, when it comes to pure cosmetics, there are a few things to consider. First, if I had the choice between a really fancy looking $200 guitar or a really plain one, it's a no-brainer that the latter will probably be the better instrument. Why? Because on the fancy axe, you are probably paying for the cheap ornamentation, a cheesy pickguard, bad inlays, and a crappy decal made to look like the "real deal." On the other hand, that plain-looking Mr. Cheapo has no decorative crud, so you'll be spending the money for better materials. Really, the only time to spend money on fancy decorations is in the $499 on up range of instruments. I'd rather see my money go towards better construction and materials rather than a fancy finish, an MP3 Player installed, or artsy inlays that look like their from a costume jewelry collection. Keep the bargains basic and you will have a better time. You can always repaint, install new inlays, or change the pickguard in the future. Your playing and musicianship will be better rewarded by using these guidelines.
Once you have found the style of guitar you want and have indentified common materials that work for you it is time to think about purchasing new or buying that one at the Pawn Shop. The one at the Pawn Shop may be inexpensive and feels right, but for maybe a small amount more you can get a warranty or some factory recourse in the case of future defect. Picking your retailer is a key in this process too. Sometimes, the larger dealers and box stores will not be able to help you because corporate sales plans may get in the way. you need to find a dealer that will care about your needs as a musician. If purchasing your instrument online, make sure the retailer has a return policy that is not only defect oriented. At Ultratone Guitars, they offer a Satisfaction Guarantee. You can return your instrument to them even if the guitar is perfect, condition wise, but does not feel right in your hands. As long as the guitar is still in "brand new" condition, it can go back. If you play it right away, you will know right away.
Obviously, the whole realm of cheap gear is kind of dicey from a consumer's point of view. But, I am happy to report as someone who gets to play and hear almost all of the new gear that comes out - that the low end of the gear market has definitely improved over the last 10 years. Manufacturers want to put higher quality instruments in your hands, and they know musicians' pockets tend to run more shallow than deep. Test these budget guitars out and remember to let your ears and fingers have the final say!
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