Guitar buying guide for the beginner

Tom McMahon has been singing in the shower since he was five. After 12 years his parents got used to it, so he decided guitar would be the best way to irritate them. He hasn't put it down since.\nGoing into a brothel can be intimidating, even if you really want to try it. You need to know what you're looking for before you go in, and one should always remember the golden rule: you get what you pay for. So it is with guitars.\nOften people get into guitar because they hear a slammin' guitar solo and are swept away. What they don't realize is that it is hard, especially if you want to be Van Halen. The appeal of a guitar is that it is portable and affordable, and it doesn't take much practice to start playing songs.\nThere are a few important things to look for in a guitar. The type of wood will affect the sound and the look of the guitar. The heavier the wood, the higher the quality, which will give you a better tone. The neck should be straight. The action -- how easy it is to bend strings and fret notes -- should be good. Good action means that the strings are low to the fret board but not so low that they create a buzz when struck. If all of these requisites are met, the guitar is going to play nicely and sound great. \nGuitars have a list and a retail price, much like cars. A new guitar that retails for less than $200 is crap. I invite anyone that cheap to pay me $200 and I'll be more than happy to slap some strings on a useless piece of plastic cut into the shape of a guitar. The price range for folks who just want an OK guitar to play occasionally is $200 to $300.\nA good guitar will cost $300 to $500. The wood may not be perfect, and the tone will not be either, but the guitar will sound nice and play well. The only danger is that a guitar player who takes practicing seriously and wants to get better will outgrow this guitar after a few years of playing. The ideal price range for a serious guitarist is $500 to $1,000. This will buy a guitar that is sound in every way and that you will not grow out of.\nThe only real difference with guitars in the ideal price range and guitars more than $1,000 is aesthetic. High-priced guitars are fundamentally the same as the ones in the ideal range but have gold electronics or mother-of-pearl inlays or a custom paint job. They are for the person who has way too much money, and I would again extend the invitation to just send that money to me. It will be much appreciated.\nThe next step in buying a guitar (after figuring out your price range) is to decide what type of music the guitar will be used for. For blues and rock, though they are the most expensive, I highly recommend a Gibson or Fender. These brands are the classics and should not be substituted with Epiphones or Squires, since they are just a cheaper version of the real guitar.\nFor heavy metal, Ibanez and ESP are the most popular brands. Ibanez in particular tends to give great quality at a reasonable price. In my opinion, the best metal guitar is a Jackson, and while they are slightly more expensive, it is well worth it.\nThe most versatile electric on the market is undoubtedly the Paul Reed Smith (PRS). It can be used for metal, blues, jazz, rock or anything. PRS guitars cost slightly more than a Jackson but less than a Gibson. For serious and versatile guitarists, they are awesome and require little to no maintenance.\nThere are a variety of different acoustic guitars, but Seagul and Tacoma make some real beauties. The nicest thing about these brands is that you get more than you pay for. They are not going to sound as good as a Martin, Guild or Gibson, but they're also half the price.\nFor a good classical guitar, check out Yamaha. For the ultimate quality at the lowest price, try stowing away in the freight compartment of a plane going to Spain. The guitars there are dirt cheap and play and sound great.\nWhen purchasing a guitar, the idea is to get the list price as close to the factory price as possible. Some stores are willing to go lower than others, and shopping around is the only way to find the perfect guitar. The best prices in Indiana can be found at Guitar Center in Indianapolis. \nAn important option to keep in mind is buying used. Guitars, if well kept, will actually play and sound better with time. Buying used is a way to throw the above price scheme out the window. The best deals are to be found in the used market. Much more important than brand name is the way the guitar feels and sounds. Often times when buying a used guitar, the end product is one you wouldn't have thought to buy but sounds better than anything you could have gotten. The key lies in knowing what you want, looking everywhere and being patient.\n-Tom McMahon