Today’s younger generation might have a hard time trusting this, but there truly was a time when cell phones, pagers, PCs, texting, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, & the Internet, didn’t exist! Back in those pre-historic times, buying a guitar was a much simpler affair, and it was also much more inadequate.

You typically had to go to a local music store to explore something you liked or look for the used guitar in newspaper classifieds.

Today, the guitar purchase usually begins with a Google search. In an instant, you are faced with a couple of million pages of dealers, figures, stats, prices, reviews, opinions, forums, & ceaseless babble.

Then the next several hours (or days… weeks… months) are spent examining this endless mountain of information. Prices are compared, forums are monitored, reviews are read, and specs are remembered.

And the fact is, having all such information available to make an informed decision is a perfect thing. Back in the day, all we had to go on was the “feel” of the guitar when we put it in our hands & the sound it made when we played it.

But wait a minute… aren’t those pretty vital issues when buying a guitar?

Keep in mind that every guitar is unique by nature. If you take 10 guitars of the same model, made in the same factory, on the same day, each one will ‘feel’ a little different. Each one will have its own individual response to your hands as you play it. It is a simple fact that should not be discounted when exploring your new axe.

Why Consider Online Shopping to Buy a Guitar

Here are several things to consider when shopping for a guitar online –

1). Do your Research

Exercise some due persistence. Check out reviews & forums of the particular product and online portal. Also, compare pricing.

2). Consider your Music Style Pattern

Consider the style of the music you are playing & look for the guitars which are appropriate for the particular style. If you are playing heavy grunge metal, hollow body ES-335 may not be your best alternative, even though it ‘looks’ cool.

3). Go to some music stores

Explore several music stores & actually ‘lay hands on the guitar you are leaning toward. There is no auxiliary for exploring how it feels when you play it.

4) Look for Several Options

If you find a perfect guitar in the music store that is the perfect fit, one that feels ‘just right, remember that you might never see another one of the same models that fit or plays that well.

Consider buying the guitar from the store before it gets away. Music stores have had to become very feasible with their online counterparts, so take some ads from online dealers and see if the store will match & beat the price. Also, don’t neglect the value of in-store service; it may even be worth paying a few more dollars for this one feature alone.

5) Carefully research online dealers’ return policies

Most have a liberal amount of time to check out a guitar before repaying it. But, also look thoroughly at any re-stocking fees which might eat to your wallet.

6). Check a guitar thoroughly when it arrives

Look for scratches, nicks, and dings. Yours might very well be the guitar that has been returned once before. Ensure all the paperwork & warranty info are comprised.

7). Research the dealer

There are numerous well-known and reputable online dealers out there – but there are some shady characters out there, also. Let the buyer beware!

8). Don’t look back

Once you have bought the guitar of your dreams, which melts like butter in your hands, resist the urge to look around for a better deal. You can determine yourself crazy thinking you got attached because some other dealer ran a sale on your guitar & you can have saved five bucks somewhere else. It is not worth it. Spend your time playing your guitar!

9). Do your homework

Dig deep for all information you can about the guitar of your dreams. Remember, not all is about prices but do compare!

10). Consider your use

If you are the hardcore rocker who jams out heavy metal tunes, then the classical guitar will not be your instrument… an awkward moment, right?

11). Check out the lines on that one

When your beauty arrives, carefully remove it from the box (save the box) & inspect it top to bottom for any damage, & ensure all essential paperwork is comprised, like warranty information.

Okay, now you have the guitar of your dreams. Don’t obsess with the notion that there might have been a better deal out there. That is wasted time & energy, which is better spent practising!

Buying a guitar online can be a rewarding experience with the right Research. Though there is no substitute for hands-on, it would be like buying a car without a test drive!