The 5 Biggest Mistakes people make when they Buy a Guitar Online

The 5 Biggest Mistakes people make when they Buy a Guitar Online

Buying a Guitar Online from an Online Guitar Store can be a very daunting task, especially if you’re in the early stages of your guitar-playing journey or if you’re just looking to begin as there are so many different models and makes of guitars available online. It can often seem a little overwhelming at times!

This article should help to clear the fog a little when it comes to Online Guitar Store’s and Online Guitar Shopping as we dive into the 5 Biggest Mistakes people make when they Buy a Guitar Online.

1. They Buy from a Non-Reputable Source

When buying a guitar online it always pays to do your research into where you are purchasing from to ensure you are getting exactly what you are paying for! We’ve heard some real horror stories of customers buying a guitar online from an Online Guitar Store and the deal going pear-shaped for one reason or another.

The most reputable online guitar stores will be listed as official dealers on the relative brand websites such as Gibson, Fender, Cole Clark, Ibanez etc and will often have good reviews on Facebook, google and other forums.

It’s important to make sure you’re buying you guitar from an Online Guitar Store who is trusted and reputable so do your research.

2. The Guitar isn’t Setup and Ready to Play

Buying a guitar online is different to buying a pair of shoes or a jacket. Each guitar needs to be properly setup by a trained technician before the guitar leaves the store or warehouse. Too often we hear of customers receiving their guitars out-of-tune and virtually unplayable because the instrument was not setup properly to begin with.

A guitar which is not setup properly can be very disheartening to the guitarist as it can make it much more challenging to play especially if the guitar has a high action, where the strings are too high off the fretboard. The guitar can also sound buzzy if the action is too low and the strings are buzzing on the fretboard.

Having a guitar setup properly when you are buying from an Online Guitar Store is a key factor when it comes to the enjoyment in playing the guitar post purchase so make sure the guitar will arrived setup when you are making your purchase.

3. They Buy from a Warehouse/Department Store and not a Guitar Store

There is a difference between buying a guitar from an actual Online Guitar Store and buying a guitar from a Warehouse or Department Store. The difference is that reputable Online Guitar Store’s actually know a thing or two about guitars and typical Department Store and Warehouse-type businesses do not.

Why is this important? Well because you want to know that you’re receiving the right advice when it comes to Buying a Guitar Online and you don’t end up with something that doesn’t suit your needs.

Also if something goes wrong with your guitar you’ll want to know that you get the right kind of after-sale service to help and be able to talk to an actual Guitar Expert rather than someone who knows nothing about guitars.

4. They Buy on ‘Look’ rather than ‘Feel ‘and ‘Tone’

Now don’t get me wrong, I know how important it is to get a guitar that looks the part. But too often we find that customers base their purchasing decision on looks alone without considering the feel and tone of the guitar.

When you Buy a Guitar Online it can be difficult to get an idea of how the guitar actually feels without physically playing it yourself. If you can’t get into a Guitar Store and try out the guitar you are looking at then the next best thing is to ask the salesperson at the Online Guitar Store to describe the feel of the guitar for you or to do your own research online and find out what other people are saying about the feel. You also might be able to suggest your preferred setup specifications to the Online Guitar Store you are purchasing from to ensure you get the right action for your individual needs.

‘Tone’ is another factor which needs to be considered when Buying a Guitar Online and it is often difficult if you don’t have the guitar in your hands so in this case listening to online reviews and speaking with the salesperson at the Online Guitar Store about the tone of the instrument is what we would advise in this situation.

5. They Buy Based on Price Alone

While we love a good bargain just as much as the next guy, we know that the best price isn’t always the best option. Buying a Guitar Online for the cheapest possible price can lead to a wide array of problems including; poor setup, old strings, old shop-soiled stock, no warranty, defects, poor customer service, slow delivery speed, the list goes on.

Price is always going to be a factor when Buying a Guitar Online, our advice would be to combine the price with other factors such as customer service, product availability, store reputation and delivery speed etc. Considering all of these factors will help to assist you in making the right decision when you are dealing with an Online Guitar Store and buying your next guitar.

So there you have it, these are the 5 Biggest Mistakes people make when they Buy a Guitar Online. Hopefully this has helped to shed some light on your next guitar purchase and can make searching for a guitar online a little less daunting.

Good luck and Happy Playing,

Haworth Guitars