If you’re looking to buy a guitar, buying used can save you a good deal of money. When you buy a used guitar there are some things to look for to make sure you don’t overpay, or worse, wind up buying a basket case. The following are tips to help you buy a used guitar.

Where to buy a used guitar - There are plenty of places where you can buy a used guitar. All have advantages and disadvantages.

Musics stores are a good place to look. They often have a decent selection of used guitars. You’ll be able to try the guitar out in person and verify the condition before purchasing. The down side of music stores is the prices may be a bit on the high side. Just because the guitar is used the store still has to make a profit.

Reverb.com (which specializes in used musical instruments) or eBay can be great places to buy a used guitar. You are likely to find a huge selection of guitars, from $100 beaters to multi-thousand dollar vintage guitars. When you buy a used guitar, having a lot to choose from is great. However, guitars on these sites are often sold from locations all over the country. Unless you find a local seller, you probably won’t be able to play the guitar before buying it.

Classified websites like Craigslist are another place to buy a used guitar. Most people selling through these sites prefer to deal locally and will usually let you inspect and play the guitar before buying it. While you can find a great instrument this way, you do need to use common sense when you buy a used guitar from a classified ad. You may deal with some flakes and weirdos. There will also be people who describe their guitar as “mint condition” in the ad, when in reality, the guitar looks like Pete Townshend smashed it on stage in the Who’s early days. Always be prepared to walk away if the guitar is not as described.

Garage sales can sometimes be a good place to buy a used guitar. You probably won’t find a 1959 Les Paul sitting in somebody’s driveway, but you can often find lower level guitars that play pretty well at dirt cheap prices. You’ll have to go to a lot of sales, but it can pay off if you’re persistent.

How has the guitar been stored - Guitars are mostly made of wood. Since wood is very sensitive to humidity & temperature, guitars (especially acoustic guitars) can be affected by where they’re kept. A guitar that’s been kept in its case in a climate controlled environment is likely to be in better shape than one that’s been left in a cold, damp crawlspace for the past 20 years. Buy a used guitar that’s been properly stored and cared for.

Fret condition - When you buy a used guitar, one of the most important things to check is the condition of the frets. Are they all high and even or are they dented, pitted and worn down in different spots. A proper fret job to re-fret the guitar can be pretty expensive. Often a few hundred dollars. If the frets are very worn, it’s probably better to keep looking for another guitar, unless you get a killer deal that makes it worth the expense of having a re-fret done. It’s also possible the frets could be mildly worn, but still have a lot of life in them. In that case, you could have a luthier “dress” the frets. Fret dressing means carefully filing down the frets so they are all even with each other and the instrument plays correctly. A proper fret dressing is significantly cheaper than a full re-fret.

Is the neck straight - A straight neck is important to having a nice playing guitar. Pick the guitar up by the body and look down the neck. Compare the straightness of the neck to the big E string. There should be a very, very slight curvature (almost unnoticeable) bowing away from the string. Any more substantial of a curve could mean the neck simply needs adjustment, or be indicative of a warped neck.

Do the electronics work - If you’re buying an electric guitar, make sure you can plug it into an amplifier to verify if the pickups, knobs, and switches work. Listen for any crackling. Crackling noises or knobs that don’t work could mean the switch/knobs just need a cleaning or may need replacement. A pickup that doesn’t function could mean there is a wiring issue.

Condition of the tuners - When you buy a used guitar, be sure to inspect the tuners, or machine heads. They should turn smoothly and be able to hold the guitar in tune when you play it.

How does it play & feel - Make sure you like the way the guitar feels when you play it - the shape of the neck, the feel of the fretboard, weight & balance of the guitar when you hold it, etc... A guitar may look beautiful, but play poorly, while a guitar that looks like it belongs in a junk pile may play very nicely. It’s a matter of opinion to people how a guitar plays. Get one that YOU think plays well.

Does it sound good - A guitar is an instrument for making music. Naturally, it follows that you should buy a guitar that sounds good. As with how a guitar plays & feels, a guitar’s tone is a matter of opinion. Be sure to get one that pleases your ears.

What’s a good price - Prices for used guitars can vary widely - from tens of dollars to tens of thousands of dollars. Like any item, quality, rarity, and demand will dictate the price. A genuine Gibson Les Paul Standard is an expensive guitar when it’s brand new. Since it’s a very popular guitar, even used Les Pauls can cost as much or even more than when they were new. Starting prices for a good one will likely be well over $1000, while a cheap, off-brand knock off of a Les Paul could probably be bought at a garage sale for a fraction of the price. If you’re interested in buying a particular brand / model of guitar, take your time to look at different websites and stores to get a feel for what the going price should be.

Buying a used guitar can take a little time if you want to get a good one at a good price. Luckily, it’s nowhere near as involved as buying a car or a house. The points listed above should give you a good foundation for your search.