You know that choosing and buying a guitar is a fairly important step in learning how to play. The absolutely best thing you can do is to read more magazines, like Guitar Player, Acoustic Guitar, and Guitar World, to name a few. Reading these magazines over a period of a few months will give you a better overall look at what's out there before you purchase your second instrument. Take along a friend or ask a teacher to help you. While this won't always be possible, it will still be a helpful step.

Regardless of how well you've done your homework, you should never buy a new instrument (whether it's your first, second, or third) on your first visit to a music store. Test lots of different types of guitars and visit lots of music stores more than once before you make a decision on your second instrument. Coming up with a plan now that defines your ideas about music doesn't mean you can't change your mind later on. This isn't do or die, here. It's just a place to start. To begin, you'll want to consider issues such as type, expense, appearance, construction, neck, and action, which are discussed later in this chapter.

How to Do Research

Doing research is really the key to buying any instrument. Research includes doing price comparisons between different types of guitars and then comparing store prices. You may take the time to go guitar store hopping — always more fun with a buddy. You will also want to consider some online shopping comparisons. Once again, the music magazines are always your best starting line for your research. They have product reviews in every issue, and these reviews are always very informative when it comes to details, playability, and price value.

You can also use the old tried-and-true method of simply asking people you know and see how they pick their instruments and why they chose a certain manufacturer. Sometimes a person who is asked kindly about his or her choice of musical instrument will be more than pleased to share information on their pride and joy.

Buying from a Store

When you go to a music store, be very clear and focused on your objective. Sometimes salespeople can be pushy and overbearing, which can be a turn-off. Bring your research materials — Books, price comparisons, and product reviews with you. (You know the old expression, “Forewarned is forearmed.”) Often, salespeople in music stores work on commission, meaning that they make their salary based on the dollar amount of products they sell. So they may tend to be pushier than a salesperson who has no direct profit from your purchase. Sometimes a commissioned salesperson can make shopping uncomfortable, but don't let it bother you. Kindly let them know you are looking to purchase a second instrument, and that you are interested in a certain type of guitar, and that you are “just looking.”

Many people have difficulties bringing up the subject of getting a discount with a salesperson. Ask the salesperson to give you the price, including tax and case, for the guitar. When he gives you the final quote ask, “Now what can you do for me to get that price a little lower?” You might have to use a little bit of pressure, but it's something you'll get used to doing.

It is also possible to get distracted by the show-off players who come in all the time and play the guitars all day without buying anything. This frustrates salespeople as well, so be alert to the vibe in the store. Now that you are playing guitar a little more regularly, be prepared to test the different types of instruments and their sounds. As you become a more experienced player, physical differences and tonalities are going to be more apparent to you.

Buying on the Internet

One word: eBay! What eBay has done for guitar buying is amazing. eBay has allowed stores to sell guitars online to people around the world that their local clientele wouldn't necessarily be interested in. This is a great deal for you, the second guitar purchaser. When a store is clearing out its inventory, you have the opportunity to get a great deal on an instrument you really want to purchase with limited funds. In addition to eBay, many of the larger store chains have Web sites. Even some guitar manufacturers allow you to buy directly from them online. For example, Carvin, a musical instrument and pro audio company that has been around for more than sixty years, only sells direct to the consumer and continues to do it successfully.

But is it a good idea to buy a guitar through mail order or over the Internet? Some people may say “not really.” If you are someone who needs to test-drive the instrument and make sure that you're comfortable with it and that it works, then continue to do so. Everyone has a different way of doing things. The main objective is to get a second instrument in the way you feel most comfortable.

Are there different size options for younger people, whose hands are still growing, or for adults with small hands?

Yes. If you have smaller hands, you might be more comfortable playing a smaller instrument. Besides full size, guitars also come in half-size and three-quarter-size versions with shorter necks (which means less finger stretching) and smaller bodies, which are easier to reach around. Both steel-string and nylon-string guitars come in these sizes.