You're about to walk into a guitar store and haven't done much research (though this is not recommended!). You wonder what points are crucial when it comes to buying a good-quality instrument. The following list summarizes the main features you will need to know when shopping. Bring this page with you, and make sure you have covered all the points listed before you invest your hard-earned money in a new guitar:

• Step up the instrument quality when possible, but don't overspend.

• Enjoy your instrument. Learn how to play it. It will feel different in your hands than your current instrument.

• Have an experienced guitar tech check the fingerboard for potential warping. The intonation and electronics should also be looked at.

• Make sure the action is set the way you like it. Look at the distance between the nut and the bridge. A low action means the strings are closer to the frets, so your fingers don't have to work as hard to press the strings to the fingerboard. Listen for buzzes and rattles. Once again, a guitar tech is best suited for these procedures.

• Check the tuning heads. If they turn too easily, the strings may slip, making the guitar difficult to keep in tune.

• Check for noise. With the guitar plugged in, stand it close to an amplifier and listen. Whistling or feedback might suggest the pickups aren't well isolated, and it could be a problem playing the guitar at high volume. Make sure the amplifier in the store is not masking faults with the guitar you're playing.