If you want to learn to rock but feel held back by the cost of buying an instrument, there are many ways you can save money when buying a guitar. Whether you’re determined to get a brand new axe or are open to adopting a guitar that’s been played by a previous owner, here are some great tips to keep your costs down while finding an affordable guitar that’s right for you.
#1 Know What You Need
Not every guitarist needs to own a Gibson. If you’re an entry-level beginner, there are hundreds of affordable guitars that will suit all your musical needs. A beginner guitar needs to fit two criteria: it should sound decent, and it should be playable.
Without a doubt, there are beginner guitars that don’t meet these demands, either because they sound absolutely awful and unintoned, or because their cheap plastic builds and non-filed frets make playing a chore rather than a joy.
But in the last couple decades, many manufacturers have wisened up to the fact that more and more people are serious about learning guitar, so they’ve started producing entry-level guitars that are actually high quality instruments. When you’re starting out, a low-cost guitar is all you need to learn the essential skills and techniques that will lead you down the road of musical mastery.
Now, if you’re not a newcomer, there are other ways to save on a professional guitar. From savvy bargaining to knowing where to look for a great deal, you can save money no matter your guitar needs.
#2 Get ‘Em Used
My first piece of advice is to seek out used guitars. I’m a big advocate of finding used goods, and nearly every guitar I’ve owned was bought used.
Guitars are sold used for a variety of reasons. Oftentimes, someone will buy a high-end guitar before they know how to play, realize it’s not a hobby they’re able to dedicate themselves to, and resell the guitar at a steep markdown. Other instances, a professional player will find they’ve amassed a larger collection of instruments than they need and sell off some of their favorite axes when they clean house. Rarely you may chance to find a true vintage guitar at a yardsale that’s been sitting forgotten in someone’s attic for years.
You can find used guitars online at websites like Ebay and Craigslist, and more recently on Facebook Marketplace, but my best piece of advice is to make sure they accept returns if you purchase the guitar and it comes with more flaws than you were expecting. It’s always nice to be able to play a guitar before you buy it, so don’t forget to check your local pawn shops and yardsales for hidden gems.
#3 Buy the Bruised and Beaten
Both online retailers and major guitar shops often feature a “Scratch and Dent” selection of instruments. Guitars in this corner are damaged goods, but the problems are up front and clearly defined, so you know what you’re getting yourself into before you buy.
Usually, the issues are entirely cosmetic, and more often than not are unnoticeable until brought to your attention. Retailers don’t want to take a complete loss on their merchandise, so they mark these guitars down due to the damage, sometimes by hundreds of dollars.
You can find great deals here if you don’t mind a minor scratch in the finish, but unless you’re repair-savvy, I’d advise against buying any of these discounted instruments that have true structural damage like cracked headstocks or separated neck joints.
#4 Haggle and Bargain
Don’t forget that you can always try to talk down the purchase price of a new or used guitar, whether buying online or in person.
Salespersons are going to try to send you home paying the max suggested retail price. But new guitars come marked up enough to give the retailer a bit of bargaining room. You shouldn’t expect anything too drastic like half off the sticker price, but it doesn’t hurt to try to get a fair share of the cost shaved off.
How do you haggle? Mostly, you just need to ask if they’ll sell it to you for less. Start with as low as you want to pay, but keep it reasonable. The salesperson will present a counter-offer, then you can work your way to somewhere in the middle of what you first offered and the sticker price.
#5 Trade and Barter
If you’ve got any old instruments that you don’t want to keep, many music stores will buy these from you or allow you to trade them in for a discount off a new guitar purchase. Their buying price won’t be very high, and you can definitely get more for a used instrument if you sell direct to another player, but selling to a shop will cut out a lot of the work you’d have to do to sell your instruments otherwise.
Unless you’ve got a really high quality guitar and are for some reason seeking a lesser model, you probably won’t be able to do a straight trade at a music store, but with a bit of bartering skill you can find yourself paying hundreds less for the guitar you want if your trade-in instrument is in good condition.
When buying used direct from another musician, there’s always a chance you have something they’d be willing to trade for, and sometimes they’ll even mention this in their ad. Don’t be afraid to ask; the worst that can happen is they’ll say “no.”
The Final Word
My best piece of advice on how to save money when buying a guitar is to be patient in your purchase. Don’t rush in and pay full price when you could find a better deal in a used guitar or by utilizing a bit of negotiation skills. The right instrument for you is out there somewhere, and it will just take a bit of patience and searching for you to find your perfect guitar.
Alan Jackman is a passionate musician and guitar addict. A guitar teacher in the past, today Alan is blogging at Beginnerguitar.pro helping his readers improve their guitar skills, music theory knowledge as well as providing in-depth gear reviews. Are you addicted to guitar as well? Welcome to the club!