Tips for Buying Your Second Guitar

As a budding guitarist, you’ve worked hard over the years to hone your talent. In fact, you’ve improved leaps and bounds from the time you bought that second-hand six-string from your neighbour, (inspired by "the Boss"... weren't you?) Ever felt like that buzzing string, is just stopping you getting any further? It sounds like you need to upgrade to a new guitar soon. If this is the case, here are a few tips to help you purchase the second guitar of your glittering career.

A Flexible Budget Sounds the Right Chord!

If you’re fixed on getting the highest quality sound; be ready to stretch your budget a little more! You need to be flexible... it's a bigger decision than when you bought your first guitar. This is especially true when it comes to the signature toys of the big boys... like a Gibson Les Paul. Now that's a classy piece of kit to aspire to! Of course, buying a guitar like this is really an investment. A high-quality guitar, like most Gibson kit, will keep you rocking for years to come and if you look after it, it could still pay you back handsomely!

Test it Out

Don’t shy away from testing out a few guitars in the store itself before you buy. Go with a guitar that resonates, with a sound that suits the songs you plan on playing. Take the time to check out the feel and the effect of the volume knobs. The quality and versatility of some of the Humbucker pickups on recent Gibson kit takes the art of sonic seasoning and coil tapping to new heights, that the standard issue models can't approach ... there's a whole section on this topic on Gibson's support site. Pickups are just 1 aspect of the guitar that you can actually test extensively, in shop, if you plan on purchasing a new electric guitar.

Buying that second guitar is exciting, but that excitement can also be overwhelming. Always ask for help from one of the friendly staff in the music shop. By describing what you want from your new guitar, an experienced staff member can help you pick one out that meets your needs and expectations to a tee.