I’m a big advocate for buying guitars in person. Nothing quite beats playing your guitar and “feeling” if it is the right one for you.
But what if you don’t have a local music shop nearby? Or want a model that no one stocks? Or want to buy second-hand? Or are a beginner and don’t know which guitars “feel” good or bad?
If any of these describe you, read on to learn a few tips for shopping for guitars online!
Buying a guitar from an online store
Buying guitars online is generally pretty easy now, but there are a few things to check when choosing WHERE to buy from:
Make sure they have stock in Australia (or your country). Ordering from overseas can take a very long time, and historically shipments have been held up for all sorts of reasons. Furthermore, any purchase over a certain amount ($1000 in Australia) will mean extra taxes. If in doubt, contact the store and ask them to confirm they have stock!
Check they have a return policy. Legally, businesses must provide a 2 year warranty in Australia, but it’s also good to look for returns for if you change your mind. Maybe the guitar is technically sound but uncomfortable to play.
Read reviews - preferably from sources OTHER than their website. This will help you steer clear of any dodgy shops.
Beyond that, some online guitar shops have physical locations too, which can be handy if you need to repair or return your guitar later on (assuming it’s nearby to you).
This is an excellent option if you’re after a beginner guitar or a fairly standard type of guitar, as most mass production models are consistent in quality (not necessarily consistently good, so read those reviews!).
Buying a second hand guitar online
If you have some experience playing and are after a higher end guitar, second hand can be a really great option. Facebook marketplace and Reverb.com are two of the best, though there are a few tips to bear in mind:
Always make sure you meet up with the person to play the guitar first if possible, as it may have some serious damage that photos can hide (or it might just not be good for you!)
Don’t assume that a “Fender” or “Gibson” is what it says it is. Copies have been around for decades (and some of them are fantastic guitars!) but unless you’re a true guitar collector who knows what to look for, don’t spend too much just because of the brand (or you might be disappointed).
Always use buyer protection, like PayPal, and stay safe when meeting up with strangers (public places, go with a friend etc).
You may need to get the guitar setup by a professional when you purchase it, so allow extra budget for this (usually $100-$200 is fine for a good setup and new strings).
I wouldn’t recommend this route for beginner guitars, as many cheap beginner guitars that are sold second hand aren’t from music shops (think Aldi, JB Hifi, Costco etc) and they’re usually really tough to play.
Finally, if a deal looks to good to be true, it probably is. So if you’re buying second hand please treat it as a gamble, not an investment!
Example of what to look for online: a Beginner Steel String Guitar
Let me show you an example of a good guitar/store to purchase from for beginners so you can see what to look for.
Firstly, if you need help choosing your first guitar, check out this guide to buying your first guitar
In this scenario, we’re going to assume that you’re a beginner who has decided they want a steel string guitar that’s as cheap as possible whilst still being comfortable enough to play (and ok sounding). We’re also going to assume you have no other musical equipment yet.
Here’s Donner Music’s DAF 410 Solid Body Acoustic Guitar. It retails for $199.99, but you can get 15% off by using our code path15 (note that we receive commission when you use this code)
First check: Is the Store ok?
They have stock in Australia - check!
They have a returns policy for issues, and one for change of mind (though note that you will have to pay for shipping if you change your mind, so factor that cost in)
They are a newer store, but they do have some decent reviews.
Second check: The guitar itself
Equipment - this pack comes with everything you’ll need, including tuners, a bag, spare strings, picks, capo and more.
Sound and playability - we have no way to know! You can rely on reviews, but critically assess the source. Beginners are typically not great at knowing how good a guitar is compared to others (no offence to any beginners out there, but it takes experience to develop this feel). We have one of these guitars in the studio, though, so I can tell you that it plays fairly comfortably and sounds great compared to other guitars at that price point.
Price - This is about as cheap as you can get for a steel string guitar, especially one with a solid body (which means it should sound a bit nicer than a cheaper laminate guitar). To get something better you’d really have to look at spending $300 more.
Brand - Donner uses its own brand. This means that it’s cheaper, but it does make it harder to know if the guitar is good longer term due to a lack of reviews for the specific model. They have, however, been making pedals for a long time which have also got good reviews. You’ll find most brands at the beginner price point will be comparable in quality so long as they are sold by an actual music instrument store, so don’t stress too much if you find a brand you haven’t heard of before (cheaper Fenders, Gibsons and other brands are usually made in different factories and countries to the more expensive ones anyway).
All in all, perfect guitar for adult beginners or older kids!
Final Thoughts - Getting Help Shopping for Guitars Online
If you feel overwhelmed by any of this process, you can:
talk to the shop for advice
talk to your guitar teacher
talk to a friend or family member with some guitar experience
Be wary of online forums and video reviews though (even blogs such as this) as there are lots of opinions floating around and it’s always better to form your own opinions - after all, that’s part of the learning process as a guitarist!
Happy guitar shopping!