Now more than ever, people are picking up new hobbies and activities to try and learn, and guitar is one of them. If you’ve chosen to learn the guitar as your hobby of choice, and you’re wondering whether to invest in a new or used guitar, you’ve come to the right place.
Many new players wonder if they should buy a used or new guitar.
There is no one answer for whether you should buy a new or used guitar. Each person has different wants and needs, and there are pros and cons to buying either a used or a brand new guitar.
However, the below guide will help you decide what your priorities are so you can make the right decision for yourself. We’ll examine the pros and cons of buying used and new guitars. Keep reading to find out whether a new or used guitar is right for you.
Considerations to Make Before Buying a Guitar
Before buying a used or new guitar, it’s important to first ask yourself these important questions:
What is your budget? New and used guitars have different price points, so it’s important to decide what your budget for a guitar is ahead of time.
Am I looking to make a long-term investment, or am I wanting to try out something new? Depending on whether you want a guitar for the long-term or you want it more as a trial run, you may prefer either a new or used guitar.
Do you want your guitar to look sparkling and spiffy? Or do you like the look of a little wear and tear? Depending on how you’d like your guitar to look, you may want a brand new guitar or a guitar with a little wear.
Pros and Cons of Buying a New Guitar
Purchasing a new guitar could indeed be the right path for yourself. Let’s take a closer look at the most important pros and cons of purchasing a brand new guitar.
Pros of Buying a New Guitar
If you buy a new guitar, you’ll definitely have more optionality and choice. With all of the available new guitars on the market, you’ll have the pick of your brand, make, and model. You can also choose the color of your guitar, the type of strings- you name it.
A new guitar is also more likely to last you a long time, depending on the quality. They haven’t been used at all, so you’ll be starting entirely fresh.
You can think of it like putting miles on a car. You can travel a lot of distance on a car with zero miles, but a car with 100,000 miles on it can only take you half as far. If you want a guitar that is guaranteed to last, a new guitar is a good choice.
You can also usually get warranties on brand new guitars, meaning if a part breaks or needs to be replaced, you’ll either get a brand new guitar or a refund for free. Not all used guitar shops offer this kind of service- in fact, most don’t.
Lastly, a brand new guitar will have no wear and tear. You can rest assured that your guitar will feature no scratches or dents, and you’ll likely be able to play it right out of the box without having to replace strings or fix parts. If you’re not as familiar with guitar repairs, this is a major benefit to consider.
Cons of Buying a New Guitar
You guessed it – the biggest downside here is going to be the price. You can still find deals on new guitars, but they’re unlikely to be cheaper than a used or thrifted guitar. This is really the only con of buying a new guitar- but it’s an important one to consider.
Pros and Cons of Buying a Used Guitar
Buying a used guitar comes with its own set of pros and cons as well.
Pros of Buying a Used Guitar
If you like the look of a little wear and tear or are interested in vintage aesthetics, a used guitar could be the perfect option for you. Many people prefer the look of an older guitar- it has a special kind of beauty to it.
You can also find rare or special guitars that aren’t sold new anymore- some may have been discontinued even decades ago. If it’s important for you to have a collector’s guitar or a guitar that most people won’t have, used guitars are a great choice.
A used guitar like this can also appreciate in value. If you buy a rare used guitar for a good price, there’s always the possibility of selling it for a profit in the future- a unique benefit to used guitars.
Cons of Buying a Used Guitar
Used guitars can come with dents and scratches. If this is something you want to avoid, either look very closely when purchasing a used guitar or opt for a new one.
There’s also a chance your guitar could have broken parts or be malfunctioning. Every used guitar buyer takes this risk. If you’re familiar with guitar repairs, this may not be an issue for you. If not, you could end up spending the extra money to fix it.
Depending on your priorities, getting either a new or used guitar could be the right choice for you. If you want a vintage-looking guitar that you can experiment with, try a used guitar. If you prefer a sleek look and want more optionality in choosing one, try out a new guitar. Either way, you’re sure to enjoy your sessions with your new instrument. Rock on!
Need More Help Choosing A Used or New Guitar?
Since so many players struggle with this topic, I actually wrote an entire book on how to choose, maintain, and care for your instrument.
Because surprisingly few guitar players know how to do exactly those things.
And if you don’t even have a handle on those fundamentals…
Then it doesn’t matter how good you are, or what song you’re playing…
You simply aren’t going to sound good on a poorly maintained instrument.
That’s why in this book, I decided to reveal all the secret tips I know when it comes to buying, owning, and maintaining an acoustic guitar…
…Stuff that took me a decade to learn on my own, since it is scattered randomly around the internet (or rarely discussed at all)
In this book you’ll discover…
- how to choose a guitar
- what to look for in tonewoods
- guitar body styles
- how to get a good price
- whether to buy used or new
- a curated guide to the 10 best acoustic guitars for beginners
- how to choose guitar strings, and make them last 10x longer
- how to maintain your instrument for a lifetime
- caring for the fretboard
- should you use fretboard oil? how often?
- adjusting the truss rod
- flying and traveling with your instrument safely
- how to store and display your guitar safely
- caring for the fretboard
- what to learn first on guitar (fingerpicking? flatpicking? etc)
- where to learn it
- the best ways and resources to teach yourself guitar for FREE
- 30 secret hacks to unleash unstoppable guitar motivation
- how to stay in love with the instrument for the rest of your life
- much more
So if you’re ready to rocket past your competition…
And learn how to choose, maintain, care for, and fall in love with your instrument for a lifetime to come…
Then you can pick up my Ultimate Buyer’s and Maintenance Guide.