What are the most important factors in choosing a guitar?

[Jake S.]

Color? Sound? Gold hardware or GTFO? What HAS to be part of your guitar in order for you to sacrifice your hard-earned dollar bills?

 

[Help!I'maRock!]

It has to be well made, regardless of price.

 

[Chad]

feel. If I don't like how it feel, I don't care how it sounds.

 

[Ignored Member]

Authentic-looking relicing

 

[Modern Saint]

Play ability and the acoustic resonance. The guitar must also speak to me as well.

 

[Kerouac]

If chicks like you more when you're holding it.

 

[Stratguy]

The color (or lack thereof), has to grab my attention, if it's an electric. I suppose that next it has to have the pickup style that I'm looking to get. Finally, it has to have a neck that is comfortable feeling in my hand.

If it's an acoustic, or acoustic-electric, the feel of the neck in my hand jumps to consideration #1. After that, I look for resonance and projection (at this stage, I'm looking only at solid wood acoustics).

 

[Punchy]

Play ability and the acoustic resonance. The guitar must also speak to me as well.

Very much this.

 

[GreatDane]

I am pretty particular about neck carve, radius and nut width.

Around here, and based on common GPOTD responses, it seems like some folks should be saying "price".

 

[sleewell]

looks
build quality/reputation of builder
price
good hardware
stoptail, wraparound or hardtail, no floyd rose or floating trem

 

[Gary Blanchard]

I don't know if I can verbalize what I look for. I need it to reflect my sensibilities visually and sonically, and to fit my outlook on life.

Very out there, but that's me.

 

[Gary Blanchard]

I am pretty particular about neck carve, radius and nut width.

Around here, and based on common GPOTD responses, it seems like some folks should be saying "price".

Ah yes, but since I said "my outlook on life" I guess I covered that.

 

[GreatDane]

Ah yes, but since I said "my outlook on life" I guess I covered that.

Ha! - I wasn't even thinking of you when I posted that, but you have just reminded me of that recent post exchange.

 

[micwalt]

EMGs and a Floyd!

 

[Ignored Member]

Number of strings must be a multiple of six. Otherwise, it better be a bass.

 

[smurfco]

Frequency response and envelope.

 

[jelloman]

Feel first, then sound...then how stable it holds tuning...

...but it has to catch my eye before any of that is factored in...

 

[mongooz]

first it must be a Fender Stratocaster.......then it gets a little more difficult.....

 

[OGG]

Any guitar that is decently made, plays well, and does a good enough job of masking my suckitude is the right guitar for me.

Only deal breaker...




Ugly headstock.

Don't be fooled, they're out there, lots of 'em.

 

[jp_nyc]

Being able to lowball a Craigslist seller who’s already selling cheap because they haven’t got a clue what the guitar is worth.