What to Look For When Buying a Used Acoustic Guitar
At Peter Oliva Music.com we have a HUGE selection of new and used acoustic guitars. We understand that it is confusing. The decisions are difficult enough when buying a new acoustic guitar. It is even more difficult when buying a used archtop or dreadnought guitar for example.
So to help you along that path we have some tips that you should take note of. Many of these tips work for new guitars as well, but are more like to be an issue when purchasing a used acoustic guitar.
1. Action: This is the height of the string above the neck. This is typically a problem in cheap guitars that have been around awhile. If string tension was kept too high it can also cause the neck to pull or bow so that the strings are much higher in the middle. Acoustic guitars will usually have a slightly higher action than an electric anyway, but you want to make sure it is not super high.
2. Neck bow/twist: This is closely related to number 1, but is one of the first things I look for in a guitar, new or old, electric or acoustic. I take the guitar and hold it up so that I can look down the length of the strings with my face down by the tail piece. I am looking to see if the neck is crooked, twisted or has a big bow in the middle. You can even find NEW guitars that have this problem so it is work doing this test.
3. Cracks: There are several things to say about cracks. If they are in the surface finish in a used instrument then they only affect cosmetics. If they go all the way through the wood in the top or back in particular this may need repair at your local shop, so keep that in mind. Now this may not be a really bad thing. I got a very nice Takamine Sante Fe that retails for about $1800 for $400 because of a crack in the top. It cost about $40 for the repair and still affects cosmetics but not sound or playability, so this is a way you can save money providing you have a good repair shop you can take your guitar to. Cracks in the neck or around the bridge are usually really big problems. I stay away from those.
4. Lifting Bridge: This is a common problem area on acoustic guitars. There is a lot of tension on the strings and the bridge is just glued down on most acoustics. The side of the bridge closest to the tail has a tendency to lift and the side closest to the center hole tends to dip in. So you get a "S" curve in the wood right there. I have seen guitars last a long time this way, but it is a weak spot that may eventually crack and give way. So just be aware. If that area is flat and true then you are good to go.
5. Tuners: Depending on the type of acoustic guitar you are looking at there are several types of tuners. You want to play with the tuning of the guitar and make sure all of the tuner hardware is tight & doesn't slip. And by tight I mean screws tight, pegs tight etc. You don't want the tuners too difficult to twist.
6. Buzzes and Rattles: I tend to play just about every note on the guitar carefully going up and down the fretboard 1 fret at a time looking for one that likes to buzz. If you have some this may need a trip to the shop for a tune up on the frets OR it could be related to neck twist or warp.
7. Worn Frets or Fretboard: Worn frets are much more of a problem to me than a worn fretboard. You can often pick up an old guitar an see pretty much where the owner has been playing on the guitar. Typically you will see a lot of wear down near the headstock. This will show up as little valleys dug into the fretboard by the strings as they are pushed down. A guitar that has a lot of miles will often have grooves worn in the frets as well. If the frets need replacing this can be a significant cost to consider.
8. Electronics: Your acoustic may or may not have electronics, but if it does, be sure and test all the electronics as soon as you can looking for noisy volume and tone controls. There may be other controls to check as well. If the volume controls are noisy when you slide them this can sometimes be fixed with a tuner cleaner spray but this is something to be VERY careful with as it can destroy the finish on your guitar. Again, if you are not comfortable with this kind of thing, then a trip to the professional is best.
9. Strap pegs: When you stand up to play your acoustic guitar you need a strap to hold it in place. You want to make sure that the little buttons or pegs that you mount the strap on are tight and the screws are not stripped out.
10. Overall Playability: Many times you just put a certain guitar in your hands and it FEELS better than other guitars. Sometimes this has to do with the thickness of the neck or the curvature of the fretboard. Sometimes it has to do with how slick the neck is. All kinds of things enter into it. Try to not let your emotions about the way a guitar LOOKS or if it is a model you have wanted for a long time enter into the decision. We are talking about how it FEELS.
OK notice I did not mention strings. Who cares? You are gonna replace them pretty quickly anyway. I did not mention looks. Who am I to tell you what you want in looks. Sure you don't want scratches and cracks. But it also may make a guitar much more affordable if you need to save money.
But if you are purchasing a used guitar over the internet how do you know if it is good. Well you try to answer the points above through pictures that are posted or questions to the seller. Finally you see if there is any kind of guarantee so that you can return it if the acoustic guitar of your dreams turns out to be guitar-zilla!
Finally look around this web site and see that there are tremendous bargains in both new and used acoustic guitars. You will find name brands such as Taylor, Yamaha, Ovation, Martin as well as lesser known brands too. Just try to use your brains instead of your emotion when buying a guitar and you will probably be fine. 
