So, you're ready to take the plunge and buy your first guitar. Congratulations! Owning a guitar is one of the most rewarding experiences you can have. That said, it's important to do your research before making such a significant purchase. After all, a guitar is a lifetime investment. To help you out, we've compiled a list of the five worst mistakes you can make when buying your first guitar. Read on to learn more!

1. Choosing the Wrong Type of Guitar

There are many different types of guitars available on the market, from acoustics and electrics to classical and flamenco. It's important to select the type of guitar that's best suited for your needs. Are you looking for an instrument you can take with you on the go? An acoustic guitar might be the way to go. Or maybe you're interested in rock or metal and need an electric guitar that can handle those heavier sounds. Do your own research to figure out which type of guitar is right for you.

2. Make Sure you're not skipping the Essentials

When purchasing your guitar, whether it’s your first, or another to add to your collection, make sure whatever price that’s being quoted to you includes a full set-up on your new purchase. Making sure your new guitar is “Ready to Play” is essential to enjoying your new purchase. Many times a retail ship will “forget to mention” that you just bought the guitar, not the setup. The setup can cost anywhere from $60-$125 in addition to what you are paying for the guitar.

At Southwest Acoustic Products we don't sell boxes, we sell fine instruments. All instruments sold through us have been set up, played, and tested.

3. Skimping on Quality

When it comes to guitars, cheaper is almost always going to mean lower quality. Yes, it's possible to find a decent guitar for under $200, but chances are it's not going to be built very well or sound all that great. If at all possible, the general guidelines suggest spending at least $300 on your first guitar. Trust us, it'll be worth it in the long run!

4. Forgetting about Accessories

A lot of first-time guitar buyers make the mistake of thinking that their purchase will be complete once they've bought the instrument itself. However, there are several essential accessories every guitarist needs, from picks and strings to cases and straps. Before checking out of the store, make sure you have everything you need to get started playing right away.

5 Getting talked into buying an extended warranty

An extended warranty might seem like a good idea at first, but chances are you won't need it. Guitars are built to last, and as long as you take care of your instrument properly, it should last for many years without any major problems cropping up. Unless you're planning on giving your guitar rough treatment or leaving it out in the elements, an extended warranty probably isn't necessary—and will just end up costing you more money in the long run. What is more important is that you make sure your guitar is properly set up when you purchase it. In addition, an annual inspection, setup, and string change is appropriate. However, an extended warranty…not necessary.

We started our business years ago at Southwest Acoustic Products as a result of many of the unsatisfying experiences we encountered when purchasing our first guitars. Typically, there is some very good guitar player that works at the store and could make any guitar sound great. His or her job is to “sell you the dream”. When you got home and unboxed the guitar, you might find out, like we did, that the instrument didn’t sound the same, the strings were hard to work with, it “sounded wrong", and the guitar really didn’t go with the type of music you enjoyed playing. Guitars are a little like cars, you don’t purchase a Corvette to move furniture. In the same vein, you don’t purchase a “Flying V” guitar to play Jazz and acoustic music.

At Southwest Acoustic Products, we take the time to get to know you. Whether it’s in person, at our studio, or online. We can evaluate your needs and preferences and translate that pretty closely to assure your purchase meets your expectations. The bottom line is “we care”. Our clients become friends and we get to know them and what they like.

Should you be considering the purchase of your first guitar, an additional guitar, or a guitar for someone close to you, please consider Southwest Acoustic Products. We are top-rated suppliers among many of the most popular sites and we work hard to maintain our reputation. Drop us a note on our Contact Form, and we will get back to you. You can be sure we will have a great discussion! We look forward to hearing from you!