Testing Guitars

[hrblocked]

I'm just curious what some of you guys do when testing a new guitar. Do you go over a couple scales or excercises? or do you just go in there and practice whatever you'd be practicing at home. I'm still a beginner, so the only chords I know are the 8-9 open chords that david goes over in the first 30 or so lessons. Before I purchase a new guitar, should I learn a couple scales or something first?

[Bounty]

I just go in and usually play what I'm interested in buyng next. I do play stuff that caths my eye too. I play scales, songs I'm trying to learn songs I know. I check every frett for fret buzz. I check the intonation. Play with every pickup. Have fun thats pretty much what I do. I still get intimidated in gutar shops a lot. Nothing worse that playing something that is hard for you and having some guy sit next to ya and just crank out an awsome solo to crush your self image. haha but don't let it get to ya if it does. Just check it out. How does it feel to ya. Do you like the fretts and neck. How many fretts does it have. Answer all these questions. Before you buy. If your just going in to play a few guitars then just play some. I like to answer these questions on all the ones I play just to be able to have some sort of background.

[hrblocked]

Luckily when I went, I went into the sound room and the only other guy in there was looking at a mandolin or citar or something, so I don't think he was going to start ripping out a solo, though he might've. I just monkied around with a few guitars. Played what I knew and practiced what I've been practicing at home.The sales guy kinda left me alone, when he saw I was getting tired of a guitar, he'd hand me another, I guess he had nothing better to do.

[daiakuji]

As Bounty says, just play whatever you know. Who cares if people are listening, they shouldn't judge you because they were once in your shoes.

Personally, I like to go in and play a few short songs fast (like intro>verse>chorus) or parts of songs to see how it sounds. Before I bought my first guitar, I just played the few chords I knew and a few melodies I learnt when I was messing with transcribing some guitar solos to violin. It wasn't much and people around probably knew that I didn't know much in terms of guitar.

If it makes you feel more confident, maybe learn a song before you go into a store and play it along with the scales and chords.

[Bounty]

I hope my advise helped. Sales people and a lot of guitar players too forget that it is a very personal choice in what you want to play. The best thing sales reps can do is answer questions and leave you alone. The important thing is is it comfortable for you to play. Have fun.

[richardm80]

When I use to go in to test out a guitar I'd get embarrassed and not have a clue what to do but now when I go in I kind of have an idea of it.

I like to strum open chords first just to get a feel for it. Then I'll strum barre chords up and down the neck to see what the actions like. I'll have a few songs in my mind to play that will test fast strumming, slow strumming, some finger picking, some lead stuff and a couple of scales. I'll also test a few songs or things that have stretches to see what the scale is like because my hands are pretty small.

[disobedience]

Just play around on it...make sure it feels good when you play it.
And that your comfortable holding it.
Check the electronics/switches etc by switching them back and forth..make sure the volume and tone controls work smoothly and you should be good to go.

Side note: Try to remember that in "most" cases other guitarists aren't going to try and make you feel bad. If you were in playing something and a complete newbie came in...would "you" purposely play something to make him/her feel bad?
Most times they're just noodling around and trying stuff out like you are.

[Bounty]

Side note: Try to remember that in "most" cases other guitarists aren't going to try and make you feel bad. If you were in playing something and a complete newbie came in...would "you" purposely play something to make him/her feel bad?
Most times they're just noodling around and trying stuff out like you are.

I didn't mean that people acctually try to make you feel bad. I was just stating that it is easy to be discouraged when your new to it. Thats it thats all. When your sitting there playing some open cords and the guy 2 amps down has (what seems to you anyway) lightning fast fingers and control. I don't think anybody has ever intentionaly tried to make me feel bad. I have however learned a couple of very cool riffs playing next to sombody and had a couple pretty cool jam sessions.

[disobedience]

Heh...I just meant not to take things to heart and think "I'm not good enough to try out this guitar/amp/etc". ;)

[hrblocked]

I need to find someone in Kansas to go to GuitarCenter with me. I went in there to get some picks once and felt uncomfortable just doing that.:o

[Bounty]

I need to find someone in Kansas to go to GuitarCenter with me. I went in there to get some picks once and felt uncomfortable just doing that.:o

I know it can be intimidating to go into a place when your not sure what you should be doing or the questions you should be asking. My 2 cents is to find a sales rep whom you feel comfortible with. Either at guitar center or a local mom and pop. (local mom and pop places can be great) I really like the local mom and pop for all my guitar work and advise. When it comes to buying a guitar or amp they aren't usually a good resourse though. A good sales rep will make you feel comfortable and let you play what you want answer your questions and not make you feel inferior for asking a noobie question. Just keep going in until your okay with it. Look at it like a candy store. :) It is a toy store you know.

[disobedience]

So true...the local shop I deal with is a smaller one...when I go in it's all "Have fun...play and try what you want"
It's great! I feel like a kid every time I go in...I get free reign in the place :D

Tested out my new amp the other day to see how loud it gets...heheh...at 1/2 volume it was shaking the wall of guitars...the sales rep (Duncan) was right there waiting for one to fall...but never once asked me to turn it down...on the countrary..he asked if I wanted to push it louder :D
Yeah!!

[Lythos]

Yep, if I haven't posted already I dont like Guitar Center either. Their sales staff has never seemed all that friendly (and I've been to a lot of different stores). There's always someone playing way too damn loud. They have very little selection, sure they might have MIM strats in 30 different colors, but only have a few Ibanez or Jackson laying around.

Last time I was there I got a lecture about blocking my trem instead of replacing it with a fixed bridge. I could understand telling someone that who didn't know what they were really looking for but I knew exactly what part I wanted to buy and just asked if they had one in stock. Thank god for AllParts I guess.

[hrblocked]

ya I got the same vibe from guitar center. When I walked in all the sales guys just stare at ya like wtf does this guy want? I was almost afraid to ask anyone anything and personally they all acted like boy band punks and not the type of people I would normally talk to.