The internet has led to changes that would have been impossible to understand just a decade ago. Buying a musical instrument without hearing it is one such change. But keep a few things in mind when you do it and it can be a convenient way to score a good instrument at a good price.

There's really two kinds of people who should be buying their guitars online, experts or really serious guitar players and beginners. The first group knows exactly what kind of guitar they want, and at that level of price and quality they can be assured that that particular guitar will be terrific. Beginners don't really care as much, so long as it has six strings and can play. The truth is each guitar is unique as its made out of a particular sheet of wood that experiences conditions unlike any of its fellow models at the factory. Each sheet is alive, and guitars can age with grace or misery depending on how they're maintained. This needs to be kept in mind when looking online, but even still it's possible to buy.

Let's say you're looking for a vintage guitar. You know what an old Gibson ES125 will sound and play like because presumably you've played one before or you have a particular interest in that guitar. There is variety in each instrument, this truth can't be said nor emphasized enough, but you can count on quality guitar makers to make reliably good instruments. Most sellers are very upfront and compile a list of the defects, repairs, problems with the instrument. Typically they'll have close up shots of the damaged parts. This will convince you they're being pretty honest. It'd take a cynic to believe that they're listing the minor defects so to appear honest only so they can get away with a big, big problem. Check the seller's history on eBay. Many reputable music shops sell on eBay too, so if you can find out where they're located and learn more about their business this should help.

If you are a beginner looking for your first guitar the internet is useful too. Perhaps you want the bottom of the line guitar to experiment on to see if you might actually seriously take it up. Or maybe you want to find a good guitar at bargain prices. In this case, look for a company you trust and a guitar model you've played before or you know is really decent. There's no shortage of companies: Norman, Simon and Patrick, Art and Lutherie, Seagull. You don't want to buy a no-name guitar nobody's ever heard of without playing it, but the internet is full of people moving and desperate to get rid of what they can for a penny or people who don't know the value of what they have, and tapping into that is a good idea. Look to see if there's a way you can get your money back or some type of assurance that you'll be fully satisfied with your purchase.


Searching for a music store that carries acoustic guitars and electric guitars in your neighbourhood? Then be sure to visit Long & McQuade - one of Canada's biggest music stores offering a wide selection of musical instruments and guitar lessons Canada all across the nation.