The cost of shiny, brand new acoustic guitars is so high that beginners and learners would opt for buying a second hand guitar. This way the initial cost for them would be low just in case the interest in guitar playing wanes.
Common sources of second hand guitars include yard sales, music stores and pawn shops. There is a lot more risk in buying at yard sales specially if the guitar would need cleaning and restringing. Buying consignments at music stores and pawn shops is highly recommended.
The most important consideration in buying a second hand acoustic guitar is its overall condition. An acoustic guitar is made of wood glued together so one has to look for chips, cracks and evidence that the glue has dried out. Surface scratches in second hand guitars are to be expected but wood that has cracked through has to be rejected.
The seams where the front and the back piece of the guitar is joined to the sides is the area that usually gets hit when the guitar is bumped around. Check carefully that this joint is solid and that there are no cracks which will cause the guitar to come apart.
The neck of the guitar is subjected to a great deal of tension from the strings. This can cause warping, twisting or turning of the neck which would eventually make the guitar unplayable. Check that the neck is straight and that the joint of the neck and the body is a solid connection.
A flaw here would cause the separation of the guitar’s neck from the body. Check also the bridge where the strings are attached. The tension in the strings would pull this bridge out if the glue has dried out.
The strings should also be very close to the fretboard where you put your fingers when playing the notes. Strings that are very high off the fretboard indicates a problem with the neck and exacts a great price on the fingers when the guitar is played.
The tuning keys and machine heads are on the head of the guitar. Make sure that the tuning keys are not bent and that they turn easily and smoothly. The tuning keys and machine head are made of metals so check that there is no rust or anything chipped or broken. Check the tuning. A guitar that cannot be tuned is totally useless.
One does not need to buy a brand new guitar to learn to play it. By following these tips, buying a second hand guitar can get you a really nice quality instrument.