There are over 1000 guitar manufacturers in the market today. Many of these manufacturers offer hundreds of models. With all these different guitars to choose from, no wonder it is so overwhelming to try to choose a guitar for yourself. One of the best things you can do if you are in the market to buy a new guitar is to read guitar reviews.
This article will give you a good idea of what the common components in a guitar review will be. I will discuss some of the different features of guitars that are typically reviewed. It is very important to keep in mind that reading reviews is a very important step in choosing your guitar. Eventually, you can listen and play different guitars to choose a good guitar, but the first thing you should do is read some reviews because the reviews will help you narrow down the choices before you start looking.
The first things I want to discuss are some things in a guitar review that are actually fairly subjective and these are the finish in general looks of the guitar as well as the pickups or soundboard tone. Some people prefer a warm tone and others are bright one. So those are really subjective areas. One of the things you should look for in a good finish is durability.
The resonance of guitars is often commented on in a review. Some comments may be that the guitar has too much hum and the volume pots need more continuity, but the harmonics were good.
When reading a guitar review you may see something like this: this guitar has a finish that is too thick and glossy and affects the resonance of the body and bridge. The fretboard is Rosewood but it looks cheap because it has been painted. I would prefer a harder material for the nut and bridge so the sounds is not so flat.
Look for comments on the neck and fretboard such as: The shape of the neck is a C-shape. Depending on your style of playing, you may do better with a flatter neck or a rounded neck. The radius of this Rosewood fretboard is great for some people, but not for others because of it's shape.
A comment in an electric guitar review may read something like this: This electric guitar has an adjustable truss rod that provides rigidity for the neck. The adjustability allows you to compensate for changes in temperature and humidity. However, if you have to use this often, it is a sign of poor construction and materials.
If you are looking at vintage guitar reviews you will probably see something like the following: This instrument is a 1960s model. The strings can be easily changed on this model and the nut and bridge/saddle are not excessively worn.
