Buying Guides
Buying Guides
Guitar buying guides from Paul's Guitar Hideout in Glens Falls, NY. What to look for, what to skip, and what your money actually buys. We sell guitars for a living and still talk people out of the wrong one. A guitar that fights the player gets abandoned, and an abandoned guitar helps nobody.
First guitars: electric or acoustic, and what a beginner budget really buys. Used and vintage: what to inspect before you pay for anything, how to figure out what a guitar is actually worth, and how to confirm what's original on a vintage instrument before you buy. And the money questions in between: Squier versus Fender, bundle kits, and which upgrades make sense on a cheap guitar.
These are the answers we give across the counter.
Your First Guitar
- How to Choose Your First Guitar — A Buying Guide for Beginners
- Electric vs. Acoustic Guitar for Beginners — How to Actually Decide
- Best Beginner Acoustic Guitars Under $300
- Best Beginner Electric Guitars Under $300
Used and Vintage
- Used Guitar Buying Checklist — What to Look For Before You Buy
- How Much Is My Guitar Worth?
- How to Tell If a Vintage Fender's Pickups Are Original
- How to Tell If a Vintage Gibson's Pickups Are Original
Getting Your Money's Worth
- Squier vs. Fender — What You Actually Get for the Price Difference
- Should You Buy a Guitar Bundle Kit? (Honest Answer)
- Upgrading a Cheap Guitar: What's Worth It
When you're ready to play a few in person, browse used guitars and new gear, or start with first guitar help if you're buying for a beginner. Selling or trading toward something? See sell your guitar.
Common Questions
What's the best first guitar for a beginner?
The one that fits the player and gets set up properly. Electric versus acoustic matters less than playability. The first guitar guide above walks through it, and we help people pick in person at the shop in Glens Falls.
Should I buy new or used?
Used often buys more guitar for the money if you know what to check. The used buying checklist above covers exactly what to look for before you hand over cash.
How do I know what my guitar is worth?
Sold listings, not asking prices. The valuation guide explains how to read the market, and if you're thinking about selling, our sell and trade policy explains exactly how we make offers.
Want to play before you decide? Come see what's on the wall. We're located at The Shirt Factory in Glens Falls, NY. Use the Cooper Street entrance and take the stairs up. If you need assistance, give us a call and we'll come down.
Paul's Guitar Hideout · The Shirt Factory
71 Lawrence St., Suite 201B, 2nd Floor
Glens Falls, NY 12801
Wednesday–Sunday, 12–5pm
(518) 217-8695 · info@paulsguitarhideout.com