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sixpicker
Telecastered Instructor
Joined: 03/12/04
Posts: 756
sixpicker
Telecastered Instructor
Joined: 03/12/04
Posts: 756
02/12/2009 8:09 am
I've never bought a guitar I didn't play first, and with an acoustic you want to check the intonation. You can set it yourself on an electric guitar, but not on an acoustic. Even if the price is a factor, you still want a cheap one that plays right.

Tune the guitar, and play the open string, and then go down to the 12th fret. Play the harmonic in the 12th fret, do this by lightly touching the string in the 12th fret, as you pick the string. This note will be a higher pitch than the open string. Next play the note in the 12th fret, this time pressing on the string. This note should sound the same as the harmonic, if it doesn't the intonation is not set right. Then check the other strings the same way, that way you can be sure the guitar will tune, and play better.

The way it sounds, and the way it feels are important to. After all this is your guitar, it should be worth what you pay for it. I'm leary of buying online, because you can't find out any of this stuff until you get it in your hands. If you have to get it online, we all hope you get a great one. If you can get to a music store, or pawn shop you would probably be more satisfied with it.

JD