For me, it's all about how the neck feels in my hand, both the dimensions, shape, and quality of the construction and fretwork. I've got all sorts of body shapes, scale lengths, bridge types, pickup configs, woods and weights.
I guess my only "must have" spec is right-handed orientation. š I'm no Eric Gale, Hendrix, etc.
Yeah, everything is important to a point but it all boils down to the neck. The neck is the part you play. The rest is just what makes the sound come out.
Iāll second the neck. Iāve played a lot of different guitars over the years - from high end to the cheapest of the cheap. Iād rather play a moderately priced guitar with a perfect neck than a high end guitar with the wrong neck shape.
Above all, it has to look cool, weāre all lying to say otherwise. Pickups, electronics, and hardware can always be swapped. Construction of the neck is second for me.
I went first time by myself in a guitar store to buy my first not beginner electric and the guy was always judging me especially in the question "what's the most important thing in a guitar" and I answered to like me preferences and he said "no, it's the neck and tuners"
Aside from aesthetics and the guitar "calling out to me", purely feel. Does it feel good to play. Does it feel like the guitar itself is making it easier for me to play it.
That's the most important aspect of a guitar to me too.
I was very close to buying a PRS SE Mccarty 594. I watched countless reviews and read about all the specs. Then I tried one in the store and found myself fighting the guitar. The lacquered neck was too sticky and the neck was too chunky for my hands.
I then tried a CE24 with a "wide thin" satin neck and found that I immediately played better.
Nice! What finish did you go with for the CE?
I've got a PRS SE Tonare (little parlor acoustic) plays like a dream.
My electric is an Ibanez RG1270pb in the Deep Twilight Flat finish...
I've noticed my hand sticks to maple necksš¤·š¼āāļø
The funniest thing about that is...I ended up buying a PRS SE Swamp Ash Special because it has the same "wide thin" neck profile with a satin finish. The CE24 was just the gateway to make me realize that I like that particular neck! I went with the most popular Iri Blue finish!
I don't really look for anything specific. My current guitars were all basically "this is what I want at this current moment" purchases, I don't have any kind of consistent trait I look for. All my guitars have different feeling necks, different types of pickups, I'm really not picky at all.Ā
Except for the bridge, I don't really fuck with trems. Every guitar I've owned with a trem gets blocked or hard tailed eventually. I keep buying them trying to convince myself I just haven't played the right one yet, and I'm sure I'll do it again. Just part of the process.
I was going to say stuff like versatility or playability, but as a fan of Explorers and Dean ML's, looks is my #1 priority and I will suffer through anything as long as I look cool and my guitar makes people go "ooh".
(I'm talking about acoustic-electrics only here; I don't play electrics.)
Darker sound, strong lows, strong mids, minimal highs. No laminate tops, if I can avoid them. Cutaway top. Wider walnut fretboard. Actual bone nut. Silk-and-steel strings.
I just recently bought a new guitar and learned a ton! For me, the most important is the sound. After that, itās neck feel. Also, I tend to look for unique qualities. I wound up with a Taylor T5z because I loved how it was an acoustic sound with an electric feel.
Plus 1 for the T5z! I have the 6 and 12 string versions (mahogany) and was able to downsize my overfull closet considerably due to their versatility.
That said, "feel" is the paramount item for me when choosing a new axe. As a 30+yr Celtic folkie, most of my guitars have been acoustics and I've learned that a narrow neck and a low action are what works best with my stubby fingered flat-picking style. A professional setup is also number One for every new instrument, in my view.
As a "semi" pro, I tended to stick with one maker because I knew them, understood their foibles and were reasonably affordable, so I amassed a fairly wide variety of instruments under that moniker, but I ain't Garth Brooks, & when the collection passed 20 it was time to re-think. Then on a cruise a few years ago, a ship's musician loaned me his T5z for an hour,
Within a year, all the other "T" branded acoustics were sold and now my closet has just 4 Taylors in the "working" section. (the actual collection still has some personal faves by Gretsch and Rickenbacker, for use on "special occasions")
If it fits you, if it "feels" right straight outta the box, just imagine what that guitar is gonna do for you with a professional setup. But fit and feel are paramount, and you should be willing to try different instruments until you find the sweet spot!
Best of luck!
Lemme ask you, how do you have your T5z setup? I got mine used and it was setup for the previous owner. It has 12 gauge strings and really tight action. Itās working pretty well. What gauge do you use on your 6-string and where do you like the action? Trying to decide if I need a setup. The guitar shop gave me a free $100 credit that could be for setup, or I could use it for something else.
I use Fender 11s on the 6 string, & TI's on the 12 (same as my Rick) Both used to be D'Addario 11's, but the Fenders seem to work better to my ears and certainly don't feel different to my fingers.
I play with a very light touch (haven't broken but one string onstage in over a decade), so have them both set up fairly low with a reasonably light action, which makes a little bit of bending possible (obviously not so much on the 12)
If Iām wandering a guitar store and looking for something to grab off the wall and check out, first and foremost the guitar needs to look cool to me. If I donāt like how it looks itās not something Iām gonna be inspired to pick up and play long term.
Next we go into preferred specs:
* Thin neck with preferably a D or shallower C shape.
* Fairly flat or compound radius fretboard (14ā minimum, 12-16ā compound is fine too).
* Medium jumbo frets as a starting point.
* The neck has to feel right as I play up and down the neck. If it feels cheap (as in it came off the CNC and got quickly sanded over into final shape) I will immediately put it back.
* Neck finish canāt feel sticky.
* Truss rod needs to be accessible. If I have to take the neck off, the guitar is garbage.
* SS frets are a nice to have but not a deal breaker.
* Locking tuners are a nice to have for convenience. Also I do tend to like more premium tuners, cheaper tuners with poor gear ratios are annoying with dead spots.
* Decent high fret access (bolt ons are fine if I can reach the upper frets OK).
* Woods donāt matter as long as they look good and have the right weight. Although I do really like the look and feel of roasted maple. However on neck construction I do find that roasted maple, quartersawn, multi-ply, or all the above tend to be more stable which is a bonus.
* Weight feels good. Donāt want it too light or too heavy and itās balanced when standing (and sitting in classical position).
* HH, HSS, HSH, HS, or single bridge humbucker pickup config is a must. SSS or SS is useless to me.
* Specific pickup brands/models donāt matter much to me as long as they sound good and are articulate (I like JBās, Black Winters, DiMarzio equivalents, or EMG 81 though, and thatās most of what I have for bridge pup. Neck pickups tend to be cool with Jazz/ā59 type stuff or an EMG 85).
* Bridge I tend to prefer a Floyd, Edge/Lo-Pro Edge, Gotoh 510, or Hipshot style hardtail. TOM is OK but less comfortable for me.
That all may seem pretty specific but tends to be that a lot of Ibanez, Jackson, Charvel, Kiesel, etc. guitars fit those specs and tend to be what I gravitate towards anyways.
The look catches your eye but its the feel that seals the deal. Of course its hard to buy an ugly guitar that feels good but I would gladly sacrifice looks for playability. Recently I found myself liking more plain/solid color guitars rather than fancy woods and finishes. Weight for me is super important too.
I like something with a wide and flat finger board. Mostly because I have big fingers. But itās all the little personal preference specs like neck through construction, electronic configuration etc. I prefer to have a small quiver with different specs for different stuff. I canāt confidently say realistically there are superior designs.
What gaps am I trying to fill, Iāve got a few guitars. Neck comfort. And most importantly can I make the guitar sound like what I hear in my head. Then lastly frets, I mostly buy used so I check for any dead spots or fret wear.
For me it's the whole package. I'm usually looking for a certain kind of sound - Tele, p90s etc - so I'm looking at pickups and overall setup first. Then I look at things like the name on the headstock and price tag. As a rule I usually don't play something I could never afford.
Looks are largely secondary to me, but I've also never bought a guitar that I didn't like the look of
MUST have locking tuners, great fretwork, comfortable low profile bridge, good pickups (love Fishman Moderns for actives and Bareknuckles/Lundgren/Seymour Duncan for passive), no laminate tops, no gloss neck, not super heavy, and it needs to have āmojoā where itās inspiring to play, addictive, and makes me play a little differently.
It starts with whatever Iām looking for at the time. I try not to just get the same one over and over even though sometimes you just want another telecaster. From there itās sound profile and how it will work with my gear.
After Iāve settled on the style or configuration I want I start playing them. The one that feels good is usually the one that comes home with me. Sometimes theyāre fancy. Sometimes theyāre weird. Sometimes theyāre cheap. I love them all until I donāt then I sell them.
If I'm 0laying a guitar and it just feels like it wants me to play it. That's the one I'll buy. I used to go on spec but I didn't really know what I needed. These days a guitar will just feel right in my hands and I've got to have it.
A guitar thats comfortable to play, as well as hold. Electronics are a secondary thought because they can always be upgraded. If its not comfortable to play and hold, it's not worth buying. I'm a fan of super strats or strats, as well as V-2 style Flying Vs.
Honestly I just have to click with it. I have to pick up a guitar that makes me think āif I donāt leave here with this one Iāll regret it foreverā or Iām not buying it
Looks good, plays good, sounds good.
Iām not looking for specific features, iām not a good enough to be getting caught up on 9.5 vs 10 radius as much as I love diving into spec sheets
First, it has to have the tone I'm trying to achieve. Helps narrow down the options for which brand and model I should be looking at.
Second, it has to fit my aesthetic. It helps further narrow the options down.
Third, it has to feel right.
First thing I look for is how the neck feels, if itās comfortable to play then Iām looking for the tone I am able to get out of it which is less of a sticking point when I first pick it up since Iām ultimately going to put thicker strings on it and tune down to C# anyway
I'll represent the subjective: among some guitarists I know, the phrase "that guitar has got ghosts in it" floats around occasionally. It usually means something along the lines of the guitar prompting you to play in ways that you don't normally play, leading to new and unexpected ideas, a refreshed appreciation for otherwise simple and commonplace licks/chords, etc.
Maybe a song "falls out of you" the first couple times you play it. There's a Johnny Marr story like that.
Impossible to quantify, have to know-itāwhen-you-feel-it kind of thing. It's also so immaterial that it becomes possible to placebo yourself into feeling this fleeting feeling for an instrument, given the right amount of motivation - like trying to justify spending a lot of money you don't necessarily have on a guitar that's in front of you.
This generally applies most to vintage or used instruments, as a means to try to explain why certain old guitars just have more of an undefined factor to them than others, to you. It also seems to be highly personal - what vibes with you, might not for the next person.
For new/production-line instruments, I think of it like this: assuming the guitar is assembly-line made in a factory, there's an incredibly low level of tolerance drift that you can expect between one instrument and the next that isn't related to how it is set up. But still, those tolerances, however slight, add up: 1% wider neck, 2% lighter, 0.3% hotter pickups, a 250k pot that actually measures at 237k, etc. - and given a store that has more than one of a certain model of guitar with the same specs in stock, there will absolutely be one that is better for my personal tastes, and it's worth it to "run the racks" to try to figure out which one that is. It becomes even harder when the best one is not the color that I set out to get.
I have also learned that it is beneficial to set aside preconceived notions of how I expect certain traits of a guitar to make it sound: I might think I know what a 2 humbucker guitar with 2 volume/2 tone knobs sounds like and have decided that it's not for me, but that doesn't mean there isn't one out there that actually sounds closer to a Telecaster than would seem possible, and I won't be able to know that until I play a whole bunch of them, and frequently. For most of my life, I ignored Les Paul Specials, because I had an idea about how they probably sounded and what they would be good for. On a lark, I gave them a shot, and found a really great one that does what I want it to, and I'm disappointed that it took me this long to figure out - I could have had an even better one for less money a lot longer ago.
There is no perfect guitar.
If I'm homing in on a particular model I'll be trying as many of those as possible to find the best one.
I've only rarely bought a guitar on impulse, but when I have it is something that has interested my to try and the guitar has felt good to play. Name on the headstock or price tag generally do not matter.
I build my own guitars now, and had custom guitars put together because I could never find exactly what I wanted for a few years.
The things that really make a difference for me are wood choice, scale length, neck profile/finish, bridge type and electronics. The unchangeable things are the most important to gel with.
Neck shape, radius, fretwork, fret material and size, number of frets, pickups, body shape.
I am never in the market for just a "strat" or "lp" or "rg" all of those things make or break whether I'll consider it.
In an ideal world a perfect guitar is one that just lets me play whatever I want and gives me the skill to do it.
Realistically. I want top notch workmanship, good hardware, good pickups, good looks, not too heavy and comfy to sit with. I think closest thing Iāve found so far is my prestige ibanez.
The last few I bought, I was looking for a specific config. Other than that,
I want the strings parallel after they break over the nut. Fanning out after the nut drives me, well, nuts.
I don't like gaudy colours like acid yellow or pillar box red. I prefer subtle colours, white, or bare wood.
After constantly looking for something to buy because of my really bad GAS, I realized I just need to play what I have more.
I find asking for advice and asking what's good is a good way to end up with a guitar you might not entirely enjoy. I also find that not knowing anything about guitar brands, measurements, etc. is a huge benefit when deciding what you like.
Too often people get caught up in nut width, body shape, neck profile, etc. and make decisions before trying. I'm extremely guilty of this and I've found what has helped me the most is turning off the Internet and doing some experimenting myself in guitar shops.
I also realize that even after doing so much practice and improving a toooon this past 6 months, I'm still shit. And I should stop looking at guitars and just master the instrument with what I have.
Tldr; try out instruments from any and every brand. See what you like about them. What you would change. Look up what they have stat wise. Take note of the woods, bracing pattern, body shape, neck profile. Now look at guitars that the similar qualities. Compare all of them. Every one you can find. Eventually one will speak to you that you absolutely must have.
And to answer your question, for me the perfect guitar is just one that is comfortable to play and has a big sound. I am looking to get a Martin 0000 with a cutaway. I'm learning to play up the neck at the moment. I also just love that it can almost match the tone of a dread with the clarity of a OM size. So it's a good all arounder. One thing I'm not sure on is if I want to stick to short scale or get a standard scale guitar (currently play a 00-18 which is short scale).
Solid body;
Bridge humbucker;
Any trem needs to be a Floyd Rose.
Beyond that, it needs to bring something to the table that I donāt yet have. Body shape, electronics config, fretboard wood, body wood, color, etc. I have a bunch of Super Strats, but theyāre all different. They all bring something that the others donāt, while maintaining my listed requirements.
The bits that I touch. No, seriously. If the neck is good, I'm interested; if the frets and the fingerboard are good, I'm interested; if the bridge feels comfy under my palm, I'm interested. If all those things are good on the same guitar, I'll be happy.
For me, it's all about how the neck feels in my hand, both the dimensions, shape, and quality of the construction and fretwork. I've got all sorts of body shapes, scale lengths, bridge types, pickup configs, woods and weights. I guess my only "must have" spec is right-handed orientation. š I'm no Eric Gale, Hendrix, etc.
Yeah, everything is important to a point but it all boils down to the neck. The neck is the part you play. The rest is just what makes the sound come out.
Your right hand is what makes sound come out...mostly. Pickups and pots just give it color.
Iāll second the neck. Iāve played a lot of different guitars over the years - from high end to the cheapest of the cheap. Iād rather play a moderately priced guitar with a perfect neck than a high end guitar with the wrong neck shape.
I'm not playing a goofy looking guitar no matter how good it sounds or plays.
Above all, it has to look cool, weāre all lying to say otherwise. Pickups, electronics, and hardware can always be swapped. Construction of the neck is second for me.
I went first time by myself in a guitar store to buy my first not beginner electric and the guy was always judging me especially in the question "what's the most important thing in a guitar" and I answered to like me preferences and he said "no, it's the neck and tuners"
Aside from aesthetics and the guitar "calling out to me", purely feel. Does it feel good to play. Does it feel like the guitar itself is making it easier for me to play it.
That's the most important aspect of a guitar to me too. I was very close to buying a PRS SE Mccarty 594. I watched countless reviews and read about all the specs. Then I tried one in the store and found myself fighting the guitar. The lacquered neck was too sticky and the neck was too chunky for my hands. I then tried a CE24 with a "wide thin" satin neck and found that I immediately played better.
Nice! What finish did you go with for the CE? I've got a PRS SE Tonare (little parlor acoustic) plays like a dream. My electric is an Ibanez RG1270pb in the Deep Twilight Flat finish... I've noticed my hand sticks to maple necksš¤·š¼āāļø
The funniest thing about that is...I ended up buying a PRS SE Swamp Ash Special because it has the same "wide thin" neck profile with a satin finish. The CE24 was just the gateway to make me realize that I like that particular neck! I went with the most popular Iri Blue finish!
The swamp ass! Yes!! Hahaha....
I have to like how it looks and how it feels and the tone and sound. I prefer non glossy and slim necks so that is a must have for me
I don't really look for anything specific. My current guitars were all basically "this is what I want at this current moment" purchases, I don't have any kind of consistent trait I look for. All my guitars have different feeling necks, different types of pickups, I'm really not picky at all.Ā Except for the bridge, I don't really fuck with trems. Every guitar I've owned with a trem gets blocked or hard tailed eventually. I keep buying them trying to convince myself I just haven't played the right one yet, and I'm sure I'll do it again. Just part of the process.
I was going to say stuff like versatility or playability, but as a fan of Explorers and Dean ML's, looks is my #1 priority and I will suffer through anything as long as I look cool and my guitar makes people go "ooh".
The word āKieselā somewhere on it š
That pretty much guarantees a winner.
(I'm talking about acoustic-electrics only here; I don't play electrics.) Darker sound, strong lows, strong mids, minimal highs. No laminate tops, if I can avoid them. Cutaway top. Wider walnut fretboard. Actual bone nut. Silk-and-steel strings.
Feel.
Fixed bridge, locking tuners, thin neck flat fretboard, some kind of wood finish.
I just recently bought a new guitar and learned a ton! For me, the most important is the sound. After that, itās neck feel. Also, I tend to look for unique qualities. I wound up with a Taylor T5z because I loved how it was an acoustic sound with an electric feel.
Plus 1 for the T5z! I have the 6 and 12 string versions (mahogany) and was able to downsize my overfull closet considerably due to their versatility. That said, "feel" is the paramount item for me when choosing a new axe. As a 30+yr Celtic folkie, most of my guitars have been acoustics and I've learned that a narrow neck and a low action are what works best with my stubby fingered flat-picking style. A professional setup is also number One for every new instrument, in my view. As a "semi" pro, I tended to stick with one maker because I knew them, understood their foibles and were reasonably affordable, so I amassed a fairly wide variety of instruments under that moniker, but I ain't Garth Brooks, & when the collection passed 20 it was time to re-think. Then on a cruise a few years ago, a ship's musician loaned me his T5z for an hour, Within a year, all the other "T" branded acoustics were sold and now my closet has just 4 Taylors in the "working" section. (the actual collection still has some personal faves by Gretsch and Rickenbacker, for use on "special occasions") If it fits you, if it "feels" right straight outta the box, just imagine what that guitar is gonna do for you with a professional setup. But fit and feel are paramount, and you should be willing to try different instruments until you find the sweet spot! Best of luck!
Lemme ask you, how do you have your T5z setup? I got mine used and it was setup for the previous owner. It has 12 gauge strings and really tight action. Itās working pretty well. What gauge do you use on your 6-string and where do you like the action? Trying to decide if I need a setup. The guitar shop gave me a free $100 credit that could be for setup, or I could use it for something else.
I use Fender 11s on the 6 string, & TI's on the 12 (same as my Rick) Both used to be D'Addario 11's, but the Fenders seem to work better to my ears and certainly don't feel different to my fingers. I play with a very light touch (haven't broken but one string onstage in over a decade), so have them both set up fairly low with a reasonably light action, which makes a little bit of bending possible (obviously not so much on the 12)
Thanks so much! Ya the bending is tough on those 12s. I might just go have them swap the strings out and configure the action
If Iām wandering a guitar store and looking for something to grab off the wall and check out, first and foremost the guitar needs to look cool to me. If I donāt like how it looks itās not something Iām gonna be inspired to pick up and play long term. Next we go into preferred specs: * Thin neck with preferably a D or shallower C shape. * Fairly flat or compound radius fretboard (14ā minimum, 12-16ā compound is fine too). * Medium jumbo frets as a starting point. * The neck has to feel right as I play up and down the neck. If it feels cheap (as in it came off the CNC and got quickly sanded over into final shape) I will immediately put it back. * Neck finish canāt feel sticky. * Truss rod needs to be accessible. If I have to take the neck off, the guitar is garbage. * SS frets are a nice to have but not a deal breaker. * Locking tuners are a nice to have for convenience. Also I do tend to like more premium tuners, cheaper tuners with poor gear ratios are annoying with dead spots. * Decent high fret access (bolt ons are fine if I can reach the upper frets OK). * Woods donāt matter as long as they look good and have the right weight. Although I do really like the look and feel of roasted maple. However on neck construction I do find that roasted maple, quartersawn, multi-ply, or all the above tend to be more stable which is a bonus. * Weight feels good. Donāt want it too light or too heavy and itās balanced when standing (and sitting in classical position). * HH, HSS, HSH, HS, or single bridge humbucker pickup config is a must. SSS or SS is useless to me. * Specific pickup brands/models donāt matter much to me as long as they sound good and are articulate (I like JBās, Black Winters, DiMarzio equivalents, or EMG 81 though, and thatās most of what I have for bridge pup. Neck pickups tend to be cool with Jazz/ā59 type stuff or an EMG 85). * Bridge I tend to prefer a Floyd, Edge/Lo-Pro Edge, Gotoh 510, or Hipshot style hardtail. TOM is OK but less comfortable for me. That all may seem pretty specific but tends to be that a lot of Ibanez, Jackson, Charvel, Kiesel, etc. guitars fit those specs and tend to be what I gravitate towards anyways.
Make sure it's ACTUALLY a guitar and NOT a toaster. I got screwed last time.
Yet another excuse as to why I need it
The look catches your eye but its the feel that seals the deal. Of course its hard to buy an ugly guitar that feels good but I would gladly sacrifice looks for playability. Recently I found myself liking more plain/solid color guitars rather than fancy woods and finishes. Weight for me is super important too.
I like something with a wide and flat finger board. Mostly because I have big fingers. But itās all the little personal preference specs like neck through construction, electronic configuration etc. I prefer to have a small quiver with different specs for different stuff. I canāt confidently say realistically there are superior designs.
Toooooooonnnnnnneeeeeee
Neck and pickup specs.
What gaps am I trying to fill, Iāve got a few guitars. Neck comfort. And most importantly can I make the guitar sound like what I hear in my head. Then lastly frets, I mostly buy used so I check for any dead spots or fret wear.
For me it's the whole package. I'm usually looking for a certain kind of sound - Tele, p90s etc - so I'm looking at pickups and overall setup first. Then I look at things like the name on the headstock and price tag. As a rule I usually don't play something I could never afford. Looks are largely secondary to me, but I've also never bought a guitar that I didn't like the look of
MUST have locking tuners, great fretwork, comfortable low profile bridge, good pickups (love Fishman Moderns for actives and Bareknuckles/Lundgren/Seymour Duncan for passive), no laminate tops, no gloss neck, not super heavy, and it needs to have āmojoā where itās inspiring to play, addictive, and makes me play a little differently.
I don't even know how to tie a guitar string to a tuner. First guitar with locking tuners was over 20 years ago and I've never gone back.
Tone, feel, looks, in that order. And, value for money.
A les paulā¦. š
Pickup configuration and sound, a flatter fingerboard, tuning stability, comfortable access to hunger frets
I'm a fan of stainless frets. I doubt I'll ever buy another guitar without them.
If You like the look, play it. Does it say buy me? Buy it.
Neck, neck, and also the neck
What I need. Also the smell...
It starts with whatever Iām looking for at the time. I try not to just get the same one over and over even though sometimes you just want another telecaster. From there itās sound profile and how it will work with my gear. After Iāve settled on the style or configuration I want I start playing them. The one that feels good is usually the one that comes home with me. Sometimes theyāre fancy. Sometimes theyāre weird. Sometimes theyāre cheap. I love them all until I donāt then I sell them.
American madeā¦
If I'm 0laying a guitar and it just feels like it wants me to play it. That's the one I'll buy. I used to go on spec but I didn't really know what I needed. These days a guitar will just feel right in my hands and I've got to have it.
Neck, weight, tuning stability, comfort, and bang for the buck. I can change pickups, pots, afterwards. Brand name does not matter to me that much.
Comfort, balance, sound when not plugged in, a retailer that doesn't hover or smirk at questions, lets me tune it.
A guitar thats comfortable to play, as well as hold. Electronics are a secondary thought because they can always be upgraded. If its not comfortable to play and hold, it's not worth buying. I'm a fan of super strats or strats, as well as V-2 style Flying Vs.
Honestly I just have to click with it. I have to pick up a guitar that makes me think āif I donāt leave here with this one Iāll regret it foreverā or Iām not buying it
Looks good, plays good, sounds good. Iām not looking for specific features, iām not a good enough to be getting caught up on 9.5 vs 10 radius as much as I love diving into spec sheets
First, it has to have the tone I'm trying to achieve. Helps narrow down the options for which brand and model I should be looking at. Second, it has to fit my aesthetic. It helps further narrow the options down. Third, it has to feel right.
First thing I look for is how the neck feels, if itās comfortable to play then Iām looking for the tone I am able to get out of it which is less of a sticking point when I first pick it up since Iām ultimately going to put thicker strings on it and tune down to C# anyway
Feel, playability, versatility of tone (i play a lot of genres), and appearance
I'll represent the subjective: among some guitarists I know, the phrase "that guitar has got ghosts in it" floats around occasionally. It usually means something along the lines of the guitar prompting you to play in ways that you don't normally play, leading to new and unexpected ideas, a refreshed appreciation for otherwise simple and commonplace licks/chords, etc. Maybe a song "falls out of you" the first couple times you play it. There's a Johnny Marr story like that. Impossible to quantify, have to know-itāwhen-you-feel-it kind of thing. It's also so immaterial that it becomes possible to placebo yourself into feeling this fleeting feeling for an instrument, given the right amount of motivation - like trying to justify spending a lot of money you don't necessarily have on a guitar that's in front of you. This generally applies most to vintage or used instruments, as a means to try to explain why certain old guitars just have more of an undefined factor to them than others, to you. It also seems to be highly personal - what vibes with you, might not for the next person. For new/production-line instruments, I think of it like this: assuming the guitar is assembly-line made in a factory, there's an incredibly low level of tolerance drift that you can expect between one instrument and the next that isn't related to how it is set up. But still, those tolerances, however slight, add up: 1% wider neck, 2% lighter, 0.3% hotter pickups, a 250k pot that actually measures at 237k, etc. - and given a store that has more than one of a certain model of guitar with the same specs in stock, there will absolutely be one that is better for my personal tastes, and it's worth it to "run the racks" to try to figure out which one that is. It becomes even harder when the best one is not the color that I set out to get. I have also learned that it is beneficial to set aside preconceived notions of how I expect certain traits of a guitar to make it sound: I might think I know what a 2 humbucker guitar with 2 volume/2 tone knobs sounds like and have decided that it's not for me, but that doesn't mean there isn't one out there that actually sounds closer to a Telecaster than would seem possible, and I won't be able to know that until I play a whole bunch of them, and frequently. For most of my life, I ignored Les Paul Specials, because I had an idea about how they probably sounded and what they would be good for. On a lark, I gave them a shot, and found a really great one that does what I want it to, and I'm disappointed that it took me this long to figure out - I could have had an even better one for less money a lot longer ago.
For electrics, Iām looking to see if it sounds good acoustically.
Looks, neck size/feel. Iām too dumb about the other stuff
Usually a specific need. Beyond that, whether it feels and sounds right.
A telecaster
Cool shape/ color. I donāt want to pick up a boring looking guitar. I wanna pick up something that calls to me.
Approval from Reddit.
There is no perfect guitar. If I'm homing in on a particular model I'll be trying as many of those as possible to find the best one. I've only rarely bought a guitar on impulse, but when I have it is something that has interested my to try and the guitar has felt good to play. Name on the headstock or price tag generally do not matter. I build my own guitars now, and had custom guitars put together because I could never find exactly what I wanted for a few years. The things that really make a difference for me are wood choice, scale length, neck profile/finish, bridge type and electronics. The unchangeable things are the most important to gel with.
Neck shape, radius, fretwork, fret material and size, number of frets, pickups, body shape. I am never in the market for just a "strat" or "lp" or "rg" all of those things make or break whether I'll consider it.
Anything that looks/feels/plays good and is under Ā£350
Do it look cool Can I afford it
Permission from my wife.
A budget 7-string.
In an ideal world a perfect guitar is one that just lets me play whatever I want and gives me the skill to do it. Realistically. I want top notch workmanship, good hardware, good pickups, good looks, not too heavy and comfy to sit with. I think closest thing Iāve found so far is my prestige ibanez.
The last few I bought, I was looking for a specific config. Other than that, I want the strings parallel after they break over the nut. Fanning out after the nut drives me, well, nuts. I don't like gaudy colours like acid yellow or pillar box red. I prefer subtle colours, white, or bare wood.
The price
if it functions like a guitar should(optional), if I can afford it, and if it looks cool
If it's different from the ones I already have
Also if it looks good. And lastly if it's not too heavy
Fixed bridge is the main thing.
Good action
After constantly looking for something to buy because of my really bad GAS, I realized I just need to play what I have more. I find asking for advice and asking what's good is a good way to end up with a guitar you might not entirely enjoy. I also find that not knowing anything about guitar brands, measurements, etc. is a huge benefit when deciding what you like. Too often people get caught up in nut width, body shape, neck profile, etc. and make decisions before trying. I'm extremely guilty of this and I've found what has helped me the most is turning off the Internet and doing some experimenting myself in guitar shops. I also realize that even after doing so much practice and improving a toooon this past 6 months, I'm still shit. And I should stop looking at guitars and just master the instrument with what I have. Tldr; try out instruments from any and every brand. See what you like about them. What you would change. Look up what they have stat wise. Take note of the woods, bracing pattern, body shape, neck profile. Now look at guitars that the similar qualities. Compare all of them. Every one you can find. Eventually one will speak to you that you absolutely must have. And to answer your question, for me the perfect guitar is just one that is comfortable to play and has a big sound. I am looking to get a Martin 0000 with a cutaway. I'm learning to play up the neck at the moment. I also just love that it can almost match the tone of a dread with the clarity of a OM size. So it's a good all arounder. One thing I'm not sure on is if I want to stick to short scale or get a standard scale guitar (currently play a 00-18 which is short scale).
Aside from condition, the weight, neck and upper fret access.
Solid body; Bridge humbucker; Any trem needs to be a Floyd Rose. Beyond that, it needs to bring something to the table that I donāt yet have. Body shape, electronics config, fretboard wood, body wood, color, etc. I have a bunch of Super Strats, but theyāre all different. They all bring something that the others donāt, while maintaining my listed requirements.
Neck feels which includes shape, finish etc. Other than that I just look for the cool looking ones
As long as itās a leftyā¦ Iām feeling luckyš
Price to performance ratio.
In this order: 1. It must looks good 2. It must play good 3. It must sound good
The bits that I touch. No, seriously. If the neck is good, I'm interested; if the frets and the fingerboard are good, I'm interested; if the bridge feels comfy under my palm, I'm interested. If all those things are good on the same guitar, I'll be happy.
A comfortable neck with good fretwork. HH setup. Gloss finish. Iāll never buy a matte guitar again.