Guitars on eBay

Buying A Guitar - Do You Know What To Look For?
By Kathy Unruh

Buying a guitar is an important decision that my students have often asked me about. They want to know what they should be looking for. This is an important question because no two are ever exactly alike. There is a wide variety of types, styles, colors, makes, and models to choose from. The question is, which one is right for you? If you don't know what to look for when you're buying a guitar, you could end up spending a lot more money than you really need to. On the other hand, getting a "deal" may also get you a lemon. Following are some important questions to consider.

1. What style of music are you interested in playing?

The basic skills required when learning to play are the same regardless of the style of music you may be interested in. However, you should understand when you are thinking of buying a guitar, that some are more suited for a particular style than others. Getting started in the right direction can help you to avoid costly mistakes. Do you like Rock'n Roll, Jazz, Bluegrass, or Classical music? Considering your own personal tastes can help you to determine whether to buy an electric or an acoustic guitar for example.

2. Are you a beginner, intermediate, or advanced guitarist?

When buying a guitar for beginners I usually recommend a nylon stringed acoustic or an electric, as they will be the easiest on the fingers. However, students with small hands may find the wider neck of a classical guitar hard to play because of the reach involved. Something to consider in this case is a 1/2 or 3/4 size. Musical style, personal preference, quality and price are the key determining factors to consider when buying a guitar for intermediate and advanced players.

3. What is the tonal quality of the instrument?

Tonal quality refers to the unique sound of each individual guitar. When you strum the strings or listen to it being played what do you hear? Does it sound deep, bright, soft, dull, tinny? The instrument should resonate (transmit the full vibrating quality of it's sound) clearly.

4. How is the action?

The action is simply how high or low the strings are set on the fretboard. This will greatly affect the playability. If the strings are set too high they will be difficult to push down and you will be working harder than necessary to play the instrument. On the other hand, if the strings are set too low they will likely interfere with the frets, which may cause a buzzing sound as you play.You should check each fret thoroughly before buying a guitar. This can be done by using the first finger of your left hand to play each string at every fret up and down the neck. Do you here any buzzes? Does the guitar sound in tune at every point? Is it easy to push the string down? If you are unsure about doing this, then try to take someone who plays guitar along with you as you shop.

.

5. Is the neck straight?

If the neck is straight the intonation will be consistent. This means that when a specific note or chord is played at different points along the neck it will remain in tune. If the note or chord sounds out of tune at different points, then the neck may be crooked or warped. You can check the neck by looking along it's edge. Begin from the base of the body and continue on up to the base of the head. You should see a straight line. If you don't, the neck may be bowed, twisted, or warped.

6. How does the neck feel in your hand?

Necks come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so you will need to determine what feels comfortable to you. Some necks are round and some have a v-shape angle to them. When you cradle the neck in your hand be aware of the fit. Thin necks tend to be easier for small hands, but are generally not as strong as heavier ones. For example, a 12-string guitar will have a heavier neck than a 6-string. Buying a guitar that is the wrong size for your hand can be a factor in developing carpal tunnel syndrome.

7. What are you willing to spend?

If you're just starting out, you really shouldn't need to spend a lot of money when buying a guitar. Knowing what your budget will allow can help to speed up the process though. If you only have $200 to spend, don't waste time looking at more expensive models. You can always upgrade later after you've had sufficient time to explore your musical interests. I personally own 9 or 10 guitars and there is always room for one more! Be realistic about your own needs and keep these questions in mind as you shop. Better yet, print them out and take them with you! Be sure to read 10 BEST GUITAR BUYING TIPS on my website to find even more help in this area. Happy Hunting!

Kathy Unruh is a singer/songwriter and webmaster of ABC Learn Guitar She has been writing songs and providing guitar lessons to students of all ages for over 20 years. For free guitar lessons, plus tips and resources on songwriting, recording and creating a music career, please visit: http://www.abclearnguitar.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kathy_Unruh
http://EzineArticles.com/?Buying-A-Guitar---Do-You-Know-What-To-Look-For?&id=34056

Guitars - Rickenbacker
By Michael Russell

Alongside guitar names like Gibson and Fender, you can't mention the best of the best without adding the name of Rickenbacker. This company has been around since 1931, but it wasn't until 1956, on its 25th anniversary, when Rickenbacker began to make a name for itself in the world of guitars.

That year, Rickenbacker introduced the Combo 400. Guitar collectors call it the guitar with the butterfly style body. But Rickenbacker didn't stop there. That same year they added a solid body electric bass guitar. The one thing about these guitars that made them different from any other guitar was that they had necks that extended from the head to the bass of the body. Today they call this neck through body construction. Rickenbacker was the first company to make guitars like this and soon came to be a trademark of the company.

During the 1950s, Rickenbacker had many popular models. Probably the most popular were the hollow body six string Capri models. This guitar was first unleashed on the world in 1958. The guitar itself was designed by Roger Rossmeisl. There were three models of this guitar and each one had a different body style.

But it wasn't until the 1960s that Rickenbacker has sealed its name in rock and roll history when its guitars got permanently fastened to the British invasion of the mid 60s. This invasion came in the form of the greatest rock band of all time, the Beatles. The groups featured several Rickenbacker guitars in its arsenal. Before the Beatles called it quits for good, John Lennon had owned four Rickenbacker guitars himself. The guitars had become so attached to the Beatles that one of the models was known as the "Beatlebacker". Never in history had one guitar been so identified with one particular group or person.

It wasn't long though until Rickenbacker made its way to a number of groups. Roger McGuinn of the Byrds bought himself a Rickenbacker after seeing the Beatles movie "A Hard Day's Night". The sound of the guitar that McGuinn bought actually became the trademark of the Byrds' sound. Other groups and artists that latched onto the Rickenbacker were Pete Townsend of The Who, John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater Revival and John Kay of Steppenwolf. By the late 60s there was a six week waiting period just to get one of these guitars. They were beyond popular. They were a true phenomenon.

By the 1970s, Rickenbacker started making guitars with detachable necks. They even matched slanted frets to match the angle of the player's hand. They also started making their famous double neck models that became quite standard. Other groups started jumping on the Rickenbacker bandwagon like Tom Petty and R.E.M.

Currently, Rickenbacker is as popular as it ever was. More current groups like Oasis, Pearl Jam, Radiohead and U2 all use Rickenbacker guitars to get their patented sound.

If you want to get an idea of just how popular Rickenbacker is, George Harrison of The Beatles was once asked what guitar he played and he answered, "Of course it's a Rickenbacker".

Could there have been any other answer?

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Guitars

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell
http://EzineArticles.com/?Guitars---Rickenbacker&id=237583

Guitars - Washburn

Washburn Guitars don't quite have the same name and reputation as giants Gibson and Fender, but this little company has been around for quite some time and manufacturers a quality product. We're going to take a look at the Washburn company, a little history, and some of the guitars that is makes.

What most people don't realize is that Washburn has been around since 1883. While they didn't make electric guitars back then, they did manufacture other fine instruments. By the 1920s, Washburn had become a music center by itself. It was considered to be the first place where African-Americans would go to back then. This was in the Mississippi Delta which is where the Delta Blues originated. When the guitar industry started to blossom, Washburn became the main manufacturer of guitars for musicians who were heavily into the blues. This seemed like a perfectly natural progression considering Washburn's roots.

Washburn makes a complete line of electric and acoustic guitars and basses. They also manufacture banjos, mandolins and amplifiers.

As for electric guitars, Washburn offers a wide variety of these. There are the famous Washburn Hollow Body guitars which include the HB35, the HB30, the HB32 DM, the J5, the J4, the J3 and the HB15. Then there is the Scott Ian signature series electric guitars which include the SI 75 and SI 70. The features of these guitars alone are too numerous to even list. And the price tags that go along with them (over $2500) are not for the average musician.

In 1999, Washburn decided it wanted to make a guitar for the 21st century. That's when they came up with the Idol series. These guitars cover a wide spectrum of looks and sounds and include the Aaron Fink, Sonny Mayo, Joe Don Rooney and many others.

Other electric guitars in their line include the Maya series, featuring the Maya Pro, the N series, all numbered from N1 to N6, the X series, which includes the really cool looking flame maple Face Eraser and the Anarchy Graphic series which includes the classic V style WV 16, the X 16 and the WI 16. These are some of the most graphically stunning guitars made.

But we've only scratched the surface here. Aside from the large line of electric guitars, Washburn makes an equally long line of acoustic guitars. These include the USA Acoustics, which run as high as $2400; the Jumbo Acoustics, which feature a big low end and a lot of extra volume; the Dreadnought series, which are all handcrafted from premium woods and materials; the Folk style guitars, which are excellent for recording and feature solid spruce tops; their traditional classical acoustics, which are one of the oldest guitars that they make; the NV guitars, which are for pure professionals and come with price tags as much as $1000 plus and some fine travel guitars ranging in price from about $100 to $500.

Washburn offers a guitar for just about every type of musician. They may not have the same name as Gibson or Fender, but they make one heck of a fine guitar.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to [http://guitars-guide.com/]Guitars

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell http://EzineArticles.com/?Guitars---Washburn&id=237570

The Swedish Made Levin Guitars on eBay

Goya folk guitars were the preferred choice of many of the 1970's folk artists such as Melanie Safka and Stevie Nicks. The folk model Goya guitars during this era (to 1950 - 1973) were acoustic guitars handmade in Sweden by the Levin company but were distributed into the US under the brand name of Goya. In the late 1950's a line of steel stringed flattops were launched, with adjustable truss rods and bolted necks. The later acoustic Goya guitars had a high quality finish and their use of nylon strings gave the guitar a different tone from older guitars that used steel strings, making it popular among folk musicians. After 1973, the Goya brand distribution changed hands several times and the Levin company also started to manufacture electric guitars.

Acoustic Goya folk guitars from the late 1950s or electric guitars through the late 1970s are generally the more common of the Goya guitars available on eBay, but auction market listings change rapidly from day to day and you never know what will turn up. If you are looking for a specific model of Goya guitars on ebay, the best option is to subscribe to an eBay feed in a reader, so you can check new listings regularly. You can subscribe to such a feed at the link below.

When buying Goya guitars on eBay look for detailed colour pictures in the listings, especially if the seller is claiming vintage status. There should be pictures of labels, serial numbers, the guitar case (if there is one) and also details of any major damages to the guitar. That's if the seller is being open and honest and understands the need for collectors to have such information. Most buyers will not quibble over a few scratches or the odd ding, but take care if you see signs of warping or splits in the seams joining the face of the guitar to the curves of the body. These faults can usually be fixed but modify your bid accordingly. Experienced sellers will scrupulously detail the condition of vintage guitars, and fully describe the body, neck and bridge (eBay auction descriptive text in addition to pictures). They may also indicate how the guitar plays and sounds.

How Can You Verify the Authenticity of Goya Guitars on eBay

For early Levin guitars, look for a paper label with the Goya logo in a cursive script and text that says, "Made by A.B. Herman Carlson Levin - Gothenburg, Sweden". Also check both the label and the neck block for a serial number and model with a date and cross check it against the Locksley serial numbers.

Goya guitars made later, through the early 1960s may have a zoning code from the distributor Hershmann, such as New York 10 N.Y. Guitars made after 1962 will likely have a 5-digit zip code from New York City. For later models than this, if the collector aspect is important to you, check on line for a history of the manufacture and distribution of Goya guitars. You may get clues from the distributors name as to which decade it was made. Martin used an 8-digit serial number, which you'd find on Goya guitars made late in the 1970 s. These were not manufactured in Sweden but may have been manufactured in Italy, Japan, Korea or Taiwan. Production ended around 1990, so nearly every Goya guitar on eBay is going to be at least 18 years old.

How Much Should You Pay For Goya Guitars On eBay?

A goya acoustic guitar in good condition will cost between $150-$500 and although bidding varies, you are unlikely to be successful at winning an auction for under $150.00. Few sellers will want the bother of shipping outside the U.S., so shipping costs will generally increase the price by $30-50.00. Check your own local country eBay site listings if you are outside the US. Different Country eBay links are generally listed at the bottom of each eBay page. You can also search classifieds sites such as Craig s List or other auction sites for listings of vintage acoustic guitars. You can check forums where you can read threads of Q&A from previous collectors and ask forum members who may help you to date and value a vintage guitar.

At different times you'll find many different models, styles and years for the models of Goya guitars on eBay. You may pay more for electric Goya guitars which are less frequently available. Jimi Hendrix used to play an electric Goya Rangemaster guitar. Goya Rangemaster guitars of high quality have been listed with a buy now price of $1,500.00. Bass guitars may also garner a higher price.

When you are searching for Goya guitars on eBay, try the search term Levin guitars, also Hagstrom and Martin may be worth a look as well. Your seller may not know much about guitars and list only under vintage or acoustic guitars. Inexperience may also mean they don't upload a good description or detailed pictures. Just email the seller for more detail if an auction listing does look promising and you think they may have a collectable guitar you want to buy.

For a list of the Locksley serial numbers and to check or subscribe to the current eBay listings visit

Goya Guitars On eBay

JA Francis is a longtime bookseller with a lifetime interest in books and anything that's worth being curious about. She was given her first guitar at 16 and likes nothing better than a sing a long evening with friends or to simply listen to any kind of guitar playing. For more Articles, Videos and Tips on Guitar Playing visit Beginners Guide to Guitar Playing. http://www.artskills.info/guitar/