How to Test a guitar

[bf0502tr]

hey guys..i aint sure if this question is very subjective but that time wheni went down to standard val, i saw this guy testing a guitar and he was playin roughly the same tunes mike was when he was testing mine. so i was just wondering how do u guys usually test a guitar? play a song in ur head or just wack random notes in a scale? or how else?

 

[fuzztremecho]

for me..what i normally do is pluck the B string..feel the string vibration at the base of the body..if there is a good vibration for about 15-20 seconds..its a good guitar IMO..this tip i've picked up from Carl Verheyen...then played it unplugged with a few 7th and 9th chords..no fret buzz..comfortable action..this tip i've picked it up from Dicky Betts..

sadly i don't played like both of them..hehehehe

 

[Whitestrat]

It depends on what you're testing for... Quality? Setup? You buying? or fixing?

If you're testing to see if it's a good guitar to buy, then you basicall play the same WIDE reaching scales all over the neck, try all the different pickups, and see how the guitar responds in different situations.

If you're testing for problems, then most of the time you know what or where the problems are, and you test around that area only.

What you're playing doesnt' matter, because you're not playing for an audience here. You're playing for yourself.

 

[Mobius]

I will strum an open string G chord and hear how it rings. Must be bright and clear, not muddy and dull. Then I will play barred chords up and down the neck to see if its easy to play to check for the action. Then I will play some scales or licks up and down the neck. If its an electric, will then turn the knobs and switches to see if its scratchy or any noise, will also check the output jack by tugging the cable to see if any noise (too much noise means its loose). And lastly check the whole body for any scratches, dings or what nots.

 

[bf0502tr]

=Whitestrat

what do u mean by wide reaching scales?

 

[Whitestrat]

Meaning from your lowest note to the highest note on the fretboard. As wide a tonal pitch as possible. The neck pickup alone will sound tonally different whether the fret is on the 5th fret, or on the 15th fret. Most of the pickups will too. If you like those tonal variations, then it's a "good" guitar to buy.

 

[bf0502tr]

oh i see, thanks

 

[Hydrofly]

I'll just play and see if I can CONNECT TO and FEEL the guitar. If it doesn't give me the warm nice fuzzy feeling that should come from a musical instrument, then it can never become an extension of my mind. It will just remain a tuned tool for stringing different pitched noises together.

 

[Glass]

look out for their intonation very important. for electric ,it can be adjust, make sure the strings to neck action are not low, low action give you weak sound with less sustain, low action also fail accurate intonation adjustment.

 

[obzervr]

This is something I can't do so I own up in advance. If someone can give a full demo video on how to test a new and used guitar for both newbie (that have difficulties with scales and the like) and more advanced guitarist (with wide reaching scales and stuff) would definitely benefit the whole guitar fraternity. I'd say thanks in advance.

 

[EugeneSmasher]

For me, its almost the same as Hydrofly. The guitar's got to impress me and just 'feel right'. I would test the tone by playing some riffs I know of, mostly either rock or metal riffs since those are what I play. Then I would try leads and shredding. Basically, I just play random stuff and decide if the tone impresses me, the feel impresses me.

So for me, the guitar has got to click with me. Otherwise, it is not the right one for me. When testing a guitar, do not rush it. Test the guitar thoroughly and take your time.

 

[the tone]

I check for comfort, check for any buzzing on the frets, check the electronics whether its working or not and check if the tremolo detune your guitar when u use it. That's what i always do and just play whatever u like man, becoz what u play doesn't reflect on how good u are sometimes.. i suck but i know what to look out for haha..

 

[theunknown]

usually what gets me to a guitar is the neck. satin or unfinished neck...woa...

strum some chords, pick some chords constantly changing pickups so see how each pickup reacts. make my own simple lick at home then play when test. feel the neck, the string action. turn2 the knobs so see the limit of tone of the guitar, on/off amp drive to hear how the guitar sound with/without drive, preferable bring own effects so u can judge easily as u may not be familiar with the nature of the amp being used to test.

 

[fgl]

as for me ..I normally plug in axe and and test for

1. jeng jeng jeng ness
2. chugga chugga chugga resonance

almost anything else I can pretty much fix .... :mrgreen: