How to test guitar at a store?

[chocolatefriend]

Hey all! I'm pretty new at picking guitars. May I know what kind of tunes/songs do you all play to test Acoustic guitars(no pickups) at a store? Is it just any random songs? Or chords or notes?

Thanks for helping the noob!

 

[bf0502tr]

i ain't pro but here's what i normally do, so as not to embarass myself at the shop.

my 1st strum is always the open G chord, clean, to test the sustain. after that i just run through some simple strumming. it can be simple 4 chord wonders. test any strumming patterns.

after that, hit the drive and go into smooth overdrive. not the really smooth blues crunch, but just enough that i get the cool glassy sound. test out more chords and this time more complex chords like 7ths or sus. then solo for awhile to see how it sounds at all registers of the fretboard. this is important cos u wanna make sure that the pickups sound pleasing to ur ears anywhere on the fretboard.

lastly, crank up the gain. this is usually where i test all the pickup combinations cos i usually play in this setting. whack a few power chords, or any songs u usually play. then solo abit here and there.

and walah!! i'm done testing. thank u for ur time and put the guitar back for me thx, i'm outta here

 

[bf0502tr]

oh yea btw that's only for electrics, as for acoustics, i've absolutely no idea what to look for =/

 

[sept09]

I usually pluck notes on all frets to hear for buzzing

 

[theunknown]

Hi TS, for me if i wanna test the guitar, i really test, not i show off my skills.

Some things u can do:
- test clean sound on each pickup strum/pick some chords, abit of blues riff
- test distorted sound on each pickup strum power chords on bridge pickup, some pentatonic scale on neck pickup
- test the knobs, tuners how they respond
- play notes on every fret to check for fretbuzz
- feel the guitar, move ur hands up n down the neck, are comfortable with it?

from my observations, people who test guitar as in they have interest to test guitar would do the above.

people who play sweet child o mine or whatever fast riffs, are just there to show off.
EDIT: ok my bad. it is important to play your favourite licks/riffs on it to test playability. you wouldnt wanna bring it home and go "waah. so hard to play this lick on this guitar man...."

 

[Breen]

Yep on ^^^^ as well as play all notes. Hear for any out of tune or muted or dead notes. They do exist on certain guitars as a phenomenon of sorts.

Try the controls, fast and slowly to see if they fit well for your playing as well if you like the tone roll off or volume swelling/gain control on the guitar. Check the electronics at every angle, their your guitar's 'engine'. Check the input jack, pickup selection is clean and snappy and that all options work.

Play your favorite stuff to see if its a good guitar for that. Say you like jazz and want a Tele, go for the neck or middle position, roll of some of the tone knob and see if the sounds coming out are pleasing. Which they should be

Or if your gonna do some modern metal, hit that bridge pickup and play it as you would Live at Donington. Donington is still considered modern?

Bend the high notes high up the neck and check for fretting out, meaning notes going out of tune or being muted because of uneven fretwork.

Of course see the neck for any bowing or bad relief. Hold the guitar like aiming a rifle and focus your eyes down at the area where the Estrings and the neck are. You can see if the neck is curved up or back or straight.

Condition is up to the individual, of course if its new you would want it unblemished. If the cosmetics are a bit worn, do ask for a discount or ask for another piece, and start everything all over again. Don't be unreasonable, you think they would give you a 300 buck cut on a 750 quid korean copy?

 

[Gr3yF0x]

i never tested my first acoustic guitar that i bought from Davis many years ago. now i realise that it's a piece of crap. ): wasted my Chinese new year money.

 

[ThisAndThat]

For me,i would most probably smile and ask if i can test the guitar first,then try picking and strumming some chords and ask myself if i'm comfortable with it.

 

[mythozux]

Hi TS, for me if i wanna test the guitar, i really test, not i show off my skills.

Some things u can do:
- test clean sound on each pickup strum/pick some chords, abit of blues riff
- test distorted sound on each pickup strum power chords on bridge pickup, some pentatonic scale on neck pickup
- test the knobs, tuners how they respond
- play notes on every fret to check for fretbuzz
- feel the guitar, move ur hands up n down the neck, are comfortable with it?

from my observations, people who test guitar as in they have interest to test guitar would do the above.

people who play sweet child o mine or whatever fast riffs, are just there to show off.

Hmm, my 2 cents.
Some musicians will play songs of different genres to check the versalility of the guitar, and shred to test the performance of the guitar, for example, if a shaved neck, scalloped frets, or action is going to boost/kill their speed.

 

[Likui]

Hi TS, for me if i wanna test the guitar, i really test, not i show off my skills.

Some things u can do:
- test clean sound on each pickup strum/pick some chords, abit of blues riff
- test distorted sound on each pickup strum power chords on bridge pickup, some pentatonic scale on neck pickup
- test the knobs, tuners how they respond
- play notes on every fret to check for fretbuzz
- feel the guitar, move ur hands up n down the neck, are comfortable with it?

from my observations, people who test guitar as in they have interest to test guitar would do the above.

people who play sweet child o mine or whatever fast riffs, are just there to show off.

1st u test then later show off hahahahhaa nothing wrong with that

 

[mus]

Hi TS, for me if i wanna test the guitar, i really test, not i show off my skills.

Some things u can do:
- test clean sound on each pickup strum/pick some chords, abit of blues riff
- test distorted sound on each pickup strum power chords on bridge pickup, some pentatonic scale on neck pickup
- test the knobs, tuners how they respond
- play notes on every fret to check for fretbuzz
- feel the guitar, move ur hands up n down the neck, are comfortable with it?

Step by step tutorial on how to test a guitar. To add to this post, test the clean and distorted sound with all the pickup configuration. Hear if there any scratchy noises when you turn the knobs or use the pickup selector.

people who play sweet child o mine or whatever fast riffs, are just there to show off.

I don't agree fully. Some play fast riffs to feel the playability of the guitar. If the volume is above average then that's showing off.

 

[theunknown]

mus: yeap the clean and distorted sound with all pickup config is in there =))

haha ok i surrender with Mus's point. "with above average volumes".

the softies who disagreed with me: Yeah i agree to all that playing ur favourite and some fast licks/riffs are to test playability. great point. i missed out that. hehe. my bad.