So what do I do before I part with precious $$ at the guitar store to ensure I do not bring home a dud? Here's a quick reference, keep in mind that in the stores, we do not have the luxury to meticulously inspect the instrument:
Headstock:
I make it a point to check the tuners' functionality which can't be done if the guitars feature a top-lock unit. I inspect the finish here, especially the nut area- look out for bad gluing or uneven attachments.
Neck:
I run my fingers along the fretboard edges to check for bad fret cutting (the most common problem for budget guitars). Also watch out for frets which are not inserted properly especially if you encounter muted/ choked notes while playing. Do take a close look at the instrument's open pore fretboard grains- make sure they are really grains & not cracks- I've seen a higher tier offering with a cracked fretboard but I didn't make a fuss as I had no intention of buying it. These cracks could sometimes be hidden by the darker fretboard hue so a close inspection is necessary.
Give the neck a quick sighting, an excessively bowed neck is a cause for concern- either it's reacting adversely to temperature changes or the truss rod had been tweaked but it's dysfunctional.
Also, check the binding work- some bleeding might be expected for mid-priced guitars, this is a finish precision issue which should not be a cause for alarm, if the binding is chipped then be wary of mishandling episodes or even a fall which wasn't detected by the dealer. I always reject guitars with dented neck rear, I won't even consider it beyond this discovery.
Body
Again, binding inspection if there is any. If it's a set neck unit, take a look if there are any bumps at the body-neck area which is an indicator of bad attachments. If it's a bolt-on, there shouldn't be any creaking there. Check the body's top for dents, chips & scratches. It's unnecessary for solid body units but I also give the body a soft shake; if there are any loose hardware, screws, etc, I can hear its presence.
Electronics
The functionality here is important, any issues would imply the workmanship standard hidden under the cavity cover/ pickguard which is hidden away from us. Flick all switches, turn all knobs & check for input jack crackling- twist the cable (not too much, mind you) while playing.
Buzzing
If the guitar sports a low action, fret buzzing is normal- these should be heard coming from the instrument & NOT amplified. If it is, then the buzzing is an anomaly. Some buzzing also originate from the bridge- because of loose fitting components- & the nut because 1) the slots there are wider than the string gauge so rattling is inevitable 2) the slots there are narrower than the string gauge so the strings sits above the slot gap instead of in them, hence buzzing upon strumming. Post-nut strumming could also be heard because the machine heads or other components there (some guitars sport a string retainer eg: Pre-2009 Ibanez RG models, selected, not all) suffer loose fittings as well.
Gee... I intended this to be brief but it got detailed somehow. Did I address all concerns? Do let me know if you have other queries. It's just after lunch here @ the office & the droopy eyelids syndrome is kicking in. COFFEE should help...
