What do you look for?

[VoiceX3]

Well, the first thing I look for is USA Jacksons. And honestly, there usually aren't any. Just mid to low range imports. I couldn't tell you much more than that because I usually walk out saying out loud that "This store has absolutely nothing for me, why do I waste my time even coming in here?!?" On the rare occasion when I do find one (only happenned once a PC1) I was prepared to buy that day, so I tried it out and the douchebag salesman kept coming over to try and push the John Petrucci guitar. I got so aggrivated that I left with my cash. So honestly I look for USAs and a dealer who knows a little more about what they're selling.

Basically the top 3 things I look for are these.

1. Made in USA
2. Jackson
3. New not used (I can get used on EBAY cheaper)

[NextInLine]

When you go in to a guitar shop and look at guitars, what are the top 3 things you look for?

In other words, based on your needs, what are the 3 most important things that you want it to have, thus prompting you to want it or buy it?

Forget price points, etc. I'm looking for info on the most essential elements that trigger you to buy it.

Thanks for your input!

There is always that "first guitar" that you want to try immediately, when you enter a guitar shop.

For me 3 things that make that guitar the first, are;

1 Look (you see that one immediately)
2 Brand - Becuase every guitar player likes one brand more then any other and that brand is the first to come to mind when the guitar player is looking for a guitar. Moreover that's probably what makes you enter "the" shop you're in, not any other...
3 How the guitar plays.

I guess sound is not top priority because if you like the look and the way it plays, you'll probably buy it thinking some pup change or maybe setup will make that guitar sound ok

[CharvelRocker]

1. Feel: This is the most important. For me a guitar must be smooth playing, not weigh a lot, be balanced weight-wise, and feel like it would be comfortable to play for hours on in. I also want a neck that is easy to play chords on and is thin and fast, but easy on my hands. As for balance, the Epiphone SG is a good example of what I try to stay away from. When setting down I put my right arm around it like when I'm picking the strings, and take my left hand off the neck. If it stays level, its good. If not, well, on to the next one.

2. Quality Components: Call me a barand snob, but I refuse to have the crappy Chinese made "Duncan Designed" pickups that have been appearing all over many less expensive guitars lately. If I'm gonna spend $500-750 on a guitar its gonna have USA made Seymour Duncans on it, not licensed chinese ones. Also if it has a Floyd Rose, its got to be a licensed or offical. I will not have settle for anything less. Then I look to see of how high of quality the knobs and switchs are on it, as well as the tuners. Cheap parts= no way.

3. Clean & Simple Looks: I'm less likely to be tired of it after a year :P Plus I'm not in love with guitars with really decorative finishes. I'd take a guitar in flat black over a guitar with SUBER UBER SUPERNOVA SUNBURST anyday Also I like simpler inlays, like trapzoids or blocks as oppossed to really decorative ones that border on tacky.

[Inazone]

Many of my requirements tend to point toward used instruments, but in general:

1.) Unique look/features - I prefer to get something that I'm not likely to see another guitarist playing around town. Whether it's a rare model, an unusual grain on a figured top, or just a "perfect example" of a particular guitar, I'm going to be more inclined to try it out than the run-of-the-mill guitars that I can find in any shop or catalog.

2.) Feel - If I'm seriously interested in a guitar, I'm going to play a song or two on it, making a point of checking for dead spots, buzzes, scratchy pots and anything else that might lessen the new-guitar experience. I want a guitar that I'll be comfortable playing onstage.

3.) "Made in _____" sticker - I'm not going to buy a guitar made in China or Indonesia. Maybe Korea, definitely Japan or the USA. If I can't find that sticker, I'm not buying, unless I know for sure what it is. I don't doubt the ability of Korean or Chinese builders, but the QC process isn't quite there yet from what I've seen in the past few years.

[KevinDguitar]

Before picking one up:
24 jumbo frets
comfortable neck/fret access/neck joint
recessed locking trem
unfinished/oiled neck back
After picking one up:
acoustic volume/resonance
action/set up/control and switch placement
amplified sound and response

[atomic charvel guy]

1-Get the hot checkout girl's phone number who's on duty
2-Look for old Charvels Stratheads or killer Les Paul Standards
3-Buy something ridiculously overpriced so the checkout girl will go to bed with you when she sees what kind of coin you've dropped in that outlandish place. (Guitar Center)

[MikeStrat]

I look for:

1. Selection/Variety - How many guitars do I have to chose from? Is there more than one black Jackson in stock? I need options!!
2. Quality - Are my options top quality with the best hardware and finishes? Are they USA models or is the low end inventory that Music & Arts Center carries?
3. Abuse - Have the guitars I have to chose from been mauled and scratched by 500 sweaty handed people who could never afford them? If so, they can keep it.

I think that sums up my top three.

[cookiemonster2]

1) Availability - one thing that has put me off from buying a Jackson sooner is the relatively long wait compared to other manufacturers. All of the other major manufacturers have their dealers well stocked. For Jackson you're lucky if you can find one specimen of a particular model in the city at any one time and we have 3-4 relatively busy dealers. I know you might be thinking that Edmonton is just some no-name Canadian city in the middle of the arctic - how many guitars really get sold here, but we had the highest volume ESP dealer in North America here. Lots of entry level and higher end guitars get sold here. Jacksons are rare to find compared to Fender, Gibson, PRS, ESP, Ibanez.

In my mind I'm still debating whether to order a custom because I don't know if I can wait two years. I realize custom will take longer than standard production models but current wait still is pretty long. Maybe you could have an option where if someone is willing to pay extra their custom shop order gets moved to the front of the line - guarantee delivery within 6mos.

2) Within the traditional body shapes, the right neck size and contour is the most important comfort factor for me. So I guess having a few choices would be nice to accommodate different tastes.

3) Finish - high grade figured maple top with top notch paint finish. I wish you had kept a few more options that were discontinued a year or so ago. You could have cut back on some of the cheesey 80's graphic paint jobs. Like pile of cheese.

[JACKSONFREAK]

When i go into a guitar shop i look at the wall to se if anything cathcews my eye. when something does. I look at the construction and parts involved. Body style, neck fit, neck condition, fret wear, damage etc. are just a few things i look at. Then i start lookin at p the electronics and hardware. Pups can be swapped out so im not too cincerned about those. Unless theyre already Duncans or Gibsons then I leave most of the time. I then play it and see what it feels like for both hands and if it sounds good. If i like it i haggle price. and see if there is a case or not then haggle more. lol
Gil

[JacksonRob]

I look for:

1. Selection/Variety - How many guitars do I have to chose from? Is there more than one black Jackson in stock? I need options!!
2. Quality - Are my options top quality with the best hardware and finishes? Are they USA models or is the low end inventory that Music & Arts Center carries?
3. Abuse - Have the guitars I have to chose from been mauled and scratched by 500 sweaty handed people who could never afford them? If so, they can keep it.

I think that sums up my top three.

That is exactly what I like/want in a store! Plus of course... a QUALITY KNOWLEDGEABLE STAFF!

[z1n]

Great thread!

For me it's:
1. Neck joint (this usually weeds out most of them)
2. What's the body made of? (alder and neck threw for me)
3. Profile of the neck (is it fat/skinny how’s it feel?)
4. Jumbo frets and fret work quality
5. Look down the neck for straightness and make sure the neck doesn’t have any funky bumps in it that the truss rod can't fix.
6. Hardware
7. Knob/switch placement
8. Then if all that is to my taste I look at electronics but electronics will not stop me from a purchase (I usually change out the pickups anyway)

Also playing it but I think that goes without saying.

[neilli]

1. Appearance (you have to want to try it!)
2. Feel (you have to want to play it)
3. Workmanship / quality / fit and finish (you have to live with it)
then:
4. Price

[Nazgul]

1. Appearance (you have to want to try it!)
2. Feel (you have to want to play it)
3. Workmanship / quality / fit and finish (you have to live with it)
then:
4. Price

well said. I agree.

[shadowcat]

1. Essential features: string-thru or stoptail bridge.
This only rings true for me, because if a guitar has a trem, no matter how nice it sounds and plays, I won't buy it.

2. Acoustic resonance: I strum it once, it might still hang on the wall while doing so... if it makes me go "wow! that sounds nice!" I will take it down and try it out.
The unplugged sound has to be rich and sparkly, I don't need to plug it in to judge. Pickups can be replaced (and definitely will, except if the guitar already has Seymour Duncan pickups).

3. Build Quality: Straight neck, nice feel of the neck coating (don't care if it's painted, oiled, or whatever, as long as it feels nice). Good fretwork, intonation (if it is off, I check if there's enough space on the bridge to get it right).

Last but not least...
4. Price: Yes, if it's too expensive, I won't buy it, because I can't.


And now a little story of my last purchase.
Last Monday I walked into a store with NO intention of buying a guitar, but tried out some different guitars to get an opinion on these brands. Then my points 1-4 came into the picture... I found a guitar with a string-thru bridge, it sounded awesome unplugged, it felt great when I tried it out (real fun to play), I couldn't find any flaws, and it was so inexpensive I could buy it on the spot.
It's my only non-Jackson guitar right now, and it's the only one I bought on the spot. I always had to order my Jacksons.

So, +1 for availability.
If a guitar is not in the store to be tried out and put up against other brands, it can't win... except if the buyer knows EXACTLY what he wants.
But this rules out all impulse buyers and all that are not really informed (almost all kids in the store and their parents).

[Zerberus]

Good acoustic tone
Good Playability
good worksmanship / Fit and finish / attention to detail.

Everything else can be changed, esp. hardware and electronics.