Buying Guides

Classical Guitar

Scale Length and Neck Width: Finding the Right Fit for Beginners

Scale length, size, nut width, neck profile and body shape of classical guitars: standard 650 mm sizes, children's sizes from 1/8 to 7/8, a size table, cutaway pros and cons, common wrong purchases and a decision guide.

Bass Guitar

Buying a Used Bass Guitar: What to Check

How to buy a used electric bass: where to look, rough prices, neck, frets, body and electronics checks, counterfeits, test-playing, setup basics, negotiating and shipping risks.

Bass Guitar

4-String vs. 5-String: What Beginners Actually Need

A buyer's guide for first basses: 4, 5 or 6 strings, short to extra-long scale, neck width, tuning, costs new and used, mistakes, myths and which bass suits whom.

Bass Guitar

Active vs. Passive Electronics: How They Differ in Sound

How active and passive bass electronics differ in tone, output, battery and cost, with tips for buying used and choosing.

Bass Guitar

Precision Bass vs. Jazz Bass: Comparing the Classic Body Styles

How the Precision Bass and Jazz Bass differ in history, pickups, sound, neck width, body and price, plus PJ hybrids, used-market checks, myths and a P-or-J decision guide.

Banjo

Buying a Used Banjo: What to Check

How to inspect a used banjo: neck, neck angle, frets, pot, hoop, hooks, resonator, bridge and head, how to check and adjust head tension, setup figures, new and used prices in the US, typical repair costs, warning signs and care.

Banjo

4-String vs. 5-String Banjo: Differences for Beginners

How 4-string tenor and plectrum, 5-string and 6-string banjos differ, which tunings and styles go with them, open-back versus resonator, what beginners should buy, new prices, accessories and typical wrong buys.

Mandolin

Buying a Used Mandolin: What to Check

A used-mandolin checklist: top and arching, neck, bridge, frets, setup, prices, depreciation, repair costs and care.

Mandolin

A-Style vs. F-Style Mandolins Compared

A-style vs. F-style mandolins explained: looks, tone, price, weight and comfort, plus archtop, flatback, flat-top and bowl-back builds, style fit, scale and tuning, beginner picks and typical mistakes.

Ukulele

Buying a Used Ukulele: What to Check

Used ukulele checklist: body, bridge, neck, nut, tuners (friction vs. geared), humidity care, string changes, prices and repair costs.

Ukulele

Soprano, Concert, Tenor, Baritone: Finding the Right Size

Soprano, concert, tenor and baritone compared by scale length, tuning, sound and hand fit, plus woods, solid vs. laminate, strings, US prices, myths and typical wrong purchases.

Violin

Buying a Used Violin: What to Check

A step-by-step guide to buying a used violin: condition check, test play, shop versus private seller, warning signs, repair and setup costs, and when an appraisal pays off.