Beware the Bargain Guitar

That cheap guitar at the car boot sale, in a skip, charity shop or bric-a-brac auction might look like a steal — but more often than not, bargain guitars cost far more to fix than they're worth. There's usually a very good reason they ended up in a skip in the first place.

Why Bargain Guitars Are Often a False Economy

Low-cost guitars — particularly those picked up at car boot sales, bric-a-brac auctions, or charity shops — frequently come with a host of hidden problems that the sellers may not even be aware of: warped necks, high action, dead frets, cracked bodies, or tuning machines that simply don't hold. A professional setup or repair can easily run to £50–£150 or more, and that's before you factor in any parts. Even if you plan to do the work yourself, the parts are likely to cost more that the instrument will ever be worth.

When the guitar itself cost £20, the maths rarely adds up.

What to Watch Out For

Before you hand over any cash, look out for these common red flags:

• Bowed or twisted neck — often expensive or impossible to correct on budget instruments
• High action — strings sitting too far from the fretboard make playing painful and intonation poor (may or may not be repairable)
• Fret wear or dead spots — a full refret can cost in excess of £200, probably more than the guitar is worth
• Cracks or splits in the body — structural damage that affects tuning stability, tone and playability
• Tuning instability — cheap, worn or damaged machine tuning heads are a constant frustration

When a Bargain Might Be Worth It

Occasionally, a genuine find does turn up — a well-known brand in need of only minor work, or a solid-wood instrument that just needs a clean and a setup. If you know what you're looking at, or can bring along someone who does, there are occasionally rare gems to be found. But they are RARE.

Everyone, including sellers has a valuation expert in their pocket called Google, making it unlikely that anyone would be selling a genuine rarity for less that its worth. (Just check that you are comparing like for like). Unless there is a known fault or as is common, the guitar is a Frankenstein - parts from different guitars, there is no reason to expect anyone to be selling a guitar for less that it should be worth.

But for most beginners or casual buyers, the safer bet is a new entry-level guitar from a reputable brand, where you know exactly what you're getting and it comes with a warranty.

Our Advice

If you're unsure about a second-hand guitar you've found, bring it in to us. We're happy to take a look and give you an honest assessment before you commit to a repair bill that outstrips the instrument's value.