Buying a guitar can be a sizable investment. Like other items, the better the guitar the higher the price. A cheap guitar, whether used or new, will probably disappoint you at some point in time. If the cost of a new guitar is simply out of your price range, try visiting the local pawn shops to see what they have to offer.
One thing to think about, however, if you are going to visit a pawn shop, is how knowledgeable the owner is about guitars. Does the pawn shop owner play guitar, or do they just deal in guitars for some quick cash? If you can find a pawn shop operated by an honest guitar player, you are truly in luck!
One particular place to always inspect when considering a used guitar is the spot where the heel of the neck joins the body of the guitar. A lot of tension is placed on the guitar from the strings and the weakest point is where the neck and body connect. Over time, the glue becomes loose and the neck separates from the body at the heel.
Sometimes, just leaving a guitar in a hot car trunk can soften the glue enough for this damage to take place. The bad news is that this repair is not a simple, easy job for a luthier (guitar repairman) to correct. So be sure to look carefully at this area before buying a guitar as many pawn shops do not offer any sort of guarantee for your purchase.
Look the guitar over for other signs of repairs, too. Anywhere the instrument is glued should be looked at carefully. Some acoustic and semi-hollow body guitars split around the edges of the body.
Another part to be aware of because it can wear out is the tuning machine. The tuning machines are what keeps the guitar in tune. If they are not tight or they wiggle you might want to look at another guitar. However, the tuning machine can usually be replaced without any great skill, but check on the prices for the tuning machines before you buy. You might even be able to use this as a bargaining tool to get a better price.
Brand name can indicate a high quality used instrument, but there are many well known guitar manufacturers that also produce low end guitars. So, do a little research about models. For instance, you might track down a certain model number and with some online research, find out that a guitar you thought to be only about ten years old might really be about 35 years old. Or you may find out that the name brand guitar is priced high at the pawn shop, but actually the guitar is a low end model that you could buy new for the same price.