Deal-breakers when buying a guitar.

[TokyoNeko]

Going forward, these are non-starters.

- Slotted headstock
- Laminated top/back
- Built-in electronics
- Cutaway
- Body size outside of 00-OM range
- Nut width outside of 1.7-1.75" range
- Too much bling (which usually only drives up cost)

[HNS]

There are a few for me:

Narrower nut width and spacing at saddle. I have large fingers.
Electronic preamp on the top side.
Dark colored tops, I prefer natural finish and sunbursts (sometimes).

[guitar george]

Originally Posted by drive-south

I know many will disagree but I dont like necks with a scarf joint and heel stack. In some cases a scarf joint may be very well done and concealed with a back cap. Thats fine but I dont want to see a scarf joint. And heel stacks always look ugly to me and scream cost savings.

I dont mind having a K&K installed but no UST and no batteries inside the guitar. I have several guitars with Fishman Matrix and looking to move on from that type system.

I learned quite a bit here about "scarf joints", "heel stacks", "back caps", and "USTs" that I looked up on the internet. Don't know why any of these would be particularly undesirable?

While looking I also discovered "staggered tuners", "string trees", "heel caps", "scalloped frets" and "volutes".

Never knew a guitar might have these parts.

[crwheat@sbcglob]

Onboard electronics. Skinny Minny necks. Glue globs inside. Over the top, bird style pickguards.

[ewalling]

Used guitars with B.O.

I speak from experience!

[Judson]

The presence of a "sound port" ... these have just never appealed to me.

The presence of a cutaway ... not a total deal breaker, but a definite turn off.

Permanently installed electronics ... ie. knobs on the side, or some sort of barn door panel. I like after market, minimally invasive pick-ups like the LR Baggs Lyric.

Less than a 1.75 nut ... it's just a thing with me.

[Sagebrush Tom]

Deal breakers:

Nut width less than 1 3/4"

Onboard electronics with either knobs or buttons showing and barn door electronics

Aftermarket bridge pins

Cutaways

Used Guitars that are dirty, beat up, and abused

Any body size larger than om/000

Too much bling

Bridge spacing less than 2 5/32" (I prefer 2 1/4", but got used to the narrower spacing)

Deep Capo dents on neck

and that's just for used guitars....

[DM3MD136]

Great topic... this wasn't the case years ago, but now that I'm settled in on what I like, I don't deviate... will pass on acoustics if:

- Left-handed (easy one)
- Cracks (even if repaired)
- Poor fit/finish
- Dead tone
- Barn door electronics
- Solid color finish (blue, black, etc)
- Slotted headstock
- Anything but an ebony fretboard/bridge
- Newer guitars with moderate/major cosmetic issues
- Laminate top
- Incorrect pickguard (tan line problems when fixed)
- Low end manufacturer
- Through saddle (blasphemy, I know)
- BONUS: Grover Rotomatic tuners (if it has em, they get immediately replaced)

[auggie242]

You can call me shallow, but excess runout is a deal breaker for me.
I don't care how good it sounds. There's no shortage of great sounding guitars without runout.

[drive-south]

- BONUS: Grover Rotomatic tuners (if it has em, they get immediately replaced)[/QUOTE]

Replaced with what and why?

[DM3MD136]

Originally Posted by drive-south

- BONUS: Grover Rotomatic tuners (if it has em, they get immediately replaced)

Replaced with what and why?[/QUOTE]

Open gear Martin/Waverly since they drop into the existing screw plus another... the Rotos just look/feel too bulky for my personal preference, just never got along with em.

[dre]

I'm with the OP, no electronics for me please...also don't care for a cutaway.

[The Bard Rocks]

In order of descending importance to me - -

Left handed (natch)
Cutaways (ruins symmetry)
Knob and barn door electronics
Colored wood such as sunbursts
Too wide or too narrow at the nut
sound or playability that I dislike
laminated back (or top - shudder)
oddly located soundholes
no soundport
runout
white plastic binding
black plastic binding

[sdelsolray]

Originally Posted by Rex Everything

Curious to hear what everyone's criteria is when purchasing a guitar. For me, any kind of installed electronics are a deal-breaker. I just cannot warm up to them, no matter how useful they can be. Now some makers like Taylor install them on every model (save for the Baby, Big Baby).

I was in a shop the other day and noticed that it's getting hard to find an acoustic guitar without some kind of electronics installed. Most of the Gibsons even had some kind of electronics, though tucked away in the soundhole. I don't think I could even warm up to that. I guess I just like an old-fashioned acoustic guitar.

As I gained more experience over the years certain things about an acoustic guitar became more important to me and other things became less important.

Some things that have become more important:

Personal ergonomics.
Luthier.
Body shape.

Some things that have become less important:

Woods used.
Condition.
Popularity.

[mtcross]

Lack of the tone I am looking for

Neck that doesn't fit my hands

other than that as long as it isn't falling apart I can make it work.