Hi,
I was just wondering about the lifetime of acoustic guitars, especially after reading about the deals some of you have made in pawn shops and the like... My former guitar teacher claimed that they do not last longer than 15 years, after that they would sort of become floppy and would not sound well any more.

I still own my no-name medium-priced guitar I bought when I was 16 (40 now). Once I broke my right arm and after that, I did not touch the instrument for years, did not even open the box. Later I wanted to play again, and what did I find when I opended the box? A guitar made up of three pieces! The neck had come off as well as this glued-on part where the lower ends of the strings are fastened on (pardon me - it is called "Steg" in German).

Then my husband put it all together again with an epoxy which he claimed to be the same used in Airbus construction (he is in the business). The guitar seems better now than it was before, clearer, less muted, but how long will it last? Plus, my daughter wants one and that would have to be a children's guitar. What is worth buying, are there telltale signs when you examine a guitar? And is it worth buying one 30 or more years old?

Thanks a lot
Aleysha

hm... id say how old is your daughter?

if shes a slightly big-sized and has kinda short fingers mabe yamaha f210 its kinda good lol... im playing that guitar now (11years)

Hi,

my daughter is a giant nine-year-old, as big as an average eleven-year-old, with what I'd call normal fingers.

I wonder - are there special points one should examine when buying a used guitar?

Kind regards,
Aleysha

your former guitar teacher is definitely wrong. it is widely considered that the more a guitar is played, and the more vibrations go through it, the better it sounds. this is one reason why vintage guitars sell for such high prices. having first hand experience with my cousin, who is a vintage guitar trader and collector, i can say that i have played an acoustic archtop from the 1930s and also a gibson jumbo from the 1954 (i think) and both sounded amazing.

basically, a guitar will last as long as you take good care of it.

How long can a acoustic last? Forever if you keep it in good shape.

Lifetime. if you dont use it

an acoustic guitar will last forever, but if you let extreme heat get to it it is a gonner or if it gets really cold dun dun da. Humidity is like fire to ice and so is no hunidity, so my advise is put it in a case with a humidifier in the case or if you want it out of the case put a humidifier in the sound hole. and in the wetter months use a dehumidifier. i love tacoma guitars but i dont know if they make kids guitars and i dont like yahmaha like almost all of there instrements they are only ok. Martin guitars are good and i belive they make youth guitars but they are kinda expensive.

I agree with bariamazing, in extreme heat the glue used to hold the neck and bridge onto the body will come off. Also, I've found that some guitar strings can dryrot very quickly.

those old martin guitars are playing well after 70 years

played one that was 45 years old and it sounded great

I owne an Epiphone that was made approx 1972. It has had a bit of reglue on the neck, as I am not the original owner. But it plays very well.

It depends if you buy a crappy guitar or a good one o.O

A guitar can last two lifetimes of regular use. A guitar can last forever if kept in a climate-controlled museum on static display. A guitar can last a season if kept in the trunk of a car. A guitar can be totally disassembled and reworked by a luthier and given a new life.

Your daughter is no doubt the perfect child. Yet she will drop, scratch, and bang on whatever guitar she is given. Why subject an expensive guitar to this treatment?

Do not buy the Esteban guitar. Simply google “esteban guitar” and you’ll know why.

Buy your daughter an S101, $100 guitar, at a music store. Do not order one online. You want to see it in the store and know it survived shipping successfully. They make several sizes one is right for her. They have solid spruce tops and have low/easy actions. If she sticks with it, you can always upgrade later on. If she hates it you’re only out $100.

Yamaha has never made a poor product. It would be unfair to compare a $150 Yamaha to a master crafted Spanish guitar. But if you were to compare a Yamaha to any other mark, while matching price points, Yamaha will win every time.

my dad has an ovation guitar...i think it's 16 years by now.
it still sounds good ang amazing but there was a time that we really needed to adjust the neck back because it's already bending out of its original form(probably because of changes it temperature)
we still have it even up to now and it sounds good too

well my dad bought a guitar about 20 years ago and thought it would never tune again but i just tuned it like an hour ago so i think they will last along time just change the strings