Several visitors have asked why we call this site Reunion Album. It's a bit of a Rock joke. A few years ago - and it probably still happens today - several mega - and not-so-mega -rock bands announced they were splitting up and doing a farewell tour. Cynically, you may wonder if this was just to boost ticket sales.
Later - when the cynical among us presumed they had run out of money - they announced they were getting together again. Some did a reunion tour and some - yes, you guessed! - released a Reunion Album!
We haven't pulled that trick - not having been in any bands famous enough for anyone to care whether or not we split up or not- but one day we would like to be in a position to release a Reunion Album!
So there you have it 
So, our site is about guitars. It’s not just about Rock, though - you can play any kind of music on a guitar from Grunge to Classical and everything in between.
If you like guitars, you’ll be well aware of the dangers of going into a guitar shop. We have fallen, more than once, for the charms of a smooth wooden body and a tone and a playing action to die for.
Buying Guidelines
But rather than rely on your gut instincts, if you’re looking for a guitar - and even if you’re not - if you make note of some buying guides you’ll be able to make a better decision.
If you’re NOT in the market for a guitar but have a weakness for visiting guitar shops, take your buying requirements with you and apply them very, very strictly to all the guitars you pick up or look at. You can thus ensure that none of them pass the test enabling you to leave the shop with your wallet intact.
Guitar Types
There is actually a whole lot to say on the subject of buying a guitar - it could probably fill a book! - so we’re going to concentrate here on the two broad types of guitar - electric and acoustic.
Just because you’re a Folk Singer, it doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate and use an electric guitar. And vice versa if you’re a Rocker. We know some rock bands where the guitarists use an acoustic for some ballads and, of course, there is the whole genre of acoustic rock.
Electric Guitars
The electric guitar is the rocker’s guitar of choice and it just wouldn’t be the same playing HM on a mandolin! Although maybe if you electrified it...
Anyway, as well as rock and metal, the electric is used in jazz, blues and country.
There are dozens, if not hundreds, if electric guitars. They come in a massive range of shapes and sizes and are often spectacularly decorated. The body is usually solid wood and can often be cut in outlandish shapes, too.
Friends Are Electric
The important bits, however, are the neck, fret board and electronics. There is no sound hole (although you can get electro-acoustic guitars which are a hybrid giving you a taste of both worlds but not the best of either. In our opinion.
But they do have a sound all their own and are well suited to, well, acoustic rock, for example. They also feature in all kinds of music where an acoustic sound is wanted but it needs to be amplified. (You could, of course, amplify a normal acoustic guitar but we’re not going to go there at this time.)
Good Looks
It’s important not to get carried away by the look - although if it doesn’t look good you’re not going to buy it anyway! You need to test the tone, and check each fret for buzzing and unwanted pickup noise (as opposed to wanted pickup noise which we’ve never heard on any guitar).
If you can try the guitar, try it through a similar system to one you’re used to. Don’t listen to it through a stack of Marshall Amps if you’re used to playing through a practise amp - yes, it’ll sound awesome, but so would twanging your Granny’s shoelaces.
Acoustic Guitars
There are several types of acoustic guitar and we could get into a right discussion if we tried to accurately describe all the types.
Most people consider an ‘acoustic’ to be a wooden-bodied guitar with a sound hole. Usually they will have metal strings but you can put nylon strings on them in which case they become more like a classical guitar, certainly the sound.
However, purists would say the classical guitar has slightly wider neck and is possibly lighter. It also comes in 1/2, 3/4 and full sizes. While you can put nylon strings on an acoustic guitar, you may be recommended not to put them on a classical guitar as the neck may not be designed to take the extra tension associated with metal strings.
Phew.
Acoustic guitars are probably more versatile than electric although not many people cross music genres in the same song and anyone whose repertoire does jump from Bluegrass to Black Metal probably has more than one guitar anyway.
The Rule
This brings us to our main rule which is to know what you want before buying. Or at least have a good idea. That way you’ll avoid the spontaneous, unthought-out purchases that wreak havoc with your cash.
And once you’ve decided what you want, check out as many models as you can before picking the one that speaks to you.
There are thousands of guitars on our site. Browse and you’ll certainly find some that you really like. Check them out but take your time.