re: How do you buy guitars?

I have never bought a guitar from guitar center, but what I find that it's good for is testing out different styles. For example, I went in there and tried out a seven string and didn't really like the way it felt. So, I didn't feel like it was worth hunting for a higher trim seven string that matched the specs I wanted online.

So, I would use guitar shops to find the style of guitar you want, and then hunt online and on used markets for the exact version of that style that you want. Craigslist is great for local, so you can try it out before you buy. Sweetwater and Reverb are great for online since they have excellent customer service, financing options, and easy returns. That way, you can afford your dream guitar, try it out, and if it turns out that you don't like it as much as you thought you would, return it.