The important lesson that Jason Isbell would give to any aspiring guitarist when they buy a guitar

Jason Isbell has shared a golden nugget of advice for new and young guitar players that will help them avoid quitting at an early stage.

According to the singer-songwriter, the most important thing to do when buying a budget instrument is to ask the store to get it set up for you before you leave. By spending that little bit of extra cash to give a cheap instrument a bit more comfortability, Isbell thinks players will be less likely to give up on learning – and they’ll still save money in the long run.

Speaking to Matt Sweeney of the Guitar Moves podcast, Isbell says, “Get it set up. Spend the 50, or 80, or 100 bucks, and before you leave the music store let them set it up for you… [Let them] set the action right, make sure the frets are level, make sure it’ll stay in tune.

“That is so huge and I wish somebody would have told me that when I was a kid, because of course you’re not gonna be able to afford an incredible instrument when you’re that age. If you spend the extra time, the extra money, you get home and you can play it. It makes all the difference in the world.”

On a similar note, Sweeney notes that playing guitar can hurt a fair amount when you first start playing, so getting things adjusted can make a world of difference. “And the old guys will say, ‘It’s supposed to, you’ll get the calluses.’ You don’t want people to stop playing because it hurts,” Isbell adds. “You don’t wanna quit.”

You can check out the podcast below:

Isbell released his new album, Foxes In The Snow, back in March. He is touring throughout 2025 – find out where you can catch him live via his website.

Rachel began writing for Guitar.com in 2021 while finishing up her degree. A proud DIY guitarist, she has been playing for over 10 years and has written for the likes of Kerrang!, The Forty-Five, and MusicTech. An enjoyer of all things heavy, you’ll find her at a festival or downtuning her guitars when away from her desk.