Whether you're about to start your first guitar lessons, or if you're an experienced player, you still need to think about where to buy your first (or next) guitar. This article looks at some of your options.
Buy from the guitar store
The main advantage with this approach is that generally you'll be able to try a huge range of different guitars, from many different makers. Any reputable dealer should carry a large range of instruments, and if you visit the right part of a city, you should find a couple of streets or blocks where all the music stores gather together. This means you should be able to find an example of anything you want to buy, within walking distance.
If you're buying second hand, you should also be able to find a good selection. Guitar shops are always on the lookout for top-notch vintage guitars. This also means that you might be able to trade in your own guitar, which takes away the hassle of selling it privately.
In addition, some stores undertake "commission sales", which is where they sell a guitar on behalf of a private individual, in return for a small percentage of the sale.
The obvious downside to buying from a guitar store is that the guy who runs the store needs to make a profit, so the prices will likely be higher than you'd pay to a private seller.
Buy from a private individual
It's true, there are bargains to be had if you buy privately, from the small ads in papers, or from listing sites like craigslist. But beware, there's a whole load of leg-work involved, quite literally. You've got to phone the number, leave a message with someone because the seller's out, miss his call when he calls back, finally make the appointment, find the location, hope the seller remembered to be at home...
Even when you actually get to try the guitar, you can sometimes end up with someone who doesn't really want to sell their guitar at all, when the time comes. On the other hand though, if you like it, and they want to sell it, you can sometimes negotiate a good bargain, especially if you catch someone who needs the money. You've gotta be ruthless though!
Buy from an auction site
Web sites like eBay are HUGE these days, and it's no wonder why. Look at the problems you can get with a private sale? With an online auction, you don't need to leave the house; you don't need to make any appointments, or go schlepping across town in the rain; when the auction ends, you've either won or lost, there's no uncomfortable haggling; and if you've won, it's yours - the seller can't change their mind. Also, there's an undeniable thrill about winning an auction, and then there's the excitement of waiting for your guitar to turn up!
However, the biggest problem with buying a guitar online is that you don't get to try it, and all those lovely photos the seller put online won't show you what the guitar looks like in real life. Having said that, I've bought a couple of Gibsons from eBay, and they've been fine. Most sellers will ship the guitar well-packed, in it's case. At the other end of the scale, I once received a guitar in the post where they'd stuck it in a square box with the neck sticking out, and then wrapped the neck and headstock in cardboard and sticky-tape. Somehow the guitar was OK, but I got a bit of a shock when I saw it!
Good luck with whatever you decide to do, and I hope you find the guitar you really want.
| Price : $272.95 | Post Date : Apr 15, 2012 18:51:09
