​Buy a musical instrument: What to know when getting new gear

Parents, if you’re looking to buy your student a new guitar, or guitar pedal, or drum kit, or whatever you may be in the market for, we want to help you make the right decision! Looking into musical instruments can be overwhelming. And that’s just for me, as a musician! If you’re newer to music and don’t know a whole lot about instruments, it may seem impossible to find the right choice out of so many options. So today, I’m happy to share with you a few questions that can help you narrow down what to look for.
 
Should I buy a new instrument or a used instrument?
Parents Often ask “So my daughter is really interested in music but I’m not sure if she’ll stick with it. We want her to have a nice guitar, but we may not want to spend a whole lot on it if she’s not interested after a few months. What should we buy?”  If you’re new to music and not sure, used gear is great! You can find a decent quality guitar at a lower price if it’s used.  This way your student gets a quality instrument to warm up to and you don’t have to break the bank hoping they don’t get bored with music.
 
Now for more experienced musicians looking for an upgrade, new is a good option but not the only option. You might find great deals with used instruments or gear that are in great condition. Make sure you get what you want in an upgrade, but keep your options open.
 
What do the reviews say?
Reading reviews online is a bit subjective. Music gear connoisseurs might be picky and use a lot of their personal opinions. “I don’t like the sound” “the tone is terrible” “I was unimpressed”. You might come across a few “bad” reviews. What you really need to look for in a review should focus on durability. If 3 out of 5 reviewers say that “the guitar won’t stay in tune”, that’s a quality problem that you want to avoid.
 
Look through reviews that comment on the instrument/gears functionality (does it do everything it says it will?), and durability (will this item last a long time?).
 
Will you use it every day?
Your student may want seven tom drums for their kit, or a fancy new guitar pedal that makes their guitar sound like a rainbow- but is this gear necessary? A great way to tell if you should invest in more music equipment is to ask- “Will you use it everyday?”  A guitar tuner pedal- yes! You tune your guitar everyday. “Seven more tom drums?” if you’re not using all the pieces of your drum kit currently, You don’t need more.
 
Do your favorite artists use it?
Now here’s a goofy question. But it’s a good question for the musician who’s really starting to hone in their craft. We all have favorite artists. And most the time, we’re trying to sound a lot like them- stylistically, getting the same vibe, stuff like that. The best way to sound like them- is researching what they use!
 
Now you don’t have to go out and buy the exact same amp, or keyboard your favorite artists use. But if all your favorite guitar players use an Ibanez guitar, you might consider getting one for yourself
 
 
Your opinion
More than anything else, your opinion matters! Who cares what the reviews say, which famous person uses it, if your student likes the way it looks, sounds, and overall likes it- it’s a good choice! I’m not saying this is the only factor, but it is the most important one. When you want your kiddo to play it everyday, you want them to like it.
 
Buying new music instruments can be a bit like buying a new car- you want something that’s the right choice, but also one you’ll like. If you’re still shopping around, and could use some help, give us a call here at Littleton School of Music.
 
At Littleton School of Music, our number one priority is music lessons. We want to provide you with the best music lessons. So if that means helping you pick the right instrument for the job, we’re happy to help.