Tips for Choosing an Instrument for Your Beginner

When I was 12 years old and announced to my parents that I wanted to learn guitar, they purchased a classical guitar for me from Brazil.   Sight unseen.   They had no clue what they were doing, but a friend who did know something about guitars was going to Brazil and made the offer to pick one up.  He brought back a DiGiogio Amzonia N30. My parents lucked out.  And, after uh....let' see here... (12 divided by the square root of pi times the earth's circumference minus...uh...) Well, after a lot of years, (ahem!), it is still in very good condition, plays well,  and I wouldn't trade it for anything. 

But!  My parents should have purchased an electric guitar or an acoustic one with a built in pickup for me rather than a classical.  Because I wanted to play rock music.  And, for a while, I did.  On a classical guitar.   

Minor disconnect.  (Or were they smarter than I gave them credit for?)

Here are some tips to help you purchase an instrument for your young musician.

Ask A Professional!  Meet with a professional musician that knows what they are doing before you ever go near the music store.  NOTE:  The guys at the music store are knowledgeable and helpful, but get a non-salesperson's perspective first.  Ask exactly what type of instrument you should be looking for.  A saxophone is not just a saxophone is not just a saxophone.  Do you need a tenor an alto or a soprano sax?  What type of mouthpiece is best for a beginner?  Is there a specific brand of reed they recommend?  What type of gear will your student need, eg. a strap?  What type of case is best to protect your investment?

Ask other musicians.  Once you  know what type of instrument to buy (an acoustic guitar vs. a classical one, for example) ask experienced musicians which brands they like.  You will probably get a different response from every musician you ask, but at least you'll have idea of what's out there.

Ask for specs and take notes.  Do you want an active or a passive instrument?  Single coil or humbuckers on that guitar?   Ask your instructor and other musicians to be as specific with you as possible about what to look for based on your musician's needs.

Go to the music store, but don't buy anything!  This is the day when you stick to "Just looking."  But do ask the sales person questions.  Look for instruments in and just a little higher than your price range.  Write down prices, brands and models to take home with you.  While you're there, ask about upcoming sales, specials and see how much they're willing to come down off the "sticker price."

Research online.  Google the brand names and models you're most interested in.  Going with the guitar example, I might type in "Takamine EG523SC reviews".  Look for user reviews rather than manufacturer or retailer reviews.  Then I might google "Yamaha Guitar Reviews" and so forth for the different brands I want to research.  That will narrow down your search considerably.

Forget the MSRP/retail price.  Always ask for the "Street price."  MSRP on instruments is an over-inflated number that music stores always come down off of to make you feel you're getting a good deal when you see the street price listed next to it.   Always start with  street price and negotiate from there. 

Be a little flexible with your budget.  You may find that for just a few dollars more, you can get a much higher quality instrument.  You may also find that you don't need to spend quite as much as you planned and there's money left to put towards an amp or other gear.

Buy used.  Newspapers, Craig's List, eBay...consider all sources.  But remember:  You will not get a store's return policy should you get the instrument home and find a defect.  So examine the instrument carefully, preferably with someone who has expertise.  (Do you know what a cracked piano sound board looks like?  Or even what a sound board is?  Do you have any idea what it costs to fix one?  VERY expensive!)  You'll avoid a mistake if you have someone that knows what to look for to help you out.

Don't rule out the pawn shops.  Yeah.  I know it can seem a little seedy.  If you can get past that, you could score big.  Some excellent instruments get ditched by desperate musicians.  Again, take an expert with you.

Take your time.  December 15th is not the time to find a Christmas violin for little Susie.  Give yourself plenty of time to shop carefully.

Meanwhile, borrow or rent.  It's almost August.  Lessons start back in September.  You're still looking for just the right instrument at just the right price.  Why not borrow one your youngster can start with while you continue a careful search?

Try before you buy.  If there are strong doubts that your musician-to-be is going to get your money's worth out of this investment, borrow.  Ask friends and family if they have an instrument they're willing to loan you for a time.  For horns or wind instruments, the purchase of a mouthpiece won't set you back as much as buying that French horn a few months before the band director suggests Johnny would be better suited for the trombone.
Renting can be a good option for a month or two.  But avoid rent-to-own plans.  By the time you own it, you'll end up paying far more than the instrument is worth.   The best while-you-wait option is to see if you can borrow from someone.

Protect your investment.  Don't forget a sturdy case made specifically for that instrument.  This is especially true for instruments made of wood, susceptible to warping.

I'm pretty sure I've forgotten something.  Any other tips you'd like to share?  Any experiences that might help someone else?

P.S.  I was in college when I got that electric guitar.  It was the first thing I purchased on credit; my first tax return was my down payment. 

I also took two years of classical guitar in college.

Comments

[Momto4kidsny]

This was a very insightful post! I have a feeling my 5 year old will one day come to me wanting to play guitar! He is really into music and plays the air guitar at least for now! I will remember your tips in case I need them!

[G]

I was hoping to buy a new guitar next month. I got my eyes on a Santana look-alike :D

[Elaine]

I got into guitar because i asked my parents for BANJO lessons haha because of the stampeders' 'sweet city woman' :)

[Tom]

From my experience, trying is the best way to find what you want. For example, my friend loves Dan Electro guitars, but most store clerks don't recommend them. It's all what you want.

[Beamer]

Great Post. Lots of good info.

Beamer

[Carol]

Momto04: I'm glad you found something of value here that will help you youngster.

G: Go for it!

Elaine: Sorry. But it's not too late for the Banjo. My aunt started playing banjo in her 60's and she's awesome at it!

Tom: Good point. That can be a very valuable way for a teen. For a little one, I'm thinking they may need a little help or they'll end up with the purple zebra striped guitar that's too heavy for them to carry and sounds like...a purple zebra, y'know.

Thanks, Beamer!