Should i buy instruments online

This information helps the customer decide which kind of instrument to purchase. These instruments are often cheaply made, easy to break, unbranded, or have cheap imitation branding on them.

Feel free to check out some of the great brands of instruments that we carry here at Shining Light Music on this page. The brand and model information are key things to look for when buying any instrument, but very important to look for when shopping online. Pictures can be deceiving. Seeing a guitar in person is much more revealing than looking at pictures. But with the right videos and photos you may well be able to judge how visually attractive a guitar is. Some mixture of online and offline shopping is perhaps the best approach.

While researching guitars, look at reviews. Learn about the builders and the major brand names. If you find the guitar you like in a shop somewhere, consider giving the sale to the shop who went to the trouble of setting up a showroom near you and giving you a chance to try the instrument.

Hub Guitar. Index View all articles lessons. Artwork by Sergey Banityuk. Look the instrument over for imperfections in the finish. This is dismissible at the lower end of the price spectrum, but at the higher end small details matter more. Check the setup of the guitar. Is the action low? Is the neck straight? A high action or even a bowed neck can sometimes hide quality issues that start to show up more as the action gets lower down towards the fretboard. Look inside of the guitar at the bracing.

Run your hand down the side of the neck to feel if the frets are poking out and scratchy. Do some bending and vibrato for each string in different places. Does the fretboard and the frets allow the string to smoothly rock back and forth, or is there a scratchy feeling as you attempt this? Checking to see that the frets are level is a great idea before buying any guitar, as leveling the frets is a costly procedure.

If the action is low enough, chances are the frets are fairly level, as a tall fret will cause problems on a guitar with low action. Examine the instrument for any spot that looks roughly cut or poorly polished. Everything on the instrument should be smooth to the touch. Get the story. Vintage guitars have lived a life of their own, and unless you ask you might never know that a guitar has traveled the world, been played on a famous record, or sat untouched in a closet for 30 years.

Find out where the guitar has been. Was it used for gigging or mostly at-home use? Are there any cool stories about the instrument, such as famous owners? Demand details about the condition of the guitar. Is the neck straight? How much wear is on the frets? Is there excessive buzzing or dead notes? When was the last time the guitar was set up? Know the return policy before you buy. Go the extra mile and get an e-mail from the seller agreeing to a return policy in writing.

A lot of stores offer music lessons in the instruments they sell, and more often than not the person selling you that guitar can also teach you how to play it. By visiting an actual brick-and-mortar location, you get a personalized shopping experience. One example of a store staffed by musicians is the Drum Center of Portsmouth, where you can visit their store and receive an improved and personalized experience as opposed to just ordering products online.

Going to the store as opposed to shopping online is especially important if you are purchasing instruments for the first time and do not know much about the product. Some websites will show customer reviews for their products, but a paragraph or two written by a disgruntled customer simply does not match the feedback you can get from talking to a professional.

Music store associates can guide you to the right products based on your individual skill level or experience. They can tell you the difference between an eight piece and a six piece drumset. They can show you how to tune, care for, and maintain your new instruments. If you take the time to go to a store and discuss your needs with a professional, you can walk out with your new equipment, knowing you got exactly what you were looking for.