Quick Buying Guide The Rough Guide to Buying an Instrument 1. Instruments as Gifts 2. Which Instrument Should I Buy? 3. Acoustic Guitars 4. Electric Guitars 5. More On Electric Guitars 6. Basses 7. Amplifiers

The Rough Guide to Buying an Instrument There's no doubt volumes could be written about the factors to consider in buying an instrument. But who has time to read all that? Here, for good or for ill, is a simple guide intended to help the parent or friend choose an instrument for a loved one. Musicians, too, may find some pearls of wisdom here. Instruments as Gifts It's easy to be uncertain when choosing an instrument as a gift for someone. Not only is a guitar or bass a bit more expensive than a book or CD, it implies a commitment by the recipient to spend time with the instrument. Teenagers are notorious for a lack of commitment in this regard. However, there are some basic guidelines for this sort of gift giving. First, make sure your lucky one is in fact interested in learning to play an instrument. If they already play guitar, another one will probably be welcome. But if you are trying to awaken an musical interest in a child, you may be barking up the wrong tree. Apply this simple test to your child/friend/relative/spouse. How closely do they pay attention to music on the radio or CD player? Do they purchase music? Do they remember artist names, album names, song titles or lyrics? Do they sing or hum snippets of tunes? Do they actively seek out live music? If the answer is yes to some of these questions, your musical gift may be a good investment. If you're not sure, there's no harm in asking whether it's something they want in their life. Make it clear that guitars are meant for being played regularly, not for sitting in the closet. Your child may not want to commit to an instrument. You might use the guidelines above to help awaken an appreciation of music in your child, then move forward with an instrument purchase. Next: Which Instrument Should I Buy? ©2003-2004 Too Many Guitars.