Buying a guitar as a gift? (you don't know what you don't know)
Over the last seven years, I have worked the the largest guitar store in New York City – Guitar Center. Every year, thousands of people flock to the store between Black Friday and Christmas Eve to buy a guitar for a loved one; we call these people BFO's (buying for others).
While I think it's great that people want to spread the gift of music-making to others, some presents are easier to shop for than others. Buying a guitar is not like buying a game unit or computer. I wish it was. The truth is, it might be one of the most complicated gifts you'll ever buy.
Myth #1 Just get the cheapest guitar you can find.
While this concept may work with buying a first bike, a DVD player or socks, this does not work with musical instruments. The quality of an instrument very often dictates the experience the player has. In other words, cheap ‘beginner' guitars are actually very difficult to play. So, buying the cheapest guitar you can find because you're not sure the person will stick with playing pretty much ensures that they don't. Guitars vary in quality, size, feel, functionality and sound, just to name a few things. If a guitar is uncomfortable (size), hard to play (feel) or won't stay in tune (functionality), the gift recipient will not play it for long. They'll blame themselves for their frustration and may never try music again – even though it's not their fault. They never had a fair chance.
Solution: get the best guitar you can afford. All guitars are not created equal and you get what you pay for. If you really want someone to play guitar, expect to spend at least $200-300 on the guitar alone.
Myth #2 All you need to buy is the actual guitar.
Everyone hates getting useless or incomplete gifts. For instance, would you buy a loved one a set of golf clubs without a bag? Give your car away without wheels? Are you the person who gives someone a remote control car without batteries? I hope not! The essentials for a guitar include a decent gig bag or case, a tuner, picks, extra strings, and maybe a book or DVD to get them started. These are must haves, not extras..
Are you an incomplete gift giver?
Myth #2.5 The sales guy/gal is just trying to make you spend money.
This is where you are right……and wrong
True, a lot of salespeople work on commission and yes, from time to time you'll run into one who does not have your best interest in mind. The truth is, those people don't last long in a competitive sales environment. Sales is about building relationships and a clientele. The only way I have seen it work is by going the extra mile for every customer. That makes customers loyal, which is how salespeople make extra money – return business and referrals. A second pack of strings or a guitar humidifier does not do anything to pad a paycheck; it just makes sure you're not frustrated late one night when inspiration hits and a string breaks.
Myth #3 Your friend knows more than the salespeople.
A salesperson in a music store is gear nerd! It's not like selling shoes or couches; these people are passionate about they sell. They have to be in order to survive the endless kids playing Sweet Child O' Mine (mostly wrong) everyday and hearing all of the untuned guitars cranked through amps. It's all about the love of the gear.
In most places, salespeople go through extensive product training by both the stores and individual vendors. They are also the professional musicians who keep the nightlife rocking in your town; the engineers and producers who record indie CD's all night; the independent music teachers for your kids. In other words, they don't just sell the products that they use for their own projects; they eat, sleep, live and study this stuff.
Bonus Myth Busted
There's no difference between a $20/hr teacher and a $150/hr teacher.
Just like with the guitars, you get what you pay for when it comes to teachers. On the surface, they appear to be same, right? They both play guitar; advertise being a teacher; teach the kind of music you want to learn; play better than you and use mysterious musical words you don't yet understand. Once you lift up the hood, though, you see very big differences. One more than likely is just starting out – a few months further along than you are – while the other is experienced. At the beginning of every lesson, one will ask you what you want to learn that day while the other will have a plan on how to get you from point A to point B. Education is an investment, and musical education is no exception. The quality of the teacher is directly proportionate to how good you can get. Lessons are temporary while playing music is forever. How good do you want to be?
For more about what makes a great teacher, take a look at this article.
10 Things That Make A Great Teacher
While I think it's great that people want to spread the gift of music-making to others, some presents are easier to shop for than others. Buying a guitar is not like buying a game unit or computer. I wish it was. The truth is, it might be one of the most complicated gifts you'll ever buy.
Myth #1 Just get the cheapest guitar you can find.
While this concept may work with buying a first bike, a DVD player or socks, this does not work with musical instruments. The quality of an instrument very often dictates the experience the player has. In other words, cheap ‘beginner' guitars are actually very difficult to play. So, buying the cheapest guitar you can find because you're not sure the person will stick with playing pretty much ensures that they don't. Guitars vary in quality, size, feel, functionality and sound, just to name a few things. If a guitar is uncomfortable (size), hard to play (feel) or won't stay in tune (functionality), the gift recipient will not play it for long. They'll blame themselves for their frustration and may never try music again – even though it's not their fault. They never had a fair chance.
Solution: get the best guitar you can afford. All guitars are not created equal and you get what you pay for. If you really want someone to play guitar, expect to spend at least $200-300 on the guitar alone.
Myth #2 All you need to buy is the actual guitar.
Everyone hates getting useless or incomplete gifts. For instance, would you buy a loved one a set of golf clubs without a bag? Give your car away without wheels? Are you the person who gives someone a remote control car without batteries? I hope not! The essentials for a guitar include a decent gig bag or case, a tuner, picks, extra strings, and maybe a book or DVD to get them started. These are must haves, not extras..
Are you an incomplete gift giver?
Myth #2.5 The sales guy/gal is just trying to make you spend money.
This is where you are right……and wrong
True, a lot of salespeople work on commission and yes, from time to time you'll run into one who does not have your best interest in mind. The truth is, those people don't last long in a competitive sales environment. Sales is about building relationships and a clientele. The only way I have seen it work is by going the extra mile for every customer. That makes customers loyal, which is how salespeople make extra money – return business and referrals. A second pack of strings or a guitar humidifier does not do anything to pad a paycheck; it just makes sure you're not frustrated late one night when inspiration hits and a string breaks.Myth #3 Your friend knows more than the salespeople.
A salesperson in a music store is gear nerd! It's not like selling shoes or couches; these people are passionate about they sell. They have to be in order to survive the endless kids playing Sweet Child O' Mine (mostly wrong) everyday and hearing all of the untuned guitars cranked through amps. It's all about the love of the gear.
In most places, salespeople go through extensive product training by both the stores and individual vendors. They are also the professional musicians who keep the nightlife rocking in your town; the engineers and producers who record indie CD's all night; the independent music teachers for your kids. In other words, they don't just sell the products that they use for their own projects; they eat, sleep, live and study this stuff.
Bonus Myth Busted
There's no difference between a $20/hr teacher and a $150/hr teacher.
Just like with the guitars, you get what you pay for when it comes to teachers. On the surface, they appear to be same, right? They both play guitar; advertise being a teacher; teach the kind of music you want to learn; play better than you and use mysterious musical words you don't yet understand. Once you lift up the hood, though, you see very big differences. One more than likely is just starting out – a few months further along than you are – while the other is experienced. At the beginning of every lesson, one will ask you what you want to learn that day while the other will have a plan on how to get you from point A to point B. Education is an investment, and musical education is no exception. The quality of the teacher is directly proportionate to how good you can get. Lessons are temporary while playing music is forever. How good do you want to be?
For more about what makes a great teacher, take a look at this article.
10 Things That Make A Great Teacher
Source...