The Instrument Recommendation thread

[Dr_Rez]

Originally Posted by mr dave

yeah i had to pass on one of these a few years ago too. then again they were (and could get away with) asking the retail price since they've been off the market for years. Epiphone Nighthawk, they wanted $400.

Those are super cool guitars. I still cant imagine paying 400 at a pawn shop for it tho. I wonder if they sold it.

[thomasracer56]

Originally Posted by mr dave

yeah i had to pass on one of these a few years ago too. then again they were (and could get away with) asking the retail price since they've been off the market for years. Epiphone Nighthawk, they wanted $400.

i came.

[ThePhanastasio]

Originally Posted by realfanback

i have recently formed a band a few months ago but i have no idea where i can purchase a guitar and a good quality drum. Besides that, is it possible to get an antique piano and how much does it cost?

Seriously, Craigslist. If you see a drumset for, say, $250, contact them and say, "I'm kind of short this month, but would you take $175 cash?" Nine times out of ten, they'll say yes, (especially if you go pick it up and load it out) and that's a bargain.

For a guitar, check out Craigslist as well, or pawn shops. Pawn shops will hella jack up the price. Don't super lowball them, but just examine a guitar lovingly that's got a price tag of $250 - $300 and then be like, "This guitar is so pretty, but I saw one of this model on Ebay/Craigslist/Amazon used for $150."

They'll probably shoot for the $200 range, then be like, "Yeah, well, with shipping, I guess I could probably pick the other one up for $175." Generally, they'll either take that offer, or put you around $180 or $190. At this point, just seem a little skeptical, all, "Well, I don't know. I mean, I'd like to have the guitar right now, but waiting a few days and paying $175 seems pretty nice." Then, they usually either match your price or are all, "I'll go $180, and throw in some picks and a strap."

For the piano - Craigslist, estate sales. That kind of thing. If you want an upright, they usually go from $150 - $500, depending. In the lower end, they've probably never been tuned, and that will add additional expense. On the bright side, you can still haggle the price.

NOTE: If you offer CASH IN HAND, suddenly the bottom dollar lowers itself.

[drh1589]

Originally Posted by ThePhanastasio

For a guitar, check out Craigslist as well, or pawn shops. Pawn shops will hella jack up the price. Don't super lowball them, but just examine a guitar lovingly that's got a price tag of $250 - $300 and then be like, "This guitar is so pretty, but I saw one of this model on Ebay/Craigslist/Amazon used for $150."

They'll probably shoot for the $200 range, then be like, "Yeah, well, with shipping, I guess I could probably pick the other one up for $175." Generally, they'll either take that offer, or put you around $180 or $190. At this point, just seem a little skeptical, all, "Well, I don't know. I mean, I'd like to have the guitar right now, but waiting a few days and paying $175 seems pretty nice." Then, they usually either match your price or are all, "I'll go $180, and throw in some picks and a strap."

This man speaks the truth. I've bought two guitars, a pedal, a microphone, and a vintage amp in pawn shops before. If you're smart about how you shop you can get a steal.

[Lord Larehip]

Originally Posted by ThePhanastasio

Seriously, Craigslist. If you see a drumset for, say, $250,

Seriously, a drum kit for $250 is a piece of crap. I have cymbals that cost that much.

For a guitar, check out Craigslist as well

Never buy a guitar off the internet! How can you know it's any good if you don't play it first?? Caveat emptor.

For the piano - Craigslist, estate sales. That kind of thing. If you want an upright, they usually go from $150 - $500, depending. In the lower end, they've probably never been tuned, and that will add additional expense. On the bright side, you can still haggle the price.

NOTE: If you offer CASH IN HAND, suddenly the bottom dollar lowers itself.

I know guys who have put stuff up on Craigslist. Whatever you paid for it wasn't worth it.

[Stone Birds]

i'm thinking about getting a trumpet not really looking for something of super-holy quality just something cheap and easy to play

[thomasracer56]

Originally Posted by Stone Birds

i'm thinking about getting a trumpet not really looking for something of super-holy quality just something cheap and easy to play

I got: Bach 7C, works well enough, previously used 1 year, though it has a kinda small mouthpiece. a good trumpet model could be jupiter, a friend of mine's brother got a jupiter, and it's not too bad. mouthpiece was bigger, but the tone was a lot better. both trumpets are student models. i remember mine was $625, but i'm not sure about other.

[Stone Birds]

ok i need a REALLY cheap portable synth that i can just plug into my laptop and play, and i mean truly portable like less than 10 pounds portable.

[mr dave]

Originally Posted by Stone Birds

ok i need a REALLY cheap portable synth that i can just plug into my laptop and play, and i mean truly portable like less than 10 pounds portable.

do you just mean to use it for controlling some virtual synth software on your laptop? in that case a MIDI controller should work fine and you can get small 2 octave deals.

M-AUDIO - Oxygen 25 - 25-Key USB MIDI Controller

just under 4 pounds and just shy of $200.

@CO - you're definitely right in being wary of pawn shops. it's definitely a buyer beware market, but they're not all bad, especially if you find one that pride's itself on being family friendly, though at that point they usually don't call themselves 'pawn shops' anymore. i've been lucky that my pawn shop of choice is one of those family places, there are some legitimately sketchy spots in this town too. the catch-22 in this situation is that the nicer spots usually have non-crackhead staff that are actually somewhat knowledgeable about the products they deal with so the odds of super deals are non-existent, but fair prices abound.

@Rezz - i haven't been to the store in a while but i doubt it's still there i should try to pop in this weekend just to see what's in stock. actually i get 3 pays this month and therefore really REALLY should not hahaha

[Stone Birds]

Originally Posted by mr dave

do you just mean to use it for controlling some virtual synth software on your laptop? in that case a MIDI controller should work fine and you can get small 2 octave deals.

M-AUDIO - Oxygen 25 - 25-Key USB MIDI Controller

just under 4 pounds and just shy of $200.

@CO - you're definitely right in being wary of pawn shops. it's definitely a buyer beware market, but they're not all bad, especially if you find one that pride's itself on being family friendly, though at that point they usually don't call themselves 'pawn shops' anymore. i've been lucky that my pawn shop of choice is one of those family places, there are some legitimately sketchy spots in this town too. the catch-22 in this situation is that the nicer spots usually have non-crackhead staff that are actually somewhat knowledgeable about the products they deal with so the odds of super deals are non-existent, but fair prices abound.

@Rezz - i haven't been to the store in a while but i doubt it's still there i should try to pop in this weekend just to see what's in stock. actually i get 3 pays this month and therefore really REALLY should not hahaha

yep basically that's the type of thing i need to get, problem is "money" i'm definately going to have to save up for this, but hopefully i'll get a portable at some point