Three Good Reasons to Consider Buying a Used Instrument
Once you have decided to play a musical instrument, one big consideration is whether you should buy one or not. If you want to be able to practice regularly and you are not learning through a school buying your instrument may be your only choice. Then the question becomes should you buy a new one or take a chance and buy a used one. Some people feel that used instruments are not a good investment well others think that spending on something you are not sure you will enjoy is folly.
One big concern when buying a musical instrument is how well it was taken care of by the previous owner. This concern can certainly make who you buy from a consideration. When buying form a store that sells used musical instruments you will get very little background information on it. You will instead be given a good sales pitch and have to hope that your instinct on the condition of it is good. If not you may wind up with less than you hope for. If you buy it through a classified ad in the newspaper then at least you will meet the previous owner and be able to question them on issues of use and care. This is the same if you buy at a garage sale. If you choose to buy online, try to determine if the seller used the instrument before and then you can ask the same questions of them. But, in any circumstance where you are not buying from the last musician to use it make certain you get some type of warranty and return policy for your own protection.
The second issue is what condition the instrument is in when you buy it. Looking good to someone who is a novice does not go very far in making the instrument good to play. If you know anyone who is familiar with musical instruments try to convince them to accompany you when you go to look at it. They will able to recognize many things about it that you are unlikely to notice. They will be able to tell if the instrument, even in an unturned condition, will have good sound. If you have to go alone, ask if you can take it to an expert to be evaluated before you purchase it. If the person says no, it likely is not in very good shape. They will likely ask you for a deposit. Do not be insulted; they are just trying to avoid being ripped off. That is only fair and they will put what you have given them against the final price.
The final thing you need to consider is will you be getting value for your money. If you buy this used musical instrument is the price you are going to pay worth spending or is it smarter to simply buy a new one. The only way to be certain you are not over paying for a used instrument is to shop around. Compare prices of used ones and then compare the best deals with what it will cost you to buy a new one. Never buy the first good deal you think you have found. There are many prospects that you should allow yourself to see, price check and then decide if you want to buy.
Remember, when you are first starting out as a novice musician you are trying to determine if you will enjoy playing. Some people find that it is not what they want, they do not like the instrument or they want to change size and learn a different instrument in the same family. That is why buying a used instrument might be the right starting point.
