After being away from guitar for a number of years, I thought it would be cool to start my come back with some great new gear. Back in the early years I had no need for brand names. All my stuff back then was custom made. I buy a half way decent axe or a body and neck, take it to a tech and have him do it up the way I want or do it myself. During 1986 to 1996 I never owned a Fender or a Gibson. You see during that time custom axes were the in thing. It was pretty much the same when I started my woodshedding journey on bass around 1996. I played everything but a Fender. So this time around on guitar I decided to go old school and not only get some cool gear but some stuff that maybe worth a little coin later, you know, AN INVESTMENT. So off to the guitar stores I went.
Well…. to my surprise the prices of choice gear were higher than I thought. Some of the prices look more like a down payment on a house. What happen? One word, “VINTAGE”. It seems that when that word comes up the prices go up with it. Fender, Gibson, Ibanez and even some of the old imports are marked at ridiculous prices. The gear I use to give away back in the day is now worth hundreds… even thousands. And just because you pay the big bucks it doesn’t mean you’ll get great quality. With most of the vintage stuff all that matters is how old is it, who’s name is on it, what kind of condition is it in and who use it last. It makes it hard for a working cats to find old good gear. Who knew that the Big Muff I used as a door stop back in the 80’s would be worth $300.00 twenty years later. Come on, it’s a Big Muff, the worst fuzz pedal money could buy. So much for quality.
But I found that you can find some good deals, you just have to dig little harder to find them. I also change the way I think when it comes to “vintage gear”. I now look for gear that sounds, feels and looks good to me and I stop looking for that piece that will be worth thousands someday. I also dig for bargains and do more research so not to be taken advantage of by sellers. I would still like to find pieces that are collectable, but it’s more important to me to get something that’s cool and fun and usable. After all, I am a musician and performing, buying gear is big part of my musical journey. All I ever wanted to do… is to buy a guitar……. and play. Life can be just that simple. Why complicate it.
Here are some ideas you can use when shopping for gear:
Do your homework before you shop. Search and compare prices on the internet using sites such as Harmony Central. Checkout magazines such as, Vintage Guitar, Guitar Player, Bass Player. Most of these magazines regularly have articles that examine gear and go into great detail about price and quality. Go store to store, take a pad and pen with you, ask about deals, price reduction. If you are a professional or/and perform with a religious organization ask about special discounts. Also check with your band leaders, they may have a discount deal with a store. Talk to friends, other professionals. They may have information on good deals or have gear for sell themselves.
Out of all of this just remember to open your MOUTH. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Does a case come with this? How old is this thing? What is your return policy, etc.. This your money, make them earn it!
more articles by Kenn Smith
- Double Z, the Queen of Bass
- What do you Look for in a Bass Player?
- The Working Class (Part 2)
- The Working Class: How to Become a Working Musician
