Let’s be honest for a moment – we are all suckers for a good deal.
There’s a reason why stores post bright signs on their windows to announce sales. And there’s a reason why the phrase “free shipping” seems to make us involuntarily click the shopping cart icon every time.
We are human. We love deals, and we LOVE convenience – like online shopping. It’s easy to sway people when they are told that they’re getting a good deal. But the kicker is that we don’t always get that “good deal” that’s promised.
When it comes to musical instruments, it is almost ALWAYS a bad idea to purchase online, and here’s why:
Musical Instruments Require Maintenance
There is always a reason why an instrument is being sold online. Whether it’s like new, or has been sitting in a case for years, odds are that the owner has a pretty good reason for wanting it off their hands.
Many times you’ll find instruments online that were once the highlight of a student’s life, but have since been left in the basement for the past 9 years. They’ve probably been in their case the entire time and haven’t been played since that last concert the student had in 8th grade.
If the instrument HAS been sitting around, even for less than that amount of time, it most likely needs maintenance.
Thankfully, there are places like Shining Light Music that do maintenance on all kinds of instruments. Just head over to our repairs page to learn more about our repair services!
If your instrument does need maintenance, it may need quite a bit of work to get it into playable condition. There’s no telling what it may need until you get the instrument to a repair technician.
Now, what if your instrument is listed as “like new,” or “lightly used?”
There is a possibility that the instrument you are looking at purchasing hasn’t been used very much, meaning it is less likely to need maintenance. This is a good sign!
However, some of these “newer” instruments may be for sale because they really aren’t that great of quality. It is always a good idea to do some research into what brand and model of instrument to look for. OR, you can stop by a music store like Shining Light Music where we give you our expertise and some great options of new and used instruments at fair prices.
No Brand = No Deal
Let’s say you’re scrolling online, looking for an instrument for your kid to play in orchestra next year, and you find a brand new violin for $40 on amazon. What a deal! All the other violins are priced way higher than that – so that MUST mean it’s a great deal, right?
Not necessarily.
Good quality violins – even used ones – are priced significantly higher than $40. There is a reason for this, and it’s NOT to rip anyone off.
The quality of an instrument can be found in the brand, which is reflected by the price.
Instruments, much like cars, have a make (or a brand) and a model.
Brands carry information about every model instrument they create – the quality of it, what it’s made out of, how it plays, etc. This information helps the customer decide which kind of instrument to purchase.
When you buy online, you should ALWAYS make sure the instrument has a brand and model.
This is VERY important.
There are many times that companies will create knock-off instruments to trap buyers JUST LIKE YOU into purchasing their cheap instruments. These instruments are often cheaply made, easy to break, unbranded, or have cheap imitation branding on them. (I.E. no brand and model.)
Feel free to check out some of the great brands of instruments that we carry here at Shining Light Music on this page.
So what does proper branding look like?
- On stringed instruments, the brand sticker is inside the sound hole with the model information on it. This is true for all reputable orchestra instruments, ukuleles, and acoustic guitars.
- On woodwind instruments, the brand is usually printed near the bell of the instrument, and the model number is embedded somewhere in the body.
- On brass instruments, there is sometimes a brand insignia on the bell. If there is none, the brand is indicated in the model number, which is embedded somewhere in the body of the instrument.
The brand and model information are key things to look for when buying any instrument, but very important to look for when shopping online. In addition, you can oftentimes play-test an instrument before you purchase it. There’s no way to do this when you shop for instruments online.
Our honest suggestion:
Just don’t do it.
Stop by a music store like Shining Light Music, where our knowledgeable staff can give you honest feedback on which instruments are good quality. It’s our job to give you the best quality products with the best customer service.
Written By Julia McCall
