How to buy a musical instrument
Discussion
Hey guys,
We are two students from Sweden and are about to do a research for our final dissertation. We are in need of information about how you would buy a musical instrument, would be great if you could help us.
In more detail our questions are
- where and when do you collect information about the musical instrument?
- do you seek additional advise? If so, where and from whom?
- where do you ultimately buy the musical instrument? why?
Many thanks for your help :-)
We are two students from Sweden and are about to do a research for our final dissertation. We are in need of information about how you would buy a musical instrument, would be great if you could help us.
In more detail our questions are
- where and when do you collect information about the musical instrument?
- do you seek additional advise? If so, where and from whom?
- where do you ultimately buy the musical instrument? why?
Many thanks for your help :-)
You may get a better response if you establish yourselves as forum regulars. 
- where and when do you collect information about the musical instrument?
The web. Where else??
- do you seek additional advise? If so, where and from whom?
Pistonheads!
- where do you ultimately buy the musical instrument? why?
Gumtree or local music companies or Amazon depending on availability and price.
- where and when do you collect information about the musical instrument?
The web. Where else??
- do you seek additional advise? If so, where and from whom?
Pistonheads!
- where do you ultimately buy the musical instrument? why?
Gumtree or local music companies or Amazon depending on availability and price.
I produce electronic music on my laptop in my spare time.
- I follow other electronic musicians on social media to see what software synths they're talking about and what they think of them.
- I sometimes read reviews online and in magazines like Sound on Sound.
- I download a demo and try it out. If I like it I purchase the license, if not I let the demo expire.
- I follow other electronic musicians on social media to see what software synths they're talking about and what they think of them.
- I sometimes read reviews online and in magazines like Sound on Sound.
- I download a demo and try it out. If I like it I purchase the license, if not I let the demo expire.
Alwi said:
Hey guys,
We are two students from Sweden and are about to do a research for our final dissertation. We are in need of information about how you would buy a musical instrument, would be great if you could help us.
In more detail our questions are
- where and when do you collect information about the musical instrument?
- do you seek additional advise? If so, where and from whom?
- where do you ultimately buy the musical instrument? why?
Many thanks for your help :-)
How long is a piece of string? Depends on the instrument and the level. In my case (professional brass player):We are two students from Sweden and are about to do a research for our final dissertation. We are in need of information about how you would buy a musical instrument, would be great if you could help us.
In more detail our questions are
- where and when do you collect information about the musical instrument?
- do you seek additional advise? If so, where and from whom?
- where do you ultimately buy the musical instrument? why?
Many thanks for your help :-)
Information? Mostly from speaking to colleagues and repairers/builders/manufacturers.
Where would I buy from? Whoever was selling what I wanted - either the manufacturer if I was buying new, or buy trying various second hand instruments being sold privately or by dealers.
But every instrument is different - 2 identical models of some brass instruments can play in totally different ways, so it is down to what is around when thou are looking.
I'm intrigued as to how this can be made into a dissertation - the differences in the process between buying a student level guitar, professional level wind instrument, or a violin are huge, and the considerations are massive! Think you might need to narrow your brief!
Thank you all for your answers. We are aware it is a difficult topic changing from instrument to instrument.
We are very much interested in what role the Internet plays when it comes to the purchase process.
Is it used just for information purposes? Or are the instruments bought through the Internet? Is the instrument played in the stores beforehand?
This will also differ from instrument to instrument, we are sure. However it would also be interesting to find out how it differs, which is why we didn't want to narrow the topic down too much from the beginning.
As you said NiceCupOfTea, every instrument is different, and two identical models can play in completely different ways. Does that mean you would only buy exactly that instrument you are playing on in a store for example?
@Hoofy: Would you play the instrument in a store before you actually buy it?
Thank you MitchT, we guess in your case the Internet plays a huge role :-)
And Pothole, its definitely true what you say, it will vary very much. If you have bought a few of those different instruments already, could you let us know a little bit more how the purchase process / decision making varied in your case?
Thanks a lot again, every indication helps us a lot understand the differences :-)
We are very much interested in what role the Internet plays when it comes to the purchase process.
Is it used just for information purposes? Or are the instruments bought through the Internet? Is the instrument played in the stores beforehand?
This will also differ from instrument to instrument, we are sure. However it would also be interesting to find out how it differs, which is why we didn't want to narrow the topic down too much from the beginning.
As you said NiceCupOfTea, every instrument is different, and two identical models can play in completely different ways. Does that mean you would only buy exactly that instrument you are playing on in a store for example?
@Hoofy: Would you play the instrument in a store before you actually buy it?
Thank you MitchT, we guess in your case the Internet plays a huge role :-)
And Pothole, its definitely true what you say, it will vary very much. If you have bought a few of those different instruments already, could you let us know a little bit more how the purchase process / decision making varied in your case?
Thanks a lot again, every indication helps us a lot understand the differences :-)
Alwi said:
As you said NiceCupOfTea, every instrument is different, and two identical models can play in completely different ways. Does that mean you would only buy exactly that instrument you are playing on in a store for example?
Definitely. With many "classical" instruments you would get them on approval - that is, you put down a deposit and borrow it for a few weeks to see how you get on with it. Then you have custom built instruments - no going back if you don't like it. I know some new buyers of my particular model of horn who went to the factory in Germany and played a couple of dozen to find one that they really liked. My particular horn was bought by its first owner, a member of the LPO, in that way. Spoken to him about it since and he still regrets selling it. Violins are another kettle of fish again. If you buy a new one you are taking a real risk - depending on how an instrument develops and plays in, you could buy a £10k instrument that after 5 years could be worth £2k or £20k! With second hand instruments you are also of course limited to what is around when you are looking.Edited by NiceCupOfTea on Sunday 24th March 23:12
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