There are many reasons for purchasing a used musical instrument rather than a new instrument. Those individuals who are wanting to take up the study of a different musical instrument may not want to put a lot of money into the purchase of the instrument. Yet, it is also true that a a cheap version of the instrument may give you such poor sound and performance that you give up on the instrument because it just doesn't sound as good as you had hoped. Here are some things to consider before walking into the music store to purchase your used instrument.
* You should decide the purpose of the instrument. If you are a beginner on the instrument or are just experimenting with a different instrument, you probably won't need the highest quality instrument in order to practice. If you will be using the instrument over a long period for practice, or for your own enjoyment, you should consider purchasing a somewhat higher grade used instrument. You will be happier with the performance when you choose a higher quality used instrument. Finally, you may have already decided that you will be making a career using the instrument. In this instance, you will want to go with an instrument of high quality and excellent condition.
* You should always have a provisional budget in mind. In order to do this, you should do the research to find out what representative prices are for the type of instrument and quality that you want to purchase. There are instrument appraisers in some areas, or you can always ask a friend or music teacher to give you advice on the range of prices. Thanks to the internet, researching prices for used instruments is a lot easier than it used to be.
* Do not plan on purchasing a used instrument unless you have given it a test drive. Of course, you will want to bring your own mouthpiece or reed if the musical instrument requires one. There are some features of a used instrument that can only be discerned by playing the instrument yourself. If you are not proficient on the instrument, find a friend to do the testing for you. You can pay a band student to test the instrument, but by all means, don't purchase without making certain that it is in excellent operating condition so that it will give you years of service.
* A musical instrument that is in need of repair can cause you to develop poor playing habits or to give up the instrument in frustration. Bad habits are very hard to break and may ruin your future enjoyment of the instrument. The time to determine if repairs are necessary is before you purchase the used instrument.
If you purchase carefully, you will be able to find much higher quality instrument for about the same price as you would pay for a cheap new instrument. In almost every instance, purchasing a used instrument is more economical than purchasing a similar quality new instrument. Owning the instrument even if you are a beginner is recommended.
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