Finding the Best Advice for Buying the Right Guitar

     As guitar players we are often asked "Why do you have so many guitars?" or my favorite question..."How many guitars do you really need?" My response to this question (with a slight smirk) has always been "Just one more." The reality is that in this modern era of Goggle and the endless information on the internet there are far more choices then at any point in history. From rare vintage guitars to modern boutique masterpieces it is a good time to be a guitar player to say the least. For some collectors they have a chosen flavor and they buy as many of a chosen brand as they can afford. For others they try to put together a collection that will cover every musical base. We all know both of these collectors. The guy with one of everything or the guy with a whole bunch of the same. Whatever your taste is, it is important to seek out expert advice when making your purchase. I am sorry to say that the expert is not always your instructor, or your buddy that can play Eruption note for note. And, it is most certainly not always the guy at the music store.

     When I was 17 I got my first real job selling guitars at a local music store in Annapolis, MD. I had pretty much only owned a couple of inexpensive guitars to that point but soon I found that the more I worked, the better the guitar I could afford. I went from an Epiphone SG to an American Standard Strat to a PRS Swamp Ash to a 1967 Tele to an Exotic Les Paul and on and on for the next few years. I finally landed on a Tom Anderson Cobra which I played at my wedding so obviously I will never part with that one. From there I have had a number of PRS, Fenders, Martins, Taylors, Gibsons and more and even though I never considered myself a collector, with 15 guitars and counting I guess that is what I have become.  

     When deciding to buy a new guitar it is important to consider what exactly you want. Do you consider them to be functional works of art that you wish to display and show off to your friends or are you a serious player that wants to be able to cover any sound. Do you want to hold on to these works of art as a long term investment or are you just having fun exploring all of the latest and greatest that the guitar makers have to offer. Whatever the reason for your obsession collecting, it is important to find a reliable consultant to assist you on your hunt. Guitar sales people can sometimes be super knowledgable and they can sometimes just be working for a quick paycheck. After working in music stores for the last 25 years I have seen both. Regardless of the salesperson's level experience they are always coached to play the role of the expert so you have to really be careful when taking advice. I have met 22 year olds that have already toured all over the world and have played hundreds of gigs and I have met 50 year olds that have never played to an audience larger than one. Both considered themselves to be experts which is why I started this business. 

     I have toured in over thirty different countries. I have worked in every type of studio from a small bedroom in someones house to some of the largest production studios and I have literally personally played thousands of different guitars over the years. I have taken apart the rarest of the rare vintage guitars like late 50s Strats and Les Pauls and I have been to just about every major factory including PRS, Martin, Gibson, Taylor and Mesa Boogie. I didn't write this blog to give you my resume and as much experience as I have gained I am still not as knowledgable as some. I wanted you to think about who you are buying your guitars from and why. Is it the great price or the great service or the feeling of being at home with your salesperson? I'm here to say that I think none of those things should be mutually exclusive. I want all of my customers to feel like their decision to shop with me was the best decision they have ever made. All of our instruments are set up to play their absolute best and we take pride in offering the best advice in the industry. Drop us a line anytime and I personally guarantee that it will be the best decision you have made.