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256 Part V: Gearing Up: Outfitting Your Arsenal Before You Begin Shopping
You need to have a clear head if you’re going out to spend a few hundred dollars
(or more) on your new guitar. Luckily, I give you a few things to think
about in the following list, before you take the leap and buy your instrument:
Your level of commitment: Are you just exploring the blues to see if it
sticks with you or grows on you? Are you just trying to figure out if you
even have the aptitude for playing? Or are you bursting with passion and
want to devote long periods of your life to the pursuit of blues excellence?
It’s okay to be unsure about any new endeavor, but you should
invest appropriately. There’s nothing like having a state-of-the-art instrument
to inspire you, and to help keep you inspired during the lulls that
accompany any long-term study, but figure out where your passion lies
and if you’re willing to commit after you shell out the big bucks.
Your spending limit: Set your budget without ever looking at an instrument,
and then try for the best guitar your money will buy. You don’t
have to spend your entire proposed budget, but money is meant to be
spent (just ask Congress). So aim as high as you’re comfortable with
without making your wallet scream, and don’t be afraid to follow through
if the right opportunity presents itself. Just remember, there is no ideal
guitar for the blues. The music comes from the artists holding the instrument,
not the instrument itself. You might think that that’s true of any
type of music, and it is certainly true of rock, but blues seems even more
inclusive for instrument choice. You don’t want to be close-minded
about a guitar, just because it wasn’t what you initially had in mind —
especially if a super deal is staring you in the face. You can always write
“Buyers’ Remorse Blues” on your new instrument.
The type of guitar you want: Do you know whether you’re looking for a
flattop acoustic or a steel guitar; a Strat-type or a Les Paul-type solidbody;
or a semi-hollowbody electric or an archtop? You also must
decide whether you’re buying a new or used guitar, and whether you
want to settle for an imitation of a classic model or the real deal.
If the types of guitars in the previous bullet have you thinking “huh?” — don’t
give up! Read on! This chapter helps you decide what type of guitar you want
by explaining the differences between guitar models. As far as the budget issue,
well, that’s none of my business. It’s strictly up to you (and your significant
other, if your situation is anything like mine). But expect to spend no less
than $200 on a new electric and $300 for a new acoustic.
TEAM LinG
Deciding On a Make and Model
Deciding on the basic format is at once the hardest and easiest decision in
buying a guitar, and it comes at the very beginning of the buying process. It