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With
the popularity of an
instrument like the
guitar going
absolutely gangbusters
thanks to the Guitar
Hero game and the
youth of today
embracing great guitar
playing once again
(RIP Grunge), it's no
surprise that everyone
is trying to get in on
the act when it comes
to the sales of
acoustic and electric
guitars, and other
musical instruments
for that matter.
With major department
stores across the
country now stocking products
that closely resemble
musical instruments,
well-intentioned mums
and dads are being
fooled, and it's time
for those of us that
know what we're
talking about to speak
out, because we are
seeing you get ripped
off day after day and
it pains us to be the
first to tell you.
"..it's
time for those of us
that know what we're
talking about to speak
out, because we are
seeing you get ripped
off day after
day"
Cheap
is expensive.
Just ask the hundreds
of people in the Hills
district that have
bought musical
instrument replicas at
stores like T***get,
A*di, Toys Are ** and
B*g W. What
might look just like a
guitar, trumpet, or
violin is in fact a
poor imitation that
causes problems for
your child the minute
they try to have the
first lesson on their
new
"instrument".
The
facts about department
store
"instruments":
- Not
designed, created,
imported, sold or
serviced by
musicians
- Lack
of design
standards that
allow even basic
things like
playing in tune
impossible
- Playability
that hinders and
prevents any
progress to your
learning
- Grossly
inferior materials
that make good
tone a pipe dream
- Uninformed
sales staff with
no qualification,
experience or
interest in
selling musical
instruments
- No
after-sales
support, care
tips, expert
advice or repair
service available
Our
repair and service
department sees these
inferior instruments
on a daily
basis. Customers
know that something
isn't quite right with
the product they've
purchased, but in most
cases we can't repair
the problems because
they are too numerous
and too inherent to
the design of the instrument.
"BUT..."
I hear Mrs Smith
protest...
 "My
son is just a
beginner. He
doesn't need a
professional
instrument".
FACT: He
needs an instrument
that meets even the
most basic standards
to ensure that his
instrument is playable
in tune. If the
frets on Johnny's
guitar aren't even
glued in the right
spot, and the strings
are an inch high off
the fret board, that's
not an
instrument. It's
punishment!
"When
he gets good I'll buy
him a better one"
FACT: The
sad fact is that
without an instrument
that is playable and
made of decent
materials, getting
'good' will be a whole
lot harder and slower,
if it happens at
all. We know
this because we run
the biggest music
school in NSW.
"The
guitars at T**get are
only $80"
FACT: Guitars
at a store like Maxx
Music can cost as
little as $69 with a
bag, dvd, and a free
lesson in our school.
And they work!
"This
music thing might be a
fad"
FACT: With
a decent start and
some encouragement, an
artistic pursuit like
music might not be
fad! Did you
worry about
Playstation being a
fad before you spend
hundreds on it?
"I
didn't want to get a
high-pressure salesman
trying to sell me a
Fender or
something"
FACT: Maxx
Music specialises in
friendly, honest
service and we want
you to have the right
guitar, not the most
expensive. (By
the way, Fender [the
world's leading guitar
company] make Squier
electric guitars from
a highly affordable
$199)
I'm
not here to restrict
your choices as a
consumer, but I am
here to equip you with
information that will
save you doing things
twice, and to tell you
that the best person
to ask about musical
instruments is someone
who knows them, loves
them, and has been
surrounded by them for
many years! Does
the pimple-faced kit
at Km*rt who's there
for 4 hours a week
meet the criteria?
"I
am here to equip you
with information that
will save you doing
things twice"
To
be blunt - don't buy a
turkey. Talk to
a musician and get the
information, service
and support you need
to get started playing
music. You'll be
glad you did!
Chris
Brooks
Chris Brooks is a
professional guitar
player and recording
artist, as well as the
Sales Manager and
guitar specialist at
Maxx Music
This editorial
represents the
opinions of its writer
and not necessarily
those of his employer.
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