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Buying A Guitar
What kind of guitar should a beginner get? I get asked this question alot. My answer usually
depends on the kind of guitar the player wants. But even if the person wants to play electric guitar, I feel that it is better
to learn on an acoustic. The rudiments of the guitar should be learned on the instrument at its purest form. You can always
get an electric after you learn the basics. The cost of an electric can get to be more expensive. Remember that you need an
amplifier.
How much should I spend? This too is always asked. Price, as always, dictates what you get. Although there
are guitars for less than $ 100, a beginner should be prepared to spend at least $150-200 to get a good acoustic. To get a
decent instrument you have to be ready to commit yourself to it. Before spending the money on a guitar, you have to want to
learn how to play. The better the guitar, the easier and more enjoyable it will be to learn how to play.
To spend
$ 200-$500, a person dedicated to learning would be able to get a guitar that they can grow into. You get as good as the instrument
and a good quality guitar not only will retain its value better, but you'll enjoy it more. Lessons are an excellent way to
learn. If you can't afford, or don't want to commit to structured lessons, the motivated player can still learn. There are
several lesson books that I have been recommending to people.
By learning a couple of chords and getting your favorite
Bob Dylan book you can be
playing relatively quickly. Once you get your fingers to go to the right place, you can get
to understand how to play.
Collecting Guitars
I have been seeing many guitar collectors and the instruments they collect. What makes a collection?
A collection can be different for different people. Alot of people just buy what is within their budget, with no real focus.
There are so many different types of guitars and you can't have them all, (although loads of people try.) People try to replace
the guitars of their youth. As the Baby boomers mature and have more disposable income, the first instruments they search
out are ones that they may associate with their youth. We all grew up with the rock and roll of the 50's and 60's so these
are the most sought after guitars.
The Gibsons, Fenders, Martins, Gretches, that we associate with our guitar heroes
tend to be the most in demand. Players, who also collect, find instruments that suit their music style. There are guitars
that fit different styles of music and sound right for the players' style of playing. The most interesting guitars are the
ones that fit both these criteria. If a guitar fits a players style of playing and has some historical connection to his guitar
hero, it will be and excellent choice.
Investment? There has been a definite appreciation of value of instruments.
Although there is no telling what the future value will be, it is likely to be a good investment value. The top-notch guitars
of yesterday will continue to appreciate in value as long as the market is there. Although there are no guarantees, a player
must appreciate the guitar for its playing enjoyment and use the instrument for intended purpose. A museum quality guitar
has very little value if it can't be played and appreciated for that sole purpose.
What's a Vintage Guitar Worth?
It is not an easy task to be able to appraise and give accurate values for the different
instruments that are available on the Vintage market. With the variety of instruments and the range of different instruments
available, it's hard for the novice to determine "what it's worth
."
How does a vintage dealer
go about deciding what a certain guitar is worth? The best way is experience. After seeing what things sell for, you can get
a good idea of how to price things. There are several price guides available that help someone who hasn't had the opportunity
to sell a variety of instruments, which are used to determine values. These are a general guideline for determining value,
based on what dealers are selling instruments for at retail. By looking through several different magazines dedicated to the
vintage guitar industry, you can get a general idea of what things might be worth.
How much can you get for a certain
"piece?" There is a fair market value for everything. Based on what other dealers are selling instruments for, and
given the differences in geography, this all determines a price. Now you may see variations in what things are listed at in
different dealer's stocklists, but there are several determining factors that dictate price. Condition always effects price.
An original clean instrument will bring a far greater price than the same guitar that has been refinished or repaired. A guitar
that is rare or one of a kind will also bring a greater price than the run of the mill instrument. All things considered the
more unique the instrument, the more it might be worth.
With so much to take into account and all the variables
that determine what something is worth, it might be to your advantage to get some expert advice when trying to sell a guitar
or amp. If you plan to sell your guitar to a dealer, remember that dealers buy at wholesale and sell at retail. And keep in
mind that the only real determining factor of what something is worth is what someone is willing to pay for it
.
We try to keep our Vintage instruments priced at a fair market value. Our new guitars are priced well below many
of the other dealers in our area. After all we are at the eastern most tip of Long Island and have to make it worth it for
people to make the trip to our store.
If you have an instrument to sell or if you just want to know " what
it's worth," give us a call and we will be happy to accommodate you with the information you need.
Tenor Banjos and Other Folk Instruments
We have been acquiring a nice selection of used banjos, mandolins, dobros and
other
folk instruments. Over the last few years I have seen an expanded interest in these types of instruments. Although
the electrics and amplifiers continue to be of interest to people, the natural compliment to the Martin guitars are the folk
and bluegrass instruments. The continued interest in old timely music has made me search for the hard to find folk instruments.
I have gotten a nice selection of both 5 string and Tenor banjos. The long forgotten tenor banjo, a favorite instrument of
the 1920's is a fine example of an instrument that can add a new dimension to modern folk music. A great rhythm instrument
heard alot in Dixieland Jazz can be added to any folk ensemble. Its rhythmic drive and piercing melodic line can be a great
addition to your normal folk sound. As with the 5-string banjo and mandolin, the tenor banjo can be used to make an interesting
arrangement out of a traditional folk song. We have several entry
level and for the serious player we have a nice selection
of nice quality instruments. Stop in and take a look.
Guitar Heaven
What's it like to die and go to Guitar Heaven? Spend an afternoon with the Chinery collection
and it might be the closest you can come. That's exactly what I had the opportunity to do recently. Scott was nice enough
to host a little get together for several
guitarists, dealers, and luthiers from around the country. Most of the people
came with the sole purpose to look at and play some of the finest guitars ever made.
The collection represents one of
the best selections of 20th century (some older)
American Guitars. From the last few Guitars made by James D'Aquisto to
the Martins
Gibsons, Strombergs, D'Angelico, Guilds and others there is not a one in the bunch
that doesn't play and
have a unique sound of it's own. To have the chance to play
them was an experience that will be long remembered. To be
in a room with
so many museum quality instruments is something that any guitarist/collector would love to do.
Guild Guitars
Most people have probably heard by now about Fender USA acquiring the Guild Guitar Company. This
along with the release of the new book about the Guild Guitar Company by Hans Moust has caused more interest in Guild guitars
than ever before.
These American guitars, often underrated and for the most part undervalued
have come to receive
the respect that they deserve. Fender has already stated
that they will keep the Guild Company intact as it was before,
but be able to give them more distribution than ever before. This will, in turn, give Guild guitars the same status of all
the other American guitars that have been held in greater esteem.
I have been a Guild fan for many years. I chose
a Guild D40 for my first flat top guitar. That guitar got played, traveled and continues to serve me extremely well. It has
aged well and held up very well over the years. The rich tone and the piercing sound of the 20+-year-old mahogany make this
guitar a special instrument. The way this guitar has served me has made me more interested in Guild guitars than ever before.
Over the last few years I have been looking for a nice assortment of Guild Guitars. I have been able to find some
unusual instruments and continue to keep my eyes open for these guitars. Whether its one of the Artist Award Guitars, influenced
by Guilds association with Epiphone, or some of the Solid body Electrics from the 70's or 80's, they all are of interest to
me. Some people frown upon the quality of the instruments, but Guild was able to keep a more consistent quality when their
counter parts were making guitars that were inconsistent with their history. Some of the earlier guitar that were made before
the company moved to Rhode Island were extremely well made instruments. These Hoboken Guitars are probably of more interest
to me as a collector player, but all of them are nice instruments.
The Jazz guitars made by Guild don't get the
same respect as some Gibsons but they play nicely and have the feel of a top quality instrument. Because of this you can still
get a top quality instrument for a fraction of the price. The flatops and twelve string instruments are respected by both
players and collectors. Try and find a Martin or a Gibson for the same dollar.
Overall the Guilds I have encountered
have more bang for the buck. There are alot of Guilds still out there that will blow you away with their sound and surprise
you with their price. Got any Guilds you want to sell, keep us in mind. Looking for a new instrument, check out our selection
of Guild Guitars.
Taylor Guitars
Well what's new at Rothman's this month? We have added Taylor Guitars to our inventory of new
acoustic guitars. These premium acoustic guitars built in El Cajon, California since 1974 rival the quality set by the Martin
Guitar Company.
Why another line of Acoustic Guitar? Demand and comparison. The appeal of these quality guitars
has grown over the last few years. Their eye for detail and ability to cater to today's player demands make them desirable.
They are well made with low profile necks that meet the demand of many contemporary players. They are comfortable to play
and meet the requirements of a player that is looking for low action in an acoustic guitar.
Bob Taylor is a pioneer
in the world of the acoustic guitar as was CF Martin. He developed a method of making guitars that allows the manufacturer
to be consistent in their production of the instrument. By being innovative he proceeded to revolutionize the way acoustic
guitars are made. He made the Martin Guitar Company rethink their 160-year-old product. By using computers to design a shape
the necks he is able to maintain a certain consistency. By using a bolt system to fasten the neck he makes it easier to reset
and adjust if necessary. Martin came out with a bolt on neck system with their D-1 series in the early 90's and has since
come out with a line of low profile, low action guitars. (Traditionally Martins are set up as a Bluegrass guitar, a little
stiffer than some Electric and Beginner Players can appreciate.)
In spite of the high tech manufacturing process,
Taylor still has the ability to make a guitar to old world standards. They use premium solid hard wood and make an instrument
that both looks good and sounds great. Part of their appeal is the new out of the box sound. Chris Martin has been quoted
as saying he still can't figure out how to make a New 20 year old Martin. (Although they're doing a good job with some of
their Limited edition and Vintage series instruments.)
As 1997 comes upon us, we will be getting more and more of
these guitars in stock. While Martin has it's 160 history, Taylor Guitars are here to stay. Both with the appeal and quality.
Stop in and compare.
Guitars and the Internet
In this world of electronic information and access to the World Wide
Web, guitars have found their place on the Internet. There has become a whole cyberworld about the people that make guitars
and the people selling them. The Internet also serves as a source of information for historical facts.
Over the
last two years the electronic guitar world has grown by leaps and bounds. As with the rest of the Internet, many of the guitar
pages are a relatively new thing. There not only are many dealers on the Internet, but you can look in on many of the guitar
manufacturers. Surf your way to Martin guitars home page (http://www.mguitar.com) and you can get information about their
new MTV/CF guitar.
Want to find information about your fathers old Gibson? Search the Gibson Guitars Home page (http://www.gibson.com/)
and not only be able to identify it, you can find it's current market value.
Several of the guitar magazines can
be accessed though the Internet. Twentieth Century guitar (http://www.tcguitar.com) and Vintage Guitar Magazine (http://www.vguitar.com)
have Web Pages. Fender Guitars (http://www.fender.com) and Ovation (Http://www.kamanmusic.com) also are able to supply the
person searching the web with product information. Looking for a specific guitar? All you have to do is access the Internet
and you can find the guitar you are looking for. There are many pages that offer links to other sites. Many of th
e
finest dealers in the country are connected to the rest of the world via the internet.
Private individuals have
set up a lot of the most interesting pages. People who are interested enough to spend the time to make the information they
have available to the general computer world. Ron Longs page about Guitar makers is a great site, (http://www.vivanet.com/~ronelong/makers.htm)
and the page about Ibenez guitars is a excellent page (http://www.comcat.com/~alnico5/).
As we approach the 21st
Century and the world gets smaller, we find the Internet to be a valuable tool. The data that you can access on the Internet,
will be available to anyone with a computer. And as the Vintage Guitar Market approaches the millennium it is nice to see
Guitars have found their place in Cyberspace.
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