Buying your child the perfect guitar can certainly be great fun and yet can also be massively frustrating.
You have a huge selection of brands, styles, and colors to choose from. There are many factors to consider before purchasing your child’s first guitar. What brand should I buy? What color would my child like? Can I afford this? These are all questions that will arise, so I would like to help you plan a strategy to make your guitar-buying experience easier and more fun!
Unlike any toy guitar you may have purchased when your child was younger, this new guitar will be a life-long investment. Please remember you are providing your child with a beautiful opportunity to play music. This new guitar will be with them for many years. I still have the first “real” guitar my parents purchased for me; it is a 1987 Fender USA Stratocaster in charcoal grey with a maple neck. I cut my teeth on that guitar, so to speak, and it certainly helped me become the player I am today.
Now let’s get started on your shopping experience. The first thing to consider is how much you are willing to spend? There are two factors. First, what style of music does your child prefer and second, what is their level of interest? Just how serious is your child about playing the guitar? Let me give you a personal example – as a youngster, I used to jump around our living room with a toy guitar jamming to Skynard. Later when my dad was given his father’s 1939 J-45 Gibson, I played the fire out of that guitar. As a parent, my father could observe the style of music I preferred and my level of interest in playing guitar.
Once you have a price in mind, the next step is to go to a local music store to check things out. Ask lots of questions. Tell the clerk what styles of music your child listens to and their level of commitment to playing music. Ask what guitars would best meet your child’s needs and why. The clerk will (hopefully) ask about your price range and then assist you as best they can with choices within your range.
After looking at your options in the stores, I would recommend researching the guitars you liked on the Internet – take the time to educate yourself. An unexpected source of information may be your child. At this point you may have several specific brands/models in mind. Try hinting about certain brands to your kid. Your child may know more than you think and it may help you to narrow your choices.
So you have broadened your knowledge of guitars by shopping in person – seeing and touching – asking questions about guitars in stores and by shopping via the Internet. You have narrowed your choices by slyly “consulting” with your child. Now it is time to shop by phone. Call all of the local music stores to shop for the best price. Find out who has the best deal.
Now, you’re ready to re-visit select stores. At this stage in the process, you need to decide whether or not to take your son or daughter to the store with you. Obviously, you want them to love this guitar and you may want to involve them directly in the purchase process. However, be careful of their excitement level in choosing. If you choose to take your child with you, it may benefit you to invite a third person, someone else who knows guitars, to join you on this final phase of shopping.
Well, you have done your homework and now your child has an awesome guitar he or she will cherish forever. Your investment will never go unnoticed and it will make you happy when you see your child enjoying such a fine instrument. Whether they choose guitar as a hobby or go on to become a professional player, you have provided a gift like no other. I know I have certainly been very blessed. I am thankful my parents were willing to invest the time and money in the whole process of buying a guitar for me.
To all you young guitarists out there, never give up, stay true to yourself and your dreams, and keep on pickin’. God Bless!
Johnny Hiland
Johnny Hiland
Guitar Player Extrodinare
www.johnnyhiland.com
In talking with some fellow pickers, I have found that they all have had or witnessed some travel hiccups along the way.
One of the coolest opportunities we share in our professional musicianship is going on the road. It is always a pleasure to experience new places and meet new people. In talking with some fellow pickers, I have found that they all have had or witnessed some travel hiccups along the way. So, I thought this might be a good opportunity to hand out some travel tips to aid in your comfort on the road.
1. Before packing, make sure you call the airline you are flying to check how many bags you are allowed to check under and how many carry-ons you are allowed to take on the plane with you. This can save a lot of frustration at the airport.
2. Check to see how many hours prior to your flight you should be at the airport. Mac, my manager, and I have experienced showing up at the airport at least 2 hours early to find the security line going all the way out the door. These days, especially with the increased security, plan on being as early as possible to avoid missing a flight.
3. Make sure, during an international flight, that you photocopy your passport. This will expedite your safe return to the U.S. in case you misplace your real passport. This is very serious, so keep your copy in a different place other than where you file your important paperwork (ticket, etc.).
4. Check the weight of your luggage and make sure they weigh under the limits placed by the airline. Commonly, each bag should be 50 pounds or less. That also includes your pedalboard if you check it under the plane. It may not seem like much, but the pounds can add up in a hurry.
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5. Make sure your instrument/pedalboard cases are flight-worthy and keep your equipment safe in poor conditions; rain, snow and wind, for example. Remember that your gear may be sitting on an airport tarmac while it is being loaded onto the plane, so you need to protect it well. The people loading up your gear may not care that you have expensive equipment sitting in there.
6. Make sure the luggage that you use is also waterproof. I recently traveled to Germany to promote my new Johnny Hiland signature model PRS guitar and took a rolling-duffel for my clothes. Unfortunately, something spilled on it and stained most of my clothes with a brown appearance. Needless to say, I spent some time at a laundry facility there and was not too happy.
7. Make sure you pack extra strings, cables, connector cables for your pedalboard, a guitar repair kit, and a few extra power supplies for your pedalboard. It also helps to purchase a power-conversion kit for other countries in case a power supply goes down or you need a different plug. It never hurts to be over-prepared for something to go wrong with your gear, and if you’re touring, it most likely will.
8. If you are selling merchandise on your travels abroad, try to exchange as few funds as possible if the exchange rate on the US dollar is unacceptable. You will make money during your performances.
I sincerely hope these travel tips help you. Please feel free to drop me a line at johnnyhiland.com. Have fun on the road, play well and be safe! God Bless.
Johnny Hiland
Guitar Player Extrodinare
www.johnnyhiland.com
I recently spent some time reflecting on how much I love and admire all of the guitars in my collection. Each piece has its own character, feel, and vibe.
I recently spent some time reflecting on how much I love and admire all of the guitars in my collection. Each piece has its own character, feel, and vibe. I currently own approximately 25 guitars – they are tools for me to carry out my dreams, using the gifts God has blessed me with. Those gifts are my music and instrumental ability, which I have the opportunity to share with everyone.
However, I occasionally stop to wonder if younger players or pickers really appreciate their instruments. Do parents, when purchasing a nice guitar for their child, really understand the true investment they are making? It is important to know the value of your instrument.
When you purchase a guitar, what will it be worth 20, 30 or even 50 years from now? For example, I recently acquired a beautiful 1968 D-35 Martin. It was purchased and given to me by a dear friend of mine, Tom Misner, owner of the 50 SAE audio engineering schools around the world. On a bit of a side note, if you are looking to become a studio engineer, SAE is the school to attend.
I had fallen in love with this particular vintage piece about six months prior to ownership – the tone and volume of the D-35 is incredible. By researching in buyer’s guides and online, I discovered what 1968 D-35s were worth, and I also understand how this guitar will grow in value over a number of years. I sincerely love this vintage Martin guitar with all my heart and I want to thank Tom for his kindness and generosity.
Finding a vintage instrument can be both exciting and gratifying and ownership can bring an enormous satisfaction to your life. However, it can sometimes be difficult to privately purchase a vintage instrument, as many pieces are family heirlooms handed down through the generations. The owners may have a hard time parting with their old instruments, for sentimental reasons.
If you are seriously looking for vintage guitars, there are several different ways to find this gear, so don’t give up! I would first suggest buying a magazine that features vintage guitars (Vintage Guitar and Premier Guitar are two options). They list stores, collectors and guitar shows which will have all have vintage guitars for sale, or at least have information about a specific model you’re searching for. I would also recommend checking guitar buyer guides and even an Uncle Henry’s or Thrifty Nickel book. You just never know what you might find.
Guitar shows are also very fun to attend. You will be offered the opportunity to not only see cool vintage pieces, but new guitars as well. Keep in mind when shopping for an instrument many of today’s newer guitars will be tomorrow’s treasures. The upcoming Dallas International Guitar Festival is one of the best places to check out gear and the players that use it – for example, my band and I will attend and perform for Paul Reed Smith Guitars.
The Dallas show is extremely awesome with a wide variety of great vintage and new gear. It is one of the oldest and most respected vintage guitar and trade shows in the industry. It’s a great feeling to be surrounded by guitar enthusiasts and culture while you’re looking for the perfect instrument. I am very proud to be a part of their show and I highly recommend this event to any serious buyer or player.
Guitar shows are also a great way to put your own vintage guitar on the market, as there will be lots of interested buyers in attendance. However, if you are considering selling a vintage piece and are not sure of the value, I would highly recommend contacting a certified instrument appraiser like George Gruhn [of Gruhn Guitars] in Nashville to determine the value. You might be surprised with the result.
In closing, vintage pieces are just wonderful to own and can cause a huge addiction. I am proud to have a 1939 J-45 Gibson that once belonged to my grandfather, and now, the old D-35 Martin. I am sure you all will love and cherish each vintage piece you purchase for a lifetime. For those who have never experienced vintage gear, I urge you to do so. I’m currently looking for an old Paul Reed Smith Custom 24. I guess you could say I have “Vintage Fever!” It is so awesome to pick up one of these vintage models and just wonder whose hands have touched these instruments over the years. God Bless and happy hunting!
Johnny Hiland
Guitar Player Extrodinare
www.johnnyhiland.com