Wow! A new guitar, carrying bag, strap, pitch pipe, AND replacement strings for only $39.99! Or how about a new banjo for $119.99?
There are "deals" like this advertised on the Internet all of the time. Why? Because, as P.T. Barnum is sometimes attributed with saying, "There's a sucker born every minute".
These "deal" instruments almost always ship directly from the manufacturer, to a warehouse, to the buyer. They have not been properly set-up (a set-up is a must for every stringed instrument) or inspected for playability and they arrive at your doorstep NOT ready to play. They are almost always made using sub-standard parts and materials and the quality of their construction is usually poor.
So what does this mean for the people who buy these instruments?
1. The instrument will be much harder to play if a set-up is not performed, which is especially concerning if the person who will be playing it is a beginner. Be prepared to unnecessarily struggle playing, tuning, keeping the instrument in tune, etc..2. Set-ups generally cost about $50, sometimes more if the instrument is poorly made. Once an instrument has had a proper set-up it will be easier to play, which is especially important for a new player. However, instruments made with sub-standard parts and instruments that are poorly constructed are much harder to work on. Often, there is more work that needs to be done to them to get them properly set-up and their inferior parts and construction can make it slow-going. Read more about why a proper set-up is so important here.
3. If you look closely at the picture of the banjo above you will notice it does not have a bridge. The reason? The bridge on this banjo is not installed when shipped from the manufacturer. It will be up to the purchaser to properly install the bridge. And the online retailer doesn't even realize there should be a bridge on a banjo so they used a picture of the banjo without its bridge, as it came from the manufacturer. It sounds like the online retailer really knows banjos well, doesn't it? ;)
4. Which brings us to the online retailer. How can they be reached? More often than not, it is by email only. If you have a concern with the instrument, most likely the only resolution will be to re-package it and ship it back. Then wait for a replacement or a refund.
5. Instruments come in many shapes, sizes, and styles. How do you know if that "deal" instrument is the right one for you? Not all guitars, banjos, etc. are the same. Different woods, different body sizes, different appointments. This is because people come in different sizes and because the same type of instrument can be made differently for different tones and for different styles of playing. Instruments are like cars. You can spend all day reading pro and con reviews on a certain car but you won't know if it's the right fit until you've gotten behind the wheel. FYI - you don't have to know how to play an instrument to "get behind the wheel", you just have to hold it and play a chord or two. It also helps tremendously to be able to talk with a knowledgeable person about what you wish to do with the instrument (what kind of music you wish to play, style of playing, etc.) to help get the right fit.
We at Bucks County Folk Music Shop have been helping folks find their right fit for over 50 years. And all of our instruments are professionally set-up BEFORE we put them up for sale, at no additional cost. We also only offer instruments that pass our "Value for the money spent" test, making sure that all of our instruments, including the affordable student models for under $100, are quality instruments for the money. If you ever have a problem, you can call us, stop in, or send us an email. We have knowledgeable staff and a full-service, on-site repair facility here to help you.
So the next time you see a really good Internet "deal" for an instrument, remember "caveat emptor".