Originally Posted By: Pat Marr
I look at them all the time. Then I look at my bank account.


Remember, you don't have to buy it all at once, either. As you start playing more, take half the gig money and bank it in a dedicated "music gear" savings account. It's not a race, right? Watch your local resale paper, Craigslist, eBay.... I do really well on Craigslist. When you catch musicians that need money for food and rent, you can almost steal their gear.



The white Strat was new in 1995 before Squires became all that cheap. $250 from a store in Garland Texas. The Telecaster was $300 at a little store at the end of my street. (Really great story goes with the Tele.) The red Ibanez was $79 used at a Guitar Center store. The Les Paul I paid full price for as a retirement present to myself. And in the middle is a Paul Reed Smith from Craigslist that I got for $350. I truly have the tonal spectrum covered. So yeah, you can find a lot of good deals used if you ferret them out. All my keyboards other than the Nord (the other retirement present to myself) were internet finds. It's out there!!

Remember, you need the right tools for your new job. You'll get them over time, one piece at a time.