The Benefits and How to Spot Good Instruments When Buying Online

For those who don’t have much experience purchasing musical instruments, you might sometimes feel the need to ask someone for advice before making a purchase, and you may receive advice such as, "You should always buy instruments at a store."

It’s true that music stores let you try out the instruments before making a purchase, which is the beauty of a physical store. While it’s true that with online shopping, you can’t see the actual product until it arrives, there are still many advantages to buying instruments online.

In this article, I will discuss the benefits of purchasing instruments online and how to choose one that will be right for you.

■ Benefit 1

It’s easy to visit and select your favorite instrument from a wide range of options for those who live in areas like Ochanomizu in the Kanto region or Umeda in the Kansai region, since there are many music stores, However, people living in more remote areas may not have the same opportunities. Online shopping doesn’t have this limitation, so no matter where you live, you can access a wider selection, which is a major advantage.

Additionally, in small music stores in rural areas, limited-edition artist models may not be available. For example, when I was purchasing a certain artist’s guitar model, my local music store told me they wouldn’t be receiving any stock, so I had to enter a lottery for it online (I didn’t win, though…).

■ Benefit 2

Most musical instruments and music-related equipment can be purchased more cheaply through online shopping. This is not limited to instruments, but generally, the costs associated with maintaining a physical store and paying staff are reduced, which in turn lowers the price of products. While everyday items and food may sometimes be more expensive when purchased online, high-cost items like musical instruments tend to be cheaper.

Particularly, Sound House's outlet section offers a wide range of items, and you can sometimes find the products you're looking for at significantly lower prices. Since they handle many products, there are also many outlet items available. Products with box damage or small scratches, which have no impact on sound quality, can be found for 30-40% off. Outlet and "scratch and dent" items are one-of-a-kind, so checking regularly might allow you to find great deals.

⇒ Sound House Outlet Sale（https://www.soundhouse.co.jp/en/outlet/index）

■ Benefit 3

For guitars and basses, one advantage of purchasing online is that you don't have to buy a display model. While most music stores allow you to try out instruments, the instruments on display have likely already been played by someone else. In fact, it’s possible that the guitar you’re considering has been played by dozens of people.

For those who don’t mind buying a used instrument, this may not be a big issue, but for people who want a brand-new instrument, it can be an off-putting thought.

● Should You Avoid Buying Guitars from Overseas Manufacturers?

Many people who oppose buying instruments online are likely guitarists. Guitars (including basses) are instruments with a lot of variation between individual units, even if they are the same model. In particular, overseas guitar manufacturers are known for having a lot of variation between units, which is why many people avoid buying guitars online.

As a guitarist myself, I can somewhat understand this viewpoint, but I question how significant the individual differences really are. For example, if you played five Fender Stratocasters priced at 200,000 yen in a store, you might notice some differences. However, if you’re not comparing them side-by-side, any guitar over 200,000 yen generally sounds good.
The differences aren’t usually significant enough for most people to care about, and if you add distortion or delay effects, those differences become almost impossible to notice. I believe it’s not something to worry too much about.

That said, this applies only to new guitars. On online stores or auction sites, there are also used guitars being sold, and the individual differences in these guitars can be significant based on how they were handled. Some may even have hidden damage that affects the sound or durability. While it’s fine to buy inexpensive or junk guitars, I would recommend purchasing high-value items like vintage guitars in person to avoid any hidden issues.

● Recommended Instruments for Purchase via Online Shopping

Now, let me introduce some instruments that are less likely to have drawbacks when purchased online.

○ Domestic Brand Guitars and Basses

Instruments from domestic brands are well-crafted, and there are fewer chances of getting a bad one when purchasing online. A well-known example is Yamaha's Pacifica series.
As I mentioned in another article in this column, despite being affordable, the Pacifica series offers excellent price for its value and has little variation between individual units, making it a popular choice for online purchases. Its stable, neutral sound and ease of playability often make it suitable for beginners, but even advanced players purchase it as a second guitar.

Additionally, it’s not just inexpensive models that sell well online. Mid-range models from brands like FUJIGEN and high-end models from brands like Freedom also see success in online sales.

○ Electronic Instruments in General

There is little to no variation in electronic instruments like synthesizers, electronic pianos, MIDI keyboards, and electronic drums. If you’ve checked YouTube review videos or manufacturer websites and determined that trying the instrument in person isn’t necessary, purchasing it online is often cheaper.

○ Other Equipment and Gear

Microphones, cables, audio interfaces, recorders, and other similar items have the same benefit as electronic instruments in that there’s no drawback to purchasing them online. Especially for items like audio interfaces and recorders, where you can’t touch or try them before buying in a store, there’s no advantage to buying them in person, making online purchase the clear choice.

■ To summarize

People who are accustomed to buying instruments online often try them out in their local music stores first, and if they like the instrument, they buy it online. For domestic guitars, synthesizers, and other electronic instruments, this is the most cost-effective purchasing method. It might be a little inconvenient for the music stores, but it’s still the most sensible approach.

To avoid upsetting the store, try to purchase smaller items or use the in-store studio facilities, and contribute to their sales as much as possible.

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