Play it smart: Sound advice on gifts

On TV, Kurt Cobain looks so effortless playing “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”

That could be why your son, daughter, husband, sister or whomever is asking for a guitar during this Christmas.

Instruments are sold everywhere this holiday season. But be wary: Don't go and buy the cheapest thing you see or pick up the first instrument you find.

Local instrument experts say you should consider these things whether you're buying a guitar, drums or something else.

GUITARS

Whether your son or daughter is trying to shred like Metallica or play Bob Dylan covers, here's what to look for:

In general

For beginners, many guitars come in packages that include everything you need to start learning to play.

Electric guitar packages come with the guitar, an amplifier, a strap, extra strings, picks, a carrying bag and an instructional DVD or book or both.

Acoustic guitar packages come with the guitar, bag, strap, strings, picks and instructional material. Some stores also offer another acoustic package that comes with an amplifier for an additional $30.

Packages come from a multitude of manufacturers and cost at least $200 for an electric guitar and $149 and up for an acoustic.

Individual instruments can be had for less than the price of the packages. An acoustic guitar will cost at least $100. An electric guitar will cost around $110 and up.

Acoustic or electric?

What's better for a beginner: an acoustic guitar or an electric guitar?

It's one of the most commonly asked questions at guitar stores, but the answer isn't clear cut.

One isn't necesarily better to play or easier to learn than the other. It's a stylistic choice.

If the person playing the instrument wants to learn country, folk, worship or other music, an acoustic guitar is generally the better choice. For rock 'n' roll, an electric is generally better, said Dan Sullivan, pro shop manager at Dietze Music.

And for those parents worrying that the noise from an electric guitar will shake the walls, be not afraid. The amps in the starter packages mentioned above are usually only a meager 10 watts.

“They're not that loud. And they all come with headphone jacks,” Sullivan said.

Guitar stand

Those nifty packages come with everything. Everything but somewhere to put your guitar when you're not using it. You can pick up a simple guitar stand anywhere for under $20.

Size

Sometimes kids need small-sized guitars because they're not big enough to comfortably play a full-size guitar.

Children can benefit from playing a smaller guitar, but it depends on the child's height. Someone at a store can help you pick the right size, said Hoyle of Russo's.

At age 11 or 12, it might be a good idea to buy a full-size guitar even if the child isn't quite big enough to play it yet since they'll quickly outgrow a small-size guitar.

Strings and picks

Guitar strings come in all kinds of styles and from many manufacturers.

For a beginner, it's best to use a light to medium gauge string. The lighter strings are easier for a beginner to press down and play notes.

As for picks, they come in countless shapes, sizes and thicknesses. Again, it's better for a beginner to use a thinner, lighter gauge pick. They're easier to use and require less finesse than a thicker pick, Hoyle said.

Amplifiers and pedals

The Foo Fighters might have them, but a beginner doesn't need an enormous amplifier.

If you're not buying as part of a package, a 10- or 15-watt amp is perfect for a beginner. Many by Marshall and Fender have both clean and distorted channels in order to play a variety of different styles.

For a higher price, some amps have multiple effects that can make a guitar sound like practically any guitarist you admire.

“You want to be Eddie Van Halen on the spot? Just push a button,” Hoyle said.

Lessons

It used to be that you had two options: Take lessons or fumble around and try to teach yourself.

“I'm self-taught,” Hoyle said. “When I started, I watched people play or listened to the album and pulled the needle back and listened again to figure out a part.”

A few more options exist today on the Web. Many sites are dedicated to teaching guitar with videos, sheet music and tablature that can help you learn a plethora of songs.

Still, the experts say getting one-on-one time with an instructor and being able to ask questions is important.

“There's a lot of cool stuff on the Internet. There's a treasure trove of information,” Sullivan said. “(But) lessons are the optimum way to do it.”

Teachers can give students direction and guidance and teach them a guitar philosophy that you can't get from a computer, Hoyle said.

Instructors at local stores teach on acoustic and electric guitars in a variety of styles and offer lessons to almost any age. Children can start as young as 6 years old.

DRUMS

Looking to lay down the beat? Like guitars, drums come in all shapes and sizes, but they have specifics that you should keep an eye out for.

In general

Most drum sets are 5-piece sets with three tom-toms of different sizes, a snare drum and a bass drum.

A beginner drum set starts out at around $400. Anything cheaper isn't much better than a toy, said Dietze's Pracht. If your beginner gets serious about the instrument, the cheap kit will have to be replaced pretty quickly.

Hand drums are also popular because they offer a range of sounds, are smaller and cost less. Prices for hand drums start around $80 at Dietze.

Most full drum kits include cymbal stands, but only a few include cymbals. Even if cymbals are included, “it's the first thing you'll be looking to upgrade,” Pracht said.

Starter sets of cymbals begin at around $175.

Somewhere to sit

Something else that's vitally important to a drum kit isn't always included: A stool. Without a seat, it's pretty hard to play, so make sure to check if the kit your purchasing comes with a seat.

Hardware

The drum kit's hardware seems like a minor concern, but it's very important.

“The heavier it is, the more durable it will be,” Pracht said.

Everything from cymbal stands to the pieces that hold the toms to the bass drum can suffer from wear and tear. Heavier pieces are usually thicker and stronger metal, so they won't break as easily.

You should also look at the number of tension rods on each drum. The rods hold the drum heads onto the actual drum. You want an even number of rods, Pracht said, which distribute the tension on the drum head evenly and keeps it smooth. An odd number can create ripples in the head, causing the sound to be off. Odd rods can also cause extra wear on the drum head and force you to replace it earlier than normal.

Size

Drum sets come in different sizes, but a standard kit usually has 12-, 13- and 16-inch toms, a 14-inch snare and a 22-inch bass drum.

For smaller-sized players, junior drum kits are available. They usually have a 16-inch bass drum and are usually appropriate for drummers ages 9 to 12, Pracht said.

For the really little ones, they also manufacture minikits with a 10-inch bass drum.

Sticks

Drumsticks, like guitar picks and strings, are a personal choice for each drummer.

“Some have specific applications, but most are general purpose,” Pracht said. “The size (of the stick) determines the volume that comes out of the drum.”

Stores offer sticks in a variety of sizes, styles and materials (but mostly wood and nylon). Dietze also carries signature sticks from Tre Cool of Green Day and Travis Barker of Blink-182 as well as biodegradable sticks made of wheat.

Signature packs

If you're looking to emulate the style of a certain drummer, stores also carry packs containing extra pieces (cymbals, tambourines, wood blocks and more) that are used by specific musicians.

Dietze carried signature packages from Pink Floyd's Nick Mason, Queens of the Stone Age's Joey Castillo, System of a Down's John Dolmayan and others.

KEYBOARDS

Not ready to buy a baby grand yet? Invest instead in a keyboard. They're much smaller, less expensive, portable and offer a lot of features a regular old piano does not. Dietze Music has keyboards starting at $99.99 and accessory packages for another $30. Most keyboards come with an array of software that can synthesize different sounds, record songs and teach music. Almost all can also hook into a computer for additional lessons and recording capabilities.

FOR ANY INSTRUMENT

Consider local stores

Your main choices for buying instruments are a local shop or an online store.

Though guitars cost $10 to $15 less through Amazon.com, which offers free shipping, if you buy from a local store, you can take advantage of the staff.

“Here, there's a real human being you can talk to,” said Ned Hoyle, sales manager at Russo's Guitar Center, 720 N. 114th St. “We can solve the problem right there at the counter.”

Many stores offer to help set up your new instrument for free with the purchase. Manufacturers usually set an instrument at a general level, so that guitar probably needs to be tailored to its recipient.

If it's not included with the purchase or if you bought your instrument online, you can usually pay around $50 for setup.

Buy from an instrument store

Those low-priced packages on the racks at toy stores and big retailers look mighty tempting. But they're not always the smartest purchase.

“They're a step above toy instruments,” said James Pracht, store manager at Dietze Music, 13015 West Center Road.

The instruments usually aren't very high quality, Pracht said. For about the same price or a little more at an instrument store, you can buy well-constructed pieces with good materials that sound better and will last longer.

Contact the writer:

444-1557, kevin.coffey@owh.com

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