Why RM350 Guitar Deals Are a Red Flag for New Beginners
Buying your first acoustic guitar is a thrilling step on your musical adventure. It's an exciting process with lots of questions, like choosing between different brands, types, and one big factor: your budget. In today's article, we're diving into the world of budget guitars, sharing some of our experiences, and guiding you on this exciting journey.
The RM300 Dilemma: Why It Doesn't Add Up
Guitars come in a wide price range, from as low as RM300 to sky-high figures like RM10,000 or more. You might spot those tempting RM300 (or even lower) guitars online, on platforms like Shopee or Lazada. But, here's the thing – we strongly advise against them. Let's do a bit of math, looking at it from the manufacturer's perspective.
Imagine a guitar is sold for RM300. After taking out a minimal profit margin (let's say 30%), the cost for the seller is around RM210. Now, add the expenses for transportation and other costs (let's estimate RM50). That leaves you with a guitar cost of about RM160. Remember, the supplier also needs to make a living, so let's take out 20% from that. What's left? RM128. This includes everything – from the wood to the strings, fretboard, machinery, factory expenses, labor, and more.
So, here's the big question: Can you really expect a decent guitar for beginners at RM128? Speaking from my own experience as a guitar teacher for the past 8 years, I'll tell you, it's a big NO.
Now, there might be deals like "RM350 with 10 free accessories" that look tempting. As a young student, you might be wondering how you can afford a RM1,000 guitar. Well, if you're truly serious about learning the guitar, you should consider starting with guitars in the RM500-RM800 range. Depending on your financial situation, you can save up or work part-time to get a decent guitar to begin with. Otherwise, you might end up wasting RM350 and all the money you spent on lessons, only to feel like you're not making progress.
We're not saying you should go for RM1,500 and above, but investing a bit in a good guitar is essential if you're dedicated to excelling in your guitar journey.
Let me share a story: I had a student who struggled for 6 months with a subpar guitar. He was about to give up until I let him borrow one of my better guitars for a week. He came back with his mom, asking where he could buy a new guitar to replace his old one. He went on to take the Grade 5 Rockschool exam in his second year of learning.
Remember, the value you invest determines the rewards you reap, and this principle definitely applies to guitars.
Here are a few guitar brands we recommend for your first guitar as a beginner in Malaysia.
Yamaha F310 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar
Kepma A1C Acoustic Guitar
Cort AD810 Acoustic Guitar
Takamine GN51
L.Luthier Le Light ST
Naga Guitar - Sungha Jung “Light Series” - S10GS
So, when you embark on your guitar journey, think of it as an investment in your passion. Starting with a good guitar can make all the difference, and your musical adventures will be all the more exciting and fulfilling. 🎵🎸