Where do you buy (non-synth) instruments online?

I'm looking to get some new gear (top of the list is a banjo & a bass, but I have quite a few I've been meaning to get). There's nothing much locally. I usually just shop on Ebay, but I figured I should check the alternatives before I go throwing hundreds of dollars around (again). So...where do you EKT folks go to buy new gear? I think it's well established where to find synths, so good sources for non-electronic stuff would be appreciated.

The guy at my local instruments store was nice enough to tell me about a trumpet a friend of his had for sale, paid $200 for a King trumpet with one minor dent on the bell, found out later it was worth around $600.

But that probably doesn't help you much.

i used to buy guitar gear @ musiciansfriend.com back in the day, and i recall they had decent prices on a lot of their stuff - but imo it's a good idea to lay hands on instruments before buying them instead of just reading the specs.

^That's my thinking. Ideally I'll be able to get what I need from musician friends selling off their old gear (which is how I've got the best deals in the past), but it could take a while for what I want to pop up.

get a Roland accordion. from Roland.

haha is that real?

yeah course! roland are a major accordion manufacturer...

I wish there was more midi'ed up acoustic gear out there. All you can find is pianos. Felix's machines from warp should sell his stuff. Id buy it

^Midi-able acoustic gear would be interesting. On the one hand you'd lose a lot of the organic feeling that comes from someone actually playing it, but on the other hand it would allow for all sorts of crazy note progressions/tempos that would be impossible for even the most gifted players to perform the traditional way.

i'd like to map out the amen break on a ukulele

show em who's boss

I did buy a midi to Relay circuit a few months back which could potentially be used for instrument control (percussion being the most straightforward application). I just need to get around to building something with it.

Still, I like actually playing different types of instruments. Makes me think of more song structures than if I was just sitting at a computer/synth keys all the time.

agreed, though I do find piano the most helpful for coming up with song structures. Have you had any luck finding your banjo and bass?

^Haven't bought anything yet. I wanted to get something local, but the music store did their usual "anything under $1000 isn't a real musical instrument" thing (I am willing to spend a fair bit of money if I need to, but in my experience one can get a ton of mileage out of really cheap gear). So, if I can't find anyone local selling used gear soon I'll probably go with Ebay/Musiciansfriend.

anything under $1000?

What a bunch of twats. Sheesh.

Cheap gear rules, and you're right, you can get a ton of mileage out of it. If I was you I'd drive as far as it takes to find a store that isn't run by incredibly pompous luthier dicksuckers.

Yeah, I might wait until next month when I go to bigger urban area down south again. I know some of the people who work at the main music store there, & there are a few good used gear stores as well.

fuck music store people...just a bunch of failed, opinionated musicians with a chip on their shoulder...go try all the shit till you find something you like that is cheap and dont listen to their bullshit

ive always hate music store salesmen. Total pricks. Like worse than used car salesmen.

  On 9/24/2010 at 5:20 PM, marf said:

I wish there was more midi'ed up acoustic gear out there. All you can find is pianos. Felix's machines from warp should sell his stuff. Id buy it

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/navigation?q=midi+wind

  On 9/26/2010 at 3:10 AM, yek said:

  On 9/24/2010 at 5:20 PM, marf said:

I wish there was more midi'ed up acoustic gear out there. All you can find is pianos. Felix's machines from warp should sell his stuff. Id buy it

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/navigation?q=midi+wind

 

lol thank you for introducing me to this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UgFUEuc2JA&feature=related

  On 9/26/2010 at 4:12 AM, Scrambled Ears said:

lol thank you for introducing me to this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UgFUEuc2JA&feature=related

Lawlz!

That video is amazing! i may have just been inspired to learn my first wind instrument beyond the recorder

shit its only $300 and i can set it to sax which I know the fingerings for...def a cool toy

ebay, thomann. i bought my gretsch from ebay. was quite scared though!