Technology is moving so fast, that if you are not online looking for deals...you are paying way too much. The great thing about the internet is you can read and interact with other people who have acutally used the product. Getting the opinion of someone who is un-biased and actually used a piece of gear can be extremely valuable.

Do Some Research - Spend time reading reviews and reading music blogs. I would also join some online forums, there you can find a wealth of information on almost any piece of gear. There are several large online music stores. Take a look at all of them, some offer free shipping, some offer online rebates, some offer Don't Pay for 12 Long Months , and some are just more dependable than others.

Find the Gear Locally First - I doubt anyone ever buys a piece of gear, or worse yet a guitar without actually trying it out. What I do is go to my local music store, play all the instruments that I'm interested in. Find the one that feels and sounds the be best to me, then I track it down online. That way you know what you're getting.

Financing - Let's face it, not all musicians are rich. Most of us would be 57 before we got all of the gear that we need. Make sure you find an online dealer that offers a line of credit or financing. That's how I built my home studio, I financed everything. Sure you'll pay some interest, but you'll be able to make that hit record or go on tour while you're still young.

Shipping - If you can, buy as much gear as you can afford. Typically the more you spend, dealers will work with you. If nothing else you'll qualify for free shippping which could end up saving you quite a chunk of change.

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