What Does it Cost to Start Playing Guitar?

Is the next Jimi Hendrix or Eric Clapton somewhere in Greenfield?

It shouldn't cost too much to find out.

Alex Crowe of Music Go Round, 5042 S. 74th St., says for about $150, a new guitar player could have all he or she needs to begin a rock ‘n roll career.

That’s as low as $60 for a used guitar, $40 for an amplifier, $35 for a case, should you choose to get one, and $12 for a cable to plug your guitar into the amp.

“That’s really all you need,” Crowe said. “I’d say once a day, we have people just starting out or getting back into it come in.”

“We have our tech go through every single one of  (the guitars),” Crowe added. “He restrings them and tunes them all and makes sure they’re all set up to play.”

Of course, it wouldn’t hurt to get a few lessons. Music Go Round has four guitar instructors (as well as two drum instructors and one base instructor) that give lessons right in one of the store’s three lesson rooms for as low as $20 per half hour. Crowe said he’s seen children starting at 5 years old to adults in their 60s take guitar lessons.

Music Go Round has between 200 and 300 used guitars for sale, and while you can pick one for as little as $60, according to Crowe, you can also open your wallet a little wider and drop as much as $2,500 on a Gibson Les Paul Goldtop re-issue.