How to get parents to pay for amp

motorboy29

motorboy29

New member
Okay, for those of you who didnt read the thread, deciding what amp to buy was a long and messy ordeal:smack:. However, now that I've decided what amp to get, I have a bigger problem, this problem is one that faces many young musicians around the world: how the hell am I supposed to pay for that? The amp that I want is a traynor 65 watt combo tube amp, which is available on ebay anywhere from three to five hundred dollars. Soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo... i think i can come up with half, but howm I gonna convince them to get it for me?
 
Re: How to get parents to pay for amp

Hey Motorboy,
When I was your age and was in the same situation, I drafted up a contract for my parents. I promised I'd wash and wax their cars every week, vacuum the house, and clean bathrooms, etc....you know chores not already on my chore list. I came up with a dollar amount for each task and extended the time frame as long as I needed for them to feel like I was working for it, and not just milking the system.
Which was fine for me since I never liked the idea of them "Buying" it for me. I just made sure they knew that this was a loan situation and they would see their money again.
Now.. this also goes a long way in gaining their trust for other things, like.... borrowing their car, etc...
Good luck,
Loudriver
 
Re: How to get parents to pay for amp

When I was 15, I got a job at Burger King to pay for my stuff.... ;)
 
Re: How to get parents to pay for amp

+1, zerb.. they cant complain about the noise as much if they didnt pay for it ;)

even then, tell them it's the only thing you want for xmas.. ask for money towards it as a present?

tom
 
Re: How to get parents to pay for amp

Hmmm

get a job or do extra work around the house (or for your folks)

I have gotten to go all over thanks to a guitar and my voice. Although I should've taken more lessons (I do study music everyday), you should sell it as an investment. A person must have some MUSICAL skills. You have to show them that if you get a good amp and guitar you will study some solid theory and styles like jazz and blues. As much as I love rock, I do everything from country to hip hop gigs. I am not making huge money, but I have a skill that more than pays for the amp and guitar.
 
Re: How to get parents to pay for amp

+1 to all the above: chores, act responsible. Job is a last resort, since it will take time away from school and/or practice. I always bought my gear with the help of advances and loans from my dad.

Also, show them that you're doing the right things with regard to selecting an amp. Just the fact that you're on here shows you've done your homework, consulted more experienced players, researched prices. As others have said, an amp is an investment, and you're treating it that way.

And for God's sake, son't change your mind in 2 months.:smack:
 
Re: How to get parents to pay for amp

Offer to work off the balance doing odd jobs that you normally won't do. But, here's the kicker. You have to hold up your end of the agreement. Tell them that if you don't keep your bargain, you will sell the amp and give them the full amount. That ought to do it.

Show some personal responsibility.
 
Re: How to get parents to pay for amp

+1 to all of the above. The responsibility you show now will reflect your character in the future...
 
Re: How to get parents to pay for amp

+1
You've got your whole life to work at a "job"
Just do odd jobs, and do them well. This will further your gear cause and build trust with the ole 'rents.
 
Re: How to get parents to pay for amp

My Parents were really broke when i was young..... When i was 7 my dads business went belly up and they had to sell off everything and move... That sent my parents into a tail spin for years and all thru my teens we didn't have much money at all. Never had any of the new toys.... My Parents didn't even buy a VCR until the early 90's and even then it was a gift from my ganny.... I bought my mom a 20 inch colour tv as she only had a 14 inch 20 year old piece of poop that the top 2 inches of the screen were fuzzy....

Anyways.... back in the early 70's my dad had bought an acoustic guitar and when i got about 9 i was using that like crazy... I wanted an electric guitar and by luck i found a 59 Goya at an area garage sell when i was 8.. To my surprise my dad bought it for $20... still have that guitar and they are worth some bucks now! From the time i was 8-14 my parents had bought me some cheap and awful amps and guitars from flee markets. They didn't understand that these were not qulaity guitars and amps. But i was very thankful and thinking back it's a wonder they could afford to buy them... they bought me a huge GBX bass stack but it caught fire oneday and that was that...

I took up paper routes and cut grass when i was 13-15... My granny and a few other older people on her street used to pay me to cut their grass on the weekends... Paper route didn't pay well at all... And those cold mornings sucked but it was a way to make some money. I could never make enough money to buy a good guitar or amp.... until i got a summer job at a theme park north of Toronto called Canada's Wonder Land.... They paid about $3.50 an hour in the summer of 1986 and the bus fare from home was $3 each way every day.... I was in ground maintence so i didn't have to wear those crazy uniforms that the games and rides people had to.. I just emptied garbage cans and cleaned out the bushes and and stuff... In the winter months i worked at food stores collecting carts and stocking shelf's... After working and saving over a few years i came up with enough money that i ended up buying a Kramer Striker and a Marshall Combo... Still not the greatest gear but it was a good start.... After i left high school i got a Les Paul and Fender amp..... and ever since i buy one piece of gear every year...

WhoFan
 
Re: How to get parents to pay for amp

Just steal your parents credit card,

Naa just kidding, you appreciate things more when you pay for them yourself
 
Re: How to get parents to pay for amp

Telesexual said:
Naa just kidding, you appreciate things more when you pay for them yourself
Click to expand...

At age 32 and having played for more than 20 years I can look around my studio and locate only one single peice of gear that I personally didn't pay for....and it's a pedal.

I didn't own a MIA guitar until I was 27. I owned the same amp until i was almost 30...hated it too...still do. Just about played the same rig for almost 15 years, gigged with it too.

But every peice of gear I own I appreciate because it was my hard work that put it in my hands.

The kids I grew up whose parents gave them Les Pauls and Marshalls don't play them...most don't even play anymore. The appeal to them was just getting them versus my appeal which was doing the most with what I have.

If you want something then work for it. Mow lawns. Get a paper route. Get a job...there's certainly enough going out there that can put money in your pocket. And I've certainly seen kids that are resourceful enough to be able to earn and save and invest wisely.
 
Re: How to get parents to pay for amp

+1 to all the stuff above, but I would suggest a combination of all the above. You might as well get a job now, even a few hours a week is okay, so you can get some money for tube maintanence or to get the amp checked out once you get it. Your probably going to want some more gear later, so working now just makes easier for you later on.
 
Re: How to get parents to pay for amp

Play through what u have now. "Gas" is the #1 reason why so many guitarist absolutely suck.
 
Re: How to get parents to pay for amp

I guess the Conservative in me is coming out here, but get a freakin job and pay for it yourself. You'll appreciate it more that way! LOL!! Just messin bro! :beerchug:.........well not really!!
 
Re: How to get parents to pay for amp

Zerberus said:
When I was 15, I got a job at Burger King to pay for my stuff.... ;)
Click to expand...

thats what kirk hammet did to pay his gear. i worked part time to pay for my gear too.
 
Re: How to get parents to pay for amp

seafoamer said:
Play through what u have now. "Gas" is the #1 reason why so many guitarist absolutely suck.
Click to expand...

This is true. Now that I have a decent rig, I don't really play anymore, I just strum open E chords and bathe in the saturated tube goodness.
 
Re: How to get parents to pay for amp

Empty Pockets said:
This is true. Now that I have a decent rig, I don't really play anymore, I just strum open E chords and bathe in the saturated tube goodness.
Click to expand...
HAHA thats awesome
 
Re: How to get parents to pay for amp

When I was 15 and couldn't afford a particular peice of gear I needed for the band I'd joined (a Youth Worship band) my parents loaned me $700 to buy a Marshall VS265R combo and I did various housecleaning chores, lawn mowing, and various types of yard work over the couse of about 6 months to pay them back. Each chore had a specific dollar amount attached to it. Washing the dishes was a buck. Drying them was another buck. Putting them away at the same time earned me an extra $2 for getting the whole lot done in one shot. Mowing the lawn was $7...
 
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