Instant access to and availability of new products is one of the more challenging aspects of living in the Keys. For musicians, the need for gear is continual, whether it’s a new chord, a tuner to replace the one that failed at yesterday’s gig, or a new guitar, most of the time it is not a hands-on decision. Where our local businesses do their best to balance inventory versus practicality, they cannot possibly cover the myriad products needed and desired by so many different musicians.
Consequently, you do more research than you have time for, agonize over who actually wrote the online reviews, then take a shot and order online.
The research is pivotal. Say you are looking for a sprocket. You immediately look up the oldest, biggest company, Spacely Sprockets, to see their selection. Who knew there were so many sprockets? Seeing the options just shows me how little I actually know about sprockets. So I hit the internet, where every bit of knowledge that has ever been collected awaits my inquisitive eyes. Here I find a 15-year-old boy whose knowledge of sprockets makes me look like a juvenile. He’s even prepared and posted a video to enlighten me and others.
Well, that seemed to make my decision a bit clearer. I find a couple of people who are using the sprocket I’m considering and find that some brands are too expensive to be usable and some are too cheap to be good. So back to the internet I go. Fortunately for me, the same 15-year-old boy also has a video about the differences between the overpriced and underpriced sprockets. Wow, who knew the amount of solder used in a connection can make a difference? (According to this kid, everyone but me.)
So now I think I have it narrowed down to three products from two different companies. Taking into consideration one of the main variables in this equation — budget — it’s now down to two and I settle on one. After a bit of time, and with a picture of the product continually on an open tab in my browser, I click “buy now” sometime late at night.
Mind you, I haven’t used this product yet. When a tool you’re about to buy has a profound effect on your finished product, you tend to be selective. As such, there are fairly even odds this product may not be right for me after all. But I will have to get it to find out.
The company says it will arrive by Tuesday. ButI have lived on this island for a couple minutes, and I know better. It will be here Wednesday and I will be waiting.
It comes. I wait for an opportunity to plug it in and take it for a ride. I know I will be pushing this sprocket’s limits for testing. I wait until I can make some terrible noises that may cause a few neighbors to stare inquisitively into space wondering, “What the?”
Whether I decide to keep this sprocket depends on two things: how much I like or dislike it, and how much of a pain it will be to send back.
I have a barely used sprocket for sale if anyone is looking.
