While you can go hog wild and spend ridiculous amounts of money, you really don't need to. And I use the term quality loosely, some say You get what you pay for. , and for the most part it's true, but you can buy quality for less money than you think. Be a smart shopper, don't just go out and buy the most expensive equipment out there thinking that you are getting quality, because a lot of equipment is overpriced. You need to do a little research, read reviews and ask around about that piece your thinking of buying, some equipment doesn't live up to the manufacturers claims. And most importantly you need to make sure the equipment you plan to buy is right for your needs.
Used equipment is a good way to save some scratch.
Often times when a band breaks up they need to sell the equipment they pooled their money to buy, or someone just quits playing their instrument all together. You need to be extra careful buying used gear. Stay Tuned, More Tips are on the Way.