I've got to agree with the idea of rental units to start. Not only is the outlay small at the start, but you get to pick the brains of the expert who's renting them to you. Also, while pawn shops are great, don't expect high levels of expertise from the owner. They can tell you to the penny what it's worth, but not necessarily how to use it properly. Not their area of expertise. Find a good music store (usually a local one, but some of the folks at the big mega-stores do know their stuff) and ask for help. A reputable store will be able to advise you, and may have used equipment that may suit your needs. Almost everybody starts small, and then trades up. They need to sell those trade-ins. I'm very fortunate in that I have a great family owned store nearby, that's actually kind of huge. I can't tell you how much good used stuff I've found there, that came from trade-ins. If you're near South Carolina, try Hames Music in Gafney, SC. (And no, I have no stock in the company...a darn shame given how much of my cash they now have... but they take such good care of me, I keep buying more stuff!)

Where are you in Tennessee? Maybe I can suggest someone.

Blues