Oct 16 2008
Buying a New Electric Guitar
Like most guitar players it was extremely difficult finding the right guitar to start out with. There is so much choice available choosing can become overwhelming. There are a few things to look for as we will see. Remember that any electric guitar will sound crappy if plugged into a cheap amplifier. You need to invest in a quality amplifier.
Some of the characteristics to look for in the wood of your guitar’s body. Different woods for different tones, check out this article on “Tone woods: sonic signature ”. You also want to know about different pickups. Learn the difference between “single coil, double coil and hambuckers ”. The last thing I recommend reading is, “Guitar Necks Explained”. You learn about, wood, profile and neck joint.
In a nut shell there are no perfect beginner guitars. It’s all up to the sound and style you are after. Set a budget and stick to it.
Low Priced Great Electric Guitars For Beginners:
Features:
- 22 frets
- 2 passive humbuckers
- rosewood fretboard
- maple neck
- agathis body
- tune-o-matic bridge and stop bar tailpiece
- 2 volume knobs, 2 tone knobs, 3 way selector
Price: 200$
Squier Fat Stratocaster (Fender Alternative)
Features:
- High-output humbucker
- Great for Beginning Guitarists
- Excellent for lead and rhythm tones
- 2 paraffin-soaked single coils resist feedback squeal
- Bridge with satin-anodized saddles
- Die-cast, sealed, and lubricated tuners
- Fast-action neck
Price: -200$
Features:
- Pickups: 2-Open Coil Humbuckers
- Hardware: Chrome
- Scale: 24.75 in.
- Nut Width: 1.68 in.
- Neck: Bolt
- Neck Mat: Mahogany
- Fretboard/Inlay: Rosewood/Dot
- Body Material: Alder
Price 200–250$
What’s your Style
Depending on what you style is you might also prefer certain models of guitars. If you can afford a Fender or even better a Gibson then go for it. The Gibson will give you a deep rock tone while the Fender will give you more overall tonal variation. The neck on a Fender is narrower and not as thick, making the Gibson heavier. The Gibson has a fatter neck and is a heavier guitar. Take a look at the Epiphone SG line as well. They are lighter and have a faster playing neck.
Gibson users:
Ace Frehley
Tom Scholz
Angus Young
Joe Perry
Duane Allman
Jimmy Page
Slash
Fender users:
Stevie Ray Vaughn
Mark Knopfler - Dire Straits
Eddie Van Halen (before he switched to Kramer and then his own custom)
Bruce h
Ritchie Blackmore - Deep Purple
Jeff Beck
Jimmy Hendrix
Pete Townsend
Ibanez:
Joe Satriani
Reb Beach
Paul Gilbert
Kevein “Noodles” Wasserman
Steve Vai
George Benson
Dealing with the salesperson :
- Rule #1: Follow the saying, “When in doubt, don’t!” Never buy on an impulse. Take the info and go to another store.
- Stick to your budget!
- Ask if the guitar comes with a case. Always consider the guitar price including the case you don’t want to damage your baby.
- Ask about the warranty before you leave. Make note of it.
- Write down all the model you liked. Take note of the price. Then go back home and research all of them and look for reviews.
