Choosing a Beginners Electric Guitar
By Jim Clapton
The electric guitar is undoubtedly one of the most popular musical instruments in the world and there are literally thousands of people who begin learning to play this wonderful instrument every day. Whether learning for discipline, broadening one’s knowledge or purely just to join a band and look cool amongst peers, learning to play the electric guitar is an incredibly rewarding thing to do indeed.
One of the most common questions that beginner electric guitarists frequently ask is “What type of electric guitar should I buy?” and the answer is always “A beginner’s electric guitar! “.
Now, there is not really any such thing as a beginner’s electric guitar but there are of course some electric guitars that will be more suitable for beginners than others due to various considerations that are designed to make the guitar more affordable and easy to play than a guitar that is geared towards more experienced musicians.
How much should you pay?
A beginner’s electric guitar needn’t cost you any more than $200 at an absolute maximum. With this amount of money or less you can get yourself a quality entry level instrument made by such a company as Squier, Epiphone or Yamaha. All of these manufacturers have been making highly esteemed musical instruments for years and certainly know how to produce high quality goods. You can be assured that if you were to buy an electric guitar from any of these recommended manufacturers you would be getting an instrument that will last and will be great value for your money.
The only time it might be advisable to spend more than $200 is if you wish to buy and electric guitar package which will usually contain an amplifier, a lead, a strap and maybe some books or CDs. These will generally cost a little more because they contain all of the essentials required to get you started. They can therefore often be great value themselves so be sure to check out some guitar packages if you are going to need all the extras.
Does the appearance matter?
It is advisable for any beginner electric guitarist at this stage to not get too carried away with the looks or aesthetics of a guitar and the reasoning for this is quite simple. Firstly, most electric guitars, especially at this level, are based upon the distinctive and timelessly classic shape of the Fender Stratocaster so there really is no need to spend too much time thinking about the shape or design of your first instrument because they are mostly all the same. Secondly, the design of the guitar is not as important a consideration as its build quality, its tone and its ability to be played without exerting too much effort and at the expense of your comfort.
The only element of the appearance that you should give any consideration to at this stage is the colour, purely because it is of no consequence in relation to the guitar’s performance but is something that you can choose depending on your personal tastes. The most popular is by far Sunburst but many guitars are available in common colours such as red, blue and black.
What features do you need in a guitar?
As with appearance, it would be advisable for beginner electric guitarists not to get too hung up on the features that your guitar has. As a beginner all you really need is a basic guitar with perhaps three single coil pickups or one humbucking pickup. You’ll need at least a volume control and perhaps a tone knob so that you can have some control over the sound output of the guitar, but that really is all. When you get a bit more experienced then you might wish to research other guitar features such as tremolos etc, but for now it’s best to just get comfortable with the electric guitar and its most basic features.
Which brands should you look for?
As mentioned previously, Squier, Epiphone and Yamaha guitars come highly recommended. A guitar from any of these manufacturers will allow you to explore the world of the guitar without burdening your finances too much. Squier is a subsidiary of Fender who are a world renowned brand recognised by even those who don’t play the guitar but associate such classic instruments as the Stratocaster with musical heroes such Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and David Gilmour to name but a few. A Squier electric guitar is ideal for beginner electric guitarist due to their affordable prices and excellent build quality. In a similar manner, Epiphone is a subsidiary of Gibson whose instantly recognisable Les Paul guitar has become synonymous with rock and roll music thanks to such proponents as Slash, Jimmy Page and Pete Townshend among many others. An Epiphone guitar will get you rocking without breaking the bank. Yamaha are a global super brand who manufacture a breathtaking array of products including motorcycles, yachts, ATVs and some of the highest quality and sought of musical instruments in the world. This quality extends to their electric guitars so you are certain to be satisfied should you choose to buy one.
Hopefully this article has provided you with some good information that you can use to inform the purchase of your first electric guitar. For more information on beginners electric guitars and related subjects and product reviews please visit the site BeginnersElectricGuitar.com
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