Electric Guitar Buying Guide

Who are you buying for?

A beginner guitar should be properly sized and sound great. Find out their favorite guitars and what type of guitar they are lusting for.

These preferences will help new players stay motivated while they learn how to play an electric guitar. Musician's Friend has a variety of 3/4-scale, mini and travel guitars for younger players. The size and weight of full-sized electric guitars can vary greatly.

It is important for beginners to have a guitar they can play easily and that stays in tune. Tone, cosmetics, body shape, electronics and tone all matter. A guitarist may be a mentor or inspiration for a beginner. Look at the guitars that their heroes use and aim to emulate them. While your budding country star might not be enthusiastic about the pointed guitar with skulls on it, they will likely fall in love with a more classic model. We'll explain some terms below, so don't be alarmed if you aren't familiar with them. While you may choose to play a different guitar, this guideline is useful in helping you decide which guitar will inspire your next guitar prodigy.

You have a lot more options for someone who has been playing guitar for a while. Maybe they have a particular guitar in mind. Get them what you want. They're likely to have done their research and are already looking for the right guitar. You can still help them make an informed purchase if they aren't sure. Many popular options will satisfy even the most experienced player. There are also many less-known options that may be more suitable for players with specific preferences.

When buying a guitar, remember that quality often comes with a price tag. You might be willing to pay a bit more for the best guitar. You can often save money by buying a better guitar upfront, and not paying for incremental upgrades. An experienced guitarist will have an excellent idea of what they prefer. Experience is a sign that you are willing to make investments in quality. Musician's Friend has a wonderful selection of Private Reserve Guitars. It's a good idea to find out what the giftee really wants when gift- shopping for a high end guitar.

You can narrow down your options by reading reviews from fellow musicians and experts. There are many customer reviews on most electric guitar models that we offer.

What is your budget?

Although you don't need to put up a mortgage to buy a guitar, it is important to consider the price when choosing which guitar to buy. You might be cautious about spending too much on a beginner guitar, especially if they are not familiar with it. This is perfectly normal. There are guitars for every budget. Keep in mind that a better guitar will make it easier for a beginner to learn and play. A difficult instrument or one that isn't in tune can deter even the most passionate beginner.

Below $300

This price range offers many options that will fit the needs of beginning players. Musician's Friend has a wide selection of Electric guitar Value Packages which include an amplifier and many of these accessories. These packages are designed to be compatible with each other and eliminate any guesswork in choosing the right gear. Many packages include DVDs and instructional books. They also offer beginner's lessons online. These resources will keep new players motivated.

Squier Affinity Series Telecaster

You should consider buying the amp separately if you are going to purchase a guitar and amplifier. An amplifier that is more powerful will suit the player's needs better, while a cheaper amp will work well for practice sessions. Sometimes, if a player wants to upgrade later on, they will only need to replace the amp and not the entire set.

$300 - $600

You have more options as the price goes up. For the same reasons, it is still recommended to spend more on the guitar than on the amplifier.

Epiphone Les Paul Traditional Pro IV Limited Edition

You have more options to choose from, which makes it easier for you to find the right model for you. This range includes upgrades to less-expensive models. Upgrades can be in the form of upgraded hardware, electronics, or construction methods. Below we'll discuss the effects of such upgrades.

$1000 and above

You will find many premium options in this range. This range includes some of the most advanced features. You will also find many upgrades on less-expensive models. These are often considered standard models. You don't need to spend $1000 for a quality guitar. Most guitars this quality will be able to satisfy the most demanding player. The Private Reserve collection of Musician's Friends contains instruments that meet the needs of professional guitarists.

Fender American Professional II Stratocaster Electric Guitar

How an Electric Guitar Works

Although styles and models can vary, electric guitars work on the same principles. The magnetic field is created by the pickup that's mounted to an electric guitar's body. A current is created when a metal string vibrates and is pulled. The current is sent from the pickup to an amplifier via a preamp circuit that has tone controls. The amplifier amp boosts the signal and modifies the signal with different tone controls and effects depending on its design and capabilities. The signal is then sent to a speaker which converts it into sound waves. The signal is affected by the type of pickup, tone controls, strings, playing technique, and other factors that are part of the guitar's design. Each component of the guitar has an impact on how the guitar sounds.

Types of Electric Guitar Body

There are three main types of electric guitar bodies, each with their own characteristics: the hollow, semi-hollow and solid.

Solid Body

The solid-body electric guitar, which is the most popular body type, is made of a solid slab. Solid-body guitars come in a variety of styles, from simple single-pickup models to elaborately decorated multi-pickup instruments with many electronic options. Solid-body guitars produce less resonance than hollow-body models but the woods used can still make an impact on the instrument’s sound.

Gibson SG Standard Electric Guitar

Hollow Body

These electric guitars, named after their hollow bodies, produce more resonance than acoustic guitars. These guitars are more susceptible to feedback because they often have an archtop. The hollow body is preferred by many jazz guitarists for its rich, full tones and deep bass response.

Semi-Hollow body

The semihollow body is similar to the hollow one. It has more resonance than a regular solid body. Semi-hollow guitars have a solid center block of wood that provides stability and sustain and reduces feedback. The semi-hollow guitar is warm and has a greater attack and sustain than the standard. This is a favorite of many blues players. Semi-hollow guitars are great for playing a variety of music, from blues to jazz to punk rock.

Pickups and Electronics

The most important thing to consider when choosing a guitar's body style is the pickups. Electronics and the electronics also have a significant impact on how he sounds.

A single coil pickup is the most basic and original design. It consists of a single magnet and fine wire wrapped around. This creates a magnetic field which captures the vibrations of the strings and converts them into an electronic signal. Single-coil pickups are brighter and more crisp. They produce a clear tone that cuts through dense sounding bands. However, they can also generate hum and magnetic interference. Single-coil pickups are used by many great musicians. Single-coil tone is a trademark of many great musicians, including Stevie Ray Vaughan and Eric Clapton.

Fender Custom Shop 1969 Strat Pickup Set

Humbucker pickups are designed to reduce hum and offer tonal characteristics that surpass single-coil models. This design consists of two single-coils that are wound in series and have the polarity opposite one another. This design reduces hum. It is named so. Single-coils have a more powerful, thicker tone than humbuckers. Humbuckers are versatile and can be used in a variety of styles, including rock, heavy metal, jazz, and even classical. Slash, Jimmy Page and Joe Pass are some of the most well-known guitarists to use humbuckers.

Gibson'57 Classic Humbucker Neck Pickup

Piezo pick-ups are not as common as single coils and humbuckers. However, they can still be found on electric guitars. These crystalline sensors are often embedded in the strap of an electronic guitar. Piezo sensors work on mechanical vibration, not magnets. They convert sound from vibrating strings to an electric current. Piezo sensors can trigger synthesizers or digital sounds similar to an electronic keyboard. Most commonly, piezo pickups are used on an Electric Guitar NZ to mimic an acoustic tone. To increase their versatility, piezo-equipped guitars may also have magnetic pickups.

Active Pickups and Electronics

Active pickups, which require batteries to power them, are found in some guitars. They also include a preamp that allows for sound shaping and sound shaping. For additional control, active electronics can also incorporate equalization circuits and filters. Active electronics guitars produce a cleaner, more clear sound than those with magnetic pickups. Most guitar pickups have passive circuitry.

Pickup Switching and Other Controls

Many electric guitars have multiple pickups. Some guitars will have multiple pickups. Some may have three or four humbuckers. Many have a combination of single coil and humbucker pickups. This combination gives the player many tonal options. Single-coils are often abbreviated as "S" and "H", which refers to humbuckers that have an "H" and humbuckers that have an "S". The pickups' positions are indicated from the neck towards the bridge. An SSH configuration, for example, has single-coils in the neck and middle positions as well as a humbucker at its bridge.

Pickup placement on the guitar's body can have a major impact on the tone it produces. Pickups placed near the bridge collect the strings with the lowest overall motion. This results in a more pronounced treble sound or "bite". Pickups that are located closer to the neck of a guitar, in the middle of the strings, produce a tone with more midrange and bass sounds.

Controls on multiple pickup guitars allow the user to access each pickup individually or a combination of several pickups simultaneously. These controls can be toggle switches, blade selectors or rotary knobs that enable the guitarist to quickly access different pickup combinations during performances.

Most guitars have volume and tone controls, in addition to picking the right pickup. The volume controls control the output signal strength. This control can be used to adjust the volume and tone, depending on the amplifier. Tone knobs are used to control high frequencies. Many guitars also have separate tone controls for each pickup. This can alter the sound of a guitar from a soft, warm, or mellow sound to a bright, raw, or distorted one.

Select guitars also have other switching options. These include the ability to control phasing between pickups, remove one coil from a humbucker, and toggle the output on or off.

Newer guitars include digital technology that allows users to access many sounds including acoustic and 12-string tones, resonator tones, violins and piano tones, as well as other sounds that traditional electric guitars cannot produce. Alternate tunings can also be emulated without having to adjust the tension.

Scale Length

Scale length is the length of the string vibrating at a given frequency. It is measured from the bridge to the nut.

A shorter scale length will usually offer a tighter feeling in string tension. It also has a brighter shimmer and a well-defined low end. String bending is easier when the scale length is shorter. This is because there's less tension. This can also make it easier for smaller hands to play. A shorter scale produces a warmer tone.

Fender guitars, and others with similar designs, use a scale length of 25.5 inches. Gibson guitars, and others with similar designs, use a 24.75 inch scale length.

A majority of PRS guitars have a scale length of 25 inches. This design is meant to combine the warm tones and ease-of-play of a shorter scale length with the tighter playingability and brighter tone of a longer one.

Neck Construction

The neck extends from the guitar's body and includes the fretboard, headstock, and tuners. The neck is made of metal and has a truss rod which prevents neck twisting and bowing. It can also be adjusted to maintain a consistent pitch. The fretboard is typically made from a thin layer rosewood or ebony. However, some models with maple necks have a fretboard made from the same wood as their neck. Many fretboards include position dots or other markings inlaid into the fretboard. Some models include markers at the top of the fretboard that allow for easy visibility.

The guitar's playability as well as the comfort of fretting depend on the neck's width and profile. Although most necks can be either "C" or "U", the size and shape of the neck is important. It should also be considered how the neck fits in relation to the hand. For players with smaller hands, narrower necks are better suited for them. Players with larger hands will find a more comfortable neck profile with a deeper neck.