Buying Guide

Electric Guitar Buying Guide

Electric_Guitars

Posted 2008-12-01

As with any musical instrument purchase, buying an electric guitar can be a challenge with so many different types of guitars, different skill levels of the guitarist, different price points, and different genres of music out there. The key to shopping for guitars is to know who will play it, know your budget, and know what's out there.

Know The Guitarist

Are you shopping for a new electric guitar for yourself, for a child, for a friend? How long has this person been playing? What types of music do you think they will want to play the most? Do they have any preferences already? These are some of the questions you will want to ask yourself before heading out to check out what's available in the musical instrument marketplace.

Know Your Budget

Probably the best way to find a good deal is to know exactly what you can spend before you start looking. Set a budget. It's a lot easier to compare prices and features when you know where the line is drawn in the checkbook. Electric guitars can be found for as little as $100, or as much as $20,000 - or more - so obviously price is a very important factor. There are also certain brands that are focused on different pricing segments. For instance, the Squier brand from Fender is designed to be a lower cost, entry-level electric guitar brand. Many models can be found for right around $200, which is a great place to start if you're shopping for someone who is just starting out. If it's a more accomplished player you're shopping for, you should start looking in the $500 to $1000 range. Fender (who makes Squier), also has guitars in higher price ranges, but there are many other competitors in this pricing segment as well such as Epiphone, Jackson, ESP's LTD line, Yamaha, Schecter and others. Obviously, if you have the money to spend, and the person you are shopping for is quite accomplished, or is a collector, you will want to look in some of the higher priced ranges that are over the $1000 price point. Some brands in this range are Gibson, Paul Reed Smith, Zemaitis, and others.

Some Tips on Buying an Electric Guitar From Our Readers

Get what you really want even if it's a little more expensive. Sure, you're going to have a budget, but how many times have you gone and purchased something only to regret later not spending a few more dollars for something nicer. Don't make that mistake the first time. Get what you want. It's a lot easier to pay something off that you really like, than something you're not totally thrilled with. - Dave L., St. Louis, MO, USA

Do some research on the guitarists from the bands that play the music you really like. Chances are, you'll be able to find a wealth of information on what they play on the web. This can help you identify a few guitars you may not have originally thought of. Also, how cool would it be to play the exact guitar that a famous guitarist used on hit recording? - Nelson P., Birmingham, England, UK

Don't just consider solid bodies. There are also hollow-bodies and semi-hollow-body electric guitars out there. While a hollow body is basically an acoustic with pickups perhaps thinner, a semi-hollow body is thinner yet, has better sustain and can be played at higher volume levels without creating feedback. - Frank M., Portland, OR, USA

Just as in other types of guitars (acoustic,classical), the wood used in construction can make a huge difference in the sound of your electric guitar. Maple, Alder and Poplar are two very popular woods used in the construction of electric guitars. - Jeff C., Erie, PA USA

Pickups are the mechanisms by which the string vibrations are "picked up" and transmitted through the electric guitar cable to the amplifier. As you might imagine, they have a significant impact on the sound. If you are looking for a guitar that can play a nice clean tone, you will want to consider single coil pickups. This might be handy for someone that will be picking a lot of chord progressions, or playing music such as jazz, pop, or country. If you are looking for a guitar that can generate some screaming guitar solos and punchy power chords, such as those found in some hard rock and heavy metal music, you're going to want to look for an electric guitar that includes paired single coil pick-ups or humbuckers as part of the onboard electronics. Humbuckers were originally developed to eliminate the noise that can sometimes be evident with single coil pickups, as the two opposing single coils will cancel out feedback between them, or buck them hum. In the best case scenario, the electric guitar you choose may have both single coils and humbuckers and allow you to switch between or mix the responses from them into the final tone. - Matt S., Charleston, WV, USA

Another important feature to consider for the guitar you select is the neck. Just like every guitarist has different musical genres he or she likes, and different skill levels and abilities, everyone has different hands. Necks come in various shapes and sizes. Thin necks can be very fast and helpful for those who would like to play really fast, but thicker necks might be comfortable for playing chords over longer periods of time. It's important to know what is comfortable to you, or the person you are shopping for, so take some time to figure this out before making your final purchase. - Gary K., Cherry Hill, NJ, USA

While you can find decent electric guitars for just a few hundred dollars, you really get into a sweet spot when you're looking in the $1000 - $2000 range. Anything less than that is likely to be made from cheaper materials and, of course, cheaper labor (imported). Anything more than that is probably going to have some nicer features and trims, but probably won't sound a whole heck of a lot better. We recommend this price range to really get the best value for your money in a guitar. - Bryan A., Charlotte, NC, USA

If you have some tips for purchasing an electric guitar, please email them to us through the contacts page and we will review for posting here!