Buying an Electric Guitar - Beginners Buyers Guide |
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September 6th, 2007 | Just for Guitarists |
Looking for the right guitar?� This article is designed to give you some insight into buying an electric guitar.� If you are a seasoned guitar player, perhaps this article may be a bit basic for you. However, perhaps you are a beginner guitarist or are even buying a guitar as a gift- this article is for you.��
A Basic Explanation of Guitar Components:�
In order to become a well informed consumer, it is important to at a minimum understand what an electric guitar requires to play.� Why does a guitar have to be electric?� What difference in sound exists over an acoustic guitar?� What advantages or disadvantages are their between the two?�
First off, an electric guitar uses electricity to create amplification of the guitar notes.� Therefore if you are buying an electric guitar as a gift it is important that you also purchase an amplifier as well.� An amplifier takes the guitar signal, boosts it dramatically, and also allows for different effects (such as reverb or distortion) to be added to the mix.�
An acoustic guitar is played the exact same way as an electric, however, no amplification is required and the resulting sound is very organic and natural.�
In my opinion, an acoustic guitar is a much harder instrument for a beginner player to pick up.� Why, you ask?� An acoustic guitar will cause harsher finger irritation when pressing on the fretboard then its electric guitar counterpart.� Therefore, my pain is involved in learning on an acoustic.� I have always instructed my student�s on electric guitars, as they minimize finger strain and are easier to form chords on.� However, one advantage to learning on an acoustic guitar is that once the player does switch to an electric, they will play faster, clearer, and more precise.���
An electric guitar makes its sound through magnetic pickups, an input wire, and a connection to a plugged in amplifier.� This sound has defined the American rock sound and is instantly identifiable by human ears.� In this player�s opinion, an electric guitar provides an amazingly powerful sound and versatility unmatched in modern instruments of any type.��
How to Choose an Electric Guitar:
So now that you understand the basics of how an electric guitar works, what it is made out of, and how it differs significantly from an acoustic, what are some solid tips for buying the best electric guitar for yourself or loved one?�
Style:
Especially for a new player, nothing will dictate the purchase of a guitar as well as style. �Whether you have a favorite guitar hero in mind or simply like the look of one guitar over the next, it is important to beware of this category.� First of all, choosing a guitar on the basis of how it looks would be like picking a pair of running shoes out before a big run without testing how they feel.� You may find yourself 5 miles into the course with bloody toes.� My point is that yes, style is important in deciding which guitar to pick but it is only ONE category and sound should probably dictate your purchase. �Here are the two most popular electric guitar brands...
Fender Stratocaster:
This electric guitar has a classic rock style which was made famous initially by Buddy Holly, soon followed by Jimi Hendrix, and more modernistically by the likes of Kurt Cobain, the Smashing Pumpkins, and a slew of other modern Rock Artists.� As a gift, the Fender Strat is easily one of the most popular guitar bodies in the industry.� Countless �knockoff� guitar manufacturers have copied the rock style of a fender Stratocaster.�
Gibson Les Paul:
The Gibson has a distinctive, round and heavy look as compared to the above Fender.� When playing the Gibson, a person will instantly note that this guitar is perhaps 2 times as heavy as the Fender.� The reason for this is the heavy maple and cedar wood used in the Gibson�s creation. Again, when buying an electric guitar style is only one variable and sound should really dictate.� In my humble opinion however, the Gibson Les Paul offers such a classy and jazzy look that is irresistible to me!�While there are probably another two dozen electric guitar manufacturer�s, including all of them in this article would be too exhaustive and probably bore you to death. Let�s next focus on the differences in sound between the Fender Stratocaster and the Gibson Les Paul.���
Sound Advice:
Before this article goes any further, you should know that both the Fender and the Gibson are excellent guitars with two different sounds completely.� Both sounds are easily identifiable as rock sounds as well.� First, a Fender has been described as having a very treble type of sound, more classic rock.� The reason behind this sound lies with the type of magnetic pickups that a Fender is given.� These pickups tend to have a sharp guitar tone that can cut through the music well.�
Some players regard the Fender Strat as a great guitar for a soloist, as those single coil magnetic pickups provide a cutting sound that goes well with plenty of good effects.� (Ask Jimi!)� Some guitarists also feel that for that above reason, the Fender has less of a rhythm guitar sound due to the pickups sounding �thin� compared to a Gibson Les Paul.�In contrast to single-coil pickups, a Gibson is fitted with what are called Humbucker Pickups.� These pickups are multi-coiled, have a very warm, almost jazzy sound, and are regarded as extremely �hot� meaning that they amplify the signal very loudly through the amplifier.�
In fact, some famous Jazz guitar players use Gibson Les Paul�s because of that very �warm� sound.� The same cannot be said of the Fender Stratocaster.� I do not know of any Jazz players using those guitars.�What we have here is a very simple, cut and dry approach to explaining the differences in sound between two fantastic instruments.�� Take all of the above with a grain of salt, as these are just my subjective opinions and you my have your own take on the sound quality of these guitars.�
When buying a guitar, just be aware of the above considerations and you will be fine.�As far as pricing, in all manufacturers of guitars you will see a wide range of low to high end models (obviously) and sound quality of the instrument generally improves with the price-tag of the item.� A good place for researching prices on electric guitars can be found at www.zzounds.com.� This music store site has unbeatable price points and offers great images and user reviews as well.���
Final Tips:�
The best tip I can give someone who is looking to buy an electric guitar would be to do your research.� The internet offers an almost unlimited number of review sites which give sound and price advance.� Only when you are armed with this information should you venture into an actual music store.�
Much like walking onto the lot of a car dealership, the music store employee�s are working on a commission basis, and unfortunately, some of them will do almost anything to push a certain instrument off the shelves, including telling you incorrect information or charging you a price which is above market value.� I often tell my student�s to bring internet printouts with you to a music store and keep it in your back pocket.� If the price in an actual store seems to high, pull out a lower price you found somewhere else and try to negotiate the price lower.� Not enough people realize that the prices found at music stores are completely negotiable and some diligence WILL pay off.�
Good luck in your search and happy playing! �
