So, you're a beginner electric guitar player looking for your first electric guitar. You have an exciting, but daunting decision to make! You may not realize it yet, but there are more considerations to take into account than there are fish in the sea.
Here are just a few of them:
● What type of wood do you want the body, neck, and fingerboard constructed of?
● Do you want single coil pickups or humbuckers?
● What about shape and color?
● How much do I need to spend for a good beginner electric guitar?
Before you jump ship out of sheer terror at the number of decisions you need to make: stop and take a breath. You're not alone on this venture. We're here to help you choose the best electric guitar for beginners and take the guesswork out of this all-important purchase.
What To Look For In Your First Electric Guitar
Here are 4 things you should look for when shopping for your first electric guitar.
Pickups
The most important component of an electric guitar is the pickups. These coils of wire at the base of the body o
convert the vibrations of the strings into electricity, thereby producing the instrument's sound.
There are two types of pickups: single coil and humbucker. The humbucker consists of two coils which help cancel out excess noise. The result is a strong, clear sound that you'll hear most often in heavy metal, rock, and jazz music. Single coil pickups produce a more distinctive, higher pitched noise popular in country music.
For your first guitar, we recommend one with humbucker pickups, both for their noise canceling technology and so you can experiment with a wider variety of sounds and music genres.
Wood Type
The body, neck, and fingerboard of an electric guitar are usually made of different types of wood. For the body, in particular, we recommend you look for a sturdy hardwood such as mahogany or maple. These two types of wood will produce rich tones, feel solid in your hands, and last a long time.
For the neck, maple is also a great choice because it is strong yet more comfortable to hold than mahogany.
Finally, for the fingerboard, a strong wood construction from ebony or maple ensures it will survive against the wear and tear of years of play.
Design
For the design of your beginner electric guitar, we can't help but recommend the classic designs forwarded by Fender and Gibson. These styles, like the Starcaster, the Stratocaster, and the Les Paul, will never go out of fashion. A classic will also tide you over until you develop your own unique style and discover your preferred musical genres.
Price
Price is often the biggest factor in determining which electric guitar will be your first. That's why we don't recommend choosing a guitar made with rosewood if you're a beginner. Rosewood is classified as an endangered species, and any guitar that contains this material is automatically more expensive.
The Best Electric Guitar For Beginners
In our book, your best option for your beginner electric guitar is the Classic Vibe Starcaster by Fender.
This baby is a throwback to the original 70s design. It's constructed out of maple wood, which means it has just a little bit of heft. The humbuckers, center block, and curved semi-hollow construction will help you produce gorgeous, versatile sounds. And at $449.99, it's not too expensive.
You can also peruse our online store for a like new or used Fender that's not too pricey. We're always getting more electric guitars in stock, so check back often!