Entry level electric guitars are now being built to higher standards of quality and value. With a thorough set-up, even inexpensive guitars can sound and play great. For most beginning guitarists, $100-$400 is a reasonable price range.
The quality of the hardware, woods, electronics and craftsmanship contribute to the cost of an instrument. Mystique and special artist endorsements can also add a lot to the price but, if you can afford it, spending more for a guitar that motivates you to play is money well spent.
To the extent that the guitar itself contributes to the success of a student, playability is usually the most important factor. Playability is a guitar’s level of function and comfort. Any guitar that has stable tuning and adjustable string action, intonation and neck bow can usually be set up to have good playability.
Some playability issues relate to how the guitar fits the player. A small person may be more comfortable with a compact guitar body and a shorter scale neck.
Buying a new or used instrument from a reputable guitar store is typically the safest route for someone new to guitars. The store’s staff can help guide your purchase, resolve problems and support warranty service for a new guitar. Buying used or online carries more risk so a novice should get assistance from someone with experience buying guitars.
There is no rule saying that you can’t play flamenco music on a Telecaster solid body electric guitar or death metal on a Cordoba nylon string acoustic. However, it’s a good idea for a beginning guitarist to choose a guitar that will deliver the performance and tone for the styles that they are most likely to play. Most solid body electric guitars are versatile enough for a beginning student to learn a wide variety of rock, jazz and pop.
A shorter scale neck is usually more comfortable for smaller hands. However, beware of “¾ size guitars” which are more of a novelty than a serious instrument.
The tuning machines should offer smooth and secure tuning adjustment.
The bridge should include adjustments to lower or raise the strings and to adjust the intonation. The truss rod should function to adjust the neck bow.
A thorough set-up ensures that a guitar performs and sounds its best. Many new guitars are only roughly set-up from the factory and most require some additional attention. When buying a guitar from a store, ask if they will include a complete set-up. After purchasing a guitar, novices should ask an experienced player or teacher to evaluate its set-up.
Besides the usual instruction on string changing and tuning, I usually take a moment to inspect a beginning student’s guitar set-up. For students interested in learning how to set-up their own guitars, I offer lessons on basic guitar maintenance including adjustment of the truss rod, intonation, action, tremolo system, pick-ups and so on.
Lesson OptionsI recommend that beginners start with a solid state amplifier because they are lower cost, more reliable and lighter than roughly equivalent tube amps. A new solid state amp from a store or from a reliable website like Musicians Friend is a lower risk purchase than a used amp. Although solid state amps are relatively reliable, the switches and plugs commonly suffer abuse, so beginners should consider having an expert review the performance of a used amp. If the mystique of a tube amp is irresistible, have an independent expert review its performance.
Leaving aside the difference between solid state and tube amplifiers, guitar amplification systems come in three basic types.
Guitar "effects" are electronic devices designed to modify the sound of the guitar. Most famous rock guitarists including Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen, and Dimebag Darrell used a variety of effects to create their signature guitar sound. The most commonly used guitar effects include distortion, reverb, delay, chorus, phase, flange and wah-wah. Equalizers, noise gates and other electronic filters are commonly associated with effects. Most of these guitar effects can be found in five styles of device;
For hauling a guitar around for lessons and gigs, a well padded gig bag (that is, a soft guitar case) is convenient and costs $15 to $30. A hard case is more secure but heavy to carry.
For most beginners, a basic $20 tuner is essential. For an electric guitar, get a tuner that has a socket for the guitar cable. For an acoustic guitar, get the type that clips to the headstock. Higher quality tuners make intonation adjustments easier but are not necessary for most beginning guitarists.
Strings are one of the most important and commonly over looked contributors to a guitars tone and feel. Strings gradually corrode from moisture, oils and dirt, which over time will dull their tone and create tuning difficulties. Strings should be changed regularly for good performance so I recommend that students invest in several sets of strings. Extra-light 9 gauge strings tend to be the most popular among beginning electric guitarists.
Beginning guitarists should try out a variety of picks to fit their hand and picking style. Experiment with thin and heavy gauge picks and maybe try smaller “tear drop” shapes or larger triangular styles.