How to Buy an Electric Guitar
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For any guitarist, the most delicate job they face is picking out the right electric guitar. It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or an advanced musician; a finely tuned electric guitar is like nothing else on earth. The hard part is choosing the perfect guitar for your individual need.
Guitar construction is pretty much basic for just about all of the different guitar types. All electric guitars have the same components:
1. A body 2. A neck 3. A head stock piece 4. Electrical pick ups 5. A bridge
Electric guitars need an amplifier to make the sound audible. For an electric guitar, the sound is made when you pluck the strings and the strings vibrations are sent, or “picked up” by the pickups and sent to the amplifier.
The two biggest considerations when choosing the right electric guitar are, simply, the price and the sound.
The price of an electric guitar can be anywhere from an inexpensive $99 to an eye-popping $20,000. Quite a range, yes? Why is there such a difference in price? The materials that the guitar is made of, the care with which it is constructed and the quality of the pickups is the reasons for this. A beginner of course can safely opt for a cheaper model. There are even starter kits out there which include an amplifier, guitar strap, picks and instruction books along with the guitar.
A guitar usually has a solid wood body, meaning the body will not resonate very much (this is why pickups are necessary). An amplifier is used to control the volume of the guitar. Among beginners, solid body guitars are the most commonly used.
The neck joint is an important part of the guitar and has some bearing on the sound of the instrument (more on this in a minute).
The visual appeal of the instrument is also a prime factor - after all, you are more likely to enjoy playing the guitar if it is an instrument which is pleasant to look at. The most popular looks (and indeed, brands) are the Gibson Les Paul and the Fender Stratocaster. Another large manufacturer is B.C. Rich, which is known for offering electric guitars in unconventional shapes and colors, as well as being slightly less expensive than Gibson or Fender guitars. However, even the biggest names need not be too expensive as these manufacturers offer lower priced models in addition to their flagship products - a Fender or Gibson guitar can be yours for $300 or a little less.
Guitars are made with several types of neck joints (how the neck attaches to the body). There is the bolt-on, which is the cheapest, then the set neck and the neck through style. The bolt on type is exactly what it sounds like-it bolts on to the body. This is the most common type of neck and is very affordable.
The set neck is set into the body of the guitar by means of a tongue set into a groove in the body of the guitar and secured by glue. These are a little more expensive, but give the guitarist more sustain and resonance.
Neck through is the most expensive neck joint style, but according to many provides the best sound of any of the three types. In these joints, the neck is one piece which runs the entire length of the guitar.
Do your homework before you buy an electric guitar - there are so many different makes and models that you’ll want to try many out before you decide (but trust me, you will know when you’ve found the right one). Visit guitar stores, try out guitars and most importantly, ask questions! Happy playing!
When you find the right one, you WILL know it! Happy strumming!
