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Buying your first electric guitar is a big decision to make, and there is no 'perfect first guitar' for everyone. Do you go for the cheapest one possible? Do you buy the most expensive, or even just the best-looking on ein the store? Before you hand over any cash, there are a few important thing to consider to choose the best guitar for you.
Know your budget
You may want to buy your guitar in cash, or you may be using finance/credit card. You know what your finances are and this is the most important consideration. It may make sense to save for a few months and then pay for the instrument outright and it may make more sense to pay using finance from a retailer that offers it. To use finance, you will need a credit score to cover that.
So don't put yourself in a position where it'll be a purchase that negatively impacts you financially, but do ensure your budget it allows you to spend the most you can afford, whatever that is.
You'll thank yourself later for buying the best you can afford rather than the cheapest you could find (and you can find for very cheap!).
Where the case is that the best you can afford is the cheapest available, that's also fine!
What do your guitar heroes play?
Once you know what you've got available to spend, it's really essential to start at the very beginning. Ask yourself these questions:
- Whose tone do I want to emulate?
- Whose playing style do I want to learn from?
That's it. Don't go by whose guitar looks the best. Just go on who you think does a fantastic job as a musician.
Don't let ambition stand in your way either - some guitars are great for shredding, and others are great for being a lot more selective with the notes they play, and neither will be 'worse' than the other.
Every guitar style and configuration is built to achieve certain sonic characteristics, so your artist role models are a great way to gauge what will suit you, and that's a whole discussion in itself!
Consider buying budget guitars
If you're just starting out and you know won't be gigging regularly, then look at budget options - brands such Squire by Fender, Epiphone are well-built uncostly instruments, while Ibanez has its own budget ranges without needing a budget brand and there are many more reliable budget guitars too. This applies to electric, electro-acoustic and acoustic.
When it comes to 'big name' guitar brands, they are known to attach a premium for the name on the headstock, so their budget options offer excellent value for money. With gigging performers, it's a different story and the small improvements that premium instruments offer will make all the difference, but at home, don't let that get to you.
Consider purchasing used guitars
Once you know the style of guitar and have narrowed it down to a handful of models, or have one that you've decided you really want, see if it's available used!
Premium guitars can hold their value, but only vintage premiums increase in value. That means if you're after a budget guitar, the second-hand market should be a source for fantastic and cheap deals. Try one of the following:
- Online used marketplaces (Ebay, Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree among others) will be a way to see if anyone is selling an old guitar privately and find a great deal
- Retailers that offer used guitar deals.
- Brick-and-mortar stores such as second-had stores, charity shops may all have some hidden gems of guitar deals.
The sad fact about todays world is everyone wants things brand new. With electric guitars, components are all swappable, so if you don't like the pick-ups, you can upgrade them later on. So long as the guitar is in a playable condition, a pre-owned instrument will serve you just as loyally as a brand new, plus it has it's own unique story to tell.
Look for reviews of guitars
Before you hand over your hard-earned cash, take a step back. Find a few reviews of the model you're interested in on YouTube and elsewhere. See what the consensus is.
Get an idea about the sounds it can achieve. Try and understand what it will struggle to achieve. You'll likely need to compromise on the some of your favourite music in order to get as close as possible to other music you love.
Are you happy with your choice? Have you found another model that meets your needs a little better? There's only one thing you need to ensure you do before paying.
Try out your guitar
YouTube videos are great, but they won't tell you is how the instrument feels when you play it. Ask yourself:
- How does the neck feel in your palms?
- How do your fingers feel when you press on the frets?
- Is it too light or too heavy?
So before you order your instrument blind, make a trip and try it out in person. If the music store is the retailer you planning to order it online from, then so much the better! If it's an independent shop, you can still play it and you could even decide to buy theirs, even if it may be a little pricier than online.
If you're buying a pre-owned instrument, this step is essential as it allows you to assess the condition of the instrument. Don't be scared to simply say 'no thank you' if the instrument isn't as described!
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