The first thing you’ll notice is that there’s a lot of options. Different brands and different models but yet many of them look very similar and in fact may look exactly alike except there is a different name at the top.
This is partly because most all major guitar manufactures have two lines: The U.S. made version and the overseas copy. Gibson owns Epiphone, Fender owns Squire, and Paul Reed Smith owns, well, Paul Reed Smith “Special.”
The difference is that the U.S. versions have a higher quality of the wood, have nicer components, and they are usually easier to play – but that may be undetectable so don’t let the name change on the headstock make you pay more than you should.
In addition to the major brands there are a lot of other manufacturers who copy the look of the most popular guitars. These might be good or might be terrible but many stores carry these guitars because they can make more money and there are a lot of requirements to carry major brands in your store.
An electric guitar is almost all about looks. Does it say “ I Rock” or not. They do sound different but so much can be changed in the effects and settings to get the sound you’re looking for. You want to make sure you buy something you’ll enjoy and are proud of owning. It represents you and your style. So go to the store and play them all until one “speaks to you” then change your sound with amps and pedals around that. Which you will need since an electric is not an acoustic instrument, meaning it makes little to no sound without an Amp (Amplifier). Effect pedals change the sound to be more distorted, repeat, sound like it’s in a cave, or alter the pitch. Those are extra purchases that can really add up but don’t let that freak you out. Start small with the extras and build from there.
The main differences in guitars will be:
The shape of the guitar, the color, type of pickups, whether it’s solid all the way through or hollow or semi hollow, and lastly does it have a whammy/tremolo bar (which allows you to bend the strings all at once).
The most popular guitar models are the:
Gibson/Epiphone Les Paul: Seen here in Gold Top, Black Beauty w/ Bigsby tremolo, Standard Burst with humbucker pickups.
Fender/Squire Startacaster or Strat and Telecaster or Tele: Alternating Strat and Tele in various colors and styles all single coil pickups.
Paul Reed Smith: Shown double cut away in various colors. Pickups will sometimes be switchable between single coil and humbucker.
Gretsch Hollow Body: Hollow body guitars with Bigsby Tremelo
When you’re ready to buy make sure you take the advice in the General Shopping article and know the prices so you don’t get charged “retail price” which is an inflated number to make the actual price look like a sale. Go to musicians friend.com or sweetwater.com to gather some info. Be willing to pay a bit more at a local store because you’re sure of what you’re taking home. Also know what’s included as cases sometimes are and sometimes not.
Happy shopping! Let us know if we can help.