17 Nov 6 of the BEST electric guitars for beginners | mkguitartuition.com
6 of the best guitars for beginners
I hope that my knowledge of the guitar will guide you on your quest to finding an affordable but playable instrument. I hope to save you time and stress when buying your first guitar.
I’ll also include a list of practice amplifiers which will be great for those practicing the guitar at home. So whether you’re a beginner guitarist and are on a budget, or you have a little more to spend, continue reading.
A cheap or mid range guitar?
Over the years, I’ve learnt that the best way to describe the differences between an expensive guitar or a beginners guitar is by the build quality.
What wood it’s made from is important because it’ll effect how you feel when you’re holding the instrument.
Types of wood such as Mapel, Indian rose wood, mahogany, alder wood will affect the weight to it’s texture whilst playing.
It’s a challenge to fret the notes at the beginning so having a guitar that has some weight and a nice feel to the instrument will encourage you to play it.
At the beginning of your guitar journey, the quality of the guitar build perhaps won’t matter that much, but it’s worth baring in mind because you’ll want to enjoy tuning and practicing on your guitar.
The appearance of your guitar will say something about your style too; from fretboard decoration (if any) to the shape of the guitar’s body.
A guitar that stays in tune is always encouraging. When you restring the guitar is it easy to do so? Some guitars may look great but functionally are made of inexpensive materials. which provide an awkward tuning experience.
A classical guitar that’s £120 or so, will be a better build than an electric guitar for the same price.
The classical guitar
If you’re starting out for the first time, I’d recommend learning on the classical guitar because it’s easier to fret and restring. The build quality is generally better too.
You might already know the style of guitar you want to play, but the classical guitar will help you appreciate the differences when you eventually upgrade. Plus, it’s less weight to carry around when you’re just starting out.
The classical guitar will also also teach you how to stretch across the fretboard, placing notes in the correct part of the fret and develop an adaptable technique – thanks to it’s wide neck and wider body shape.
Electric guitars for beginners.
You might feel intimidated walking into a guitar shop, particularly as a beginner. But you shouldn’t worry, they’re usually helpful and would want you to have a good purchasing experience.
When you’re a beginner it’s unlikely that you’re going to appreciate a higher spec guitar.
As you progress whether through the grades, for fun or completing your DofE, you’ll definitely want an instrument that is easy to play & practice on.
I have put together a list of the 6 best electric and acoustic guitars and 9 of the best practice amplifiers that I would recommend.
You will out grow the instrument and will want to upgrade at some stage.
Beginners guitar brands to be aware of
Like with any hobby, there’s a market for the beginner instrument and the more serious guitar player and there are ‘brands within brands’ to accomodate different level of skill & style.
Additionally, don’t be tempted by ‘Bulk buy’ offers neither. Purchase items that you need and want individually – they’ll be better quality and last much longer.
For example, Fender. Fender have a range of guitar brands which include the name Fender and then another name to indicate which market it’s intended for.
Fender accomodate the ‘beginners guitar player’s’ market by naming their entry models as either: Fender Squier, or Fender Squier Affinity Series
Fender Squier ‘Bullet’ model
Affordable, lightweight, and easy to play. Ideal for first-time players. Common models include the Bullet Strat and Bullet Mustang. It’s an entry model example that will feel fragile and light.
The Fender Squier by Fender Affinity Series Telecaster, Electric Guitar, Maple fingerboard.
The Fender Squire Telecaster
If you can find a guitar which has a guitar neck made from ‘mapel’, you’re doing well.
A beginner-friendly electric guitar offering the classic Telecaster design, tone, and playability at an affordable price.
Key features include a comfortable ‘C-shaped maple neck’, 21 medium jumbo frets, and two single-coil pickups for versatile, crisp, and twangy sounds.
It has a durable poplar or pine body, a 3-way pickup selector, and reliable hardware, making it ideal for genres like rock, blues, pop, and country. Perfect for new players, it combines ease of play, classic tone, and solid craftsmanship in an iconic design.
Fender Player Series:
This price range for this series is from about £500 – £800.
Designed for the beginner-intermediate who wants a step up in quality and not have to buy another guitar for a year or two..
Pricier than the squire series and usually made in Mexico rather than USA. There’s sometimes no difference between some models other than where they are made from.
I wouldn’t recommend amazon if you’re purchasing at this price. I’d trust PMT
Aria
Aria electric guitars aren’t that well known, but they do produce quality for the improving guitar student. A japanese guitar company providing a high quality build for the entry level market.
More established manufactures compromise on decorative or build quality where as Aria offer both visually attractive and playability at affordable prices. Check out these options from Guitar Guitar
Ibanez
Ibanez arguably made popular by artists such as Steve Vai and Joe Satriani are a well established brand catering for the beginner and more seasonal guitar player.
Offering a guitar that attracts the ‘metal’ guitarists often with a fancy fretboard design from models such as the Gem Junior or their ‘Ibanez GRG121DX GIO
Slash’s Epipohone AFD Les Paul Special II
Whether you’re familiar with Slash’s work through guitar hero or familiar with his iconic rock image from his live performances, it’s an obvious choice for the beginner guitar fan. It doesn’t cost a fortune but resembles something similar to what he uses and it’s build is reputable too. They also have an in build tuner on the pick up system which is very
The Yamaha Pacifica
The Yamaha Pacifica is a well-regarded beginner electric guitar known for its quality, versatility, and affordability. It’s designed to provide new players with a comfortable and capable instrument that can grow with them as they improve.
Top Best Electric Guitar Amplifiers for Beginners
As with guitar brands, there are amps to follow suit. The brand names to be familiar with when choosing amps are: Fender, Black Star, Orange, Marshall, Boss, .
When choosing a beginner guitar amplifier, the focus should be on ease of use, affordability, and versatility. Many brands offer excellent beginner-friendly options with essential features like built-in effects, simple controls, and good sound quality. Here are some of the best brands for beginner guitar amps:
I’d avoid amps that have a large array of effects. You can buy those as pedals separately.
How much should I spend?
It’s always best to spend the most you can afford as you’ll save yourself some pennies in the near future and you can expect to out grow an instrument within a couple of years or so.
When buying a new guitar for the first time or you’re looking to switch from a classical guitar, you’ll probably look at the colour the shape rather than how it sounds and feels.
As you progress, you’ll develop your own taste and preferences when purchasing a guitar depending on the price tag. But as a beginner you don’t need to worry about testing out a guitar too much because when you progress you’ll hopefully have developed your own style of playing and what you like to listen too.
Here’s a list of 10 beginner guitar amps without built-in effects, focusing on simplicity and straightforward functionality:
Marshall DSL40CR
I could list a bunch of amps that you’ll probably never click on. Unlike guitars, I’d recommend buying a second hand amp and here’s a link to facebook marketplace.
These amps prioritize simple setups and ease of use, making them great for beginners focused on learning fundamentals without extra distractions from effects or features.
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