Do you know how challenging it can be to buy electric guitars? It’s a lot of work! With so many options on the market, it can often be confusing and overwhelming. So, if you need help with your purchase, this guide is for you! Everything you need to know before you make your first electric guitar purchase is listed below.
Body Style
One of the first things you will need to decide is what type of body style you want to have. The body of the guitar will likely be one of three different styles.
- Solid-Body- Electric guitars that lack any kind of resonating chamber. As its name suggests, the body is made of solid wood.
- Semi-Hollow Body- Think of it as a hollow guitar but with a solid wood center. These guitars have a warmer sound than solid-bodied guitars.
- Hollow-Body- Hollow body guitars are known for having a really ‘thick’ sound.
Cost
Another important factor to consider at the beginning of your process is cost. Below is a chart breaking down how much you should expect to pay.
| Beginner guitars | These are the guitars for first-time players. Be careful buying anything under $150 though, the quality isn’t going to be worth it.
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Around $150-300 |
| Intermediate guitars
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These guitars are the types where you will be able to quickly notice large differences between models. Features range a lot in this category.
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Around $350-700 |
| Advanced guitars
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These guitars are truly built to be practiced on over and over again. The quality is going to be great. | Around $750-1000 |
| Professional guitars
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These are the guitars that we would call “the best of the best”. They are created with the best wood, hardware, and pickups. | $1,200 and up |
Make sure you know how much you can afford without breaking the bank, and how much you should expect to pay depending on what level you are at.
Used V New
The next thing you’ll want to figure out is if you plan on purchasing a new or used guitar. Both are viable options but there are pros and cons to each.
Used Guitars
- Pro- It can save you up to half off what you would have paid.
- Con- There will be no warranties or guarantees!
- Pro- if it’s less than a year old, you probably wouldn’t know that it was ever used!
New Guitars
- Pro- there will never be any hidden damage
- Con- It will be much more expensive than a used guitar
- Pro- YOu have a much larger selection to choose from
Whether you decide to buy used or new, make sure to weigh the pros and cons of each and consider your own specific needs.
When it comes to buying a guitar, there are more than enough options to choose from. The body style, cost, and state (used or new) are some of the very first things you will want to take into consideration before you begin the buying journey. Good luck and happy shopping!
