What kind of electric guitar to buy?

If you want to learn to play music kept in a variety of styles on the guitar – choosing an electric guitar can be a hit for you. It is very often said that learning to play the guitar should start with a classical or possibly acoustic guitar. Electric models will also work well for acquiring the first skills – they are definitely easier to learn than classical guitars, as they do not carry the need to press the successive chords so carefully. What kind of electric guitar to buy so that it meets all expectations and gives pleasure in playing?

Electric guitar body – which electric guitar to start with?

Different shapes and sizes in given models translate into the sound of the whole instrument. If you choose an electric guitar with a thin-walled body – the sound of individual tones will be longer, while if you choose a model with a thick-walled body – the opposite. In electric guitars, for example, we meet with a fully hollow body, which is characterized by many resonance holes and provides the so-called round sound, used very often in jazz music. Solid-body is undoubtedly the most versatile shape of the guitar, having no resonance holes, so the sound bounces off the wood and it is possible to play all genres of music on it. Semi-hollow bodies combine the sound of a fully hollow body and a solid body.

The bodies of electric guitars are most often made of wood. Depending on what type it is – the sound of the instrument will be different. Thus, for example, agathis wood gives a light sound, ash is strong and deep for low and medium tones, and maple provides a high and powerful sound. linden focused on the middle band, mahogany a strong sound with emphasis on the lower and middle bands, alder provides an even sound, and topla accentuates the bass tones. Your best bet when choosing an electric guitar will be to play a trial to see if the sound you can get from specific types of wood meets your expectations.

We recommend reading the article – beginner electric guitar.

Bridge, menzage length, fingerboard – electric guitar for beginners

The metal part that connects the guitar body and strings together is the bridge. Its function is to transmit vibrations and produce sound. In electric guitars (semi-hollow and hollow body types) you will most often find fixed bridges (otherwise known as Fixed bridges), which are responsible for the long sound. The Floyd Rose bridge, or movable double-sided bridge, is characterized by a rather complicated adjustment and is responsible for changing the sound’s pitch by raising and lowering it. You can vibrate the strings on it, then a metallic sound is created. Another type of bridge that appears in electric guitars is the single-sided movable bridge (Vintage Tremolo), which is designed to lower the tone controllers.

The distance between the bridge and the string saddles is determined by an element called the measure. Based on its length, the position of the individual frets is determined. The most popular models are those in which the length of the measure is 648 mm. The longer it is, the more spread out the frets will be, and consequently, the playing will be more difficult and the strings more springy.

The wooden slat that is mounted on the top side of the guitar neck and connected to the body of the instrument is the fingerboard. Attached to it are metal bars that define the frets (there are usually 21, 22, or 24 of them). When it comes to choosing the best solution, it is worth taking into account that the more frets an electric guitar will have, the greater the instrument’s possibilities in terms of sound. The curvature of the fretboard will also be important. Most often you can find models characterized by a 16-degree angle, and those with a higher angle are called racing guitars.

Transducers and additional equipment

The component that is responsible for converting string vibrations into electric signals is the transducer. With its help, we get the characteristic sound of electric guitars and they come in two different variants. The first – Humbucker – is the most versatile solution and you can get a strong and deep sound from it, so it will work well for metal music. The Single transducer provides a steady, yet rather quiet sound, which may not be noticeable when playing the light and medium channels. If juxtaposed with a heavy channel, you may find the guitar sound unpleasant, which is why they are not recommended for those who want to play metal or hard rock music. Transducers can also be divided into active and passive. The former needs a power supply to get any sound out of the guitar, at least with a voltage of 9V. Their advantage is that, regardless of the power, the sound will not change and will become much cleaner, and the noise will be eliminated. Passive transducers change the sound according to the increase in power, but they are perfect for quieter, jazz, or blues music.

To enjoy playing an electric guitar, it is necessary to buy additional accessories for it. Amplifiers will be necessary, which with the help of energy will allow you to get the sound out of the guitar. To protect your equipment from falling and damage, you should also buy such accessories as a guitar stand and a case that will make it easier to transport the instrument and protect it from mechanical damage.