How To Buy An Electric Guitar

An old buddy has requested me to post a topic on "how to buy an electric guitar". To tell you the truth, I have never bought one but what the heck, buying anything is the same. All we need is not just some cash but a little imagination helps.
How To Buy An Electric Guitar

What's a good guitar? A good guitar is the one that suits the budget. Right? If money is no object then you have no problem going for what the pros are using. Otherwise, if we travel on budget airlines, plays off budget golf equipments, drive a budget car and eat budget economic rice we may also choose to do so with a budget electric guitar. Its still makes some sound.
The big boys always make a wide range of products from the simplest budget type to the highest range just like how Toyota and GM would make them and when it comes to guitars, look no further than Squier (by Fender) and Ibanez. They would in all probability just replicate the designs by using cheaper materials thus saving costs and giving you a nice looking guitar.The sound quality is going to be different but if you are a beginner in anything, you may not be discerning enough to be bothered by some differences which you may not even detect. Thankfully, they are not cars which may look the same but differ in size so you are not going to get a bigger guitar. When you get your first car, most of us do not bother if it has ABS brakes or a twin cam engine. Some of you hard core rockers may even want to smash the guitar up at the end of the session, so in this case go for the cheaper ones which are to be used like props and discarded.

Leo Fender

Leo who? Leo Fender. Yes. The Stratocaster by Fender is an all time best as far as electric guitars are concerned. It is a great favorite among all guitar players for countless years and will continue to be so for a long time yet. The brilliance of the design and sound from the strat is down to this man - Leo Fender. The Fender Stratocaster was born in 1953 when he wanted to amplify a guitar and he succeeded in creating a style in a guitar that made history. Besides, he made a guitar that does not dig into your ribs, feels really comfortable and sounds incredible.

Gibson &The Les Paul

Gibson Les Paul was developed in hte 50s by Ted McCarthy in collaboration with guitarist Les Paul to endorse the model. Les Paul was an accomplished Jazz guitarist. Gibson guitars are more expensive and when the Fender Telecaster was introduced, electric guitar became a huge craze. The Gibson head honcho then recruited Les Paul to be a consultant. While most guitarists have toyed with several brands and models of guitars especially the Fender and the Gibson, many big names of pop, rock and jazz have at one time or another been associated with using various Gibson models not just the Les Paul. Here are some names from the Who's Who list:

Neil Diamond, Paul McCartney (Beatles), Keith Richards (Rolling Stones), Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), Slash (Guns & Roses), Martin Barre (Jetro Tull), Jeff Beck (Yardbirds), Chuck Berry, Marc Bolan (T. Rex), Mick Box (Uriah Heep), Larry Carlton, Allen Collins (Lynyrd Skynyrd), Dave Davies (the Kinks), Bob Dylan, The Edge (U2), George Harrison (Beatles), Jumi Hendrix, Peter Frampton, Steve Howe (Yes, Asia), Matthias Jabs (Scorpions), Mick Jones (Foreigner), John Lennon (Beatles), Gary Moore (Thin Lizzy), Mike Oldfield, Roy Orbison, Andy Powell (Wishbone Ash), Lee Ritenour, Carlos Santana, Neal Schon (Journey), Gene Simmons (Kiss), Pete Townsend (Who), Ronnie Wood (Rolling Stones), Joe Walsh (Eagles), Carl Wilson (Beach Boys) and many many more. So go get your Gibson to be a star or if you are already one, go get some.

What Music?

Next to come to mind would be what kind of music are you playing? If you are into rock, pop and blues go for a Squier while the Ibanez is more suitable for rock and metal kind of style. The Ibanez is the guitar of choice by wizards like Paul Gilbert, Steve Vai and Joe Satriani who are simply awesome guitar players that lick their Ibanez. As in all other products, keep a look out for last year's models as they will go for much less than the latest models. However, you will never go wrong with a Stratocaster as they are widely used and preferred by many legends, pros, greats and wannabes - think Eric Clapton, Peter Townsend, Jimi Hendrix and Peter Frampton.

Browsing

Browse through all available guitar magazines you can lay your hands on, search through the internet and visit some musical instrument and guitar shops in town. Unless you are Slash, Carlos Santana or Brian May, bring along a good guitarist friend to help you test the instruments as even doing a simple test or demo in public can be unnerving and will be an intimidating atmosphere for noobs unless you do not mind having some eggs for a meal or risk losing your day job when some record company executive signs you up to play for Linkin Park.

Warning!!

Depending on where you live, do spare a thought for your neighbours. Your aspiration to be a pop or rock star is one thing and really none of their business. You don't want to destroy years of friendship over a session from "the maestro" which is you. But then again, why not rock the house down? You can't play an electric guitar and not rock the house down. At least throw them some Smoke On The Water but don't turn it into a Black Night but do lead them to the Stairway To Heaven. Last but not least, you need the "attitude" and look the part to go with it when you strap on and dangle an electric guitar by your side. Go for it boy, Rock is alive!!!

P.S. The other day, I saw this blind male busker at the market who was belting out songs in Mandarin, Hokkien, Canto and English (like Wind of Change). His guitar works and vocals were amazing. I was moved while having my meal alone as he sang and played with great feelings and sang with gusto. I had to do something for him as I appreciated the opportunity. Many others did. So, if you are thinking of busking, come watch this guy if you do not wish to have a Stratocaster on the head.

Comments

Somzbody said…
Great Stuff Bro. Informative write-up. More important, its the writing style that makes it fun to read. I am now so inspired that I am going to the shop to get both a Fender American Std Strat and a cherry sunburst Gibson Les Paul. Not gonna be cheap ... but what the heck .... cos the joy of making music is invaluable ( ie after I am able to string 2 chords together). Rgds. Hanzie
24 September 2009 at 13:09
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