From Sound to Style: How to Find Your New Electric Guitar

Enter a music shop, and the selection of guitars may be overwhelming. Members of the sales staff will talk about woods, pickups, and brands, which will lead to more confusion for the buyer. This task should be easy. When a person walks into the store to buy a new electric guitar, they need to know the basics so they won’t feel overwhelmed or pressured to buy something that isn’t right for their needs. What should they look for at this time?

Visual Appeal

A person may want a new electric guitar because their current one lacks the desired features. However, when they look for this new guitar, they often find their eye drawn to the most visually appealing instrument. That’s natural. Usually, the difference between guitars is cosmetic rather than musical. Nevertheless, a person should consider the type or style of the body because that will impact the guitar’s sound. Guitars come in solid, semi-hollow, and full hollow bodies.

Body Style

Solid-body guitars are the most prevalent type of bass guitar. They are made from a single piece of wood and are heavier and more versatile than their peers. Musicians can achieve loud volumes and effects when using one of these instruments.

Fully hollow guitars are similar to acoustic guitars but will produce feedback when run through an amplifier. They have a boxy shape and a clean, rich sound that produces lots of bass. Many people say this style is not beginner-friendly.

Semi-hollow guitars have a hollow body with a block of wood running through the center. They aren’t as wide as fully hollow guitars, and they are bigger than solid body styles. Musicians love that these guitars can be played loud and heavy.

Comfort

Musicians should try several guitars that they find visually appealing and find one that is comfortable to play. The shape, neck, fretboard, and weight affect how the guitar feels in the musician’s hands, with the body type mainly determining the weight.

Sound

Musicians should try several guitars to find one that has the right sound. However, they must remember that tweaking the sound is easy. They can use an amplifier, strings, pedals, or numerous other tools to accomplish this goal. Beginners should focus on the pickups and vibrato system, while more experienced guitarists should look at other features.

Cost

Every musician dreams of being able to walk into a store and purchase whichever guitars catch their eye. They could have a collection of instruments that they use at different times. However, most people don’t have this luxury. They must set a budget before shopping for their first electric guitar and stay within this budget. Beginners will find they can get a new six-string for several hundred dollars and be perfectly satisfied. Spending more won’t benefit them.

Every musician is different. They have a unique sound and personal preferences regarding their instrument. Individuals must remember this when shopping for a new electric guitar and not feel pressured into buying something that does not meet their needs. The sales staff is likely unfamiliar with their playing style and what they want and need in a guitar. They can only make recommendations based on what the musician tells them. Talk with the staff and share as much information as possible so they can help any musician find the right instrument, one that they will love playing for years to come.