First Electric Guitars Buying guide
First Electric Guitars: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Buying your first electric guitar needn't be overwhelming. This practical guide covers budget tiers, what to look for, and how to avoid beginner mistakes.
Choosing your first electric guitar is an investment that deserves careful thought. The world of options is vast — hundreds of brands, body shapes, pickup configurations, and price points. This guide to first electric guitars cuts through the noise and shows you exactly what matters when buying your first electric guitar, what to avoid, and how to get the best value for your budget.
Budget: Setting Realistic Expectations
First electric guitars span a vast price range, from £80 budget sets to £500+ professional instruments. Your budget determines everything else. A sensible approach when buying your first electric guitar is to spend enough to get a playable, reliable instrument without overpaying for features you won't yet understand.
£80–150: Entry-level complete sets (guitar, amp, cable, strap). These teach you the basics and let you discover if you'll stick with playing. The sound quality and build are compromised, but they're fine for beginners.
£150–300: Mid-range single guitars. Much better build quality, playability, and tone. If you're serious about learning, this is where to start when buying your first electric guitar. Expect brands like Squier, Epiphone, and budget Ibanez or Yamaha.
£300–600: Quality intermediate guitars with good components. At this price, when buying your first electric guitar, you're getting an instrument that won't hold you back as you progress.
Body Shape: Comfort and Playability
Electric guitar body shapes are not merely aesthetic. They affect comfort, playability, and slightly, tone. When buying your first electric guitar, choose based on how it feels, not just how it looks.
Stratocaster-style
Contoured, symmetrical, versatile. Comfortable sitting down or standing. Suits rock, blues, funk, and pop. A safe choice when buying your first electric guitar if you don't know your style yet.
Telecaster-style
Flat-topped, slightly twangy tone, excellent for country and rock. Lighter than Strats. Also very beginner-friendly.
Les Paul-style
Thick, heavy body. Darker tone, excellent for rock and blues. Slightly less comfortable to hold for hours. Fine for beginners with patience.
Offset/alternative shapes
Jaguars, Jazzmasters, or modern unconventional designs. Stylish but often harder to play sitting down or at odd angles. Avoid these when buying your first electric guitar unless you're certain about the style.
Neck and Fretboard: Feel Matters
The neck is where your hand lives for hours of practice. When buying your first electric guitar, handle the instrument and check:
- Neck width: Narrow necks (around 42mm at the nut) suit small hands and quick finger movements. Wide necks (43mm+) give more room between strings. There's no "right" answer — it's personal.
- Fretboard radius: Flatter fretboards are easier to bend strings; more curved ones feel smoother. Most modern guitars use flatter radii. Don't overthink this as a beginner.
- Fret quality: Run your thumb across the frets. They should feel smooth and level. Rough frets indicate poor setup or cheap materials.
- Fretboard wood: Rosewood feels oily and smooth; maple feels slightly tackier. Either works fine; it's mostly preference and maintenance.
Pickups: The Heart of Your Tone
Pickups capture the string vibration and send it to the amp. When buying your first electric guitar, understand the main types:
Single-coil pickups
Bright, articulate, and twangy. Common on Fenders. Excellent for rock, blues, and funk. Slightly susceptible to hum in environments with electrical interference.
Humbucker pickups
Warm, thick, and rounded. Common on Gibsons and Les Pauls. Better at rejecting electrical hum. Suited to hard rock, metal, and jazz.
P90 pickups
A sweet spot between single-coils and humbuckers — warm but articulate. Less common but increasingly popular.
Don't fixate on pickup brands yet. As a beginner buying your first electric guitar, learn on whatever you choose. You can upgrade pickups later if you really want to.
Hardware and Electronics
When buying your first electric guitar, good hardware keeps things in tune and working reliably:
- Tuning machines: Smooth, solid tuning pegs that don't slip. Test them.
- Bridge: Should be sturdy and stable. Floating bridges (common on Fenders) require learning to adjust; fixed bridges are more beginner-friendly.
- Wiring: Simple is better. A 3-way pickup selector, volume, and tone knob are enough. Avoid overly complex electronics when buying your first electric guitar.
- Pots and switches: Should feel smooth and click properly. Scratchy or loose controls indicate cheap internals.
Playability and Setup
The most beautiful guitar means nothing if it's uncomfortable to play. When buying your first electric guitar, test these:
- Action (string height): Too high and playing hurts your fingers; too low and strings buzz. Mid-range action is safest for learning. Any decent guitar should have reasonable factory action, but many budget guitars need adjustment.
- Relief (neck straightness): Sight down the fretboard. A slight bow is normal; a severe curve or backbow is bad.
- Feel up the fretboard: Press each string at the first and last frets. Are there dead spots or buzzes? A few buzz at specific frets is acceptable; widespread buzzing means poor setup or a warped neck.
Avoiding Common Beginner Pitfalls
When buying your first electric guitar, steer clear of these mistakes:
Buying purely on brand name
A cheap £100 Fender Squier is not better than a £200 Ibanez or Yamaha just because it says Fender. Test both; pick the one that feels better.
Ignoring the amplifier
A beautiful guitar through a tinny 5-watt practice amp sounds thin. Budget £50–100 for a reasonable amp alongside your guitar investment.
Choosing based on appearance alone
That stunning metallic finish won't matter if the neck is uncomfortable or the action is sky-high. Play before you buy, every time.
Going for maximum features at the expense of build quality
A guitar with 24 frets and built-in effects is worthless if the frets are uneven and pickups are muddy. Simpler, better-made guitars beat feature-packed lemons.
Buying online without testing first
At least for your first purchase, visit a music shop and play several guitars. Feel the necks, test the tuning stability, and listen to the tone. Online is fine later once you know what you want.
New vs. Used When Buying Your First Electric Guitar
Used guitars can offer exceptional value. A five-year-old Japanese-made Fender Squier or Ibanez often outplays a new cheap knockoff. However, buying your first electric guitar used means you need to spot problems: warped necks, worn frets, damaged tuning machines. If you're inexperienced, bring an experienced friend or consider a local repair shop for a £20 inspection.
New guitars carry warranties and come with no mysteries. The trade-off is paying a slight premium.
Conclusion
Buying your first electric guitars doesn't require brand obsession or deep technical knowledge. Focus on comfort (body shape, neck feel), playable action, and a budget realistic for your commitment level. Visit a shop, play several options, and choose the one that makes you want to pick it up and practice. Whether you spend £150 or £400, a thoughtfully chosen first electric guitar beats an expensive mistake. Once you're playing happily, you'll discover what upgrades or adjustments truly matter for your style. Your first electric guitars deserve care in selection — get that right, and you'll enjoy years of playing.
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