Electric guitar buying tips
BackHave you ever dreamed about playing guitar to thousands of
screaming fans? Well, we might not be able to help you play better, but we can put the right axe into your hands! This Electric Guitar Buying Guide includes all the information you need to choose an Electric Guitar. Since there is so much to consider, remember to ask the seller questions before you bid on them .Body Styles
Electric Guitars come in either one of these Two body
styles: solid-body, or semi-acoustic, which is often Known as the ES range like: The Gibson ES 135 or (Gibson Electro-Semi acoustic) rangeWhen sustain, loud amplification, and lots of effects are required, solid body guitar is a good choice. However, when more of the acoustic sound and high levels of amplification is
need, then get a semi-hollow body one. Hollow body provide the acoustic sound but can be prone to feedback at high levels of amplification.Neck
What type of neck you should get really depend on the size of your hand. necks come in different shapes including C-shaped, thin, wide-thin etc.
Scale Length
Scale length can influences both the tonal quality of the notes produced and the tension of the string at a particular pitch. Scale length refers to the vibrating length of the string, which is determined by the distance between "nut"
and the bridge "saddle." Fret placement refers to a ratio based on scale length so longer scales have more distance between frets.Most modern electric guitars employ one of two commonly used scale lengths: the "Gibson" scale, which at 24-5/8" gives the Les Paul its round attack and thick bass, and the "Fender" scale which at 25-1/2" gives the Strat its clear, cutting quality. A third scale length, the 25" scale, as used by Paul Reed Smith among others produces a distinctive tone, and is not a compromise between "Gibson" and "Fender."
Intonation
Intonation determines whether or not the notes play in tune as you move up the neck. If the distance between the frets (usually above the 12th fret) is off, the guitar will be quite incapable of playing in tune and therefore useless as a recording or performance instrument.
Set Neck vs. Bolt on
Some people believe that a set neck has better sustain than a
neck that is bolted on. This may have an effect on which instrument you choose, but if you want a Fender Stratocaster, the neck is bolt-on, period. Conversely, if you choose a Gibson Les Paul, it comes with a set neck.Number of Frets
Most electric guitars come with 22 frets, however, if you like to play in the high register, a 24-fret neck will give you the full octave above the twelfth fret
Finish
With electrics, the type of finish does not affect sound as much as it does on acoustics, but you need no t worry about it in either case, Guitar makers take this into account when they build the instrument.
Bridge
There are two main types of bridges for guitars; tremolo bridge and stoptail bridge. The tremolo bridge (or whammy bar) allows you to "dive" or bend all the strings at once, (good for Metal styles) but they can throw strings out of
tune. The stoptail bridge is more stable as far as tuning is concerned and because it is fixed into the body, some players feel that it provides more sustain than the tremolo bridge, which "floats" above the body.Pickups
Most guitars have two pickups, one close to the neck, which provides a thicker sound, and one close to the bridge, which produces a more treble "twangy" sound. A 3-position switch allows you to choose between pickups or blend them. Some
guitars have a five-position switch, which blends the pickups and changes their phase relationship to produce "glassy" tones. A third, or middle pickup is also available on some guitars for more sound blending options.Tuning machines
The type of tuning machine your guitar has is very important. This is what allows you to fine tune and hold pitch. Enclosed
machine heads resist rust and airborne corrosives, and therefore do not require as much maintenance or replacement as open tuning machines.Wood
Choice of woods naturally affects the tone and weight of a
guitar, but so do a number of other factors. This is all taken into account by the intentions of the designer. More expensive woods don not necessarily mean a better sounding guitar. The important question for you is whether you like the sound of the instrument.Conclusion
Now that you know what to look out for when buying your first Electric Guitar, it will be much easier to look out for the one that suit you. Happy Shopping!
from the yourguitars.co.uk team
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