Electric Guitar Buyer's Guide
Before you even enter a store or go online to purchase an electric guitar, there are many questions that you should ask yourself. Who are you buying this instrument for? Will it be used for a child, a beginner, or an expert? A musician working strictly in the studio or a touring guitarist who’s on the road half the year? Assessing what kind of sound and style you’re looking to play will also help determine which axe best suits your needs. And of course, determining what your budget is like will also help narrow down some of your best options.
Body Types
There are three different body types for electric guitars with each producing its own distinct sound suited for specific kinds of tones.
Solid Body
As the name might imply, a solid body electric guitar is comprised of one solid piece of wood. It is the most common of the three body types, and is exemplified by some of the most popular guitars (think Fender Stratocaster or Gibson Les Paul). Depending on the type of wood and electronic pick-up configuration, solid body electric guitars can pretty much be used for any genre or style of music.
Semi Hollow
The semi-hollow body electric guitars are hollowed out in the middle, much like an acoustic guitar. However, they also feature a solid block of wood positioned in the center of the instrument. Because the instrument is hollowed out on the inside, it tends to resonate more, which adds greater warmth, while the solid block prevents unwanted feedback and provides a greater sustain. Blues legends like B.B. King favored a semi-hollow body guitar.
Hollow Bodies
These guitars are completely hollow, and are usually played by jazz musicians because of their warm tones and deeper bass range. They are more prone to feedback, but they definitely have a sound all their own.
Neck Types
Just as a guitar’s body plays an important role in its sound and playability, the neck is an equally crucial factor to consider.
Woods
When looking at different neck types, the first thing to look at is the kind of wood it’s made from. Rosewood, mahogany, and maple are some of the more common types of wood utilized in neck construction. The weight of the wood as well as the grain type can have an impact on the sound of the instrument as well as the feel of how it plays.
Neck-to-Body Attachment
The way in which the neck attaches to the body of the guitar is also significant. There are three types of ways in which these necks join with the rest of the instrument.
Set-In
The set-in neck configuration means that the neck is glued into place, a configuration more commonly found in acoustic guitars but also some electric guitars such as the aforementioned Les Paul. Set necks provide greater sustain and are very stable; they are, however, much more difficult when it comes to repairs.
Bolt-On
The bolt-on neck configuration finds the neck attached to the body through four screws. This setup typically has less sustain, but allows for much easier repairs.
Neck-Though-Body
This style features a neck extending throughout the length of the entire guitar. This configuration is exclusively used for solid body electric guitars, and provides the greatest amount of sustainability and sturdiness. However, they are much more costly and difficult to repair.
Bridge Types
An electric guitar’s bridge is the piece on the body of the instrument that supports the strings. Bridges can be divided into two main types: tremolo bridge and stop tail bridge.
Tremolo bridge
Commonly referred to as the whammy bar; by pressing down on said bar, the pitch of the notes takes a dive or can be bent up ala Jimi Hendrix or metal bands. Although this feature can be useful, this approach also will often bring the strings of the instrument out of tune.
Stoptail Bridge
This option is much more stable and provides more sustain, although it doesn’t give guitarists the ability to alter the pitch of notes as the tremolo does.
Tonewoods
The effect that tonewood has on the sound of an electric guitar is actually quite a controversial topic. Many players will swear up and down that the wood used to construct the body of their axe makes all the difference in the world, while others vehemently insist that this is a factor that makes absolutely no difference at all, citing that the tone comes largely from the pickups/neck/bridge.
While the jury is still out on just how impactful this variable is in getting to the end result of your sound, here are some attributes regarding the way in which tonewoods affect other type of guitars – as well as the actual physical feel of the wood.
Alder
Lighter weight with an even tone.
Ash
This wood is often used for electric guitars with a transparent finish. Tone is also balanced.
Basswood
Great for warm tones that favor stronger mid-level frequencies.
Mahogany
Ideal for players looking for greater sustain. Can be medium to heavy weight.
Maple
Similar to mahogany, with more brightness on the high-end of frequency.
Poplar
Light weight, with a very bright tone. Also ideal for players seeking long sustain in their playing.
Pickups
Single-Coil
The original pickup configuration for all electric guitars, single-coil pickups have been used by legends such as Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and more. They tend to have a distinctly clean and thin tone, making them ideal for a variety of styles including rock, blues, funk, country, and pop. Fender axes such as the Stratocaster and Telecaster most commonly utilize the single-coil pickup. The only drawback to single coil pickups is that they can sometimes pick up unwanted external frequencies and electromagnetic frequencies from the air, which can include the hum coming from a building’s wiring or a computer monitor.
Humbucker
Humbuckers were created in order to solve the aforementioned problem with some single-coil setups. By employing two coil pickups, the unwanted buzz/hum is cancelled out. This pickup setup is most prevalent in Gibson guitars like the Les Paul. The tone of a humbucker is traditionally a bit thicker, warmer, and smoother. Famous humbucker enthusiasts include Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page, BB King, and John Lennon.
Scale Length
Scale length refers to the distance between the bridge and the nut on an electric guitar. This distance can determine both the tone and pitch of an instrument. There are two prominently used scale lengths that are used today. The first is the “Fender” scale, which gives a clear and more “cutting” sound at 25.5 inches. The other scale length is the “Gibson” scale, which is more round, warm, and favors a greater bass sound; its length is 24.75 inches.
Pickup Switch
The number ways that an electric guitar can switch between its pick-ups can have an effect on how guitarists can shape their tone. In general, guitars tend to have 2-3 pickups, with one at the neck, one at the bridge, and then sometimes one in the middle. The neck pickup will provide a thicker sound, whereas the bridge is thinner and more trebly.
Some electric guitars have a switch with three positions, allowing players to choose either one pickup sound or a blend between the two. A five pickup-switch allows players to do this but also change their phase relationship, which can result in an interesting tweaking and blending of the sounds that the instrument is capable of producing.
Tuning Machines
The tuning machines of an electric guitar are simply the tuning peg systems located at the headstock of the instrument. They enable players to tune their instrument (as the name implies) and keep the guitar in tune. There are two main types of tuning machines: open-gear and enclosed-gear.
Enclosed systems have a mechanism that is housed in a small metal piece, whereas open systems are exposed and unprotected. Enclosed tuning machines are more ideal in theory, as they prevent any kind of damage, dust, or rust to affect the mechanism, but both work types of systems work fine.
Buying Tips
There are hundreds of electric guitars out there, and in a way, they’re like snowflakes – each one is different, and different players will all tell you which one they think is the best. The truth is that it’s a completely subjective topic. That’s why it’s most important for buyers to try their instrument out in person before actually making a purchase.
While online stores and services can offer a great advantage of convenience in sending the axe directly to your doorstep, it is most beneficial to go to guitar stores in person and hold the instrument, play it, and see how it feels. Hearing how it sounds and feeling how it plays is the best way to decide if it’s the best instrument for you.