If you are a complete guitar beginner, then we would not suggest you go out and buy a guitar worth hundreds or thousands of pounds.
You must also bear in mind though, that some cheap guitars are really not very good and probably not worth the money you pay for them - so here is a simple guide to help you make a more informed decision.
Firstly, here is a little background into what determines the price and quality of guitars.
One of the main factors which determines the price of a guitar is the woods used in its construction - cheaper guitar bodies are made from plywood or laminates.
As the price increases so to does the quality of the woods used, such as cedar, spruce and rosewoods.
These latter woods will also age well, with the sound of the guitar improving with time, unlike the cheaper variety which are at their best when new.
As a beginner, there is little harm in buying a plywood guitar.
The guitar should be solid with no loose bits inside - give the guitar a small shake to test this.
The guitar's neck should also be straight.
This can be checked by sighting along its length.
The frets can also be checked by running your fingers along the edge of each side of the neck to ensure it is smooth.
Each fret position should be checked to make sure that there is no buzzing of strings.
To do this, simply play a note at every single fret position on the board, ensuring you place your finger close behind each fret.
The action of the guitar (the height of the strings off the fret board) is down to personal choice, but it is recommended that you pick a guitar with a low action/strings near the fingerboard, as this will make playing a little easier.
Here are the main points to consider when choosing and picking your first guitar: 1.
What are you willing to spend? Knowing what your budget is will speed up the process for both yourself and the sales person.
If you tell the sales guy or girl your budget, they will have an immediate idea of the brands which fall into your budget.
If you're just starting out, you shouldn't really need to spend a lot of money to buy a good quality first guitar.
Between £100-£200 will get you a more than decent electric guitar and don't waste time looking at more expensive models.
Most guitar players have 3, 4 or even 5 different guitars - you can always upgrade later! 2.
What Style/Type of guitar do you want? Decide which type and style and even colour guitar you like.
Most beginners will go for a similar guitar to that of their idols - so do some research online; look at what guitars your favourite bands play and see which electric guitars you prefer.
There are not that many styles to choose from, so it won't be long before you settle on the shape, style and colour.
Guitars which you see and like online, may not be as appealing once you have them in your hands - so be open minded.
3.
Research your brand preference Like any other merchandises, guitar price and quality differs according to their brands.
Famous brands will cost you more money, but provide you with better quality.
Brands such as Fender have a wide range of pricing, from just over £100 to £1000+.
We would suggest that you select your first guitar from the low-end price of a well-known brand.
The brand gives you piece of mind over quality and the price will be still under your budget.
4.
How to screen out the bad ones How is the action? As mentioned previously, the action is simply how high or low the strings are set on the fretboard and will greatly affect the playability.
If the strings are set too high they will be difficult to push down and you may struggle to play the instrument comfortably.
On the other hand, if the strings are set too low they may interfere with the frets and cause a buzzing sound as you play.
Checking the action: use the first finger of your left hand to play each string at every fret up and down the neck.
Do you here any buzzes? Is it easy to push the string down? Is the neck straight? A straight neck means the intonation will be consistent.
In other words, when a specific note or chord is played at different points along the neck it will remain in tune.
A crooked neck will result in the notes or chords sounding out of tune at different points along the neck.
Checking the neck: look along it's edge.
Begin from the base of the body and continue on up to the base of the head.
You should see a straight line.
If you don't, the neck may be bowed, twisted, or warped.
5.
How does the neck feel in your hand? Necks come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so you will need to determine what feels comfortable to you.
Some necks are round and some have a v-shape angle to them.
When you cradle the neck in your hand be aware of the fit.
Thin necks tend to be easier for small hands, but are generally not as strong as heavier ones.
Once you have found the right electric guitar and you are happy with they way it plays and feels - there is only more thing to do - haggle!