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Friday, June 26, 2009

A Buyers Guide to Buying Their Next Electric Guitar

By Kyle Zoltowski

Rock gigs were all the rage in the 80's and they pushed numerous kids to buy their first guitars. Now, video games like Guitar Hero World Tour are having nearly the same effect.

The heart and soul of all classic rock music doesn't just lie with the lyrics; it also lies with the electric guitar and the various sounds that it can produce. There are so many kids across the block who would give anything to play like Ritchie Blackmore, Carlos Santana, Angus Young etc. These men are not just some of the best guitarists of their times, they are legends.

If you are interested in learning how to play the guitar then the first thing you will need to do is select one. Most people start with an acoustic guitar and graduate to the electric guitar. It is quite tedious for someone new to choose the right guitar right off the bat since there are literally 100's of brands out there on the market. If you are getting an electric guitar then you will also need to pick up an amp, pick-ups, picks, a tuner, perhaps an effects pedal etc.

Electric guitars can be purchased in a lot of colors and designs with the aerodynamic designs being one of the most popular. Do not purchase the 1st guitar you see. You need to spend time looking around and check out the various prices and models before you go and buy one. In fact, one of the coolest ways to choose a guitar is by the brand or by the style. Here's our take on the four important styles:

Stratocaster (Also known as the 'Strat') - This certainly is a show stealer and has a typical style. The most famous is the red and white color combination, which was used regularly by Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits. The Strato is from Fender and has a neck that is sturdily attached to the guitar's body. Apart from this, it has dual cutaway sides, 22 frets accompanied by a wammy bar and 3 pickups. Fender designed the first Stratocaster in the early 50's. A few of the popular designs are:

* Deluxe Stratocaster: Approx $650 * American Deluxe Stratocaster HSS in Rosewood: Approx $1250 * Fender Standard Strat Electric: Approx $300 * Fender Standard Stratocaster Electric Guitar: Approx $550 * Fender Strat Eric Johnson Signature model: Approx $1700

Telecaster (Also known as the 'Tele') - The Telecaster is another great instrument from Fenders. It is more than just another axe; it is more like a complete band. It is a solid body guitar and comprises of twin pick-ups. The first Telecaster was constructed by Fender in the 40's and has a single cutaway body. It doesn't have the wammy bar but has two different single-coil pickups. Some of the popular Telecaster models include:

* Fender American Tele HS: $950-$1050 * Fender Standard Telecaster: $350-$650 * Fender 63 Tele Relic Solid Body Electric: $2650-$3200 * Fender 72 Telecaster Custom: $700-$850

Gibson Les Paul - This phenomenal guitar was designed by Gibson for some of the stars of the era. The prominent feature of a Gibson Les Paul electric is its set neck, which means there are no bolts. The body is a single cutaway and rounded. It is fitted out with 2 humbucker pickups as well as a raised scratch-plate. If you want to play perverted sound then the Les Paul will provide you with a varied range. Some of the legends who use the Les Pauls include Eric Clapton and Slash (ex-GNR). Some of the renowned Les Paul models include:

* Les Paul Custom Guitar: $3000-$3500 * 1959 Les Paul Standard Electric Guitar: $5500-$6000 * Les Paul Vintage Mahogany Electric: $700-$800 * Les Paul Classic Electric: $1850-$1950

The Gibson Brand - Gibson is one of the greatest brands in guitar and all their models are absolute classics that shoud not be compared to the others. Gibson guitar company was actually started in 1902 by Orville Gibson and has been responsible for giving us some of the most innovative acoustic and electric guitars. A couple of the famous models include the arch-top Gibson L5 model and the Flying V etc. Some of the well known guitarists who have shredded on a Gibson or are still using it include Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin) and Frank Zappa to name just a couple. Some of the popular Gibson models include:

* Flying V Electric Guitar: $500-$600 * SG 61 Classic Guitar: $1500-$1600 * Gibson Faded SG Special Guitar: $550-$600 * Explorer Pro Guitar: $1100-$1200

These are some of the most well known brands of guitars. The other aspects that will help you to pick up a guitar include fretboard, the sound of the pick-ups, and the body shape. Full-bodied electrics are generally favored as they can produce some of the best audio that you will ever get to hear. - 18762

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