How to Choose Your First Electric Guitar: Tips to Get It Right
We know that choosing an electric guitar is not easy for anyone. There are countless options on the market, and that can make the search more difficult than it seems. At Mat Guitars, we want to help make this process easier and more enjoyable.
Whether you are just getting started and looking for a beginner electric guitar, or you are already a more advanced player searching for something special, at Mat Guitars you will find a wide catalogue of electric guitars with models to suit all kinds of needs.
In this buying guide, we are focusing on how to choose your first guitar, although many of these same ideas can be applied at any level.
- 1. What style of music do you want to play?
- 2. What do you need in order to start playing?
- 3. The size of your guitar
WHAT STYLE OF MUSIC DO YOU WANT TO PLAY?
The first thing to think about when choosing your first guitar is simple: what kind of music would you like to play?
Even though versatility is usually a big priority, it is true that some guitar models are more naturally suited to certain styles than others.
Besides the materials used in construction, one of the most important factors shaping the sound of a guitar is its pickup configuration. Let’s take a quick look at that.
SINGLE-COIL VS HUMBUCKER PICKUPS
Single-coil pickups usually give you a thinner, brighter and more sparkling sound. They work especially well for clean tones and lighter levels of gain.
On the other hand, humbuckers usually provide a higher output level and a warmer tone, with more emphasis on mid and low frequencies. They tend to work especially well with distortion.
POP / BLUES
In styles such as pop, blues and even some forms of rock, guitar tones often range from clean sounds to light overdrive. If these are the styles you are most drawn to, we would recommend looking for a solid-body guitar with single-coil pickups.
Tele-style and Strat-style guitars are especially well suited to these genres, as they work brilliantly for both clean sounds and more lightly driven tones.
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Fender Squier Sonic Telecaster California Blue
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At Mat Guitars, we believe Strat-style guitars are among the best choices for a first electric guitar. The fact that many of them feature three pickups gives them an extra level of versatility that many other designs simply do not offer.
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Fender Squier Affinity Stratocaster MN Olympic White
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ROCK / HARD ROCK
If you are after a heavier and generally more distorted sound, then you should look at guitars that feature at least one humbucker pickup.
These guitars tend to offer a higher output and a warmer sound, with more emphasis on the midrange.
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Another highly recommended option is a Strat-style guitar with an HSS configuration, meaning two single-coils and one humbucker. This gives you the best of both worlds and allows your guitar to cover a very wide tonal range.
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METAL / PROG
For darker, more aggressive and more progressive styles, the best option is a guitar with high-output pickups. In these cases, the look of the instrument also tends to matter a lot, as many players are drawn to guitars with a more aggressive aesthetic.
Brands such as Jackson and Ibanez offer exactly this kind of instrument at accessible prices, making them a great entry point into these styles.
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Ibanez GRX120SP Metallic Light Blue Matte
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WHAT DO I NEED TO START PLAYING?
An electric guitar can make sound acoustically on its own, without being connected to any gear, but if you want the full experience, you will need a few extra components to sound the way this instrument is meant to sound.
AMPLIFIER
The amplifier is a fundamental part of the signal chain. Whether it is a physical amp or a virtual solution, you will need one in order to reach usable volume levels and shape your sound properly.
The amp has a direct influence on your final tone, so it is important to think about the kind of sound you want before buying one, just as you would when choosing the guitar itself.
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TUNER
A tuner is essential for playing guitar, especially when you are starting out. Keeping your guitar in tune is basic, but absolutely necessary if you want to sound right and train your ear properly.
Although it is possible to tune by ear, it is much more advisable to use a tuner for greater accuracy. Among the different types available, we especially recommend a clip-on tuner.
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These tuners work by vibration, so your guitar does not need to be plugged in to tune it.
CABLE
To connect your guitar to the amplifier, you will need a standard jack-to-jack cable, also known as a 6.3 mm TS cable.
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Armour Standard GS10 Guitar Cable
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The better the cable, the better its durability, resistance to damage and signal transmission. There is no need to start with a very expensive cable, but it is important to learn how to care for it properly and coil it correctly.
Here is an example of a higher-quality cable:
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Planet Waves AMSGRA10 American Stage
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EFFECTS
Effects are a very important part of the electric guitar world. Through them, we achieve sounds and textures that would be impossible to recreate with an acoustic guitar or without extra processing.
Usually, when we talk about effects, the first thing that comes to mind is distortion or overdrive, meaning the saturation of the guitar signal that produces that unmistakable electric guitar sound.
Modulation and ambience effects such as chorus, delay, reverb and tremolo are also very common.
Many electric guitar amplifiers already come with built-in effects. Effects are also available in pedal format, whether as individual stompboxes or as multi-effects units.
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Line 6 Spider V 20 MkII Amplifier
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If you are just getting started, we would recommend either an amplifier with built-in effects or a compact multi-effects unit that lets you begin experimenting with different sounds and atmospheres.
While it does not fully replace the experience of using separate individual pedals, it is still a very practical way to discover what kind of effects best fit your playing style.
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The Zoom MS-70CDR+ is a very interesting option for players who want to explore more spacious sounds, textures and ambient effects without overcomplicating their setup. Its compact size makes it easy to fit into almost any rig, and its effect library makes it a very useful tool for practising, experimenting and discovering the sounds you enjoy most.
THE SIZE OF YOUR GUITAR
There are also reduced-size guitars designed especially for younger players. These are usually referred to as mini guitars. Brands such as Squier and Jackson offer this type of model, making it possible to get started with electric guitar from a very early age.
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Squier Mini Strat Electric Guitar
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Jackson JS1X Rhoads Minion Electric Guitar in Black
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Now that we have covered the main foundations for making the right choice, we can move on to the beginner models we like most for players getting started on this instrument.
To finish, we show you a selection we have put together at Mat Guitars of electric guitars for beginners.
And if you need advice, we are here to help with any questions you may have:
Phone: +34 954 902 550
Email: info@matguitars.com
Whatsapp: +34 647 639 532
Contact: Contact form
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