I am interested in learning to play the guitar, and would like to know what are some good models/brands I should look for. I am on a budget, so I want something relatively affordable without skimping on quality. What are some suggestions?
K bro. When looking for a first guitar, you look for quality, but mostly sound. I find that the companies that make quality, good sounding guitars are Fender (of course), Schecter, Epiphone (not so much), and Paul Reed Smith has a couple beginner models. These are of course the big electric guitar companies. A nice Fender on a budget would be Mexican made of course. It’s not as bad as it sounds. These will run you about $350-$600. Which is a VERY nice first guitar. Schecter’s will run you about the same but go up to about $800. Make note that Fenders sound totally different from Schecters. Epiphone makes decent models of it’s superior, Gibson. Any model of Epiphone like the SG, or even better, Les Paul will cost you up in the $400-$500 range. Paul Reed Smith has an SE model which is made for beginners and looks gorgeous ($600). These are very, very nice FIRST guitars. If you want to go lower, there’s always the counterpart to Fender, Squire, which makes alright Stratocasters (most popular Fender model). These are about $150-$300. Not a bad first guitar. Epiphone SG’s are pretty cheap at about $200.
For acoustics, you’re going to want to pay at least $150. To be honest, unless you’re breaking the $400, and as long as you don’t buy a piece of junk (heavily used), then it doesn’t matter what brand of acoustic you buy.
I suggest you go to your local Guitar Center and check out the brands listed above. These guitars are all much better than what I had started out with. If you’re really interested in learning this great instrument, I suggest you go ahead and bite the bullet. Try going for the Schecter C-1 series or the Mexican Fender Stratocaster. Maybe even the Paul Reed Smith SE. Even guitar players with years of experience know that these guitars are not pieces of crap and will last you a long time. I say you should buy the more expensive ones because you don’t want to get discouraged by a poor sounding, or poorly built guitar and quit playing altogether. But if you’re going to go for the more conservative, safe buy, try the Squire Stratocasters or the Epihone SG or Les Paul.
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Search/Default.aspx?internal=1&src=squire&Search.x=0&Search.y=0&Search=Go (Squire)
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Search/Default.aspx?internal=1&src=Paul+Reed+Smith+SE&Search.x=0&Search.y=0&Search=Go (PRS)
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Schecter-Guitar-Research-C-1-Limited-Electric-Guitar-583260-i1474422.gc (Schecter, a pretty guitar)
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender,Solid-Body-Electric-Electric-Guitar,300-500.gc?src=Stratocaster (Fender, reliable, great sounding)
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Electric-Guitar-Guitar.gc?src=Epiphone (Epiphone, might want to check out those hollow bodies too, they sound wonderful)
These are the foundation brands of beginner guitarists. Check them ALL out.
Hope this helped,
Mike
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