Advice for beginners on choosing a guitar.

[mattlevy]

1. I agree about the benefit of humbuckers with coiltaps for versatility (coiltaps split a humbucker, which is fuller and more bassy, into a singlecoil, which is crisper).  It can take a while for a new guitarist to hear these differences in tone, so it is nice for them to be able to play around with a wider range of sounds. 

2.  I also agree about sticking to a hardtail rather than having a vibrato.  Having to tune all the time can be discouraging and being distracted by the tremolo is not good.  Better to learn to get a variety of vibrato with your fingers. 

3.  I also think getting a used Korean-made guitar like a Schecter C/SH-1 is a good idea.  Well-made cheap laminates are surprisingly durable.  The necks are SO EASY to play.  And they are easy to resell because they have a good and deserved reputation.  I also think a little Vox Valvatronix is a good idea because of the versatility at a low price.  See number one.

4.  Also, though, I think it is good for a guitar to just be exciting to hold in your hand. 

[6stringotherwoman]

 I currently own four guitars but have had many and I only buy guitars one way........
  I go into the store allowing myself enough time to really get a good look around. Never be rushed. Ok, so I might be drawn to the pretty guitars at first but my main concern is the sound and feel. (Of course)
 Take each one down and hold it, see if it's comfortable....thickness of the neck, sharp frets, action (Height of strings). Then I will play it both 'Clean' and with distortion using all pickup selections. Then I check the harmonics......including pick harmonics. If I can feel the vibration through the body of the electric I know it's a good start.
 My best advice is take your time....If it feels nice and I am happy with the tone etc I will put it aside and try another. This usually pisses my wife off something fierce.....then I will compare the ones I have chosen.
 Yeah this seems too much for some people but I refuse to get home with something I have usually saved a while to get and then be unhappy with it.
 I have been very lucky so far and my guitar I own range in price quite dramaticly but they all play beautifully...I even have a No-Name SG style copy that plays like a dream and I will never get rid of.
 My only other rule is ALWAYS buy the actual guitar you played. Not one just like it still in the box out back because there can be drastic changes in playablity and tone between two 'Identical' guitars. Maybe the luthier who made the guitar you are holding had a good day (Maybe he got laid the night before who knows) but it does make a difference.
 Don't let price fool you either as I have played a few $1500 guitars that were horrible.
  In fact of of my favorite guitars is an old Les Paul Jr with chips in the side and severe buckle rash I bought at a yard sale and this thing sings.....

[Larry]

Too many times I have bought a guitar based 80% on looks.  Later I regretted most of those purchases.  The ones I bought based on feel and tone are the ones I still play.  The ones bought for looks collect dust.

[sonofaglitch]

For a beginner I could recommend an Aria 714. Sound-wise its clearly a beginngers guitar, but it feels decent, has a tremolo bridge (which I hate, but most starters love), 2 singlecoils and a splittable humbucker with a 5-way toggle switch. Not bad, all in all. Clearly not the guitar youd want to spend your life with, but its cheap, playable and has many different sounds. (Still no comparing it to my brand new LP Studio )

[gavster23]

Does nobody start on an acoustic anymore? I am a guitar tutor and I advise all my students to get started with a cheap classical nylon strung guitar. 3/4 size if they are young and a full size guitar's too big. Usually find a reasonable guitar on ebay for about £25-£30 The nylon strings are very forgiving on a beginner's fingers so they can play for longer without it hurting as much as steel strings. Everything they learn on the classical will be relevant to an electric which if that's what they want to play then that comes soon after but the nylon strung classical rules for starting on. Zero pose value, low cost high value.

[AnotherBobDylan]

Actually, I don't think it matters what kind of guitar you get for a beginner. You simply get what you pay for. They all come from the same place, probably the same equipment. There are a few exceptions.

1) The bottom line Dean electric has a great flat neck.
2) Guitar Fetish has some great cheap guitars

It really depends on what you want to spend. The bottom line Squires, Epiphones, Ibanez's are all crap. The mid versions of these guitars are good, the higher end are ridiculously overpriced, but sound great.

One to get around this is to buy a crappy guitar with a good neck and put in good pickups.

Oh, if you want a great Les Paul for cheap, get a Agile.

I do like the rules mentioned so far about cheap guitars. I would make a list:

1) Avoid tremolos
2) If you are into metal, get a humbucker guitar
3) Don't buy a bottom of the line Squire or Epiphone LP. 
4) Don't buy a guitar from WalMart, but Best Buy has a great online selection of guitars
5) Avoid starter pack guitars

[Larry]

The problem you have with starter guitars or cheap imports is most of them are not intonated well.  This means even if you use a tuner, your playing won't be "in tune".  Playing out of tune can be discouraging and frustrating.  Having a guitar properly set up can inspire and motivate a player to play more. 

I would still recommend an LTD EC-256.  as a great beginner guitar.  Right now out of my 2 dozen guitars, it's the one I play 90% of the time.

[ShredMetalRoman]

for a beginner guitar, shecters with splitable humbuckers would do great.  The beginner can explore single coil and humbucker sound.  Schecters usually are setup pretty well and they usually have low fretbuzz.  Some people may quit because they have crap equitment so it is important in choosing a guitar that is easy to play.  They are easy to play, they have fast necks, comfortable body, a rosewood or ebony fretboard, and have 24 frets so the beginer can have fun hiting high notes in solos.  Schecters also have personality to them, cool wood pattern on them, some cool binding.  They are also cheap, not as cheap as a squire or guitars that come in starter boxes.  But they are a heck of alot better.

[Mr. Big]

I have to agree that an acoustic is a better beginner
guitar than a schecter.

It's not about the gear, it's about the tone.

But after 3 months a beginner can be ready
for a simple whammy bar.
I do NOT recommend a floyd rose or full
floating bridge for a 3 month beginner!

Beginners hate me.
Especially the way I give lessons.

"Finger excercizes?"
They say.
"I want to learn how to play Stairway to Heaven!"
I'm ready to kick them down the stairs 10 minutes later.

I'm hard on myself too.
I recently said (to myself,)
"What the hell, I need a tuner to tune this $%^& guitar?"
I want to be ready to go w/o all that BS!
Believe me I boned up on my skills and fixed myself before
I went looking for a tuner!

If you want to check your skills,
pick up an acoustic, or better yet,
some sheet music.

[Larry]

I agree that a beginner should stay away from a floyd rose type bridge.  Only because they are harder to string and tune.  It just adds confusion.

[Larry]

I really don't care about the guitar's intonation, ... since I can easily change those stuff.

That is not always the case.  Some guitars just won't setup. 

[tek90]

Jay Turser Guitars are good affordable guitars that are good for all types of players. I think these Guitars are very underrated and can make great beginner guitars.  jayturser.com is their website. I would say these are around the quality of Epiphone and maybe even better. They make everything from Strat, Tele Les Paul, SG, and Acoustic's. Very underrated imo go check them out.

Heres the link again

www.jayturser.com

[thebird55]

What's your price range?

[Mushroony]

Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention please?
Found something on the internet that many beginning guitarists, and even the more advanced ones may find interesting regarding 'what to do when buying a new guitar'.

I edited my post on page one with the tips. They are in red.
http://guitarforum.net/guitarist/index.php/topic,6550.msg68644.html#msg68644