Rock concerts were the rage in the 70’s and they drove innumerable kids to buy their first electric guitars. Today, video games like Rockband2 are having nearly the same effect.
The essence of all good rock music doesn’t just lie with the words; 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, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimmy Page etc. These men are not just some of the best guitarists of their times, they are legends.
If you are interested in discovering how to play the guitar then the first thing you will need to do is buy one. A lot of people start with an acoustic guitar and graduate to the electric. It is sometimes quite tedious for anyone to choose the right electric guitar since there are 100’s of makes out there on the market. If you’re buying an electric guitar then you’ll also need to pick up an amp, pick-ups, picks, a tuner etc.
Electric guitars can be purchased in a vast array of sizes and designs with the aerodynamic designs being some of the most popular. But hold back! Don’t purchase the 1st electric guitar you see. You need to look around and check out the various prices and models before you go and buy one. In actual fact, one of the best ways to choose a guitar is by the brand or by the style. Here is our take on the 4 important styles:
Stratocaster (Better known as a ‘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 prolifically by Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits. The Stratocaster is from Fender and has a neck that is sturdily fastened to the guitar body. Aside from this, it has dual cutaway sides, 22 frets accompanied by a tremolo bar and 3 single-coil pickups. Fender designed the first Strato in the early 50’s. A few of the popular designs are:
* Fender Deluxe Strat: Approx $450 * American Deluxe Stratocaster HSS Electric Guitar: Approx $1250 * Fender Standard Strat Electric Guitar in Maple: Approx $300 * Standard Stratocaster Electric Guitar: Approx $500 * Fender Strat Eric Johnson Signature model: Approx $1800
Telecaster (Also known as the ‘Tele’) – The Telecaster is another creative instrument from Fenders. It is more than just another axe; it is a complete band. It is a solid body guitar and comprises of two pick-ups. The first Telecaster was manufactured by Fender in the 1940’s and has a mono cutaway body. It doesn’t have the tremolo bar but has 2 different single-coil pickups. Some of the popular Telecaster models include:
* Fender American Tele HS guitar: $950-$1150 * Standard Telecaster Guitar: $400-$650 * Fender 63 Tele Relic Solid Body: $2400-$3100 * Fender 72 Telecaster Custom: $750-$800
Gibson Les Paul – This extraordinary guitar was designed by Gibson for some of the rock stars of the era. The striking feature of a Les Paul electric is its set neck construction, which means there are no bolts. The body is a single cutaway and rounded. It is outfitted with dual pickups as well as a elevated scratch-plate. If you want to play perverted sound then this great guitar will provide you with a vast range. Some of the legends who use the Les Pauls include Kirk Hammett (Metallica) and Carlos Santana. Some of the illustrious Les Paul models include:
* Les Paul Custom Electric Guitar: $3050-$3500 * 1959 Les Paul Standard Guitar: $5550-$6000 * Les Paul Vintage Mahogany: $700-$850 * Les Paul Classic Guitar: $1850-$1900
Gibson – Gibson is one of the powerhouse brands in music and all their models are classics that can’t be compared to the others. Gibson was actually started in 1902 by Orville Gibson and has been singly accountable for affording the world some of the most innovative guitars. Some of the famous models include the ES-150 electric and the Gibson Explorer etc. Some of the well known shredders who have shredded on a Gibson include Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin) and Frank Zappa to name just a couple. Some of the popular models include:
* Flying V: $500-$600 * SG 61 Classic Guitar: $1500-$1600 * Faded SG Special Electric: $550-$600 * Gibson Explorer Pro Electric: $1100-$1200
These are some of the best brands of guitars. The other aspects that will help you to pick up a guitar include fretboard, the pick-ups, and the body. Full-bodied guitars are normally favored as they can produce some of the best noises that you will ever get to hear.