Content

• Steps
• Tips
• Warnings

Whether it's the most expensive or the cheapest model, the electric guitar is a musical instrument that can be enjoyed for years if properly cared for.

Steps

1. 1 Check the sound (resonance) of the guitar. This is the very first thing you should pay attention to. First of all, the sound depends on the quality and properties of the wood than on everything else. The pickups can be replaced for a very small fee, but the base of the guitar is still wood. Check the length you can maintain, it all depends on the wood from which the neck is made and how it is installed, this is a very, very important aspect of the sound of a guitar.
2. 2 Don't judge by price. There are expensive guitars that have a brick resonance, but there are also cheap guitars that can be said to actually sing. Old Fender guitars, which cost tens of thousands of rubles today, were previously released as inexpensive solid-body guitars.
3. 3 Feel the fretboard surface singing. When you pluck the strings, you should be able to feel the vibration flowing throughout the guitar. It should last for a few seconds.
4. 4 Remember, most new guitars need tuning; the hum of the strings is normal, the guitar just needs to be tuned. It shouldn't take very long to tune the frets, so make sure everything is set correctly. Keep in mind that the neck can be tuned, just like the level of the strings. The guitar should sound in unison at the 5th and 12th frets (use a tuner).
5. 5 Understand that the neck of the guitar is very important; it should fit comfortably in your hands. You have a number of knobs for adjusting the distance between the low and high G strings. Pay attention to the shape of the back of the neck.
   • For big hands: Gibson 50s, Fender C / U shapes.
   • Slim Arms: 60s-style Gibson, Standard Slim / V Fender.
   • For very thin hands: Ibanez wizard shapes and so on.
6. 6 Please note that the guitar and amplifier function together. They should sound good together. Pickups play a VERY important role here, as they set the amount of 'gain' that is sent to the amp or pedal.
7. 7 Pay attention to the types of pickups used. Humbuckers (double-coil pickups) are an improved version of single-coil pickups. The type of pickup itself is not that important; what matters is how it sounds in combination with the type of wood it is mounted on. Musicians of all styles of music use all kinds of pickup combinations. What matters is the sound that the pickup transmits, the type of wood of the electric guitar, and your preferred body shape. Although, if you are thinking about a certain timbre, then you will have to look for the appropriate pickups; humbuckers are capable of graul-style growls, and single-coil pickups (especially Fender) have more glass a tone that's great for blues.
8. 8 Pay attention to the pickup output power. This is really important. The 'high output' pickups cause the tube amplifier to distort the sound harshly.If you don't have a tube amp, then this 'high output' effect is lost. However, this can be compensated for by pedaling, but in general the effect of a solid-state amplifier will only be expressed as a change in volume level. Old style pickups are weak at medium power output. Typically, these pickups produce a more defined sound due to the fact that they not designed to be hard on the amplifier.

Tips

• Try not to get stuck in the best guitar = best performer loop. If you just can't play, then even the best guitar won't help you. Practice! Practice! Practice! This will enable you to be successful.
• Start with a little marketing research. Read, visit online shops, sites that compare electric guitars, auction sites - all these sources will help you.
• Do not hurry. If you see a guitar for 3000 rubles, then there is probably a reason why it is on sale so cheap!
• What kind of music you want to play has more to do with the style than the guitar itself. However, neck shape and pickup combinations do play an important role in this.
• Always remember that a more expensive guitar does not mean that it is better! Many very common brands simply drive up the price of their tools, while you can get something else for a better price. Don't be fooled by popular brands!
• Don't lose your enthusiasm! Think about what kind of music you intend to play or study. If you want to play loud rock music, then maybe jazz guitar isn't right for you? But remember, if you are choosing your first guitar, then don't buy a very expensive guitar! Later, you may decide that the guitar just isn't the right instrument for you!
• Ask a string instrument maker to help you choose a guitar. Sellers sometimes get a premium for selling certain brands of electric guitars, but the artisan can tell you which models are more problematic than others.
• Set a tight budget - pedals, amps, strings, pickups, and extra pedals cost money - it's so easy to get carried away.
• Inquire about being able to try the guitar you like with its own amp or setup if the store doesn't have the same amp in stock.
• Consider purchasing a used guitar as your first guitar - you won't be losing money.
• Don't get stuck finding the right tone. There are no magic pedals and amplifiers - it's all just hype!

Warnings

• Many inexpensive guitars can be found in major stores, but they often have problems with fret and timbre, so it is best to avoid them if you are looking to buy a worthwhile guitar. While starter packs can be inexpensive and seem like quality items, try not to kid yourself. Amplifiers often provide only limited audio control and are often not worth the money.
• Any review or article about the instrument is only the opinion of one person, another person's favorite guitar may not be liked at all by another. When choosing an electric guitar, it is important that you buy a guitar based on your own taste and not someone else's opinion.
• Be careful when shopping from an online store like eBay or musiciansfriend.com. Don't base your selection on just one person's comments. Read at least five different reviews and then ask musicians you know what they think of the guitar. Generally, the best place to start is to try a guitar in a store to get a feel for it.
• Big-name brands won't save you from choosing a bad guitar. You should test and test the guitar yourself well.