Electric Guitar Buying Guide

Finding the right electric guitar is an exciting step for any musician. Whether you're picking up your first guitar, upgrading your current instrument, or adding a new sound to your collection, the right guitar should feel comfortable, sound inspiring, and fit the way you play.

With so many body styles, pickups, neck shapes, bridges, and price points available, choosing an electric guitar can feel overwhelming. This guide covers the key things to consider so you can find an instrument that matches your playing style, preferences, and budget.

Start With Your Playing Style

One of the best ways to narrow down your choices is to think about the music you want to play.

Rock and hard rock: Look for guitars with humbucking pickups, comfortable upper-fret access, and plenty of output. These guitars are well suited to powerful rhythm tones and singing lead sounds.

Blues: Many blues players favor guitars with single-coil or lower-output humbucking pickups that provide touch sensitivity, clarity, and dynamic response.

Country: Bright, articulate single-coil pickups and traditional body designs are popular choices for country, Americana, and roots music.

Jazz: A warm, clean sound is often the priority. Semi-hollow and hollow-body guitars, as well as guitars with warm-sounding humbuckers, are common choices.

Metal: Players looking for aggressive, high-gain tones often choose guitars equipped with powerful humbuckers, fast-playing necks, and hardware designed for stable tuning.

Pop, worship, indie, and general-purpose playing: A versatile guitar with multiple pickup combinations can be an excellent choice when you need a wide range of tones from one instrument.

Of course, there are no hard rules. Almost any electric guitar can be used in many different genres, and your amplifier and effects play a major role in shaping your sound.

Choose the Right Guitar Body Style

The shape and construction of an electric guitar affect its appearance, feel, weight, resonance, and sometimes its tonal character.

Solid-Body Guitars

Solid-body electric guitars are the most common type and are an excellent choice for beginners and experienced players alike. They tend to be versatile, durable, and well suited to everything from clean tones to heavy distortion.

Semi-Hollow Guitars

Semi-hollow guitars feature a partially hollow body with a solid center block. They can offer a distinctive combination of warmth, resonance, and sustain, making them popular for blues, rock, jazz, and alternative styles.

Hollow-Body Guitars

Hollow-body guitars have a fully hollow construction and are particularly associated with jazz, blues, rockabilly, and vintage-inspired sounds. They can produce rich, resonant tones but may be more susceptible to feedback at high volume and gain.

Understand Electric Guitar Pickups

Pickups are one of the biggest factors in an electric guitar's sound. They capture the vibration of the strings and convert it into an electrical signal that is then shaped by your amplifier and effects.

Single-Coil Pickups

Single-coil pickups are known for their bright, articulate, and detailed sound. They're commonly associated with blues, country, rock, pop, and funk.

One tradeoff is that traditional single-coil pickups can produce more audible hum than humbuckers, particularly around certain sources of electrical interference.

Humbucking Pickups

Humbuckers use two coils to reduce unwanted electrical hum. They generally produce a thicker, fuller sound with more output than traditional single-coils and are popular for rock, hard rock, jazz, and metal.

P-90 Pickups

P-90s occupy a useful middle ground. They have the punch and character of a single-coil while generally sounding thicker and more aggressive. They're a great option for players who want something distinctive and versatile.

Pickup Configurations

Electric guitars are available with many pickup combinations, including:

• SS: Two single-coils for bright, articulate tones.
• HH: Two humbuckers for powerful, full-bodied sounds.
• HSS: A humbucker with two single-coils for a particularly versatile setup.
• HSH: Humbucker-single-humbucker configurations offer a broad tonal palette.

If you're unsure where to start, a versatile pickup configuration can give you more options as you discover your own sound.

Pay Attention to the Neck

The neck is where you'll spend most of your time physically interacting with the guitar, so it deserves as much attention as the pickups.

Neck Shape

Necks come in a variety of profiles, from slim and fast-playing shapes to thicker, more substantial profiles. Neither is inherently better — the best shape is the one that feels comfortable in your hand.

Scale Length

Scale length is the distance between the nut and bridge. It influences string tension and the overall feel of the guitar.

A longer scale generally produces greater string tension at the same tuning and string gauge, while a shorter scale can feel a little more relaxed. Scale length can also influence the guitar's tonal character.

Number of Frets

Most electric guitars have either 21, 22, or 24 frets. More frets provide additional range for lead playing, while guitars with fewer frets may offer a more traditional playing experience.

Fingerboard Material

You'll find electric guitars with fingerboards made from a variety of woods and other materials. While fingerboard material can contribute to the guitar's feel and appearance, factors such as pickups, construction, strings, setup, and your amplifier have a much larger effect on the overall sound.

Consider the Bridge and Tuning Hardware

The bridge and tuners play important roles in tuning stability, intonation, string changes, and overall playing feel.

Fixed bridges are straightforward, stable, and generally easy to maintain. They're an excellent choice for beginners and players who want simple, dependable hardware.

Tremolo bridges allow you to raise or lower the pitch of notes and chords using an arm. They can add expressive effects but may require additional setup and maintenance.

Locking tremolo systems can provide excellent tuning stability for players who frequently use dramatic pitch effects. However, they can be more complicated to restring and adjust.

If this is your first electric guitar, don't feel pressured to choose a complicated bridge system. A simple, reliable bridge can make learning and maintaining your instrument easier.

Don't Overlook Comfort

A guitar can have all the features you want on paper and still not be the right instrument if it doesn't feel good to play.

Consider:

• Overall weight
• Body shape
• Neck thickness and profile
• Fret size
• Upper-fret access
• Balance when standing
• Control placement
• String spacing

If possible, spend some time holding and playing a guitar before buying it. Comfort matters because a guitar that feels good is a guitar you're more likely to pick up and play.

How Much Should You Spend?

You don't need to spend a fortune to get a great electric guitar. Today's entry-level and mid-priced instruments can offer excellent playability, reliable hardware, and impressive sounds.

Beginner Electric Guitars

If you're learning to play, prioritize comfort, playability, tuning stability, and versatility. You don't necessarily need every premium feature.

Intermediate Players

If you've been playing for a while, you may want to invest in better hardware, upgraded pickups, a more refined neck, or a particular body style that complements your playing.

Professional and High-End Guitars

At the higher end of the market, you're often paying for premium materials, craftsmanship, detailed finishing, specialized electronics, and refined construction. These differences can be meaningful to experienced players who know exactly what they want.

The most expensive guitar isn't automatically the best guitar for you. The best value is the instrument that inspires you to play.

Remember the Rest of Your Setup

An electric guitar is only one part of your rig. If you're buying your first electric guitar, remember to budget for the essentials:

• Amplifier
• Instrument cable
• Guitar strap
• Picks
• Tuner
• Extra strings
• Gig bag or case

You may also eventually want pedals, a pedalboard, a capo, a guitar stand, or other accessories.

Your amplifier has a significant influence on your sound, so it's worth considering the guitar and amp as a complete setup rather than choosing the guitar in isolation.

New or Used?

Both new and used electric guitars can be excellent choices.

A new guitar gives you the benefit of current manufacturer warranties and the opportunity to select an instrument in the exact specifications you want.

A used guitar can provide access to discontinued models, vintage instruments, upgraded guitars, or higher-end equipment at a different price point.

When shopping used, inspect the neck, frets, electronics, bridge, tuners, and overall condition. If you're unsure what to look for, a knowledgeable music retailer can help you evaluate an instrument.

Don't Forget the Setup

Even a great guitar may benefit from a professional setup. A setup can address things such as neck relief, string height, intonation, pickup height, and other adjustments that affect playability.

If a guitar feels uncomfortable or difficult to play, don't immediately assume the instrument isn't right for you. Sometimes a proper setup can make a dramatic difference. Metz Music performs a "standard" setup on each guitar in our store, and adjustments to the setup are included when you shop with us!

The Best Electric Guitar Is the One You'll Play

Specs are useful, but they don't tell the whole story. The right electric guitar should make you want to pick it up and play.

Think about the music you want to make, choose a guitar that feels comfortable, consider the sounds you want from your pickups, and stay within a budget that makes sense for you. If you're still unsure, talk with a knowledgeable guitar specialist who can help you compare your options.

Whether you're buying your first electric guitar or searching for your next favorite instrument, Metz Music is here to help you find a guitar that fits your music, your playing style, and your goals.