On this page, we will look at some electric guitar models for beginner at very affordable prices, and the factors we should take into account when buying a cheap guitar without failing in the attempt.
Floyd Rose: Yes or No, on a Beginner Electric Guitar?
To begin with, an inexpensive electric guitar for beginners can never have a Floyd Rose-style bridge. Be clear about this.
If you see a $200 guitar with a double locking tremolo in a store, my advice is to discard it without further ado. Since a quality Floyd Rose bridge would cost more than the total price of the guitar, it stands to reason that the bridge will probably only cause problems. Apart from the discomfort and adjustment complications that these types of bridges tend to cause, which a beginner should never get involved in.
If it’s too late and you’ve already purchased a guitar of this style and category, you can always block the bridge with two pieces of wood before leaving the instrument forgotten on top of the wardrobe.
Most Appropriate Bridge for a Beginner Electric Guitar
A fixed bridge would be the most suitable option for our first guitar, as it will provide stable tuning and is less expensive than other bridge models. This means we will generally get a better instrument for the same price, or the same instrument at a more affordable price.
Signature Guitars: Yes or No?
Signature models also make the product more expensive, since the guitarist who lends their name to the model in question will also want to be paid. So we are not interested in very cheap Signature models. We want to optimize all our money on our guitar.
Guitars with Floating Bridges
If you are interested in a guitar with a floating bridge, my advice for beginners would be to simply discard the tremolo arm. Remove the arm, store it in a drawer, add a few more springs to the back so that the bridge fits snugly against the body of the guitar, and you’re good to go.
The cost of each spring is approximately two dollars, so it would not be a significant investment, and our guitar will have better tone and resonance, and will perform with the same tuning stability as a fixed bridge.
Neck-Body Joint for Beginner Electric Guitar:
The most economical connection between the neck and body is the bolt-on connection. So you can be sure that our low-cost guitar will be assembled using this system.
This isn’t necessarily a negative thing, as it’s characteristic of classic models like the Telecaster, Stratocaster, and Superstrat. However, in other types of guitars like the Les Paul or SG, it does detract from the classic qualities of these models, since the classic joint on these guitars isn’t screwed, but glued, known as a set-in joint.
Often, guitar specifications and features detail these designations, which indicate the instrument’s qualities, so it’s worth knowing them.
However, the SG or Les Paul models may not be the most appropriate for a beginner, due to their limited versatility. In my opinion, a guitar with a wider range of sounds, one that can be used to play different musical genres, would be more advisable.
Electric Guitar Pickup Configuration for Beginner
The most versatile pickup configuration for a guitar would be the HSS, or Humbucker Single Single. This allows for a full-bodied sound in the neck position, a “quack” sound when both single pickups are engaged simultaneously, and a balanced sound when the middle pickup is engaged.
Very characteristic sounds of Fender models, and we will also have a double-coil pickup in the bridge position, to obtain Gibson-style sounds.
Best Electric Guitars for Beginner
Squier Bullet Strat HSS
A guitar that meets all these requirements at an unbeatable price is the Squier Bullet Strat HSS ($200). It’s also available in SSS versions, with a floating or fixed bridge.
I’m not entirely convinced by this type of fixed bridge, because the strings don’t pass through the guitar’s body. So I’d go for the floating bridge model, since the price is similar, and you do what I mentioned above.
As you can see, this guitar looks exactly like a Fender Stratocaster, as Squier is a subsidiary of Fender, and is authorized to use the original design. It’s a guitar with good looks, with a basswood body, a 9.5-inch fingerboard radius, and a maple neck with a slim C profile for greater comfort.
I honestly think it would be very difficult to find a better beginner’s guitar for this price.
Yamaha Pacifica 012: Best Electric Guitar for Beginners Most Popular
The Yamaha Pacifica 012 is another highly recommended model, with which you can play practically any musical genre. It’s one of the most recognized and popular beginner guitar models since its launch in 1990, so there must be a reason. The Yamaha Pacifica 012 costs around 230 dollars.
Cort G110
If you need a guitar very similar to the previous one but even more affordable, you can find the Cort G110 for around $250. This model like the Yamaha, simply has a master volume and tone control simplifying the guitar. Perfect for beginners who don’t need unnecessary complications.
The neck-to-body connection is screwed, but the metal plate is omitted. This way, the screws are embedded in the wood, and the heel is smoothed for easier access to the lower part of the neck.
Ibanez GSA60
For about 250 dollars we have the Ibanez GSA60 WNF with a modern and elegant design.
Very similar in features and price to the previous model but with 24 frets, we have the Ibanez GRG140.
Very affordable and functional guitars, with very attractive designs.
These suggestions are enough, as the important thing is to learn how to look at a guitar beyond its finishes, which details are truly important, which factors are of interest to us, and which qualities to discard, in a guitar for someone new to the world of electric guitar.
I could have gone into detail with different models for different styles, but I think you would have gotten even more confused, and I would have increased your indecision when choosing. So for me, the ideal guitar for a beginner is one that offers the greatest versatility, simplicity, and the ability to play all kinds of music.
Other Electric Guitar Brands