There are probably millions of electric guitars out there today that the average guitar enthusiast can get easily overwhelmed. When you get right down to it, especially if you’re a beginner, buying an electric guitar can get very confusing. This article will function as a basic guide to choosing the right electric guitar for you.

The Wood

Contrary to what some people think, the wood on an electric guitar’s body matters greatly. It’s not just a convenient place to put all those electronics and pickups. It’s basically the soul of your electric guitar’s sound. Below are three types of wood that is made for the body:

• Low-Level. If you don’t have the budget yet, consider getting this type of body wood. Some of them can be damaged easily however, but there are some wood-types, like the Agathis, that have good enough tone.

• Medium-Level. This type happens to be the most common (or popular) type of body wood around. Some of them are very light with a wide range of tones available.

• High-End. This type of wood for the body has usually superior qualities in tone but most of them are very heavy.

Body Types

It’s important to know that there many kinds of body types regardless of what kind of wood they are. Most electric guitars have solid bodies (which are carved out of a single large piece of wood) but there’re other types such as a body wood made up of many pieces that are laminated and glued together. Tone quality is dependent on which type of body you choose.

Pickups

• Single Coil. Single coils are the ones that are usually mounted onto most Fender guitars such as Stratocasters. The sound they make usually has those thin qualities with a twang and therefore makes it ideal for solos that can cut through other instruments in a gig.

• Humbuckers. This type of pickup is basically a double coil. They have warmer tones and are usually the ones mounted onto Gibson guitars (Les Pauls). They are slightly more superior in gain and output compared to those of single coils but is sometimes unable to cut through high tone density especially during concerts.

Neck

• Bolt-ons. Most Fenders have these types of necks. Sustain is dependent on which type of bolt-on you choose. Four bolts have more sustaining power than the one-tip necks.

• Set-Necks. This type actually means that the neck is glued in, as opposed to that of the bolt-ons. They’re usually found in Les Paul guitars and have more sustain than the bolt-on types. Make sure you buy the ones with no glue residue.

• Neck Through. Opposite to that of the bolt-on and set-neck, this type means that the neck and body is one piece of a single large carved wood. This provides superior sustain compared to the other neck types.

Those are the basics. In closing however, you must take into account the controls/electronics of the electric guitar you’re buying. Make sure to test them yourself when you’re shopping. If it makes crackles and weird noises, then you’d better find another one. Also, if you choose to get one with a tremolo or whammy-bar, make sure it can be replaced. And finally, it’s up to you if you want to get a 21-fret guitar, or 22 or 24. It’s all up to you; just make sure that you’re comfortable with what you pick.