The guitar is a very alluring instrument. There is something special about those six strings and the emotions they conjure, that make the guitar such a popular choice among beginner musicians. The guitar is certainly not an easy instrument to start on. It takes weeks and sometimes months to develop the finger strength and muscle memory to play the first song. Instruments like the piano or drums, at least, have instant gratification. When you press a key or hit a drum you hear the sound you expect. Any beginner guitar player can tell you about the dead notes and buzz they heard before they could make the instrument sound like a guitar. With persistence and patience, anyone can learn how to play the guitar. It doesn’t matter how old you are. There are a lot of free resources available online to get started. Of course, the best way to learn the guitar is with a teacher or in a class. In time, the world of music will begin to unlock on the guitar. Before you know it, you will have the gift of music that you can share for the rest of your life. Before you can become a guitar god, you have to get the right tools. It all starts with your first guitar.
Unless money is no object to you, there is no need to start with a professional quality guitar. Purchasing a guitar and the necessary accessories can get very expensive. This is why I always recommend a starter-pack for a beginner guitarist. These all-in-one packages contain everything you need to get started. You only really need the finesse of a professional guitar if you’re performing or recording. For most people, the stage and studio are few years away from their first lesson. If you stick with the guitar and prove to yourself, or parents, that this is more than just a passing interest, then it might be time to upgrade from your first instrument. The most important step is getting started. The first question to answer is: acoustic or electric?
You can start guitar on either electric or acoustic. They are essentially the same instrument and are played the same way.
An acoustic guitar has a larger body that is hollow inside. This resonant body works like that of a cello or violin and produces a loud sound without the use of any amplification. Beginner acoustic guitars are slightly cheaper than electrics as they are simpler instruments. Acoustic guitars are great for traveling because they don’t need power. While they are relatively quiet, they might be an issue for roommates or close quarters. Some people may argue that acoustic guitars are harder to begin with as they use thicker strings that require more hand strength. If you are very young or have weak hands, electric may be a better option to start.
An electric guitar has a smaller and solid body. The electric guitar uses magnetic pick-ups to convert the vibration of the strings into an electric signal that is then sent to an amplifier via a cable. The amplifier increases the volume and sends the signal to a speaker. Electric guitars are common in rock and roll and popular music. The sound of the electric guitar can be wildly transformed through the use of distortion and effects. The electric guitar is only as loud as the amplifier it is plugged into. While that can be incredibly loud, it can also be very quiet. It can even be run directly into headphones so that you could practice the guitar at 2 AM in a NYC apartment without disturbing any roommates or neighbors.
Don’t worry. This isn’t like picking a college major. You can always buy the other option and then have both. Everything you learn on one instrument will transfer over to the other. You might find some things sound better on acoustic vs. electric or vice-versa. There is a whole lifetime of options to explore in the world of the guitar and you are only limited by your time and budget.
Now that you’ve decided whether to start with acoustic or electric we can get into some affordable options.
Acoustic Starter Packs
The Yamaha Gigmaker Standard F325 Package ($169.99) features the Yamaha F325 spruce-top acoustic guitar with rosewood fingerboard. The starter pack also includes a gig bag so that you can protect the guitar during light travel. A digital tuner is included to help you get your guitar in tune. Tuners are very important for beginner guitarists as it takes a decent amount of practice to tune by ear. A strap is included so that you can wear the guitar while standing up. The included extra strings are necessary because strings will inevitably break. The included guitar picks allow you to start practicing picking and strumming right away. On top of that the kit even includes an instructional DVD to get you through the basics so that you are ready for your first lesson.
The Washburn WD10PACK ($179.99) features a high-quality acoustic guitar. The back and side are constructed using mahogany and features solid Alaskan Sitka spruce or cedar tops. The mahogany neck has a rosewood fingerboard that matches the rosewood bridge. A dual-action truss rod makes neck adjustments simple, and the die-cast tuners help keep the tuning stable even with heavy strumming. The guitar comes set up with D’Addario EXP-16 light-gauge phosphor bronze strings. The package includes a digital tuner, gig bag, guitar strap, picks, and an instructional DVD.
The Yamaha Gigmaker Deluxe FD01S Package ($199.99) features a guitar that is a step up from the standard package mentioned above. The FD01S is a premium spruce solid-top acoustic. Nato, also known as eastern mahogany, is used for the neck, back, and sides. Rosewood is used for the fretboard and the matching bridge. This guitar has superior tone and projection. This package also comes with everything you need to get started. The kit includes a gig bag, digital tuner, strap, strings, picks, and an instructional DVD.
Electric Starter Packs
The Pyle PEGKT15 Package ($129) is the most affordable electric guitar option. The electric guitar features a double-cutaway with a basswood body, a rosewood fretboard, and a maple neck. The guitar has three switchable single coil pickups. The kit also includes a 10-watt practice amplifier. This small amplifier features a three-band equalizer and an overdrive for rock guitar sounds. This starter kit also includes picks, gig bag, extra strings, strap, and a digital tuner.
The Squier Stratocaster Pack ($199.99) features a Squier Affinity series Stratocaster guitar. Squier is the consumer line of Fender. Fender is one of the leading manufacturers of professional guitars. They developed two of the most iconic electric guitars of all time: the Stratocaster and Telecaster. In this package, you get a Stratocaster that is endorsed by Fender but utilizes more cost effective components and productions techniques in order to pass the savings on to the customer. The guitar is available in black and brown sunburst. The Squier Strat features three single-coil pickups, a rock-solid bolt-on maple neck, and a rosewood fingerboard. This package comes with a Fender Frontman 10G amp with a 6” speaker. The amp has a three-band equalizer, adjustable overdrive, an auxiliary input to play along with your iPhone, and a headphone jack for quiet practice. This kit also comes with a gig bag, ¼” cable, strap, picks, and an instructional DVD.
The Squier Telecaster Pack ($249.99) features an Affinity series Telecaster made by Squier with the approval of Fender. As mentioned above, the Telecaster and Stratocaster are two of the most timeless guitar designs. Squier utilizes the original Fender designs with modern manufacturing to deliver an iconic instrument at a beginner price. The guitar is available in butterscotch blonde and brown sunburst. The Tele features two single-coil pickups and a bolt-on maple neck. This package includes the slightly larger 15G amp with an 8” speaker. This amp features two channels for “normal” and “drive”. The adjustable gain control allows you dial in the distortion. This amp also features an auxiliary input as well as a headphone jack. This kit also comes with a gig bag, ¼” cable, strap, picks, digital tuner, and an instructional DVD.
The Squier Stratocaster Pack Deluxe ($349.99) is a step-up in guitar and amp from their basic packages. This premium Stratocaster is available in brown sunburst and candy apple red. The Strat features a humbucking bridge pickup, for tonal options and decreased noise. Additionally, it has a single-coil neck and middle pickups. The pickup set-up gives this Strat the nickname HSS for humbucker, single, single. The HSS Strat also features a bolt-on maple neck with rosewood fingerboard. This package includes fender’s 15-watt G-DEC Junior amp. This amp features 16 amp types, 15 effects presets, and 15 accompaniment loops. These loops have different patterns in rock, blues, jazz, metal, country, Latin, hip-hop, and more. These patterns allow you to practice playing along and improvising without having to invite anyone else over. The different amp types and effects allow you to explore the different tonal option that the guitar can create. The amp also features a metronome, key selector, adjustable tempo controls, separate volume controls for guitar and backing loops, a built-in tuner, as well as auxiliary and headphone jack. To top it off this premium kit also comes with a gig bag, ¼” cable, strap, and picks.
Wrap Up
A lot of people ask, “Why not get a better guitar to start if you’re ultimately going to replace it?” Unfortunately, many students don’t continue with guitar beyond the beginner level. The next step up in guitar quality isn’t just another $50 or $100; it is a serious price increase. A standard Fender Stratocaster starts at around $599. Remember, this is just the guitar. The amp and accessories are not included. The Blues Junior is a relatively small tube amp by Fender and it is priced at $529. In order to make a pro-quality starter pack, you would need to drop over $1100 and that doesn’t even include cables and accessories. I don’t know about you, but it would hurt to drop over a grand on something that might just collect dust in the corner. You might say, “Well, I can always sell the guitar if it doesn’t work out.” Just like cars, new guitars lose a substantial amount of their value when they leave the store. Only old (vintage) and rare guitars appreciate in value. Hopefully, you stick with the guitar and grow your skills beyond your starter pack. As you develop as a guitarist, your ears will become more aware of the tonal differences. Your hands will start to feel the subtle nuances in different guitars. You might say, “How will I know when I should upgrade my guitar?” The answer to that is simple. When you are ready for a more serious instrument, you will just know.
