How to Buy an Electric Guitar
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Electric Guitar Buying Guide
But you are confused how to choose a good and qualified electric guitar.
Because unlike the acoustic guitar, electric guitar had many of the devices that determine how the sound of the guitar itself.
How To Buy an Electric Guitar
Here are some points to consider in choosing and buy electric guitar:
Come to a musical instrument shop for browse and window shopping..
When you are interested in a guitar which is displayed in that store.
Ask the shopkeeper and say you want to try it.
But first, ask the shopkeeper for tuning those guitar. Because, usually guitar strings that displayed at the music store are in a loose condition.
If you already hold the guitar, it's time for you to try and check it out.
Best Electric Guitar
Gibson ES-137 Classic Electric Guitar
Blues Burst
Laminated curly maple body,
Maple neck Mahogany center block to
reduce feedback and add sustain
Amazon Price: $2,299.00
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Ibanez Joe Satriani
Joe Satriani 20th Anniversary
Product Features;
Neck Material: Maple
Neck Type: JS Prestige
Body: Basswood body
Frets: 6105 frets
Fingerboard: Rosewood
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Music Man John Petrucci
6 Electric Guitar Mystic Dream
Music Man John Petrucci 6 Electric Guitar Mystic Dream
Amazon Price: (as of 05/30/2012)
Product Features;
5 bolts - perfect alignment with no shifting; Sculpted neck joint allows smooth access to higher frets
3-way toggle pickup selector, with custom center position configuration
B.C. Rich USGSW Electric Guitar
White Finish
Product Features;
Dimarzio Super Distortion bridge
Dimarzio PAF neck
Floyd Rose Original Series Tremolo
Bolt-on neck construction
Grover tuning machines
Amazon Price: $2,699.99
You Save: $1,000.00 (27%)
Line 6 James Tyler Variax JTV-69 Modeling
Line 6 Black Electric Guitar
The brand-new James Tyler Custom Tremolo bridge, which was engineered for increased resonance and improved tuning stability, gives you access to the smooth vibrato action that is a big part of this breed of guitar.
A PAF-style humbucker in the bridge complements the vintage-style single-coil pickups in the neck and middle positions. (All are loaded with alnico magnets and wound to James Tyler's specs.)
JTV-69 guitars are carefully constructed to exacting standards at one of the world's most respected guitar factories. Upon arrival at its region of sale, each instrument undergoes a high-quality, multi-point setup and inspection.
Line 6 James Tyler Variax JTV-69 Modeling Electric Guitar; Black
Amazon Price: $1,399.00 (as of 05/30/2012)
Product Features
retro-inspired in the 60's-style double cutaway.
State-of-the-art models of 25 immortal instruments with astonishing advancements in tone.
Instantly switch between a set of customized alternate and drop tunings without affecting string tension.
Place a "virtual capo" anywhere on the neck without missing a beat.
Swap your P-90 for a lipstick, and more.
Workbench software lets you mix and match every guitar body.
Fender American Standard Stratocaster®
Electric Guitar, Olympic White, Maple Fretboard
Fender American Standard Stratocaster® Electric Guitar, Olympic White, Maple Fretboard
Amazon Price: $983.00 (as of 05/30/2012)
Features include hand-rolled fingerboard edges, alnico V pickups, staggered tuners, improved bridge with bent steel saddles and copper-infused high-mass block for increased resonance and sustain, tinted neck, high-gloss maple or rosewood freeboard, satin neck back for smooth playability, thin-finish undercoat that lets the body breathe and improves resonance, and Fender exclusive SKB molded case.
Awesome Guitar Lens
Essential Points
Here are some point that need to be examined..
1. Fretboard
Frets is the bar lines which is on the guitar neck.The location of the Frets is very influential on the accuracy of pitch (high-low tones).
Just a little shift will greatly affect the precision of the tone. Moreover for lower-priced guitar, because it is mass-produced.
Then you should be suspicious that there are one or two products that fail or do not fit the standard.
Besides false, sometimes Frets height did not decline gradually. When that happens it will disrupt the tune, or guitar sound would crack.
Even for a relatively expensive guitars, you should never believe before trying.
Who knew there was an error in production, etc..
How Do We Checks?
Try it with a very simple method.
Play barre chords (chord upright) from F. I suggest play it with a pick.
Listen, is it discordant (false) or not. If not, go to F#, listen again. if it not discordant. Go forward to the G, so on, until the very end of the frets.
Be careful at the end of the frets it is often false, because the distance between frets is very close.
So, little miss will be very bad consequences.
If there is in one or two of the frets which is false then it's not a good choice.
Or in other ways.
If you want to do with style, play the diatonic major scale, (don't pentatonic scale because of limited tone).
Explore each frets, but remember, scales, not improvisation, because we tried the guitar, not showing off.
After you are sure nothing is discordant, it's up to you if you want to show off your skills.
For setting the strings action (strings height from the fingerboard), you can adjustable yourself at home.If construction of the frets that you select is perfect, then you can set the strings as close as possible with the surface of the frets, without the risk of buzzing.
2. Wood / materials
Not easy to find out if the wood of guitar is good or not. Moreover, the average guitar manufacturer has painted thick and invisible pores.The timber with the same types, can have different qualities. Also two mahogany from the same tree, can produce a different sheet of board quality.
Only an experienced guitar player who can know the quality of a timber, only hear the sound when the body knocked with a finger.
However, at least there is little guidance on this wood.
Usually written in the catalog, what wood material used for the guitar (if the catalog doesn't lie).
(This tricks is only to inform the character of each timber, not about the quality).
Here are some of the woods characters.
First,
Wood for the body:
Mostly, the guitar body is using a mahogany. (Like the picture above)
Mahogany has a bright sound character and have strong and sharp attack. But slightly come with heavier weight.
the other materials are Alder with warm sound and light weight.
No less popular is the maple.
But usually only as a layer, not the whole entire body guitars. The characters sound produced thick.
There is also Basswood with a warm character, etc..
Second,
Wood for the neck. (see picture above)
The guitar neck material is not less important as the material for the body.
Generally use maple, but did not rule out using other materials.
But all this is considered the most good for the neck is maple. Because of the strength and elasticity.
Third,Wood for the fingerboard.
(See the picture Gibson Rosewood fingerboard)
There fingerboard complete with a wood neck, some are using a different timber.
If with different materials, which is generally believed the good wood for fingerboard is rosewood or ebony.
Rosewood fingerboard tends to smooth and warm character, while ebony tends to bright character.
Guitar Gear Lens
Great Gear for Guitarist
3. Physical Condition
The physical condition is easily seen with the naked eye. Whether the condition is still good or is bad.However, further in view of the shape and condition the body is to see characters that you want from the guitar.
The shape and condition of the body, neck and headstock.
Some said, the tapered shape tends to produce a bright sound, while a blunt was the opposite.
No less important is the condition of the neck.
Put your eyes in a position close to the bridge or the tip of the body.
Look to the neck, if the neck bent or twisted, would be caught.
Indeed, the condition of the neck slightly curved or twisted, it could be repaired by tightening / loosen Trusroad (iron is planted in the neck).
But it is not good if in new condition the neck of a new guitar you bought has been bent or twisted.
Next,
The position of the headstock.
Headstock position seems not only as a variation of appearance, but affecting voice production.
The most common is, headstock tilted back.
With a tilted back position, making the strings tighter pressure on nut and vibration of the strings will be channeled perfectly into the neck and then into the body and pick up.
There is also headstock parallel to the neck, then to help push the strings at the nut, make sure the binding posts are installed.
You simply can tune your headstock, just look the picture above.
Cool Acoustic and Classical Guitar
4. Pick up and Wiring
Pick up is used to changing the sound vibrations into electrical signals.Pick up also determine the character of the sound after the wood.
Basically there are two kinds of Pick up, the single coil and hambucker (double).
Single coil, producing sound that tends to thin, perfect for clear sound and crunch.
While hambucker more appropriate to produce a thick sound, and is identical to a heavy distortion sound.
For example,
For the guitar with two hambucker and 3 way pickup switch.
The first direction (upward sloping position / left side) means that enable the neck Pick up.
You can check with knock on these Pick up.
If there are incoming signal, then switches direction and the Pick up are functioning perfectly.
The second direction, (central position).
Usually activate both Pick up. You can check as the first step.
The third direction, (position sloping down / right side).
Means to activate the bridge Pick up, check the Pick up as the first step.
There are three pick up configurations are often mounted on the guitar.
- One or two Humbucker without a single coil. It is very good to play a full distortion.
- One, two, or three single coil without humbucker. If you want a clear sound and doesn't want a heavy distortion sound then this is the choice. (look for Fender Pickups Strat picture)
- Or, A mix between humbucker and single coil. Can one humbucker two single coil, or two humbucker one single coil.
Thus, this configuration gives much better sound character choices.
Next,
For volume Knob and tone knob.
A common configuration is:
- One volume one tone.
- One volume two tone.
- Two volume two tone.
For the volume of tone, make sure the knob works well in controlling the volume exported out of the Pick up.
For the tone knob, make sure there are vast differences between full open tone with full closed.
Finally
The Pick up switch.This tool serves to regulate the use of Pick up.
In general, there are two types of Pick up swith, three and five-way direction.
Make sure the appliance is working properly.
Each direction, control the configuration of the Pick being used.
5. Appearance
That is according to your taste, you'd rather like what shape and color?But the physical shape also determine the character of the sound produced.
So better to adjust the style of Music you want played.
For finishing,
There are two types of painting, solid color and transparent.
If good wood fiber, will be more beautiful with a transparent finishing.
However, if the wood fiber not so good, the manufacturer more often painted with solid color.
But, this matter your taste.
So it's up to you.
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Hopefully could be a reference for you when buying electric guitar
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jimmyworldstar
Jan 17, 2012 @ 3:09 pm | delete
- This is great advice. It's good to ask someone in store about what you should get depending on budget, and type of music you enjoy listening to and would like to play. The wood has an impact on the sound and you'll also find that the amplifier effects the tone you want too.
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cok666
Jan 18, 2012 @ 12:31 pm | delete
- I agree with you, lots to be considered before buying a guitar
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e-barlow
Nov 16, 2011 @ 4:14 pm | delete
- Awesome stuff! I luv them! Thanks :)
http://www.squidoo.com/workshop/black-guitar-gibson
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RamaSantoso
Apr 27, 2011 @ 10:24 pm | delete
- thanks..
but I cannot play it, lol
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cok666
Apr 28, 2011 @ 5:44 am | delete
- learn it in internet bro...
it's easy..
^_^
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