A Guitar Players Guide to Purchasing Their Next Axe

Live Rock concerts were all the rage in the 60's and they drove countless kids to buy their very first guitars. In this day and age, video games like Rockband are having the same effect.

The core of rock music doesn't just lie with the words; it also lies with the electric guitar and the various sounds that it can produce. There are so many kids across the block who would give anything to play like David Gilmour,John Petrucci, Kirk hammett, Angus Young etc. These men are not just some of the best guitarists of their times, they are legends.

Now if you are interested in studying how to play the guitar then the first thing you will need to buy is a guitar. A lot of people start with an acoustic and graduate to the electric guitar. It can be quite difficult for anyone to choose the right electric guitar since there are hundreds of brands out there on the market. If you're getting an electric guitar then you will need to also purchase an amp, pick-ups, picks, a tuner etc.

Electric guitars can be purchased in a vast array of colors and designs with the aerodynamic designs being one of the hottest. Do not purchase the first guitar you see. You need to look around and check out the various prices and vast array of models before you buy one. In actual fact, one of the coolest ways to pick a guitar is by the brand or by the style. Here's my take on the 4 important styles:

Telecaster (Better known as a 'Tele')
The Telecaster is another phenomenal instrument from Fenders. It is more than just another electric guitar; it is a complete band. It is a solid body electric and comprises of dual pick-ups. The first Telecaster was manufactured by Leo Fender in the 40's and has a single cutaway body. It doesn't have the wah wah bar but has two different single-coil pickups. Some of the popular Telecaster models include:

* Fender American Tele HS guitar: $900-$1050
* Standard Telecaster: $350-$650
* 63 Tele Relic Solid Body: $2500-$3050
* 72 Telecaster Custom Guitar: $700-$800

Les Paul
This phenomenal guitar was designed by Gibson for many of the jazz stars of the day. The salient feature of a Les Paul guitar is its set neck construction, which means there are no bolts. The body is a single cutaway and rounded. It is equipped with two pickups as well as a raised scratch-plate. If you want to play twisted sound then this great guitar will provide you with a vast range. Some of the well known guitarists who use the Les Pauls include Kirk Hammett (Metallica) and Carlos Santana. Some of the famed Les Paul models include:

* Les Paul Custom Electric Guitar: $3000-$3500
* 1959 Les Paul Standard Electric Guitar: $5500-$6000
* Les Paul Vintage Mahogany: $700-$800
* Les Paul Classic Guitar: $1850-$1900

Gibson
This is one of the greatest brands in all of guitar and all their models are classics and shoud not be compared to any others. Gibson guitar company was actually founded in 1902 by Orville Gibson and has been responsible for providing musicians some of the best acoustic and electric guitars. A couple of the famous models include the arch-top Gibson L5 model and the Flying V etc. Some of the well known shredders who have shredded on a Gibson include Ace Frehley (KISS) and Toni Iommi (Black Sabbath) to name just a couple. Some of the popular Gibson models include:

* Gibson Flying V Guitar: $500-$600
* SG 61 Classic Electric Guitar: $1500-$1600
* Faded SG Special Guitar: $550-$600
* Explorer Pro Electric: $1100-$1200

Stratocaster (Better known as a 'Strat')
This certainly is a show stealer and has a typical style. The most famous is the red and white color combination, which was shredded prolifically by Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits. The Strato is from Fender and has a neck fastened to the guitar's body. Apart from this, it has double cut away sides, 22 frets accompanied by a wammy arrangement and 3 pickups. Fender designed the first Strato in the early 50's. Some of the popular designs include:

* Deluxe Strat: Approx $600
* Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster HSS: Approx $1300
* Standard Strat Electric in Maple: Approx $400
* Fender Standard Stratocaster Electric: Approx $650
* Fender Strat Eric Johnson Signature model: Approx $1750

These are some of the best brands of electric guitars. The other aspects that will help you to pick up a guitar include fretboard, the quality of the pick-ups, and the body shape. Full-bodied guitars are normally preferred as they can produce some of the best noises that you will ever get to hear.