For the guitarist and specifically for the new guitarist interested in electric guitars (Rock guitars), a guitar as a Christmas gift and some of the special accessories that are required, can really make someone's Christmas. Typically, there are excellent guitar brands that produce a quality product. A good quality beginner's guitar is easier to play, has much better tonal qualities and is a joy to own. The following contains recommendations for a new electric guitar purchase and some of the accessories that are typically required.
What is an Electric Guitar?
Most younger people who are learning to play will opt for an electric guitar, which requires a guitar amplifier. Interestingly, an electric guitar for the novice is generally less expensive than an acoustic guitars. Even when considering the amplifier, the end price is still less expensive than an acoustic guitar. The reason for this cost discrepancy is that an acoustic guitar relies on the quality of the tone wood, craftsmanship and construction, which typically requires more expensive woods. Conversely, the sound quality of an electric guitar relies on the guitar pickups and the amplifier.
Typically, an electric solid body guitar, made famous by the Fender Strat or Fender "Stratocaster," is fashioned from a block of wood. It would make little difference if the wood were oak, cherry or plywood in terms of sound quality. The guitar pick ups will handle the sound, not the guitar body. The one main difference is that an electric guitar is usually physically easier to play because the neck and finger board are typically smaller and thinner. In guitar parlance, it has better "action." One key point in most electric guitars: the greater the number of pickups, the greater variety of sounds and tones that can be made when plucking strings.
Beginner Electric Guitar Choices for Christmas Gifts
Normally, the best known brands are the best choices. They usually combine a better, more finished look with great playability and the electronics/guitar pickups are of a higher quality. The whole package produces a better sound. The following are a few reasonable choices:
- Fender Starcaster® Electric Guitar Pack -$179.99- This is a full size electric guitar with maple fingerboard and hi-gloss black finish, with 3 singe-coil pickups, 5-way pickup selector switch and volume control and 2 tone controls offer a wide array of tones. It has a tremolo bridge, permitting a wide range of string-bending techniques. Also included is a 10-watt amplifier, plus picks, strap, cable, tuner, gig-bag, and an instructional DVD.
- Epiphone Les Paul Special II Electric Guitar -$169.00- It offers all of the essential elements of a Les Paul type guitar. It has a mahogany body, bolt-on mahogany neck, smooth 22-fret rosewood fingerboard, and features open-coil humbucking pickups.
- Fender Squier Black and Chrome Fat Strat Electric Guitar - $179.00 - This guitar has a great look and feel with a contoured alder body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard and late '60s headstock, 3 single coil pickups and standard tremolo system.This includes 21 medium-jumbo frets, 2 single-coil pickups and 1 humbucking pickup, Synchronous tremolo, and a 5-way pickup selector switch.
- Yamaha PAC012DLX Pacifica HSS Deluxe Electric Guitar - $179.99- The Yamaha's Pacifica HSS Deluxe guitar is an example of great tone and outstanding playability. IT features a comfort-contoured body, vintage-style vibrato, and 3-way switching of the 2-humbucker pickup configuration. Professional color finish with chrome hardware and quality construction. The Fingerboard is rosewood, the body is agathis (similar to mahogany), with a maple neck, two single coil pickups and a humbucking Pickup with a 5-position switch.
The Starcaster is an excellent, all inclusive choice for the novice guitarist, combining everything that a student needs to start making music. Individual needs vary and the aforementioned choices are all excellent instruments.
Major Guitar Accessory: Guitar Amplifier
Most electric guitars make no sound without an amplifier. Fortunately for a beginner, a perfectly functional amp will cost less than $100. The RMSG12 Guitar Amplifier costs $69.00 This is a basic guitar amplifier with 12 watts of power, a 6 1/2 “ Speaker, and basic control functions: gain, tone, volume with a headphone jack. It's dimensions are: 11"(h), 11"(w), 6" (d). There are many others in this category, but the only ingredient an electric guitarist needs is a crisp, amplified guitar sound and this can be had inexpensively.
Guitar Accessories Make Wonderful Christmas Gifts
Whether one plays an electric or acoustic guitar, there are certain accessories that are great gift ideas for a beginner or experienced guitarist. A guitar strap or belt makes playing a guitar easier, particularly if the guitarist is trying to play in a small band or combo. The illustration below (please click to expand the image) shows examples of various guitar straps as well as other useful accessories. There are two types of straps: one for attaching to the head stock and the bottom pin and the other from the top curve of the body to the bottom pin (depending upon the guitar body.
The two guitar stands pictured below serve to both protect the instrument (from falling) and make it easy and convenient to stand the guitar when not being played. The electronic tuners are almost essential for a guitar. They produce pinpoint tonal accuracy when tuning a guitar. There is nothing as frustrating as playing a guitar that is slightly out of tune. For an electric guitar, merely plug the tuner into the guitar to attain pin point tonal accuracy.
While learning to play a guitar can be a daunting challenge, having a good instrument and some of the useful accessories will make the whole experience much more enjoyable.
Nick Schklair - Nick Schklair, author, writer and business consultant has published a work on business startups in today's economy.
