Olli's starting aid

The electric guitar beginners advice from session

If you are a beginner looking for your first electric guitar, the large selection in our webshop and our branches can be overwhelming. Here you will find out everything you need to know before buying your first electric guitar . Explained in the video by our guitar guru Olli and again here on the site for you to read at your leisure.

How do I find the right electric guitar?

First of all, it's worth asking yourself the following questions . The answer can be helpful in finding the right instrument :

Which guitars do I like visually and, if possible, tactilely?
Which musical genres do I feel most comfortable in?
What kind of music do I want to make with the guitar?
Are there perhaps well-known guitarists who inspire me or who I would like to emulate?

Electric guitars come in a wide variety of colors and shapes . However, it certainly makes sense to approach the theme along its historical development . Classics are classics and rightly so.

Fender

The Fender Stratocaster , which has been built largely unchanged since 1954 , is probably the best-known and most copied electric guitar model in the world and the instrument of choice for superstars such as Jimi Hendrix , Eric Clapton and John Mayer .

The “Strat” has a modular design and can therefore easily be dismantled into its individual parts using a screwdriver and of course modified . This is where the first question of taste arises. Do you want a dark rosewood fretboard or a light maple fingerboard? The tonal differences between the materials are marginal and would go beyond the frame here, but if you are interested in the theme , you can find our guides on “E-guitar necks in detail” .

In terms of sound, the Stratocaster is often described with terms such as “clear” or “glassy” . In addition to the design, this is mainly due to the single-coil pickups , of which you can find three in a classic Stratocaster. Because of this and the various setting options, classic areas of application for the Strat include “clean” playing , i.e. completely without distortion, as well as with slight distortion in blues or pop .

So that you can get a better idea of the sound of the guitar, we recommend a few albums with the typical Strat sound:

Stevie Ray Vaughan – Texas Flood

The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Electric Ladyland

Gibson

If you want a bit more sound in terms of sound , it's worth taking a look at the biggest competitor: Gibson. In contrast to the screw neck construction of the Strat, the neck and body are glued here, which has a noticeable influence on the vibration behavior of the guitar, also known as sustain .

Above all, so-called humbuckers are installed in the classic models “Gibson Les Paul” and “Gibson SG” . These are double-coil pickup that not only eliminate the slight hum of the single coils, but also have more output power . This results in a sound that is often described as “fat” and “rocky” . Due to the slightly shorter scale length compared to Fender guitars, Gibson guitars have a lower string tension and the strings are easier to pull (bend) . As a result, the guitar also has a little less treble in its sound and appears less clear.

Classic albums recorded with Gibson guitars include:

AC/DC – Back in Black

Guns'N'Roses – Appetite For Destruction

More guitar models

These two basic philosophies in guitar building have been preserved over time and can be found, to a greater or lesser extent, in all electric guitar manufacturers.

If you prefer to keep as many options open as possible , there are also some models that combine features of both electric guitars . An HSS Strat (Humbucker Single Coil Single Coil), for example, has a humbucker at the bridge position and thus combines the construction of the Stratocaster with the output strength of a humbucker pickup. Many humbucker guitars offer the option of switching off a coil using a switch, turning a humbucker into a single coil in no time. A compromise from both worlds is also possible.

With the HSS strats you are already entering the territory of the so-called superstrats . These have their origins in the modified Stratocasters of the 1980s and, in addition to humbucker pickups, often also have tremolo systems that are completely detuned but require more care and maintenance - again a question of personal preference. If the harder style is more your thing, you should also take a look at the heavy guitars related to the Superstrats. These are guitars specially made for metal with very powerful pickups and a neck shape and string position designed for fast playing. These include, among other things, the 7- and 8-string guitars, which we would only recommend if you are sure that you want to get started with them. As a beginner, it is generally recommended to start with the classic six strings .

If you have any questions, we are of course happy to help you by phone or email, but preferably in our branches in Frankfurt and Walldorf .