Cheap Electric Guitars

My son played the violin for a couple of years, and then moved onto other, "cooler" types of strings. When the time came to shop for cheap electric guitars, he had been involved in music long enough to have an idea of what to look for in this instrument. While this made the hunt a bit easier, he found there was still a lot to learn about making the best choice.

First, the instrument had to feel good. It needed to be comfortable in his hands, with the right size and shape to allow for natural handling. Since cheap electric guitars come in a variety of sizes and styles, he had to actually play a few to determine which ones were most comfortable. This allowed him to narrow his search to a couple of manufacturers (not a small thing, with so many to choose from!) and a handful of styles.

It also had to sound right. Cheap electric guitars all have different sounds that are based on the hollowness of the instrument and the material that is used to construct it. Pickups can also influence the sound, with the transparent sound of the single-coil, the thicker sound of the humbucker pickup or the favorite of many great musicians, the double-coil. There are also many models that offer a choice of a double-coil that can be changed to a single with the flick of a switch.

Wood is another factor in the sound of cheap electric guitars, and there is a whole lot of variety here as well. Mahogany or koa can offer a warmer tonal range, while Brazilian rosewood adds sparkle to the sound. Spruce can provide a wide range of sound, and is often the wood of choice for some of the best musicians. Maple is generally the preferred wood for cheap electric guitar tops -- and is a pretty selection to boot. Basswood is frequently used in these instruments as well, because it is an economical option that can still offer a nice sound.

The neck of cheap electric guitars will also affect how the instrument feels and sounds, and the differences boil down to the wood used, the neck joint, and the profile (thickness and shape of the neck). My son knew he wanted a maple neck that was set in (or glued into) place, since this is the most common type of neck joint used. The profile of the neck was a personal decision that could only be decided by testing out the different instruments to see which one felt the best.

After spending a considerable time researching and shopping for cheap electric guitars, my son was finally able to settle on a model that looked good, sounded great, and fit into our budget. I can't wait to hear him play!

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