There is a confusing variety of acoustic guitars as well as an array of electric guitars to choose from.  A beginner is hard pressed to know where to start.The only advice they get may come from a shop assistant who’s desperate to shift the item that’s been sitting in the corner for months or push the brand that gives the best commission.So, where do you start when choosing a guitar for a beginner?

You may ultimately dream of becoming a guitar hero and rock god, but electric guitars are probably not the best choice to start out with.There are some neat electric guitar packages available, like the Fender Starcaster Strat and Amp set, which contains everything you need to start playing.The Fender Starcaster electric guitar and the Fender SP-10 practice amplifier are excellent value and well made, but for the out and out novice it’s probably best to look at an acoustic, steel strung guitar.

Why suggest acoustic?  Steel-strung acoustic guitars are excellent to learn on, are Ideal for solo or group work, and appropriate for a wide range of styles.  They are very portable and of course don’t require amps or associated equipment and so should be less expensive than an electric guitar package.But less expensive should not imply cheap.

Cheap acoustics tend to sound terrible, and that will discourage practising.  With budget acoustic guitars, the ‘action’ (how high the strings are above the fretboard) may well be too high, making it difficult to hold down strings, or it may be too low, causing notes to consistently buzz.They often have cheap ‘machine heads’ (the bit you attach the strings to and tune the guitar with) that wear out quite quickly.   You do get what you pay for, but there are some really good value starter packages available.

The Fender CD60 for example has features you’d expect in much more expensive acoustic instruments, including a spruce top, mahogany back and sides and die-cast tuners.The pack includes a tuition DVD, Electronic Tuner, Acoustic Guitar Strings and a selection of Guitar Picks. The Ibanez V50NJP Jampack acoustic guitar package is another well priced and made starter set that includes a gig bag, electronic tuner, guitar strap and picks.  How well you know the brand will give some reassurance of quality – Fender guitars, Ibanez, Epiphone and Ashton are all respected makes.Try to avoid really cheap packages with brand names you don’t know.  Ideally, if you are buying new, make sure the guitar is checked out by someone knowledgeable and if you’re buying second hand take a seasoned player with you.

The replica or tribute phenomena in music can be taken either way.Some tribute bands are manned by decent musicians, in a few cases probably better than the originals they mimic.  That’s almost certainly true with the dozens of Status Quo tribute acts out there!Replica guitars are also a burgeoning music industry business.  Some tribute acts take things to the extreme of insisting on using their hero’s original instruments if they’re still available, or getting replicas if they’re not.

Guitars are more than just a musical instrument.They are also cultural symbols, fashion statements and badges of personality.Replica guitars have a mixed reputation and many people don’t want to see further than the logo stamped on the headstock.  Cheap Chinese copies have flooded the market and their quality is certainly dubious.  However, very high quality replicas of vintage guitars do exist. Fender is a favourite target for these lovingly created copies, based on the 1951 Telecaster (originally called the Broadcaster) and the 1954 Fender Stratocaster.
In its prime, the Strat had a contour body of swamp ash, one piece maple neck and three pickups.  In 1960 Fender bodies changed to alder as standard and the slab board necks were manufactured up until mid 1962 when a curved board was offered. In 1964 the curved board was replaced with a veneer when the CBS Corporation purchased the company leading to a well documented decline in quality. So replica Fender guitars made today may actually be better quality than post 1964 originals!

The Tanglewood RVB-2  60s Beatles style violin bass is another good example of just how good replicas can be. Based on Hofner’s 500/1 ‘Beatle Bass’, The RVB-2 recreates a vintage semi-hollow tone ideal for ’60s style pop/ rock, blues and jazz, without breaking the bank! It has the same vintage features as the Hofner: rosewood fingerboard with pearloid dot inlays, maple neck, floating wooden bridge and pearloid pick guard. Of course, the pickups aren’t the Hofner stamped ‘Staple’ humbucking pickups, but the two toaster appearance mini-humbucker pickups work just as well in achieving that Beatles un-EQ’d classic pop sound.  So don’t dismiss electric guitars just because they are replicas.Just like the tribute bands, sometimes these guitars can be as good as, if not better than, the original.

So we all think all certain guitars when we hear the word – a guitar that just to us, symbolises what our favourite players uses to achieve that sound and look damn cool while doing it. These are the guitars that have turned mere men into rock gods.

The Fender Strat. When it was made back in 1954, no-one, least of all its creator Leo Fender, had no idea how iconic this guitar was about to become. There are hundreds of copies on the market, but people know a ‘proper’ Strat just from the tone. Thought of as a rock and blues guitar, many players have found it hard to go back to other guitars after playing a Strat. Hendrix, Clapton, all of Iron Maiden, Blackmore, Kosoff Buddy Holly and hundreds of other players. The legendary reputation of the Stratocaster proceeds it, ensuring it remains an icon for years to come.

The Fender Telecaster. Although it has its share of rock players, due to its twangy sound the telecaster has something of a ‘country’ guitar reputation. Jim Root of Iowain metallers Slipknot and John 5 (Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie) are surprising Telecaster players. Created again by Leo Fender, but before the Strat, the Tele was originally known as the Broadcaster. A threatening law suit over the name saw it swiftly changed to Telecaster, amd the rest is history. Famous Tele players include Andy Summers (the Police), Joe Strummer (the Clash) and Keith Richards (the Rolling Stones) -showing the versitility of the guitar.

The Gibson Les Paul. Created by Gibson with Les Paul, the guitar was created in 1952. Originally the Les Paul had single coil pickups, which were changed in ‘57 for the humbucker pickups that the Les Paul is famous for today. More players than you know have played a Les Paul at some stage -some may surprise you -Clapton, Hendrix and others. Notable Les Paul players are Slash of Guns and Roses and Zakk Wylde, Ozzy Osbournes main guitarist.

Gibson SG. in 1961 this was going to be a new Les Paul guitar -the only problem being that the man himself didnt like the design. So it was named the ‘SG’ -initials for solid body, its lighter than the Les Paul and has a slimmer neck. Its famous players include Angus Young of AC/DC and Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath.

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