Guitar Buying Suggestions

Due to popular demand, I have compiled a list of suggested beginner guitars, and amplifiers on this page. Links on where to purchase these guitars is also provided. The links take you to a site with more information about the product.

First, I must point out that acoustic guitars and electric guitars are tuned and played the same way. You can learn on either guitar. I suggest that you purchase the one that your favorite guitarists play. You'll be most interested in the guitar if it is used in your favorite styles.

Circle of Guitars

Below is a table of the most popular guitars and a beginner model that is similar (and much cheaper). The guitars are cheaper because of where the guitar was made and whether premium wood and parts were used. There is definitely value in the cheaper guitar market. In fact, I own two of the guitar suggestions below (Fender Standard Stratocaster and Epiphone Dot).

Type Expensive Model Beginner
Model (Suggestion)
Styles Notes
Electric Fender American Stratocaster Squier Stratocaster Rock, Blues, Country  
Gibson Les Paul Epiphone Les Paul Rock, Blues, Metal  
Gibson SG Epiphone SG Rock, Blues, Metal  
Fender Telecaster Squier Telecaster Country, Blues, Rock  
Gibson ES-335 Epiphone Dot Jazz, Blues, Rock (usually earlier styles of Rock)  
Acoustic Martin D-35 Epiphone DR-90S Folk, Acoustic Rock, Acoustic Blues, Country Steel Strings
  Yamaha C40 Classical, Flamenco Nylon Strings

Recommended Entry Level Guitars

Below are several recommended guitars. They include links to purchase the guitars. Some of them are guitar packs which include amps, straps, etc. Others are only guitars. Prices range from $99 to $550.

Stratocasters (Strats)

Squier Strat Electric Guitar Pak Black

Squier Strat Electric Guitar Pak Black

Includes a Squier Affinity Series Strat with rosewood fingerboard, padded gig bag, Fender Frontman 15G amp (15W; normal and drive channels; headphone jack; and an auxiliary input for CD, tape, or drum machine), The Fender Guitar Method book, headphones, chromatic tuner, strap, cable, a set of strings, and picks.


Fender Standard Stratocaster Electric Guitar Brown Sunburst Rosewood Fretboard

Fender Standard Stratocaster Electric Guitar Brown Sunburst Rosewood Fretboard

The guitar design that changed the world-made with the perfect blend of ingredients to help you take your music to the top. Features a select alder body, 21-fret maple neck, 3 single-coil pickups, a vintage tremolo, and die-cast tuning keys. Thicker bridge block for increased sustain and a more stable point of contact with the strings.


Telecasters (Teles)

Squier Standard Telecaster Electric Guitar Walnut Satin Rosewood Fretboard

Squier Standard Telecaster Electric Guitar Walnut Satin Rosewood Fretboard

Upgraded throughout, the Squier Tele features a fast-action neck profile modeled on a late '60s Tele. A hot single-coil pickup in the bridge position provides all the bite you want for stinging leads. In the neck position, a chrome covered single-coil provides clear, sweet Tele tone. Agathis body and maple neck with a rosewood fretboard.


Fender Standard Telecaster Electric Guitar Brown Sunburst

Fender Standard Telecaster Electric Guitar Brown Sunburst

Save BIG when you buy today!


Les Pauls

Epiphone Les Paul Special II Player Pack Vintage Sunburst

Epiphone Les Paul Special II Player Pack Vintage Sunburst

What's so special about the Les Paul Special II Player Pack? The super-low price for starters, and that's not all. The Epiphone Les Paul Special II is made with a mahogany and rosewood neck, basswood body, smooth 22-fret rosewood fingerboard, dot inlays, and chrome hardware. This baby is every bit as handsome as its uptown cousins. Dual humbuckers—700T at the bridge, 650R at the neck—deliver long, singing sustain and true LP tones.This package also includes an Epiphone Studio 10 amplifier with 10W power through an 8" Electar Labs speaker; rugged gig bag; instructional video; super-accurate quartz tuner; plus a strap, cable, and picks to put it all together. Everything you need to get going!


Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plain Top Vintage Sunburst

Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plain Top Vintage Sunburst

The mahogany body and maple top create balanced tone with superb resonance, while Alnico Classic humbuckers produce loads of warmth. Set mahogany neck and rosewood fretboard provide the familiar feel and fast action that LP players love. Neck and body binding plus trapezoid inlays provide the classic look.


Epiphone LP-100 Electric Guitar Vintage Sunburst

Epiphone LP-100 Electric Guitar Vintage Sunburst

If you're starting to get serious about your music, you'll want the Epiphone LP-100 Electric Guitar. The mahogany body delivers classic solid, heavy tone, while the bolt-on mahogany neck and rosewood fingerboard are easy to play. Features two open-coil humbuckers and chrome hardware. Classic Les Paul design and tone.


SGs

Epiphone SG Special Electric Guitar Player Pack Ebony Chrome Hardware

Epiphone SG Special Electric Guitar Player Pack Ebony Chrome Hardware

The Epiphone SG Special Electric Guitar Player s Pack is everything you need to turn yourself into the hottest guitar star ever. Pack includes SG Special electric guitar, 10W mini-amp, strap, electronic tuner, cable, picks, and instructional video.


Epiphone G-400 SG Electric Guitar Cherry

Epiphone G-400 SG Electric Guitar Cherry

The Epiphone G-400 Electric Guitar is a Gibson-authorized version of their great '62 SG with solid mahogany body and slim-taper mahogany neck. Separate volume and tone controls for each of the high-output humbuckers give you complete control of your sound. The deep double cutaway lets you reach all 22 frets with ease. Limited lifetime warranty.


Epiphone G-310 SG Electric Guitar Ebony

Epiphone G-310 SG Electric Guitar Ebony

An axe that delivers everything from warm distortion to all-out scream. Crafted with select hardwood body, bolt-on mahogany neck, and rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay. Also features tune-o-matic bridge, stopbar tailpiece, and chrome tuners. Limited lifetime warranty.


Hollow/Semi-Hollow Electrics

Epiphone Dot Electric Guitar Cherry

Epiphone Dot Electric Guitar Cherry

A classic semi-hollowbody design with dual humbuckers and a 3-way pickup selector for growling snarls and sweet, singing sustain. Features 2 volume and 2 tone controls that let you tailor your tones to fit your style and a silky smooth, lightning-fast, 22-fret rosewood fretboard. Great for jazz, blues, or rock styles.


Epiphone Dot Studio Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar Black

Epiphone Dot Studio Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar Black

The Dot Studio builds on Epiphone's great tradition of archtops such as the legendary Sheraton and Emperor. Simplified controls and minimalist styling provide great functionality and elegant visual appeal while powerful Vintage Alnico V Plus pickups give it plenty of bite. Drawing on the classic 335 vibe, with maple top, back, sides, and neck, it dishes out hot blues and rock when overdriven or thick jazz tones clean. The scale length is 24-3/4", with a nut width of 1-17/25".


Acoustics

Epiphone DR-90S Solid Top Acoustic Player Pack Natural Chrome Hardware

Epiphone DR-90S Solid Top Acoustic Player Pack Natural Chrome Hardware

Epiphone has produced another winner in the resonant, sweet-sounding solid spruce top DR-90S acoustic guitar. It comes with everything you need to start strumming, including gig bag, electronic tuner, strap, picks, and an instructional DVD.


Martin 000X1 Acoustic Guitar

Martin 000X1 Acoustic Guitar

The Martin 000X1 Acoustic Guitar has an auditorium body style that provides comfort for long gigs with plenty of projection of that famous Martin tone from the solid spruce top. High-pressure laminate sides and solid top provide structural stability and lots of volume. Black Micarta fingerboard and bridge look great and last forever.


Nylon String Acoustics

Yamaha C40 Gigmaker Classical Guitar Pack

Yamaha C40 Gigmaker Classical Guitar Pack

Beginners and more experienced students alike will appreciate the level of quality found in the C40 Classical Guitar, and this all-in-one Gigmaker Pack includes the guitar, case, guitar method book, and instructional CD all for one low price. The guitar also comes with a lifetime guarantee.


Other Guitars

Ibanez IJX40 Electric Guitar Jumpstart Package JEWEL BLUE

Ibanez IJX40 Electric Guitar Jumpstart Package JEWEL BLUE

The IJX40 Jumpstart Package includes a smokin' GRX electric guitar, 15W amplifier, cable, strap, picks, headphones, electronic tuner, and gig bag. It also includes an instruction DVD, book, and chord chart to teach you how to wail.


B.C. Rich Metal Master Pack Red

B.C. Rich Metal Master Pack Red

The B.C. Rich Metal Master Pack includes a B.C. Rich Warlock guitar, B.C. Rich BCL-10 guitar amplifier, custom gig bag, strap, 10' instrument cable, and picks. Radically styled Warlock guitar features 24 frets, 2 bold humbucking pickups, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, chrome hardware, and sealed tuning machines. BCL-10 amplifier cranks out 12W through a 6-1/2" speaker and features built-in distortion plus a headphone jack for silent practice.