Tips on Buying Your First Electric Guitar

"Buying your very first guitar can be a thrilling experience. 
Because of excitement, some people don't even check the quality
of the guitar, sometimes they buy the first guitar they pick up in the music store or the first guitar suggested by the sales person."

Things you need to do before buying your first electric guitar:

1. Research. Internet helps a lot when you are not expert about guitars. Determine what is the genre you play to be able to pick the right model in your budget.

2.Determine which store offers the best price and has the widest selection of what you like. 

3.Specifications Check.Check the type of wood used for the body, the neck and fingerboard (ex. Fender uses Maple neck with either a Maple or Rosewood fingerboard); the shape or construction of the body (Strat, Les Paul, SG, Tele Shape, Solid body, semi-hollow etc.) Check the type of neck. (Bolt-on. glue-on, neck-through)

Check the type of  pickups used on the guitar.

     Single Coil pickups traditionally used on Fender Stratocasters,
     it is a thin and bright sounding pickups.
     Humbucker pickups is a hum cancellation used by Gibson
     and has a warm, muddy and deep sound.

4.Quality Check. Try to feel the guitar first and check on the craftmanship, check on the weight too. Don't plug the electric in an amp. Try to play with the guitar first with no amplification. Check if the resonance is ok. Check the action, the frets, neck relief, check each note when fretted. Chime the notes on possible frets, check if it's ok.

5.Test. Don't buy the first guitar you pick up. Play several different models. Remember, every instrument is different. Find one that not only looks and sounds good, but one that feels good in your hands. Make sure all strings ring out with no buzzing. If possible, bring an experienced guitarist along. Forget the word "not bad", because the guitar should be perfect for your hands and ear.Test and test bunch of guitars within your price range.

6.Don't buy all extras. All you need is spare strings (specially the high E string), clip-on tuner, guitar picks, strap, and a small practice amp. And you'll also be needing cable.

If possible, bring an experienced guitarist along.