by Kyle Zoltowski
Rock gigs were the rage in the 70's and they drove innumerable kids to buy their 1st electric guitars. In this day and age, video games like Guitar Hero World Tour are having a similar effect.
The heart of all classic rock music doesn't just lie with the lyrics; it also lies with the electric guitar and the various sounds that it can produce. There are so many kids across the block who would give anything to play like Ritchie Blackmore, Carlos Santana, Jimmy Page etc. These men are not just some of the best guitarists of their times, they are legends.
If you are interested in discovering how to play the guitar then the first thing you'll need to buy is a guitar. Normally people start with an acoustic guitar and graduate to the electric. It is usually quite difficult for someone new to select the appropriate electric guitar initially, since there are literally 100's of makes out there on the market. If you are purchasing an electric guitar then you will also need to pick up an amp, pick-ups, picks, a tuner etc.
Electric guitars come in a lot of sizes and designs with the aerodynamic designs being some of the most popular. But hold back! Do not go for the 1st electric guitar you see. You need to look around and check out the wide range of prices and models before you buy one. In fact, one of the neatest ways to pick a guitar is by the brand or by the style. Here's our take on the 4 basic styles:
Stratocaster - This certainly is a show stealer and has a typical style. The most famous is the red and white color combination, which was played all the time by Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits. The Strato is from Fender and has a neck sturdily attached to the guitar's body. Apart from this, it has twin cut away sides, 22 frets accompanied by a tremolo system and 3 single-coil pickups. Fender designed the first Strato in the early 50's. A few of the popular designs include:
* Fender Deluxe Stratocaster: Approx $550 * American Deluxe Strat HSS in Rosewood: Approx $1100 * Fender Standard Strat Electric in Maple: Approx $400 * Fender Standard Stratocaster Electric Guitar in Rosewood: Approx $700 * Stratocaster Eric Johnson Signature model: Approx $1750
Telecaster (Better known as a 'Tele') - The Telecaster is another phenomenal instrument from Fenders. It is more than just another axe; it is more like a complete orchestra. It is a solid body guitar and comprises of dual pick-ups. The first Telecaster was manufactured by Fender in the 1940's and has a single cutaway body. It doesn't have the wah wah bar but has two different single-coil pickups. Some of the popular Telecaster models include:
* American Tele HS: $900-$1200 * Fender Standard Telecaster Electric Guitar: $300-$600 * 63 Telecaster Relic Solid Body Electric: $2600-$3150 * 72 Telecaster Custom Guitar: $700-$850
Gibson Les Paul - This classic electric guitar was designed by Gibson for some of the jazz stars of the era. The salient feature of a Les Paul guitar is its set neck construction, which means there are no bolts. The body is a single cutaway and rounded. It is appointed with two pickups as well as a elevated scratch-plate. If you want to play twisted sound then this great guitar will provide you with a varied range. Some of the well known guitarists who use the Les Pauls include Eric Clapton and Carlos Santana. Some of the notable Les Paul models include:
* Les Paul Custom Electric: $3050-$3550 * 1959 Les Paul Standard: $5500-$6000 * Les Paul Vintage Mahogany Electric Guitar: $750-$800 * Les Paul Classic Guitar: $1850-$1900
Gibson - This is one of the greatest brands in all of guitar and all their guitar models are classics that can't be compared to others. Gibson was actually incorporated in 1902 by Orville Gibson and has been accountable for providing us some of the most innovative acoustic and electric guitars. Some of the famous models include the arch-top Gibson L5 model and the Gibson Explorer etc. Some of the well known guitarists who have shredded on a Gibson or are still using it include Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin) and Frank Zappa to name a couple. Some of the popular models include:
* Flying V: $500-$600 * SG 61 Classic: $1500-$1600 * Faded SG Special Electric Guitar: $550-$600 * Explorer Pro Electric: $1100-$1200
These are some of the most well known brands of electric guitars. The other aspects that will help you to pick up a guitar include fretboard, the sound of the pick-ups, and the body. Full-bodied electrics are normally preferred as they can produce some of the best noises that you will ever get to hear.
