Complete guide

How to Buy Your First Guitar

Buying a first guitar is the single most important decision you'll make as a beginner. The wrong guitar makes learning harder than it needs to be. The right one makes everything feel possible. This guide covers every variable — budget, body shape, brand, model, genre — so you can make a confident, informed choice.

The most important advice upfront

The most common beginner mistake is buying a $100 guitar from Amazon to "see if you stick with it." The logic seems sensible. It isn't. Cheap no-name guitars have high action, poor intonation, unstable tuners and electronics that crackle — they make learning unnecessarily hard and sound discouraging even when you play correctly.

Minimum investment: $200–$250. Below this, you risk a guitar that fights you at every step. Guitars from Squier, Epiphone, and Yamaha in the $250–$400 range are legitimate instruments that professional guitarists use as backups and on tour. You will not outgrow them until you're well past beginner stage.

Always get a setup. Whenever you buy a guitar — new or used — have a luthier set it up ($40–80). Proper action height, intonation, and truss rod adjustment transform a good guitar into a great one. Many expensive guitars play worse out of the box than a cheap guitar that's been properly set up.

1. Budget guide

Here's what your budget realistically gets you at each price point — and where the quality jumps happen.

Under $200Entry level

Functional, but expect real compromises

What you get

+Basic tuners that drift out of tune frequently
+Thinner, less resonant tone from cheap wood and pickups
+Factory setups that are often high and uncomfortable
+Still sufficient to learn on — but you'll fight the guitar

Watch out for

!Unbranded or generic 'starter packs' from Amazon ($80–$120) — these actively hinder learning
!Anything without a brand name you can Google

Best bets

→Squier Sonic Stratocaster (~$230)
→Epiphone SG Special (~$180)

$200 – $400Beginner sweet spotRecommended starting point

Legitimate instruments that won't hold you back

What you get

+Proper tuners with real stability
+Actual tonewoods with genuine character
+Playable factory setups from respected brands
+The foundation to focus on playing, not fighting the instrument

Watch out for

!Don't drop below this range to save money — the quality jump is dramatic and not worth the saving

Best bets

→Squier Classic Vibe '60s Stratocaster (~$350)
→Epiphone Les Paul Standard '50s (~$400)
→Yamaha Pacifica 112V (~$300)

$400 – $800Mid-range

Better hardware, better wood, better QC

What you get

+Fender Mexico and PRS SE build quality
+More nuanced pickups with real tonal character
+Consistent quality control batch to batch
+Hardware and electronics you won't feel compelled to replace

Best bets

→Fender Player Stratocaster (~$750)
→PRS SE Standard 24 (~$500)
→Epiphone 1959 Les Paul Standard (~$600)

$800 – $1,500Upper mid / entry professional

Instruments you won't outgrow

What you get

+American-made Fenders (Performer, Vintera series)
+Gibson Les Paul Studio and SG Standard
+PRS SE Silver Sky and SE McCarty 594
+Build and tone you'll appreciate for many years

Best bets

→Fender American Performer Stratocaster (~$1,050)
→Gibson Les Paul Studio (~$1,500)
→PRS SE Silver Sky (~$850)

$1,500+Professional

Stage-ready instruments used by touring professionals

What you get

+Fender American Professional II, American Ultra
+Gibson Les Paul Standard, ES-335
+PRS Core series
+Premium hardware, hand-selected wood, exceptional QC

Watch out for

!For a first guitar this is overkill — technique matters far more than the instrument at this stage. Save this for your second or third guitar.

Best bets

→Fender American Professional II Strat (~$1,500)
→Gibson Les Paul Standard '60s (~$2,500)
→PRS CE 24 (~$1,900)

2. Body styles

The body shape determines the pickup configuration, tonal character and playing feel of the guitar. Most shapes are strongly associated with specific genres — though the best players ignore the rules.

Stratocaster

Versatile, bright, articulate

3 single coils (SSS) or HSS

Rock · Blues · Pop · Funk · Country · Everything

+Most versatile electric guitar shape ever made
+Contoured body — extremely comfortable to play sitting or standing
+5-way pickup switch gives a huge tonal range
+Enormous aftermarket for parts, mods and setups

−Single coils hum slightly in some lighting environments
−Bridge position can be shrill for high-gain metal

Beginner

Squier Classic Vibe '60s Strat — $350

Mid-range

Fender Player Stratocaster — $750

Professional

Fender American Professional II Strat — $1,500

Artists: Jimi Hendrix, SRV, John Mayer, Eric Clapton, David Gilmour

Best first guitar for most players. Impossible to outgrow.

Telecaster

Bright, twangy, punchy

2 single coils

Country · Indie Rock · Blues · Pop · Funk

+Incredibly simple and reliable design — almost nothing to break
+Bright, cutting tone that sits beautifully in a band mix
+Dual-purpose bridge pickup covers both rhythm and lead
+Iconic look that works in any genre

−Less tonal flexibility than a Stratocaster's 5-way switch
−Bridge single coil is very bright — not ideal for warm jazz tones

Beginner

Squier Affinity Telecaster — $280

Mid-range

Fender Player Telecaster — $750

Professional

Fender American Professional II Tele — $1,500

Artists: Keith Richards, Jeff Buckley, Tom Morello, Bruce Springsteen

Perfect for country and indie. The most reliable, no-nonsense design in electric guitar.

Les Paul

Warm, thick, sustain-heavy

2 humbuckers

Rock · Blues · Metal · Hard Rock · Classic Rock

+Fat, warm tone with massive sustain — the definitive rock sound
+Humbuckers eliminate single-coil hum completely
+Iconic look associated with rock legends
+Set neck construction adds sustain and resonance

−Heavy — around 4kg. Can cause shoulder fatigue in long sessions
−Less upper fret access than a Stratocaster or SG

Beginner

Epiphone Les Paul Standard '50s — $400

Mid-range

Epiphone 1959 Les Paul Standard — $600

Professional

Gibson Les Paul Studio — $1,500

Artists: Slash, Jimmy Page, Peter Green, Gary Moore, Joe Perry

The best choice for rock, blues and metal players who want that thick, warm sound.

SG

Aggressive, biting, fast

2 humbuckers

Metal · Hard Rock · Blues Rock · Classic Rock

+Much lighter than a Les Paul — comfortable for all day playing
+Excellent upper fret access thanks to the double cutaway
+Same humbucker warmth and power as a Les Paul
+Very comfortable for smaller players

−Neck-heavy — can cause neck dive on a strap
−Slightly thinner and more aggressive tone than a Les Paul

Beginner

Epiphone SG Standard '61 — $350

Mid-range

Epiphone SG Custom — $600

Professional

Gibson SG Standard — $1,300

Artists: Angus Young, Tony Iommi, Jack White, Robby Krieger

Lighter and faster than a Les Paul. The natural choice for hard rock and metal players who want humbuckers without the weight.

Super Strat

Fast, precise, high-output

HSH, HH, or HSS — always a bridge humbucker

Metal · Shred · Prog · Hard Rock

+Very thin, fast necks (Ibanez Wizard, Jackson Speed Neck)
+24 frets standard — more range for lead playing
+Designed for speed and technical precision
+Excellent value at mid-range price points

−Less tonal versatility for clean or blues playing
−Floyd Rose tremolos (floating bridge) are maintenance-heavy — avoid for beginners

Beginner

Ibanez GIO GRX70QA — $280

Mid-range

Ibanez RG421 Standard — $450

Professional

Ibanez AZ2402 / Schecter Hellraiser — $900+

Artists: Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Tosin Abasi, Ola Englund, John Petrucci

The best platform for metal and shred. Thinner, faster necks than any Fender or Gibson.

Semi-Hollow

Warm, resonant, airy

2 humbuckers (usually)

Jazz · Blues · Indie · Light Rock · R&B

+Beautiful, resonant character unlike any solid body
+Works at low volumes almost like an acoustic
+Iconic 60s soul and blues aesthetic
+Warm clean tone with the crunch of humbuckers when pushed

−Feeds back at high gain — not suitable for metal
−Larger body — less comfortable on a strap for some players

Beginner

Epiphone ES-335 Dot — $400

Mid-range

Gretsch G2622 Streamliner — $450

Professional

Gibson ES-335 — $3,200+

Artists: B.B. King, Larry Carlton, Chuck Berry, Dave Grohl, John Lennon

Perfect for jazz, blues and indie. The most beautiful-sounding shape you can choose. Not for metal.

3. Brands & models with prices

These are the brands that dominate the beginner and mid-range market — recommended by teachers, used by professionals as backup guitars, and supported by massive online communities.

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Squier

Beginner

Owned by Fender · $150 – $450

Fender's dedicated beginner line, made in Indonesia and China. The Affinity series starts cheap and functional; the Classic Vibe and Sonic series are exceptional value — they play and sound like guitars costing twice as much. The Classic Vibe '60s Stratocaster is probably the most recommended first guitar in the world.

Sonic Stratocaster$230

Affinity Telecaster$280

Classic Vibe '60s Stratocaster$350

Classic Vibe '50s Telecaster$350

Classic Vibe '70s Stratocaster HSS$380

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Epiphone

Beginner – Mid

Owned by Gibson · $180 – $700

Gibson's beginner and mid-range arm, made in Korea and Indonesia. Epiphone Les Paul and SG guitars are the go-to for players who want the thick Gibson humbucker tone without the $2,500 price tag. Their Inspired by Gibson line (redesigned 2020) is a massive quality jump over earlier Epiphone models — genuinely excellent guitars.

SG Special$180

SG Standard '61$350

ES-335 Dot$400

Les Paul Standard '50s$400

1959 Les Paul Standard$600

Les Paul Custom$700

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Yamaha

Beginner

Independent · $200 – $600

Yamaha's Pacifica series is one of the best-kept secrets in the guitar world. The Pacifica 112V (~$300) has HSS pickups with coil split, a 25.5" scale, excellent build quality, and often plays better out of the box than guitars at twice its price. Guitar teachers worldwide recommend it as the safest all-round beginner choice.

Pacifica 112V (HSS, coil split)$300

Pacifica 212V$450

Pacifica 611VFM$600

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Harley Benton

Budget (Europe)

Thomann exclusive · €80 – €350

Thomann's own brand, designed in Germany and made in China. Only available from thomann.de — not sold in the US. The value is extraordinary: their SC-450 (Les Paul style) and ST-62 (Strat style) at €130 compete with guitars at three times the price. The most recommended budget option in Europe by a wide margin.

TE-52 (Telecaster style)€100

ST-62 (Stratocaster style)€130

SC-450 (Les Paul style)€130

DC-450 (SG style)€120

R-458 (ES-335 style)€170

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Ibanez

Beginner – Pro

Independent · $200 – $2,000+

The king of metal and shred guitars. Ibanez GIO series starts at $200 and uses the same thin Wizard neck profile as their professional instruments. If you're into metal, prog, or shred, Ibanez is your natural home. The RG series (mid-range) and Prestige series (made in Japan) are outstanding. Avoid Floyd Rose bridges as a beginner.

GRX70QA (GIO series)$280

RG421 Standard$450

AZ2204 Premium$900

RG5320C Prestige (Made in Japan)$1,300

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Fender

Mid – Professional

Independent · $600 – $2,500+

The most iconic guitar brand on the planet. Fender's Player Series (Made in Mexico, ~$750) is a genuine step up from Squier in every way. Their American series (Made in USA) is for players who want the full article. The Stratocaster and Telecaster are so universally used that learning on one means learning on the same instrument as millions of touring professionals.

Player Stratocaster (Made in Mexico)$750

Player Telecaster (Made in Mexico)$750

Vintera '50s Telecaster$900

American Performer Stratocaster (Made in USA)$1,050

American Professional II Stratocaster$1,500

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PRS SE Series

Mid – Professional

Paul Reed Smith · $450 – $1,200

PRS SE guitars are made in South Korea and represent some of the best value in the $500–$900 range. Quality control is consistently excellent. The SE Custom 24 and Standard 24 are hugely versatile with 24 frets and coil-split humbuckers. The SE Silver Sky (John Mayer collaboration) is arguably the best single-coil guitar under $1,000.

SE Standard 24$500

SE Custom 24$800

SE Silver Sky$850

A used guitar at the right price is often the best value decision you can make. Here's the honest comparison.

New

+Full manufacturer warranty (usually 1–2 years)
+No hidden damage, unplayed frets or pre-existing setups
+Return window if there's a defect or you change your mind
+Setup adjustment typically included at physical stores

−You pay full retail price
−Beginner guitars depreciate 30–50% the moment you leave the shop
−Less guitar for your money than the used market offers

Best for first-time buyers who want peace of mind and a straightforward experience.

Used

+50–70% of new price for an identical guitar
+Access to mid-range quality at beginner prices
+Older guitars often already have the initial setup sorted and strings broken in
+Better value per dollar than almost any new instrument

−No warranty — you're on your own if something breaks
−Must inspect carefully before buying (see the checklist below)
−Risk of hidden problems: neck issues, fret wear, electronics

Excellent option if you can inspect before buying. A used Fender Player Strat at $400 is a better guitar than a new Squier at $380.

Where to buy used

Reverb

The largest online marketplace for musical instruments. Well-organised, buyer protection, massive selection.

Facebook Marketplace

Local sellers mean you can inspect in person before buying. Great for finding local deals.

Local guitar shops

Best option — you can play it first, the shop has often done a basic inspection, and returns are easier.

eBay

Wide selection but fewer buyer protections than Reverb for instruments. Useful as a price reference.

6. Pre-purchase checklist

Whether you're buying new or used, these are the things to check before handing over money — especially for used instruments.

Neck relief

Critical

Hold the guitar up and look down the neck from the headstock — like aiming a rifle. It should be dead straight or have a very slight forward bow (relief). A neck that curves backwards (back-bow) will cause buzzing all over the fretboard. A good shop will adjust this with the truss rod for free.

Fret ends

Minor

Run your thumb slowly along both sides of the fretboard. The ends of the frets should feel smooth and flush. Sharp fret ends mean the fretboard wood has shrunk from dry storage. It's fixable by any luthier for around $40–60, but factor it into the price you're willing to pay.

Tuning stability

Important

Tune the guitar, then strum hard with bends and vibrato for 2 minutes. Re-check tuning. It should be reasonably close. Severe instability could mean worn nut slots, failing tuning machines, or a problem with a floating bridge. Minor drift is normal on fresh strings.

Electronics

Important

Plug into an amp and test every pickup selector position, volume knob, tone knob, and wiggle the output jack. Listen for: crackle when turning pots (dirty pots — fixable with contact cleaner, $5), silence on a position (bad solder joint — fixable), or hum worse than normal (some single coil hum is expected).

Action height

Critical

Action is the gap between the strings and the frets. Too high: the guitar is physically hard to play and will tire your hand quickly — very common on cheap guitars out of the box. Too low: notes buzz out. Most shops will set the action for free or include it in a setup fee ($40–80). Always ask before buying.

Headstock and neck joint cracks

Used only

On used guitars, inspect the headstock very carefully for cracks — it's the most common and expensive guitar repair. Also check the neck heel (where the neck meets the body) for any separation or cracks in the wood. Cosmetic finish cracks are harmless; structural wood cracks are not.

7. Final picks

If you want a single concrete answer for each situation — these are the guitars to look for first.

Best overall first guitar

Squier Classic Vibe '60s Stratocaster

$350

The most widely recommended beginner electric guitar in the world. Plays, sounds and feels like a real Fender Stratocaster. At $350, nothing at this price does more.

Best for metal

Ibanez RG421

$450

The Wizard neck, 25.5" scale, fixed bridge and high-output humbuckers are exactly what metal needs. Better build quality than similarly priced competition from any brand.

Best Gibson-style

Epiphone Les Paul Standard '50s

$400

The classic thick, warm humbucker tone without the $2,500 Gibson price. The 2020 Epiphone redesign made these genuinely great guitars — not compromises.

Best for versatility

Yamaha Pacifica 112V

$300

HSS pickups with coil split, excellent build quality, and a clean tone that works for every genre. The safest recommendation for anyone who isn't sure what style they'll focus on.

Best mid-range step up

PRS SE Custom 24

$800

When you're ready to upgrade, the SE Custom 24 builds like a $1,800 guitar. 24 frets, coil-split humbuckers, immaculate Korean quality control. You won't outgrow it.

Best budget (Europe only)

Harley Benton SC-450

€130

Only available via Thomann. The value is extraordinary: €130 for a Les Paul-style guitar that competes with €350 competitors. The best-kept secret in European beginner guitars.

Final advice

Whatever you buy — get it set up. A $60 professional setup on a $300 guitar turns it into an instrument that plays like something twice its price. Action, intonation, neck relief and nut slots all affect how the guitar feels and sounds in ways no spec sheet will tell you. It's the single highest-value thing you can do for any guitar.

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