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Best Beginner Guitars: Affordable and High-Quality Options
Introduction
In this article, we are doing something a little different. We want to help those who have just started playing guitar or have only been playing briefly. There is no better time to be a beginner guitarist, as we live in a world full of beginner guitar gear. However, it can get overwhelming when deciding what to get! So, we have put together several articles covering our recommendations for great beginner guitars!
Please bear in mind, we will not recommend rubbish that you will end up throwing away. We are after quality gear you will actually use and not need to upgrade for a long time. This is why you won’t see any starter packs on this list. While they are affordable and great for beginners, you will quickly outgrow them and end up spending more money on upgrades.
Let’s dive into our first category: guitars! We will split each section into three genres, and we have a different recommendation for each!
We will be doing an article for each area of guitars, so you can use the links below to go to the article you want:
Best Beginner Guitars!
For beginner guitars, we wanted to pick options that are affordable but also very good in build and playability. We didn’t want to recommend a guitar that you would struggle to play and would need a lot of work done to make it playable. So, while these aren’t the cheapest guitars out there, they will hold you in good stead, and you will be able to use them for a long time. Let’s go through the three categories.
Blues/Rock: Epiphone Inspired by Gibson ES-335
When you think Blues, you think of the Gibson ES-335. Most people would say the 335 is the only guitar you need (apart from another one which we will get to shortly). However, the Gibson ES-335 isn’t what anyone would call affordable or a first guitar. The younger brother, the Epiphone ES-335 (Inspired by Gibson), is a fantastic semi-hollow guitar with incredible specs at a good price. I had to sell mine to fund another purchase, but in the time I had it, I loved it. You quickly see why people go on about 335’s and the “335 sound.” They are special!
Don’t be fooled; Epiphone makes top-quality guitars. Many professionals have used them for years, Oasis and The Beatles to name two! Buy one of these, and you won’t have to replace it. It will get the job done for most, if not all, gigs you need. Learn to use the 4-way controls, and you will have endless sounds at your fingertips!
More on the Epiphone ES-335
The big downside, which you have most likely already caught on to, is the price. For a “beginner guitar,” it is a pretty high price. You are right! It is a fairly expensive guitar. However, it will last, and you will struggle to outgrow this guitar! You will buy it once, and that will be it! Yours forever! Plus, if you ever plan to sell it, you will get a good return on it!
Metal: Harley Benton CE-24
For beginner guitars for the metal and hard rock scene, there are a plethora of guitars you could pick! However, we suggest you check out the Harley Benton CST-24! This is a fantastic modern guitar with dual humbuckers that have decent output but super simple controls. It also makes for a fantastic mod platform. Swap out the pickups and maybe add an Evertune bridge, and you have a roadworthy metal guitar that will never let you down!
One thing to note is the scale length. It is the same as PRS, which is in between Gibson and Fender scale lengths. Lots of people like this because you can down-tune but still keep the tension and not feel like you are playing a bass. A great in-between! Perfect for your drop-tune heavy goodness! Prices range from £220 to £250 depending on the finish you are after. Keep an eye on the website, and you will see some B-stock guitars come up. These are a great deal. As with most Harley Benton stuff, these are available in left-handed as well! Slightly fewer finish options, but still a few to choose from.
More on the Harley Benton CST-24T
The other huge advantage is that Harley Benton is Thomann’s own brand! Why is this important? Well, they get looked after and set up to a decent level! Thomann doesn’t want their own brand getting a bad rep, so they tend to put some attention and care into their Harley Benton guitars.
It isn’t all great news though. Due to the low price, if you plan to sell it, be aware you won’t get a lot for it. For good reason, charge too much and most people will just buy a new one! This is why you will see most people buy them, keep them, and mod them up! Perfect for that!
Universal: Squier Affinity Telecaster
Speak to any long-term touring or session guitarist and ask them if they could only use one guitar for all their gigs, what would it be? I promise you, most of them will answer Telecaster! The perfect platform for most types of music! For the money, I don’t think you can go wrong with the Squier Affinity Telecaster! This is their lowest Telecaster in the Squier range and will come in at under £200 most places you look. However, don’t let that fool you. Squier is part of the same company that designed the iconic guitar, Fender! So, you know it is going to be good! How do I know? Well, when I built my Telecaster, it started from an Affinity Tele!
That is the main reason I love this whole line of Squier guitars. Out of the box, they come well-made, with a decent setup and finish. However, they also make good mod platforms and are easy to upgrade! So, as you grow as a guitarist, your guitar will too! If you start off playing country but merge into metal, well, throw in some heavier pickups, and you are ready to go! The best news is they are available in both left and right-handed versions!
Conclusion
So, those are our beginner guitars that we recommend! Three killer guitars covering a wide range of sounds and prices! The two most important things to remember when buying your first few guitars are:
1. Get something that is easy to play! Don’t make learning harder than it has to be. Get something with good action, that stays in tune, and feels comfortable.
2. Buy something that makes you want to play! Looks don’t help you play, but they do inspire and make you want to play! So, buy something that will inspire you to pick it up and practice! Remember these two things, and you will be flying!
If you want to purchase any of the guitars above, we have included some links. They are affiliate links, so we get a small kickback at no extra charge to you! It’s a great way for you to get the gear you want and also help out the site!
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