Choosing A Quality First Electric Guitar

As a new guitarist it is often easy to be tempted by the first cheap guitar you come across.
As you are low on experience it is hard to know a great deal from a bad one.
It is also not uncommon for some guitar shops to be rather elite and intimidating to the beginner.
Your first step should be to set yourself a budget.
While a new Gibson might be what you have your heart set on, it is probably a little too much for you as a beginner.
If you decide you don't want to continue playing then it would have been a bit of a waste of money.
You also need to put money in your budget for things like a case, amp, tuner, strap, spare strings, picks and all of the other little bits you might like to have.
Once you have settled on a budget you can start to decide on what style of guitar you like the look of.
Try not to look too much further at makes, because there will always be cheaper makes producing the same style.
Now it is time to get out around a few guitar shops.
Explain to the owner that you are a beginner and what kind of guitar you are after.
Many will be able to offer you a good package deal because you will be buying more than one item.
Try to handle as many guitars in your price range as you can.
Get a feel for the comfort of the neck in you hand and the weight of the guitar on your body.
If you get a bad feeling in the shop then move on to the next one.
Play the guitar as best you can and check that there is no buzzing, the neck is not lose or badly glued or bolted.
Check each tuning peg for free smooth movement.
Check the volume and tone controls.
They should be smooth and not cause too much noise when plugged in.
A guitar is a very personal thing so you must be happy with every aspect of it.
Once you have found a guitar you are happy with then see if the shop sells all of the other items you are after.
Now try to haggle a deal.
Aim for a discount on the guitar itself and then a further discount for buying all the other items with it.
You may find that rather than a cash discount they will give you one or more items free.
A good beginner guitar will last you until you are ready to move up to something more expensive.
Enjoy playing it and expect it to win a place in your heart and a space in your guitar rack for years to come.