what is a good budget electrical guitar for a complete beginner?

Question

I am leaning towards Ibanez in the region of £150-£200 but would like any other ideas

Answer 1

i mean everyone seems to be trying to get you to spend more but if a budget guitar is what you want then get a budget guitar i mean if your starting out you dont need great tonal quality. Squier who are made by fender have their standard range of stratocasters and telecasters for abvout £160 and thier great as beginner guitars. Epiphone who make the beginner versions of GIbson also offer the same kind of guitars as squier. you can get all their differnt variants such as the SG, Les Paul, korina explorer and flying V for about £200. ibanez are pretty well built but look overly taki and are overrated. however as with all of their products yamaha have a pretty good standard range of everyhing and thier pacific guitars are solid and have pretty good sounds or thier price (£170ish)

Answer 2

You haven't said what sort of music you intend to be playing when you learn which helps when buying a guitar. A good all rounder for learning on is a telecaster, but if you intend playing at rock god you want a les paul type guitar.
Anyway, I had a second hand ibanez which was absolutely superb. I bought it from a reputable music shop (unless you know a lot about guitars this is the best option) who set it up properly and gave a guarantee. If its a reputable guitar shop they'll want you to get the best from your guitar because they'll know that when you get hooked you'll be back for more!!
My first guitar was a 'maya' les paul gold top. It wieghed a ton but was a bit of a dream to play. It cost me £80. I then bought an epiphone sg which was fantastic to play apart from plugged in because the pickups were rubbish (I ordered that from a guitar magazine £200). Next I went back to the local guitar shop and bought an ibanez (second hand for £130) this was from their custom shop and was BEAUTIFUL. I also have had a telecaster (black paisley - awesome) and a usa custom heavy metal strat and many more.
If I had any amount of money my first choice would be a telecaster, probably semi-acoustic. I would forget acoustics to learn on.
Hope this helps.

Answer 3

An Ibanez is not a bad choice, however, you will find yourself limited down the line. A Fender Stratocaster is a guitar that can be added to and can be found for $200-$300 (the Mexican version), the Asian versions are even cheaper than that, but you lose a lot of tone quality. The American Strat can be found in classifieds as low as $400-$500 and needs no modifications.

Answer 4

I too would advise learning on an acoustic. Then when you have learned the basics move onto the electric guitar. But to answer your question the ibanez sounds fine for starters. They are a decent brand of guitar and theres really not much point spending more on a beginner.

Answer 5

are you in the UK? (ebay obviously) but you can get really good guitars second hand. ( daughter got a real fender strat for 230)

my mate tried to sell his MD (music drive; american firm..google them) and a Laney world series 80watt amp... which is intolerably loud on Ebay... and he only wanted 150 quid for the lot..

hes got a gibson les paul classic and tha weighs around 6kilos, the MD weighs only 3... its incredibly light, and you want to take that into consideration...

and as to which guitar you ought to buy, goto a music shop and have a look and a play... and know what you want to spend, or the salesman will have you walking out of the shop minus your shirt... and, when you do go, dont take any money with you..if you like it, youll go back armed with cash..and haggle. you might not get any cash off, but you should get strings and a bag and lead thrown in for cash...

good luck..

i played my guitar every night
my fingers bled til i got it right

Answer 6

A kit on a Fender Squire Strat places a extraordinarily good awl on your hands for a sensible fee. in case you may have sufficient money it, the Epiphone Gibson Les Pauls are extremely dazzling, constantly enjoyed the Les Paul sound greater desirable than the Strat myself.

Answer 7

Don't buy a budget guitar, you'll never be satisfied with it. Buy a good one, even if you can only afford a second hand one. You can always sell it again if you decide that guitar is not for you.

Answer 8

not to sounds like a compete loser.. but i'd go for an accoustic to learn on at first...
i mean if you are just learning.. it might be easier

i learned on a electric guitar.. and it never really stuck with me..

i don't know its just an idea to look into an accoustic..

from what i've heard its better to learn on.. easier anyways :)

Answer 9

Mexican Fender Strat. Might cost you more but the quality is very good.

Ibanez instruments are overrated.

Answer 10

I got a Starmaker as my first I payed £100 for it