Buying guide to choose the right guitar

The different types of guitars Here is a small summary of the different types of guitars that can be found.

The purpose of our article is to review the main criteria for choosing a guitar. Without specifically targeting a beginner audience, the emphasis has been placed on relatively broad aspects in order to propose in the future more details that will complement the first general concepts present here.

We have therefore, in the first instance, succinctly declined three main types of guitars: acoustic, electro-acoustic and electric.

For each of them, sub-categories will attract the attention of musicians. Our goal is to provide a guide on the first aspects to consider when choosing a guitar by defining the essential components and their consequences on notions such as sound, volume, type of music, strength or even the budget of a new guitar.

Acoustic and electro-acoustic guitars

When we talk about acoustic or acoustic guitars, it is an instrument that is only sounded by its own sound box, which amplifies the sound of the strings, in nylon or metal. Unlike an electric guitar, the acoustic guitar does not require an electric amplifier, although, as we will discuss later, electro-acoustic guitars are able to perform both functions.

Depending on how you want to use it, you will have a choice between two types of acoustic guitars: folk and classical.

Beginner, amateur or passionate, the models vary according to the materials used.

Strings and morphologies are aspects that will allow you to choose the criteria that suit both your use and the potential you expect from an acoustic guitar. We will also discuss notions related to the music associated with the type of guitar. And, finally, for each category, the budget criterion will be illustrated by examples including links and photos as well as price ranges and guitar brands.

FOLK GUITAR

With its name referring to traditional and folk music, the folk guitar is relatively massive unlike its big sister, the classical guitar. With its larger sound box that allows higher volumes, the so-called brilliant sound is often used in musical genres such as Folk, Country, Blues, Rock and Jazz.

The strings

The folk guitar is characterized by a set of 6 strings, often metallic, although they can also be equipped with nylon strings. The most common metal strings are usually made of an amalgam of silk and steel.

Nickel, bronze, copper, silicone or gold-plated are other materials or coatings that allow less oxidation of the strings, an effect related to finger perspiration or ambient humidity. However, the price of a set of strings in one of these alloys can vary significantly from nylon or steel, with budget also being one of the criteria to be taken into consideration.

The advantage of steel ropes is that they have a softer draft. This makes the guitar neck work a little less in terms of tension. The use of a tab or pick rather than the pinching of strings is frequently used to play folk guitar, which can also be played with bare hands. But metal ropes are harder than nylon ropes, so the difficulty of the arpeggio increases slightly.

The sound

The metallic components of the strings give the folk guitar the advantage of emitting relatively warm sounds by highlighting, for example, the treble. The higher volume of the folk guitar compared to the classical guitar is also a significant aspect to take into account when buying.

Morphology and playing comfort

There are 3 types of folk guitar morphology.

The Dreadnought and its relatively square body

The Jumbo, more round

The Auditorium, a mix between the two previous ones

These three morphologies do not only offer a different visual aspect. They also involve sound nuances that will please some and not others, all being a matter of personal sensitivity.

The neck length of the folk guitar is more important than that of a classical acoustic guitar. It has fourteen off-table spaces here. On the other hand, it is thinner than the classic models and therefore less exhausting to train at home. This detail will be taken into account depending on your level of learning or personal convenience.

Price ranges and folk guitar brands

Whether to study or improve, this example of Yamaha folk guitar is an alternative with a good price-quality ratio without necessarily being of the lower end. This lightweight model (barely 2.4 kilos) from the manufacturer’s F series offers all the advantages of a guitar designed for Blues or Jazz practice in the learning phase. Its spruce top gives it a very natural look.

The Cort brand is particularly focused on mahogany in the manufacture of bottoms and handles. Built by a South Korean manufacturer, it is often recommended for its good value for money. Here, the mid-range model allows, at less than 350€, to find a good compromise between learning guitar and semi-professional use.

This model from the American brand Fender offers a vintage look that will appeal to musicians who are passionate about Folk music itself, or even Country music. With a higher budget, it offers all the advantages of a folk music that can easily be handled with nylon strings for more flexibility in the game.

THE CLASSICAL GUITAR

The classical guitar is already present in antiquity. A big sister of folk music, it invites to the exoticism of Brazilian sounds such as Bossa or Portuguese music such as Fado but also French Song. Flamenco, although played on classical guitars, also has its own model, the Flamenco guitar, which allows you to “overplay” thanks to a lighter format. This makes it easier to attack and style figures. The classical guitar is also called the Spanish guitar.

The

strings

The 6 nylon strings of the classical guitar make it more manageable and comfortable than the folk guitar. Indeed, the softer strings allow a bare hand game less tiring for the fingers in contact with the fingerboard. The malleability of the nylon strings accompanied by a play with a tab will give a more precise and brilliant sound effect.

The sound

Among the string materials adapted to classical guitars, there are now crossbreeds of nylon, copper and silver. The sound result is more crystalline and delicate than strings made exclusively of nylon.

The consequence of the lower pull that characterizes nylon strings will change the volume of your music. Therefore, on a classical acoustic guitar, you will have a lower volume than on a folk guitar but relatively warmer unlike electric guitars which are, on the other hand, very low. On an electric vehicle, for example, the acoustic sound is greatly reduced simply because its volume will increase with the help of an electric amplifier, which is not the case here.

Morphology and ergonomics

The appearance of a classical guitar compared to a folk guitar is rounder. The shorter handle has 12 off-table spaces. It is, however, broader than folk. It is therefore sometimes more tiring for the right hand (if you are right-handed) to play on a classical guitar. It should also be noted that the space between the strings and the fingerboard of a classical guitar is larger than on a folk guitar and that the difficulty is increased. That being said, this is a good exercise for beginners. Moreover, some people give this criterion all the advantages of a harder learning process at first, but which will then make it easier to use a folk guitar.

As for the difference between a classical guitar and its Flamenco version, it is more in the type of wood used and the thickness of the materials than in its morphology. The classic itself is generally made of spruce or cedar. Its sound volume is significantly higher thanks to its manufacture in cypress or sycamore. It is also designed to balance with the sound volume of flamenco dance steps. Finally, the golpeador of a Flamenco guitar is a film located on the face of the soundboard that protects the percussion function often appreciated by rumba lovers and players.

Price overview and classical guitar brands

Classical guitar prices can range from 28€ to 6000€ and more, a range too wide to be detailed in these lines. Materials, type of use and complementary accessories must be your criteria of choice in order to find the right guitar at the right price. We generally advise not to take a classical guitar model below 100€, even for beginners. The ergonomics and quality of the wood will affect your comfort and sound quality.

A Yamaha brand classic guitar model is a wise investment for a first purchase. Soundboard in spruce and strings of natural origin, this classical guitar is suitable for a first approach to French Song, for example.

If your budget is a little larger and you are focused on a particular musical genre, here is a Carvalho brand guitar of an ideal quality to approach gypsy music with confidence.

If you want to switch to an instrument dedicated to a more professional activity, choose an Ortega guitar. This brand offers a solid cedar model, suitable for concerts of traditional Cuban music, for example.

Finally, here is an ideal option to learn Fado without having to learn to handle the traditional Portuguese guitar par excellence. This is the classic APC model and is a wise choice. It is a brand manufactured in Europe by a family company that has been operating in Portugal since the 1970s. As a string manufacturer, it is an opportunity to acquire compatible accessories.

THE ELECTRO-ACOUSTIC GUITAR

A hybrid guitar model, electro-acoustics allows for amplified or acoustic playing. This is a good compromise for training at home and/or performing on stage. Electro-acoustics has the particularity of amplifying an acoustic sound without transforming it into an electric sound. This is made possible by one or more small microphones located in the resonance chamber and their connections to an external amplifier.

Folk or classical, electro-acoustics can be found in both versions. Good to know, the components of electro-acoustic guitars (strings, wood, morphologies, etc.) are similar to those of acoustic guitars.

All the major brands of folk and classical guitars offer their electro-acoustic version. This is the case with this classic Cavarlho model. The electro-acoustic folk Fender model is also in demand.

The advantages of electro-acoustics:

The advantage of electro-acoustics is that you can travel with your instrument without having to carry your amplifier. The versatility of these models allows you to take advantage of both modes to practice.

Using an amp, this is an opportunity to get a quality recording if you are in the rehearsal or learning phase. Indirectly connected to equipment digital, you can easily convert your compo into compressed digital format.

Finally, among the advantages, the electro-acoustic guitar has been designed to avoid feedback, an inconvenience often experienced by acoustic guitar players amplified by an external microphone.

Its disadvantages:

To fully enjoy all the possibilities that the electro-acoustic guitar offers, it is advisable to provide you with a compatible amplifier, which will significantly increase your budget.

Beware of preconceived ideas! Electro-acoustics does not make it possible to make the sound electric. It is simply a matter of amplifying an exclusively acoustic sound.

Finally, from a practical point of view, the electro-acoustic guitar is heavier to carry than a simple acoustic guitar, even if you don’t carry your amp.

Acoustics or electro-acoustics?

Here is a first summary that offers a succinct overview of the potential and useful criteria on how to choose an acoustic or electro-acoustic guitar. Advantages and disadvantages, we have seen that the strings, morphology, sound and types of music specific to each model imply their share of advice and reflections as well as the aspect, the budget and, of course, the use you want to make of your acoustic or electro-acoustic guitar.

ELECTRIC GUITARS

The electric guitar, while it is a good part of the guitar family, is a very different instrument from acoustic guitars. By definition, an electric guitar is equipped with microphones that are also called sensors. They transform the waves of the strings into an electrical signal. The volume of the latter is then increased by an external amplifier. Strings are significantly different from acoustic strings because they have magnetic properties. The result of a long-term experiment, the electric guitar makes it possible to create many effects that the acoustic guitar does not allow.

We will look at some criteria to choose his electric guitar. Bodies, handles, microphones and woods used in the manufacture of electric guitars are just a few of the many elements to consider when choosing a good instrument. Brands and budgets are part of an obligatory reflection to ensure a purchase with a good price-quality ratio.

The crates

There are three types of bodies for electric guitars:

The Solid Body

It is not a box strictly speaking because it is full and not hollow. There is therefore no “sound box” in what we will call here the body of the guitar. The advantage of Solid Body is that they are rather light and easy to handle due to their thin thickness. Thanks to their versatility, the musician will be able to play Grunge, Metal or Pop.

To give a telling example, the Fender Telecaster model is a famous Solid Body classic passed into the hands of Elvis Presley, Iggy Pop or Bruce Springsteen. The Gibson SG and Les Paul models are also unconditional references in Solid Body.

The Semi-Hollow Body



It’s a hybrid model. Its body is indeed partially dug. There are half cases that can be found at Gretsch, Eddie’s favourite model Cochranet by Georges Harrisson or quarter cases such as the Gibson ES-335 used by B. B. King.

This partial body gives the Semi-Hollow Body more resonance and acoustic depth. Guitars of choice for Blues enthusiasts, they give music more bass. There are also gills on the facade, which gives it an aesthetic similar to that of the violin.

The Hollow Body

It is totally hollow, which gives it more resonance although it is particularly prone to feedback. This small detail makes it a recommended guitar for playing jazz, as opposed to the stage plays and high volumes of Metal, for example. Its curved aesthetic is clearly inspired by traditional classical guitars. This is why it is called Archtop, in reference to its curved aesthetic, which is also similar to that of the violin.

Among the most famous models, let us mention the Gibson ES-175 used by Chuck Berry and Bono. Godin 5th Avenue is also worth mentioning in the Archtop category. And, by the way, it also exists as an acoustic model.

The sleeves

A fragile and delicate element of an electric guitar, the junction that connects the neck to the table determines the solidity of the instrument and the quality of the sound. It establishes, in the same way as the bridge, the good transmission of the vibrations emitted by the strings. The neck of an electric guitar is divided into several sub-categories that will also affect the purchase price of your instrument.

The screwed handle says Bolt-on neck

The most fragile of the sleeves is “simply” screwed in 4 or 5 points to the body of the guitar. The easiest handle to produce, it has been designed to be replaceable. Interesting in terms of price, we find this system invented by Fender on entry or mid-range guitars. Musically speaking, it does not provide good sustain (the length of the sound) but implies a clear and brilliant sound.

Glued handle called Set Neck

This technique used by Gibson is recommended for Blues or Jazz musicians because it allows them to play on longer sounds. However, although this type of neck is mounted even on high-end guitars, it remains fragile, especially if the neck itself is very thin and must support a heavy body.

The conductive handle says Neck-Thru

This third method of attaching the neck to the body of the guitar is the most solid. The neck goes from the head to the end of the guitar, which makes it a major element that takes the entire length of the instrument. Less widespread and more expensive, it is nevertheless the best way to obtain a quality sustain.

The microphones

On the electric versions, the microphones are electro-magnetic. They have a magnet wound in a copper wire. The greater or lesser force of the magnet will have consequences on the sound volume and the low and high frequencies of the notes. Magnets are made of specific alloys, the most common being aluminium-nickel-cobalt. The thickness of the copper wire will affect the “character” of the microphone.

There are two types of microphones:

Simple windings or single-coil, in the jargon

The double windings called humbuckers

Pre-installed, it is important to identify them so that you can either replace them or add them if necessary. There is a tendency to store simple microphones in higher-pitched sounds and humbuckers in more saturated ranges. However, this is not always the case, especially for doubles, since some models now allow switching from one coil to another and thus switching from a rounder sound to a clearer frequency, specific to a single microphone.

To help you find your way around in terms of reference when buying your electric guitar, the configurations are presented according to the letters S for Single-coil and H for Humbuckers. For example, a guitar with two single pickups will mention SS, two double pickups, HH and one double and two singles, HSS. In the latter case, the mix between two types of microphones offers a versatility that will seduce lovers of various musical styles, Blues, Metal or Pop.

Finally, there is also a last type of microphone called active electronics, with an integrated amplifier that works on batteries. Appreciated by Metal musicians, they allow you to stay precise while sending a particularly saturated sound.

Wood

Alder, a material specific to the Fender Stratocaster, poplar and linden, less expensive, more exotic mahogany, ash and maple, solid and prized for making handles, keys and tables, are the main woods used in the composition of electric guitars.

These materials can vary within a single guitar depending on its elements. They will not only have an influence on the aesthetics of the instrument (neutral, clear, warm, vintage, etc.) but, above all, on the propagation of vibrations, the quality of sound, the sustain more or less long and, consequently, on the type of music that you want to practice.

Brands and budgets

As with acoustic guitars, the prices of electric guitars can vary greatly. From 50 to several thousand euros, it is important to know which instrument is best for you. If you are rather neophyte, do you possibly accompany a friend who knows how to test a guitar before buying.

It is often estimated that, from an entry to a mid-range, 150€ is a good compromise if you are just starting out or already have a small intermediate level. Below this amount, you could end up with equipment that is too fragile, a sound that will not suit you and the obligation to buy additional elements to meet your expectations.

With this in mind, an instrument such as the Epiphone brand’s Les Paul model is affordable and perfectly compatible with Rock lovers. With two humbuckers, a body and a mahogany neck, this vintage Les Paul model is the ideal compromise, light and easy to handle if you are a beginner looking to play “big sound”.

To remind you of the Gibson models, the Dimavery brand is particularly suitable for intermediate levels with more defined requirements and a budget between 300 and 400 euros. Mostly made of maple, this Hollow Body Archtop is also electro-acoustic to the delight of all-rounders in terms of Jazz and Blues.

Finally, here is a Silo model at less than 300 euros made up of HSS microphones. Made mainly of maple, its body is made of lime tree, which gives the guitar a neutral and solid appearance while staying within an intermediate budget. This model is just as versatile as the previous one, although relatively heavy with 6 kilos to carry in addition to an amp, if necessary.

The long history of the electric guitar

Looking at these first points regarding the choice of an electric guitar, we saw that the handles, the woods and the microphones already represent dense subjects to which we could add many elements. Easels, amplifiers, strings, specific sound effects or Encorestyles of music and relevant details on the choice of woods are other points to come.

Also, an overview of price ranges and examples of models suitable for beginner and intermediate levels already give a clearer idea of how to choose an electric guitar. We will come back to the elements of electric guitars in more detail.

ONE GUITAR, THREE INSTRUMENTS

Here is a first way to approach things before choosing your guitar. For beginner, intermediate or professional, the aspects and possible uses according to the guitar category give a first general overview. Morphology, ergonomics, volume, strings, wood, handles and other technical, sound and musical aspects now allow you to get a first look at acoustic, electro-acoustic and electric guitars.

To conclude this first non-exhaustive introduction, it remains to mention one last point: the test! You can already do your own research while already knowing the jargon or go to a retailer and visualize, weigh or even try the models on display. Music being a matter of different sensitivity for each of us, it is important to “feel” his guitar in order to appropriate it as well as possible and to evolve with it.