Electric Guitar Buyer's Guide

Advice for First Time Buyers

Before you start searching for your first guitar consider the following:

1. Price range
Set an appropriate price range. You can easily filter your search results on AMS using the price range selection filters on the left side of the page or sort by 'Low to High' or 'High to Low' to see all products in order of price.

2. Size/age of the player
Electric guitars are available in numerous shapes, sizes and weights so it's important to find one that will be the best physical fit for you. Consider your age, height and the size of your hands. If youare younger or smaller in size you will do best with guitars that have thinner necks, shorter scales and are lighter in weight. If you are tall or have large hands you will probably be more comfortable with heavier guitars with wider necks and longer scales. In order to properly play your instrument you have to be able to handle it comfortably.

Electric Guitar Starter Packages Check out the complete listing of Electric Guitar Packages 3. Style of music you want to play
Rock, blues, metal, punk or jazz; the style of music you play will require the right tool for the job. Some guitars are known for their versatility and are used across several genres of music and some guitars are favored by specific genres. Identify your favorite bands and guitar players and research the gear they use, the guy in the jazz trio most likely isn't using the same gear as the guy in the metal band.

4. Starter Packages
AMS offers several Electric Guitar Packages for new guitar players. These packages are a one-stop-shopping experience for the essentials needed to get started.

Electric Guitar Diagram

Electric Guitar Diagram

Types of Electric Guitars

Six-String Guitar

Six-String Guitar
The standard guitar comes with six strings.
Standard Tuning:
High to Low EBGDAE

Browse Six-String Guitars
Seven-String Guitar

Seven-String Guitar
Features a low B string.
Popular with metal guitarists for its low and heavy sound.
Standard Tuning:
High to Low EBGDAEB

Browse Seven-String Guitars
Eight-String Guitar

Eight-String Guitar
Features both a low B and a low F# string.
Popular with metal guitarists looking for extreme lows.
Standard Tuning:
High to Low EBGDAEBF#

Browse Eight-String Guitars
12-String Guitar

12-String Guitar
Although played like a 6 string, each of the four low strings are paired with another string tuned to the same note but an octave higher while the two high strings are tuned in unison. The two strings are paired to ring as one but produce the sound of two, creating a very rich and full sound.
Standard Tuning:
High to Low eebbGgDdAaEe

Browse 12-String Guitars

Necks & Fingerboards

Necks
Maple Neck

Maple
Look: Blonde
Sound: Maple creates a bright, sharp tone with plenty of sustain

Mahogany Neck

Mahogany
Look: Light to dark brown
Sound: Mahogany creates a warm sounding tone with good sustain

Fingerboards
Rosewood Fingerboard

Rosewood
Look: Light-dark brown
Feel: Smooth
Sound: Warm

Maple Fingerboard

Maple
Look: Blonde
Feel: Hard
Sound: Bright

Ebony Fingerboard

Ebony
Look: Black
Feel: Hard
Sound: Bright

Scale Length & Neck Setting

Scale Length
Short-Scale

Short-Scale
24"
Low tension
Round sound

Les Paul

Les Paul
24-3/4"
Lower tension
Warmer tone

Custom

Custom
25"
Mid tension
Blend of warmth and clarity

Long-Scale

Long-Scale
25-1/2"
Higher tension
Sharp sound

Neck Settings
Set Neck

Set Neck
The neck and body are separate pieces, the neck is permanently attached to the body to look seamless.
Great sustain and resonance.

Bolt-On Neck

Bolt-On Neck
The neck and body are separate pieces with the neck bolted to the body.
Easy to adjust.

Neck-Through-Body

Neck-Through-Body
The neck and middle of the body are one piece with two separate pieces used to create the top and bottom of the body.
Great sustain.

Body Types & Wood

Body Types
Solid Body

Solid Body
The standard body used for the majority of electric guitars. The body is completely solid except for the cavities that house the guitar's electronic components.

Chambered

Chambered
A solid body which has several separate sections carved out which decreases the weight of the guitar while enhancing resonance and sustain.

Hollow Body

Hollow Body
The entire body of the guitar is hollowed out creating a better acoustic sound.

Semi-Hollow Body

Semi-Hollow Body
The center of the body is solid wood but the two sides are hollowed out creating a hybrid of a solid body and hollow body guitar.

Body Wood
A major part of a guitar's tone is shaped by the wood used to create the body, neck and fingerboard. The most commonly used woods include Alder, Ash, Mahogany, Maple and Rosewood. Each type of wood has its own color, grain and density and creates its own unique tone.
Body Wood Alder

Alder
Look: Light blonde
Feel: Light
Sound: Full with a balanced mix of high, middle and low frequencies

Body Wood Ash

Ash
Look: Light blonde
Feel: Ranges from light to heavy depending on the type of Ash
Sound: Bright sound with good sustain

Body Wood Mahogany

Mahogany
Look: Light to dark brown
Feel: Medium to heavy
Sound: Warm tone with good sustain

Body Wood Mahogany Body and Maple Top

Mahogany Body and Maple Top
Look: Light to dark brown (Mahogany), blonde (Maple)
Feel: Heavy
Sound: The Maple top sharpens the warm tone and good sustain of the Mahogany

Body Wood Maple

Maple
Look: Blonde
Feel: Heavy
Sound: A bright and sharp tone that has plenty of sustain

Pickups & Electronics

Pickups
Pickups capture the mechanical vibrations created when the strings on the guitar are strummed converting these vibrations into an electrical signal which is transmitted to the amplifier. Pickups come in two styles, Single-Coil and Humbucker, and guitars can come with one, two or three pickups. The pickup switch allows guitar players to select one, all or even a combination of pickup settings in order to create different tones. Some Humbuckers are capable of turning one coil off to function as a Single Coil. This feature is called Coil Tapping and can be activated by either a toggle switch or a with one of the volume or tone knobs.
Single-Coil Pickups

Single-Coil Pickups
Specs: Each pickup has one coil and one set of magnets. The narrow magnetic field produces a very focused tone that cuts through a mix well and is perfect for recording.
Sound: Bright and clear. Great for clean, funky “quack, quack” or “honking” tone.

Humbucker Pickups

Humbucker Pickups
Specs: Humbucker pickups are comprised of two single-coils. The two coils are wired out of phase, reducing the hum that is sometimes produced by single-coil pickups.
Sound: Warm and full. “Singing tone with lots of sustain. Great for use with heavy gain/distortion while remaining hum-free”

Passive Pickups

Passive Pickups
Specs: String vibrations are generated into a signal by coil-wrapped magnets, producing a minute voltage that is amplified externally.
Sound: Traditional and vintage.

Active Pickups

Active Pickups
Specs: Functionally the same as passive pickups these pickups are powered by a 9-Volt battery creating a higher output and wider frequency range.
Sound: A fuller range of tone and very modern sounding.

Electronics

ElectronicsPassive/Active Electronics
Specs: A less common feature that enables the option of switching between passive and active electronics on the fly.
Sound: The best of both worlds.

Passive Electronics
Specs: Controls the basic volume and tone of the guitar (high frequency attenuation only).
Sound: Vintage, traditional

Active Electronics
Specs: Active electronics are powered by a 9-Volt battery making them capable of boosting or cutting frequencies.
Sound: Extra bass, treble and overall output.

Bridges & Tremolos

Bridges
Wrap-Tail

Wrap-Tail
With a Wrap-Tail bridge the strings are fed through the back of the bridge over the saddles.

String-Through Body

String-Through Body
The strings are fed through the back of the body over the saddles. Each string can be adjusted for height and length.

Stop Tailpiece & Bridge Combination

Stop Tailpiece & Bridge Combination
The strings are fed through the tailpiece which is separate from the bridge. With this setup string height can be adjusted however not individually, while string length can be adjusted individually.

Tremolo Bridges
Tremolo Bridges come with arm called a Tremolo Arm or Whammy Bar. By pushing or pulling on this arm the guitar player can change the tension of the strings which will alter the pitch of the strings. Locking Tremolo systems come with a locking mechanism located at the guitar's nut which helps keep the strings from going out of tune while the Tremolo Arm is being used.
Standard Tremolo

Standard Tremolo
The most common tremolo system is the Standard Tremolo. By incorporating a tailpiece with the bridge the Synchronized Tremolo is capable of a good range of motion when either pushed down or pulled up.

Locking Tremolo

Locking Tremolo
The Locking Tremolo allows for a greater range of motion both up and down and is popular with metal guitarists and shredders. The locking tremolo adds tuning stability due to it locking the string at either one or two points.

Bigsby

Bigsby
The Bigsby is a two-piece tremolo system with a separate tail-piece that is connected to the bridge. This design creates a wide and smooth vibrato.

Fender American Pro Stratocaster Maple Neck 3 Color Sunburst with Case
Fender American Pro Stratocaster Maple Neck 3 Color Sunburst with Case
Fender Standard Telecaster Electric Guitar Lake Placid Blue
Fender Standard Telecaster Electric Guitar Lake Placid Blue
PRS McCarty Singlecut 594 10 Top Black Gold Wrap with Case
PRS McCarty Singlecut 594 10 Top Black Gold Wrap with Case
Gibson 2018 Les Paul Faded Worn Cherry with Soft Case
Gibson 2018 Les Paul Faded Worn Cherry with Soft Case
Gibson 2017 LE Exclusive SG Standard Pelham Blue W/Case
Gibson 2017 LE Exclusive SG Standard Pelham Blue W/Case
PRS S2 Custom 24 Electric Guitar Whale Blue with Gigbag
PRS S2 Custom 24 Electric Guitar Whale Blue with Gigbag
Epiphone Les Paul Special VE Vintage Sunburst
Epiphone Les Paul Special VE Vintage Sunburst
Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster 50s
Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster 50s
PRS SE Zach Myers Semi Hollow Trampas Green with Gigbag
PRS SE Zach Myers Semi Hollow Trampas Green with Gigbag
Ibanez Premium RG1070PBZ Electric Guitar with Case Cerulean Blue Burst
Ibanez Premium RG1070PBZ Electric Guitar with Case Cerulean Blue Burst
ESP E-II Eclipse DB Electric Guitar with Case Vintage Black
ESP E-II Eclipse DB Electric Guitar with Case Vintage Black
Schecter Synyster Gates Standard Electric Guitar Black Silver Stripes
Schecter Synyster Gates Standard Electric Guitar Black Silver Stripes
Dean Dimebag Dean From Hell CFH Electric Guitar
Dean Dimebag Dean From Hell CFH Electric Guitar
Dangelico Excel EXL1 Hollowbody Electric with Case Vintage Sunburst
Dangelico Excel EXL1 Hollowbody Electric with Case Vintage Sunburst
Godin xtSA Synth Access Acoustic Electric Guitar with Bag Koa
Godin xtSA Synth Access Acoustic Electric Guitar with Bag Koa