The world's most technically advanced guitar will rock the music industry to its core and will soon become the most sought after musical instrument of its time.

An Exceptional Look
Gibson's flowerpot inlay graces the headstock of the Dark Fire as seen on other classic Gibson models such as the Byrdland and the 1911 F4 Mandolin. In addition to traditional touches, Gibson developed an entirely new look that required many changes in the manufacturing process.

The Dark Fire has a nitrocellulose finish created especially for this exclusive 1st run. The mahogany back and neck of the Dark Fire are given a satin finish, while the headstock face is sprayed with a gloss finish. The Dark Fire's chambered mahogany body helps deliver an optimum combination of tone, balance and weight." The result is a comfortable, lightweight guitar that is acoustically louder, with increased sustain and resonance.

Outstanding Playability
Taking much of its inspiration from the 2008 Les Paul, this instrument features a super fast and comfortable ergonomic neck shape with asymmetrical carving and with Perfect SetupTM. This is made possible by a computerized PLEK system, a computer controlled device scans and dresses a guitar under actual playing conditions, strung and tuned to pitch.

The tune-o-matic piezo bridge has been redesigned. It is much sleeker and the bridge now locks to the studs with new technology and works better. The nut is made of a new high tech material which includes Teflon (allowing for the tuning action to be smoother and faster [without breaking strings] and has a higher density than bone.
The bridge lock and the new frictionless faux bone nut insure maximum tone and sustain. The locking tuners insure that tuning and string tension are maintained during lots of hard playing.
The instrument will feel like butter in your hand even after 4 or 5 hours into a gig.

Tone Monster With Chameleon Tone Technology
The Gibson Dark Fire combines two of the most popular pickups, the P90h in the neck position and a Burstbucker 3 in the bridge position. Both are capped with new carbon fiber-like pickup covers, designed to match the Dark Fire's finish. There are 6 low noise relay switches giving you more than 20 separate combination of pickup coils leading to an incredible variety of tonal possibilities.
The resulting pickup combinations are directed through optimized traditional volume and tone controls and then through a studio grade 4 band parametric equalizer/preamplifier. This awesome Chameleon Tone Technology is a pure analog signal path preserving the authenticity of instruments tone while giving unimagined tonal possibilities.

Add A Little Acousticness Please
The Gibson Dark Fire gives you the ability to adjust and blend the acoustic sound from the piezo bridge pickup with the sound from the guitar's traditional pickups using a revolutionary rotary potentiometer which is part of the pickup toggle selector. Twisting the toggle head blends the piezo acoustic sound from 0% acoustic sound [100% traditional pickups] to 100% acoustic sound [no traditional pickups].
The piezo bridge pickup consists of six individual piezo pickups, one for each saddle/string, which can be brought out as individual audio channels.

TV On Control Knob
The key to controlling the new functions of the Dark Fire is the Master Control Knob (MCK), which incorporates a sophisticated, full color matrix display (mini TV screen ). The Dark Fire's new MCK also controls the ability to change pickups, coils, EQ settings and tunings allowing the ability to adjust all quickly and simultaneously even several times during the same song.
There are 8 tone guitar settings that cover the most popular guitar, and 18 different guitar tunings. In addition, there are 24 user defined guitar setting. All can be accessed with a quick use of the MCK.

Robot Gets Steriods
The redesigned power head tuners on the Dark Fire are radically faster and significantly smaller, compared to the original Robot Guitar tuners. You can access any preset tuning in less than one second, so you can change tunings in the middle of a song.
The powerhead tuners are lighter than traditional tuners. The tuners can be used either by hand or automatically without the need to engage them. The battery uses new technology that results in exceptionally long life and light weight.

Computer Hardware And Software Included
The Robot II comes with a small box about the size of a pack of playing cards that acts as a high quality studio preamp and a full interface to a computer using a firewire port . We call it a Robot Interface Pack [or RIP for short]. RIP can be used live, in real time.
With a headphone out, you can carry RIP in you guitar case and set up your playing environment anywhere with or without your computer. The RIP's front panel carries a single 1/4-inch stereo input for the Dark Fire, a 1/8-inch headphone out with level control and a pilot light, which changes from dim blue to bright blue when the Dark Fire input is detected.

The rear panel carries two balanced 1/4-inch line outs, a FireWire connector to link to your amplifier or sound system and a hex connector that carries the analog outputs of each string, which can drive Roland or Axon guitar-to-MIDI converters.
To make full use of your laptop or computer, Dark Fire comes with two of the most powerful and popular software packages being sold today; Native Instruments' Guitar Rig 3 (recognized as the industry's most flexible amp and effects simulation software), and Ableton Live 7 Gibson Studio Edition (a multipurpose recording environment for everything from songwriting, to demos, to full-blown productions).

Both companies have collaborated with Gibson to ensure you can install all the software wand be using it in minutes (on any contemporary Microsoft or Apple operating system) and be harnessing the enormous music-making power of these studio tools. By working with the software developers, Gibson has fined tuned the software specifically for Dark Fire and included simple and powerful templates.

The combination of Dark Fire's on board Chameleon Tone Technology and the software tools, dozens of effects and emulations puts a truckload of sound and thousands of dollars of capability in the hands of the player simply and easily.

Dark Fire Gets An Internet Community Site
Gibson is setting up a Dark Fire community site to allow the lucky owners of this exceptional guitar to share tips, get new information, and discuss how to best use this state of the art instrument.

One amazing capability that comes with the guitar is software that allows you to use your computer to change user presets and store them. Users can then publish their personal favorite preset designs.

More Dark Fire Gear Being Designed
Gibson Guitar is already developing a range of audio equipment designed specifically to work with the new Dark Fire, some of which is already scheduled for release in early 2009, including a small transmitter module designed to work with Bluetooth wireless technology, allowing you the ability to connect wirelessly to your computer or laptop.

Limited Quantity 400 Stores World-Wide
The world's 1st run limited edition Gibson Dark Fire guitar will go on sale on December 15, 2008 at 400 dealers throughout the world. Each store will be limited to carrying only 5 of the sought after guitars and no guitar can be sold before 5pm on Monday, December 15, 2008. Once the guitars are sold out they will not be reproduced.

This highly collectible guitar will be available in the Dark Fire finish only. To find the list of exclusive Gibson Dark Fire guitar dealers go to www.gibson.com/darkfire.

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Renowned local singer/songwriter Jim Camacho, who recently earned the New Times’ "Best Songwriter" and "Best Acoustic Performer” Awards, interpreted Orbison’s greatest hits for an intimate gathering of fans, VIP’s and key players in the industry — such as EMI Music Publishing’s Director Andres Sandoval — all wearing Orbison-signature sunglasses.

Astonishing local model Denysse Carrillo wore superb latest creation by Carolina Boulton to emulate Orbison’s legendary Pretty Woman. EMI Music Publishing Latin America provided exclusive Roy Orbison content including “Oh Pretty Woman”, “Crying” and “Blue Bayou.

Local instrument experts say you should consider these things whether you're buying a guitar.

Whether your son or daughter is trying to shred like Metallica or play Bob Dylan covers, here's what to look for:

In general
For beginners, many guitars come in packages that include everything you need to start learning to play.
Electric guitar packages come with the guitar, an amplifier, a strap, extra strings, picks, a carrying bag and an instructional DVD or book or both.
Acoustic guitar packages come with the guitar, bag, strap, strings, picks and instructional material. Some stores also offer another acoustic package that comes with an amplifier for an additional $30.
Packages come from a multitude of manufacturers and cost at least $200 for an electric guitar and $149 and up for an acoustic.
Individual instruments can be had for less than the price of the packages. An acoustic guitar will cost at least $100. An electric guitar will cost around $110 and up.

Acoustic or electric?
What's better for a beginner: an acoustic guitar or an electric guitar?
It's one of the most commonly asked questions at guitar stores, but the answer isn't clear cut.
One isn't necessarily better to play or easier to learn than the other. It's a stylistic choice.
If the person playing the instrument wants to learn country, folk, worship or other music, an acoustic guitar is generally the better choice. For rock 'n' roll, an electric is generally better, said Dan Sullivan, pro shop manager at Dietze Music.
And for those parents worrying that the noise from an electric guitar will shake the walls, be not afraid. The amps in the starter packages mentioned above are usually only a meager 10 watts.
“They're not that loud. And they all come with headphone jacks,” Sullivan said.

Guitar stand
Those nifty packages come with everything. Everything but somewhere to put your guitar when you're not using it. You can pick up a simple guitar stand anywhere for under $20.

Size
Sometimes kids need small-sized guitars because they're not big enough to comfortably play a full-size guitar.
Children can benefit from playing a smaller guitar, but it depends on the child's height. Someone at a store can help you pick the right size, said Hoyle of Russo's.
At age 11 or 12, it might be a good idea to buy a full-size guitar even if the child isn't quite big enough to play it yet since they'll quickly outgrow a small-size guitar.

Strings and picks
Guitar strings come in all kinds of styles and from many manufacturers.
For a beginner, it's best to use a light to medium gauge string. The lighter strings are easier for a beginner to press down and play notes.
As for picks, they come in countless shapes, sizes and thicknesses. Again, it's better for a beginner to use a thinner, lighter gauge pick. They're easier to use and require less finesse than a thicker pick, Hoyle said.

Amplifiers and pedals
The Foo Fighters might have them, but a beginner doesn't need an enormous amplifier.
If you're not buying as part of a package, a 10- or 15-watt amp is perfect for a beginner. Many by Marshall and Fender have both clean and distorted channels in order to play a variety of different styles.
For a higher price, some amps have multiple effects that can make a guitar sound like practically any guitarist you admire.
“You want to be Eddie Van Halen on the spot? Just push a button,” Hoyle said.

Lessons
It used to be that you had two options: Take lessons or fumble around and try to teach yourself.
“I'm self-taught,” Hoyle said. “When I started, I watched people play or listened to the album and pulled the needle back and listened again to figure out a part.”

A few more options exist today on the Web. Many sites are dedicated to teaching guitar with videos, sheet music and tablature that can help you learn a plethora of songs.

Still, the experts say getting one-on-one time with an instructor and being able to ask questions is important.
“There's a lot of cool stuff on the Internet. There's a treasure trove of information,” Sullivan said. “(But) lessons are the optimum way to do it.”

Teachers can give students direction and guidance and teach them a guitar philosophy that you can't get from a computer, Hoyle said.
Instructors at local stores teach on acoustic and electric guitars in a variety of styles and offer lessons to almost any age. Children can start as young as 6 years old.

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NEW Crescent Beginners BLACK Acoustic Guitar+PICK+STRING+LESSON
	$24.95 End Date: Tuesday Feb-7-2012 4:04:28 PST Bid now

NEW Crescent Beginners HANDMADE WHITE Cutaway Acoustic Guitar+Stand And Extra
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23 Beginner KIDS Children RED Acoustic Guitar +pick +strings kid Xmas Gift Toy
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NEW Crescent Beginners GREEN Acoustic Cutaway Guitar+PICK+STRING+LESSON
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NEW Crescent Beginners PURPLE HANDMADE Acoustic Guitar+Stand And Extras
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HOT PINK Acoustic Guitar SET 38 classical steel string
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Great first guitar.
What's so special about the Epiphone Les Paul Special II Electric Guitar? The super-low price for starters and that's not all. It gives you all the essential elements of a Les Paul. Made with a mahogany body, bolt-on mahogany neck, smooth 22-fret rosewood fingerboard, this baby is every bit as handsome as its uptown cousins. Features 700T/650R open-coil humbucking pickups that deliver long, singing sustain and true Les Paul tones. The LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece add more sustain and make string changing easier. Limited lifetime warranty.

Epiphone Les Paul Special II Electric Guitar Features:
• Mahogany body
• Bolt-on neck mahogany neck
• 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays
• 700T/650R open-coil humbuckers
• 24-3/4" scale
• 1-5/8" nut width
• LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece add more sustain and easier string changing
• Tone, volume, and 3-way pickup switch
• Hardware: chrome (black on wine red finish)

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EPIPHONE LES PAUL SPECIAL II Translucent Black ELECTRIC GUITAR with Gig Bag MINT
	$149.99 End Date: Tuesday Feb-7-2012 13:26:07 PST Buy It Now for only: $149.99 Buy It Now

EPIPHONE GIBSON LES PAUL SPECIAL II GOTH BLACK GUITAR sixx explorer thunderbird
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EPIPHONE LES PAUL SPECIAL ii
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Epiphone Les Paul Special II Lefty Model Intl Buyers Welcome
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Epiphone Les Paul Special P90 Electric Guitar W Gig Bag
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Epiphone Les Paul Special II Electric Guitar Black + Strap BossTuner and Cable
	$50.00 (1 Bid) End Date: Thursday Feb-9-2012 13:51:48 PST Bid now

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Nickel Grover Rotomatic tuners are an engineering marvel, with abundant style and performance exactly suited for the J-45. With a gear ratio of 14:1, the Rotomatics deliver precision tuning in a durable housing that provides maximum protection for the gear and string post. All moving parts are cut for exact meshing, eliminating the possibility of slippage. A countersunk tension screw lets players regulate the tuning tension to any degree. A special lubricant inside the gear box provides smooth and accurate tuning stability.
The top of the J-45 is made from AA-grade Sitka spruce, while the back and sides are constructed from pattern grade Honduras mahogany, giving the J-45 its world renowned full, balanced expression, warm bass, and excellent projection. Selecting the right wood, and the formula to dry it out, are two of the most central procedures to Gibson’s guitar-building process. Beginning with its first catalog in 1903, Gibson has assured its customers that every guitar would be built using woods with the most durable, elastic, and sonorous qualities, and today’s guitars from Gibson Acoustic are no different.

The pickguard for the J-45 is Gibson’s standard plain tortoise tear drop shape, which has been used on the J-45 since its introduction in 1942. As with all of Gibson’s pickguards, the coloring and binding are all done by hand.

A rosette is the beautiful, hand-crafted circle around the sound hole, and can be one of the most ornamental elements of any acoustic guitar. It is also one of the most subtle and complicated woodworking decorations on any acoustic guitar. The rosette on the J-45 is a simple single-ring rosette consisting of three-ply binding, adding a stylish, understated elegance to the J-45 Standard.

Rosewood Fingerboard with Rolled Edges and Dot Inlays The fingerboard of Gibson’s J-45 is constructed from the highest grade rosewood on earth, which is personally inspected and qualified by Gibson’s team of skilled experts before it enters the Gibson factories. The resilience of this durable wood makes the fingerboard extremely balanced and stable, and gives each chord and note unparalleled clarity and bite. The J-45s dot inlays are made of genuine mother of pearl, measuring approximately ¼-inch in diameter, and are inserted into the fingerboard using a process that eliminates gaps. The fingerboard also sports a rolled edge instead of the usual right angle where the fingerboard surface meets the neck; Gibson Acoustics’ rolled edges are slightly beveled for an extremely smooth and comfortable feel, enhancing the playability of the J-45.

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Gibson J 45 True Vintage Red Spruce Acoustic Guitar
	$2,399.20 End Date: Tuesday Feb-7-2012 5:03:13 PST Buy It Now for only: $2,399.20 Buy It Now

Original GIBSON J45 ACOUSTIC GUITAR DARK BROWN
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1960s Gibson J 45 Acoustic Bridge LG 0 LG 1
	$49.00 End Date: Tuesday Feb-7-2012 17:09:49 PST Buy It Now for only: $49.00 Buy It Now

Gibson J 45
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Gibson 1942 J 45 Legend Acoustic Guitar 2010
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1964 Gibson J 45 with bridge and Saddle upgrades
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Gorgeous domestic wild cherry back and sides provide a unique tone blending the warmth of mahogany with the crisp definition of maple. Silverleaf maple neck on a shorter 24.84" scale with a rosewood fretboard is easy on the fingers while specially aligned machine heads make for quick, stable tuning.
Seagull The Original S6 Acoustic Guitar Features:
• Solid cedar top
• Wild cherry back and sides
• Rosewood fingerboard and bridge
• Tusq nut and compensated saddle
• Semi-gloss lacquer finish
The perfect combination of precision luthiery and low price.

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Seagull S6 Original Q1 Acoustic Electric Guitar Natural
	$529.00 End Date: Tuesday Feb-7-2012 5:21:13 PST Buy It Now for only: $529.00 Buy It Now

Seagull S6 Entourage Acoustic Guitar Rustic Burst
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Seagull Coastline S6 GT Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar Sunburst
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Seagull The Original S6 Acoustic Guitar Natural
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New Seagull S6 GT QI Acoustic Guitar Dealer Gigbag
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With a lineup of classic flattop models including the F-30, F-50, F-412, and D-55 and a league of devotees that has included Nick Drake, Tim Buckley, Ralph Towner, Richie Havens, and Ryan Adams, Guild is among the most loved and respected acoustic-guitar companies. But while rightly regarded as an institution, Guild has had several homes, counting New York City; Hoboken, New Jersey; Westerly, Rhode Island; Corona, California; and Tacoma, Washington, as headquarters during its 57-year history. Late last year, Guild’s parent company, Fender Musical Instruments (who acquired the brand in 1995), announced that Guild was on the move again—this time back east to the New Hartford, Connecticut, factory that is home to Ovation production. (Fender also owns Ovation’s parent company, Kaman Music.)

Our review specimen of Guild’s stalwart D-40 dreadnought is among the first to emerge from the new facility. The quality, timeless style, and vibe that has always made Guild guitars special was evident the minute I took this guitar out of the case, and it only took a little picking and strumming to discover that the D-40’s tone and versatility are worthy of the Guild legacy.

A MAHOGANY LEGEND
The D-40 first appeared in 1963 along with the rosewood-and-spruce D-50. The two guitars were critical to Guild’s growth as it transitioned away from jazz archtops, and they were well timed to coincide with the acoustic guitar boom of the 1960s.
Except for a few noteworthy exceptions, the Connecticut-produced D-40 is faithful to the design and spirit of its 1960s forebears. It’s built around a lovely Adirondack spruce top with subtle bearclaw figuring and rich, chocolatey mahogany back and sides and finished with a flawlessly applied nitrocellulose lacquer that gives the guitar a mirror-like depth and shine. Guild’s trademark art-deco headstock—capped here with ebony—looks as sharp as a bespoke suit, sporting deco-inspired Gotoh 700 tuners, a pearl “Chesterfield” inlay (named for its similarity to the Chesterfield cigarette logo), and a pearl Guild logo that lend the guitar a distinctly American elegance. Among the changes to the original design are details such as a slightly tighter 30-foot top radius (earlier versions had a 40-foot radius), which Guild says increases the guitar’s sustain and projection, and a dual-action truss rod, rather than the older single-action type.

The three-piece neck (which has a slightly smaller heel than most older Guilds) is made from mahogany with a walnut “skunk” stripe at its center, and the rosewood bridge is cut in Guild’s signature twin-peaked shape. As on so many Guilds, there are plenty of small luxuries that make the guitar feel like some¬thing more than an ordinary factory ax: black-and-white rosette with a delicate ring of tortoise; tortoise binding and heel cap; and bone nut, bridge, and bridge pins.

FAT, WARM, AND LOUD
I’ve played a lot of D-40 dreadnoughts (as well as all-mahogany D-25’s and spruce-topped D-35’s) over the years, and I’ve always loved their playability, punch, and warmth. They’re like the guitar equivalent of a 30-year-old baseball glove—supple, responsive, and ready to go. Tuning up and laying into some first-position chords, I found that this D-40 displayed much of the power and glow that I remembered in those old Guilds. Like a new baseball glove, it felt a little stiff at first, but a fresh set of strings brought the D-40 to life—making the guitar feel a little faster under the fingers and adding a little extra shimmer to its kick and warmth.

Eager to break in the D-40, I had a go at my favorite Fred Neil vehicle for fast and heavy strumming, “Looks Like Rain.” The Guild’s warmth and clarity made me feel right at home, and I was impressed with the D-40’s responsiveness and tone under both a light and heavy touch. This is a dynamic and touch-sensitive guitar—not prone to harshness or harmonic blur when you push it, as some mahogany guitars are, nor apt to lose bass or high-end when you take your foot off the gas.

My interest piqued by the D-40’s sparkly, high-mid voice, I snapped a capo onto the third fret and improvised around the chord melody to “Shady Grove.” In this context the Guild was as responsive to delicate arpeggios as muscular, staccato picking—again demonstrating a wide dynamic range that will delight flatpickers and vocal accompanists. And I couldn’t help but think how much I’d value this guitar if I played in a band that worked in a wide range of styles. This guitar has a considerable presence that would find a place in any mix.

Fingerstyle explorations, in this case, improvisations in D A D G A D and C G C G C Eb, benefited from the D-40’s impressive range, too. The lower tunings showcased the D-40’s formidable low-end sustain, color, and overtones, and a driving, uptempo original tune in D A D G A D that relies on a droning sixth string sounded orchestral thanks to the D-40’s bottom-end muscle and high-end detail. Changing strings yet again—this time switching to light-gauge strings to facilitate faster bends—made the guitar feel even livelier for fingerstyle workouts. And though it took slightly more effort to summon the same low-end thump, the guitar remained balanced, responsive, and full of character.

NO-NONSENSE STYLE, RICH TONAL PALETTE
Over the course of the month I spent with this Connecticut-bred D-40, it became an ever more-rewarding companion. Though I enjoyed the guitar’s warm, boisterous voice most when strumming with a heavy, percussive, Neil Young–style attack (especially with the sixth string dropped a step or more), the D-40 was a great companion for delicate, late-night fingerpicking sessions, where I could appreciate its sustain and rich palette of overtones. It’s also a subtly gorgeous instrument, built with all the style and attention to detail that has made Guild a favorite of no-nonsense guitarists. If this D-40 is typical of the Connecticut factory’s work, it bodes well for Guild’s continuing legacy as a guitar maker for serious players who value utility and timeless style over flash.

At a Glance: Guild D-40 THE SPECS
Solid Adirondack spruce top. Solid mahogany back and sides. Three-piece mahogany and walnut neck. Dovetail neck joint. Rosewood fretboard and bridge. Bone nut, saddle, and bridge pins. 25.63-inch scale. 111/16-inch nut width. 21/8-inch string spacing at the saddle. High-gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish. Gotoh 700 tuners. D’Addario EXP 17 medium-gauge phosphor-bronze strings. Made in USA.

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Guild D 40 Bluegrass Jubilee Acoustic Electric Guitar w Hardshell Case
	$1,549.00 End Date: Tuesday Feb-7-2012 15:08:14 PST Buy It Now for only: $1,549.00 Buy It Now

RIPPER CLASSIC 1972 GUILD D 40 ACOUSTIC GUITAR
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Guild D 40 Bluegrass Jubilee Acoustic Guitar Natural
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Guild D 40BG Bluegrass Jubilee w DTAR Pickup System 385 6307 821
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Guild D 40CE Standard Cutaway Dreadnought w Pickups 385 5306 821
	$2,099.99 End Date: Wednesday Feb-8-2012 12:13:57 PST Buy It Now for only: $2,099.99 Buy It Now

1981 Guild D 40 Rhode Island Original Case Hang Tags Fishman pickup
	$849.00 End Date: Wednesday Feb-8-2012 12:55:26 PST Bid now

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You only get what you pay for.
It can be a daunting task especially for beginners looking at all the different electric guitar models trying to make a decision as to what to buy. And when you add amps, effects, and everything else involved you end up saying to yourself, “Maybe I don’t need all that stuff.”

Well now, what do I REALLY need.
Let me just say for the record that I’m far from an equipment expert. There are plenty of “gear heads” out there that get something new every month. These guys always have the latest and greatest in guitars, but I find these guys can hardly play a lick because they’re too busy buying all their gear!! I’ve always been a “just let me play” kind of guy. But it’s always nice to have friends like this so you can go over to their place and try out all their cool stuff.
This page has the beginner in mind so if you’ve been playing for a while you’re probably going to think “well, duh!” But my goal here is to discuss what you need and your different options. Please keep in mind that everything below is solely my opinion.

What kind of beginner electric guitar should you buy and how much should you spend?

If you’re a beginner just starting I don’t recommend spending any more that $500, if that much. You can usually find something to learn on for $2-300 or even cheaper at a flea market or online. You don’t need anything more than that, especially if you lose interest. I’ve only gone through 3 guitars in my life, the first being a cheap Dean that I got for Christmas out of a Sears catalog. I then got an Ibanez 560 Frank Gambale model that I ordered from Suncoast music for Christmas when I was 16 or 17. I had that one for a long time up until 4 years ago when I went guitar shopping for the first time and got a custom made Ibanez S-Series that listed for $1500. By this time, I was advanced enough that I justified paying that much for something good.
The point is don’t spend too much money right now unless you are seriously interested in the instrument. I would focus more on playing and getting better than getting all the different gears.

Its tough to make good recommendations but I’ve always been partial to Ibanez. But, there are a lot of good guitars and companies out there. The best thing I can recommend anybody looking for an electric guitar is to go to the store and play different models. This is the ONLY way you can figure out what works best for YOU. Then you can start haggling the sales clerk at the store about the price.

Obviously, buying a beginner electric guitars online will give you significant discounts as well as special deals. You can find lots of great bargains here. Here are some great starter packages. Any one of the above packages would be perfect for a beginner, whether you want to play electric, acoustic, or the electric/acoustic combo! And the best thing about I bought one of my Yamaha acoustics from them and I’m quite happy with the customer support, and I also received it in a couple of days. I’ve since bought a couple other guitars and a Pandora PX4 and I’ve been 100% satisfied with every purchase.

What about buying beginner electric guitars amplifiers?
This is something that you have to go to the store and try for yourself before you make a decision. I have a Crate GT-200 that I played my Ibanez through at the store when I went shopping that day 4 years ago. For amps you most definitely get what you pay for. Mesa Boogie are the best amps I’ve heard, but I never could afford them. Depending on your budget, try to make the best decision based on quality vs. your personal budget. Again you will get significant discounts online, but you will definitely want to hear how your electric guitar sounds with the amp you’re looking at.

What else do you need?
If you have a beginner electric guitar and amplifier you’ll need a few other things. Some of them are optional…and mostly a matter of preference.

The most commonly accepted method of choosing a low cost electric guitar is to find an instrument with good quality wood, and at least reasonable workmanship. Guitar manufacturers tend to cut corners with cheaper guitars, by using cheaper pick-ups, and hardware, but these are all upgradeable parts.

All bass guitars generally work in the same way, although the materials from which they are made and their shape can have a sizable impact on what type of sound they produce and what genre of music they are best suited to playing.

The effect of wood on the bass sound
The majority of basses are solidbody, meaning there is no space inside the body of the guitar to allow sounds to reverberate naturally as with acoustic instruments. The cheapest solidbodys are typically made from softer woods such as ply or plastic, with hard woods like maple, rosewood and mahogany used on more expensive models.

As far as solidbodys are concerned, mahogany produces a dense and woody sound and fits in well with the country and blues style of music. Rosewood on the other hand is generally considered to create a more metallic sound that is rich and complex in both the high and low registers. Meanwhile, maple has a flatter tone that can work particularly well when playing at a loud volume.

Hollowbody bass guitars are used, but are mostly for those who enjoy jazz and folk music, as they create a quieter, more acoustic sound better suited to this type of playing.

Famous bass guitars
One of the most popular manufacturers of bass guitars, as with electric guitars, is Fender, which pioneered the Precision Bass. This instrument is heavily associated with rock music and has been used over the years by the likes of Black Sabbath's Geezer Butler, Metallica's Cliff Burton and The Who's John Entwhistle.

After more than 50 years of production, there are a wide variety of Precision Basses available, although the most commonly found will either be made of alder or ash, with four strings and a fretted fingerboard.

Affordable alternatives
Having four strings and frets is generally considered to be the best option for those looking to start playing the bass as it makes them less complicated for beginners to learn. However, Fender basses can sell for upwards of £400 and there are much cheaper models on the market that offer a similar style, such as the Electric G-4 Bass Guitar, which costs £79.95.

Like a typical Fender, this model has frets and four strings, as well as the familiar split coil humbucking pickup. This enables the guitar to produce a crisp clear tone with good low end depth, punch and sustain. It is also available as part of the Electric G-4 Bass Guitar & Amp Pack for £109.05, which includes a practice 15-watt bass amplifier, a guitar lead, spare strings, a pick and a strap - everything needed to start playing right away.

Playing the bass guitar
There are three main ways of playing a bass guitar - using a pick, plucking with fingers or 'slapping'. Picks are generally used in order to play more quickly, although some musicians simply prefer them to plucking. Slapping is a more advanced technique popularised by the likes of Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers and found commonly in funk music.

Beyond these three, it is possible to use two-handed tapping techniques similar to those used in electric guitar playing. This style is generally used by virtuoso bass players - such as Billy Sheehan - who forego the traditional role of the bass guitar as simply a rhythm section instrument.

As well as trying out different playing techniques, beginners can advance their sound by upgrading to a better bass guitar, amp or using effects pedals, such as a Boss GT10B Bass Guitar Effects Processor.

There are several different types of acoustic guitar available, catering for different styles of music. Classical guitars - sometimes referred to as concert or Spanish - typically feature six nylon strings and are generally used to play classical music. They are often plucked as opposed to strummed and have a flat fretboard profile. They produce a more mellow sound than acoustics with steel strings, which are both louder and brighter.

Different types of acoustic guitar
The three main types of acoustic guitar shape are dreadnoughts, cutaways and round backs. The dreadnought, which has a bell-like body, was developed by famous manufacturer CF Martin & Company and has gone on to be considered the standard acoustic guitar shape. Cutaways have an indentation in the body next to the bottom of the guitar neck to make it easier for guitarists to play the lower part of the fingerboard. Round back models have a rounded as opposed to flat back, which is considered to create a clearer and brighter sound.
Acoustic guitars available on the market.

A starter instrument, such as the Concert Acoustic Guitar can be bought from £39.99. Designed for those on a budget, the instrument is particularly good for smaller players. It produces a mellow and balanced tone and features a compensated bridge to assist with intonation. It is considered to be ideal for finger-picking and playing acoustic blues music.

The Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar, which is also geared towards beginners, is available for the same price. The larger instrument has a full and balanced tone and boasts high levels of playability and response in addition to the compensated bridge.

Electro-acoustic guitars, which feature pickups, are marginally more expensive, with the Round Back Acoustic Guitar available for £65. The slimline instrument has a cutaway feature and produces warm and clear tones in addition to having a great feel. It is designed with live performance in mind, with the aim of minimising problems with feedback when the instrument is amplified.

Boasting similar features and the same price is the Single Cutaway Electro Acoustic Guitar, which has a well-balanced acoustic sound that is also designed to sound great through an amp.

Further up the price range and for those looking to advance is the Washburn D46S Acoustic Guitar. The dreadnought instrument costs £299 and is thought to be unrivalled in its price range for its richness of feel and the quality of wood used in its build.

At the top of the price range is the Yamaha LJX6C Solid Top Jumbo Acoustic for £675. With a solid spruce top, cutaway rosewood back and sides and a two-way pick-up with pre-amp system, the instrument is built with the modern guitarist in mind, producing a controlled and assertive tone and a strong mid-range.

Other things to consider when buying an acoustic guitar
Those looking to buy an acoustic guitar and start playing straight away may be interested in the Dreadnought Guitar + Accessory Pack, which comes with a spare set of strings and gig bag for £49.99. Other popular accessories include guitar polish, picks and tuners, while those with electro-acoustics will probably find a practice amp to be useful. Full amplifiers will likely be needed for those looking to play live.