The best electric guitar for you is the one that feels comfortable in your hands, stays in tune and makes the kind of sound you want to hear. Brand and looks come after that. A guitar you enjoy picking up gets played, and playing is what makes you better.
For most people the decision comes down to four things: the body shape, the pickups, the neck and the bridge. Get those right for your style and your budget, and set money aside for the amplifier, cable, tuner and strap, which you need from day one.
If you play in a rock or metal band, or want to sound like one, you have plenty of choice. Finnish rock covers everything from the bright, clean riffs of the early bands to the heavy, down-tuned sound of modern metal, and the guitars behind those sounds differ in a few clear ways.
Body shape and weight
Most rock guitars are solid body: one piece or a few glued pieces of wood with no hollow chamber. They resist feedback at high volume, which is why they dominate rock and metal. Semi-hollow and hollow body guitars sound airier and suit jazz, blues and indie, but can howl when the amp is loud.
The two classic shapes are the double-cutaway style made famous by the Fender Stratocaster and the single-cutaway style of the Gibson Les Paul. Strat-style guitars, such as the Encore E6, usually have a contoured body that sits close to you and tend to be lighter. Les Paul-style guitars are often made from thick mahogany with a carved top and can feel noticeably heavier on a strap during a long rehearsal. Pick one up before you buy if you can, or check the listed weight on the shop’s page.
Pickups: single coil, P-90 or humbucker
Pickups turn the vibration of the strings into a signal for the amplifier, and they shape the sound more than any other part.
| Pickup | Sound | Typical use | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single coil | Bright, clear, snappy | Clean tones, funk, blues, classic rock | Can pick up hum from lights and electronics |
| P-90 | Thicker single coil, gritty when driven | Punk, garage rock, blues | Still hums more than a humbucker |
| Humbucker | Warm, full, higher output | Hard rock, metal, heavy distortion | Less sparkle on clean sounds |
A humbucker uses two coils wired so that the hum cancels out, which is why it is the usual choice for high-gain playing. Many guitars mix the two, for example two single coils and a humbucker at the bridge, which gives you a wider range from one instrument. The Les Paul Junior design, as on the Epiphone Billie Joe Armstrong Les Paul Junior, has traditionally used a single P-90 pickup: one volume, one tone and a raw sound that suits punk and straight rock.
Neck, scale length and frets
The neck is where you feel a guitar most. Neck profiles range from thin and flat to round and chunky. Thin necks suit fast playing and smaller hands; chunkier necks can feel more stable for chords. There is no right answer, only what feels natural.
Scale length is the distance from the nut to the bridge saddles. Fender guitars traditionally use 25.5 inches and Gibson guitars 24.75 inches. The shorter scale feels slightly slacker, so bends need a little less effort. The longer scale gives a tighter, brighter feel and holds lower tunings better.
Fret count matters if you play solos high up the neck: 21 or 22 frets is standard, while many metal guitars have 24.
Left-handed players should look for a true left-handed model rather than flipping a right-handed guitar. Several guitars in the electric guitar range come in left-handed versions, marked LH in the name.
Fixed bridge or tremolo
A fixed bridge is the simplest option: strings change quickly and the guitar stays in tune well. A vintage-style tremolo lets you bend the pitch with a bar for vibrato effects. A floating, locking tremolo allows extreme dives and returns to pitch, but restringing and changing tuning take longer. For a first guitar, a fixed bridge or a simple tremolo is easier to live with.
Good tuning machines help too. Locking tuners, available in the guitar tuners range, hold the string in place so restringing is faster and the string settles sooner.
What else you need
The guitar is only part of the cost. Plan for:
- An amplifier or a headphone amp or modelling unit for quiet practice. The speaker systems and amplifiers pages list what the shops have.
- A cable to connect the guitar to the amp.
- A tuner, either clip-on or in a pedal or app.
- A strap, so you can practise standing up; see the guitar straps range and the post on how to choose a guitar strap.
- Spare strings and picks. Sets of 9 to 42 and 10 to 46 gauge are the most common on electric guitars. Lighter strings are easier to press and bend; heavier strings sound fuller and stay more stable in lower tunings. Browse guitar strings and read how often to change guitar strings.
- A gig bag if the guitar leaves the house.
Bundles can be good value for a beginner. The Encore E69 outfit, for example, is listed with a 10 watt amp, a tuner, a gig bag, a strap and a cable. Items marked “B-Ware” are B-stock: returned or display items sold at a lower price. Check the shop’s description of the condition and its warranty terms before you order.
A professional set-up is worth considering, even on a new guitar. A technician adjusts the string height, the neck relief and the intonation so the guitar plays in tune all the way up the neck and is easier to press.
Quick checklist
- Solid body for rock and metal; semi-hollow for cleaner styles.
- Single coils for clarity, humbuckers for high gain, or a mix.
- A neck that feels comfortable, and a weight you can carry.
- Fixed bridge or simple tremolo for a first guitar.
- Left-handed model if you play left-handed.
- Budget for amp, cable, tuner, strap, strings and bag.
- Check B-stock condition and warranty before ordering.
If you also want keys in your set-up, the guide to choosing a digital piano, keyboard, synth or MIDI controller explains the differences.
Common questions
Is an electric guitar harder to learn on than an acoustic?
Usually not. Electric guitars tend to have lighter strings and lower action, so chords are easier to press. The main extra cost is the amplifier.
How much should I spend on a first electric guitar?
Enough for a guitar that stays in tune and plays comfortably, plus the accessories. Many players start in the low hundreds of euros and upgrade once they know what sound and feel they prefer.
Do I need a humbucker guitar for metal?
Most metal players use humbuckers because they stay quiet under heavy distortion, but it is not a rule. A guitar with a bridge humbucker and single coils elsewhere can cover metal and cleaner styles.
