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A Better Electric Guitar “Starter Pack”
Parents, if you are considering buying an electric guitar this Christmas as a gift and have no idea where to begin, I will offer some advice. First, you can't just buy an electric guitar. You also need to buy and amplifier (so the guitar can be heard), a cable to plug the guitar into the amp, a tuner, and some picks. These are the minimum. Other useful items include a strap and extra strings.
How do choose? Perhaps the easiest route is to buy one the many “Starter Packs” that guitar manufacturers offer. These starter packs offer everything you need in one box at a low price. However, you need to know that these all include low end guitar and amp models that feature lower quality parts. They will typically have thin sounding, noisy pickups and hardware that may break or wear out in a year or two. The amps are also typically noisy and offer few options. The accessories (cables, straps, picks, gig bags, etc.) may also be low quality. Your child will probably be pleased at first, but may soon desire something better.
If budget is the main consideration and you must take the pre-packaged Starter Pack route, my recommendation would be the “
Squier Stop Dreaming, Start Playing Affinity Strat HSS with G-DEC Junior Amp Metallic Red.
” Not because of the guitar, but because it offers a decent amp — which will vastly improve the playing experience, even with the lower quality guitar.
However, a better route is to create your own custom “starter pack” with better quality items that will last several years, thus saving you money in the long run. Don't worry, I'll help. I will also try to keep price in mind. All the items I have chosen are good quality at a reasonable price. Let's start with a guitar.
I have chosen the
Fender Standard Stratocaster HSS Electric Guitar Brown Sunburst Maple Fingerboard
. The Stratocaster is a classic. It has stood the test of time and is proven to be versatile enough for just about any style of music. With three pickups (one humbucker and two single coil) and five pickup settings, you get a lot of tonal options. The Mexican made Standard Strat is not top-of-the-line, but it better quality than a Squier and does the job well. Plus it says Fender Stratocaster on the headstock — the real thing, not a copy. Down the road a guitar tech can swap out the stock pickups for some better ones. As many experienced guitarists know, changing the pickups can make an inexpensive Strat into a great Strat. It comes with a gig bag. - $399.99
For an amp I have chosen the
Line 6 Spider III 15 15W 1x8 Guitar Combo Amp Standard
. This is an entry level amp that offers more than most entry level amps. It comes with four amp "models" (emulations of other amplifiers) and digital effects, making it quite versatile. It is plenty loud for practicing and small enough to take to lessons. - $99.99
For a cable I chose the
Planet Waves Gold-Plated 1/4" Straight Instrument Cable 15 Foot
. These cables sound great and have 8 "banana-like" compression springs that hold them firmly in the jack of the guitar. I've been using one for years. They last and are worth the money. - $33.99
Every guitar player needs a tuner. They make tuning easy and allow you tune to concert pitch so you can play with other musicians. The
Korg GA-30 Guitar/Bass Tuner Standard
does the job for a great price. It works for both electric and acoustic guitars. - $14.99
Finally a pack of
Fender 351 Premium Celluloid Guitar Picks Blue Moto Medium
. Picks wear out and get lost, so having a dozen on hand is good. Plus they are cheap. This is a popular size. You can always try others. - $3.99
There you have it. A custom starter pack that will provide years of enjoyment. Simply click on the links to buy any of these items at Musician’s Friend.