The Best Beginner Electric Guitars: Where Should You Start?
Buying your very first electric guitar is an unforgettable moment and can mark the beginning of a lifelong journey into playing music! However, if you have ever walked into a music shop or browsed online, you'll know that the sheer volume of choice can feel completely overwhelming.
With thousands of shapes, sizes, colours and brands available today, how do you know which guitar is right for you?
The good news is that the quality of beginner electric guitars is higher than ever. You absolutely don't need to empty your bank account to get your hands on an instrument that stays in tune, feels comfortable to play and sounds fantastic.
To help you look through your options and find your perfect match, I've put together, in my personal opinion, some of the best beginner electric guitars currently available.
In this weeks blog, guitar tutor Sam will be evaluating each of these guitars based on three key areas that are worth considering when buying your first guitar: Cost, Versatility and Style.
Let's dive in!
Before we begin, though, there's one important thing to understand about this guide: these are recommendations, not rules. If you find a guitar that suits you better than one of the options listed below, that's absolutely fine! The best beginner guitar is ultimately the one that feels comfortable, sounds good to you and makes you want to pick it up and play.
Squier Sonic Stratocaster – The Best Entry-Level Option
If you close your eyes and picture an electric guitar, there's a very good chance you're picturing a Fender Stratocaster. Squier is Fender's official entry-level brand, and their Sonic series offers, in my opinion, excellent value for money for new players looking to get started with guitar lessons or learning independently.
Squier also typically offers bundles with this guitar, which can include a strap, a small amplifier and a case for your new guitar. This can make it a particularly convenient option if you're buying your first electric guitar and need everything to get started.
Cost: Highly affordable. The Sonic series is designed to remove some of the financial barriers to getting started, meaning you can begin playing without making a huge investment.
Versatility: Excellent. Stratocasters are famous for their comfortable, contoured bodies that sit easily against your leg and body. With three single-coil pickups and a five-way selector switch, this guitar can cover everything from pop and country to blues and classic rock.
Style: Timeless and iconic. This is the unmistakable silhouette associated with legendary players such as Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and John Mayer. It is also available in a variety of colours, so there's plenty of opportunity to find one that suits your personality.
Thomann: Squier Sonic Stratocaster
Yamaha Pacifica 112V – Sam's Personal Choice
Yamaha's Pacifica range has long been a benchmark for beginner and intermediate electric guitars, and the 112V is my personal favourite choice on this list.
The 112V might cost a little more than some of the most basic beginner models, but the step up in hardware and overall build quality makes it, in my opinion, well worth considering. It's also the sort of guitar that you can continue using as your playing develops, rather than immediately feeling the need to upgrade.
Cost: Mid-range for a beginner guitar. It sits slightly higher in the beginner price range, but its build quality means it is an instrument you can continue to enjoy as your playing develops.
Versatility: Excellent. It features an HSS pickup configuration, meaning it has one thick-sounding humbucker pickup at the bridge and two bright single-coil pickups. This is a popular configuration for players who want plenty of tonal variety, allowing you to cover everything from clean indie and pop sounds to blues and heavier rock.
Style: The Pacifica has a slightly sharper, more modern take on the classic Stratocaster shape. Its sleek pickguard and range of finishes give it a more contemporary appearance while retaining the familiar feel of a traditional electric guitar.
Thomann: Yamaha Pacifica 112V
Epiphone Les Paul Special II – The Rock and Roll Choice
If your daily playlist consists of heavy hitters such as AC/DC, Guns N' Roses and Led Zeppelin, you may be drawn towards a Les Paul-style guitar.
Epiphone is Gibson's entry-level brand, offering guitars inspired by the company's iconic designs at a more accessible price point. If you're looking for a guitar with a heavier feel and sound, this could be a great option.
Cost: Very budget-friendly. Its simplified design helps keep manufacturing costs down while still delivering the thick, powerful sound associated with a Les Paul-style guitar. At the time of writing, you may even find one second-hand for around £110.
Versatility: Good, but more focused towards certain styles of music. It uses two humbucker pickups, which are designed to reduce background hum and produce a thick, warm tone. It's particularly well suited to rock, punk and heavier styles, although it can still be used for cleaner pop and indie sounds.
Style: Pure hard-rock attitude. The single-cutaway shape is instantly recognisable and has become one of the most iconic electric guitar designs in music history. If appearance matters to you – and let's be honest, it often does when choosing your first guitar – this one certainly has plenty of personality.
Ibanez GRG121DX – The Metal Choice
For aspiring metal players, fast players and anyone attracted to a more modern-looking guitar, Ibanez is a brand well worth considering. Their GIO series is designed to offer good playability at an accessible price, with features that suit players interested in heavier styles.
Cost: Affordable. The GRG121DX uses a fixed bridge, which helps keep the design relatively straightforward and provides good tuning stability. This can be particularly useful for beginners who don't want to spend lots of time constantly retuning their guitar.
Versatility: Excellent for heavier styles, although more specialised than some of the other guitars on this list. Its high-output ceramic pickups are designed to handle distorted tones, while the slim, flat neck can feel comfortable when playing power chords, palm-muted riffs and faster lead parts.
Style: Aggressive, sharp and modern. With its pointed headstock and contemporary styling, this guitar has been designed with rock and metal players in mind.
Thomann: Ibanez GRG121DX
Final Thoughts
A quick tip before you check out: remember that an electric guitar doesn't make much noise on its own!
When budgeting for your new instrument, don't forget that you'll also need a small practice amplifier, an instrument cable, a comfortable strap and a handful of guitar picks. Many of the brands mentioned above offer convenient starter packs that bundle some of these essential accessories together, which can be a great way to make sure you have everything you need to get started.
It's also important to consider how the guitar actually feels in your hands. If possible, try out the guitars that catch your eye in a music shop. You may even discover that the guitar you weren't initially attracted to is actually the one that feels best to play.
And don't worry too much about making the "perfect" choice. Your first electric guitar is there to help you start learning, experimenting and discovering what you enjoy.
Whether you're starting guitar lessons, teaching yourself at home or simply picking up a guitar for the first time, the most important thing is to choose an instrument that makes you want to play.
If you look at your guitar sitting in the corner of the room and immediately think, "I want to pick that up," you've probably made a pretty good choice.
Happy playing!
Sam Hurley - Guitar Tutor
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