How to choose a guitar

guitar device

To begin with, we will define that all guitars are divided into two main types: acoustic and electric. Regardless of this, the basic elements of any guitar are the same. It:

• neck;
• vulture head;
• pegs;
• fretboard (fingerboard);
• upper and lower nut;
• frets;
• fret nut;
• case (deck);
• stand-string holder (bridge).

Having understood the standard structure of the guitar, you can proceed to the study of its varieties and the differences between them.

Acoustic guitar device

Types of guitars

acoustic

This type includes any guitar that has a hollow body and sounds due to its resonance. Since the body is empty inside, it consists of an upper, lower deck and a shell connecting them to each other. In order for the sound to be loud without amplification, there is a resonator hole in the top deck.

Before moving on to other types of guitars, we’ll immediately tell you what main types acoustic guitars are divided into according to the shape of the body.

acoustic guitar body type

1. Dreadnought(western). Six-string large body guitar with or without cutaway. The headstock is one piece, the pegs are separate. Designed for playing both chords and plucking.

2. Jumbo. It differs from the dreadnought in shape and more rounded hull lines. It narrows towards the center, and at the bottom it has a large expansion. Depending on the size of the deck, there are mini jumbo and super jumbo models.

3. Grand auditorium. Acoustic guitar for live performances, with a narrow body for easy playing while standing.

4. Folk. A hybrid version of the guitar, a cross between a jumbo and a dreadnought.

Popular Acoustic Guitars

Cort AD810

from 4 999 ₴

Yamaha F310

from 6 399 ₴

Avzhezh AG-101

from 2 898 ₴

Parksons JB4111C

from 4 182 ₴

Deviser LS-130TBK-40

from 4 399 ₴

Takamine GD51

from 10 199 ₴

Yamaha FS100C

from 8 499 ₴

Yamaha FG820L

from 21 199 ₴

Furch Blue Gc-CM

from 69 999 ₴

Enya Nova G

from 11 480 ₴

Furch Blue Gc-CM L.R. Baggs

from 66 988 ₴

Fender CD-60 V3

from 7 999 ₴

Cort AD810M

from 4 799 ₴

Deviser LS-570-40

from 4 599 ₴

Caravan Music HS-4040

from 3 249 ₴

classical

The classical guitar should be placed in a separate category. It is equipped exclusively with nylon strings, has a wide neck, a through headstock, a small body, the arrangement of pegs in two rows - 3/3. In fact, this is the same acoustic guitar, only in its classical original form, hence the name. When playing, it makes soft soft sounds. Suitable for learning and playing with fingers.

The main types of acoustic guitars

electroacoustic

An electro -acoustic guitar can be connected to external amplifying equipment and frequency-controlled in sound.

Outwardly, it usually looks the same as an acoustic one, differs only in a tone block embedded in the shell, a connector for connecting an instrument cable and a pickup hidden in the case.

One of the most well-known manufacturers of electro-acoustic guitars is Ovation. A distinctive feature of Ovation tools is the bottom deck of a semi-oval shape made of polycarbonate, which is used in the manufacture of helicopter blades.

Electroacoustic guitar

Most Popular Electric Acoustic Guitar Models

Baton Rouge AR21C/ACE

from 19 990 ₴

Fender CC-140SCE

from 20 024 ₴

Cort AD810E

from 7 699 ₴

Martin DJr-10E StreetMaster

from 40 817 ₴

Ibanez TOD10N

from 30 781 ₴

PRS SE AE60E

from 63 040 ₴

Cort SFX-ME

from 8 099 ₴

Cort GA-MEDX

from 8 547 ₴

Cort GA1E

from 13 398 ₴

Alfabeto WG150EQ

from 4 999 ₴

Tanglewood TR5E

from 7 560 ₴

ARIA AWN-15CE

from 8 256 ₴

Fender PO-220E Orchestra

from 35 007 ₴

Ibanez AW54CE

from 16 800 ₴

Deviser LS-170N-EQ

from 4 999 ₴

Ukulele

The ukulele stands apart - a small-sized guitar with 4 nylon strings or four pairs of strings that came to us from the Hawaiian Islands. It is played on it in a completely different way and its technical capabilities are limited. Designed for playing light music, without complex chords and passages.

Ukulele

Additionally, it is worth highlighting 12-string guitars. Their strings are arranged in two tiers, so that the sound is more voluminous and richer, while the way of playing and the system is the same as on a 6-string guitar.

Acoustic bass guitar

The instrument has a reinforced neck and an enlarged body, as the strings on it are of a thicker diameter, to reproduce sound in the lower octaves. Acoustic bass has 4 strings as standard, but can be 5 or even 6 strings, with an increased octave range.

Electric guitar

And now let's move on to the dream of almost every third teenager - an electric guitar. “Acoustic” is, of course, good, but you can’t win a big stage and millions of fans with it.

Electric guitars are a completely separate and huge world in scale, the horizons of which are not visible, at times, even to virtuoso guitarists. The category includes:

• electric guitars;
• bass guitars ;
• semi-acoustic guitars.

Electric guitar device

Fundamentally, an electric guitar differs from an acoustic guitar in the presence of sound amplification elements and the shape of the body. Here it is usually one-piece, and more compact. But let's consider all the features in more detail, since each of them can affect the final choice of a tool.

Popular Electric Guitar Models

Cort G110

from 8 085 ₴

Cort KX100

from 8 547 ₴

Yamaha PAC112VM

from 19 304 ₴

Ibanez GRGR131EX

from 11 970 ₴

Deviser L-G2S

from 4 299 ₴

Yamaha PAC012

from 12 399 ₴

Ibanez GRG121DX

from 11 498 ₴

Yamaha PAC112J

from 14 498 ₴

Harley Benton TE-20HH

from 5 580 ₴

Stagg SES60

from 7 157 ₴

Harley Benton ST-20HSS

from 5 790 ₴

Epiphone Les Paul Standard 50s

from 26 747 ₴

Ibanez RG421

from 18 060 ₴

Yamaha EG112GPII

from 17 499 ₴

Harley Benton ST-20

from 4 979 ₴

Hull shape

According to the shape of the body of an electric guitar, it is customary to divide it into:

1. Stratocaster.

2 Les Paul

3. Telecaster.

4.SG.

5.PRS Santana.

6. Randy Roads.

7. Explorer.

8. Flying V.

9 Superstrat.

10 Superstrat (2).

Variety of guitar body shapes

As you can see, each type has its own design features, therefore, it is worth deciding which one is most convenient to play and in what style of music. So, for example, “teles and strats” are more suitable for blues, jazz, and Flying V and Randy Roads are more suitable for brutal metal.

mensura

The distance between the nut and nut of the guitar is called the scale. Depending on the model, it can be standard, reduced or enlarged (for bass guitars). With a reduced scale, as a rule, the neck of the guitar has a thinner profile, fingerboard and fret width.

Hull wood

The sound of an instrument, in particular, depends on the type and quality of the wood from which it is made. Mahogany or mahogany bring a warm character and sustain to the sound, linden - cutting through the top notes, and alder gives a more balanced spectrum with a predominance of mid frequencies. What sound do you like best, choose such a tree. The type of wood partially affects the cost of the guitar. Mahogany is considered the most expensive, agatis, nato are among the cheapest.

Pickup Diagram

There are two main types of electric guitar pickups: single coil (S) and humbucker (H). The first is more suitable for solos, brute force, the second - for accompaniment.

The sensors can be located on the body in the neck (neck), bridge and middle (middle) positions. For example, the designation HSH means that the guitar has 3 pickups: humbuckers near the bridge and neck, and one single-coil in the center.

Bridge

Depending on the style of music and playing in it, it is customary to distinguish electric guitars by the type of tailpiece. Bridge happens:

• fixed,
• tremolo.

The fixed one holds the system more stable, but it does not have a machine that allows you to make vibrato, like a tremolo bridge. Therefore, if you are planning to become a solo guitarist, then you definitely need a guitar with a tremolo bridge. The types of tremolo machines include:

• floyd roses,
• bigsby,
• Vintage Tremolo etc.

Neck attachment

And last but not least, the component to consider when choosing an electric guitar is the type of neck-to-body connection:

• Bolted - the most reliable and simple. The neck is attracted to the body through a plate on 3 - 4 bolts. Gives a good attack in the sound. Easy to change.
• Glued - glued into the body. The attack of such an instrument is less pronounced, but the sustain is better. In repair, however, such a neck is problematic and costly.
• Through neck. It is one piece with the body, providing the instrument with excellent sound characteristics, but if it breaks or cracks, the instrument will have to be thrown out entirely.

Semi-acoustic guitar

Semi-acoustic is a kind of combination of acoustic and electric guitars with a preponderance in favor of the second. Can sound without connection, but quiet. Very distinctive in appearance. A distinctive feature of the instrument is a thin hollow body with figured cutouts and a pickguard - a plastic overlay on the top deck under the pickups. A semi-acoustic guitar is used, mainly in such styles as country, rockabilly, blues.

One of the best in this niche are rightfully considered the tools of the company Gretsch.

Semi-acoustic guitar

Bas-guitar

As in the case of an acoustic bass guitar, an electric one is designed to play in the low-frequency range, so its strings are thicker and more expensive at a price of 5 times. Here you can also find 5- and 6-string models, other types of wood are better. resonating in the low range (for example, poplar), more powerful mechanics and neck, since the pressure of the strings is very high.

There are 2 main types of bass guitars: jazz bass and precision bass. They come from the Fender models of the same name and have a characteristic shape and body design.

Jazz Bass (top) and Precision Bass

Bass guitar pickups are classified according to the same principle. That is, a single sensor has an index J (Jazz), and a split (two combined singles) - P (Precision).

General tips for choosing a guitar

Regardless of which guitar you choose, acoustic or electric, you need to approach the process carefully and listen to a number of tips:

1. The instrument should be to your liking, but be sure to match the style of the music being performed, complement your own image. It's good to pick up a guitar and look in the mirror.

2. The guitar should be comfortable. It is important that the neck does not outweigh, its width and girth suit you, and the position of the body during the game is comfortable.

3. It is necessary to inspect the tool for the quality of painting, fittings, assembly, etc.

4. Check the instrument for sound attenuation - it should be long. To do this, the ear is applied to the body, and the string is twitched first in the open position, then when clamped at the 12th fret.

5. Check for noise and other extraneous sounds by connecting the instrument to the amplifier.

6. Turn the volume knob. The sound during adjustment should grow smoothly and evenly, without wheezing.

7. It is important to check the sound of the strings at all frets so that there is no rattling, otherwise, check the neck for deflection.

When buying a guitar for the first time, you should not dwell on such points as:

• Brand. Even budget instruments from little-known companies can sound good and last a long time.
• Type of wood. You can feel the difference in the sound of a guitar made from different types of wood only with a lot of practice.
• Forum members' opinions. Each musician has their own preferences and views on the instrument.

Selection of accessories

When buying a guitar, it's ok to check the availability of the following accessories in the package, and purchase them separately if necessary:

• Mediator. A small plate of plastic of varying thickness and flexibility. Using a plectrum instead of fingers, you can get a more sonorous and accented sound.
• Belt. It is necessary to fix the guitar on the shoulder in order to comfortably play while standing.
• Cover or case. The cover is sewn from soft fabrics, and the case is made of hard materials and resembles a case. Products are equipped with handles, belts, pockets for accessories, etc. They are needed for the safe storage of the guitar and its transportation.

As you can see, each type of guitar has its own nuances. Taking into account your own needs, features of the instrument and market offers, you can buy a guitar that pleases both the look and the ear.