BEST ELECTRIC GUITARS FOR BEGINNERS IN 2023
Best Electric Guitars For Beginners in 2023
New to Guitar? No problem. Every guitarist has started out right where you are right now. Here is a great list of some of the best electric guitars for new guitarists to choose from that will be a PERFECT fit to hone in on your guitar skills starting out.
So lets get right into it -
Here are our favorite beginner electric guitars ~
Fender Squire Stratocaster
Fender Guitars are such workhorses - Especially Strats. There's no question why we would add one on this list.
Fender Stratocasters are made to take soo much crap with consistent beatings and aggressive play and yet still maintain play-ability year after year after year...
Now, Squire Strats are more on the cheaper electric guitar spectrum - which is great - because, despite the lower cost, they are still manufactured with care by Fender's great craftsmen. We are huge Fender guitar fans, so this would absolutely be a great first guitar.
The tonal range on these guitars are all over the spectrum - whether you want Twang, Moody Blues, Rock, Country, Metal, Jazz - all styles can be accomplished on this lower budget guitar.
Now, we're not talking a test-of-time guitar here, but for first time guitar players, this should be a no brainer. Starting out when playing guitar, you're obviously interested in playing.
So this guitar will only enhance your interests even more. If you take care of it though, it will treat you well for a few years to come.
PROS:
Great Rock Guitar Look, Great Tones, Workhorse, Very Solid, Whammy Bar's always a plus
CONS: Cheaper Electronics, Fair Pickups, Not built to last
Epiphone Les Paul SL
Epiphone has been making musical instruments since 1873. Despite their lower prices, they are quality electric guitars, especially for new guitarists looking for a great beginner guitar.
Epiphone's Les Paul SL is one of the most affordable Les Paul electric guitars ever designed with a light slimmer body for easy handling for new guitarists and ceramic single coil pickups.
We really love the design of this guitar. Definitely has a 60's vibe to it. When seasoned guitarists hear "Rock n' Roll Guitar", they immediately look to Les Paul's tradition of amazing electric guitars.
Epiphone Les Paul SL's Mahogany neck has an easy-to-play SlimTaper-D setup.
It also has the look of a classic Les Paul with the “Clipped Ear” design, a“Bell-Shaped” truss rod as seen on vintage models, with the '60s looking logo to top it off.
PROS: Great Playability, Classic 60's Look, Great Tone, Great Feel, Decent Pickups
CONS: Not Built to Last, Need to Setup After Receiving
Gretsch Electromatic G5425
We love Gretsch Guitars! And even though The Electromatic Jet Club electric guitar is on the lower cost spectrum, this is no different.
When guitarists hear Gretsch, they think expensive, but we're glad they have built a much more obtainable on a tight budget, spectacular sounding electric guitar as this.
The Gretsch Electromatic Jet Club is built with an arched maple top and chambered basswood body with a bolt-on maple neck. It has an Adjustomatic bridge, dual coil pickups which has a really great tone to it.
Again, this electric guitar has a classic look to it. Gretsch Guitars have a specific, and great, sound and despite this being a more bang for your buck guitar, the sound is matched and shines through. We really like the look of the pickups as well.
Overall a really awesome guitar for guitarists of all skill.
PROS: Great Playability, Classic 60's Look as well, Great Tones, Great Pickups For The Price
CONS:
Fair Sustain, A Little Bit Heavier than others, Need to Get Setup When You Get It
Epiphone Les Paul Special I P90
Here's another Epiphone Les Paul we have for you. The Epiphone versions of the Gibson Les Paul's are still quite good and the Epiphone Les Paul P90 is no exception.
This guitar is built to take alot as well. The P90 comes from the stock fat single-coil P-90 pickups which give decent tones and great sustain.
The Epiphone Les Paul Special I P90 Electric Guitar features a SlimTaper D Neck, Mahogany Joint, and Solid Body, The trademark Les Paul shape in an economical package with P-90 pickups.
PROS: Great Playability, Good Tones, Great Feel, Decent Pickups, Built Fairly TOUGH, Decent Sustain
CONS: Not Built to Last, Need to Setup After Receiving
Epiphone SG-Special
Alot of Epiphone love (Ha!) - The SG copies the iconic 60's look with a Poplar body with a Mahogany Veneer and neck and a 'Clipped Ear' headstock.
We really like the brown wood look, though the common red looks nice as well. The Epiphone SG-Special has some decent vintage looking humbuckers as well.
It also has a killswitch which cuts the sound off and on (push in the tone knob to activate).
This is also a workhorse kinda guitar, built fairly tough. The body and look of it just scream rock, it's mean!
The Tune-o-matic bridge also helps keep the guitar in tune (which helps alot with dead air on stage).
There are many great artists that play on Epiphone Guitars just like this one so even though we place this guitar on this list, we would recommend this to pro guitarists as well.
PROS: Great Playability, Classic 60's Look, Great Tone, Great Feel, Decent Pickups
CONS: A Set Tonal Range, Frets can buzz
Danelectro 59M
Danelectro’s most famous guitar, the Danelectro 59M is an amazing guitar for all guitar players. They have an old 50's vibe-sound to them due to their awesome '56 Lipstick Pickups. Setup with a great old school look and thin headstock - this guitar screams character.
The tonal range of these is all over the spectrum with great highs and strong lows.
Don't really have to deal with setup really after coming out of the box. This is an amazing guitar which any guitar player would be stoked to play.
Danelectro electric guitars are known for their tones, and this one is no different. It's great to know that a guitar this great comes in at such a low price range as well.
The Danelectro 59M features an adjustable saddle bridge, a poplar wood frame, with a Masonite top and back.
PROS: Great Playability, Classic 50's Look, Superb Tones, Great Feel, Awesome Pickups, Solid Old School Sound
CONS: No real dislikes (maybe needs more color options?)
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60's Jazzmaster
The Great Fender Jazzmaster!
Jazzmaster's have this indescribable feel to them. They have a smooth neck feel, great weight, great size. As soon as you strum the first chord, you feel this guitar was meant for you.
Fender modeled this version of a lower cost squire version. Even though this is much cheaper in cost compared to the Fender American Jazzmasters, the tones are incredible. The stock two single-coil pickups deliver that familiar Jazzmaster sound.
With the wide range of tones you can pull off on this guitar - from heavy rock to subtle smooth tones - this is a great electric guitar for a beginner and for those who want to dive into every genre to discover their own style.
Some great features are the Vintage Finish and tuners, and the floating tremolo tailpiece. The whammy bar is extremely smooth and has a great feel when used for accents.
PROS: Great Playability, Great Look, Amazing Tone, Great Feel, Great Pickups
CONS: The bridge typically makes the notes go out of key when the whammy bar is heavily used. We usually recommend installing a universal bridge to fix the issue
Fender Duo Sonic HS
The Fender Duo Sonic HS is also a great guitar for all skill levels. Based on the '56 version, this guitar has a big sound. Fantastic for some heavy music. We love all the colors these come in (above included).
The bridge humbucker packs a punch with a wide tonal range. Features a push/pull tone pot switch which will help with finding your perfect sound. Has a 24" scale with a rosewood fingerboard and a C-Shaped maple neck.
The body is a little smaller which is great because it helps with playing more aggressive onstage - you can throw it around alot easier.
This guitar is not as well known as the other designs by Fender Squire, so perhaps that's why the price is lower, but overall an amazing guitar.
PROS: Great Playability, Vintage Look, Workhorse Guitar, Great Tone, Great Feel, Decent Pickups
CONS: Not much to dislike, perhaps upgrade pickups later on
ALSO - Here's Some Fantastic Beginner Acoustic Guitars
Had to throw in a few here somewhere - There are a few good points about getting an acoustic as well:
- No need to hook up to anything
- Less of an earsore on neighbors/friends/family/etc
- Strings last much longer
- Pretty relaxing to take it outside, or with you on the road
If you are interested in an acoustic guitar, check out our
acoustic guitar brands
article as well.
Epiphone Hummingbird Artist Acoustic Guitar
The Epiphone Hummingbird Artist Acoustic guitar is a much more affordable version of the classic Gibson versions. These are still amazing guitars for any guitarist from the look to the sound.
We are avid Rolling Stones fans, and Keith Richards himself preferred these. This acoustic gives all the tone you need with a Mahogany body and spruce top - which gives excellent warm tones.
We really appreciate the classic sunburst look, the diamond inlays, and the classic pickguard, which we're confident you will too.
Whether you want to fingerpick, or strum chords - everything sounds pretty great on this. This version of the great classic is very affordable and would be a great starter acoustic for a new guitar player and seasoned player alike.
PROS: Great Playability, Classic Sunburst Look, Great Tone, Great Feel, Can Compete with Quite a Few Expensive Guitars
CONS: Needs to be Setup, Makes Friends Jealous
Lucero LC100 Classical Guitar
A great acoustic guitar for the student guitar player. We like the Lucero Classical because it has a great overall classical guitar to it. These guitars are pretty light in weight which means they are great to carry around with you wherever you go.
The strings last an insane amount of time which saves you alot on strings and upkeep.
A few features include a laminated spruce top with Mahogany sides and fingerboard. Classic classical headstock with black tuners.
We would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a great sounding acoustic for a great price. Everyone should have one classical guitar lying around.
Something about playing these brings out your inner sound and what you didn't know you could write.
PROS: Great Playability, Great Classical Sounds, Long lasting String Support, Built to last, Great Classical Look
CONS: Not much to dislike, Maybe not a great first set of strings?
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