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There is something irresistible about holding an axe, striking a chord, and hearing a crowd just go nuts. Even if the chord is one of three that you know, the amp is five watts, and the crowd is strictly in your imagination. We all begin somewhere! Here are a few tips for picking out your first electric guitar.

1) How seriously are you going to pursue learning guitar? Is it a hobby or a passion? Your answer to these questions can help you decide how much you want to invest on your first instrument. For every Gibson or Fender, there are twenty knock-off brands that cost less than half the price. In fact, many of them sound almost as good as the name brand. I play an Epiphone Les Paul that I picked up for about $400. It looks gorgeous, and sounds quite nice, too. The difference from its Gibson cousin? Epiphones are made in Korea, and their necks are bolted on instead of "set" by glue. Purists will tell you they can hear a difference, but it its a matter of being able to afford rent for the month or playing a '59 Gibson, go for the imitation first. You can always upgrade later.

2) What do your heroes play? If your dream is to rip it up like Hendrix, Clapton, or Pink Floyd's David Gilmour, then you might lean toward picking up a Fender or one of its more affordable off-brands. Many famous guitarists even endorse "custom" guitars through whatever company they support. Many of these are much cheaper than you might expect, too. While this may sound like a superficial way to guitar shop, you'd be surprised at how more motivated you might be if you feel like Jimmy Page every time you plug in.

3) Don't pass up the pawn shop. Guitars, sadly, have a high turnover rate. People buy them, play around for a while, and then decide they'd rather have an Xbox. So scores of them end up in pawn shops. There's no shame in picking up a used instrument. You might even find the guitar of your dreams. After all, "one man's trash is another's treasure."

4) Shop around. Visit stores in person, and be sure to check out websites and catalogs for list prices. One of my favorites is a company called "Musician's Friend," that has an extensive selection of guitars, amps, and accessories. Plus, you can request a free catalog that's a lot of fun to flip through. Look for the best deal, and don't get ripped off-do your pricing research ahead of time.

Now, time to choose your weapon! Have fun!

Learn more about this author, Andrew Browers.
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