Electric guitar buying guide

Fret size

This represents the size on the metal fret on the fretboard. The names are pretty self-explanatory in this case, you get different sizes and heights. The size is a matter of preference, but it will affect your playing style. Bigger frets should provide easier playability, you don't have to press hard to get a sound, you'll get better sustain, tone and bending. However you may get a less precise note than smaller frets, you could press too hard and bend the note. The smaller and thinner frets are more accurate for the intonation, you get a sharper tone and clarity, it's typical of the classic Stratocaster.

Radius (in inches)

The radius of the fretboard is obtained by drawing an imaginary circle with the shape of the fretboard. It always have a curve, it's never straight, it helps playability. Usually a lower radius means the fretboard is more rounded, it's better for playing the lower part of the neck, making chords, it fits the fingers better. A higher radius means a less rounded fretboard, it's suited for playing fast from a string to another, like sweep picking and shredding.

Compound radius

Some guitars have a compound radius, it's two different radius for the same fretboard. Usually it's 12" at the lower end and 16" for the higher notes, it's the best of both worlds, great for rythm and lead playing.  

Neck shape

Understanding neck shapes can be really difficult because there seems to be no standardization among different brands. The Fender system is the most well-known, it consists of the letters C-V-U which represents the shape of the neck. The "C" shape is widely used, it gives a good grasp of the neck, it's perfect for chords. The "U" shape will be mostly used for lead work in metal, it's easier for speed and moving around the neck. The Gibson family uses another system, you'll get the Slim Taper shape and the Rounded shape, among others. So it's not easy to get a good idea of the neck shapes for different guitars. Usually you'll get a clue with the name (thin, oval, deep, rounded, speed), but it's best to investigate and even try the guitar if possible before buying.

Material

There are many types of wood used on a guitar, and usually it's a combination of three different parts, the body, neck and fretboard, all of which can affect the sound. Here are the most popular:

Maple

Hard wood with good tonal qualities and sustain, the necks are often made of maple because of it's strength, are for the fretboard for its bright tone.

Mahogany

Lighter wood really popular, with a warm tone and lots of bottom end, unfortunately it's close to extinction due to its popularity.

Basswood

It's a softer wood used mainly for the body, it has a warm sound, great mid-range and lots of sustain.

Alder

It's a lightweight wood, but expensive. It's used a lot for the bodies the Stratocaster guitars, it has a warm high sound, not a lot of mid-range and bass.

Ash

Another lightweight wood for the body, looks really good, sounds great in all frequencies.

Rosewood

A wood used mainly for the fretboard, it's heavy but has a smooth hard surface. It's getting more rare and expensive now.

Pau ferro

It's basically a replacement for the Rosewood fretboards,

Ebony

It is used for fretboards, it's harder and more dense than Rosewood, the feel is softer which is great for bending.

Other types of wood used

• Linden
• Nyatoh
• Pine
• Poplar
• Sapele
• Amaranth
• Jatoba
• Laurel
• Walnut

Bridge type

There are two great categories of bridge types, fixed (hardtail) and tremolo. The first category of bridges is obviously fixed in place on the body, they provide an anchor for the end of the strings, in conjunction with a tailpeice. A tremolo has the same functions, but allows to change the pitch of the string by using a bar to alter the tension on the strings.

Fixed (hardtail)

The most popular fixed bridge type in the guitar selections is the Tune-o-matic, it was designed by Gibson and it's on the Les Paul models, including the Epiphone brand. It consists of a adjustable saddle with resting inserts for each strings, and a stopbar tailpiece where the end of the strings rest, occasionally the strings will go through the body. Similar bridge types are used by other brands, such as the Anchored Adjusto-Matic by Gretsch and the ART by Ibanez. Tune-o-matic The Telecasters have their own type of bridges, the 3 or 6 Saddle String-thru bridge. Ibanez has its own Fixed bridge for 6 and 7 strings, some PRS only have a Stoptail, and a few have different styles of String-Thru.

Tremolo

There are two main categories of tremolos, plus a few custom specific to some brands. The Fender-style tremolo, on which the bottom of the bridge rests on a fulcrum allowing the bridge to pivot from front to back. There are springs attached to the body of the guitar to provide enough tension to counteract the pull of the strings.

The other popular tremolo style is the Floyd Rose, which is a double-locking tremolo system designed for electric guitars. With the strings locked at the nut, it allows wide pitch changes while keeping the guitar in tune, something difficult to do with a regular tremolo. But one disadvantage of the system is the difficulty of tuning, because the tension of each string affects the others, this means that when you're done tuning the last string, the first one might have gone slightly out of tune. It also means that if you break a string during a song, you're done, everything is badly out of tune. Floyd Rose

Pickup configuration

• S = Single-Coil
• H = Humbucker

Single-Coil pickup

Pickups began appearing in the 30's, they produce a low-powered electronic signal that corresponds to the string vibration, the signal is then amplified to a speaker. Single-Coil pickups have a brighter, crisper tone, they have more bite and attack than Humbuckers. They also have a grittier sound when overdriving a tube amplifier. Single-Coil pickups are generally preferred by country and surf guitarists, they are also used widely in pop and blues music for their clean and percussive sound.

Humbucker pickup

The Humbucker appeared in the 50's, it was designed to solve the problem of Single-Coil pickups that are very prone to buzz and hum. They contain two coils that are wired out of phase with each other, this causes the hum generated by each coil to be canceled out by the other coil. Humbucker pickups have a thicker sound, round and warm, they also have a lot more sustain. They are popular among jazz players, for the warm sound, but also in rock and metal, because it works well with distortion.

Different configurations

There are a few different configurations of pickups for guitars. The most popular are the S-S-S for guitars in the style of the Fender Stratocaster, and the H-H for guitars like the Gibson Les Paul and the 'metal' guitars. Telecasters and Jazzmasters have the distinctive S-S configuration, for a more specific sound. Some guitars offer a mix of Single-Coils and Humbuckers, which is great if you want more versatility in a guitar. A Stratocaster with a Humbucker at the bridge position will give you a warmer sound if you want to play rock and leads, but you will lose the sound of the Single-Coil at this position. So, generally speaking, it's better to have a few guitars with different combinations than only one trying to reproduce a wide variety of sounds, but at the same time it's great to have one versatile guitar and not having to bring 3-4 different guitars to every gig. It's all a matter of practicability.

Body type

There are three different types of body for an electric guitar.

Solid body

It's the most common type of body, made from a solid slab of wood. They don't produce as much resonance as the other types of body, but the wood has an impact on the sound. They are obviously heavier than the other types of body.  

Semi-Hollow body

The body is empty but has a solid center wood block for stability and sustain. It has the warmth of the hollow body but with the increased attack offered by the center block.  

Hollow body

These guitar are empty inside, like acoustic guitars. It adds a lot more resonance, with rich tones and deep bass response, but they are really prone to feedback. Favorite type for jazz purists.  

Price ranges in $US.

• ($) Under 500$
• ($$) 500$ - 1000$
• ($$$) 1000$ - 2000$
• ($$$$) Over 2000$