When you’re just beginning your guitar playing journey it’s very important to have the right guitar, more than at any other point along the road. You will want an instrument that is easy to play, stays in tune, sounds good, offers a lot of value, and most importantly will inspire you for years to come. Since all budding guitar players are different and demand different things from their instruments, what constitutes “the best” guitar for beginners can vary widely. Here at Sweetwater, we have an incredibly knowledgeable staff of players, teachers, and luthiers. We’ve tapped that expertise to come up with this list of five of our favorite guitars for country twangers, acoustic strummers, future rock stars, and more.
Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster ’50s
The Telecaster is one of the most beloved solidbody electric guitars in history. Its simple layout and versatile tone have secured its place in the hands of some of the greatest guitar players of all time. Today you’ll find Teles at the forefront of country music, pummeling amps with rock virtuoso Johnny 5, holding down the rhythm with Bruce Springsteen, and much more. But it’s the early ’50s vintage models that command the most respect and desire among players and collectors. Old or new, the Telecaster is a guitar that most beginners would be proud to start out on.
The Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster ’50s offers many of the best appointments of modern and vintage Tele models, including three brass saddles, a pine body that heralds from the original Telecaster prototypes built by Leo Fender, and custom vintage-voiced single-coil pickups for that unmistakable jangle and bite. After picking up the Classic Vibe Tele ’50s, it’s difficult to figure out how Squier was able to keep the price so low. This is a beginner guitar that will play and sound great for years to come.
Jackson JS32-7 Dinky 7-string
Since the introduction of 7-string solidbody electric guitars in the 1980s’ heyday of heavy metal, players have been shaking the ground with down-tuned riffs and leads with growing ferocity. One brand that has remained at the top of the metal heap for decades is Jackson guitars. Their reputation for high-quality instruments that play effortlessly with a decidedly aggressive bent makes them the perfect pairing for the low-strung 7-string platform.
Though it comes in at an incredibly affordable price point, the Jackson JS32-7 7-string electric guitar is a fully loaded metal machine that players just starting to dig their teeth into the high-gain world will appreciate. Its fast-playing maple neck is stealthily accentuated by a killer-looking fingerboard binding and offset shark fin inlays. And the hot humbucking pickups deliver plenty of output for punching the front end of any amplifier or pedal for a tight and fierce sound.
Epiphone ES-335 Dot Studio
The ES-335 semi-hollowbody electric guitar is simply one of the most legendary designs in the history of the instrument. Its semi-hollow construction adds warmth and depth to every note you play, making it the go-to guitar for such luminary players as Larry Carlton, Cream-era Eric Clapton, Chuck Berry, B.B. King, and many more. The guitar’s solid center block greatly cuts down on volume-induced feedback, which has even put this style of instrument in the hands of plenty of hard rockers. If you are looking for a guitar that can be as sweet or aggressive as you want, this is a great place to start.
It would be a difficult adventure to find an instrument that blends the best ES-335 features with a stripped-down aesthetic and such an accessible price point as the Epiphone ES-335 Dot Studio. For a price that won’t break the bank, beginning players will get all the warmth, sustain, throaty-sounding electronics, and iconic looks of the best 335s. And the Dot Studio’s straightforward electronics and aesthetic packages offer an elegant look that is comfortable at home or on any stage.
Taylor Academy 10e
Mention the name Taylor Guitars to guitarists of any playing level, and images and sounds of custom-quality instruments crafted around supreme playability will fill their heads. From their fast and comfortable neck profiles and plug-and-play electronics to their top-shelf tonewoods, Taylor has made a name for itself as a builder of some of the most popular acoustics out there. And all of these qualities come together in guitars that sound absolutely exquisite.
Never before has Taylor’s American-made quality been as accessible and affordable as with this Academy 10e acoustic-electric dreadnought guitar. Taylor actually worked diligently to create a neck and body that are even more comfortable for small and beginning players than their lauded existing models. Your forearm will be cradled by a forearm contour, while your pick elicits three-dimensional tones from the guitar’s solid Sitka spruce top and proprietary electronics. The Academy 10e is every bit a high-end Taylor, except for the price.
PRS SE Standard 245
Much like Taylor with acoustic guitars, the Paul Reed Smith (PRS) name is synonymous with flawless electric guitars — acoustics as well, actually. The renown of their beautifully contoured bodies, gorgeous woods, and smooth playability has evolved the company into one of the largest American electric guitar manufacturers. And every bit of commitment to quality, attention to detail, and drive to craft the best sounding and playing electrics out there has translated beautifully to the company’s less expensive SE line.
The PRS SE Standard 245 solidbody electric guitar stands out from a very crowded pack of similarly priced guitars for two important reasons. One is its understated and beautiful look. The mahogany grain brings to mind some of the most legendary vintage, humbucker-equipped guitars in history. And speaking of those prized older instruments, the SE Standard 245 has been carefully crafted with a 24.5″ scale length, which is a nice thick neck to sing and play with the familiar warmth and punch of the greatest vintage single-cutaway guitars out there.
There has never been a better time to get into playing the guitar. There are more high-quality instruments out there at affordable prices than ever before. These are some of our favorite axes for first-time strummers, but it is by no means an exhaustive list. Maybe you lean more toward the Texas sizzle provided by a Stratocaster or demand the dive-bombing action of a Floyd Rose-equipped guitar. Whichever way your tastes and budget dictate, be sure to give one of our Sweetwater Sales Engineers a call at (800) 222-4700 with your questions. Welcome to the guitar-playing family, and happy hunting.