Review of the best electric guitars

Electric guitar - every second teenager dreams of this now, having listened to at least one song of a popular rock group. From their multitude and variety, a headache begins: each model is unique, each attracts the eye and the hand. Choosing the perfect guitar for yourself is a responsible task, and it is much easier to do this by plunging into the topic quite deeply.

The first examples of electric guitars were released by the Electro String Company back in 1931: then the instruments were more like a shiny "frying pan" - such a nickname the musicians gave them, because the models were made of shiny aluminum and had a rounded shape with a long handle. Despite the appearance, the world liked such an invention. By the early 40s, many jazz bands and symphonic composers not only mastered the novelty, but also began to actively include electric sound in their works.

Since then, a lot of water has flowed under the bridge, the outlook on the production of electric guitars has changed a lot - now they are wooden. And each brand has its own quality standards.

The trendsetter in this segment of the music world was the Rickenbacker brand: it was they who invented the pickup that amplifies the vibrations of the vibrating strings along with the acoustic signal. And even if they were not at the top of their fame for long, even if other manufacturers slightly pushed them back, the merits of Rickenbacker cannot be denied. Moreover, they have thoroughly established themselves as manufacturers of bass guitars, which have become the foundation of any rock group.

Initially, these musical instruments were made exclusively by American firms: Fender and Gibson. They have models in the range of 10,000, 20,000, 30,000 and even 50,000 rubles.

Fender, founded in 1946, in this business was not a pioneer, but after almost 5 years of producing electric guitars, he created a hit - Fender Telecaster, which became the immortal standard of what an instrument should be.

Fender's main competitor back then was Gibson: this firm was 16 years older than it, and the manufacturer had extensive experience in making mandolins. The Gibson founders created guitars even more creatively, inspired by the structure of the violin and collaborating with the famous musician Les Paul: from under their machines came a real masterpiece that later became an immortal classic - the Gibson Les Paul.

The third most popular American guitar manufacturer is B. C. Rich. Bernardo Chavez Rico - the founder of the brand - was originally engaged in guitar repair, only in 1974 he thought about their mass production. But what should a newcomer do to a market where several manufacturers have already firmly established themselves? He decided that since it was impossible to influence the content of the product, it was necessary to change its shape as much as possible. The body designs from B. C. Rich - and there are almost 50 of them - brought the brand owner unprecedented popularity: his client base consisted mainly of hard rock fans.

However, the world of music is not the Americans alone.

One of the world's leading brands around the world is Japanese Ibanez, founded in 1957 and managed to make his guitars sensational not only in Europe, but also in the USA,

The former importer of Spanish guitars, after the factory of Salvador Ibanez was destroyed, released his own instruments on the market, having bought the rights to manufacture them from the former owner. Stylish design, unusual shape, incredible sound made Ibanez a favorite of the music market: The instruments of this brand are played in such well-known bands as KoAn, System of a Down, Offspring, Slipknot, Limp Bizkit, Asking Alexandria, Poets of the Fall, Kiss and Megadeth.

Ibanez has several lines of guitars of various qualities: from premium and unique instruments to budget models that are assembled in Chinese factories specializing in reproducing copies of famous brands.

But rock lives not only in America and in the East: there is also the West and Europe with their own competitive producers.

The Germans, with their love of hard, hard music, can enter the market with a brand like Warwick - the reborn Framus. The son's business continued that of his father: when the German company Fred Wilfer, which supplied high quality violins and guitars throughout Europe, collapsed due to increased competition, his younger son Hans-Peter was able to revive it was greatness, not only improving the quality of the instruments created, but and organizing a large distribution network far outside Germany, which has incredibly strengthened the brand's position in the market. Warwick guitars are played in bands such as Nightwish, U2, Metallica and Russian Amatory.

Musicians in Russia, in addition to imported ones, also use domestic models: Inspector Guitars provides quality merchandise to most of the local rock bands - and the sound of their instruments is not inferior to the famous brands.

When it comes to guitars, it's hard not to remember the legendary models, whose sound has long become a reference for all musicians in the world.

However, this does not mean that they are the only ones to remember.

The main difference between the instruments is not only in their sound or appearance, but also in the pricing policy: what is good for an experienced musician, for a beginner is starvation and the sale of a kidney.

According to the needs of the consumer in the electric guitar market, there is a very clear price division.

Those who are just starting to master the instrument should select inexpensive models. Walking distance is not their only plus. You can experiment with cheap guitars, reshape them for yourself, try something new, without fear of spoiling them too much while searching for "the very one".

For 2000 rubles, of course, you can't buy a guitar: a cover or some piece of equipment can cost so much, but not even the most simple Chinese counterfeit.

For 5000 rubles, you can find something on AliExpress, but there is no guarantee that the seller will not send something that sounds indistinct and looks even worse. In order not to post on social networks later in the spirit of "Expectation vs Reality", it is easier to buy a used electric guitar: this way you have the opportunity to at least touch the instrument and find out about its problems before buying.

If you want something new, then the Full-Size Electric Blue Guitar for 8000 rubles is what you need. For this price, the instrument comes with strings, a strap and an amplifier, which is the best option for a musician on a budget.

For about the same price, you can safely purchase the Aria STG-003: The high quality alder body and the design of the renowned stratocaster make the appearance of the guitar very pleasing. But you cannot say much about its sound characteristics: this instrument is clearly designed for home rehearsals and for those who have just begun their studies, because the quality leaves much to be desired.

Cort G110 will be the best alternative to the two previous models, but it also costs more - almost 10,000 rubles. For its price, this guitar can deliver not only a nice light sound, but also an impressive solo. Resistant to extremes of temperature and moisture, it often gets upset, but good care will make any guitar a candy.

Only after the yellow-haired beginner has a little experience, and he wants to extract not just sound, but Sound, you need to pay attention to more expensive guitars. But even for that kind of money, you can mostly buy only Chinese models.

The best electric guitars, whose price ranges from 10,000 to 30,000 rubles, are presented by such companies as Epiphone, Jackson and Yamaha.

Yamaha Pacifica for 20,000 rubles is ideal for lovers of classic rock: the agathis body is made in the "stratocaster" style, due to the structure of the rhythm parts will work out with particular success. But the downside is that factory pickups should either be shielded or changed.

Epiphone Les Paul Special II for 26,000 rubles will give both a better tone and a more pleasant game. A copy of the famous guitar, made of mahogany, will caress the ears of music lovers harder: for such a price, there are plenty of "meat" overtones in the sound. The only drawback: the impossibility of installing modifications on the thermoblock.

But one of the best "mid-range" entry-level guitars is the Jackson Monarkh SC JS22: mahogany combined with maple gives an interesting, “tasty” sound that allows the instrument not to get lost in the mix and produce a good solo. This guitar is suitable for all-rounders in music, and its ergonomic, well-assembled body will provide comfortable good playing.

Premium electric guitars are considered original models from brands such as Gibson, Fender, Yamaha and Ibanez. Beautiful and expensive, they will not be affordable for everyone.

Those who are staring at guitars that produce a powerful sound, but are not yet ready to lay out their hard-earned money for truly expensive instruments, can go along the lower border of 30,000 rubles and purchase Tokai LG50Q OAK, made of several types of wood: maple, linden and rosewood.

For $ 50,000, a branded Gibson Les Paul studio Alpine White or Schecter Damien Platinum-6 would be ideal for playing. Schecter is another American company that first specialized in guitar repair, and then turned their production into their own business. Schecter instruments are very popular among musicians for their quality: such a guitar will pull out both heavy and thrash metal.

The little ones worth saving for are the Fender American Vintage '52 Telecaster Butterscotch Blonde (RUB 119,000), the Ibanez RGR652AHBF-WK (RUB 112,000) or the Gibson Les Paul Standard 2014 Min-ETune (RUB 191,000). Each of these guitars takes its place of honor in the list of masterpieces of art, and such prices are not the limit.

The most expensive guitar in the world - Fender Stratocaster, owned by Brian Adams, was sold at the Reach Out to Asia charity auction for $ 2.7 million. Its uniqueness consisted in the presence of signatures of a whole galaxy of rock stars on its surface.

To find the perfect guitar, you can search for reviews on the Internet: this way you can not only learn about some of its basic characteristics, but also listen to the sound.

Due to the structural features, different guitars may not suit absolutely any musician. The form, appeal, the number of gadgets for a better game and techniques - the quality of the game here will directly depend on the skill.

Budget but good guitars are what the doctor ordered for the treatment of the "inability to play" disease.

For those who are afraid to approach the electric guitar, models such as:

• Fender Squier Bullet;

• Epiphone Les Paul Electric Guitar;

• Full-Size Blue Electric Guitar;

• Jackson JS23 Dinky DKA;

• Gibson Les Paul Standard 2016 T.

Professional guitars are distinguished not only by their advanced capabilities, but also by the price, which, at times, bites. The following models are among the most popular among those who have long held an instrument in their hands and know how to understand music:

• Fender Standard Stratocaster;

• Squier Bullet Stratocaster HSS;

• VGS Soulmaster VSM-120;

• Epiphone Les Paul Standard;

• Yamaha Pacifica 112.

The eyes of a newcomer entering the store run up: the abundance of brands, colors, shapes can easily knock an inexperienced customer. First of all, in order to get yourself a worthy copy, you need to pay attention to the wood from which the guitar is made. The body of the instrument with good sound will be made of either mahogany or ash, which is ideal for music of all types of genres.

Much also depends on the shape of the body: Blues compositions are best played on hollow guitars, semi-hollow ones are versatile instruments, but solid-body ones are ideal for metal.

The neck is chosen solely for convenience, but the wood from which it is made will also affect the sound: maple, mahogany and multilayer necks are very popular with musicians.

Pickups are perhaps the most important part of a guitar.

Single-channel - singles - are typical for vintage designs. Chosen for their bright, clear sound, they are sometimes capable of making noise as they play.

P90 - They sound almost the same as the singles, but their mids come out much more pronounced.

Humbuckers are the most popular and most versatile pickups available. Suitable for any style of music: from jazz to heavy metal.

Guitar guitar - strife. Acoustic or electric - the choice of exceptional taste. But no one can deny: music that will make the whole body tremble with drive and adrenaline can only be played on an electric guitar.