Electric Guitar and the Amp set up

Hello all, today we'll look into electric guitars. Electric guitars for beginners can get a little tricky if your planning to buy for the first time. Beginners only thing of an electric guitar but forget the most important set up of their electric guitar, which is the amplifier(We'll call the two i.e. the guitar the amp together as 'The Set Up'). They spend a lot of time on their research on their electric guitar but completely forget about the amplifier which makes the electric set up complete. So, here we'll see talk about the different kinds of electric guitars and amplifiers available in the market which will help you find the right set up.














The Guitar

Single coil pick ups

There are many kinds of electric guitars available in the market and here we'll first categorize based on their picks up( its the mic of the guitar). The first is the single coil and the other one is the hum-bucker. A single coil pick would sound more curvy and soft however the hum-bucker sounds thick and warm. Its very difficult to explain the sound in simple terms and I don't really want to confuse. So, try going to different stores and try the guitars with single coil and hum-bucker, you'll know it for yourself.

Hum-bucker Pick Ups

Guitars with the two kinds of pick ups

However, These days there are guitars with both single coil and hum-buckers. You could probably think about these guitars. They are good value for money.

Guitar with a humbucker and two single coil pick ups

Amplifiers 

Tube amp

There are various kinds of amplifiers in the market like, tube, solid state and there are also a hybrid of both. As a beginner, solid state amps will be the best to go for and its also easy to maintain. Don't waste time in other kinds of amps. However, in solid state amp, there are again a lot of different types. There are amps with inbuilt processors( Lot of variations in sound) and simple amps with clean and overdrive or distortion. My suggestion will the amp with clean and overdrive. Its very simple and is perfect for a start.

Amp with inbuilt processor

Beginners need to consider both the electric guitar and the amplifier which goes along with the guitar. There are few starter packs, that the very basic set up of the electric guitar and the amplifier and the best part is that they are very cheap and affordable. But, it gets a little boring to play the guitar with the set up and slowly lose interest playing the guitar. Beginners should definitely go to an expert for this cause only an expert can analyse the playing skills and interest of the player and be able to advise a perfect set up.

Marshall MG series. The basic Amp

This blog is a very basic understanding of the electric set up. However, there is a lot of other things that has to be considered. I will be talking more on this in my future blogs. However, if you need help you probably get in touch with me.

Thank you.

Guitar accessories for beginners

Hello all, today I'm going to write about the basic required beginner's guitar accessories. After you decide on the guitar there are few which you have to buy in order to playing your guitar. These accessories will eventually be a part of your everyday practice. Alright, lets understand the accessories required,

Pick    

 

Pictures of few picks

Picks or plectrum, is used to strum or pick your acoustic guitar strings. And there are a number of varieties of picks available in the market. As a beginner, buy yourself thin picks and buy a few of them cause you'll lose the picks easily. It doesn't mean you have to lose it regularly. Just keep the picks safely and you lose one you'll have another one as a spare. You can also buy a few medium thick picks too just to experiment. However, there different brands of picks and a few popular ones are Jim Dunlop, Planet Waves, Fender, Gibson and so on. You can pick any pick which your comfortable with but make sure you pick few picks.

Different thickness of picks of Jim Dunlop

Tuner and Metronome 

Analog Metronome 

Tuner is a small instrument which help to tune the guitar and a metronome keeps timing when you practice. You get these two instruments separately, however, these days you have both tuner and the metronome as one instrument. As a beginner, go for a digital tuner and a metronome cause its very easy to use and it also improves your music sense. 

Digital metronome and tuner

Guitar bag

Usually you get a guitar bag along with the guitar, however, some guitar don't. So make sure you pick up a guitar decent guitar bag in case you don't get one so you can carry your guitar wherever you want to.

Acoustic Guitar Bag

Guitar Stand

Its a good idea to pick up a guitar stand, cause its always safe to keep the guitar on a guitar stand. Its not only easy access to the guitar, it also holds the guitar safely. There are different stands available in the market, make sure to buy an acoustic guitar stand and choose a stand that's convenient for you. 

  

A model of Hercules acoustic guitar stand

Strings 

Acoustic Guitar Strings

Even though the guitar will have strings on it, a set of strings is a good idea to buy along with it. You can have a as spare, in case a guitar strings snaps. There are different brands of strings in the market, however, the gauge of the string remains the same. Buy .011-.052 gauge strings cause it is considered standard. They also sound fuller and it will keep the guitar a good shape too.   

Note: Even if one string snaps, change the whole set of strings of the guitar. 

D'Addario's .011 - .052 Gauge Acoustic Guitar Strings 

Other Accessories

There are other accessories which you can pick along with the guitar, like strap, capo,pick holder and so on. They are not absolutely necessary, however, you can buy them too.

Well, that's all for today and hope the blog was of some help to you. 

Thank you.