What is the best electric guitar for a beginner? It depends on a couple of things – style of music and budget being two big considerations. Most folks understandably don’t want to spend a fortune on their first guitar as they may not stick with it, or might want something else down the line. That being said, you owe it to yourself to get something built well enough that you can really play it – playing music should be fun. You don’t want to struggle with an instrument that won’t stay in tune or has a poorly made neck that gives you grief. It’s a simple fact that if it doesn’t play well you’re not going to want to practice. Get something you love so you’ll stick with it.

The resulting contenders: Squier, Ibanez, Fender, Squier...

We asked Mass St Music staff Matthew, Alek, Ted and Anne what their recommendations were for a best first electric guitar. Each came up with something different, though these guitars have some things in common. They’re not only great first guitars, but they won’t break the bank, and can even grow along with the player – something you’ll still pick up and play years after your first lesson. Here’s what they had to say:

Matthew K: Squier Classic Vibe Tele Custom, 3 Tone Burst – $379.99

“This tele is just a timeless guitar, and affordable. It’s pretty versatile too – it can cover rock, blues, jazz. It’s really a great place to start. It’s the kind of electric that if you get it, ten years later you’ll look back on it as a respectable choice, and even if you branch out into other genres, you’ll still enjoy playing it.

Matthew says the Squier CV Tele Custom is 'really comfortable and extremely easy to play."

“In terms of playability, this Tele feels really comfortable and is extremely easy to play, which is perfect for a beginner. Squier really stepped it up with the Classic Vibe series – in fact the new Fender Modern Player line is made at the same place in China as the CV series – they’re built really well. The frets are seated well, which is hard to come by on an instrument in this price range. Playability is the #1 reason why players would feel the need for a new guitar after just a few months, or even stop playing if they had just started – it’s not an issue on this Squier at all. The frets are consistent and super level. The neck is great quality and it’ll last – that makes a big difference. The finish on this is just so classic too – you’ll never get sick of it.”

Alek N.: Ibanez 321MH, Blackberry Sunburst – $299.95

“This 321 has a great neck on it, for beginners or pros. It’s Ibanez’s Wizard II neck, with a very thin profile – it’s super easy to play. I love the design of this too. I like that it doesn’t have a trem, for a beginner that really simplifies things. And it’s great for a lot of styles, but if you’re into rock or metal this is definitely the one. The thin neck is great for shredding, it plays super smoothly. It also has medium jumbo frets, which are a great size for beginners too – you know they’re there, but they’re not in the way.

Alek says the Infinity humbuckers in this Ibanez RG321MH are something you'd find on a more expensive guitar.

“It has Infinity humbucking pickups which are really hot and something you’d find in a more expensive guitar – plus this has 5 way switching, so it’s really versatile. The quality, fit and finish are just great and there’s not a lot that can go wrong on this – the strings are through the body and there’s no trem…. It looks really sweet. I love how the grain of the wood shows through the finish – sharper than a solid color guitar. Great price too.”

Ted K.: Fender Standard Strat, Candy Apple Red – $499

“There are a million reasons why I think this is hands down the most versatile of electric guitars and a great choice for someone starting out. You can play rock, you can play country, you can play metal, you can play blues, you can play Himalayan Pan Pipes – no, no you can’t, but you can play just about anything else.

“The three pickup combination plus the volume and tone controls give you an almost infinite palette of tonal colors to choose from, from bright and twangy to thick and meaty. It’s just the most versatile guitar around. Also effects pedals go great with this if you want to get more ‘out there’ with your sound.

Ted says this Fender Standard Strat offers "an almost infinite palette of tonal colors to choose from."

“Another thing I love about this guitar is that it’s infinitely customizable – It’s really well constructed, with great tone woods so with more experience you might swap out your pickups for a different sound or a different pickguard for a different look, which I think is really cool. Fender makes a lot of replacement pickguards and knobs for all different styles and colors. This one, in Candy Apple Red, is a super fun finish. Red is the color of passion – there’s a reason why it was one of the most popular Fender custom colors in the past.

“A lot of parents try to get the cheapest guitar because they think their kid won’t stick with it, but you have to get something good that won’t hurt their fingers when they play or they’ll be doomed from the get-go. With this Standard Strat, I think you actually save money in the long run – it’ll always be a workhorse no matter how proficient you become over the years – you’re always going to want a Strat.”

Anne T.: Squier Classic Vibe 60s Strat, Burst – $349.99

“I love this guitar – the three single coil pickup configuration and 5-way switching really give you a lot of versatility for many styles of music, and it’s a classic finish. Easy to play for a beginner but also you’ll discover all it can do as you get better at playing. A Strat is always my go-to for a first electric because of that, and this Squier Classic Vibe is just built well. Squier’s really changed for the better over the past few years and done some really cool instruments instead of just being Fender’s ‘lower end line’. The Classic Vibe series really shines on these, essentially, recreations of classics.

Anne's says the Squier Classic Vibe 60s Strat gives you "a lot of versatility for many styles of music."

“This Strat has nice detailing with good frets, a 3-ply pickguard and great finish. No matter what kind of music you’re into you can do it with a Strat – rock, blues, country, surf, etc. This is a guitar that can fill a lot of needs as your skill grows. And as Ted pointed out, you can pretty easily switch out parts later – though I think the tortoise style pickguard would be hard to beat with the burst finish on this – it’s pretty slick. The price here is about $150 less than a Mexican made Fender Strat and you could easily pick up a practice amp with that and have some cash leftover for a strap or gig bag.”

Though our staff each chose different guitars, they all agreed that the starting point should be thinking about the kind of music you want to play, then going from there. The Squier CV Tele Custom, Ibanez RG321MH, Fender Standard Strat and Squier CV 60s Strat are all great choices and constructed well so you’ll actually enjoy practicing. No matter what guitar you get, make sure it has a proper set up (setting the action/intonation and checking several points) – something we offer for free with every new guitar purchase at Mass St. Music.

The Drake 'Rita' Bass!

A good friend of the store tipped off Matthew K here to check out Drake Basses – “You’ve gotta check ‘em out, they’re the best I’ve ever played,” he said. Matthew, being a total bass-head, checked Drake out and we ended up ordering one for the store. The Drake Rita Bass arrived just a few days ago, and we peeled it out of Matthew’s hands long enough to photograph it and even had the repair shop take a gander at Andrew Drake’s luthiery work. Fans of Warwick and Alembic basses will find these Drakes to be almost a hybrid of the two, yet really on a whole new level. If you’re into rock, jazz, funk or just about any genre, we think you’ll find this to be a really great new, hand crafted line.

Josh loves the design, a subtle illusion of a neck through

The build is fantastic, resulting in a super comfortable bass that plays incredibly well. Josh in our repair shop said, “This plays really great with low action – plus Drake has a great eye for design. I love how the center wedge of the body matches the taper of the neck instead of a block. It’s a nice, congruent design that gives the illusion of a neck through.”

There are lots of things to love about this hand crafted bass – the organic style which is a result of Drake using elegant, resonant woods finished with a hand-rubbed oil varnish. Tonally, it’s spectacular – clean but not overly cutting, and not muddy at all. “It’s like the best J bass you’ve ever played,” Matthew said, “Really nicely balanced too.” For the price, and all the craftsmanship that has gone into them, we think Andrew Drake and his incredible bass creations are one to watch and we’re proud to have them at Mass Street Music.

It goes to 11! No, really, it does...

Just this week we received our first batch of TC Electronic’s new compact effects pedals and after giving them each a spin, we can honestly say we’re totally impressed! TC has long been known for impeccable studio and high end pedals, and they’ve thankfully put live players at the forefront with these compact powerhouses – and at competitive prices. The TC Electronic Flashback Delay is one of our favorites…this gives you a truly dazzling variety of delays to choose from, with stereo in/out, true bypass and more. It also doubles as a looper, and you can set the tempo by simply strumming, plus a there’s a toggle to completely hone in on exactly what you want.  This is a really innovative delay with 11 types – yes it ‘goes to 11!’ Technically 10, with the 11th being TC’s very cool TonePrint which opens up a whole new world – just hook up the pedal to your computer with a usb cable, go to TC’s site and download a preset from a variety of artists – Steffen Schackinger’s or Doug Aldrich’s for the Flashback, John Petrucci’s for the Vibrato, Orianthi’s for the Corona Chorus and tons more.

"By far, one of the best reverb pedals under $200..."

The TC Hall of Fame Reverb was another that really grabbed our attention – our own Matthew K said of it, “Extremely versatile, its reverb settings are all distinctly different. The stereo output is great, well worth it, and makes the sound that much cooler.” It offers 10 types of reverb that are super easy to tweak and hone to your exact needs, plus it has the killer TonePrint for even more customizations and artist presets, easily accessed through your computer and TC’s site. This Hall of Fame can really cover a lot of bases no matter your playing style. Ambient, overly saturated reverb just flourishes here but it’s equally perfect for those wanting something very subtle. Great pedal.

TC’s Corona Chorus brings an impressive array of chorus possibilities, again, easily tweaked to just what you need. It also offers true bypass, stereo in/out and the amazing TonePrint in addition to everything from a little shimmer to a speeded up Leslie, major swirl and more. Speed, Depth, F/X and Tone controls let you quickly hone it all to perfection. We’re also expecting the MojoMojo Overdrive and (Matthew can’t wait to get his hands on this one…) the Dark Matter Distortion any day now.

Adirondack top, Mahogany back and sides, under $1000. Easily one of the best deals around.

If you’ve been following our blog for a while or checked out our store site, you’re already are hip to the fact that we love Eastman Acoustics for their great value (flattops are under $1,000) and exceptional build quality. It’s not a stretch to say that almost everyone in the store has purchased one. These are seriously good buys, made by folks who know what they’re doing and most of all, they sound fantastic. As John points out, they won’t take the place of a top notch Collings, but they are incredible instruments at unbelievably reasonable prices. We just received a few new ones in the store and thought you might like to know why we personally love and purchase these guitars for ourselves too.  Our staff, on their own Eastmans:

John Flynn on his AC312CE: Well, after owning and playing my Eastman AC312ce for a couple months I have to say (CLICK ‘Continue Reading’ below to read more of our Eastman kudos–>). that I am totally shocked by this guitar. Tonally it is absolutely fantastic. Rich, but still very clear and extremely dynamic. Playability is exceptional as well. This guitar has to be a serious contender for the player looking for an outstanding value in the under $1000 price point. Will this replace my 24 year old Collings OM-1?  No, that guitar has aged to acoustic perfection, but I will say that should I break a string live I have no reservations about picking up the Eastman. Granted, I do use this guitar predominately as a live instrument but I feel it would record beautifully and plan to use it on a project we are working on at The Art House. It’s also just a great guitar to sit on the couch with.

Jason Jones on his Eastman E10D: “This E10D is an absolutely amazing guitar for the money. Far and away one of the best sounding guitar under $1000.”

Matthew Khomsi on his AC320CE (he also bought an AC312!): “I love this guitar so much I bought one myself. It is one of the very best sounding acoustics for under $1K. If you want to upgrade your acoustic and what you want is an amazing sounding/feeling guitar, where you aren’t concerned about logos, get an Eastman.”

Brian Soden on his AC312: I bought an AC312 (without cutaway or pickup) and it’s been such a joy to play. There are a ton of guitars that come and go, but this one will be with me for a while! I also like the cutaway version, the AC312CE…the Fishman pickup system on the CE makes it an incredibly great guitar for live performance.”

Matt Christenot on his Eastman E10OM: “I couldn’t say no – it’s  just a great value with fantastic sound.”

In addition to the flattops, we also carry Eastman Archtops, mandos and occasionally stand up basses too.

Fender American Special Strat in classic Candy Apple Red

The Facts Jack

There was a lot of hype when we first heard about the new Fender American Special Strats and Teles – the series sounded good: American made, classic design, Texas Special pickups and less expensive – so what’s the catch? We set our own Jason Jones, Matt Christenot, and Matthew Khomsi to the task of checking these out from stem to stern.  Here’s what they had to say:

Jason: Aesthetically pleasing, the American Special series was a sensible move for Fender. These give you  many pro features with cost effective attributes that, all in all, create a great instrument for a reasonable price.  Borrowing the gloss Urethane finish from the American Standard series, and incorporating Fender’s most popular pickups, the Texas Specials, the American Special series functions as a sort of hybrid of the Standard series produced in Mexico, and the American Standard series that was rehashed in January 2008.  It also draws from the Highway 1 series  (with its Greasebucket tone circuit) that preceded it.  It addresses, in its revisions, some of the aspects of the Highway 1 that were less popular (most notably, the matte finish).

In regards to the neck, one of the cost effective scale-backs is in the truss rod, which is more akin to the Standard series.  They also have the satin urethane finish on the back of the neck as on the American Standard, but not the rolled fingerboard edges nor the gloss finish fingerboard.  They feature a really comfortable medium/slim “Modern” C neck and jumbo frets which, combined with their 9.5″ radius, make for a quick playing instrument that feels modern, yet traditional. They have a number of slick color schemes too (with more rumored to be on the way).  The Telecasters and the HSS Strats have black pickguards,  adding a touch of style and uniqueness.

Tonally, the Strats have a great, full tone with plenty of warmth in the neck position, spank in the bridge, and all the prerequisite ducky-ness you would expect from the 2nd and 4th positions. The Teles, when in the neck position, have a warm, yet articulate tone, balanced and usable, and the bridge provides all the power and twang you’d expect from a stock Telecaster. Out of the box they are well set-up, with a low action without buzz and a very smooth feel, thanks to the satin finish on the neck.

All in all, it is what it is – a series of well-built instruments containing the essence of the guitars they represent,  laden with features that warrant their price.  Would have been great to have a hard case, but the deluxe gig bag is nice. They’re priced at a level that gives you a professional-level instrument at an intermediate price.

Nice, gloss burst on this American Special Strat

Matt C: Overall the American Special Strat has a nice playability because of its slim neck profile and the fact that the neck is lightly finished rather than caked on.  This feels like one step closer to the American series.  The Texas Special pick ups are a nice touch too.  This is a great choice for folks wanting an American but really want to save some cash.

Brian: The weight is really nice -  I think they made good choices with the wood. It’s inexpensive, but it feels like quality materials. The neck profile is really nice – great playability.

Matthew K: The finishes on these are great – I think it’s a steal. An American made Fender with a high gloss finish for $799? A steal. I think the neck is great too -  feels great and is easy to play.

Straight Talk

Fender raised more than a few eyebrows last year with price changes, but they’ve made real amends with this American Special series. This is a great guitar, straight up. Texas Special pickups, well-built with quality finishes, a synchronized trem system on the strat, and a great, comfy neck.  And it’s made in the USA – a few more jobs is all good news in our book.

Fender American Special Tele in Olympic White

Matt C, Jason, Eric and Matthew K rockin' the special Groshes

Tuesday morning Brent and Yoshi from Don Grosh Guitars stopped by Mass St. Music and brought some very cool one-off guitars and prototypes for show and tell (and some bagels). What a morning…more than anything else it just confirmed why we love these guitars – not only do they have incredible playability and tone but they are some of the coolest looking guitars around. In the photo below, John checks out the 293 – fully hollow. We’ve got a 193 in the store right now, and it’s phenomenal – come check it out while it’s still here.

John checks out the exquisite fully hollow Grosh 293

We also got a chance to check out the very first ElectraJet – one of our favorite models, and Grosh’s bestseller. This seriously is a new standard in guitars – we think it’s only going to continue to grow in popularity. It was a real treat to play the very first ever made and everyone gave it a spin. One of our shop luthiers, Matt Harmon even said this model is the first he’s ever thought about purchasing since he’s learned to make guitars himself.

Matt C plays the very first EJ ever made

Luthier Matt Harmon takes a turn

“Getting to play the first ElectraJet was awesome,” Matt C. said. “It’s hard to make a really new guitar that doesn’t weird people out – the EJ is completely new but familiar too – it’s here to stay.”

More than anything we all learned more about the differences in the Standard versus Custom necks including how the double action truss rods and thicker necks on the Customs all lend to even more tonal transfer. “It was nice to see the actual parts – see and feel the differences in the necks,” said Matthew K.

Bent Top and Retro Classic bodies

Brent showed us both a Bent Top and Retro Classic unfinished body – the craftsmanship is impeccable. Originally cut with the ultra-precise CNC machine, then completely hand finished. We already knew Don has a hand in each and every guitar, but wow – he’s really in the trenches….whether shaping the Bent Tops or fitting each and every neck to the bodies, or doing some of the incredible paint jobs (Bo Ballinger is the other painting master at Grosh). Even before construction begins, the woods are acclimated for 4 – 6 months rather than kiln dried like some other folks – this insures the wood is more stable. Kiln dried wood tends to try to suck moisture back up after it’s dried out. They fit the frets to radiused fretslots so there are absolutely no gaps, giving you even more tonal transfer – that’s what these guys are all about – as they say “Tone, Looks, Playability”. The Grosh attention to detail and innovation is just outstanding. How about that double action truss rod? I held one and it is heavy. It not only allows you more adjustment, but that added mass does give you more of that sweet tonal transfer. They’ve got every base covered.

Brent shows off a killer Bent Top

Yoshi and one of the 'cadillacs' of Retro Classics

They showed us a special Retro Classic with a Mary Kay type finish, gold hardware and Birdseye Maple Neck, loaded with 50s style pickups – “A nice piece of Ash” as one of our guys said.

Jason’s favorite? The ‘raw’ EJ demo guitar, unfinished, loaded with Grosh humbuckers. He said “I want one.”

The raw, unfinished demo EJ loaded with Grosh humbuckers!

Jason (center) with raw EJ, Matt C (left) w/ prototype RC Standard and Eric (right) with the tricked out Retro Classic

The most exciting news from Grosh was two fold – More pickups (look for a review in an upcoming issue of Guitar Player magazine) and the new Hollowtron – we’re really excited about getting this guitar! Thanks to Brent and Yoshi for a great visit! Come back anytime.

Yoshi checks out Flynn's late 90s Retro Classic burst while Brent checks out Eric's own Retro Classic T

Yoshi rocks Flynn's RC and former MSMer Brian Soden checks out the RC Standard

Ah spring! Incessant rain, purty flowers, hay fever and some cool new gear in the store. Here’s what we’ve been drooling over lately:

John Flynn – Don Grosh Retro Classic S Shape

This is a fantastic instrument and now that Birdseye necks are going to skyrocket in price, this is a great time to get one at the old price. This guitar plays and sounds amazing. Definitely a brighter “Robert Cray” type tone. The neck is super stiff and just has a great vintage feel about it and Don’s new pickups are just as amazing.

This Grosh has been taunting John - he can see it from his office

Isaac Flynn - Don Grosh Retro Classic S Shape

Like father, like son…Isaac had this to say on the RC, “It’s so easy to play, the Grosh pickups are the best I’ve heard, and the guitar just looks awesome!”

Eric Mardis - Ome Sweetgrass Banjo

This banjo is so gorgeous. The fit and finish are second to none, but the real payoff is when you put on some picks and let loose on this thing. Â The tone is bright without being an “icepick in the forehead.” Bright yes, but also full and pleasant at the same time. Â I’m truly impressed with this, our first OME Bluegrass banjo!

Sweetgrass Ome Banjo

Matthew Khomsi – Mogami 12′ Right Angle Platinum Cable

I thought I would see what all the hype is about with these high-end cables. Well, the jury is in and let me just say, from the first second I plugged it in, my bass sounded substantially more massive. I was genuinely shocked at how big a difference replacing my instrument cable had on my tone.

Worth the hype? Matthew gives a resounding thumbs up

Jason Jones – Fender Hau’oli Tenor Ukelele

I choose the new Hau’oli Ukulele from Fender. Hawaiian for “happy”, this ukulele lives up to its name with its rich tone, stable tuning, and great price that are guaranteed to put a smile on your face!

O Happy Day, the new Fender Tenor Uke!

Matt Christenot – Fender American Vintage 52 Tele Reissue

This 52 tele reissue is a must have for tele lovers. Very cool.

Fender 52 Tele Reissue

Anne Tangeman – Squier Classic Vibe ’50s Tele

That’s right…I said Squier. Honestly the past two years they have been making some very cool guitars and basses and I think this Classic Vibe line shows them off at their best. This tele has a retro eye on the past, it’s well made and it’s inexpensive. Twang!

Squier (that's right) Classic Vibe 50s Tele

Our bass guru, Matthew Khomsi, gives an in-hand review of the new Fender Road Worn 60s Jazz Bass:

Fender Road Worn 60s Jazz Bass

On the whole, this bass reigns in all of the most important attributes when deciding on an instrument: tone, playability, comfort and looks. First, the overall tone is extremely flexible – this is the most versatile Jazz bass from Fender I’ve heard or played to date. When I refer to the versatility of this bass, I’m talking about how different the pickups actually sound when you slightly adjust the volume on the neck vs. bridge pickup, how that relates to the master tone knob and how the player’s style, whether with fingers, thumb or a pick, alter the sound. The harmonics are killer. Oh man, was I surprised when I started playing some Jaco and the parts just sang!

When analyzing the playability of this bass, it became obvious very quickly this Road Worn is easy to play. The slightly worn in neck gives it just enough of a “broken-in” feel to understand why “relic’d” instruments are so popular. Your hands fall right into place when you pick this up; it really separates itself from a run of the mill standard Jazz bass.

I can accept that purchasing a beat up instrument may not be everyone’s cup of tea. However, I’d suggest looking at how the instrument is going to be in 5 years, when you start to put your own dings and nicks on it – the relic will absolutely start to feel more your own. Beyond the cosmetics, no one can deny that the relic hastens the comfort one feels when picking up a new axe.

Now I can acknowledge the “Made in Mexico” stamp may deter you when checking out this bass, but let me reassure you, if you’re interested in excellent tone and feel, this is demonstrably a better bass than virtually any other Jazz even close to this price point. – Matthew Khomsi

Check this out – article from the Lawrence Journal World

According to the latest U.S. census report, Lawrence is 2nd only to Nashville for metropolitan areas with the highest percentage of pro musicians. Does anyone agree? Disagree? I’m looking for some discourse on this!

-Matthew K.

As usual, there are a multitude of great instruments enticing our staff on a daily basis. These are the items we’ve been eyeballing most recently:

Jason Jones: The Roland Juno – Stage keyboard. In this sleek keyboard powerful performance tools are combined with studio-quality sounds of all types which makes this keyboard a great buy for anyone!

Roland Juno - Stage

Eastman Pagelli PG2

Eric Mardis: The Eastman Pagelli PG2 Guitar! Eastman strikes again with this stunning model designed by Claudio Pagelli and built by hand in the Eastman workshop. Â I hand picked this guitar in Beijing when it was about 70% complete – it was a delight to see it again here at home. Â Truly beautiful and elegant, this rare blonde PG2 is ready to swing.

Matt Christenot: used Collings CJ1MhS. The amount of headroom on this guitar is unbelievable. It has a full bodied sound and a beautiful sunburst finish. If you were ever thinking of jumping into the world of Collings, this might be your chance.

used Collings CJ1MhSB

Anne Tangeman: used Don Grosh Retro Classic. This has a such a great retro vibe and a great feel to it – and it’s used. The Mary Kay Shell Pink finish is cool too. Sweet deal.

Matthew Khomsi: Martin LX1. You’re truly able to get a Martin that sounds like a Martin for $300. What more could you ask for? Try looking for a better sounding and easier to play instrument than this-you won’t find one!

Martin LX1

John Flynn: Don Grosh ElectraJet Standard. This is an incredible guitar at a great price. The pickups alone – Don Grosh’s own hand wound single coil pickups- make this an outstanding guitar, but add to that the Grosh quality, feel and overall sound. A modern classic.

Don Grosh ElectraJet Standard