The Ultimate Guide To The Best Guitar Models: Get Ready To Rock!
Guitars have been around for centuries, and over the years they have evolved in numerous ways to fit the needs of different genres of music. From rock to jazz, metal, blues and more, there is a guitar out there designed to help you express yourself in whatever style you choose. And with so many guitar models out there, it can be hard to decide which one is best for you.
That’s why we’ve put together this ultimate guide to the best guitar models. We’ll look at the different types of guitar available, the various materials and sizes, the various pickups and sound-shaping tools and more, to help you make an informed decision when deciding which guitar to buy. So, let’s get rocking!
Electric Guitars
Electric guitars can best be described as “plugged in”, because they must be wired up to an amplifier in order to be heard. Ultimately this makes the electric guitar the loudest and most aggressive-sounding type of guitar, which is why it’s perfect for styles like metal and rock.
When it comes to electric guitars, there are several body styles to choose from. Fender Stratocasters and Telecasters are among the most popular, along with Gibson Les Pauls and SG models. These guitars tend to have thin bodies and long, double-cutaway designs with three or four pickups. Stratocasters and Telecasters are known for their bright, twangy sound and easy playability, while Les Pauls and SGs are known for their thick, beefy tones.
In addition to these classic body styles, there are also numerous other guitars available. Electric guitars come in many shapes and sizes, from bass guitar-esque Fender Jazzmasters to the flashy horns of a B.C. Rich Warlock. No matter what kind of sound you’re looking for, there’s an electric guitar model out there designed to help you achieve it.
Acoustic Guitars
Acoustic guitars, on the other hand, are “unplugged” instruments. They are usually made of wood and do not need to be connected to an amplifier. This type of guitar is ideal for strumming chords and singing along, making it perfect for styles like folk, country, and bluegrass.
The two main types of acoustic guitars are steel-stringed and nylon-stringed models. Steel-string guitars are the most common and versatile, and they come in a variety of shapes and sizes. From small parlor models to massive jumbos with deep cutaways, there are several guitar varieties to explore.
Nylon-string guitars, meanwhile, are characterized by their mellow, mellifluous sound, and tend to be a bit easier to play than steel-string models. They’re perfect for flamenco performers and classical players, but can also be used for music styles like Hawaiian slack-key and Latin music.
Classical Guitars
Classical guitars are built similarly to nylon-stringed acoustics, however they have wider necks, which facilitate fingerstyle techniques. These guitars are designed for interpretive playing, so they often don’t have pickups.
Because these guitars are so difficult to amplify, they are primarily used to play in small ensembles or for solo recitals. As the name implies, the classical guitar is associated with the classical repertoire, but it can also be used to play traditional folk and pop music as well.
Semi-Acoustic Guitars
Semi-acoustic guitars, also called “hollowbody” guitars, have solid bodies with a hollow center, which helps to reduce feedback while still giving the instrument a natural acoustic sound. These guitars have gained popularity in recent years, thanks to their ability to produce a warm, woody tone while still being loud enough to compete with electric instruments.
Semi-acoustic guitars come in several shapes and sizes and can be either steel-stringed or nylon-stringed. Gibson ES-335s and Epiphone Casino models are two popular types of semi-acoustic guitars.
Archtop Guitars
Archtop guitars are semi-acoustic guitars with a large, arched sides and back, along with a carved top. This makes the guitar louder, with an even bigger tone than regular semi-acoustics. These guitars are popular for jazz and blues, though many rock and country artists also use archtops.
Gibson L-5s and Gibson ES-175s are two classic archtop models, while PRS and Ibanez both make lower-priced versions of this style of guitar.
Resonator Guitars
Resonator guitars are metal-bodied guitars designed to recreate the sound of a metal-bodied guitar, even though they have no electronics. Resonator guitars typically have a metal cone (sometimes bronze, sometimes silver) in the top, which amplifies the sound by reflecting sound waves off of the cone.
These guitars have a unique sound and are most often associated with blues and roots music. National and Dobro are the two most popular resonator guitar companies, and they manufacture some particularly nice slide guitars.
Bass Guitars
Bass guitars make up the foundation of most musical groups. Without a good bass player, the whole band can sound unbalanced. And with bass guitars, there are a few key pieces of information you should be aware of.
In terms of body styles, the two most common type of bass guitars are the electric bass and the upright bass. Electric bass guitars come in a variety of shapes and sizes and usually have four strings arranged in pairs, though five- and-six-string models are becoming increasingly popular. Electric bass guitars come in active and passive models, and they are generally designed to allow bassists to sculpt a wide range of sounds.
Upright Bass, also known as “double bass”, is the type of bass that is favored in classical, jazz and bluegrass circles. Upright basses are large and stand away from the player, much like a cello. They usually have four strings, though some five-string models are also available.
Conclusion
With so many different guitar models out there, it can be difficult to choose the perfect one for your needs. This guide has hopefully given you some insight into the various body styles, sizes, pickups and tone-shaping tools that are available, so you can make an educated decision when it comes time to buy your next guitar.
Whether you’re looking for the chimey sonic attack of an electric guitar, the warmth of an acoustic, the mellifluous tones of a nylon-stringed classical, or an aggressive roar of a resonator – there’s a guitar out there that can help you make music in the style you prefer. So, get ready to rock, and find the perfect guitar for your needs!