Beginner electric guitar buyers guide – Metal and Rock
One of the many benefits of high-quality manufacturing is the sheers scale of quality guitars on offer. Not so long ago an aspiring rock god would have to don his or her leather chaps and maybe start their career on an entry level SG or Squire Strat and when ready and able then and only then make the dive to a more expensive and appropriate guitar. Well, those days are long gone, today you can grab a high output shred machine replete with a floating tremolo for incredible prices even as a beginner.
Let’s dive in with a glorious hardtail (no trem) from Ibanez. Ibanez have been designing and manufacturing guitars for every style of music but have an incredible reputation within the rock and metal industry, particularly for playability, high output pickups, extremely reliable hardware and superb finishes (the paint job).
The Ibanez GRG121DX is no exception, with its simple but reliable F106 bridge this guitar will stay in tune even under vigorous performance. This Ibanez is part of the iconic RG range which have spawned, a plethora of signatures from Steve Vai, Paul Gilbert and Nita Strauss. The Okoume body is light weight but provides incredible sustain and with Metallic Gray Sunburst finish gives the guitar a simple but ideal look for rock guitarists. The maple neck supports a purpleheart fingerboard with shark-fin inlays, providing an incredible playing experience, perfect for chugging, power chords and shredding scales (when you eventually get there 😉). The high output IBZ-6 pickups will provide a solid tone for all your metal needs.
Ibanez GRG121DX-MGS Metallic Gray Sunburst
With a slightly different body to the GRG the Ibanez GSA60 has a rounded top and slightly more streamlined design. The GSA60 also has a simple T102 tremolo for simple articulation and vibrato. The Ibanez infinity humbuckers provide a high output experience, making rock and metal more than attainable. The chrome hardware is incredibly reliable for both practise and performance. Again the flat Walnut finish gives the guitar an understated but rock aesthetic. The purpleheart fretboard and maple neck will provide an awesome playing experience. This is a great guitar for the aspiring rock guitarist looking for a sleeker aesthetic with less flashy inlays than the GRG but with a simple tremolo system for vibrato and some basic dives.
Ibanez - GSA60 - Walnut Flat
At the very high end of entry level guitars we have the Jackson Dinky Arch top. With its exquisite transparent Black finish it already broods rock and metal. The first most notable things about this Jackson Dinky are the Floyd Rose licensed tremolo system, apart from providing extreme tuning stability regardless of how rough you are, the Floyd Rose adds an entirely new dimension to your playing allowing extreme swoops and dives. Married with the two extreme output Jackson humbuckers which will provide searing solos and heavy riffs this although nearly at the maximum for entry level prices would probably remain in your guitar arsenal for a lifetime. The fretboard is made from Amaranth another tone wood similar to Rosewood with a tight snappy and accurate tone. The medium jumbo frets make playing and accuracy that much easier and the 24 frets give you complete access to the double octave fingerboard.
Jackson - JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS32Q DKA - Transparent Black
These three machines are in increasing quality and are all perfect for beginner rock or metal guitarist with the Jackson likely to be a long-term keeper. Some honourable mention should go the smaller scale Ibanez PGMM21 which gives a classic Paul Gilbert aesthetic but in a smaller scale length ideal for younger aspiring rock guitarists. If you are looking for a range of different beginner electrics head here:
Ibanez - PGMM21, Paul Gilbert Signature MiKro, Metallic Light Greenand if you are looking for beginner acoustics head here:
https://www.scan.co.uk/shop/music-and-pro-audio/guitars/6-string-acoustic-guitarsand if you are looking for guitar bundles head here:
https://www.scan.co.uk/shop/music-and-pro-audio/guitars/guitar-and-amp-packagesIf you have any questions regarding ideal rock guitars and help identifying what might be best for you, please contact ourselves at scan.co.uk.