Eagle Rock Music Studio teaches a wide variety of students, and we see an even greater variety in the electric guitars those taking guitar lessons bring in. Many parents of prospective younger students and older students looking to take guitar lessons often do not know where to start when it comes to selecting their first guitar. Below is a guide to the most popular brands, their most popular models, and how much their guitars typically cost.
Gibson
The Gibson Guitar Corporation was founded in 1902. The Gibson Les Paul, one of the most famous guitars in all of rock, was first sold in 1952 and remains in vogue today. However, it is the Gibson SG — specifically the Gibson SG Standard — that is the company’s highest selling model of all time. Gibson guitars sport a thick tone and are versatile enough to fit into blues-rock and hard rock settings (or anything in between).
Gibson guitars start at around $500; however, Gibson’s subsidiary Epiphone offers models patterned on more expensive Gibson versions starting at around $100.
Famous guitarists who play Gibson guitars: Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), Duane Allman (The Allman Brothers Band), Slash (Guns N’ Roses), Joe Perry (Aerosmith), Bob Marley (The Wailers), Ace Frehley (Kiss), B.B. King
Fender
The Fender Musical Instruments Corporation was founded in 1946, and it is best known for its Telecaster, Stratocaster, and Jazzmaster electric guitar models. Fender guitars have a cleaner sound with a lean twang, making them a blues man’s guitar of choice.
Fender guitars start at around $400; however, Fender’s subsidiary Squier offers models patterned on more expensive Fender versions starting at around $100.
Famous guitarists who play Fender guitars: Jimi Hendrix (The Jimi Hendrix Experience), Stevie Ray Vaughan (Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble), Eric Clapton (Cream; Derek and the Dominos; Solo), David Gilmour (Pink Floyd), Buddy Holly (The Crickets), Jeff Beck
Ibanez
Ibanez was founded in 1957 and is based in Japan. The company’s two most popular models are the RG (Roadstar Guitar) and the S (Saber), and it was the first to mass-produce seven-string and eight-string guitars, as well. Ibanez guitars are particularly prominent in the metal genre; they start at around $150.
Famous guitarists who play Ibanez guitars: Daron Malakian (System of a Down), Bradley Nowell (Sublime), Bob Mould (Husker Du), Dexter Holland (The Offspring), Steve Vai, Joe Satriani
PRS
Paul Reed Smith founded PRS Guitars in 1985, and his company’s guitars quickly found favor among the instrument’s heavy hitters due to their incredibly high quality. PRS Guitars has a long list of celebrity sponsors as a result of providing them with guitars crafted to their specifications. However, the company also sells standard-issue guitars as well, and these start at around $500.
Famous guitarists who play Paul Reed Smith guitars: Dave Navarro (Jane’s Addiction), Carlos Santana (Santana), Alex Lifeson (Rush), Joe Walsh (Eagles), Tim Mahoney (311), Ted Nugent