Guitar Package Buyers Guide

You know you want to get your child a guitar for Christmas. But with all the choices out there, have you given it any thought which brand you would choose? What size guitar your child will need? Which colour? Which accessories you will need?

Finding great starter electric guitar packages for your beginning guitarist does not have to be a big chore. There are many of them available for you to choose from in a dizzying array of options, colors, and sizes.

To a parent who is looking for that perfect one to get their child started in learning a great musical instrument, this can be slightly overwhelming. You also are concerned about buying a guitar that is of good quality that your child will like and be able to use for years to come.

Guitar packages are typically the all in one answer to the problem of getting someone started with an electric guitar. Whether you would like to get them an acoustic or electric guitar, there are guitar packs out there for both instruments.

Electric guitar packs come with everything your child will need to make a sound including the guitar and amp. Acoustic guitar packs usually come with a strap, gig bag, and other essential accessories. In general, guitar packs are great value and an excellent way to get a complete beginner started with the instrument.

Choosing the Right Electric Guitar Pack

Each electric guitar pack comes with a guitar, amplifier, and other accessories that are needed to learn how to play. As someone who is searching for a Christmas gift for a loved one, this is perfect. The guitar requires an amplifier to generate the sound. If you get only the guitar, then you will need to make a separate purchase. The electric guitar package is a simple way to get them started.

Firstly, you need to know what to look for in a good guitar. Have a read through this short guide which will help you know what to look out for.

You will also need to know exactly what an electric guitar package needs to contain in order for your new player to have everything that they need to get started. In addition to the guitar, they will need to have an amplifier, a cable that hooks the guitar to the amplifier, a sturdy strap, guitar picks, and an extra set of strings.

Useful bonuses that will really help out are a tuner, guitar polish, a string winder, a case for the instrument and the best bonus, an instructional DVD. Having these items included will have your child playing it right out of the box.

Fender Squire Electric Guitar Pack £199

Fender is one of those great guitar brands that are an old favourite to beginner and experienced guitarists alike. The Fender Squire Guitar Pack is a guitar starter kit that comes with absolutely everything you need to learn how to play. This includes the Squier Affinity Stratocastor® guitar, a gig bag, a Fender® Frontman 15G amplifier, strap, guitar picks, headphones, instruction book, strings, and a cable.

Rockburn Electric Guitar Package £99

The Rockburn Electric Guitar Starter Package is the perfect guitar package to begin playing. The Rockburn guitar starter kit also comes with everything you need to get playing ‘out of the box’: Nevada electric guitar, 10 watt Rockburn amp with overdrive, EQ and headphone socket, Adjustable black webbing strap, 10ft black guitar lead, Black gig-bag, Set of nickel strings, Nevada plecs, Tutorial DVD with interactive tuning feature.

Acoustic Guitar Packages

Acoustic guitar packages are the alternative way for beginners to learn guitar. Many first time players prefer to learn the basics on an acoustic and then quickly progress onto the electric guitar. Either way is fine and there are no right or wrong ways. The Fender Squier Acoustic Guitar Package is one of the most respected starter acoustic package. Fender is one of the biggest names in te music industry and their entry level range (Squier) is ideal for beginners.

The Fender Squier SA100 Starter Package £79

The Fender Squier Starter Package contains: Squier dreadnought guitar, Gig bag, Pitch pipes, Picks, Fender instruction book

Electronic Drum Kit Guide

The electronic drum kit has come a long way in the past 15 years with musicians and music producers finding the entire recording process much easier, simpler and more efficient with the use of electronic drums. With touch sensitive pads and a range of pre-set kits, one electronic drum kit can produce hundreds of different drum samples, allowing you to experiment with different kit arrangements at the touch of a button.

A question that faces a lot of drummers is whether or not to invest in an electronic drum kit. Some purist drummers would never consider the electronic option, but if you're dismissing the idea of electronic drums based on the principle that they're not acoustic, you could be making a big mistake!

The real ace up the sleeve of the electronic drum kit, is its versatility. Gone are the days when you were unable to play the drums for fear of upsetting flatmates or neighbours with an acoustic kit; electronic drum kits can be played with headphones on - problem solved!

Benefits of having an Electronic Drum Kit:

Adjustable volume and mute mode

You cannot get around the fact that acoustic drums are a neighbours' nightmare. And so, beginner drummers will either shorten their practice period or not practice at all. This is one of the fears when parents are deciding whether to invest in drums; will their son or daughter be given the chance to practice and enjoy the drums. Electronic drum kits can be set to a low volume or used with headphones, allowing you to play your instrument all day long without hearing complaints from neighbours or family members.

Size

Not all households have the space to accommodate a full size acoustic drum set. Some need to compromise their living room or bedroom. Drummers are hooked on the electronic drums because of their lightweight and much smaller size. There's no need to use the amplifier all the time either. You can use headphones or plug into a P.A. at rehearsals.

Great sounds

The sounds that you hear electronic drum kits are actual drum samples! Each module may contain an array of percussive samples that sound like real drums, cymbals, and other items that may accompany the drum set. The clarity of these sounds have improved greatly over the years and the manufacturers of these modules are constantly looking for ways to improve. Electric drums are great for recording studios and club venues because drum mics (microphones) are not necessary. The drums are connected directly to the PA/mixer board.

Improve your range

Some of the sound modules have sampled songs but with the drums muted. The songs cover an array of styles, from salsa, jazz, rock, to funk. You can also vary the tempo to what may feel good to you. It is an excellent tool for learning to play multiple styles of music.

Transporting the electric drum set

Another great feature of the electronic drum set is how easy it is to transport. Electronic drums are compact, lightweight and can fit into any small size car (unlike an acoustic drum set that requires a bit more room). The heaviest piece of equipment you would need to worry about is the electronic drum amplifier, to make the sounds audible if you are not using headphones. The weight and size of the amp would depend on your preference and model.

Cost

There are different makes and models currently available at a wide range of prices. Even at the inexpensive end of the market, you will still have most if not all of the benefits as mentioned above. The Arbiter XTD102 costs only £289 and is packed with features.

Compromise!

If after reading all of the above, you're still not convinced by the benefits of electronic drum kits you can always incorporate electronic drum pads into your acoustic setup! Many live and professional performers use the best elements of an electronic drum kit with their acoustic kits. Many tend to use the snare drum from an electronic drum kit to give them a range of sounds at the press of a button during a performance.

Buying an Electric Guitar Guide

If you are a complete guitar beginner, then we would not suggest you go out and buy a guitar worth hundreds or thousands of pounds. You must also bear in mind though, that some cheap guitars are really not very good and probably not worth the money you pay for them - so here is a simple guide to help you make a more informed decision.

Firstly, here is a little background into what determines the price and quality of guitars.

One of the main factors which determines the price of a guitar is the woods used in its construction - cheaper guitar bodies are made from plywood or laminates. As the price increases so to does the quality of the woods used, such as cedar, spruce and rosewoods. These latter woods will also age well, with the sound of the guitar improving with time, unlike the cheaper variety which are at their best when new. As a beginner, there is little harm in buying a plywood guitar.



The guitar should be solid with no loose bits inside - give the guitar a small shake to test this. The guitar's neck should also be straight. This can be checked by sighting along its length. The frets can also be checked by running your fingers along the edge of each side of the neck to ensure it is smooth.

Each fret position should be checked to make sure that there is no buzzing of strings. To do this, simply play a note at every single fret position on the board, ensuring you place your finger close behind each fret.

The action of the guitar (the height of the strings off the fret board) is down to personal choice, but it is recommended that you pick a guitar with a low action/strings near the fingerboard, as this will make playing a little easier.

Here are the main points to consider when choosing and picking your first guitar:

1. What are you willing to spend?

Knowing what your budget is will speed up the process for both yourself and the sales person. If you tell the sales guy or girl your budget, they will have an immediate idea of the brands which fall into your budget. If you're just starting out, you shouldn't really need to spend a lot of money to buy a good quality first guitar. Between £100-£200 will get you a more than decent electric guitar and don't waste time looking at more expensive models. Most guitar players have 3, 4 or even 5 different guitars - you can always upgrade later!

2. What Style/Type of guitar do you want?

Decide which type and style and even colour guitar you like. Most beginners will go for a similar guitar to that of their idols - so do some research online; look at what guitars your favourite bands play and see which electric guitars you prefer. There are not that many styles to choose from, so it won't be long before you settle on the shape, style and colour. Guitars which you see and like online, may not be as appealing once you have them in your hands - so be open minded.

3. Research your brand preference

Like any other merchandises, guitar price and quality differs according to their brands. Famous brands will cost you more money, but provide you with better quality. Brands such as Fender have a wide range of pricing, from just over £100 to £1000+. We would suggest that you select your first guitar from the low-end price of a well-known brand. The brand gives you piece of mind over quality and the price will be still under your budget.



4. How to screen out the bad ones

How is the action?

As mentioned previously, the action is simply how high or low the strings are set on the fretboard and will greatly affect the playability. If the strings are set too high they will be difficult to push down and you may struggle to play the instrument comfortably. On the other hand, if the strings are set too low they may interfere with the frets and cause a buzzing sound as you play.

Checking the action: use the first finger of your left hand to play each string at every fret up and down the neck. Do you here any buzzes? Is it easy to push the string down?

Is the neck straight?

A straight neck means the intonation will be consistent. In other words, when a specific note or chord is played at different points along the neck it will remain in tune. A crooked neck will result in the notes or chords sounding out of tune at different points along the neck.

Checking the neck: look along it's edge. Begin from the base of the body and continue on up to the base of the head. You should see a straight line. If you don't, the neck may be bowed, twisted, or warped.

5. How does the neck feel in your hand?

Necks come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so you will need to determine what feels comfortable to you. Some necks are round and some have a v-shape angle to them. When you cradle the neck in your hand be aware of the fit. Thin necks tend to be easier for small hands, but are generally not as strong as heavier ones.

Once you have found the right electric guitar and you are happy with the way it plays and feels - there is only more thing to do - haggle!

PRS Guitars

PRS Guitars is an American guitar manufacturer headquartered in Stevensville, Maryland. PRS Guitars was founded by guitarist and luthier Paul Reed Smith in 1985. PRS Guitars is a leading manufacturer of high-end electric guitars. PRS guitars have become highly prized by musicians and collectors around the world.

Construction

PRS Custom

Materials

The bodies of PRS guitars are crafted of mahogany, with a maple top on most models. They often feature highly figured tops, including flame maple, quilt maple and figured maple creating the effect of tiger stripes. Although some models feature maple or Indian or Brazilian rosewood, necks are usually made from mahogany; fingerboards are made of rosewood. PRS's signature fret markers include the higher end birds and the lower end moons. The moons appear similar to standard dot inlays, but have a crescent more prominent than the rest of the dot. The bird inlays feature nine or ten different birds inlayed at the appropriate frets. Inlay materials have included semi-precious stones; iridescent shells, including abalone and abalone laminates; gold; and even unearthed ivory from the (extinct) woolly mammoth.

Hardwar

Close-up of the 3rd, 5th, and 7th fret bird inlays.

Nuts are synthetic; tuners are of PRS' own design, although some models feature Korean-made Klusion-style tuners. PRS guitars feature three original bridge designs: a one-piece pre-intonated stoptail, an intonatable is unique to PRS and can be used because PRS manufacturing tolerances are so tight, guaranteeing that the distance between witness points will be within a few thousandths of an inch from guitar to guitar. This design does not however allow intonation to be adjusted to compensate for variations in string thickness or drop tuning. Two other designs are the PRS vibrato, which resembles a vintage Fender Stratocaster unit but with much better tonal stability due to less friction, and the more recent compensated wrapover tailpeice, which allows for height and intonation adjustment.

Pickups

Pickups are designed and wound in-house; PRS is more secretive about magnet and wire type and construction than some aftermarket pickup manufacturers. PRS humbucking pickups have gone by many names, including HFS (Hot, Fat, and Screams); Vintage Bass; McCarty; Santana I, II, and III; Archtop; Dragon I and II; Artist I through IV; #6, #7, #8, #9, and #10, RP (after the initials of the designer, Ralph Perucci) and Soapbar. Further adding to the obscurity, many of the above pickup types are actually a pair of pickups wound in opposing directions, one intended for the neck and one for the bridge position.

Finishes

PRS is known for "popping the grain" on their figured maple topped instruments, a process that accents the '3D' quality of the maple through a multistep staining process. Finishes are transparent, translucent (often with bursts), or opaque and are automotive-grade polyurethane or satin nitrocellulose, meaning that in some instances, the paints were intended for automotive use.

Student Edition (SE) models

Main article: PRS SE Guitars

To keep up with demand, PRS introduced a new low-end budget line in the late 1990s. The Student Edition line, is manufactured in Korea and is notable for opaque finishes and lower quality tone-woods though some models also include figured maple veneers such as the Soapbar II. The PRS SE models are increasing in popularity among hobbyists, whereas the higher-end PRS models tend to be geared towards professional musicians.

Artists who use PRS Guitars

• Mikael Akerfeldt of the Swedish Progressive Death Metal band Opeth.
• Ted Nugent was the first big-name guitar player whom Paul Reed Smith persuaded to play one of his guitars.
• Adam Gontier of the Canadian Alternative Rock band Three Days Grace
• Carlos Santana was another recipient of some of Paul Reed Smith's early instruments. Santana's unusual 24-fret, 24½"-scale signature model was one of PRS' earliest special models.
• Alex Lifeson of Rush has used PRS guitars since 1990, and continues to use them today, in addition to other brands.
• Al Di Meola, from Return to Forever, mainly uses a Private Stock McCarty PRS as a solo artist.
• Mark Tremonti of Alter Bridge has two signature PRS models.
• Dave Navarro from Jane's Addiction has his own PRS signature
• Larry LaLonde of Primus
• Paul Allender of Cradle of Filth has his own signature PRS SE model.
• Mike Mushok of Staind recently switched from Ibanez to PRS and now has his own signature SE baritone.
• Steven Wilson of progressive rock band Porcupine tree

List of PRS guitar models

Many of the listed guitars are available with an option of stoptail or tremolo bridge.

• Custom series:
  
  • Custom 22
  • Custom 22/12 (12 string version)
  • Custom 24 (previously the PRS Custom)
• Hollowbody series:
  
  • Hollowbody I, II, and Spruce
  • Hollowbody I Singlecut
  • Hollowbody Singlecut Standard
• McCarty series:
  
  • McCarty
  • McCarty II
  • McCarty Korina
  • Smokeburst McCarty
• Mira series:
  
  • Mira
  • Mira Maple Top
  • Mira X
  • Mira Korina
• Modern Eagle II
• Singlecut ("SC") series:
  
  • SC245
  • SC250
  • SC250 Satin
• SE series:
  
  • SE Custom
  • SE EG
  • SE One
  • SE Singlecut
  • SE Soapbar
• Standard series:
  
  • Standard 22
  • Standard 24
  • Standard 22 Satin
  • Standard 24 Satin
• Starla
• Sunbust series:
  
  • Sunburst 22
  • Sunburst 245
• Starla
• Swamp Ash Special
• 513

Signature models

• Al Di Meola "Prism" model
• Dave Navarro model
• Johnny Hiland model
• Mark Tremonti model
• Mike Mushok SE
• Paul Allender SE
• Santana 1, II, III, Brazilian, MD, and SE II
• Tremonti SE

Electronic Tuner Guide

A good guitar tuner is a necessary piece of equipment for any beginner guitarist. Many new guitarists may not be able to tune by ear - but playing in tune is pretty important! There are a range of different types and makes, so let us a take a look at some to give you a more informed choice.

Guitar tuners fall into three categories:

• Clip-On Tuners

• Mic/Plug-in Tuners

• Pedal Tuners

Clip-On Tuners

Clip-on guitar tuners are becoming more and more popular these days. The advantage of using a clip-on tuner is that other noise will not affect you tuning up, as they work off the vibrations from your instrument, rather than the sound of your instrument. They are handy for loud situations where you may be surrounded by a lot of other instruments such as rehearsals or gigs. Just turn on your tuner and watch the needle as you tune each string. Most clip-on tuners are backlit, so they can be used in places where lighting is not great, such as on-stage.

Mic/Plug-in Tuners

Handheld guitar tuners were the choice for most players, before clip-on tuners became popular. These tuners work either by a small in-built mic and holding the tuner next to the guitar, or by plugging your guitar directly into them via a guitar lead. They are useful for tuning acoustic guitars, but can be a bit awkward.

Pedal Tuners

The last main category of tuners are pedal tuners. These come in the form of either a foot pedal integrated into another type of effects pedal or as stand-alone units. They are used with instrument that have pickups - either electric guitars or electro-acoustic guitars. The guitar is plugged into the input of the pedal with the option of plugging another lead into your amp. The handy thing about pedals for live performances is that they will have an option to mute the output signal. So between songs if you hit the pedal, it mutes the signal, and the audience will not have to listen to you tuning up.

Take a look at a full range of Tuners starting from as little as £10!

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