Top 10 Best Electric Guitar For Beginners of 2023

We’re taking a look at electric guitars today; specifically those that would be a good choice for beginners.

An electric guitar is one that uses pickups to convert the vibration of its strings into electrical signals. The signal is then sent to a guitar amp before being fed to speakers, which converts it into audible music.

Since the electric guitars’ invention in 1931, it has become an instrument that is capable of many sounds and styles in genres ranging from pop, rock, country music, blues and jazz.

Nowadays, you can find electric guitars being played everywhere.

Let’s find one that is just right for you.

Top 10 Best Electric Guitar For Beginners in 2023

1 Yamaha Pacifica Series PAC112V Electric Guitar

One of the best electric guitar values for beginners today is the Yamaha PAC12V. Yamaha guitars are well known for great tone and outstanding playability.

First launched in 1990, the Pacifica series was driven by the California jam session scene where flexibility, performance and independence were key. Why does that matter?

The PAC112V has been constructed to respond to various genres and playing styles. The body is solid Alder with a Maple bolt-on neck and rosewood finger board.

Several pickup configurations provide a wide range of sound character from heavy distortion to a clear, clean sound. Also included is a vintage-style tremolo and a five-position switch.

The PAC112V is made of quality materials. Anyone just beginning to play should find the PAC112V an enjoyable instrument.

2 Ibanez RG450DX

If you choose the Ibanez RG450DX, prepare to keep it for a long time. You get a super-resonant, lightweight, and balanced mahogany body, along with a maple neck and rosewood fingerboard.

This entry level guitar has a 3-piece neck that’s ultra-fast and very playable for the beginner. The jumbo frets are another nice feature for those just starting out.

For tonal diversity, the RG450DX has two humbucking pickups and a single-coil in the middle. If you want an excellent choice for beginners, the Ibanez RG450DX belongs in your hands and plugged into your amp. But there’s more.

The guitar feels great to play. A signature Ibanez neck shape makes the playing super smooth and quick. The frets are perfect, and the action is very smooth and playable right out of the box.

The pickups sound great and really diverse throughout the 5 available options, offering plenty of versatility for different styles of music. Tuning is nice and stable, and the whammy bar will not throw you out of tune.

Finally, it’s a beautiful instrument! The blue paint job has metallic flecks and looks outstanding. The mother of pearl pickguard compliments the blue really well with a classy feel, and the shark tooth inlays add a nice look to the whole guitar.

3 ENS-EBCH1 Epiphone Les Paul STANDARD Electric Guitar

This plain top Epiphone Les Paul Standard is an electric guitar that delivers all the signature sound of a Gibson Les Paul at a fraction of the cost. The solid mahogany body of the ENS-EBCH1 provides superb resonance and the Maple veneer top is classic Les Paul. The Alnico humbucker pickups deliver loads of warmth and lots of punch.

The set mahogany neck is different from most electric guitars. Why does that matter?  This neck is glued in like an acoustic guitar neck, while most electric guitars have a bolt on neck. The glued in neck gives you plenty of stability, while the bolt on neck gives you lots of options for the future.

The slim-tapered profile neck and rosewood fingerboard give you the familiar feel and fast action that Les Paul players love so dearly. It’s an American classic that has been around over 60 years, and you can get it here with the ENS-EBCH1.

There’s still more. The neck and body binding and trapezoid fingerboard inlays produce the classic look seen on stages around the world for decades. The LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge and stop bar tailpiece provide more sustain and make string changing easier.

The ENS-EBCH1 is another superb addition to our review of electric guitars for beginners.

4 Epiphone Les Paul-100 Electric Guitar, Heritage Cherry Sunburst

The Epiphone Les Paul-100 is the electric guitar you want if you’re a beginner or you’re starting to get serious about your music.

Similar to the Les Paul reviewed above, the mahogany body with maple top delivers classic solid, heavy tone. The big difference with the Les Paul-100 is the bolt-on mahogany neck verses the traditional glued in neck found on most Les Paul models.

The best part? I think this is an advantage for beginners. Adjustments and repairs are so much easier with a bolt on neck.

The rosewood fingerboard is easy to play, and the open-coil humbucker pickups sound great. Also included is all chrome hardware. The Epiphone Les Paul-100 guitar features classic Les Paul design and tone. Here’s another top choice for beginners.

5 Squier by Fender Classic Vibe 50’s Stratocaster Electric Guitar

The Classic Vibe Stratocaster provides unmistakable ’50s-era Fender vibe and tone. You’ll be happy if this is your first guitar. The lightweight alder body has a two-color sunburst finish and a vintage-tinted gloss-maple neck. The maple fingerboard with 21 medium-jumbo frets comes with a modern 9.5” radius. Why does this matter? The jumbo frets and 9.5” radius will feel great in your hands and make learning new chords and notes easier.

That long-familiar Strat tone comes from a custom set of Alnico III single-coil pickups. They are clear and bright, with terrific sustain in every mode.  That’s not all; custom staggered polepieces provide improved string-to-string balance.

Throw in a vintage synchronized tremolo, a master volume control, 2 tone controls and a 5-position selector switch and you’re in business!! This Squier Strat should provide you with years of great service.

6 Epiphone G-310 Electric Guitar, Ebony

Our next guitar for review is the G-310. Here’s another classic styled guitar from the Gibson model lineup, the famous SG.

If you want all the SG looks and tone but don’t want to pay a fortune, the G-310 from Epiphone is your best bet. This is a great guitar for beginners.

The G-310 is a carved ’67 style SG with a lightweight alder body. Why does that matter. Alder is a fine choice used in electric guitar construction for decades. It is lightweight so lessons, practicing or jam sessions won’t weight you down.

The G-310 has a mahogany neck and a rosewood fretboard. The classic tone comes from a pair of sizzling 700T and 650R open-coil Humbucker pickups, surrounded by the full ’67 style pickguard. The G-310 is a real beauty.

But wait, there’s more! The sustain is even greater thanks to Epiphone’s LocTone hardware with a locking Tune-o-matic bridge and a Stop-bar tailpiece. There are a bunch of great features found here for the beginner that will last for years to come.

7 Fender Squier by Affinity Series Jazzmaster Electric Guitar

Wow, entering the lineup next is another classic design from the electric guitar history books.  Everyone may not recognize it, but the Jazmaster is a staple from the pages of classic electric guitar design.

Perfect for the beginner or accomplished player, this Jazzmaster offers a pair of fat-sounding humbucking pickups that combines smooth offset style with easy playability and the classic Fender tone.

This Jazzmaster is equipped with a comfortable “C”-shaped neck, 12”-radius rosewood fingerboard and medium frets. A six-saddle bridge and flexible controls add to the Jazzmaster experience. The Affinity Series Jazzmaster is ready for practice, lessons, and jamming with your friends. Throw in the 1-year warranty and you’re ready to go.

8 Squier by Fender Classic Vibe 50’s Telecaster Electric Guitar

Up next in our review is one of the most recognized guitars in rock history; the Fender Telecaster. Our sample today has the classic 50’s finish and maple fingerboard loved by Telecaster fans around the world.

In the early years of Fender, the Telecaster quickly became an everyman’s guitar because of its versatile sound, ease of playing and reasonable cost. The new Classic Vibe 50’s Telecaster delivers on that original promise.

The Squier Telecaster features a gorgeous new Butterscotch Blonde finish on a pine body, and a vintage-tint gloss fast-action maple neck with 21 medium-jumbo frets. The modern 9.5” fretboard radius offers hours of playing comfort.

A modern update from its Classic Telecaster ’50s Vintage Blonde brother is a custom set of Alnico 5 single-coil pickups that provide warmth and clarity and enough punch for country, blues, rock and jazz.

Add in the vintage style Telecaster bridge, master volume and tone controls, and Fender strings; now you’re ready for some serious playing and hours of fun!

9 Squier by Fender Short Scale Stratocaster – Transparent Blue Bundle

The Squier Short Scale Strat is a perfect choice for beginners. This new Squier Strat Pack has everything you need to begin playing right out of the box. The short-scale Stratocaster (24″) is ideal for players with smaller hands and provides a comfortable, easier playing feel.

Other impressive features include a lightweight body, a hardtail bridge for rock-solid tuning and three single-coil pickups for that classic Strat tone.

This Strat features a six-saddle bridge, offering precise intonation and increased sustain. These features are also found on much more expensive guitars.

Finally, a nice practice amp is included so you can get all the classic Strat sounds in your own home or while jamming with friends.

This bundle has everything you need; included are a pack of picks, a comfortable and durable guitar strap and a 10-foot cable.

Try out the lessons from “Fender Play”, featuring instructional videos, hands-on exercises and learning paths based on your skills & preferences.

10 Squier by Fender Mini Strat Electric Guitar Bundle

Our final review today is another bundle to get you up and playing quickly. The Fender Mini Strat is a slightly smaller version of the famous Stratocaster; perfect for young players and beginners.

The newly redesigned Mini Strat is a great guitar for beginners, travelers and players with smaller hands. Features include a new thinner body and a slimmer neck profile for easy playability. This smaller Strat is equipped with three single-coil Stratocaster pickups and five-way switching for classic Fender tones.

With the desire to add value to your purchase, this bundle for your instrument includes all the necessary accessories for learning to play the guitar. Everything you need to start playing immediately comes in one box. Save yourself the hassle and save some money while you’re at it.

An easy-to-use clip-on tuner is included so you can keep your instrument in tune. A strap is included so you can practice or better yet perform while standing up. Picks are included so you can start playing right out of the box.

That’s not all; an instrument cable is included so you can plug into the amp and hear your music right away. An instructional DVD is included so you can pick up some tips while learning your new guitar. Throw in a polishing cloth to keep your new instrument in mint condition.

The Mini Strat also features improved tuning machines, a hardtail bridge, smaller strap pins and a side-mounted output jack. There is a lot here for the price.

Best Electric Guitar For Beginners Buyers Guide

Our buyer’s guide will give you some solid information to consider when shopping for, playing and buying your new electric guitar. Keep this guide in mind, or even print it out and take it with you when you’re ready to shop.

Reputation

When you’re prepared to purchase an electric guitar, you need to ask a few questions. Consider the following:

Past history, popularly among peers and easy accessibility will be great assets when considering the reputation of the company that builds your new electric guitar.

Features

“What makes a good electric guitar?” Look for the features listed below:

How can you actually use this information? If you find these characteristics present, then it’s time to look further into the instrument and play it as well.

You should be on the right track for your purchase.

Weight

After you have selected a guitar or two for consideration, check out the weight. The guitar should feel light, but not cheaply constructed. If it feels heavy, it’s probably not going to suit you in the long run, and you may get tired after longer sessions. Test out a few; go with your instincts and you should end up with a nice guitar.

 Size

There are several different sizes and styles of electric guitars. The instrument should feel good in your hands and in the playing position. The guitar should “fit” you, like a garment. Where your arm rests on the guitar and your hand reaches the playing position should be natural.  Your hand should feel normal on the neck, and your fingers will move comfortably on the fretboard. Again, playing a few different choices should make the selection comfortable and reassuring.

Are Electric Guitars Good for Beginners?

An electric guitar should be fine for most beginners. There are several reasons why this is true.

First, most beginner guitar players will consider having an electric guitar cool. The guitar looks good and can provide hours of different musical sounds with all the pickup configurations available.

There’s more; electric guitars are pretty durable.  The solid bodies can take a lot abuse that other guitars with thin soundboards, backs and sides can’t.

Finally, compared with other guitars, electric guitars are also economic. They are easier to upkeep and service than acoustic guitars. They should also last for many years to come.

Is an Electric Guitar Easier to Learn Than Acoustic?

Electric guitars that are set-up correctly are easier to learn than steel-string acoustic guitars.

Electric guitars have a lower action than steel string guitars, and the string tension is less on an electric guitar. The notes and chords played on an electric guitar don’t require a much force on the fingerboard. Most beginner players should find this more comfortable when just starting out.

It may be a draw between electric guitars and classical or nylon string guitars. Why? Nylon string guitars require less pressure on the fretboard to form notes.

The fingerboard of a classical guitar is also wider, which can make it easier for most players, unless you have really small hands. For those with smaller hands, the electric guitar may be the best choice.

Also see: Top 7 Best Lap Steel Guitars

Conclusion

Wow!! What a great lineup of electric guitars for the beginner!! After seeing all of these instruments, it’s time to make a choice and get one in your hands.

I’m selecting the Fender Mini Strat Guitar Bundle as my choice today. Why? It has everything I’m looking for in an electric guitar; a solid body, decent finish and included amp and tuner in the bundle are all nice features.

I like the departure from a traditional size electric toward this smaller model. The Mini Strat should fit most players and be very comfortable for the beginner musician to play and transport to lessons and jam sessions with friends.

To me, you really can’t go wrong with the Fender Mini Strat Electric Guitar Bundle.