Electric Guitar

Electric guitars for every style and every budget

If you're just starting out, choose an affordable, reliable electric guitar, or a complete pack with an amp so you can play as soon as it arrives. If you're an experienced player, step up to a high-end Fender, Gibson, PRS or Ibanez, or treat yourself to a Custom Shop guitar. Order online with free delivery from €89, pay in instalments or with the Pass Culture, and enjoy a 3-year warranty and 30 days to change your mind. Would you rather try before you buy? Our guitarist sales staff will welcome you in store.

What is an electric guitar?

An electric guitar is a steel-string guitar whose sound is picked up by pickups and sent to an amplifier. Unlike an acoustic guitar, it has no large resonating body: its body is solid or partially hollow, and it produces very little sound unplugged. It is the amp, with or without effects, that gives it its power and colour, from shimmering clean tones to the heaviest distortion. Popularised in the 1950s, it has become the emblematic instrument of blues, rock, pop, jazz and metal.

The parts of an electric guitar

Eight components define the sound and playing comfort of an electric guitar.

• The body is the main part of the guitar, solid or hollow, which carries the pickups and the bridge.
• The neck is the part where you place your fingers, bolted or glued to the body.
• The fretboard is the playing surface of the neck, made of rosewood, maple or ebony.
• The frets are the metal strips that mark out the notes on the fretboard.
• The tuning machines (tuners) are the keys on the headstock used to tune the guitar.
• The bridge is the component that holds the strings in place on the body, either fixed or fitted with a tremolo.
• The pickups are sensors that turn the vibration of the strings into an electrical signal.
• The controls let you select the active pickup and adjust the volume and tone.

Which pickups should you choose for your electric guitar?

The pickup is the component that has the biggest influence on your guitar's sound.

• The single-coil pickup, found on the Stratocaster and Telecaster, delivers a clear, bright and precise sound, ideal for blues, funk, country and pop.
• The humbucker, with two coils, delivers a warmer, thicker sound with no hum. It handles distortion perfectly and suits rock and metal, as well as jazz.
• The P-90 sits between the two, with a raw, lively sound loved in rock and blues.
• Active pickups, powered by a battery, deliver a very hot output signal, favoured in metal.

The pickup configuration matters as much as the pickup type. An SSS guitar, with three single coils, offers a wide range of clean tones, while an HH guitar, with two humbuckers, is built for power. Do you play several styles? Choose an HSS or HSH configuration, with a bridge humbucker for overdriven tones and single coils for clean sounds.

Which guitar should you choose for your needs?

By style

• For blues, funk and pop, choose a Stratocaster or an S-style guitar: versatile and bright.
• For country, rock and indie, the Telecaster and its snappy attack are essential.
• For rock and hard rock, a Les Paul, an SG or a single-cut with humbuckers will give you warmth, power and sustain.
• For jazz and rockabilly, go for a semi-hollow or an archtop with a round, woody tone.
• For metal, look for a guitar with high-output pickups, a slim neck and a Floyd Rose tremolo, in 6, 7 or 8 strings.
• And for a vintage sound, retro shapes such as the Jazzmaster, Jaguar or Mustang have a unique character.

By level

• Just starting out? Begin with an affordable, easy-to-play electric guitar such as a Squier, an Epiphone, a Yamaha Pacifica or an Eastone, or choose a complete pack with an amp and accessories.
• Playing regularly? Step up to a guitar with better pickups and craftsmanship, such as the Fender Player series, Epiphone Inspired by Gibson, PRS SE or Gretsch Electromatic.
• Playing live or in the studio? Look at guitars made in the USA, Japan or Europe, and Custom Shop models, for the very best in tonewoods, pickups and finish.

By use

• Are you left-handed? Discover our selection of left-handed electric guitars.
• For a child or players with small hands, a 3/4-size or short-scale guitar will be more comfortable.
• To play anywhere, a travel guitar or headless guitar is lighter and more compact.
• And for a lower sound, try a baritone or multi-scale (fanned-fret) guitar.

Stratocaster, Telecaster, Les Paul and their descendants

Three guitars have shaped the history of the electric guitar. The Telecaster, launched by Fender in 1950, was the first mass-produced solid-body electric guitar. The Les Paul, introduced by Gibson in 1952, became the benchmark for rock. The Stratocaster, released in 1954, marked generations of guitarists with its contoured body and its three pickups. Most of today's guitars borrow their shape: we talk about S-style, T-style, single-cut and double-cut models.

The major electric guitar makers

The American pioneers, Fender, Gibson and Gretsch, invented the models that shaped blues, rock and pop. Their strength is their heritage: their guitars are the originals that all the others take inspiration from, and their US-made models hold their value well.

To make these legendary models accessible, Fender and Gibson created Squier and Epiphone. These brands reproduce the shapes and features of the originals at far lower prices, and are often a beginner's first guitar.

Japanese and Asian makers, such as Ibanez, ESP, Yamaha or Schecter, stand out for their build precision and excellent value for money. More modern in approach, they dominate metal and technical playing.

High-end brands, such as PRS, Music Man or Suhr, focus on flawless finishes, carefully selected tonewoods and great versatility. Finally, innovative brands, such as Strandberg or Mayones, are reinventing the guitar with ergonomic, headless or multi-scale models.

What accessories do I need for my electric guitar?

An amp is essential: without one, your electric guitar is almost silent. A 10 to 30-watt model is enough at home, and headphones or an amp simulator connected to your computer let you play silently.

Add an instrument cable of at least 3 metres (10 ft) to connect your guitar to the amp, and a clip-on tuner to stay in tune. Also get a strap for playing standing up and a gig bag or case to carry your guitar safely.

Finally, don't forget picks and a spare set of strings: a light gauge, such as 9-42 or 10-46, is ideal for getting started. Once you have these basics, enrich your tone with effects pedals such as overdrive, distortion, delay or reverb.

Buy your electric guitar at Star's Music

An electric guitar is chosen by feel. Come and try our guitars in our stores in Paris, Lyon, Lille, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Brussels and Bruges, or in our Metal Guitar by Star's Music area. Our guitarist sales staff will help you compare shapes, pickups and brands, in store or by phone. To go further, read our guide "How to choose an electric guitar".

Frequently asked questions

Electric or acoustic guitar for a beginner?

Choose the instrument that matches the music you love, as that's what will keep you most motivated. The electric guitar is often easier at first: the strings are lighter, the neck is slimmer, and you can play it through headphones without disturbing those around you. Just remember to budget for an amp and a cable.

What budget should I plan for an electric guitar?

Allow €150 to €400 for a quality beginner guitar or a complete pack with an amp. Between €500 and €1,200, you get more accomplished guitars, suited to regular practice and the stage. Above €1,500, you enter high-end territory.

What's the difference between a Stratocaster and a Les Paul?

The Stratocaster, lightweight with a bolt-on neck and single-coil pickups, delivers a clear, bright sound. The Les Paul, heavier with a set neck and humbuckers, delivers a warm, thick sound and more sustain.

Which electric guitar for a child?

A 3/4-size or short-scale guitar, lighter and more compact, is the best fit up to age 10 or 12. Kids' packs often include a small amp.