Shopping for Your Beginner Guitarist

There are tons of beginner guitar options out there, which can make things tricky. Guitars at all price points, brands you know, brands you don't, package deals, different sizes, different shapes... the options are endless. We can help you out with our guitar shopping guide.

The most important thing to know about a guitar when purchasing for a beginner, is that all guitars need to be a certain quality and need to be setup properly before being played to ensure they play and sound just right. To make sure you’re getting a quality guitar, shop with a trusted store. A higher quality guitar will use nicer materials, have better sounding pickups, better internal electronics, and heightened playability. Any guitar we carry at Sims Music surpasses that quality mark, from beginner guitars to our most advanced. Starting with a quality guitar ensures a great setup, which makes the guitar sounds great and easy to play. Find some guitarist gift ideas below.

Electric Guitars

It’s nice to know what to look for, but there are still so many options. Our favorite (and most popular) at Sims Music is the Fender Squier Bullet Strat. This newly redesigned Strat is ideal for first-timer players looking for an easy-to-play, affordable electric guitar. The slim "C"-shaped neck profile offers a comfortable playing experience that is perfect for players with smaller hands. Equipped with a fat-sounding humbucking bridge pickup, two single-coil Stratocaster pickups in the middle and neck positions and five-way switching, the Bullet Strat maintains the classic Fender sound heard on countless hit records.

Acoustic Guitars

For the new guitarists taking the singer-songwriter route, there are lots of acoustic options out there. Two of our favorites are the Taylor GS Mini series and Fender Acoustics. The Taylor GS Mini Series was created specifically with quality and professional playability in mind. These guitars have been stripped to the bare essentials to produce the highest quality at the lowest price point possible. We also love the Fender CD-60. These guitars setup nicely and play really well, all at a great price point. They also produce a well rounded sound from their full size body. 

Guitar Packages

As with any new hobby, there’s always more to it than meets the eye. A new guitarist will need a strap, picks, bag, and more. We’ve taken the guess work out and created some Sims Music approved guitar starter packages to get you kick started with the essentials. 

Electric Guitar Pack

The Fender Squier Bullet Strat* comes in an array of colors to compliment your aspiring musician’s new rock aesthetic. You’re sure to find the right size, as they make a mini version for young kids. We've paired this guitar with a great Fender amp full of famous sounds and a built in tuner, a nice bag, a cable with a lifetime warranty, a guitar strap, picks, polish cloth, a t-shirt, a free setup by our guitar technician, and $50 OFF your future rockstar's first month of lessons at any Freeway Music location (in person or on Zoom). At an affordable price, a cool look, and exceptional quality, your new guitarist will be rocking in no time.

Acoustic Guitar Pack

We have also created a package for acoustic guitars that includes all the necessary accessories. We have paired an Epiphone DR-100* acoustic (setup by our tech) with a bag, a guitar strap, picks, polish cloth, clip on tuner, t-shirt, and $50 OFF the first month of lessons with Freeway Music! This package is perfect for a beginner of any age who wants to get started on guitar.

*If you find a different guitar that speaks to you, we will gladly package up all the essentials with your preferred guitar.