WHY SHOULD I BUY MY
GUITAR FROM AXE MUSIC?
We value and appreciate your business!
Selling a beginner their first instrument is a big responsibility and we
take that very seriously.
We want you to feel good about your purchase and enjoy learning on your new
instrument…& have fun in the process!
Making Music should be FUN!
At Axe Music, we employ qualified sales staff that know the gear. We
specialize in music equipment…that’s what we know best! If you need an alarm
clock, cell phone or maybe car tires, we’re not the place. We sell
reputable, name brand products from reliable companies and distributors. Axe
Music is a Canadian business servicing Canadians. Axe Music Sound Light &
Video…Exactly!
BUYING YOUR FIRST GUITAR
When buying your first guitar, you should first distinguish whether you are
going to purchase an electric or an acoustic guitar.
“Should a beginner start out on an acoustic or an electric guitar”? There
are several differences:
-An acoustic guitar does not need to be plugged into an amplifier, thus it
does not require as much of an investment
-The style of music to be played has a lot to do with this choice in types
of guitars
-If you plan on playing rock music, your learning progress would benefit
most by purchasing an electric guitar and amplifier. Rock music is suited
more to an electric guitar.
-If you just want to learn to strum a few chords…an acoustic is
fine...plus...it is very portable. It can be played just about anywhere,
without the need for electricity.
 ELECTRIC GUITARS
One of the most important parts of the electric guitars sound are the
pickups. The pickups are what allow an electric guitar to be amplified
through a guitar amplifier. There are many different types but the two most
popular styles of pickups are:
1.Single Coil Pickup
 - Known for a thinner sound… more of a bluesy sound
with clear highs(treble).
2.Humbucker
 - Known for a fatter sound… more of a crunchy, heavy metal
sound.
A factor in determining the quality of an electric guitar is the type of
wood used for the body of the guitar. Less expensive guitars may use plywood
or poplar as opposed to a more expensive guitars which may use alder,
basswood, Mahogany or Ash. The type of wood may affect the tone and the look
of the instrument.
Some electric guitars offer Tremolo systems or whammy bars.
 These systems
can help the musician be very creative, yet some of the systems can be very
complex and hinder the beginners ability to change guitar strings or tune
the instrument.
 ACOUSTIC GUITARS
Important factors in the sound of an acoustic guitar are the type of wood
used and the body size. A larger body size will usually produce a more full
tone. A small body acoustic will usually have a pick up and intended to be
used amplified through a speaker system.
Spruce is a common wood used for the top of an acoustic guitar. A solid top
will age better than a laminate top (pieces of wood glued together to form a
guitar top). Common woods used for the back and sides are rosewood and
mahogany. These are harder woods and help project the sound through the
sound hole.
Probably the biggest difference between a $200.00 guitar and a $1,000.00
guitar is craftsmanship. More time and care is usually taken to build a more
expensive guitar. The playability, sound, and look, should usually reflect
this.
Buy a guitar that feels comfortable; sitting and standing. The strings
should not be too far off of the fretboard; Easy to play. This ease of play
is known as the action. The guitar should also be able to give you the sound
of the music style you wish to play. This makes learning easier, more fun,
and more rewarding. The most important thing to consider is how the
instrument feels to you. You do not have to buy the most expensive guitar on
the planet, or the most widely known name brand. While higher quality
guitars will usually be more expensive, a beginner who feels comfortable
with an entry level guitar should stick with it...a more expensive
instrument is not going to make a better guitar player!
 BASS GUITARS
Look for simplicity. Basses with tons of controls and gold hardware add to
the price and are a distraction from the goal...learning to play bass
guitar. Look for an easy to understand control layout and straightforward
hardware (tuning keys and bridge).
There a two common types of bass pickups; the single coil & the hum
canceling
 Single coils (Jazz) are usually about 2 cm wide by 9 cm long and offer a
brighter sound.
 Hum canceling pickups (Pre) are made up of two coils each 3
cm wide by 6 cm long. They are set up in a staggered side-by-side format and
produce a darker, beefier sound.
The woods used in the instruments construction should also be considered.
Some Instruments may have bodies made from plywood that may not produce as
nice of a tone as one constructed with solid wood. The neck of the bass is
the shaft where a player presses the strings down against metal bars called
frets, to produce different notes and sometimes chords. Necks are typically
made of maple wood and their fretboards may be either maple (known for a
brighter sound) or rosewood (known for a more mellow tone).
Make sure that the instrument is comfortable to play and hold. Purchase a
bass that is good for you…one that you can afford and like the look.
 GUITAR AND BASS
AMPLIFIERS
When buying your first guitar or bass amplifier, budget, size and sound are
probably the biggest determining factors in your which one you purchase.
Most manufacturers have a complete line of amplifiers, starting from
entry-level unit combinations (combo) to full size double stacks (2 separate
speaker enclosures with the amp on top). Solid state (transistors vs. tubes)
is the most common choice and is usually the most affordable.
Guitar amp size usually starts with an 8" speaker and a 15-watt power amp,
"all in one" unit (combo). The amplifier control section should have channel
switching (clean to distortion by pressing a switch or a gain & master
volume control that can be overdriven for distortion). A headphone input is
also a useful feature. Especially if you live in an apartment or like to
practice late at night.
Bass amps are a more simplistic design. Usually they have a volume control
and 3 tone controls. Entry-level bass amps are usually 20 watts with an 8"
speaker. Bass Amps usually require more power (Watts) than a guitar amp. Low
frequencies are more difficult to amplify.
If you are jamming or going into a band situation, you should be shopping
for guitar & bass amps in the 50 watts & up category. This is usually needed
to get enough volume to be heard over a drum kit. Acoustic drums tend to be
quite loud.
Guitar amps at the entry level will start at about $99.00. Bass Amps are
slightly higher at about $119.00.
Choose the one that sounds and feels right for you. |
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