Musical Preferences
To already give you a huge push in the right direction, you can start by asking questions such as: What genres do I like to play? What guitars do my guitar heroes like Slash, John Mayer, or Angus Young play? Do I want to take the guitar on stage, into the studio, or just play at home on the couch?
Do you have an answer to these questions? Then you probably already have an idea of which model you are looking for, or what specifications the guitar should have. So we can start looking for your perfect electric guitar!
Choose The Right Guitar Model
Electric guitars are divided into three categories: solidbody, hollowbody, and semi-hollowbody. Each type has its own sound characteristics.
Within the solidbody category, we distinguish different types of models. For example, the traditional S- and T-style guitars, of which Fenders Stratocaster and Telecaster are the most famous examples. You can also opt for a less conventional body shape; this is often called 'offset'.
More on electric guitar models:
- Overview Electric Body Shapes
- Top 70 Telecaster Players
- Fender Telecaster: From Boat Paddle to Must-Have Axe
- The Fender Stratocaster
- The Fender Jazzmaster
- The Comeback of the Jazzmaster
- The Fender Jaguar: 1964 VS. 1965
- The Gibson ES-335
- The Ultimate Gibson ES-330 Shootout
- Offset Models: Powers Electric VS. Eastman D'Ambrosio
Specifications
Why does that particular guitar play just that little bit nicer than the rest? Or why does the sound of that particular Les Paul excite you so much? Chances are it's in the specs!
There is a lot to delve into, so above all, take your time. If you have the opportunity, try out as much as you can. Of course, you are always welcome in our shop!
To help you, we've already compiled much of our knowledge on woods, necks, and finishes for you.
1. Tonewoods
2. Neck
- Everything you need to know about nut width
- Everything you need to know about fretboard radius
- Everything you need to know about the scale length
- Everything you need to know about the truss rod
- To dovetail or to bolt on, which is better?
3. Pickups & Electronics
At the heart of the electric guitar are the pickups and electronics. There is no large body with a sound hole, as with an acoustic guitar, which amplifies the sound. The pickups convert the vibrations of the strings into electronic signals and send them to the amplifier. On the way, those signals pass through controls on your guitar that allow you to adjust, for example, the guitar's volume and tone.
In general, we distinguish three types of pickups: single coil, humbucker and P90. Usually single coils are bright and sparkling, humbuckers fuller and warmer, and P90s are in between in terms of sound, with a fuller, rawer sound that still retains clarity. Note, however, that this is by no means a set fact! Within each type of pickup, you may encounter different sound characteristics. Which one suits you best is a matter of lots of trying out and listening.
Finish & Looks
Budget
At The Fellowship of Acoustics, we love guitars. So much that we sometimes forget about the bank account, but of course budget is important. We sell new, vintage and second-hand guitars for every budget.
We would like everyone, from young to old, to have a beautiful guitar that you will enjoy playing for years. Our motto is not for nothing: Life is too short to play a shitty guitar!
And no: it doesn't have to cost thousands of euros.
1. Price Ranges
< €1500,-
For less than 1000 euros, you can already get a real Fender, PRS or Gretsch in your home! Would you prefer a Les Paul? Then Epiphone offers a more affordable alternative to Gibson's models. And speaking of good value for money, we should of course mention Eastman. All top-notch guitars. Remember our motto, because if the guitar wasn't good, we wouldn't sell it.
- View our most affordable electric guitars
- The best guitar for a beginner or student
- The most versatile electric guitar for less than €2000
€1500 - €3500
Do you have a wider budget? Then shopping at The Fellowship of Acoustics becomes even more interesting. Besides offering the best-known brands, high-end brands like Suhr and Music Man also come into the picture. What suits you best is a matter of trying it out. In our shop, you get the time and space to test out as many guitars as you want.
> €3500,-
Have you been saving even longer? Then exclusive guitars probably come into your sights. Think boutique guitar brands such as Fano, Novo and Powers Electric. With the best-known brands, chances are you have reached the “custom shop”. Nothing beats the best of Fender, Gibson or the Private Stock from PRS. Or was your dream guitar built decades ago? Our vintage range often includes rare examples of the legendary models.
2. New, Used, Vintage Or Custom?
Do you prefer to save up for a brand new guitar, or is a used or vintage guitar more suited to your needs? New does not necessarily mean better. A used guitar may already be well played, giving it a nice ‘open’ sound. Besides, a used one is obviously cheaper than a brand new one.
The big advantage of a new guitar is that it visually looks as it did when it left the factory. You are also less likely to have to worry about any repairs. We always have a wide range of new guitars in stock. We even offer the possibility to buy through our Custom Guitar Program.
- Conditions & Definitions
- What is B-Stock?
- Our Vintage Guitars
- Our Custom Guitar Program
- A perfect guitar thanks to the Custom Shop
- 1964 Fender Stratocaster VS. Custom Shop Replica
- How old is my electric guitar?
3. Which Brand?
If you know which guitar model you want, and what specs it should have anyway, you can often still choose from several brands. Some guitarists opt for the reputation and reliability of the big, traditional brands like Fender and Gibson. These brands have certainly set the benchmark, but today there are many brands that make the beloved models with just as much craftsmanship. So you can also leave the name on the headstock for what it is, and above all, listen and feel what inspires you most.
Do you swear allegiance to one brand, or are you open to something completely new? In our shop, we are happy to give you the opportunity to compare different brands.
Setup
For some guitarists, this is one of the most important factors, while for others it is still uncharted territory. For us, tuning makes the difference between a good guitar and the perfect guitar.
At The Fellowship of Acoustics, we therefore tune all guitars so that the guitar is optimally tuned to your preferences. Do you buy a guitar from us? Then it comes with our free ‘Gold Standard’ setup.
1 Which setup is best for my guitar?
The perfect setup, it is slightly different for every guitarist. For example, it can make a lot of difference which strings you put on a guitar: some like them a bit thicker than others. In addition, one often looks at the ‘action’ (the distance between the string and the fret), the angle of the neck, and the condition of the frets, the saddle and the nut. Our advice: if you're not sure, don't go tinkering with your guitar yourself, have it done by a professional!
Want to know more about tuning your guitar? Then read our informative blogs!
- Your guitar at its best thanks to a setup
- Replacing strings: when and how?
- How to make your guitar stay in tune better!
- What is the right string for my electric guitar?
- See our range of strings
2. Our Setups
It's safe to say that our luthiers have tuned thousands of guitars. Still not sure what your ideal tuning is? With their years of experience and knowledge, our luthiers will be happy to advise you! Do you have a guitar that no longer plays so well? Feel free to contact our workshop, where our Fellows will also be happy to help you step by step towards your ideal electric guitar.
3. PLEK Service
We are one of the few shops in Europe with a PLEK machine. This ultra-precision technology is often used by top guitar manufacturers to achieve the flawless playability of their instruments. Our PLEK service ensures that your dream guitar fits you down to a thousandth of a millimetre!
Accessories
Congratulations! You've found your dream guitar! This is the time to ask yourself one last important question: do I need any accessories?
Want to take your guitar on stage? Then a guitar strap, also known as a strap, is no luxury. Do you prefer a hardshell case to a guitar bag (gig bag), or vice versa?
Besides, you're nowhere without an amp and effects pedals are also always handy to have in your arsenal.
1. Amplifiers
An electric guitar only comes into its own when you plug it into an amplifier. An amplifier consists of a “head” and a cabinet (speaker cabinet). There are also amplifiers that combine both parts in one model. These are quite appropriately called “combo amplifier”. In addition, you have different types of amplifiers. In general, we distinguish three different types: tube amplifiers, solid-state (transistor) amplifiers, and digital “modeling” amplifiers.
No worries, our Fellows are ready to help you choose. In our shop, you can try out amps in one of our playbooths!
2. Effect Pedals
In the studio or on stage, effects pedals are part of many guitarists' equipment. There are many types of effects and even more many options to choose from next. Most pedals focus on 1 effect, such as a chorus, reverb, or delay. But there are also multi-effect pedals. These offer you a lot of effects for less money.
3. Maintenance & Parts
Maintenance may not be the first thing you think of when buying a new guitar. But this is definitely an important part. A well-maintained guitar will give you years of enjoyment. You can already do a lot at home to keep your acoustic guitar in optimal health.
In-store or buying online?
We recommend every guitarist to test and play as many guitars as possible. Whether you are just starting out or have been playing for years: get hold of as many as you can. This is possible with us, as we are one of the largest guitar shops in Europe. We warmly invite you to come and play with us!
In most cases, we offer a generous 14-day return policy, a 30-day exchange guarantee and a minimum 1-year warranty. For new instruments it is even 5 years!
1. In The Store
Most guitars are not under lock and key, we offer a lot of space, in many different rooms as well as practice lofts. Simply: to give everyone the chance to buy their dream guitar. That's why The Fellowships of Acoustics gives you honest advice at every step towards your electric guitar, and that advice is completely free; no strings attached!
2. Buying Online
Don't have the opportunity to come to our shop? You can also order guitars online from us. We understand that making a big purchase online can feel risky. We strive to provide the same personal service online as in-store.
Our Fellows are available daily via chat, email and phone. Want a close-up of a repair or playwear? Or hear a demo? We will provide additional visual and audio material for you! So you can buy your ideal acoustic guitar safely and securely.
