Summer’s over; we’re getting ready for the new semester, so why not take the new school year as the push for your first band? To get you started, we’ve picked a few electric guitars, amps, and acoustic guitars. Both from Thomann and Sweetwater.
Guitar Starter Packs
Guitar Starter Packs for Your First Band: What to Consider
It’s time. You want to form your first band. Play these songs, you and your friends have been rocking out to. Nothing fancy in terms of gear, just what you need to play your first songs. A few questions we advise you to think about before you go shopping:
- The genre: This is the most important part. Because you won’t need a thunderous amp and an axe for your folk band. And vice versa: an acoustic guitar won’t stand a chance against drums in a rehearsal room.
- Guitar type: “Which guitar is best for me? Stratocaster? Les Paul? Flying V” – If you have no idea which body or pickup type to choose, do a bit of research. What does your favorite guitar player play? Or what’s the most common guitar type in your favorite genre?
- Righty or lefty: If you’re left-handed, we highly advise you to get an actual left-handed guitar. Otherwise, you have to think backward all the time.
- Effects: Are there any effects like a specific type of distortion or modulation that are super common in your favorite songs? See, if you can find a beginner’s amp that includes different sounds or effects, before diving in to pedals.
- Accessories. No matter if you go electric or acoustic, strings, picks, cables, and headphones are absolutely essential. Strings break, picks get lost (all the time), cables are forgotten, and headphones are sorely needed to not make the neighbors mad.
So without further ado, let’s check out a few guitar starter packs!
Electric Guitar Starter Packs: ST, LP, and more
ST-Type
The Stratocaster is the most common electric guitar type. For many, it’s synonymous with rock music. Check out these entry-level models from Harley Benton* and Squier*. There is also a complete bundle* from Squier that includes an amp, cables, a bag, a strap, and picks.
LP-Style
The second most common guitar type is the Les Paul from Gibson. It’s a little less common in some guitar genres (classic rock, funk, pop) and much more common in others (alternative rock, stadium rock). Again, there is a great budget model from Harley Benton*, (you can also get complete guitar starter packs* from HB with a bag, a cable, and an amp), and also one from Epiphone*.
T-Style and SG
For electric guitar starter packs, there’s only so much we can recommend, as your style, budget and favorite player will be hard to match. So, we’ve picked the next two popular guitar types, T-Style and SG (double cut), for you to choose from.
T-Style
SG
Electric Guitar Starter Packs: Amps for Beginners
When it comes to amps for electric guitars, it very much depends on the type of band you want play in. Got a full-on rehearsal room, acoustic drums, and a thunderous bass sound? Then you might need an amp with a little more wattage. Either way, these models from Harley Benton*, Orange*, and Boss* are all great starting points.
There is also a case to be made for headphone amps. While these have no place in a rehearsal room, they are amazing tools for practicing and playing at home. Because what’s better than band rehearsal? Band rehearsal where everyone comes in well prepared! Check out these two headphone amps (don’t forget to buy headphones as well; Bluetooth won’t do it!)
Accessories: Cables, Picks, Straps, Bags, and Strings
Accessories like guitar cables, picks, straps, and strings might sound dull. But these are either the greatest present for any passionate guitar player (enquire first what their favorite is!) or the thing that prevents the next rehearsal from being over too soon. And most guitar starter packs you can get do not include these, especially strings and picks!
Cables
When it comes to guitar cables, it’s all about length. If you’re in a larger rehearsal space and you like to move around, you’ll need 5 to 10 meters. If you’re more the standing, staring-down, shoegaze type of player, 3 meters might be enough.
Picks
Where it’s the length for guitar cables, it’s mostly the thickness that matters for guitar picks. If you’re starting out, get a bundle of picks with different thicknesses. Because your hand won’t know which one it prefers until you’ve tried different ones.
Straps and Gig Bags
Especially when you’re looking to create your own guitar starter packs for back to school, the importance of both a decent guitar strap and a matching bag can’t be overstated. Some guitars already include a strap (so do check the product description), but otherwise, your first few rehearsals will have to happen while sitting down. Until you tie a piece of string to your axe and that snaps during your first gig. Been there. So get a guitar strap, really!
As for a guitar bag, the most important thing to check first is whether your guitar fits inside it! Because if the scale is too long or the body too thick, you’re gonna have a bad time. And your guitar even more so.
Electric guitar strings
You’ve thought of (almost) everything. Your rehearsal is going great! And then, of course, a string snaps. What to do? As much as you can improvise for a while, you’d be much better off having a spare set of strings. What’s the right gauge? You either loved or hated the strings your guitar came with. So either choose that exact same gauge or a thicker/thinner one, depending on how your fingers felt.
Guitar Starter Packs for Acoustic Guitar
If you’re looking for your first acoustic guitar, to play shows, to join a band, to write songs with, you’ll want to look for similar things as with electric guitar starter packs. Two major differences to consider: with acoustic guitars, it’s less about the body shape and more about the size. Also, amps don’t matter as much here, but built-in preamps that allow you to plug directly into a PA do. Also, don’t forget a bag and a pair of strings, too!
Conclusion
Are you ready to rock? Did you find the perfect guitar starter packs? We’ve given you a few models and bundles to choose from, but these suggestions are far from what’s out there.
What was your first guitar? Which beginners bundle would you recommend? Which one wouldn’t you? Let us know in the comments!
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