Roughly $150–$450. Reliable first electric guitars with comfortable necks and versatile pickups. These are the models most often recommended by guitar magazines, retailers and teachers for new players.
An HSS pickup layout (like the Pacifica) covers the widest range of styles. If you already know you love rock or metal, a humbucker guitar with a thin neck is a great start. Smaller players should look at short-scale models like the Ibanez miKro.
Picks reflect the models most often recommended in 2026 buyer’s guides from Guitar World, Guitar Player, Sweetwater and guitarguitar, and in long-running player discussions on TalkBass and Reddit. Price ranges are approximate street prices and vary by country. Always play or hear an instrument before buying, and use the compare tool to hear any two side by side.