Mail-Order Electric Guitars: Where To Buy?

who sells electric guitars through the mail

Electric guitars are available for purchase online from various retailers, including Sweetwater, Guitar Center, and Musician's Friend. Sweetwater offers a range of electric guitars, including solid-body, semi-hollow body, and hollow body options, with prices starting at $399. Guitar Center also offers a selection of popular electric guitar models, such as the Fender Telecaster and Gibson Les Paul. Musician's Friend provides a similar range of electric guitars and offers two years of protection from manufacturer defects with purchases. The Music Zoo is another retailer that sells new and used electric guitars online, including brands like Gibson, Fender, Taylor, and PRS.

Characteristics Values
Companies Musician's Friend, The Music Zoo, Sweetwater, Guitar Center
Guitar Types Electric, Acoustic, Bass, Semi-hollowbody, Hollowbody, Solidbody
Brands Fender, Gibson, Yamaha, Shure, Roland, Martin, PRS, Taylor, Line 6, Rickenbacker, Dobro, Epiphone, EVH, Charvel, B.C. Rich, and many more
Services Expert advice, 2-year protection, 55-point inspection, hand-signed inspection card, gear advice, shipping
Accessories Guitar cables, guitar humidifiers, guitar polishes, guitar strings

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Electric guitar retailers with mail-order services

Electric guitars are available from a variety of retailers, many of whom offer mail-order services. Sweetwater, for example, offers a range of electric guitars, including solidbody, semi-hollowbody, and hollowbody guitars. They also provide a 55-point inspection for guitars priced at $399 or above. Sweetwater ships guitars for free from their climate-controlled distribution centres.

Musician's Friend is another retailer that offers electric guitars for sale online, with a two-year protection plan for manufacturer defects included with each purchase. They also offer expert advice and guidance throughout the shopping experience.

The Music Zoo has been selling new and used guitars since 1994 and offers a deep selection of brands, including Taylor, PRS, Martin Guitar, and Fender Custom Shop. They ship all orders from their Farmingdale, NY facility.

Guitar Center is another option, with a range of popular electric guitars available, including the Fender Telecaster, Fender Stratocaster, and Gibson Les Paul.

Each of these retailers offers a convenient way to purchase electric guitars online, with various services and benefits to enhance the shopping experience.

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Electric guitars are available in different body styles and woods, and offer a variety of tones depending on the genre of music you wish to play. They can be solidbody, semi-hollowbody, or hollowbody guitars, with each body style offering sonic differences that should be considered before buying.

Some of the most popular electric guitar brands include:

  • Fender – The Stratocaster and Telecaster are some of the most popular electric guitars produced by Fender. Single-coil pickups are common in Fender guitars, producing a bright, clear sound.
  • Gibson – Founded in 1902, Gibson is one of the most recognised electric guitar brands, with over a century's worth of experience in crafting instruments. The Les Paul and SG models are iconic and have stood the test of time. Gibson guitars are known for their solid build, excellent playability, and rich, warm tones.
  • Epiphone – Epiphone has its roots in mandolins and banjos, but has since expanded into the guitar market, producing instruments of remarkable quality and affordability. Their range of electric guitars caters to a wide range of players, from beginners to intermediates.
  • Squier – The Squier Classic Vibe '60s Stratocaster is a popular entry-level electric guitar, offering style and playability at an affordable price.
  • Ibanez – Ibanez is known for producing good-quality electric guitars that are suitable for beginners and are often available at a lower price point.

Other notable electric guitar brands include Yamaha, PRS, Martin, Gretsch, and Jackson.

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Electric guitar body types

Electric guitars come in a variety of body types, each producing a distinct sound and used across different genres of music. The three most common types of electric guitar bodies are solid body, semi-hollow body, and hollow body.

Solid-body guitars are made from a single solid piece of wood, with no internal chambers, and the sound is generated solely from the pickups. They are quite versatile and can be used for any genre of music. Solid-body guitars were introduced in the 1950s and are the most common type of electric guitar. They offer more sustain and are less susceptible to feedback than hollow-body guitars. Some examples of solid-body guitars include the Fender Stratocaster and Telecaster, and the Gibson Les Paul and SG.

Semi-hollow body guitars, as the name suggests, have chambers cut into the wood, making them lighter and giving them a slightly warmer tone. They are quite versatile and can be used for various genres, including jazz, pop, blues, and alt-rock. Semi-hollow body guitars provide a good balance between the sound of an acoustic and an electric guitar.

Hollow-body guitars are completely hollow inside and were some of the earliest types of electric guitars designed. They produce a rich and warm tone and are commonly used in jazz and softer rock music. Examples of hollow-body guitars include the Epiphone Casino and the Rickenbacker Electro-A22.

Other factors that contribute to the unique sound of an electric guitar include the body shape, which can influence the instrument's resonance and sustain, as well as the type of wood used in its construction.

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Electric guitar strings and maintenance

Electric guitars are available in different body styles and woods, and offer different tones depending on the genre of music you wish to play. Some popular electric guitars include the Fender Stratocaster and Telecaster, and the Gibson Les Paul and SG.

The strings on your electric guitar are exposed to skin oils, sweat, dirt, dead skin, and grease every time you play. This debris can corrode the string materials, reducing brightness, sustain, and responsiveness. Therefore, it is important to clean your strings regularly.

  • Wipe your strings with a dry microfiber cloth before and after each practice session. This will help to remove any moisture, oils, or debris that may be on the strings.
  • Wash your hands with soap and water before playing to remove any food debris or other substances that may be on your hands.
  • Consider using a guitar string lubricant, which can give the strings a slicker feel and make it easier to play faster and smoother.
  • Use a professionally-recognized brand of fret polish/oil to keep the fretboard smooth, clean, and playable.
  • Avoid using household cleaners on your strings, as they can damage the guitar body, fretboard, and hardware.
  • Keep your guitar away from moisture to prevent corrosion and damage.
  • Store your guitar in a safe place where nothing is likely to fall onto it, and where the temperature and humidity are reasonably consistent.
  • Consider investing in a humidification system, especially if you live in a climate with frequently changing weather. This will help to maintain consistent humidity levels and prevent cracks, sharp fret ends, and failed bridges.

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Electric guitar history

The electric guitar was invented to address the volume limitations of acoustic guitars. Early proponents of the electric guitar include Les Paul, Eddie Durham, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, and Charlie Christian. The first commercially successful electric guitar, nicknamed the "'Frying Pan' guitar", was known for its unconventional design, featuring a circular body and a long neck.

In 1936, the first widespread commercial success in the electric guitar market was the Orville Gibson Gibson ES-150, a hollow-body electric with a single-coil bar pickup. This guitar set the standard for future generations of guitars, with Gibson still manufacturing and selling similar ES-series models today.

During the 1930s, guitarists and guitar makers experimented with various designs and technologies, leading to the development of the modern electric guitar. The Rickenbacker Electro String, the Les Paul "Log", and the Bigsby-Travis Guitar with its iconic "Bigsby Vibrato" design are notable innovations that contributed to the evolution of the electric guitar.

The first mass-produced solid-body guitar was the Fender Esquire and Fender Broadcaster (later renamed the Fender Telecaster), introduced in 1950. This was followed by the Gibson Les Paul, which became a direct competitor to the Broadcaster. The Fender Stratocaster, released in 1954, became extremely popular in the 1960s and 1970s due to its wide tonal capabilities and comfortable ergonomics.

The electric guitar gained popularity in the 1950s and 1960s, becoming a pivotal instrument in popular music. It has since evolved into a versatile instrument capable of producing a multitude of sounds and styles, influencing genres such as pop, rock, folk, country, blues, and jazz. The sound of an electric guitar can be modified using various techniques, including string bending, tapping, and audio feedback.

Frequently asked questions

There are several online stores that sell electric guitars, including Sweetwater, Guitar Center, Musician's Friend, and The Music Zoo.

Some of the most popular electric guitars include the Fender Stratocaster and Telecaster, and the Gibson Les Paul, SG, and ES-335.

Electric guitars come in various types, including solid-body, semi-hollow body, and hollow body. Solid-body guitars are made entirely of solid wood, while semi-hollow and hollow body guitars have hollow sections that affect their sound and weight.

Electric guitars vary in price, ranging from as low as $100 to tens of thousands of dollars. Entry-level guitars typically cost between $200 and $400, intermediate guitars between $400 and $800, and high-end guitars for advanced players range from $800 to $2,000. Premium handmade or limited-edition guitars can cost tens of thousands of dollars.

When purchasing an electric guitar online, consider the brand, quality of materials, and features. Additionally, pay attention to the guitar's specifications, such as the type of body, wood used, and the number of strings. Reading reviews and seeking expert advice from sites like Sweetwater and Musician's Friend can help you make an informed decision.

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