Some guitar brands also offer scaled down versions for younger players.  These mini starter guitars offer a young kid the opportunity to start playing with a guitar that is more his or her size.  They may be able to get their hands and fingers around the neck and fret board a little easier with these mini guitars. The scaled down guitars are harder to find but they are out there.  You may also want to find guitar beginners kit or guitar starters kit.  These guitar beginners kits usually come with a number of accessories you may need to play the guitar.  (For example, some beginners kits come with a starter electric guitar, small practice amp, picks, guitar strap, cord, guitar bag / case, etc.)  Search around on some of the guitar sites and see what accessories the kit may include.  We have a link to Musicians Friend to the right.

• What type of guitar sound am I looking for?

There are a number of guitars on the market today that offer some different options and sounds.  Think about the guitar players and music that you may want to learn or emulate.  This may help you decide what type of guitar you may want to purchase.  For the most part the bands listed below may used the following types of guitars:

1. Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn (SRV), Red Hot Chili Peppers, David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) - These Bands have used Fender Stratocasters with single coil pickups on some of their material.
2. Led Zeppelin (Jimmy Page) , Guns N Roses (Slash), Tool - These guitarists have Used Gibson Les Paul's with Humbucker Pickups in the past.
3. Eddie Van Halen - Eddie has used modified Stratocasters in the past with Humbucker pickups (Ex: Striped Frankenstein Guitar), also has his own Signature Wolfgang Guitars, and now works with Fender and Charvel Guitar Companies.
4. Bruce Springsteen and Prince - Fender Telecasters
5. Korn and Joe Satriani - Ibanez
6. Days of the New (Travis Meeks) - Takamine Acoustics

These are just some examples of what guitar some of these guitarists have played in the past.  Of course, they may play other guitars as well, but what is listed tends to be what they are known to play.  Also, think about the type of pickup sound you may want in a guitar.  Single coil pickups tend to have a thinner sound, while humbucker pickups do well with heavier and more distortion type amps or sounds.  Other guitars have both Single Coils and Humbuckers.  They may be configured in a HSS (Hum, Single, Single) format or a HSH (Hum, Single, Hum) Format.  There is usually a switch that lets you use the pickup of choice or a combination of pickups. 

• Do I want a new or a used guitar?  How much should I spend on a guitar?

Most guitar shops sell both used and new guitars.  New Guitars usually offer warranties and sometimes a guitar shop will set up (tune and intonate) the guitar for you before you leave the shop.  Usually, the American made guitars tend to be more expensive than the foreign made ones.   There is a perception that USA made guitars are of better quality than foreign models.  While the perception is changing a bit in some circles, this still seems to be the case.  American made guitars tend to be more expensive as well.  For Example, a Gibson Les Paul Standard (American Made) could run you thousands of dollars, while its foreign counterpart the Epiphone Les Paul (Owned by Gibson) may cost in the hundreds.  Also, Some guitars appreciate over time as well.  Check out the Blue Book Of Electric Guitars to see some blue book values of vintage guitars. 

Of course Ebay has used and new guitars as well.  Some guitar models get discontinued and you may only be able to find them used.  For Example (Peavey Wolfgang, Fender Roadhouse, and the G&L Rampage).  So if your a more experienced guitarist and know a specific guitar you want may be discontinued etc. you will either have to luck into one at a used guitar shop or find it on ebay or guitar trader etc. The moral of the story is to look around and find the best price for the guitar your looking for.  Check online music instrument store prices, ebay, and your local guitar shops.  You may find deals on new or used guitars.  Guitars can run from cheaper starter guitars in the hundreds of dollars to the insanely expensive guitars in the thousands.  Alot of what you want to spend on a guitar depends on how long you have been playing and what type of sound you need.  Again, do a lot of comparison shopping because prices tend to fluctuate from place to place.  Also, feel free to haggle a bit when your shopping for guitars at a guitar shop.  Some guitar shops will negotiate prices on music equipment.  It can't hurt to ask for a better price. Check out some Ebay auctions below.