Best Electric Starter Guitar Packs 2020

By: The Gear Dude |  Date: 19th August 2020

I made up my mind right from the day I decided to learn the guitar that I would purchase a guitar starter pack. That was because I knew getting a starter pack would save me the trouble of purchasing the guitar, cable, amplifier, tuner and strap separately. I know most beginners also have this decision to make and it can particularly hard for them to settle for one without guidance because purchasing a music gear can be complicated. Not to worry anymore, in this article, I’m giving you a full outline of six of my favorite guitar starter packs in terms of quality and value. I am hoping that by the end of this article, you will be able to purchase an electric guitar starter pack that will suit your preferences, budget and taste!

What is a Guitar Starter Pack?
A guitar starter pack is a package with all the requisite guitar gear; all packed in one, that helps guitar players play Immediately. Starter packs contain a guitar, a cable, strap, lead, amplifier, guitar picks, tuner and a gig bag- each of these items are essential in order to increase the value of the starter pack.

Are Starter Packs worth buying?
For one, it depends on your budget. If you are on a tight budget, then getting a guitar starter pack would be most ideal for you as it is the cheaper option than buying the gear separately. Starter packs range anywhere from $150-$300 depending on the quality of the gear inside the pack. Other than the fact that getting a guitar starter pack will save you money, it will enable you to start playing your electric guitar immediately! For a beginner, getting a starter pack means you start practicing immediately you leave the music store! Furthermore, a guitar bundle comes in handy for new players or people that are not familiar with the different music gear needed to play a guitar. A starter pack brings all the goods together and introduces them to you uniquely. There are however some guitar starter packs that do not include the best quality gear compared to buying the gear individually hence some people prefer purchasing the gear singly. Some of the common problems with starter pack gears include not being intonated correctly, sharp edges fret, guitars being of poor build quality or just won’t stay in tune. It is true that your first guitar won’t be the best you will ever play but it is crucial that you ensure it is playable and the best quality you can afford. It is for this reason that am here to help you make the best choice. I will guide you to some of the best guitar starter packs that have carefully selected, quality gears with decent quality. They will be worth every single dollar and will offer you a great playing experience. When purchasing an electric guitar starter pack, it is advised that you always go for established brands like Squier, Fender, Ibanez, Yamaha, Orange and Epiphone. In this article, I will give a list of some of my recommendations. Let’s dive right into it!

Squier Stratocaster

Electric Guitar Pack - Brown Sunburst
The Squire Stratocaster is quite an awesome way to get into playing an electric guitar. The Squire Strat guitar has a C-shaped maple neck with laurel fingerboard and three single-coil pickups for a classic Strat tune and comfort. To complete this beauty is a 5-way pickup switch; and with that, you have a vast array of tunes to work with. It also allows you to explore the different genres ranging from jazz, blues, rock and practically any other tune you like. The pack contains a cable, strap, picks, gig bag, a 10-watt Fender Frontman 10G amplifier and a 3-month Fender Play Subscription. The Fender Frontman 10G guitar amplifier has an onboard overdrive that delivers a range of crunch tones. Its adjustable gain control gives you everything from a tube-emulated overdrive to an uber-saturated distortion. The amplifier also has volume, treble and bass controls to allow you make adjustments to suit your tone preferences. Furthermore, the amplifier’s closed back design gives you a beefy response that will certainly make your audience love you. The auxiliary input and headphone jack will hep you play late into the night without disturbing your neighborhood. The gear is beginner-friendly as other than the fact that the gears themselves are quality-guaranteed, Fender Play provides additional educational resources in the from of videos with which a player can learn their guitar and review themselves. Additionally, Fender Play’s Progress Tracking shows you how far you have come; it is hence a god motivator to practice more and improve your guitar skills.

Squier Stratocaster Pack Features 
- Body Type: Solid body
- Body Shape: Stratocaster
- Body Material: Poplar
- Body Finish: Gloss Polyurethane
- Color: Brown Sunburst
- Neck Material: Maple
- Neck Shape: C
- Fingerboard Material: Laurel
- Scale Length: 25.5”
- Fingerboard Inlay: Dots
- Nut Width: 1.65”
- Bridge: Vintage-style Synchronized Trem
- Neck Pickup: Strat Single-coil
- Middle Pickups: Strat Single-coil
- Bridge Pickup: Strat Single-coil
- Accessories: Guitar strap, cable, pick
- 3-month Fender Play Subscription
- Strings: Fender 9’s
- Case Included: Gig bag
- Amp Included: Squier Frontman 10G
- Total Power: 10W
- Speakers: 1 x 6”

Pros
- Lightweight Squier Strat guitar
- Tone-shaping options; 
- Audio jack and earphone output
- Vintage style synchronized Trem
- 3-month Fender Play subscription 
- Gig bag, strap, picks & cable included


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Squier Affinity Series Strat HSS

Electric Guitar Pack - Candy Apple Red
If you are on a budget, this starter pack will be a great option for you; Though expensive, the pack boats solid value for its contents. The guitar is endowed with Fender’s iconic strat design and also features a humbucker for thick overdrive and two single-coils making it versatile for most music styles. It is lightweight so you don’t have to haul it around one from one event to the other. The HSS Strat Pack includes a magnificent Frontman 15G Amp. It’s C-shaped maple neck gives the player comfort and assured playability. It also has an audio jack and earphone input to allow you to play in the wee hours of the night comfortably. Tonally, the amp’s onboard overdrive delivers a remarkable range of tones to pick from. In addition to its closed-back design, the amplifier has bass, treble, and bass controls to give your music a beefy response. This package similarly comes with Feder Play to give you additional lessons on how to play your guitar. Fender Play will track your practice progress and will help you review your playing. With Fender Play will certainly help you attain your goals as a guitarist if you keep to the personalized lessons. Fender is the way to go!

Squier Stratocaster Pack Features 
- Body Type: Solid body
- Body Shape: Stratocaster
- Body Material: Poplar
- Body Finish: Gloss Polyurethane
- Color: Candy Apple Red
- Neck Material: Maple
- Neck Shape: C
- Fingerboard Material: Laurel
- Scale Length: 25.5”
- Fingerboard Inlay: Dots
- Nut Width: 1.65”
- Bridge: Vintage-style Synchronized Trem
- Number of frets: 21, Narrow tall
- Neck Pickup: Strat Single-coil
- Middle Pickup: Strat Single-coil
- Bridge Pickup: Strat Single-coil
- Tuners: Die-cast sealed
- Accessories: Guitar strap, cable, pick 
- 3-month Fender Play Subscription
- Strings: Fender NPS 9s
- Case Included: Gig bag
- Amp Included: Squier Frontman 15G
- Total Power: 15W
- Speakers: 1 x 6”

Pros
- Squier HSS Strat is lightweight
- The Fender Frontman 15G guitar amp
- 5-way pickup selector switch 
- Vintage style synchronized trem
- 3-month Fender Play Subscription
- Gig bag, strap and cable included


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Epiphone Les Paul Player

Electric Guitar Pack - Vintage Sunburst
The Epiphone Les Paul Player Pack, as its name suggests, is built around the Les Paul Special-II LTD. The guitar is a standard Les Paul with a full classic LP body shape and bolt-on neck, both built out of Okoume wood. Other than the vintage sunburst color, the guitar is also available in Heritage Cherry Sunburst and Ebony finishes. The Les Paul Special is a good choice for kids and players with smaller hands owing to its 24-3/4” fingerboard scale. The dual humbucker pickups (Epiphone 700T in the bridge and 650R in the neck) provide an array of tunes to work with. It allows tonal exploration and allows one tune their music to their preferences. Coupled with the fast neck, the two humbucking pickups facilitate easy fretting. The 10W amp has two channels and one speaker which together provide just enough decibels to comfortably play in your bedroom and/or basement. Additionally, the amp only has bass and treble knobs in the equalizer section. The pack also includes a gig bag, guitar strap, clip-on tuner and a set of three picks. The Les Paul Player Pack comes with downloadable instructions on how to play- these come in handy for beginners. Quality, great sound and affordability are all provided in a single pack!

Epiphone Les Paul Player Features
- Accessories: Guitar strap, cable, picks
- Strings: (.010-.046)
- Case Included: Gig bag
- Amp Included: Yes
- Total Power: 10W
- Speakers: 1 x 6”
- Body Type: Les Paul
- Body Shape: Stratocaster
- Body Material: Solid wood
- Body Finish: Gloss Polyurethane
- Color: Vintage Sunburst
- Neck: Hard Maple, Bolt-On
- Neck Shape: C
- Fingerboard Material: Rosewood
- Scale Length: 24.75”
- Fingerboard Inlay: Dots
- Nut Width: 1.68”
- Bridge: Tune-o-Matic, Stopbar
- Neck Pickup: 650T Humbucker
- Bridge Pickup: 700T Humbucker
- Number of frets: 22

Pros
- Suited for kids and players with smaller hands
- Good playability
- Good tuning stability
- Quality electronics
- Good distortion channel on the amp
- Pickups have good sustain
- Gig bag offers protection
- Downloadable instructions
- Shoulder strap, instrument cable, clip-on, picks

Cons
- Problematic access to the 22nd fret


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Epiphone Slash AFD Les Paul Special-II

Electric Guitar Pack - Appetite Amber
Designed by Slash himself, the AFD Les Paul Special has more appointments than most electric guitars. Slash has garnered quite a reputation for one of rock’s preeminent guitarists. He is popularly known for his work with the hard rock band called Guns N’ Roses that was prevalent in the late 1980s. Slash was ranked 65 in the Rolling Stone Magazine’s list of “The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time” in 2011 and named the runners-up on the Times Magazine’s list of “The Best Electric Guitar Players” in 2009_ he still continues to garner accolades and respect in the music industry for his contributions and electrifying performances. In fact, in 2012, he received the highest rock award and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. So believe me when I tell you that the AFD Les Paul Special will be the beginning of your successful story as a professional guitarist (laughs). The guitar is built with dark mahogany wood, an ivory bound neck, Rosewood fretboard with a 1.68” nut width, chrome hardware, volume/tone controls and a silk print of Slash’s Snakepit logo on its headstock. Unlike most Les Pauls, Epiphone Special weighs much lesser and delivers a nasty, beautifully loud tone thanks to its open coil humbucker pickups. You will certainly not, is the lurid and overdriven metallic tone made famous by Slash the moment you plug into the AFD Les Paul Special-II Ceramic Plus Zebra-coil humbuckers. The pack also includes a gig bag, signature guitar picks and eMedia online classes to help beginners with their training.

Epiphone Slash AFD Les Paul Special-II
- Guitar strap, cable, pick, e-Media online guitar lessons
- Case Included: Gig bag
- Body Type: Solid body
- Body Shape: Les Paul Special-II
- Body Material: Mahogany
- Color: Appetite amber
- Neck Material: Mahogany
- Fingerboard Material: Rosewood
- Fingerboard Inlay: Dot acrylic inlays
- Nut Width: 1.68”
- Bridge: Tune-o-Matic/Stopbar  
- Tuners: Die-cast with a 14:1 ratio
- Neck Pickup: Open coil humbucker
- Bridge Pickup: Open coil humbucker
- Number of frets: 22, Medium Jumbo

Pros
- Flame maple top
- Slash’s signature tone 
- Excellent tone and sustain 
- Premium gig bag for gear protection
- Signature guitar picks,
- eMedia online guitar lessons
- Die-cast tuners have a 14:1 ratio


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Epiphone Slash AFD Les Paul Special-II

Performance Electric Guitar Pack - Appetite Amber
Also designed by Slash is this beautiful piece. It is quite similar to the former Les Paul featuring a dark cherry mahogany body and neck, ivory binding and a silk print of Slash’s Snakepit logo on its headstock. It comes complete with Slash’s signature metallic tone in the Snakepit-15 combo amp’s overdrive channel. The 15-watt guitar amp features an 8” Electar G8 Classic-25 4 ohms speaker in an open-back cabinet which delivers an unruly crunch in its overdrive channel and a subtle tone in its clean channel. The pack also includes signature guitar picks, a gig bag and beginner friendly/supportive eMedia online lessons to help with practice. The amp has a headphone jack and auxiliary input to facilitate late night training in your basement.

Epiphone Slash AFD Les Paul Special-II
- Accessories: Guitar strap, cable, pick
- eMedia online guitar lessons
- Case Included: Gig bag
- Amp Included: Les Paul Guitar amp
- Total Power: 15W
- Body Type: Les Paul
- Top Material: Maple
- Color: Appetite Amber
- Neck Material: Mahogany
- Fingerboard Material: Rosewood
- Inlay: Dot Acrylic inlays
- Nut Width: 1.68”
- Bridge: Tune-o-Matic/Stopbar
- Neck Pickup: Open coil Humbucker
- Bridge Pickup: Open coil Humbucker

Pros
- Flame maple top
- Slash’s signature tone 
- Excellent tone and sustain 
- Premium gig bag for gear protection
- Signature guitar picks,
- eMedia online guitar lessons
- Die-cast tuners have a 14:1 ratio
- Full EQ section for sound shaping
- Auxiliary Input for playing along 
- Amp has two channels, overdrive and clean
- Headphone jack allows quiet practice
- 15 Watt amplifier


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Ibanez Jumpstart IJRX20Z

Electric Guitar Pack - Blue
The Ibanez Jumpstart IJRX20Z pack is everything you need to start your guitarist career! The IJRX20Z guitar is a smooth play and produces classic tone. The guitar is lightweight and is endowed with a resonant poplar body with two R humbucking pickups. The guitar is also equipped with an Ibanez T106 Tremolo system that will suit whammy bar fans. The pack comes with a 10-watt amp that is comfortable and loud enough to be played in your bedroom. Ibanez is a spectacular brand and its products never disappoint; so whether it is your first or the hundredth guitar, I am sure that you will love the experience of playing the Ibanez IJRX20Z guitar. To complete the pack is a gig bag meant to help you transport your music gear and have them intact to avoid the possibility of losing any one of them. Other accessories in this pack include picks, a cable, a guitar strap, accessories pouch and a clip-on tuner.

Ibanez Jumpstart IJRX20Z Features
- Guitar strap, cable, pick, clip-on-tuner
- Strings: D’Addario, .009-.042
- Case: Gig bag, accessories pouch
- Amp: Ibanez IJRX20Z amp
- Total Power: 10W
- Body Type: Solid body
- Body Shape: Double cut
- Body Material: Poplar
- Body Finish: Gloss Polyester
- Color: Blue
- Neck Material: Maple
- Neck Shape: GRG
- Fingerboard Material: Jatoba
- Fingerboard Inlay: White Dots
- Number of frets: 22, Medium
- Nut Width: 1.653”
- Bridge: Ibanez T106 Tremolo
- Neck Pickup: Infinity R Humbucker
- Bridge Pickup: Infinity R Humbucker

Pros
- Lightweight
- Various tonal variations
- 5-way pickup switch
- Slim maple neck for technical playing
- Clip-on tuners for eased tuning
- Gig bag and accessories pouch
- Guitar strap and cable
- 10- watt amplifier


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It is never to late or too early to play a musical instrument, and well, if you have chosen to learn an electric guitar, then either of the above starter packs will be convenient for you and you are sure to have value for your money. Some of them have downloadable educational resources to help you during training while others don’t. This doesn’t however mean that the situation is hopeless as there are other countless online resources where you can learn the chords, riffs and solos of your favorite tunes. When making a purchase of your starter pack, be sure to check that it contains extra strings (9-gauge set), a shoulder strap, picks a gig bag and a tuner to increase the value of the pack. I believe that by now you can confidently make your choice! Very well, I hope you will enjoy the guitarist experience!
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