• Beginners' guitars are an excellent way to try music without spending a lot of money.electric guitar image by .shock from Fotolia.com
  
  Many adults agree that music completes a well-rounded education, while many kids believe that riffing on popular rock songs with a guitar is the ultimate testament to coolness. Either way, both ideas of thought prevail, and luckily for those kids and adults, several guitar companies have economical models aimed at the price- and value-conscious.
  
  

Ibanez IJX30 $200)

• One of Ibanez's offerings in the beginner's market, the X30 features a body shape reminiscent of Gibson's Ripper and Grabber bass guitars from the 1970s. Its twin pickups are managed by a three-way selector switch, and the X30 comes with a tuner, strap, instrument cord, picks, a 10-watt amplifier and a $5 coupon good for online lessons from guitarinstructor.com.
  
  

Dean Vendetta ($190)

• Also black (but available in dark red as well), Dean's Vendetta guitar features twin humbuckers, a tremolo "whammy" bar for trills, picks, a strap and a 10-watt practice amp. It shares many features and goodies included with other beginner guitars, as well as a handy battery-operated tuner.
  
  

Epiphone SG Special ($270)

• Also vintage in style, parent company Gibson's SG body shape is represented in the Epiphone Special. Offered in black and cherry red, the distinctly 70s SG copy comes with a 15-watt practice amp, practice earphones, a two piece chrome plated bridge and an instrument cord.
  
  

Epiphone Les Paul Goth ($400)

• Gibson's Les Paul series of guitars are trademarks of many guitar heroes and inspired this Les Paul model from Epiphone. The guitar only comes in flat black with a Roman numeral at the 12th fret (hence the "goth" name), a three-way pickup selector switch, a tuner, earphones, a padded gig bag, strap and a 15-watt practice amp.
  
  

Daisy Rock Debutante Rock Candy ($200)

• Daisy Rock takes aim at the female demographic with the shockingly pink-bodied Debutante Rock Candy. Pink picks, a pink 10-watt amp, gig bag, a polish cloth and an instructional DVD that covers the basics of guitar playing. The Debutante also plays to the smaller hands and frame of young girls by featuring a shorter and manageable 24-inch scale neck.
  
  

Ibanez IJX121 ($300)

• Budding metal and heavy rock guitar players may appreciate the 121's all-black and no-frills appearance. The guitar houses two Ibanez humbucker pickups that can crank out from the included 15-watt practice amp. Part of Ibanez's Jumpstart intro level guitars, the 121 also comes in white for those who aren't into the abundance of black.
  
  

Laguna LE122 Ultimate ($350)

• A shapelier body contour and headstock mark the modern guitar vibe of Laguna's Ultimate guitar. Line 6, a respected amp and effects manufacturer, adds a 15-watt Spider IV amp to the package. The LE122 comes in black or aged brown, and also includes a strap, amp cord, extra strings, picks and an instructional DVD.
  
  

BC Rich Red Bevel ($300)

• BC Rich is famed for making pointy and aggressive-looking guitars aimed at the heavy rock market, and Red Bevel is no exception. The Bevel's body is a copy of the company's Warlock series of guitars and basses and comes in a glossy black finish with blood red accents. A blood-red 10-watt amp is included.
  
  

Yamaha Gig-Maker ($260)

• Yamaha's Gig Maker guitar looks nearly identical to the Fender/Squier Strat, and comes in the same color scheme. Also included is a 15-watt amp, an instructional DVD, digital tuner, cable, strings and a padded gig bag.
  
  

Fender/Squier Affinity ($250)

• Patterned after the famed Stratocaster guitar from Fender (made famous by such players as Eric Clapton and John Mayer), Squier nails the old-school look of the Strat with Affinity. Available in blue, red or black with white pickguards, the Affinity also includes a tuner, strap, picks, practice earphones and a 15-watt amp.