If you’re looking to buy your first electric guitar, let me save you some time: you can’t go wrong with a Stratocaster-style guitar. Colemans Music in Melbourne's CBD has a great range of Strat Style Electric guitars to get you started.
I say this not just as someone who runs a guitar shop, but as a guitar player who’s lived it. My first electric guitar wasn’t a Strat, but it was close—a Vester super-strat style guitar. It was the early ’90s, and like most kids my age, I was soaking up Guns N’ Roses, Bon Jovi, and anything else that screamed through the speakers. That guitar hooked me, leading me down a path that eventually made guitars my career.
Today, I own a lot of guitars, but one of the true standouts is my Eric Johnson Signature Stratocaster. Eric is my all-time favourite player, and that guitar captures something magical—especially in that legendary Strat neck pickup. There’s just something about that tone—it’s warm, expressive, and instantly recognisable. When you hear it, you know it. That’s why the Stratocaster has been a go-to for so many great players across the decades.
This Guitar is my pride and Joy the Fender Eric Johnson Signature Stratocaster.
Think about the sounds of Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, David Gilmour, John Mayer, and John Frusciante from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Even punk and alternative players like Billie Joe Armstrong from Green Day and Mike McCready from Pearl Jam have turned to the Strat for its clarity, flexibility, and feel. It’s one of the few electric guitars that shows up across genres—from blues and funk to punk, rock, and indie.
As someone who’s helped thousands of players choose their first electric guitar over the years, I can confidently say a Strat-style guitar is one of the best ways to start. The contoured body makes it incredibly comfortable to hold, especially if you're just learning and planning to spend a lot of time playing while seated. Most come with slim neck profiles that are easy to get your hands around, and the tonal variety you get from the three single-coil pickups and five-way switch is unbeatable. It’s basically five guitars in one.
Another huge plus is how mod-friendly Stratocaster-style guitars are. Down the line, if you want to upgrade your pickups, swap out the hardware, or personalise the look, the Strat platform is perfect for that. That’s why so many guitar players stick with them for the long haul.
If you’ve got a bit of room in your budget, I often recommend the Fender Player II Stratocaster. Fender really nailed it with this series—it’s made to last, gig-ready, and full of all the classic Fender tone and playability you’d expect. For someone looking for that first proper guitar that can carry them into their first band or home studio setup, it’s a winner.
SQUIER Sonic Strat HSS Tahitian Coral - The HSS refers to the Humbucker-Single Coil-Single Coil pickup Configuration.
But not everyone is ready to drop that kind of money on a first guitar, and that’s totally fair. We’ve recommended the Squier Affinity or Sonic Stratocaster series to new players for years. Squier is Fender’s more affordable brand, and the Affinity and Sonic models are reliable, well-built guitars that don’t feel like a compromise. They’re great to learn on and easy to maintain.
The JET JS-300 in Black, with its sleek roasted Canadian maple neck and fretboard.
We’ve been super recently impressed with Jet Guitars, especially the JS-300 and JS-400 Strat-style models. These things are incredible value. The Jet JS-400 even has a humbucker in the bridge position, which gives you that heavier rock crunch when you need it, while still delivering those bright, articulate Strat tones in the neck and middle positions. For a first electric guitar, Jet Guitars are honestly hard to bea
The Fender Player II Stratocaster
So if you’re tossing up what to get as your first electric, I’ll say it again: you can’t go wrong with a Strat-style guitar. Whether it’s a Fender Player II Stratocaster, a budget-friendly Squier Affinity or Sonic Strat, or a Jet JS-300 or JS-400, you’re getting something with comfort, versatility, style, and decades of music history behind it. And if you need help figuring out which one’s right for you, come see us at Colemans Music. We’ve helped players of all levels find the right gear for years—and we’d be stoked to help you too.
