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For the last few weeks I've researched a lot of different electric guitars. Never having played before, I want to focus on learning proper technique instead of modifying my guitar. I just want a stock guitar to learn on, knowing very well that I will likely GAS for a new one as I progress and learn what I like.

A lot of the reviews I've run across say "Stock Pickups Suck" or "Needs a Pickup Change". I take most of this w/ a grain of salt, and I realize that looking in the $200 and less range limits the quality of guitars, but are these statements more truth than personal bias? Should a beginner be worried about?

Thanks - M

[allthumbs]

It depends on the guitar. Not all guitars are built to the same standards. I can think of two that have decent pickups. Both are on line purchases though. That is how they can give you better quality. They don't have store overhead to deal with. The mass produced stuff for 200 bucks or so are designed as beginner guitars. They have cheap , inexpensive parts. They understand that a beginner can't tell the difference so they make it cheaply on the assumption that you will upgrade to a better guitar before too long.
It is much easier to find guitars with decent stock pups in the 3 to 4 hundred dollar range.

[scott58]

Obviously like Allthumbs says the more you can spend the better overall quality your going to get. Not just the pickups, but fit, finish, body and neck woods etc. Having said that though there are some good lower cost electrics out there. I was very surprised with the Dean ML XP I just bought my G/F. It was $250 ($230 with coupons and free shipping). The pickups are nice and it's actually pretty versatile. I was kinda worried it would be to "deathmetalish", but although i can certainly push it in that direction with some of my other gear it's pretty happy giving up some good classic rock tone. Your amp selection is going to effect you alot more then the pickup type in a lower cost guitar. Try before you buy if you can. if you like it get it, plenty of time to think about pickup swoops later on.

Edit: i should add. Don't do what I did in the beginning. I had this amp with tons of effects and wasted a good month
Looking for "that great tone". I found several to be sure, but in the end I sat there and said to myself "dude you can't play a lick!" I set the amp to the clean channel and didn't change it for a year. Learn first. Everything else is secondary