Weller WP-series, basic top-quality no-frill solder iron.
Weller WP30 -
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The -30 is a compromise for DIP ICs and Octal sockets. For mostly big work, I actually use a 45 (from an older model, without grounded cord or cool finger-grip on the screw-in element), but this needs a light touch on ICs, and turns surface-mount parts into puddles. I own a 13 Watt Princess, but anything small enough to suit it is too darn small for my eyes (in fact I haven't seen my Princess in a few years).
I think you NEED a basic 30-45 Watt iron for power lugs and other big stuff. Soldering to the backs of pots (common in guitar work) needs an iron that big to get heated. You may also need a smaller iron for smaller stuff.
Some of the $8-$10 Radio Shack jobs may not be bad. The main problem is that some of them come with chrome-plated tips, which will NOT wet with solder.
For arty soldering, I still like plain bare copper tips, but you have to maintain them a LOT. The hot copper gets eaten by solder and air, and gets all gnarly. Every hour or so you have to re-shape it with a file and re-tin it. I used to buy copper tips by the handful.
I've been using mostly iron-plated tips: they will not wet as well as genuine copper, but they never get gnarly no matter how long you leave them idling. (In fact one seems to have out-lived the heating element it is on, and the cord isn't looking too fresh either....) There is no doubt the iron is cheaper than copper, if you use the iron more than a few dozen hours. I don't think copper tips are regular-stock any more.
Most of my irons use nylon grips at the business end; I see this Weller WP looks like some kinda foam. You youngsters will probably never know the pleasure of a cork-grip handle. I'm holding on to mine, but it isn't holding onto the handle so well (this one must be over 30 years old, and many-many hours of use).
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it is just easier to use or will it have an actual effect on the quality of the product?
If you can't make a hot joint quick and easy, you will have half-hot joints that don't really make a good connection. If you don't know what a good joint looks like (or if you must solder where you can't see), then the resulting bad joints will drive you insane (OK, a short walk for some of us).