Electric Guitars

Your Perfect Electric Guitar Is Closer Than You Think

The electric guitar is the quintessential rock ’n’ roll instrument. It’s held center stage alongside early guitar pioneers like Les Paul, Chuck Berry, and Buddy Holly, and it’s been wielded in front of millions by guitar gods like Jimmy Page, David Gilmour, Tony Iommi, and Eddie Van Halen. However, the electric guitar isn’t just for rock; it’s an essential instrument in soul, R&B, funk, blues, and pop music, embraced by legendary performers like B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Nile Rodgers, Eddie Hazel, and others.

Are you looking for the perfect electric guitar to add to your collection? There are more options today than ever before. Fortunately, Sweetwater’s committed to helping you find the right guitar for you, no matter your style. Read on for helpful shopping tips or give us a call for a custom recommendation.

Types of Electric Guitars Every Player Should Know

Essential Solidbodies, from Strats to Les Pauls

When most folks think about electric guitars, they’re usually picturing the solidbody guitars of their heroes: Stratocasters, Telecasters, Les Pauls, SGs, and more. Thanks to their sound, legacy, and build, solidbody electric guitars are a must-have for any guitarist looking to expand their arsenal. Explore more solidbody icons, including the Mustang and Les Paul Special, in our Best Electric Guitars for Classic Rock annual roundup.

335s, Broadkasters, and Other Stylish Semi-Hollows

Semi-hollowbody guitars are a staple in many genres of music, including blues, jazz, rock ’n’ roll, and even alternative rock and indie. Semi-hollowbody guitars feature a solid center block, hollow bouts, and soundholes that allow airflow. Tonally, semi-hollowbody guitars blend the focused sound of a solidbody with some of the rounded warmth of hollowbody guitars. Their instantly recognizable tone makes them a must-have for guitarists of any skill level, and many models are lighter than similarly sized solidbody guitars. If you want to add a semi-hollowbody guitar to your collection, check out Sweetwater’s vast selection today!

Genre-hopping Hollowbodies Like the Casino and White Falcon

Hollowbody guitars are renowned for their unmistakable musical tone. With their rich and resonant timbre, hollowbody guitars offer a naturally full low-end response that many players find inspiring, particularly in clean and lightly driven settings. Legendary guitarists such as John Lennon, Grant Green, and Brian Setzer have embraced hollowbody guitars in their music. Browse Sweetwater’s Must-see Hollowbody Electric Guitars for inspiration when choosing your next thinline or archtop.

Specialty Guitars That Push Your Playing Forward

Baritones Add Depth to Riffs and Arrangements

Want to spice up your songwriting without the hassle of tuning down all the time? Look no further than a baritone guitar. Baritone guitars are set up for lower tunings, most commonly B standard, which sits a perfect fourth below E standard. This gives guitarists a lower-register tone while still allowing the use of familiar shapes and licks. If you’re unsure which baritone guitar to choose, check out Sweetwater’s vast selection and get your hands on your next guitar today!

Extended-range Guitars That Rip

Are you a metal guitarist looking to explore the depths of 7-, 8-, or even 9-string guitars? Then you’ve come to the right place! Extended-range guitars are highly sought after by metal and hard rock guitarists. Many also make impressive shred guitars thanks to their fast-playing necks, access to lower notes, and compound-radius fingerboards. Sweetwater’s extended-range guitars come from trusted brands such as Ibanez, ESP, Strandberg, Schecter, Jackson, and many more.

Lefty Electrics from All Your Favorite Brands

Gone are the days of left-handed guitarists searching high and low for instruments designed for their dominant hand. At Sweetwater, we make finding your next left-handed electric guitar easy and hassle-free. We stock hundreds of lefty models from dozens of trusted guitar makers, ensuring our fellow left-handed guitarists have a wide array of options to choose from. Explore our vast selection of left-handed electric guitars today and channel the spirit of lefty legends like Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, and Paul McCartney as you rock out.

Handpick Your Exact Finish When You Shop Electric Guitars at Sweetwater

Even two guitars of the same model and finish can vary slightly in grain and color. That’s why Sweetwater’s Guitar Gallery team photographs every guitar we stock priced at $399 and up. We’re talking detailed shots from multiple angles of the actual instrument you’re browsing, right down to the serial number. This means you can handpick the figuring, flame, checking, and burst before it ships, ensuring there are no surprises when it arrives. And the best part? Every guitar in this range comes backed by our 55-point Inspection guarantee. See our Best of the Guitar Gallery shop page for an exclusive look at some of the year’s most gorgeous guitars.

At Sweetwater, There’s an Electric Guitar for Every Budget

Electric guitars don’t have to cost a fortune. At Sweetwater, you’ll find beginner-friendly models priced under $200 with all the essential features you need to plug in and crank up, along with the tones and ’tude to finish your tracks or hit the stage in style. That’s not to say there isn’t incentive to step up, though. Guitars in the $400–800 range begin to include advanced features designed to take you further, such as active and alnico pickups and compound-radius fingerboards. Step into the $1,000-and-up tier, and you’re usually talking top-shelf materials and refined craftsmanship fit for discerning players.

The good news? No matter where you fall on the budget spectrum, Sweetwater is proud to offer guitars that punch above their weight. Talk to our Sales Engineers for help stretching your dollars without cutting corners.

Sweetwater Guitars Are Backed by Decades of Trusted Guidance and Support

Whether you’re into crust punk, neo-soul, doom metal, or honky-tonk, Sweetwater has the perfect guitar to fuel your passion. We carry a huge range of standard, extended-range, and multi-scale electrics loaded with performance features. Use our filters to narrow down by shape, brand, price, and more — or talk to a Sweetwater Sales Engineer for a personalized recommendation. When you buy from Sweetwater, you’re getting the best selection, expert guidance, and a guitar that’s ready to rock straight out of the box.