Are you looking for a new instrument to find that creative spark; maybe you or your child are new to the guitar and want a solid option that can grow with you without breaking the bank; or maybe your GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) is at an all-time high, and you’re on the prowl for the next sonic weapon to add to your arsenal. Whatever the case, Sweetwater’s got you covered. From standout guitars priced at under $200 to superlative axes that adorn the best bands’ guitar repertoires as they take the stage, we’ve got something for everyone. Want to learn how to buy the best electric guitar for you? Check out our Electric Guitar Buying Guide below! Now, let’s take a look at the best electric guitars of 2024.
Note: At Sweetwater, we know there’s no such thing as “best” when it comes to music gear. Every player and artist has unique tastes, which is what makes selecting gear so fun! The items on this list feature some of our favorite products from top manufacturers to help you start your buying journey! Explore these recommendations and dive into Sweetwater’s massive collection of gear on our online store. For personalized picks and expert advice, please contact our knowledgeable Sweetwater Sales Engineers at (800) 222-4700!
- Best Electric Guitars Under $200
- Best Electric Guitars Between $200 & $500
- Best Electric Guitars Between $500 & $1,000
- Best Electric Guitars Above $1,000
- Electric Guitar Buying Guide
Best Electric Guitars Under $200
Jackson Dinky JS11 Electric Guitar
Step one for superlative shredders
Throughout the decades, Jackson’s array of shred machines has adorned the sonic armory of countless legends, with a contemporary suite of signature artist models that comprise Anthrax’s Scott Ian, Iron Maiden’s Adrian Smith, Def Leppard’s Phil Collen, Trivium’s Corey Beaulieu, and more. Suffice it to say: the company knows what you need for the optimal, high-octane axe, and the Jackson Dinky JS11 electric guitar delivers all the proper appointments. Its basswood body, maple neck, and amaranth fingerboard form a tonal triumvirate with plenty of sustain, ringing trebles, and sonorous basses. House-made, high-output ceramic humbuckers amplify the searing sonics you’re bound to evoke with its speed-shaped neck and 12-inch fingerboard radius. Plus, the onboard tremolo takes your tones to expressive peaks and deep valleys to ensure no sound is out of reach.
| Product: | Jackson Dinky JS11 |
| Body Type: | Solidbody |
| Body Wood: | Poplar |
| Neck: | Maple |
| Fingerboard: | Armaranth |
| Electronics: | 2 Jackson High-output Humbuckers |
| Sounds Like: | ’80s Hair Metal |
| Pros: | • Incredible playability at an affordable price • Slim neck that is great for beginners and players learning to shred • Dual Jackson humbuckers for delivering killer tone |
| Cons: | None to speak of at this price point! |
Squier Sonic Stratocaster Electric Guitar
Squier’s Sonic makeover: definitely worth a look
Revamped, revoiced, and packed with more value than ever — the Squier Sonic Stratocaster electric guitar is perfect for rekindling creativity or giving new talents the launchpad they need. The Squier Sonic Strat’s quality feel and classic design let players learn guitar, not wrestle one. Past iconic looks, Stratocasters like this are known for versatility heard across surf, indie, classic rock, and more. Squier’s latest axe maintains that same massive range with three single-coil pickups and a 5-way pickup selector for broad sonics. What’s more, these pickups are freshly modernized with ceramic magnets and play well with digital stompboxes, recording interfaces, and modeling amps that have recently surged in popularity while shrinking in price. Backing the electronics, you’ll find quality hardware, including chrome tuners, a synthetic bone nut, and a tremolo system for bending notes to oblivion — whammy style.
| Product: | Squier Sonic Stratocaster |
| Body Type: | Solidbody |
| Body Wood: | Poplar |
| Neck: | Maple |
| Fingerboard: | Maple |
| Electronics: | 3 Squier Ceramic Single-coil Pickups |
| Sounds Like: | ’60s Rock ‘n’ Roll |
| Pros: | • Classic Stratocaster-style guitar at an unbeatable price • Comfortable C-shaped neck that’s great for any player • Versatile single-coil pickups that give you a wide range of tones |
| Cons: | None to speak of at this price point! |
Ibanez miKro GRGM21M Electric Guitar
A hard-rocking short-scale shredder
Tailor-made for nascent shredders, the Ibanez miKro GRGM21M electric guitar makes high-speed fretboard pyrotechnics seem effortless. This guitar’s large cutaway enables access to higher frets for soaring leads, plus its 22.2-inch-scale neck offers superior playability for beginners and players with shorter arms and smaller hands. As for sound, the miKro GRGM21M’s dual humbuckers churn out all the thick, metallic tones you can handle. Are you craving some whammy bar abuse? If so, then check out the Ibanez Gio GRX70QA electric guitar.
| Product: | Ibanez miKro GRGM21M |
| Body Type: | Solidbody |
| Body Wood: | Basswood |
| Neck: | Maple |
| Fingerboard: | Maple |
| Electronics: | 2 Infinity R Ceramic Humbuckers |
| Sounds Like: | Modern Rock and Metal |
| Pros: | • Large cutaway that allows access to higher frets for soaring leads • 22.2-inch-scale maple neck that is great for beginners and guitarists with small hands or shorter arms • Double humbucker pickup configuration that delivers hard-hitting rock and metal tones |
| Cons: | Some players may prefer a guitar with a tremolo bridge, like the Ibanez Gio GRX70QA electric guitar. |
Kramer Focus VT-211S Electric Guitar
Classic profile, modern flexibility
Once your eyes adjust to the vibrant, fluorescent finish, you may be tempted to think that the Kramer Focus VT-211S is just another entry-level S-shaped electric guitar. Rest assured, aspiring shred-meisters, for this axe is infused with the same DNA that flows through Kramer’s entire aural offering, and it all starts with the tonewoods. Anchoring its sonic suite is an overtone-rich mahogany body, complemented by a maple neck and fingerboard to brighten your sound with fantastic articulation and plenty of projection. With a high-speed neck profile and 12-inch fingerboard radius, you’ll be extra grateful for the generous cutaway to ensure unfettered access to all 21 frets. Its HSS pickup configuration comprises Alnico V single-coil and humbucker pickups, accompanied by a 5-way blade switch to navigate a versatile tone suite of searing solos, low-end chug, and everything in between.
| Product: | Kramer Focus VT-211S |
| Body Type: | Solidbody |
| Body Wood: | Mahogany |
| Neck: | Maple |
| Fingerboard: | Maple |
| Electronics: | Neck: Kramer Alnico V SC-1 Single-coil; Middle: Kramer Alnico V SC-1 Single-coil; Bridge: Kramer Alnico V HB-1 Humbucker |
| Sounds Like: | ’80s Hard Rock |
| Pros: | • Pickup configuration that offers a great number of tonal options • Great beginner electric guitar • Slim neck that is comfortable and allows for fast playability |
| Cons: | None to speak of at this price point! |
ESP LTD Viper-10 Solidbody Electric Guitar
Fangs out — it’s Viper value!
The ESP LTD Viper-10 solidbody electric guitar lays down aggressive metal and hard-rock tones without aggressing your bank account! Between ESP-designed humbucking pickups and a contoured basswood body, the Viper-10 has slithered into the souls of players who crave noxious tones with a distorted bite. These humbuckers handle hurricanes of gain like champs, but don’t put them in a metal box. Take the gain down a notch for warm, expressive cleans packed with personality. The Viper-10 body shape pulls from a familiar classic but is carved and thinned out for extra comfort. The maple neck’s “Thin U” profile is a shredder favorite that’s turned many first-time ESP buyers into lifelong fans. What’s more, the fingerboard has 24 extra-jumbo frets for an extended solo range that’s not common in this price range.
| Product: | ESP LTD Viper-10 |
| Body Type: | Solidbody |
| Body Wood: | Basswood |
| Neck: | Maple |
| Fingerboard: | Hardwood |
| Electronics: | Neck: ESP-designed LH-100N Humbucker; Bridge: ESP-designed LH-100B Humbucker |
| Sounds Like: | Modern Rock and Metal |
| Pros: | • A great guitar for guitarists at all skill levels • Incredibly lightweight • High-quality pickups for high-gain metal |
| Cons: | This guitar is great for hard rock and metal, but if you’re looking for a more versatile guitar, then check out the Squier Sonic Stratocaster electric guitar. |
Best Electric Guitars Between $200 & $500
Guild Surfliner HH Solidbody Electric Guitar
Take humbucker tone to the beach!
Let it be known: the Guild Surfliner HH solidbody electric guitar is one of the most underrated new guitars of recent memory. If you missed the Surfliner’s 2022 debut, then here’s your chance to ride the wave on a guitar that punches above its class with outstanding playability, unique offset tones, and ’60s-inspired looks that radiate retro cool. The pickups easily jump between clean warmth and driving humbucker heft and excel at handling rigorous blends of riffs, licks, chords, and power strums. The Surfliner HH’s poplar body and maple neck deliver speed suitable for surf and much more. A string-through bridge further distinguishes tone with extra snap and sustain with a certain X factor that makes the Surfliner hard to pass up — just like a day at the beach. It may look like a quirky offset (and it is), but Guild went above and beyond to make this a versatile player with unique tone. Make it yours, and you just might find that fresh twist on West Coast sounds you’ve been after.
| Product: | Guild Surfliner HH |
| Body Type: | Solidbody |
| Body Wood: | Poplar |
| Neck: | Maple |
| Fingerboard: | Maple |
| Electronics: | 2 Guild HB-2 Humbuckers |
| Sounds Like: | Surf Rock |
| Pros: | • Dual HB-2 humbuckers that give you a wide range of tones to play with • Comfortable C-shaped neck that’s great for any player • String-through body and Tune-o-matic bridge for unyielding reliability |
| Cons: | Humbuckers aren’t for everyone. For those looking for this cool body shape with single-coil pickups, look no further than this Guild Surfliner solidbody electric guitar. |
Yamaha PAC112V Pacifica
Premium appointments for bicoastal versatility
When one company produces world-class grand pianos, Olympic-grade archery equipment, studio recording equipment, and outboard motors, it’s safe to say that they’re unequivocally dedicated to their craft. With the Yamaha PAC112V Pacifica, you’ll feel the spirit of purposeful, high-quality design with every note of its rosewood fingerboard. An elegant form factor and natural finish complement the tonal flexibility of its HSS configuration, which is armed with Alnico V single-coil and humbucking pickups — the PAC112V is brimming with Yamaha’s lauded history of electronic expertise. You can even split the humbuckers with a push-pull tone knob to supplement your sound with further crisp articulation. A slick, C-shaped maple neck, 13-3/4-inch fingerboard radius, and 25-1/2-inch scale provide the tools for traversing hard-rockin’ to subtly smooth tonal territories!
| Product: | Yamaha PAC112V Pacifica |
| Body Type: | Solidbody |
| Body Wood: | Alder |
| Neck: | Maple |
| Fingerboard: | Rosewood |
| Electronics: | Neck: Yamaha Alnico V Single-coil; Middle: Yamaha Alnico V Single-coil; Bridge: Yamaha Alnico V Humbucker |
| Sounds Like: | Indie Rock |
| Pros: | • C-shaped neck that provides great playability • Lightweight and comfortable • Able to dial in a variety of tones due to the pickup configuration |
| Cons: | None to speak of at this price point! |
Epiphone Les Paul Special Electric Guitar
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
Since its debut in the ’50s, the Les Paul design has gone largely unchanged, and what permutations do exist are the result of a careful balancing act that preserves the iconic Les Paul DNA while providing the sonic supplements needed to take your sound to new reaches. Enter: the Epiphone Les Paul Special electric guitar. Oozing with vintage panache, the Special bridges classic and modern to deliver a musical machine primed for a premier blend of hefty, articulate tones. And whom do we have to thank for that? Seth Lover, of course, who was the pioneering designer of the P-90 pickups and whose pro iterations are featured in the Les Paul Special. Their sensitivity features a distinctive response profile, capturing nuanced performances and subtleties while maintaining the substance to deliver growling, girthy tones.
| Product: | Epiphone Les Paul Special |
| Body Type: | Solidbody |
| Body Wood: | Mahogany |
| Neck: | Mahogany |
| Fingerboard: | Indian Laurel |
| Electronics: | 2 P-90 PRO Soapbar Single-coils |
| Sounds Like: | Classic Rock |
| Pros: | • Vintage look at an affordable price • P-90 pickups for a classic, rich midrange tone • Rock-solid tuning stability |
| Cons: | The two P-90s may not give you a wide variety of tones like other guitars can. For more tonal options, check out the Yamaha PAC112V Pacifica. |
Squier Classic Vibe Baritone Custom Telecaster Guitar
Timeless Tele tone goes deep
While Teles aren’t typically associated with the heavy-metal aesthetics that often accompany the down-tuned sound, the Squier Classic Vibe Baritone Custom Telecaster guitar challenges you to reimagine the distinctive, Texas-style sonics of the iconic Tele with the increased tonal range of this guitar’s 27-inch scale. For the unfamiliar, this is roughly two inches longer than your standard electric guitar, but those two inches make for a world of difference. Case in point: B-standard tuning is easily achievable, retaining the tension and playability that typically accompanies E-standard setups on non-baritone guitars. The Classic Vibe’s nyatoh body, maple neck, and Indian laurel fingerboard make for a trio of tonewoods that elicit plenty of sustain, harmonic depth, and balanced articulation, perfect for traversing the depths of dropped-down sound!
| Product: | Squier Classic Vibe Baritone Custom Telecaster |
| Body Type: | Solidbody |
| Body Wood: | Nyatoh |
| Neck: | Maple |
| Fingerboard: | Indian Laurel |
| Electronics: | 2 Fender-designed Alnico Single-coils |
| Sounds Like: | Country |
| Pros: | • Classic and vintage look • Baritone for yielding warmer and more rounded tone compared to other 6-string electric guitars • Comfortable Indian laurel fretboard that offers impeccable playability |
| Cons: | A baritone may not be for everyone. For a standard-sized Telecaster, check out the Squier Classic Vibe ’50s Telecaster. |
Kramer Baretta Special Electric Guitar
Where you’re going, you don’t need tone (knobs)
Since the ’80s, Kramer’s Baretta silhouette has been the axe of shred icons, adorning the aural armatures of Eddie Van Halen, Richie Sambora, and countless others. Like its predecessors, the Kramer Baretta Special electric guitar features a bolt-on neck, premium-access cutaway, and matching headstock finish, boasting a straightforward, slanted single-pickup setup with a sole volume knob. A mahogany body anchors the Baretta’s tone profile, serving up chewy mids, booming lows, and blooming harmonics, while the maple neck and fingerboard round out the spectrum with articulate, crystalline highs. A lone, spicy Alnico V zebra-coil humbucker is engineered for hot, hair-metal tones that will have you reaching for your leopard-print guitar strip in no time!
| Product: | Kramer Baretta Special |
| Body Type: | Solidbody |
| Body Wood: | Mahogany |
| Neck: | Maple |
| Fingerboard: | Maple |
| Electronics: | Alnico V Zebra-coil Humbucker |
| Sounds Like: | ’80s Hair Metal |
| Pros: | • Versatile guitar at an affordable price • Simple control scheme • Great tone from the zebra-coil humbucker |
| Cons: | None to speak of at this price point! |
Best Electric Guitars Between $500 & $1,000
PRS SE Singlecut McCarty 594 Electric Guitar
Unbeatable value with no corners cut
For years, players who haven’t owned a USA-made Singlecut McCarty 594 (and those who have) have asked PRS when an SE version of the 594 would appear. The hour is here, but was the wait worth it? Our answer? A resounding “Yes!” The PRS SE Singlecut McCarty 594 electric guitar delivers fluid playability at a jaw-dropping price, especially given its fidelity to the original design. A classic mahogany body fuels big, rich humbucker tone with extra-suave looks and a splash of brilliant treble added by a maple cap. The neck’s slightly extended scale length (the source of PRS’s “594” designator) modernizes the string feel for speed and expression without losing any iconic sonics. Speaking of aesthetics, this axe is a stunner. The gorgeous maple body binding, PRS Birds fingerboard inlays, and gloss finish, as well as PRS’s signature natural wood grain back, make you feel and look like you own a piece of the real PRS pie — and that’s because you do! Or will soon. See that “Add to Cart” button? You know what to do!
| Product: | PRS SE Singlecut McCarty 594 |
| Body Type: | Solidbody |
| Body Wood: | Mahogany |
| Neck: | Mahogany |
| Fingerboard: | Rosewood |
| Electronics: | 2 PRS 58/15 “S” Humbuckers |
| Sounds Like: | Modern Rock |
| Pros: | • Legendary PRS quality and playability • 58/15 LT “S” pickups that deliver vintage-tinged humbucking tones • A longer, 24.594-inch scale length for a unique feel |
| Cons: | You may have to get rid of the rest of your guitars — this is one versatile axe! |
Danelectro ’59 Triple Divine Electric Guitar
Triple lipstick tone with unique wiring
The ultimate studio Danelectro? We say, “Yes!” The latest reissue from this revived vintage builder captures a Danelectro ’59 DC-3 Deluxe Shorthorn that’s outfitted with not one, not two, but three lipstick pickups. Studio pros know that having a 3-pickup guitar nearby is the surefire way to find usable tones, and the Danelectro ’59 Triple Divine electric guitar offers just that. Moreover, the Triple Divine features versatile 5-way switching and rare series pickup wiring. Most guitars are wired in parallel for more “even” output in these positions, but series wiring is a big part of what made old-school Danelectros (and this one) so unique. Series wiring delivers a hefty power bump in multi-pickup selector positions. These positions don’t jangle — they snarl! You’ll find that each individual pickup has the plucky treble favored by California Dreamers, but select more than one pickup for a chance to explore “beefy” output and muscular vintage flair that series wiring imparts. It’s ripe for garage rock, sludge, classic metal, surf, and so much more.
| Product: | Danelectro ’59 Triple Divine |
| Body Type: | Semi-hollowbody |
| Body Wood: | Spruce/Plywood with Hardboard Top |
| Neck: | Maple |
| Fingerboard: | Rosewood |
| Electronics: | 3 Lipstick Single-coil Pickups |
| Sounds Like: | Jangly Indie (with a bonus Beefy side in positions 2 and 4) |
| Pros: | • Iconic look and sound • 3 lipstick pickups with unique series wiring for huge tonal variety with undeniable soul • Great for beginners and advanced guitarists |
| Cons: | Although versatile, this guitar may not be the best for heavier styles of music. For a guitar that can cover more genres and tones, check out the PRS SE Singlecut McCarty 594 electric guitar. |
Epiphone ES-335 Figured Semi-hollowbody Electric Guitar
Figure that’s worth a look
Epiphone’s 50-plus years of experience crafting semi-hollowbody guitars gives Sweetwater Sales Engineers nothing but confidence in guitars like this stunning Epiphone ES-335 Figured semi-hollowbody electric guitar. As part of the Figured series, this ES-335 tops classic tonewoods with a rich AAA flamed maple veneer for sharp looks and warmer tone. The maple veneer’s figured grain streaks look great in a living room but really shine under stage lights. The ES-335 Figured’s layered maple body ensures lively attack and warm, low-flying sustain with a vintage flair well-suited for retro takes on blues, jazz, and rock. Maple sets the standard for many semi-hollowbody classics and fuels nostalgic bell-like tones worthy of the original 335. Inside the ES-335 Figured is a solid maple block for squashing feedback, which means you can push it with an amp or pedals for soaring tones with serious soul. If you’ve never felt the ripping warmth of an overdriven Epiphone semi-hollowbody, then here’s your sign!
| Product: | Epiphone ES-335 Figured |
| Body Type: | Semi-hollowbody |
| Body Wood: | Layered Maple |
| Neck: | Mahogany |
| Fingerboard: | Indian Laurel |
| Electronics: | 2 Alnico Classic PRO Humbuckers |
| Sounds Like: | Classic R&B and Blues |
| Pros: | • Affordable re-creation of the classic Gibson ES-335 semi-hollowbody electric guitar • Warm tones that are only found in 335-style guitars • Vintage tones with Alnico Classic PRO humbuckers |
| Cons: | Although this model is a great guitar, the other guitars in the Epiphone Figured series may suit a wider range of guitarists. |
Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 1 HH FR M Electric Guitar
Certified Superstrat sonics from the OG
Fate is a funny thing. Wayne Charvel would establish his namesake company after three years of working with Fender, the company that would ultimately acquire Charvel’s in 2002, and for good reason: Charvel would pioneer the Superstrat movement of the ’80s, bringing high-heat humbuckers and the immensely expressive locking tremolos into the mix to combine classic Strat stylings with the firepower needed for the then-modern rocker. The Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 1 HH FR M electric guitar is a masterful distillation of these standout properties, engineered for premier performance with its pair of Seymour Duncan Distortion humbuckers — a TB-6 in the bridge and an SH-6N in the neck — to elicit evocative, nuanced tones. What’s more, the shred-optimized neck features Chavel’s wide “U” speed neck and a compound-radius fingerboard that moves from 12 to 16 inches as you close in on the higher frets. When you need that last bit of expressive oomph, your Floyd Rose 1000 Series tremolo is ready for tonal trapezing.
| Product: | Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 1 HH FR M |
| Body Type: | Solidbody |
| Body Wood: | Alder |
| Neck: | Maple |
| Fingerboard: | Maple |
| Electronics: | Neck: Seymour Duncan Distortion SH-6N Humbucker; Bridge: Seymour Duncan Distortion TB-6 Humbucker |
| Sounds Like: | Modern Metal |
| Pros: | • Radiates the instantly recognizable California vibe • Push-pull coil tap • Floyd Rose double-locking trem for you to dive-bomb without wrecking your tuning |
| Cons: | None to speak of at this price point! |
Godin 5th Avenue CW Kingpin II P-90 Hollowbody Electric Guitar
Sharp looks, superlative sound, and timeless style
Hollowbody electric guitars are a fantastic choice for a smattering of sounds, from jazz and Delta blues to rock ‘n’ roll and any number of country styles. The Godin 5th Avenue CW Kingpin II P-90 hollwbody electric guitar is nothing short of a masterclass in this superlative sonic versatility, and it all starts with the tonewoods. Its body’s archtop, back, and sides are crafted from Canadian wild cherry, a material known for its rich sonics, balance across the midrange, sustaining clarity, and heaps of projection. A silver-leaf maple neck imbues your tones with an overarching brightness and fantastic note separation, remaining tight throughout each register and bolstering lows and highs. Its rosewood fingerboard caps things off with a crystalline veneer, keeping tones clear and full with a shimmering style. Interestingly, a set of P-90 pickups capture every nuance of the distinctive hollowbody sound, from subtle and soft to growling grit.
| Product: | Godin 5th Avenue CW Kingpin II P-90 |
| Body Type: | Hollowbody |
| Body Wood: | Canadian Wild Cherry |
| Neck: | Silver-leaf Maple |
| Fingerboard: | Rosewood |
| Electronics: | 2 Godin Kingpin P-90 Single-coils |
| Sounds Like: | Folk |
| Pros: | • Unique tonewoods that will set you apart from other guitarists • Hollowbody style for a thick and full sound • P-90s to give your tone a nice midrange bump |
| Cons: | The configuration of two P-90 pickups may not be for everyone. Other guitars from the Godin 5th Avenue series offer more tonal flexibility. |
Best Electric Guitars Above $1,000
Fender American Vintage II 1961 Stratocaster Electric Guitar
Historic tones to light up your sound!
Throughout the decades, Fender’s ubiquitous Stratocaster has endured as a standby 6-string that has found homes in genres far beyond the reaches of its ’60s surf-rock roots. While it’s difficult to go wrong with any Strat, the Fender American Vintage II 1961 Stratocaster electric guitar is far more than a fancy title and flashy finish. Fender’s luthiers spared no effort in ensuring this Strat would reproduce all of the appointments of its namesake-era’s design with exacting detail. Its tonewood triptych comprises an alder body, a maple neck, and a rosewood fingerboard, boasting a bone nut, a 25-1/2-inch scale, and 21 vintage-tall frets sprawling its classic, 7-1/4-inch fingerboard radius, culminating in the iconic tones that would define rock ‘n’ roll. Nitro finish? Check. Vintage synchronized tremolo? Check. Authentic ’61 C-shaped neck profile, “Fender Deluxe” tuning machines, and Pure Vintage ’61 single-coil pickups? Check, please!
| Product: | Fender American Vintage II 1961 Stratocaster |
| Body Type: | Solidbody |
| Body Wood: | Alder |
| Neck: | Maple |
| Fingerboard: | Rosewood |
| Electronics: | 3 Pure Vintage ’61 Strat Single-coils |
| Sounds Like: | Classic Rock |
| Pros: | • A plethora of tonal options with the 3 single-coil pickups • Vintage-looking and vintage-sounding • Made in the USA in Corona, California |
| Cons: | S-style guitars may not be for everyone. Luckily, the Fender American Vintage II series has many different guitars and pickup configurations to choose from. |
Gibson SG Standard ’61 Faded Maestro Vibrola Electric Guitar
Onboard Vibrola and pre-Plek’d frets — it’s anything but standard!
This Gibson SG Standard ’61 Faded Maestro Vibrola electric guitar features a rustic, faded Vintage Cherry finish for serious ’60s charm. Gibsonites and SG players who land on the cleaner side of SG tone can get great mileage from this SG’s Maestro Vibrola, which puts buttery-smooth bends within easy reach. This SG is traditionally voiced for vintage-tinged firepower with two ’60s Gibson Burstbucker humbucking pickups onboard. These Burstbuckers are widely considered the best PAF-style humbuckers available today. Played clean, Burstbuckers capture classic PAF crispness but will instantly saturate when pushed for stadium-worthy sounds. What’s more, this SG’s rosewood fingerboard is pretreated to a Plek’d fret-leveling process worth several hundred dollars. The computer-guided Plek Pro process levels and dresses all your frets for flawless comfort and consistency straight out of the box.
| Product: | Gibson SG Standard ’61 Faded Maestro Vibrola |
| Body Type: | Solidbody |
| Body Wood: | Mahogany |
| Neck: | Mahogany |
| Fingerboard: | Rosewood |
| Electronics: | 2 Gibson ’60s Burstbucker Humbuckers |
| Sounds Like: | Classic Rock |
| Pros: | • Iconic double-horned body and sound • Maestro Vibrola tailpiece for you to add vibrato to your sound • Plek’d frets for effortless playability |
| Cons: | The SG may not be for you, but luckily, the Gibson Original Collection has a wide array of guitars that will suit almost every player. |
D’Angelico Excel Mini DC Tour Semi-hollowbody Electric Guitar
Slimmed-down size, uncompromising sonic potential
D’Angelico’s unparalleled expertise revolves in no small part around its mastery of hollowbody, semi-hollowbody, and acoustic guitar design, meticulously balancing tonewoods, electronics, and resonance to produce an evocative suite of sonic possibilities. With the D’Angelico Excel Mini DC Tour semi-hollowbody electric guitar, the company’s classic DC body is slimmed down for an instrument equally worthy of the road and the stage — all without compromising tone. Sustain and clarity abound thanks to its ebony fingerboard and laminated maple body. Its 3-piece maple and walnut neck increases dimensional stability to prevent warping or twisting, donning a flexible C-shaped profile to comfortably accommodate countless styles. Dual Supro Bolt Bucker pickups expertly capture the bright, resonant tones of the Mini DC Tour, flavoring them with their own indelible warmth.
| Product: | D’Angelico Excel Mini DC Tour |
| Body Type: | Semi-hollowbody |
| Body Wood: | Laminated Maple |
| Neck: | 3-piece Maple / Walnut / Maple |
| Fingerboard: | Ebony |
| Electronics: | 2 Supor Bolt Bucker Humbuckers |
| Sounds Like: | R&B and Soul |
| Pros: | • Has a smaller body than other 335-style semi-hollowbody guitars • Dual humbuckers that deliver warm, articulate tone with plenty of sonic firepower • C-shaped neck that is comfortable for all styles and players |
| Cons: | None to speak of at this price point! |
ESP LTD KH-V Kirk Hammett Signature Electric Guitar
“Trapped Under Ice”-cold style!
A quick look at Kirk Hammett’s collection of distinctive axes reveals an affinity for Super-S body styles, vintage horror-film art direction, and pointy guitars. His history with V-shaped tools of metal and mayhem spans multiple decades and manufacturers, but an entry with ESP has been missing since the late 1990s. More than 25 years later, however, the dark horse rides again with the eye-grabbing ESP LTD KH-V Kirk Hammett Signature electric guitar, complete with a dazzling Black Sparkle finish and loaded with Hammett’s signature EMG Bone Breaker humbuckers customized to feature both ceramic and Alnico V magnets to evoke the diverse suite of Hammett’s crushing riffs and solos. This LTD KH-V is engineered for speed, utilizing ESP’s next-gen SV body, which was made famous by the ESP LTD Alexi Hexed prolific signature electric guitar model, finding an LTD Signature–series sibling in the ESP LTD Gary Holt GH-SV Signature electric guitar as well. Unlike these, however, the KH-V is the only option currently available to feature a TOM-style bridge and string-through design for those who don’t fancy a locking tremolo.
| Product: | ESP LTD KH-V Kirk Hammett Signature |
| Body Type: | Solidbody |
| Body Wood: | Korina |
| Neck: | Maple |
| Fingerboard: | Ebony |
| Electronics: | 2 EMG Bone Breaker Humbuckers |
| Sounds Like: | Thrash Metal |
| Pros: | • Made with all of Kirk Hammett’s specs • Comes in 3 unique and eye-catching color schemes • ESP’s only LTD SV guitar available with a string-through design |
| Cons: | This model isn’t very versatile in terms of genre. For more tonal options, check out the rest of the ESP LTD Signature series. |
Fender Gold Foil Jazzmaster Electric Guitar
Fender’s spring surprise
Fender gave players a spring surprise this year with a new line of classic body shapes outfitted with Gold Foil pickups. This odd but endearing Fender Gold Foil Jazzmaster electric guitar has quickly become an overwhelming fan favorite for its unique mahogany body and ample pickup options. Three Gold Foil mini humbuckers combined with a switching system inspired by the Fender Jaguar fuel old-school grit and chime with more heft than either classic Jazzmaster single-coils or standard Gold Foils can provide. This Jazzmaster’s Gold Foils feature Alnico V magnets for significantly more punch than retro versions — consider them vintage-inspired with modern output that won’t leave long cable runs fighting for juice. Pair this guitar with a Fender Hammertone Overdrive pedal for garage grit, or go clean with a Fender Tre-Verb Tremolo/Reverb pedal for humbucker warmth with lo-fi charm. Oh, and there’s an authentic Bigsby, too. Bend on, you crazy diamond!
| Product: | Fender Gold Foil Jazzmaster |
| Body Type: | Solidbody |
| Body Wood: | Mahogany |
| Neck: | Maple |
| Fingerboard: | Ebony |
| Electronics: | 3 Fender Gold Foil Mini Humbuckers |
| Sounds Like: | Garage Rock, Lo-fi, and Indie Rock |
| Pros: | • A new look for a cult classic • Mustang-style bridge for enhanced stability • B50 tremolo for surfy warble and deep vibrato |
| Cons: | The Fender Gold Foil series steps away from traditional Fender tonewoods and pickups. For a more traditional Jazzmaster, check out the Fender American Professional II Jazzmaster. |
Strandberg Boden Prog NX 6 Electric Guitar
Headless, multi-scale, and precision-engineered performance
Strandberg has become synonymous with headless shred machines, and while naysayers may have thought it would be a trend not dissimilar to a comparable fad of the ’80s, Strandberg has illustrated that there’s plenty of tonal territory to be explored with headless designs. In other words, this isn’t about novelty, and the company’s flagship Strandberg Boden Prog NX 6 electric guitar is a masterclass in efficiency, precision-engineered for maximum sonic potential. Its maple-topped swamp ash body and cutting-edge Richlite fingerboard balance heft and clarity with sonorous sustain. With 24 frets sprawling, a subtle multi-scale fretboard, and a 20-inch radius, the Boden Prog NX 6 is the pre-eminent choice for modern metal guitarists who appreciate the sonic integrity of high-octane play in any style and tuning. Moreover, its pair of Suhr SSV and SSH+ humbuckers blend heat and articulation, and the 5-way blade switch provides ample aural flexibility. Throw in Strandberg’s EGS Rev7 Tremolo, and you’ll never come up short on expressive potential.
| Product: | Strandberg Boden Prog NX 6 |
| Body Type: | Solidbody |
| Body Wood: | Swamp Ash |
| Neck: | Maple |
| Fingerboard: | Richlite |
| Electronics: | Neck: Suhr SSV Humbucker; Bridge: Suhr SSH+ Humbucker |
| Sounds Like: | Modern Metal |
| Pros: | • Incredibly lightweight and comfortable • Dual humbuckers that deliver a plethora of tones • One of the most eye-catching guitars on this list |
| Cons: | The design and body shape of this model may not be for everyone. For a more traditional design, check out the Fender American Vintage II 1961 Stratocaster electric guitar. |
Electric Guitar Buying Guide
Who hasn’t dreamed of playing guitar in front of thousands of screaming fans? While Sweetwater can help you hone your guitar skills (attend our Sweetwater Academy of Music & Technology for lessons!), we can also put the right axe in your hands! This Sweetwater buying guide includes information to help you choose the best electric guitar for your needs. Since there’s so much to consider when purchasing an electric guitar, don’t hesitate to call us at (800) 222-4700 for more information.
- The Anatomy of an Electric Guitar
- Electric Guitar Tonewoods: Sonic Signature
- 3 Bodies, 3 Different Sounds
- How Pickups Can Influence the Sound of Your Electric Guitar
- Electric Guitar Necks Explained
- Do Frets Matter?
- What to Look for in an Electric Guitar
The Anatomy of an Electric Guitar
Electric guitars are available in very diverse body styles, tonewoods, and electronics. We’ll discuss some of the critical aspects below. You can learn more about the individual components of an electric guitar in our “Parts of a Guitar” inSync article.
Electric Guitar Tonewoods: Sonic Signature
Since the earliest days of music, instruments and different wood types have had relationships, and electric guitars are no different. The woods used in electric guitars are referred to as “tonewoods.” These are well-known for having desirable tones and sustains when used in musical instruments. It’s interesting to note that the wood itself takes on different characteristics depending on which part of the guitar it’s used.
The woods listed below are the most common tonewoods for electric guitars, though you will find others. Even though one guitar may have the same tonewoods as another, they may still sound very different.
Common tonewoods:
- Alder: lightweight with a balanced tone
- Ash: open grain with a balanced tone; great for transparent finishes
- Basswood: lightweight and warm-sounding with strong mids
- Korina: medium-to-heavy weight; very warm with less highs
- Mahogany: medium-to-heavy weight; very warm with great sustain
- Maple: medium-to-heavy weight; very bright with long sustain
- Poplar: lightweight hard wood with a bright and crisp tone
Common neck woods:
- Maple: dense, hard, and strong; very bright-sounding with great sustain
- Mahogany: very warm- and fat-sounding
Common fretboard woods:
- Maple: dense, hard, and strong; fast playing; very bright with great sustain
- Rosewood: smooth and fast with a very warm tone
- Ebony: very hard wood; smooth and fast playing; very bright with long sustain
- Pau ferro: very hard wood; smooth and fast playing; brighter than rosewood and warmer than ebony
3 Bodies, 3 Different Sounds
Electric guitars come in three primary types: solidbody, semi-hollowbody, and hollowbody. Solidbody guitars have . . . well, solid wood bodies. The hollowbody guitar is built like an acoustic guitar with a completely hollow inside. And a semi-hollowbody guitar adds a solid center block to a hollowbody design.
How Pickups Can Influence the Sound of Your Electric Guitar
Single-coil Pickups
The first electric guitars all used single-coil pickups. A single-coil pickup has only one coil of wire. It may have a single magnet, a single magnet with screws for adjustable pole pieces, or a separate magnet for each string. Regardless of the number and arrangement of magnets, it is still a single-coil pickup if it has only one coil of wire.
Unfortunately, a coil of wire is also a very efficient antenna. A coil of wire will “pluck” electromagnetic radiation out of the air. We are surrounded everywhere by this radiation — most notably the 60-cycle hum from building wiring, the electrical noises from fluorescent lighting, and computer monitors or cell phones. In short, single-coil pickups are very susceptible to electromagnetic fields.
Single-coil pickups have a thin, clean, and transparent sound. These pickups are usually about 0.75 inch wide and 2.5 inches long. Single-coil pickups are common on such Fender guitars as Stratocasters and Telecasters — guitars that are both very common in rock, country, and pop. Notable users of the Fender Strat single-coil sound include Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Famous Tele players include Bruce Springsteen, Buck Owens, and Johnny Paycheck. P-90s are another version of single-coil pickups with a tone that sits somewhere between a Strat-style single-coil pickup and a PAF-style humbucker pickup.
Humbucker Pickups
In the 1950s, Ted McCarty, the president of Gibson and an engineer by training, assigned Walt Fuller and Seth Lover the task of designing a pickup that would not be prone to “humming” in the presence of transformers, rheostats, and other electrical interferences. Lover began work in 1954 and a year later filed a patent application for a pickup that utilized two coils to cancel or “buck” the hum, commonly known now as a “humbucker.”
A humbucker ingeniously employs two wire coils instead of one, and the coils are wired “out of phase” so that any hum (or EMF) introduced in either coil is canceled when the output of the two coils is combined.
Electric Guitar Necks Explained
No two guitarists are alike, and their guitar preferences vary widely. That extends to guitar necks, too — you’ll find an almost bewildering variety offered by different guitar makers! But we can pare down the neck issue to four important factors: the wood (type and number of pieces), the neck joint (how it connects to the guitar’s body), the profile (width, thickness, and shape), and the fingerboard radius.
What “Wood” You Do?
Whether your guitar’s neck is one piece or made of two or more sections laminated together (this often makes the neck stronger), the wood used to make it is often a debated topic. The issues center on the wood’s “hardness” (which is determined by the tightness of the wood grain) and weight (which is a crucial factor in constructing a balanced guitar). Here’s a brief description of some commonly used neck woods:
- Maple: This was what Leo Fender used on the first solidbody electric (which became known as the Telecaster). Maple is moderately hard and has a medium weight, which, for Fender, worked well without causing the guitar to become neck-heavy. Fender also let the maple serve as the guitar’s fingerboard.
- Mahogany: Acoustic guitars have used this as neck material for a long time. It is slightly more “flexible” than maple and a bit lighter than maple, too. Its distinctive dark natural color makes a very attractive contrast to a maple or spruce top. Many acoustics also use mahogany for their backs and sides.
- Rosewood: This tight-grained, heavy wood comes in a number of varieties. One type — Brazilian rosewood — is now rare and expensive as a result of overuse and deforestation. Rosewood is also often used for fingerboards due to its smooth, hard surface. Paul Reed Smith builds electrics with rosewood necks, and many acoustics have used this wood, as well.
- Pau ferro: This up-and-coming replacement for Brazilian rosewood (the name literally means “iron wood”) is heavy and nonporous, which makes it easy to finish and popular for necks and fingerboards.
- Basswood: Considering this wood’s relatively wide grain, which makes it “softer” than others, basswood has found a place in both economy acoustics and high-end electric settings.
No Joint Pains for These Necks!
The neck joint is the point at which the neck is attached to the guitar’s body. This is an important process for a couple of reasons. Firstly, the joint must be able to withstand the pressure and stress created when guitar strings are installed and tensioned — and that pressure can be very high! Secondly, joining the neck to the guitar’s body will affect the tone of the finished instrument, if only due to the increased mass of the guitar. For these reasons and more, the neck joint is carefully designed and constructed in both acoustic and electric guitars. There are three primary methods of attaching the neck:
- Set (or set-in) neck: This simply means that the neck is glued into place. This method has been used as long as acoustic guitars have existed and is almost always used in acoustic guitar construction (with one notable exception described below). The set neck is carefully cut to match its mounting point on the guitar body, and the two sections are almost always connected with dovetail joints to maximize the gluing surface and minimize neck wiggle. Gibson Les Pauls are prime examples of electric guitars with set necks.
- Bolt-on neck: This term was applied to Leo Fender’s Telecaster. Ironically, Fender didn’t use bolts at all — his guitar neck was attached to the slab body with four wood screws. Nevertheless, the name stuck. Some manufacturers actually do use bolts. Taylor, a custom builder of acoustic and electric guitars, developed a special bolt-on design in which the head of the bolt is inside the body of the guitar. Almost all other bolt-on necks are seen on solidbody electrics.
- Neck-through body: This approach is limited exclusively to solidbody guitars. The neck is actually an integral part of the guitar’s body and extends the entire length of the instrument. In fact, Les Paul’s early experimental guitars began with a 4-inch wood post that ran from tail to headstock, with the sawed-off halves of a guitar body glued onto its sides. More advanced neck-through designs use dovetail joints or dados (one-piece “tabs” that fit into the slots of others) to connect the full-length neck to the body wings. Some players feel that the lower mass of the body wings cuts down on low-frequency resonance, creating a bright, thin-sounding guitar. Neck-through instruments work well in high-volume playing situations that call for definition and clear low end. Some neck-through guitars (a Gibson Firebird, for example) use a mahogany neck piece. This softer wood provides a warmer, rounder tone more characteristic of a set-neck guitar.
Profiles: “C,” “U,” or “V”?
The neck profile (the shape of the neck) is probably the most personal element of a guitar. It affects how your hand and fingers “fit” the neck and how easily you can move from fret to fret. From early on, acoustic guitars employed some variation of a “C” shape. Electric guitar makers have experimented extensively, and a variety of profiles have evolved with the preferences of players. Jeff Beck’s favorite Fender Stratocasters had very fat “C” shapes; current models of Fender’s Custom Artist Jeff Beck Signature Strat have a smaller “C” to be more player-friendly. Similar to the “C” shape is the oval neck profile. This offers a less pronounced curve at the back, and it has its followers.
On the other side is the “U” shape — an almost rectangular shape that appeared on many Fenders and is perhaps best for players with long fingers. Eric Clapton has favored a V-shaped neck that provides a comfortable groove down the middle. A variation on this is the “inverted V,” which is thicker on the bass side and thinner on the treble side.
Width is as much a factor in the neck profile as shape, leading some guitar makers to abandon the letter analogy and begin describing profiles as “wide-fat” or “regular-thin” and so on. In these cases, widths are “wide,” “regular,” or “narrow,” and depths range from “fat” to “regular” to “thin.” This often provides a clearer description of the profile and can help you when you’re shopping for guitars online. Paul Reed Smith, for example, uses these types of descriptions.
Fingerboard Radius
Electric guitar fingerboards are typically rounded, and the degree of that arc is expressed as the “radius.” The fingerboard radius is the curvature of the fingerboard across the neck from the lowest string to the highest string and is measured like the radius of a circle. If the number is lower, such as 7.25 inches, then the fretboard will be rounder. If the number is higher, such as 12 or 16 inches, then the fretboard will be flatter. To learn more about fingerboard radius, including compound-radius fingerboards, check out our excellent inSync article, “What Is Fingerboard Radius?“
Do Frets Matter?
Most guitar players really don’t give a lot of thought to the frets, though these can influence both tone and playability. Instead, most players will view the frets as an integral part of a guitar’s fingerboard. If a guitar has a smooth, playable neck that allows you to bend notes, do hammer-ons and pull-offs, and deliver clean articulations at all positions up and down the neck, then it means that the frets have been perfectly matched and properly “dressed” to provide the best overall action. The bottom line is that frets do matter, but it’s the manufacturer that is best qualified to determine what size and thickness of fret wire matches the fingerboards of their instruments.
The number of frets on a guitar determines the number of notes available for each string. A guitar with 24 frets offers two more notes at the highest register than a guitar with 22 frets.
What to Look for in an Electric Guitar
Body Style, Wood & Finish
Electric guitars come in three basic body styles: solidbody, semi-hollowbody, and hollowbody. When sustain, loud amplification, and lots of effects are required, a solidbody guitar is a good choice. Semi-hollowbody guitars are useful when more of the acoustic sound of the guitar with high levels of amplification is needed. Hollowbody guitars (also called “jazz” guitars) provide the acoustic sound of the guitar but can be prone to feedback at high levels of amplification.
The choice of wood naturally affects the tone and weight of a guitar, but so do a number of other factors. More expensive woods don’t necessarily mean a better-sounding guitar. The important question for you to consider is whether or not you like the sound of the instrument.
With electrics, the type of finish does not affect sound as much as it does with acoustics, but you needn’t worry about it in either case. Guitar makers take this into account when they build the instrument.
Neck, Frets, Scale Length & Intonation
Choosing the type of neck for your guitar depends on the size of your hand. Necks come in a number of shapes, such as “C,” “thin,” “wide-thin,” etc.
Some people believe that a set (or glued-in) neck offers more sustain than a bolt-on neck. This may affect which instrument you choose, but if you want a Fender Stratocaster, then the neck is bolted on. Period. Conversely, if you choose a Gibson Les Paul, it comes with a set neck.
Scale length influences both the tonal quality of the notes produced and the tension of the string at a particular pitch. Scale length refers to the vibrating length of the string, which is determined by the distance between the nut and the bridge saddle. Fret placement is a ratio based on scale length, so longer scales have more distance between frets. Most electric guitars come with 22 frets. However, if you like to play in the high register, then a 24-fret neck will give you a full octave above the 12th fret.
Most modern electric guitars employ one of two commonly used scale lengths: the “Gibson” scale (at 24.75 inches) gives the Les Paul its round attack and thick bass, and the “Fender” scale (at 25.5 inches) gives the Strat its clear, cutting quality. A third scale length, the 25-inch scale, which is used by Paul Reed Smith, among others, produces a distinctive tone but is not a compromise between “Gibson” and “Fender.”
Intonation determines whether or not the notes are in tune as you move up the neck. If the distance between the frets (usually above the 12th fret) is off, then the guitar will be incapable of playing in tune and, therefore, useless as a recording or performance instrument.
Bridge, Pickups & Tuning Machines
There are two main types of bridges for electric guitars: tremolo and stoptail. The tremolo bridge (or whammy bar) allows you to “dive” or bend all the strings at once, but it can throw strings out of tune. The stoptail bridge is more stable as far as tuning is concerned, and, because it is fixed to the body, some players feel that it provides more sustain than the tremolo bridge (which “floats” above the body).
Some guitars have two pickups — one close to the neck, which provides a thicker sound, and one close to the bridge, which produces a more treble-like, “twangy” sound. A 3-position switch allows you to choose between pickups or blend them. Some guitars have a 5-position switch, which blends the pickups and changes their phase relationship to produce “glassy” tones. A third, or middle, pickup is also available on some guitars for more sound-blending options.
The type of tuning machines on your guitar is very important. This is what allows you to tune the strings and maintain the correct pitch. Enclosed machine heads resist rust and airborne corrosives and, therefore, don’t require as much maintenance or replacement as open tuning machines.
What Are You Waiting for? Get a New Electric Guitar Today!
So, what are you waiting for? There’s never been a better time to buy an electric guitar. In fact, there’s never a wrong time to buy an electric guitar! Shop solidbody, semi-hollowbody, and hollowbody electric guitars at Sweetwater, or reach out to your Sweetwater Sales Engineer at (800) 222-4700 to get started today!
