Getting that dream electric can sometimes cost a lot. Whether you are wanting a vintage, American-made guitar or one that has been handcrafted in renowned shops in other parts of the world, there is no denying that it’s going to require a few more clams than an average salary might provide. The good news is that there are numerous electric guitars under $750 that deliver impeccable design, tone, and playability. Let’s take a look.
Epiphone Explorer “Inspired by Gibson”
First up is a stylish classic that just keeps on giving by way of unique feel and killer playability. The Epiphone Explorer “Inspired by Gibson” (IBG) is a captivating offset-body guitar that harkens back to a wonderful “twist” in both rock ‘n’ roll history and design. This IBG Epiphone Explorer features a lightweight, resonant mahogany body that delivers amazing sustain when amplified via a pair of ProBucker humbuckers. A comfortable SlimTaper neck and a smooth Indian laurel fingerboard mean effortless playability, and a LockTone Tune-o-matic bridge and a stopbar tailpiece ensure maximum sustain. If you love classic tone, then these PAF-style humbuckers will only make you love it more. With Alnico II magnets, the ProBuckers pack a ton of rich, warm tone with beautiful highs and a snug bottom end. Plug in the IBG Epiphone Explorer, crank up the volume, and prepare to shake the walls without wringing out your wallet!
PRS SE Standard 24
Another very affordable guitar is the PRS SE Standard 24. The Standard 24 earned its rep and its name through years of winning over players with its streamlined, no-nonsense playability and impeccable craftsmanship. Built from an all-mahogany body, the Standard 24 delivers a stunningly warm tone that is articulate and inviting. A Pattern Wide Thin neck profile with a smooth rosewood fingerboard offers that legendary response and overall feel that so many players talk about. Driving the tone of the Standard 24 are a pair of PRS 85/15 “S” humbucking pickups with push-pull coil-splitting options that let you dial in a wide range of single-coil tones along with classic ‘bucker sound. And a PRS-designed vibrato bridge supports stellar sustain and tuning stability. The Standard 24 is a true workhorse electric that won’t require an extra job to afford!
Yamaha Pacifica
Next up, the Yamaha Pacifica. This affordable electric is absolutely packed with tone, featuring three pickups — a Seymour Duncan Custom TB-14 humbucker in the bridge position and two Seymour Duncan SSL-1 pickups in the middle and neck positions. Tapping into the 5-position blade, master volume, and master tone with push-pull control that lets you split the humbucker, you will get delightfully lost in a world of tonal exploration sure to suit any genre. The Pacifica also comes with a Wilkinson VS50 bridge that provides incredible tonal support as well as a tremolo arm for even more tonal stylings. The price point on this incredible electric, along with its amazing design and playability, makes the Pacifica too good to pass by!
Epiphone Emperor Swingster
If you’re looking to infuse your sound with some vintage twangy tone, the Emperor Swingster from Epiphone really sings! This stunning hollowbody is perfect for jazz, blues, rockabilly, country, and rock, making it incredibly diverse. The Swingster features a resonant, all-maple body with a mahogany neck and a laurel fingerboard. The Swingster is loaded with two specially designed SwingBucker pickups that kick out impeccable, no-hum performance with vintage Alnico V magnets, enamel wire, and overwound coils. The results are nothing short of terrific: warm, biting twang that sings above the mix whenever you desire! And, because Epiphone knows you’re a player with style, the Swingster also comes with a Tune-o-matic bridge and a classic Bigsby vibrato for when you really want to sling that twang and make it your own!
Fender Player Telecaster
If you have ever wanted to get your hands on a Telecaster without breaking the bank, then the Fender Player Series Telecaster is your answer. This classic Tele has all the vintage look, tone, and playability of a collector’s Tele at well under half the price. Just one of the centerpieces of a Tele is that legendary neck, and the Player Series Tele does not disappoint in this area. The maple neck and maple fingerboard are instantly comfortable, being cut to a modern “C” profile that sits in your hand with an uncanny balance that will have you jamming and enjoying every minute. The Player Tele proves something that many players — Muddy Waters, Keith Richards, Joe Strummer, and John 5 — discovered early on in their careers: the Tele is not a one-dimensional guitar. Thanks to its design and a pair of Alnico V single-coil pickups, the Fender Player Telecaster delivers everything from country twang to jazz-friendly articulation to heavy-hitting rock ‘n’ roll! Make up your mind and get your hands on this amazing Tele today!
Kramer Baretta Vintage
Maybe you lived through the ’80s metal era and are still rocking out. Or maybe your parents lived through it and you’re a fan of the classic ’80s metal that defined their generation. Either way, the Kramer Baretta Vintage is an amazing electric that captures that vintage style, tone, and playability of a moment in music that still retains a lot of resonance for so many even today. In the early ’80s, the Kramer Baretta was one of the metal guitars that so many players sought out for its legendary, lightning-fast neck and overall shred-friendly design. The Baretta Vintage features a maple body that delivers an extra-bright tone with legendary sustain that pushes its way to the front without apology, thanks to a single slanted Seymour Duncan JB bridge pickup. And, of course, no shred-focused heavy hitter would be complete without a classic Floyd Rose tremolo bridge for all the dive-bombing, twisting, and bending you desire!
Gretsch G2622 Streamliner
Last up is the Gretsch G2622 Streamliner. This affordable electric puts bona fide semi-hollow electric tone in your hands and will have you jamming for hours, delighted by the sonic goodness it offers. The Streamliner is constructed from a 5-ply, arched maple body that, along with the pair of Broad’Tron pickups, puts out a captivating snappy, open tone that has cemented Gretsch as a favorite among so many rockabilly, jazz, and blues players. A key feature of the Streamliner is the weight-relieved spruce center block that gives it real hollowbody tone while keeping feedback in check. And the thin, U-shaped nato neck with a laurel fingerboard is insanely responsive and smooth — perfect for jazz and rockabilly runs and riffs. And your eyes won’t miss the classic Gretsch “V” stoptail tailpiece that provides meaty sustain and outstanding tonal support.
Whatever your budget, Sweetwater has the perfect guitar for you or the loved one in your life. Call your Sweetwater Sales Engineer at (800) 222-4700 to learn more about these instruments or about any of the hundreds of other guitars we carry.
