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Best Electric Guitars

Updated February 2023
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Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Fender Telecaster 6-string guitar
Fender
Telecaster 6-String guitar
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Iconic Style
Bottom Line

Fender's Telecaster gives intermediate guitar players a beloved model to shred on whether they're right- or left-handed.

Pros

The black, C-neck body with tan neck combine to give this one a touch of vintage flare. The guitar comes with two single-coil Telecaster pickups. The Telecaster keeps strings tight and in tune while you play.

Cons

No case included. Beginners will want to try something cheaper.

Best Bang for the Buck
Donner DST Electric Guitar Kit
Donner
DST Electric Guitar Kit
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Best for Beginners
Bottom Line

A comprehensive set with an amplifier, bag, capo, strap, string, tuner, cable, and picks for beginners and returning hobbyists.

Pros

Everything a beginner needs is included with this set. There are left- and right-handed models available for a bargain price. The guitar body comes from quality Canadian maplewood. The mini amplifier is great for practice that won't wake neighbors.

Cons

It's a quality guitar for the price, but experienced users should look elsewhere.

Fender Vintera '60s Telecaster
Fender
Vintera '60s Telecaster
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Throwback Style
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This 60s-style design is perfect for those looking for a classic rock aesthetic.

Pros

Four-way switch offers plenty of different tones with single-coil pickups. Alder body and maple neck offer durability. Features a unique design and construction.

Cons

Doesn't accommodate all playing styles.

Yamaha Sunburst Guitar
Yamaha
Sunburst Guitar
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Highly Playable
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A beginner-friendly electric guitar with a rustic maple body that gives it a violin-like finish.

Pros

This vintage tremolo guitar comes from a trusted name in musical instruments at an affordable cost. The rustic design gives it a smoky jazz aesthetic, and with custom dials and beginner-friendly design, it's a great gift for interested musicians.

Cons

No case is included.

Ibanez Semi-Hollow 6-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Ibanez
Semi-Hollow 6-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar
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Acoustic Electric
Bottom Line

This semi-hollow mahogany guitar gives out clean acoustic sound on its own and connects to your app for the blues and country riffing.

Pros

It doesn't look like your standard acoustic electric guitar. The classic design gives it professional flare. The pickup controls help you reach your ideal tone. Customers love its clean, crisp sound both plugged and unplugged.

Cons

No stand or case included

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

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Buying guide for Best electric guitars

In the wise words of Radiohead, anyone can play guitar — so if you've ever had the urge to shred on stage, or simply learn some of your favorite songs, it's never too late to pick up an axe and channel your inner rockstar.

However, choosing an electric guitar can be a challenge, especially if you're a brand new player, or you're selecting one as a gift. An electric guitar can be an expensive purchase, so you don't want to make the wrong choice and end up with a sub-par instrument.

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Think about what type of music you'll mostly be playing, as it may affect your choice of guitar. For instance, twin humbucker SG’s generally sound full and are suited to loud, heavy music, whereas telecasters have a distinctive twang often associated with country music.

Types of electric guitars

Electric guitars can be classified according to their price range, as it usually follows that you get what you pay for in the world of musical instruments.

Budget electric guitars

Budget electric guitars are best for beginners. Popular manufacturers to look for include Epiphone, Squier, Yamaha, and Vintage.

  • Pros: Affordable, good for learning on if you're not sure you'll take to playing guitar.

  • Cons: Lower quality construction and hardware, not as durable as high-end models.

  • Price: $100 to $400

Mid-range electric guitars

Mid-range electric guitars are good for competent guitarists who want to move on from their beginner models.

Popular manufacturers to look for include Schecter, Cort, Ibanez, and Danelectro. You may also find some basic Fenders and Gibsons in this price range.

  • Pros: You can find some excellent models in this price range, good for both intermediate and advanced players. They can provide an excellent sound when paired with the right amp and effects.

  • Cons: They may not feel as nice to play as high-end models, and some guitars in this price range aren't worth the money.

  • Price: $400 to $800

High-end electric guitars

High end electric guitars are good for performing and recording musicians, as well as collectors.

Popular manufacturers include Gretsch, Gibson, Fender, and PRS.

  • Pros: Constructed from highest quality materials, featuring top-notch pickups and hardware, with excellent feel and playability.

  • Cons: Out of many people's price range.

  • Price: $800 to $10,000 or more — but you can find some top-quality guitars under $2,000.

Electric guitar styles

You've probably noticed electric guitars come in a range of shapes or styles. While the style may make a small amount of difference to the sound of the guitar, it's insignificant enough that we encourage choosing a style of guitar depending on what you like the look of.

Here are some of the most popular styles of electric guitar.

Stratocaster

Perhaps one of the most classic and easily-recognizable styles of guitars out there, the Stratocaster (or "Strat") has a deep double cutaway, creating a horn-like effect.

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Did you know?
A cutaway is an indentation in the body of the guitar, adjacent to the neck, allowing for easier access to the upper frets. Electric guitars may either have a double or single cutaway.
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SG

Take a look at a few metal bands, and we're sure you'll see a few SGs in the mix. These guitars have a double cutaway with distinctive pointed "horns".

Flying V

The iconic flying v has a distinctive, V-shaped body that made it popular in the thrash metal scene.

"Many guitar styles originated from either Fender or Gibson — two of the earliest manufacturers of electric guitars — and spread in popularity from there."
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Telecaster

The Telecaster is fairly similar in shape to the Strat, but has a single, rather than double, cutaway.

Les Paul

The Les Paul is another classic style, often favored by heavy rock musicians, such as Slash. It has a single cutaway, but with a much curvier, more rounded appearance than the Telecaster.

"You may not notice a difference in audio quality between high end and mid-range guitars, especially if you're going for a lo-fi sound."
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Considerations for selecting an electric guitar

Solid body vs. hollow body

The majority of electric guitars are solid body models, meaning the body is made from one solid chunk of wood. You can, however, find hollow body electric guitars that look and sound more similar to acoustic guitars.

Hollow body electric guitars often produce a richer tone with extra sustain, but may not be suitable for playing heavier music, since they can produce feedback when played at high volumes.

"Fret markers are inlaid into the fretboard of a guitar to act as a visual aid; they help you play the right notes. Most are simple dots, but some guitars have more intricate fret marker designs, such as diamonds, roses, bats, or crosses."
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Tonewood

The term "tonewood" refers to certain varieties of wood that have tonal properties which improve the sound a guitar makes. Popular tonewoods for guitars include maple, mahogany, rosewood, walnut, swamp ash, basswood, alder, and ebony.

Depending on the type of wood, it may give you a warm or a bright tone, or something in between the two. Many guitars are made from a variety of woods, with different kinds used for the body, neck, and fretboard.

While the material a guitar is made from will make a slight difference to the tone, you'll find a huge range of factors at play. So, unless you're a self-confessed audiophile, don't fret over the type of wood used. As long as it's quality wood, you should get an excellent tone.

Pickups

Pickups "pick up" the string's vibrations and turn them into an electronic signal. They're among the most important parts of an electric guitar, and they help dictate the kind of sound it produces. Most guitars have either single coil pickups, double coil pickups (more commonly known as humbuckers), or one of each.

Single coil pickups give a brighter sound that can cut through mix, so are often favored by guitarists who like clean solos, or who prefer a high, treble-rich sound. That said, with enough overdrive they can sound gritty enough for punk or grunge.

Humbuckers are made from two single coil pickups wired out of phase with one another. They have a fuller sound and are usually used for heavier music.

Although less common, you can also find guitars with active pickups — such as EMGs — which incorporate a preamp for higher output and better sound control.

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Did you know?
Different guitars have different bridge styles — some have tremolo arms to create a vibrato effect.
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Tips

  • When first starting out, a lot of people choose an electric guitar similar to the one their musical hero plays or played — it may help achieve a similar sound to that of your favorite band.

  • The most expensive guitars are often made in the U.S., but you can also buy imports from other countries. Japan, Mexico, China, and Korea are the most common, and often turn out quality instruments.

  • Most electric guitars have 22 frets, but some boast 24, which will allow you to play the full octave over the 12th fret. This is perfect if you like to play in a higher register, but unnecessary for the majority of guitarists.

  • An electric guitar can be a big purchase, so it's worth getting insurance to cover theft or accidental damage. Some retailers offer this at the point of sale.

  • Scale length is the length of the string on a guitar, from nut to bridge. A longer scale length feels tighter to play and gives a brighter tone. A shorter scale length offers a warmer sound.

  • If you're getting an electric guitar for a child, consider a 1/2 size or 3/4 size guitar, which will be more manageable for small hands.

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Electric guitars come in a huge range of colors and finishes, from varnished natural wood to glittery hot pink, so there's something to suit all kinds of styles and preferences.

FAQ

Q. Should I buy an electric guitar on its own, or a starter pack for a beginner?

A. If you're a beginner or you're looking on behalf of a beginner, you'll probably want to start with a fairly basic guitar, just in case you don't like playing. You can also find sets or starter packs that come complete with a small practice amp, a lead, a strap, and other useful items for new guitarists. These usually work out cheaper than choosing the items separately, but not significantly cheaper, so don't worry if you have your heart set on a guitar that doesn't come as a starter pack.

Q. What type of neck construction is the best?

A. Electric guitars either have bolt-on, set neck, or neck-through neck construction. Bolt on necks are simply bolted onto the body, set necks are set into the body and glued, and neck-through construction is where the neck extends all the way through the body. The latter is generally considered the best and most durable, but won't be found on cheaper guitars.

Q. What are all the knobs and switches on my electric guitar used for?

A. Most electric guitars have several control knobs on the body. The amount of knobs and what they do can vary, so it's worth experimenting, but we'll go over the most common configuration. The majority of electric guitars have three control knobs and one switch. One control knob is for volume and the other two are for tone, with one controlling the neck pickup, and the other controlling the bridge pickup. The switch is to change between using the neck or bridge pickup.

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