These humbuckers combine to produce a crisp twang with, especially warm low-mids. And, while it would be nice to have specific guitars for each of these styles, sometimes that isn't possible. View. At the heart of the AF55s tone is a pair of well-constructed humbucker pickups. In this article, we'll dive into the best electric guitars under $500 currently available and detail what sets them apart from the crowd. PRS SE Silver Sky. With a large 25 scale length, theres plenty of room for technical shredding! Hardware, Electronics, and Controls: A pair of Ibanez-designed humbucking pickups are installed on this Artcore electric guitar, producing a mixture of angst-ridden low end and smooth, clear treble. My name is Chris and Ive had a passion for music and guitars for as long as I can remember. The Wide Thin neck profile strikes a neat balance between comfort and speed. A perfect option for someone at the beginning of their guitar-playing journey, the 012 features a classic double-cutaway design for comfort. Depending on the style of guitar that you play, you will need to choose strings with a certain gauge. Think about what you want out of your new electric guitar; do you want something to learn on? Lastly, we need to think about the sound of the instrument. These were player-orientated features not to mention the gold foil Fender logo and some of the nicest finishes we had seen in years. Whether you are playing through a tube amp stack or recording straight into your interface, the Nashville Tele will provide you with gorgeous tones to color your songs. PRS Silver Sky. Chris Corfield is a journalist with over 12 years of experience writing for some of the music world's biggest brands including Orange Amplification, MusicRadar, Guitar World Total Guitar and Dawsons Music. This product list covers a vast price range, as well as many different musical styles and playing levels, to ensure that you find the very best electric guitar for you. Bottom Line: The Fender Stratocaster requires no introduction. If youre shopping on a budget and want a reliable electric guitar that performs in multiple styles, the Yamaha 012 is certainly worth considering. Hardware, Electronics, and Controls: Dual Fender-designed Alnico single-coil pickups have been employed to produce the classic Jaguar warmth. The contoured neck heel and locking tuning machines provide the classic Telecaster durability while retaining the mobility that makes it a perfect choice for energetic guitar performances. We've all had situations where we've played a guitar we'd never normally have looked twice at and had it pleasantly surprise us. The term 'best' means different things to different people, and it's the subjective nature of this which makes the task so much harder as well as the task of putting together this guide. Manufacturers such as Suhr have proven that there is a niche for super-playable but grown-up instruments that expand upon the Strats template. Its versatile, able to hang in both rhythm and lead styles, and has an incredible tone quality that's rich, full, and percussive. It also houses some features you maybe wouldnt anticipate being on an entry-level guitar, like vintage-style tremolo, a solid bolt-on neck, and an expressive vibrato bridge. Over the years, there have been multiple variations of the Strat. The Custom model is an incredibly playable solidbody guitar, offering the classic rich array of tones that made the original so popular. It's smooth and comfortable and a joy to play. For those with the big bucks, we'd recommend you go for the Gibson ES-335 Satin (opens in new tab). This means they have a decent amount of depth to their tone, making them perfect for rock n roll and blues playing, but not quite heavy enough for metal. Signatures . Compared to rosewood, pau ferro has a tighter grain and a more refined tone. Tone-wise, this is what you make it. There is definitely space for a bit of 'gut feeling' when you're shopping. The remainder of this post will explore the topic of electric guitars, starting with some basic, beginner concepts and getting into some of the more advanced stuff later on. Hardware, Electronics, and Controls: Both the bridge and neck pickups on the SG are high-output humbuckers, Dual Gibson 490 61 humbuckers. Boasting an impeccably wide sonic range, its easy to hear why Gibsons flagship electric guitar continues to be at the forefront of live and recorded music to this day. These pickups are specifically voiced for each position, so you can tailor the output by selecting the bridge, middle, or neck. This Electromatic edition presents ridiculous value and comes in a variety of quite exquisite finishes. The neck is fully bound, as is the headstock, making it solid and durable. Put simply, this guitar ticks a lot of boxes. Are you upgrading after having played for a few years? The C shaped neck profile has a 9.5 radius, so fast playing is made much easier. We'll make sure the machine heads are responsive, the volume and tone pots are smooth, and there are no issues with the pickups. Bottom Line: Yamahas Pacifica 012 is an ideal option for those who dont want to spend a fortune to experience a well-built, quality electric guitar. Build Quality. Hard maple produces a bright, punchy tone with defined upper-mids and sharp high-end frequencies. Electric guitars go hand in hand with amps. With an appearance rich in elegance, and a resonant tone that makes even the most basic of chords sound interesting, this guitar is a beautiful creation. Early methods included placing telephone transmitters inside violins and banjos, in an attempt to amplify their sound. The coil-taps open up a whole range of possibilities country, funk, you name it. The AG75BS is a perfect example of how their experimentation over the years has paid off. Some of the most common fretboard woods are: Rosewood is by far the most popular choice when it comes to guitar fretboards. So cool. BEST VALUE Antonio Giuliani CL6 4.9 CLICK HERE FOR PRICE This classical guitar from Antonio Giuliani features a high-quality, mahogany neck, and a solid rosewood fretboard. Bottom Line: The beautiful thing about Fender Telecasters is that due to the long history of production, there are many variations to choose from. Well suited to both the studio and the stage, the Classic Vibe 70s Jaguar produces an array of quality six-string textures. Vibe is a somewhat nebulous concept. There are multiple kinds of wood commonly used for the body of an electric guitar. It's made by hand in the United States, with a ton attention to detail, beautiful aesthetics, and a thick, percussive tone profile that can handle almost any musical style. Authentically warm and full of character, these pickups are a very interesting addition. Style and playability at a price that won't make your eyes water. It's got enough anger under the hood to cover Chris Cornell's grungey riffing, enough agility to cover Alex Lifeson's stadium prog opuses and enough soul and heart to take care of B.B King's tasteful blues and if that artist roster isn't enough, then you're mad. We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices, Different to the usual Strat/Les Paul duopoly, A super-cool doublecut with off-the-charts vintage kudos, Pickups are on the hotter side of the Gretsch spectrum, Some Gretsch fans prefer more vintage FilterTron pickups, PRSs flagship luxury at a blue-collar price, The Korean version of Pauls perfect pickup holds up, Big sustain and big stability on the vibrato, A seriously versatile guitar from the Smashing Pumpkins frontman, Playability and construction are top notch, Pickups provide a distinctive, attractive midrange voice, Locking nuts not ideal for regular tuning changes, The best electric guitar to inject more vibe into your playing, More tonally interesting than a regular Tele, Make it shred guitar, but grown-up and subtle, Its a go-faster Strat with a touch of class, Play a range of styles on this versatile electric guitar, One of the best workhorse electric guitars around, The Big-Fs new flagship US Tele is a state-of-the-art workhorse, Great modern build, player-friendly weight. The stacked bridge bucker is a modern classic thatll eat up high-gain and squeal when needed, but is also rich in detail. Well discuss pickups in more detail in a later segment of this article, but humbuckers essentially solved the long-standing issue of unwanted electronic hum being present when using an electric guitar, due to the more primitive and unpredictable single-coil pickups that were used until that point. With his powerful Jaguar tone, he revolutionized rock guitar forever. Its only recently that his guitar playing has received the recognition it deserves. Theres also a singular tone pot and master volume pot, and the signature 6-in-a-row tuning pegs. Today's deals on the best electric guitars, Best electric guitars: Guitar World's choice, Mahogany with bevelled maple and flame maple veneer, Billy Corgan Z-One 'Railhammer' humbuckers, Two humbuckers and one single coil, edge locking tremolo, Seymour Duncan SHR-1B Custom Hot Rails humbucker (bridge), SSL-6 Flat Strat single coil (middle), SSL-6 RWRP Flat Strap single coil (neck), two Yosemite single coils with DoubleTap humbucker with coil split and coil tap, dual Gibson 490/498 humbuckers with coil taps, Rosewood or maple, 10-14 compound radius, Ultra Noiseless Vintage Tele Single-coil (bridge), Ultra Noiseless Vintage Tele Single-coil (neck), Duncan Hyperion Humbucker (bridge), 2x Duncan Hyperion single-coil (middle, neck). The wafer-thin neck, locking trem, locking nut and high-output humbuckers give this guitar everything it needs to shred. Known for its versatility, classic warm tone, and exceptional playability, this electric guitar is a joy to behold. Arguably the most iconic solid-body guitar to ever be produced, it continues to go from strength to strength over six decades since its origination. For those on a budget, we'd have to recommend the Squier Classic Vibe '60s Stratocaster. Somewhat of a musical chameleon, the Jazz lends its soft, immersive tone to multiple styles and genres. You'll find options here from most of the main guitar manufacturers, so you can be sure they also come with sterling brand reputation and a proven seal of quality. In my opinion, there is no other instrument that is as versatile as the electric guitar. Although there are certain benefits to using consistent materials on an electric guitar, theres not much evidence that suggests it improves the tone or playability very much. My Review: To round off our list of the 25 best guitars on the market today, we have the magnificent Deluxe Nashville Telecaster by Fender. Fender overlooked the design process and manufacturing of the guitar, so it should come as no surprise that it is filled with top-tier features and components. Waterloo. If using an amplifier isnt possible due to lack of space, you can connect your electric guitar to the input of a preamp, which models the signal and prepares it for recording. Brands Fender Martin Taylor Yamaha . Add in some Fender-designed Alnico single-coil pickups, and the results are highly impressive. In the past half-century, a huge number of guitar models have used this material. (Image credit: Future) One of the best things about today's guitar market is the sheer number of fantastic options you have at all price points, and this is true of the acoustic guitar. Their LTD series originated in 1996, to provide guitarists with more affordable alternatives to the instruments that dominated the market at the time. It also helps to ensure the longevity of the body, no matter how frequently the guitar is used. Voice by dual open-coil humbucker, the signature Les Paul tone is presented in an affordable format. They sound authentic and are preferred by audio purists. Sonically, there is no end to the possibilities that it provides. When Eddie Van Halen announced his signature collaboration with them in the 1990s, the rock world took notice, and the guitars popularity spiked significantly. Bottom Line: Gibson Les Pauls are exquisite solid-body electric guitars and the Standard model exemplifies this. There is a multitude of amplifiers on the market, and which one you choose depends mainly on the style youre aiming for. This tonewood boasts impeccable balance, with a strong frequency response across the spectrum of a guitars fretboard. The harder variety is what you will usually find as an electric guitars body, although soft maple is sometimes used for laminate tops, especially heavy bodies. You might have noticed patterns in the wood choices of certain manufacturers. Lighter-gauge strings are thinner, and therefore better for bending notes. Although its a relatively new instrument, its here to stay. These can be toggled using the 3-way selector, and further adjusted using the volume or tone pots. What some players may think of as the most incredible guitar ever made, others may completely despise it. As we previously covered, the components that are fitted on the electric guitar itself largely impact the sound it produces. It's why you see so many people graduate to it as their first 'serious' axe, and why you see so many on the weekend warrior circuit. Unline the Les Paul which is traditionally a 3 piece body with an archtop, the SG is a slab guitar that significantly reduces manufacturing cost, and as a result, the SG retails for significantly less. The classy inclusion of Pearloid inlays, aged tonewoods, and oversized F-holes add to its stunning appearance. The overall sound is a blend of the classic crunch and some new-found smoothness in the treble end. It's not cheap, but that tells its own story. These strings are usually popular amongst melodic guitarists who play less aggressively. Strings. It produces a thick humbucking sound, and with the extra-jumbo frets, is a perfect choice for intricate, technical electric guitar players. To try new styles of playing, sounds or genres. Theres an inviting blend of warm and twangy tones across the frequency range. Theres a sense that souped-up Strat-style guitars are just for the shredders, or its just for the progressive metalheads, but thats not strictly true. Are there any finishing anomalies to speak of, and is the guitar finished to a reasonable standard for its price point? This type of neck profile has been around for a long time and is found on many vintage guitar models. This is one where we are best ignoring the name on the headstock and getting our heads around a guitar that offers lightning-quick playability, heavy-duty humbucker tones, the snap and twang of a Strat, and a boutique feel, all for around a grand. However, its simply not always an option if youre shopping on a budget. It marries up a range of exceptional tones, with the highest levels of build quality and silky-smooth playability. The SE Custom 24 is stunning in anyones book. Basswood is also worth mentioning. 10 Best Guitar Under 5000 Rs. Hopefully, youve now got a good idea of which electric guitar is best suited to your needs. Resonance is enhanced by maple and Pau Ferro combination used for the neck and fingerboard. Build Materials: ESPs LTD guitars use impressively high-end materials. Build Materials: With a basswood single-cut body, a bolt-on hard maple neck that has a natural finish, and a smooth-playing jatoba fingerboard boasting 22 narrow frets spanning across a 12 radius, the Music Man AX3S is an extremely well-constructed solid-body electric guitar. Hardware, Electronics, and Controls: A pair of Epiphone-designed ProBucker humbucking pickups are positioned on the bridge and neck of the Les Paul Custom. Best Saving: Donner Full Size Acoustic Electric Guitar for Beginner Intermediate. Gibson Les Paul Standard, 60s. This combination provides sturdiness and mobility. These pickups interact with the unique switching system, so you can flick between the neck and bridge positions, or combine the two. The neck is also made from mahogany, chosen for its smooth feel underhand. Somehow, within this seemingly simplistic design, the electric guitar has been responsible for creating things that are so beautiful and powerful, its hard to describe with words. No matter what your budget or style of playing, Im confident theres the perfect guitar for you listed in this article. Alder is also a highly popular choice for electric guitar bodies. It'll do anything you need a Strat to do, and it'll do it well. Best Overall: Fender Squier Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar - Sunburst Learn-to-Play. The C shape neck is made from maple, and a rosewood fingerboard supports energetic styles of playing. Hardware, Electronics, and Controls: Entry-level guitars require a certain level of versatility. Restringing every 2-3 months can keep it sounding fresh and lively, plus that gives you a chance to give it a proper clean, to stop dirt building up. Progress is a wonderful thing. Its Super All Access neck join and Seymour Duncan Hyperion pickups give the guitar unrivalled playability. Thankfully, Epiphone has produced a tributary model that comes very close to the original. In addition to its beauty, the standout quality of the electric guitar is its versatility. Bottom Line: The Artcore range is arguably Ibanezs greatest achievement to date, offering premium hollow-body guitars at fair prices. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. Keeping an open mind is no bad thing. The Pacifica 012 may be one of the cheapest offerings on this list, but it arguably boasts the best value for money. Pickup selectors are also commonly included. The neck features a modern C design and is constructed from maple, with black Pearloid dots. The Epiphone Les Paul Standard has been the go-to guitar for thousands of players over the years, and for good reason. Let's begin with that excellent fretboard. Epiphone Les Paul SL A solid budget electric guitar with larger-than-life swagger Specifications Body: Poplar Neck: Mahogany Scale: 24.75" Frets: 22, medium-jumbo Pickups: Epiphone 650SCR Ceramic Single-Coil (neck),Epiphone 700SCT Ceramic Single-Coil (bridge) 3. Its capable of producing both the quacking tone that the guitar is famous for in addition to the smooth glassy tone that sounds so great for rhythm guitar. The neck profile doesnt affect the way the electric guitar sounds, but it does impact the way it feels, and its playability. Popular amongst jazz, blues, and soul guitarists, humbuckers are great for melodic players who want the intimate tone of their instrument to shine through. Offering a vintage-style neck and headstock binding, the EC-1000 is crammed with premium-quality components. With dual-open coil humbuckers, a three-way selector, tone and volume pots, and a stop-bar tailpiece, the LPII comes very close to the original tone. Build Materials: With a solid poplar body that is finished with gloss polyurethane, a C shaped maple neck that is smooth underhand, and a high-end Indian Laurel fingerboard, youd be forgiven for thinking this Stratocaster was genuinely from the 1970s. Build Materials: The body of the Gibson SG Classic is made from mahogany. The blend of low, mid, and high frequencies makes Alder great for many styles of guitar playing. My Review: Known for his powerful style of guitar playing, most famously in the post-grunge band Creed, Mark Tremonti teamed up with PRS to create this multi-faceted SE solidbody. Here Are the Best Electric Guitars (All Price Ranges) 1. Les Pauls are renowned for their power output, and unique expressiveness. My Review: Another of Gibsons world-renowned original designs, the Gibson SG is a total rock and roll machine. Fender often use alder as it provides an even frequency response, without it being too light or too heavy, as well as ash, which is usually a little brighter sounding. A special four-way switch offers both single coil pickups in series, while the S-1 switch on the volume knob inverts the phase giving you plenty of usable tones to choose from. 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