Updated by Bobby
Updated on March 24th, 2023
Added price guides and check availability for each guitar listed. Removed the Squier Esquire. Other minor updates made as well.
This is our flagship page highlighting the best electric guitars overall and the best value options. Note that these are suggestions based on price and overall quality, meaning we're not simply suggestion the best electric guitars without regard to what it costs to obtain them.
Instead, we're looking for electric guitars that do the best job of bridging the price and quality gap.
In other words:
We want the lowest possible prices with the highest possible quality.
In most cases, electric guitars meet that price and quality threshold in the $700 to $1200 price range (check live price guides for updated numbers). Thus, most of the electric guitars we recommend will fall within that scope.
Compare Best Electric Guitars Side by Side
Guitar | Name | Rate | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
 | PRS SE Custom 24 | 89.8 | |
 | Gibson Les Paul Studio | n/a | |
 | Fender Player Stratocaster | n/a | |
 | Fender Player Telecaster | n/a | |
 | Epiphone Les Paul Custom | 88.1 | |
 | Gibson Les Paul Tribute | n/a | |
 | Fender Player Plus HSS Stratocaster | n/a | |
 | Gibson SG Standard | n/a | |
 | PRS SE Standard 245 | n/a |
1. PRS SE Custom 24
The SE series by PRS is one of the highest-value group of guitars we can possibly recommend. While the mainline PRS models are much nicer - and made in the United States - the South Korean made SE models capture a ton of what we love about PRS, and gives it to you for a fraction of what a full PRS guitar costs.
With the SE Custom 24 you have two versions to pick from:
- The "Floyd" version
- The regular Custom 24 with a stoptail bridge
Both are excellent guitars capable of professional-grade musical duties and being a solid beginner workhorse or "second guitar."
When it comes to value, the PRS SE Custom 24 is hard to beat.
It's our top electric guitar pick.
Read full review: PRS SE Custom 24
Price Guide
Prices updated Sun, December 03rd, 2023.
Major Retailers
Amazon Only
Price Alert
Price History
Price History for PRS SE Custom 24 Electric Charcoal with Gigbag
Statistics
| Current Price | $703.00 | December 1, 2023 |
| Highest Price | $879.00 | March 23, 2023 |
| Lowest Price | $703.00 | October 13, 2023 |
Last price changes
| $703.00 | October 13, 2023 |
| $879.00 | March 23, 2023 |
IDEAL FOR: Rock, metal, versatility, recording, gigging, beginners, and all of the above
TONE
92
PICKUPS
82
VERSATILITY
95
COST/VALUE
95
The Pros
- Percussive response, rhythmic styles
- Handles distortion and high-gain really well
- Manufacturing, body design, and stock parts all help cut cost
- Tone quality is almost unmatched in this price range
- Appeals to a wide range of musical styles
The Cons
- Flat body design can be a let down (no carving like the core models)
- Tremolo version isn't great at staying in tune
2. Gibson Les Paul Studio
The Studio is one of the most affordable avenues you can take to getting a real Gibson Les Paul. While there are some expected downgrades, particularly in the pickups and body finish, it's a completely legitimate Gibson Les Paul with all the aesthetics and trimmings you would expect, including the headstock design, pickguard, and iconic fretboard inlays.
While it's designed with studio and session guitar players in mind, it's good for just about any scenario.
If you want the Les Paul and the Gibson brand, this is one of your best-value options.
Price Guide
Prices updated Sun, December 03rd, 2023.
Major Retailers
Price Alert
IDEAL FOR: Recording, pro-level gigging, getting the Gibson brand without the Gibson price tag.
TONE
n/a
EQ/CONTROL
n/a
BUILD/STRENGTH
n/a
COST/VALUE
n/a
THE PROS
- Much cheaper than the Custom and Standard
- Looks fantastic
- Hardware is comparable to other more expensive models
- Humbuckers are not a steep downgrade
THE CONS
- Lacquer and body carving don't "pop" quite as much as the Custom and Standard
- Gibson Burstbuckers would be nice
3. Fender Player Stratocaster
The Player series from Fender gives us what we'd consider the "baseline" model Stratocaster, with stock pickups and a two-point pivot bridge.
While you get Fender-brand pickups in some of the nicer models (like the American series Strats), the player series gives you all the basics and you can always upgrade the pickup later.
Read more: Best guitar pickups
For those wanting the bluesy, sweeter clean tones of single coil pickups, the Fender Player Stratocaster is one of the best-value recommendations we can make.
Price Guide
Prices updated Sun, December 03rd, 2023.
Major Retailers
Amazon Only
Price Alert
IDEAL FOR: Clean tones, blues, and lighter playing styles
TONE
n/a
EQ/CONTROL
n/a
BUILD/STRENGTH
n/a
COST/VALUE
n/a
THE PROS
- Great price point
- Produces beautiful clean tones
- Ideal for blues and lighter playing styles
- Great candidate for pickup and/or hardware upgrades
THE CONS
- Pickups are stock. Fender Noiseless sets would be nice
- Not the best option for heavier tones or playing styles
4. Fender Player Telecaster
Like the Player Stratocaster, the Player Telecaster is one of the most basic Tele models you can buy. It's the "no bells and whistles" version, with room to grow if you decide to upgrade pickups or hardware in the future.
We love Telecasters for lighter playing styles, clean tones, and country music in particular.
It has a sound profile that's similar to the Stratocaster.
However, the Telecaster pickups have more of a "twang" quality to them, making them a popular electric guitar choice for a lot of different styles, but definitely blues and country.
They sound great clean or with a little overdrive/breakup and delay thrown in.
Price Guide
Prices updated Sun, December 03rd, 2023.
Major Retailers
Amazon Only
Price Alert
Price History
Price History for Fender Player Telecaster Electric Guitar - Maple Fingerboard - Buttercream
Statistics
| Current Price | $799.99 | December 2, 2023 |
| Highest Price | $850.31 | May 25, 2023 |
| Lowest Price | $637.50 | December 4, 2022 |
Last price changes
| $799.99 | October 13, 2023 |
| $849.99 | May 26, 2023 |
| $850.31 | May 25, 2023 |
| $849.99 | January 30, 2023 |
| $799.99 | January 28, 2023 |
IDEAL FOR: Clean tones, country, blues, or light distortion
TONE
n/a
EQ/CONTROL
n/a
BUILD/STRENGTH
n/a
COST/VALUE
n/a
THE PROS
- Great for country
- Produces both strong clean and distorted tones
- Very versatile guitar
- Price point is great
THE CONS
- Like the Player Strat, pickups are stock
5. Epiphone Les Paul Custom
Our second Les Paul in this list is by Epiphone, which gives you the high-end model, the Custom, in a lower-end brand. While you lose the nicer Gibson pickups and some of the pristine of the Gibson name, you still get a guitar that looks almost identical to the Gibson Les Paul Custom and still sounds great.
Note that the body carving and finish on these guitars is not as nice as what you get from Gibson, but it's expected cost cutting.
We like the Epiphone Les Paul Custom for a wide range of styles, particularly rock and heavier genres.
This is also a great guitar for recording, gigging, and a good pickup upgrade candidate if you want to swap out the humbuckers for something nicer.
Read more: Epiphone Les Paul Custom review
Price Guide
Prices updated Sun, December 03rd, 2023.
Major Retailers
Amazon Only
Price Alert
IDEAL FOR: Basics, mid-range guitar needs, recording, and heavier playing styles
TONE
90
PICKUPS
76
VERSATILITY
92
COST/VALUE
93
THE PROS
- Looks extremely similar to a Gibson Les Paul Custom
- Fantastic price point
- Sounds and plays nicer than what it costs
- Overall aesthetics are quite good
THE CONS
- Carving and finish aren't as nice as the Gibson version
- Stock humbuckers are just okay
6. Gibson Les Paul Tribute
The Gibson Tribute Les Paul is similar to the Les Paul Studio, with the same hardware, humbuckers, and a comparable tonewood arrangement. We like the Tribute for the same reason we like the Studio.
It gets you a Gibson Les Paul at a lower price tag.
If you're trying to decide between the two, check out our comparison.
Full comparison: Les Paul Tribute VS Studio
Price Guide
Prices updated Sun, December 03rd, 2023.
Major Retailers
Price Alert
Price History
Price History for Gibson Les Paul Tribute Electric Guitar Satin Cherry Sunburst
Statistics
| Current Price | $1,299.00 | December 1, 2023 |
| Highest Price | $1,299.00 | March 24, 2023 |
| Lowest Price | $1,299.00 | March 24, 2023 |
Last price changes
| $1,299.00 | March 24, 2023 |
IDEAL FOR: Heavy playing styles, rock, classic rock, recording, and pro-level gigging
TONE
n/a
EQ/CONTROL
n/a
BUILD/STRENGTH
n/a
COST/VALUE
n/a
THE PROS
- Maple top looks great and improves tone
- Humbuckers are the same pair we see in the Studio version
- Lower price point than most Gibsons
- Plays great on the lead and rhythm side
THE CONS
- No Gibson Burstbucker pickups
- Finish isn't as nice as the Custom or Standard
7. Fender Player Plus HSS Stratocaster
When going into the higher-end Stratocasters there are several different paths you can take. Our recommendation is the Player Plus HSS Strat, which gets you Fender-brand Noiseless pickups (at the middle and neck positions), a Fender-branded humbucker (in the bridge position), and a more versatile Strat in a higher quality threshold. It's cheaper than most of the upper-tier Fender Strats, certainly cheaper than the American series.
Price Guide
Prices updated Sun, December 03rd, 2023.
Major Retailers
Amazon Only
Price Alert
IDEAL FOR: More versatile guitar needs and those wanting to get into the upper-tier Strat roster
TONE
n/a
EQ/CONTROL
n/a
BUILD/STRENGTH
n/a
COST/VALUE
n/a
THE PROS
- Fender Noiseless pickups and humbucker are the real deal
- Cheaper than the American series Strats
- Finish looks fantastic
- More versatile than the original Player Strat
THE CONS
- None for the price
8. Gibson SG Standard
For classic rock fans, the Gibson SG Standard gives you more of that tone with plenty of versatility in its back pocket. It's also another example of a guitar that gets you the Gibson brand name with a more affordable price tag. There are several different versions of the Standard, but they're all similar and worth recommending. The regular SG Standard is the cheapest.
Price Guide
Prices updated Sun, December 03rd, 2023.
Major Retailers
Price Alert
IDEAL FOR: Classic rock, heavier tones, and versatility
TONE
n/a
EQ/CONTROL
n/a
BUILD/STRENGTH
n/a
COST/VALUE
n/a
THE PROS
- Lots of appeal for AC/DC fans
- Several versions to pick from with a range of pricing
- Great for classic rock enthusiasts
- Accommodating to a wide range of budgets
THE CONS
- Not our favorite for modern rock styles
9. PRS SE Standard 24 and 245
The SE Standard and SE Standard 245 are both good value options within the SE Series. While we like the SE Custom more, both are decent alternatives that bring the same level of PRS quality at an even cheaper price tag.
They're good for percussive playing styles, modern rock, and a mix of lead and rhythm.
It's usually cheaper than the Player Strats and Teles, but be sure and check our price guides for updated numbers.
For beginners or even a second guitar, they're a solid option in the low to mid price range.
Price Guide
Prices updated Sun, December 03rd, 2023.
Major Retailers
Amazon Only
Price Alert
IDEAL FOR: Beginners or second guitars, wide range of styles, and heavier playing
TONE
n/a
EQ/CONTROL
n/a
BUILD/STRENGTH
n/a
COST/VALUE
n/a
THE PROS
- One of the cheapest guitars on this list
- The SE line always delivers
- Versatile playing profile
- Percussive tone
THE CONS
- Plenty of cheaper stock parts to go around
- Not as nice as the SE Custom 24
What should I pay for an electric guitar?
How much should you pay for your electric guitar? This is a fairly difficult question because there are so many different options. However, we can break pricing down into a few simple categories:
- Beginner tier: $300 - $600
- Middle tier: $600 - $1000
- Advanced tier: $1000 - $3000
Deciding between that beginner and middle tier is often the most difficult decision. Though for most people, we recommend spending around $700 to $800 on their electric guitar.
Again, pricing is subject to change, so you'll need to check pricing for yourself.
Read more: How much do electric guitars cost?
Which brands should I target?
All the brands represented in this list are good options to start with. Here's a quick rundown of what we included:
- PRS
- Fender
- Gibson
- Epiphone
These are the four top brands we'd recommend focusing on. While there are certainly other viable brands worth checking out, these are the most consistent and the most reliable electric guitar manufacturers on the market.
Some secondary options would include the following:
- Squier
- Schecter
- Ibanez
- Gretsch
Brand loyalty is a real thing, so take these suggestions with a grain of salt. Just know that over the years these are the brands we've seen give you the most value for what you pay. Sticking to them is not a bad idea.
Which features matter most?
What are the most important features to consider when analyzing a potential electric guitar?
Everyone's priorities are different, but we'd recommend focusing primarily on the following:
- Pickups/humbuckers
- Brand reputation
- Tonewood (body and/or top piece)
- Hardware
- Overall tone quality
A lot of what you might like (or dislike) about an electric guitar can't really be determined until you play one and hold it in your hands. That's why we recommend checking out guitars in person, as much as possible.
However, online buyers can look at things like pickups, overall brand reputation, and tonewood mixture to get an idea of the quality level they can expect.
Video/audio demos are also plentiful for nearly every model.
Single coil or humbuckers?
As we've mentioned a couple times in this post, the distinction between single coil pickups and humbuckers is significant. Once more, here's how we'd break them down:
- Single coil pickups: Lighter styles, bluesy, more clean tones
- Humbuckers: Heavier styles, rock, more percussive response, and more distortion
These style distinctions should help you decide which type of pickup you want on your electric guitar. For example, if you're into heavier music, perhaps modern rock, with lots of distortion, aim for a guitar with humbuckers.
By the same token, if you like lighter styles and bluesy lead guitar, prioritize the single coil pickup.
Humbuckers are more common, but single coils have their place in the musical landscape.
Which electric guitars do professionals use?
Some of the guitars we've listed here are used by professionals. One distinction is that professionals tend to do more of their own tweaks and modifications, which is just something that happens when you play guitar professionally. They "fine tune" their instruments down to the last detail.
As a result, many professional guitar players have signature models or at least highly customized versions of the guitar they prefer.
But they're buying guitars similar to what's on this list.
They might target versions that are a little more expensive, usually around the $2000 to $3000 range, but it's the same general idea.
Find something you like, then make it your own.
Which of these guitars are the best selling?
All of the guitars we've listed rank among the best-selling in the world. In particular, the PRS SE Custom 24 and the Fender Player series, Strats and Teles, are some of the best-selling models.
Other best-selling electric guitars are usually cheaper, like the lower-end Squier Affinity models and the starter kits.
We don't necessarily recommend those as high-value options, but if you want more cheaper picks, we've written an article on that as well.
Read more: Best cheap electric guitars
Which electric guitar is the most versatile?
All of the guitars in this list have elements of versatility, though the most versatile, in our opinion, would be the PRS SE Custom 24 and the Fender Player Plus HSS Stratocaster.
Those are the two guitars that can cover the widest range, stylistically.
The regular Player series Strat and Tele are not quite as versatile.
Questions and Comments
Do you have questions about the best electric guitars we've recommended in this list? If so, drop them in the comments section below and I'll help out as much as I can. You can share your own stories and thoughts about other awesome electric guitars there as well.
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Written by Bobby Kittleberger on Electrics & Roundups
Written by Bobby Kittleberger on Electrics & Roundups
Thought it was odd that the majority of the picks are gibson and fender. I find the quality of gibsons these days are lacking quite a bit. I would never buy one that has been produced in the last 10yrs. Quality is terrible compared to price. You don’t mention any ibanez guitars in your list. Their guitars n the price range you used far surpass the gibsons. I’m not saying gibson are poor quality but,in that price range you don’t get what your paying for.