Electric Guitars - Directory w/ AI Reviews

Solid-body, semi-hollow, and hollow-body electric guitars

Electric guitars use magnetic pickups to convert string vibrations into electrical signals, which are then amplified through a speaker. They are the backbone of rock, blues, jazz, metal, and countless other genres. Their versatility and expressive range have made them one of the most popular instruments in modern music.

History

The electric guitar emerged in the 1930s when musicians needed more volume to compete with horn sections in big bands. Rickenbacker produced the first commercially successful electric guitar, the "Frying Pan," in 1932. Leo Fender and Gibson's collaboration with Les Paul in the early 1950s produced the iconic solid-body designs that remain industry standards today.

Characteristics

Electric guitars feature solid, semi-hollow, or hollow bodies with magnetic pickups that detect string vibration. Single-coil pickups produce bright, crisp tones while humbuckers deliver warmer, thicker sounds. Players shape their tone further through amplifiers, effects pedals, and playing techniques like bending, tapping, and slide.

Notable Players

Jimi Hendrix revolutionized electric guitar with his innovative use of feedback and effects. B.B. King's expressive vibrato on his Gibson ES-355 "Lucille" defined modern blues guitar. Eddie Van Halen pioneered two-handed tapping and transformed rock guitar technique in the late 1970s.

Buying Guide

Consider the body style and pickup configuration that match your preferred genre. Solid-body guitars with humbuckers suit rock and metal, while single-coil models excel at blues, country, and funk. Pay attention to neck profile and scale length for comfort, and budget for an amplifier if you don't already own one.

Fun Facts

The most expensive guitar ever sold at auction was Kurt Cobain's 1959 Martin D-18E, which fetched $6 million in 2020. Leo Fender, who designed the Telecaster and Stratocaster, never learned to play guitar himself.

Gretsch G6120T-59 Vintage Select Edition '59 Chet Atkins 1 4.9 New Gretsch G6120T-59 Vintage Select Edition '59 Chet Atkins Gretsch $3,299 Professional Japan 1 review A premium Japanese-made hollow-body recreating the revered 1959 Chet Atkins with TV Jones Classic Filter'Trons and Bigsby vibrato, delivering extraordinary tonal versatility across rockabilly, jazz, and blues. Music Man Majesty 2 4.9 New Music Man Majesty Music Man $3,499 Professional United States 1 review Petrucci's flagship signature guitar with DiMarzio Dreamcatcher and Rainmaker pickups, piezo bridge, 20dB boost circuit, and Music Man's exacting California craftsmanship. PRS Custom 24-08 3 4.9 New PRS Custom 24-08 PRS $3,999 Professional United States 1 review Premium American-made electric guitar with coil-splitting system delivering eight distinct pickup voices from two 85/15 humbuckers, ideal for versatile professionals. Tom Anderson Drop Top Classic 4 4.9 New Tom Anderson Drop Top Classic Tom Anderson $4,590 Professional United States 1 review Ultra-premium boutique guitar handcrafted in California with proprietary pickups, asymmetrical neck profile, and buzz-feiten tuning for the most discerning players. Epiphone Les Paul Standard '50s 5 4.8 New Epiphone Les Paul Standard '50s Epiphone $449 Intermediate China 1 review A budget-friendly Les Paul with ProBucker humbuckers and CTS electronics that delivers warm, thick tones across clean to high-gain settings, offering genuine Les Paul styling and feel at an accessible price. ESP LTD MH-1000 EverTune 6 4.8 New ESP LTD MH-1000 EverTune ESP $1,399 Advanced South Korea 1 review A modern metal workhorse combining the EverTune bridge system for perfect tuning stability with EMG 81/60 active humbuckers and stainless steel frets, purpose-built for recording and live precision. Fender American Professional II Stratocaster 7 4.8 New Fender American Professional II Stratocaster Fender $1,699 Advanced USA 1 review A premium American-made Stratocaster with V-Mod II pickups and a push-push neck pickup activation switch, featuring rolled fingerboard edges and cold-rolled steel tremolo block for enhanced sustain. Fender American Professional II Telecaster 8 4.8 New Fender American Professional II Telecaster Fender $1,699 Advanced USA 1 review An American-built Telecaster with V-Mod II single-coils and a sculpted neck heel, delivering refined Tele bite and warmth with modern playability through rolled edges and locking tuners. Gibson ES-335 9 4.8 New Gibson ES-335 Gibson $3,499 Advanced USA 1 review The legendary semi-hollow guitar with MHS humbuckers and a solid maple center block, delivering lush, woody clean tones with three-dimensional resonance that bridges hollow warmth and solid-body feedback resistance. Ibanez AZ2204N 10 4.8 New Ibanez AZ2204N Ibanez $1,999 Professional Japan 1 review A premium Prestige-series guitar with roasted maple neck, Seymour Duncan Hyperion humbuckers, and Alter Switch coil-tap system, delivering organic tone with stainless steel frets and compound radius. Ibanez Prestige RG5320C 11 4.8 New Ibanez Prestige RG5320C Ibanez $1,999 Professional Japan 1 review A Japanese-made Prestige RG with through-body panga panga neck, DiMarzio Fusion Edge pickups in HSH configuration, and the legendary Edge tremolo for the ultimate in precision and shred performance. Ibanez RG550 12 4.8 New Ibanez RG550 Ibanez $999 Advanced Japan 1 review A high-performance shred guitar with the super-thin Super Wizard neck and Edge double-locking tremolo, featuring V7/S1/V8 pickup configuration for versatile metal, fusion, and technically demanding playing. Jackson Soloist SL2 13 4.8 New Jackson Soloist SL2 Jackson $1,299 Advanced USA 1 review A neck-through-body guitar with Seymour Duncan JB/59 humbuckers and Floyd Rose tremolo, engineered for speed and aggression with exceptional sustain and smooth heel transition. Music Man Cutlass 14 4.8 New Music Man Cutlass Music Man $2,299 Professional USA 1 review A premium American-made single-coil guitar with roasted maple neck, stainless steel frets, Music Man pickups, and silent circuit design reflecting boutique-level craftsmanship. Music Man JP15 15 4.8 New Music Man JP15 Music Man $3,299 Professional United States 1 review John Petrucci's premium signature guitar with DiMarzio Illuminator pickups and piezo bridge system, delivering both magnetic and acoustic-style tones for progressive rock performance. PRS SE Silver Sky 16 4.8 New PRS SE Silver Sky PRS $599 Intermediate Indonesia 1 review Affordable version of John Mayer's signature PRS model with three 635JM S single-coil pickups delivering warm, expressive vintage tones. Suhr Modern Satin 17 4.8 New Suhr Modern Satin Suhr $2,895 Professional United States 1 review Boutique-grade guitar with satin finish, roasted maple neck, HSH Suhr pickups, compound radius fingerboard, and Gotoh 510 tremolo for impeccable playability. ESP LTD M-1000 18 4.7 New ESP LTD M-1000 ESP $1,299 Advanced South Korea 1 review A high-end superstrat with neck-through maple construction and dual-voiced Fishman Fluence Modern humbuckers, offering both passive warmth and active punch with meticulous Macassar ebony fretwork. Fender American Ultra Stratocaster 19 4.7 New Fender American Ultra Stratocaster Fender $2,099 Professional USA 1 review The pinnacle of Fender's production Stratocaster line with Ultra Noiseless Hot pickups, stainless steel frets, compound radius fingerboard, and S-1 switching for the ultimate factory Strat experience. Fender American Vintage II 1957 Stratocaster 20 4.7 New Fender American Vintage II 1957 Stratocaster Fender $2,099 Professional United States 1 review A meticulous recreation of the 1957 Stratocaster with nitrocellulose lacquer, Pure Vintage pickups, soft V neck profile, and period-correct appointments for vintage enthusiasts seeking authentic 1950s specifications. Gibson Les Paul Standard '50s 21 4.7 New Gibson Les Paul Standard '50s Gibson $2,499 Advanced USA 1 review An iconic electric guitar capturing the thick, warm sound of late-1950s Les Pauls with Burstbucker pickups, rounded neck profile, and ABR-1 bridge for the authentic vintage humbucker experience. Gibson Les Paul Standard '60s 22 4.7 New Gibson Les Paul Standard '60s Gibson $2,499 Advanced USA 1 review A Les Paul with slimmer SlimTaper neck and Burstbucker 61 pickups delivering a slightly brighter, more articulate voice suited for lead playing and faster passages while retaining full-bodied humbucker warmth. Harley Benton Fusion-II 23 4.7 New Harley Benton Fusion-II Harley Benton $199 Beginner China 1 review A remarkably feature-rich guitar with roasted maple neck, stainless steel frets, compound radius, and coil-split humbuckers at an entry-level price, delivering professional specifications at exceptional value. Harley Benton SC-550 II 24 4.7 New Harley Benton SC-550 II Harley Benton $179 Beginner China 1 review An astonishingly affordable single-cut with set mahogany neck and Alnico V humbuckers delivering surprisingly rich, balanced tones with clean fret ends and attractive finishes that belie the price. PRS S2 McCarty 594 25 4.7 New PRS S2 McCarty 594 PRS $1,999 Advanced United States 1 review American-made single-cut with vintage-inspired 24.594-inch scale length and 58/15 S pickups delivering warm, PAF-style tones at a mid-tier PRS price. PRS S2 Vela 26 4.7 New PRS S2 Vela PRS $1,699 Advanced United States 1 review Distinctive offset-inspired PRS with a unique Type D single-coil and Starla humbucker combination, offering a sonic personality unlike anything else in the lineup. PRS SE Custom 24 27 4.7 New PRS SE Custom 24 PRS $599 Intermediate Indonesia 1 review Cornerstone of the PRS SE lineup with 85/15 S humbuckers and push-pull coil-split, delivering genre-spanning versatility at an accessible price. Reverend Jetstream 390 28 4.7 New Reverend Jetstream 390 Reverend $1,199 Advanced South Korea 1 review Distinctive American-designed guitar with korina body, three HA5 single-coil pickups, and signature bass contour knob for real-time low-end adjustment. Schecter Reaper-6 Elite 29 4.7 New Schecter Reaper-6 Elite Schecter $1,199 Advanced South Korea 1 review Visually dramatic guitar with swamp ash body, burl maple veneer, Sustainiac active neck pickup for infinite sustain, and stainless steel frets for modern metal. Squier Classic Vibe '50s Telecaster 30 4.7 New Squier Classic Vibe '50s Telecaster Squier $439 Intermediate China 1 review Budget-friendly vintage Telecaster with pine body and custom Alnico 5 pickups, delivering impressive vintage tone and build quality that belies its price. Squier Classic Vibe '70s Stratocaster 31 4.7 New Squier Classic Vibe '70s Stratocaster Squier $439 Beginner Indonesia 1 review Budget-friendly 1970s Stratocaster recreation with large headstock, Alnico single-coils, and Classic Vibe build quality that punches above its price point. Duesenberg Starplayer TV 32 4.7 New Duesenberg Starplayer TV Duesenberg $2,249 Professional Germany 2 reviews A stunningly crafted German semi-hollow guitar combining a Grand Vintage humbucker and Domino P-90 with the signature Deluxe Tremola vibrato, delivering versatile tones across rockabilly, blues, jazz, and indie. Epiphone ES-335 33 4.6 New Epiphone ES-335 Epiphone $499 Intermediate China 1 review An affordable semi-hollow with Alnico Classic PRO humbuckers that delivers warm, woody tones with three-dimensional clean sounds and smooth overdrive, offering the legendary ES-335 experience on a budget. Epiphone SG Standard 34 4.6 New Epiphone SG Standard Epiphone $449 Intermediate China 1 review An affordable SG with ProBucker humbuckers delivering punchy, midrange-rich tones for rock and blues, featuring lightweight construction and excellent upper-fret access in the classic double-cutaway shape. ESP LTD EC-256 35 4.6 New ESP LTD EC-256 ESP $399 Intermediate Indonesia 1 review A budget single-cutaway guitar with LH-150 humbuckers and carved maple top that delivers thick rock and metal tones with clean binding and a slim neck profile comfortable for smaller hands. EVH Striped Series 36 4.6 New EVH Striped Series EVH $1,499 Advanced Mexico 1 review A high-performance guitar channeling Eddie Van Halen's legacy with a single Wolfgang humbucker, EVH Floyd Rose tremolo, and compound radius fingerboard designed for explosive rock and metal playing. Fender Player Stratocaster 37 4.6 New Fender Player Stratocaster Fender $849 Intermediate Mexico 1 review A versatile Mexican-made Stratocaster with Alnico 5 single-coils and two-point tremolo that delivers authentic Strat sparkle and expressiveness across blues, rock, funk, and country at a reasonable price. Fender Player Stratocaster HSS 38 4.6 New Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Fender $879 Intermediate Mexico 1 review An HSS Stratocaster with a bridge humbucker for added tonal range alongside classic single-coil positions, handling everything from clean jazz voicings to driven rock crunch without breaking a sweat. Fender Player Telecaster 39 4.6 New Fender Player Telecaster Fender $849 Intermediate Mexico 1 review A straightforward Telecaster with Player Series single-coils delivering iconic snap, bite, and twang through a simple three-way selector, built in Mexico with clean fretwork and reliable hardware. Fender Vintera II '60s Stratocaster 40 4.6 New Fender Vintera II '60s Stratocaster Fender $1,149 Intermediate Mexico 1 review A vintage-inspired 1960s Stratocaster with 7.25-inch radius rosewood board and Vintage-Style pickups, delivering glassy, bell-like tones with authentic period-correct specifications and lacquer neck finish. Gibson Flying V 41 4.6 New Gibson Flying V Gibson $1,999 Intermediate United States 1 review An iconic V-shaped guitar with 490R/490T humbuckers delivering bright, biting tone, offering a lightweight, comfortable playing experience in the classical seated position with unforgettable stage presence. Gibson Les Paul Junior 42 4.6 New Gibson Les Paul Junior Gibson $1,499 Intermediate United States 1 review A stripped-down rock machine with a single P-90 pickup delivering raw, gritty tone, forcing players to rely on dynamics and amp interaction with a simplicity that many find liberating and musically inspiring. Gibson Les Paul Modern 43 4.6 New Gibson Les Paul Modern Gibson $2,699 Professional United States 1 review A forward-thinking Les Paul with Burstbucker Pro pickups featuring coil-splitting, a compound radius ebony fingerboard, and weight-relieved body that adds modern ergonomics to the classic mahogany-maple platform. Gibson SG Standard 44 4.6 New Gibson SG Standard Gibson $1,799 Advanced USA 1 review A lightweight double-cutaway guitar with 490R/490T humbuckers delivering aggressive, midrange-focused tone, offering unimpeded fret access and comfortable playing under seven pounds for extended sessions. Gretsch G5420T Electromatic 45 4.6 New Gretsch G5420T Electromatic Gretsch $899 Intermediate South Korea 1 review A full hollow-body with Black Top Filter'Tron humbuckers and Bigsby vibrato delivering bright, twangy Gretsch chime and jangle, ideal for rockabilly, country, and indie with striking visual presence. Ibanez JEM77P Steve Vai 46 4.6 New Ibanez JEM77P Steve Vai Ibanez $1,499 Advanced Indonesia 1 review The iconic Steve Vai signature with Tree of Life inlay, three DiMarzio Evolution pickups, and the legendary Edge tremolo, featuring a Super Wizard neck designed for virtuoso-level speed and expression. Ibanez TOD10N Tim Henson Signature 47 4.6 New Ibanez TOD10N Tim Henson Signature Ibanez $499 Intermediate Indonesia 1 review A groundbreaking nylon-string electric designed with Tim Henson featuring electric-standard scale length, flat radius, 24 frets, and Fishman piezo pickup, bridging classical expressiveness and modern technique. Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL3 48 4.6 New Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL3 Jackson $1,299 Advanced Indonesia 1 review A through-body neck Soloist with HSS Seymour Duncan configuration and Floyd Rose tremolo, offering both crushing high-gain and sparkling single-coil tones with uninhibited upper-fret access. Rickenbacker 330 49 4.6 New Rickenbacker 330 Rickenbacker $2,499 Professional United States 1 review Iconic semi-hollow electric with trademark chime from two high-gain single-coil pickups, defining the sound of jangle pop and British Invasion music for six decades. Rickenbacker 360 50 4.6 New Rickenbacker 360 Rickenbacker $2,799 Professional United States 1 review Deluxe semi-hollow Rickenbacker with refined appointments, stereo Rick-O-Sound output, and the shimmering chime that defines alternative and post-punk guitar. Schecter C-1 Platinum 51 4.6 New Schecter C-1 Platinum Schecter $799 Intermediate South Korea 1 review Feature-rich electric guitar with mahogany body, quilted maple top, and high-output Diamond SuperRock II humbuckers, designed for modern rock and metal players. Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 52 4.6 New Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Strandberg $1,599 Advanced Indonesia 1 review Modern ergonomic guitar with headless design, trapezoidal EndurNeck profile, and Suhr-designed pickups, challenging every convention of traditional guitar design. Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 53 4.5 New Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 Charvel $999 Advanced Mexico 2 reviews The Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 is a modern performance guitar with a compound-radius caramelized maple neck, stainless steel frets, Seymour Duncan pickups, and a Gotoh tremolo, built for speed across fusion, progressive, and modern rock. Gibson Explorer 54 4.5 New Gibson Explorer Gibson $1,999 Intermediate United States 1 review An angular, aggressive guitar with a bold Explorer shape and 490R/490T humbuckers delivering thick, powerful tone with muscular midrange, offering excellent upper-fret access for hard rock and metal players. Epiphone Casino 55 4.4 New Epiphone Casino Epiphone $599 Intermediate China 2 reviews A fully hollow electric guitar with legendary Beatles heritage, featuring P-90 PRO pickups that deliver raw, gritty tones with harmonic complexity, ideal for blues, classic rock, and British Invasion styles. Fender Player Jazzmaster 56 4.4 New Fender Player Jazzmaster Fender $879 Intermediate Mexico 1 review A modern Jazzmaster with Player Series Alnico 2 pickups delivering warm, full-bodied tones with pronounced midrange, featuring a simplified control layout that makes the offset platform more intuitive. Fender Player Plus Meteora HH 57 4.4 New Fender Player Plus Meteora HH Fender $1,149 Intermediate Mexico 1 review A modern offset guitar with the distinctive Meteora silhouette, featuring Player Plus Noiseless humbuckers with coil-split via push-pull tone knob for versatile tones from Fender sparkle to thick drive. Gretsch G2622 Streamliner 58 4.4 New Gretsch G2622 Streamliner Gretsch $449 Intermediate China 1 review An affordable semi-hollow with Broad'Tron humbuckers and center block delivering warm, full-bodied tones with characteristic Gretsch shimmer, bringing the brand's aesthetic and sound to budget-friendly territory. Ibanez RG421 59 4.4 New Ibanez RG421 Ibanez $299 Beginner Indonesia 1 review A budget RG with 24-fret jatoba board and Quantum humbuckers in a hardtail configuration, providing a fast Wizard III neck and modern metal tones without the complexity of a floating tremolo. Jackson Dinky DK2 60 4.4 New Jackson Dinky DK2 Jackson $999 Intermediate Indonesia 1 review A high-performance metal guitar with Seymour Duncan JB/59 humbuckers and Floyd Rose tremolo in the signature compact Dinky shape, featuring a compound-radius fingerboard for comfortable shredding. Squier Paranormal Cabronita Telecaster Thinline 61 4.4 New Squier Paranormal Cabronita Telecaster Thinline Squier $349 Beginner Indonesia 1 review Imaginative mash-up combining Telecaster Thinline semi-hollow construction with Jazzmaster pickups, creating a distinctive sonic personality at an accessible price. Sterling by Music Man Axis 62 4.4 New Sterling by Music Man Axis Sterling by Music Man $499 Intermediate Indonesia 1 review Affordable version of the Music Man Axis with compact ergonomic body, roasted maple neck, and Sterling-designed humbuckers for comfortable rock playing. Kramer Baretta 63 4.3 New Kramer Baretta Kramer $549 Intermediate Indonesia 1 review A no-frills shred guitar reviving 1980s metal spirit with a single Seymour Duncan JB humbucker, Floyd Rose tremolo, slim fast neck, and the iconic banana headstock design. B.C. Rich Mockingbird Extreme 64 4.3 New B.C. Rich Mockingbird Extreme B.C. Rich $849 Advanced Indonesia 2 reviews The B.C. Rich Mockingbird Extreme combines the iconic aggressive silhouette with through-body maple neck construction, an ebony fingerboard, and high-output humbuckers, delivering crushing metal tones with exceptional sustain for heavy music players. Squier Affinity Stratocaster 65 4.2 New Squier Affinity Stratocaster Squier $249 Beginner Indonesia 1 review Entry-level Stratocaster with lightweight poplar body and three ceramic single-coils, making the classic Strat experience accessible for beginners on a budget.