Best Electric Guitar of 2024
Last Updated on March 24, 2024 by Darron Dennis
Electric Guitars are great instruments, the sound they produce is good to the ear, however for guitarists, it’s not just about the sound a guitar produces, but the feel of the electric guitar in one’s hand, is equally important. Not every electric guitar can give you that awesome feeling when in your hands.
We know how important a good guitar is, that is why we have made research the best guitars out there, so stick with us until the end, as we show you the best electric guitars out there.
WHAT IS AN ELECTRIC GUITAR?
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses one or more pickups to convert the vibration of its strings into electrical signals. The vibration occurs when a guitar player strums, plucks, finger-picks, slaps, or taps the strings.
An electric guitar is structured from a wooden body with parts such as a pickup installed and strung with steel strings. If played without amplification the volume of the sound is low, so a device is used to electrically amplify the sound.
The bodies of these guitars are treated to look like metal or plastic and are often quite colorful, so some people may not realize that the instruments are actually made from wood. However, just like any other guitar, electric guitars are generally made from wood. The sound produced by an electric guitar varies according to the material used for the body.
Electric guitars feature devices called pickups embedded in their bodies. Pickups convert the vibrations of the strings into an electric signal, which is then sent to an amplifier over a shielded cable. The amplifier converts the electric signal into sound and plays it. The tone and volume of the sound are also adjusted during this process.
In other words, an electric guitar requires an amplifier before it can really be considered to be an instrument for playing music.
Of course, there is no need to plug an electric guitar into an amplifier just to practice, and a hollow body guitar can produce enough sound even when not plugged in. However, an amplifier is required to make the most use of an electric guitar.
Table of Contents
BUYER’S GUIDE FOR AN ELECTRIC GUITAR
When it comes to buying an electric guitar there are a lot of options available, and choosing one can be confusing. This guide will help you understand the basic differences in electric guitars so you can make an informed decision. And remember, we’re here to help with friendly Gear Heads who can guide you to the electric guitar that best meets your needs.
Who Are You Buying For?
When buying a guitar for a beginner, it’s important to get a guitar that is properly sized, sounds great, and matches up with the budding player’s musical tastes and aspirations. If you don’t know, find out what kind of guitar they’re lusting after and who their guitar heroes are.
Choosing an electric guitar that addresses these preferences helps guarantee that new players will stay motivated as they learn to play. Musician’s Friend offers a wide selection of ¾-scale, mini, and travel guitars that are ideal for smaller, younger players. Full-sized electric guitar bodies vary considerably in size and weight, and those factors should be considered.
For beginners, it’s important to have a guitar that is easy to play and stays in tune. But cosmetics, body style, electronics, and tone matter too. Often, a beginner may have a favorite guitarist who inspires them to play. Check out what guitars their heroes play and try to aim for something similar.
Your budding country star may not be very enthusiastic about the pointy guitar with skulls, but they will probably fall in love with a classic. (Don’t worry if some of these terms are unfamiliar—we’ll address them below.) You may choose something different, but this is a good starting point in determining which guitar is likely to inspire your up-and-coming guitar prodigy.
For someone who’s been playing for a while, your options are a little different. Perhaps they’ve got a certain guitar in mind. If so, get them what they want! Chances are they’ve already done their homework and have their eye on their next guitar. If they’re not sure, you can still make an educated purchase. There are many popular options that should satisfy the most experienced players. And many lesser-known models can be the right fit for someone with more specific tastes.
Remember that when buying a guitar, quality usually comes with a price tag to match. Consider paying a little more for the right guitar. Often, you can save money in the long run by purchasing a better guitar up front, skipping over the incremental upgrades along the way. A seasoned guitar player will often have a very good idea of what they like.
With experience comes a desire to invest in quality. Musician’s Friend offers a stunning selection of Private Reserve Guitars. When gift shopping for a high-end guitar, it’s usually wise to forego the element of surprise and find out exactly what your gifted wants.
What Is Your Budget?
While you don’t have to mortgage your home to buy a good guitar, the price will still be a key factor in deciding which guitar to purchase. When buying for a beginner—especially younger players—you may be hesitant to spend too much without knowing if the recipient will stick with the guitar. That’s perfectly reasonable.
There are guitars to fit just about every budget. Just keep in mind that the better the guitar the new player starts with, the more likely they will be to continue learning and playing. An instrument that’s hard to play or won’t stay in tune will deter even the most enthusiastic beginner.
All new guitar players will need an amplifier and cable. Additional electric guitar accessories include:
- a strap
- a tuner
- extra picks
- extra strings
- a stand
- a case
Electric Guitar Body Types
There are three basic types of electric guitar body styles, each with its own characteristics: the solid body, the hollow body, and the semi-hollow body.
Solid-Body
The solid-body electric guitar is the most common body type and is made from a solid slab of wood. Solid-body guitars can range from a simple, single-pickup model, to an ornately figured and decorated, multi-pickup instrument with a slew of electronic options.
Although solid-body guitars don’t produce as much resonance as hollow-body models, the woods used still have an impact on the instrument’s sound.
Hollow Body
As the name suggests, these electric guitars have hollow bodies—much like an acoustic guitar—and produce more resonance due to their design. These guitars usually feature an arch-top and are more prone to feedback. Many jazz guitarists prefer the hollow body for its full, rich tones, and deep bass response.
Semi-Hollow Body
Similar to the hollow body, the semi-hollow body has more resonance than a solid body. However, semi-hollow guitars are designed with a solid center wood block that adds stability and sustains and helps cut down on feedback.
Many blues players like the warmth of the semi-hollow and the increased attack and sustain offered by the center block. Semi-hollow guitars can be great for a wide variety of music – from blues and jazz to punk rock.
BEST ELECTRIC GUITARS of 2024′
| NAMES | FEATURES | WHERE TO BUY |
| Fender Telecaster
|
|
GET IT NOW |
| Gibson Les Paul Studio
|
|
GET IT NOW |
| Ibanez Roadcore RC365H
|
|
GET IT NOW |
| Squier Bullet Stratocaster SSS
|
|
GET IT NOW |
| Fender Stratocaster American Standard
|
|
GET IT NOW |
| Gretsch G5422TDC Electromatic
|
|
GET IT NOW |
Fender Telecaster
The design is iconic, the tone is great, and your hands glide happily around the neck – it’s hard to be unhappy when playing this Standard Tele! While there are American-made Fenders to aspire to, the Standard Series is the best way to secure a real Fender Telecaster on a budget.
| PROS | CONS |
|
|
Gibson Les Paul Studio
The Les Paul Studio embodies the essential Les Paul features with enhancements for playability and tonal versatility. The rosewood fingerboard and slim taper mahogany neck provide effortless playability and comfort. The 490R and 498T pickups provide tight, high-output humbucking performance and the two push-pull pots offer additional coil-tapping options. Now available in four fun finishes: Smokehouse Burst, Tangerine Burst, Wine Red, and Ebony.
| PROS | COBS |
|
|
Ibanez Roadcore RC365H
When thinking about Ibanez, guitarists tend to associate the brand either with high-quality Rock and Metal guitars or the company’s impressive range of Jazz boxes. The Roadcore range seeks to bring a more classic design aesthetic to Ibanez’s vast range but is armed with modern playability and tone. This ideal has become something of a cliché in the guitar industry of late and has been attempted by many companies, but Ibanez has managed to keep a distinct visual identity in the Roadcore range, harking back to classic designs but retaining an Ibanez sensibility and flair throughout.
Ibanez sent us the RC330T and RC365H to review with each guitar representing the same classic, curved design but with different hardware and visual appointments. If one were to pigeonhole the two models it could be said that the RC330T is the traditional Strat-style guitar whilst the RC365H is closest to a Tele-style guitar in terms of its hardware, although it combines elements from Les Paul style guitars also.
| PROS | CONS |
|
|
Squier Bullet Stratocaster SSS
The Bullet Stratocaster SSS Electric Guitar with tremolo is a simple, affordable, and practical guitar designed for students and beginners. It’s a great choice for a first guitar, no matter who you are or what style of music you want to learn.
| PROS | CONS |
|
|
Fender Stratocaster American Standard
Fender’s Stratocaster has transformed over time into a category of its own, a standard for quality exclusive to the brand. It has helped shape the feel of today’s music, used by many famous guitar virtuosos throughout history.
If you have the money, nothing is stopping you to earn your time in the spotlight, by wielding this mighty ax and forging your path to success.
Rigged with quality, elegance, and the manufacturers’ unmatched expertise, backed by their long tradition of ever improvement and innovation. If you thought your sound couldn’t get any better, this classic masterpiece will prove you wrong.
| PROS | CONS |
|
|
Gretsch G5422TDC Electromatic
No nonsense, Electromatic hollow-body guitars are the perfect real, pure, and powerful Gretsch instruments. They’re your next-step Gretsch—bold, dynamic, and articulate, and crafted with essential Gretsch sound, style, and playability.
Sleek yet aggressive, the G5422TG has a thinner, fully hollow build with a true Filter’Tron™ voice that captures the resonant hollow-body sound with a more present and chiming voice. Like all Electromatic guitars, it delivers the fearless and electrifying authenticity that has set Gretsch apart as the quintessential rock ‘n’ roll guitars from the very beginning. It’s the sound of honor itself—play proud.
Premium features include dual Black TopFilter’tron humbucking pickups, versatile upgraded controls including master volume treble bleed circuit, oversized bound F-holes and aged multi-ply body binding, smaller late-’50s G6120 bound headstock, Graph Tech® NuBone™ nut, Pearloid Hump Block inlays, and a Bigsby B60 vibrato tailpiece.
| PROS | CONS |
|
|
Conclusion
These guitars have been handpicked to suit your needs, they are reliable. make that one-off purchase of one of these guitars, and enjoy your music experience