The Narrowfield delivers the single-coil clarity and bite, with the added benefit of zero hum, whereas the two humbuckers could easily bring the house down. Before writing about guitars for a living as a Junior Deals Writer on Guitar Player, I worked in music retail for 7 years, giving advice on guitars, basses, drums, pianos, and PA systems. Electronics: 2x or 3x V60LP single coils, SSV humbucker if HSS chosen, 5-way blade switch, one volume, two tone controls Don't be disappointed, though, as there's plenty of top-end and harmonic content in these mighty little pickups to give you the complex tone you're looking for. Whats best for you boils down to personal preference, though many fast lead or shred-style players feel more at home with a thinner neck profile, while others find a chunkier, more vintage or rounded profile better. Thank you for signing up to The Pick. This is the type of guitar you could play for hours and hours without fatigue - which you will want to do once you plug it in! Our list of the best electric guitars features instruments with a variety of pickups so theres sure to be something that suits you. Superfast S-type look might not be for you. So, whether youre an experienced shredder, or youve always fancied dipping a toe into the sonic landscape of jazz and blues, or anything else, weve got you covered. This Squier not only offers superb value for money but also a fun take on a classic. One of the most popular from this range is the G5622T - and its easy to see why. While you could get through a full set without having the same tone on two songs, it really means that you can achieve some really interesting clean tones thanks to the non-standard switching. (Bridge Pickup), 2-Point Synchronized Tremolo with Bent Steel Saddles, Pop-In Tremolo Arm and Cold-Rolled Steel Block, Miami Blue, Black, Dark Night, Mercury, Mystic Surf Green, Olympic White, Roasted Pine, Sienna Sunburst, 3-Color Sunburst, Laminated Sycamore / Soft Maple Center Block, Front Volume, Rear Volume, Front Tone, Rear Tone, 3-Position Toggle Switch, Volume 1. Scale Length: 25 / 635mm, + Beautiful looks One of the most comfortable Jazzmasters on the market, Some players may not like having lots of switches, One of the best electric guitars setting the standard, One of the most comfortable necks you'll ever play, Some players may find it a little complicated, Best electric guitars: Guitar Player picks, 2 x Volume, 2 x Tone, 3-way Toggle Switch, 6-Saddle String-Through-Body Hardtail With Block Saddles, Charcoal Frost Metallic, Black, Burgundy Mist, 3-Position Blade Switch, Master Volume, Master Tone, 3-Saddle Vintage-Style Strings-Through-Body Tele with Chrome Barrel Saddles, Olympic White, Butterscotch Blonde, Shell Pink, Volume, Tone (Dry Switch Push/Pull), 3-way Toggle Switch, Black, Neon Yellow, Swift Blue, Red Copper, Vintage White, Neck Pickup Volume, Bridge Pickup Volume, Neck Pickup Tone, Bridge Pickup Tone, Volume/Volume/Tone(Push/Pull)/Toggle Switch, Volume 1 (Neck Pickup), Volume 2 (Bridge Pickup), Master Volume, Master Tone, Aspen Green, Dark Cherry Metallic, Georgia Green, Imperial Stain, Orange Stain, Single Barrel Burst, Venetian Gold, Rock Orange, Metallic Alpine, Metallic Silver Freeze, Midnight Black, 1 x Custom Seymour Duncan Full Shred SH-10B, 2 x Seymour Duncan Custom Flat Strat SSL, Volume, No-Load Tone ,5-way Toggle Switch, 2 Volumes, 2 Tones & Toggle Switch (Hand-wired with Orange Drop Capacitors), Master Volume, Tone 1. I also have a passion for live sound; I'm a fully qualified sound engineer with experience working in various venues in Scotland. Players; beginners and pros alike, often ponder on what is the best electric guitar, if there is one at all. You never need to worry about excess noise, as the Jazzmaster comes loaded with a set of Ultra Noiseless Vintage Jazzmaster pickups, bringing all the vintage flavor you'd ever want, just without the hum! The Telecaster truly is a timeless guitar; nothing exemplifies this more than how little has changed over the years - if we don't count a name change and a very brief stint with no name at all. At the heart of the guitar sits the PRS Narrowfield, sandwiched between two 58/15 LT humbuckers - a deadly combination that certainly delivers a massive range of tones. The Harmony Silhouette, despite its slightly offset looks, has a little more in common with a traditional T-type than with something like a Jazzmaster, thanks to its two pickups and three-saddle bridge. Well, were here to answer that age-old question with a rundown of the best electric guitars currently on the market. Some even feature different pickup types within the same guitar allowing you to get a range of different sounds all in one instrument. Hardware: Either a two-piece hardtail bridge and tailpiece or a Wilkinson Stratocaster vibrato, Tusq nut, Grover locking tuners Its enough for chunky metal tones, but dynamic and responsive enough for blues, rock, soul - even pop. + More ergonomic than a full 335 Price: 719 / $849.99 Its hard to believe just how affordable this stylish guitar is. Neck profile is another thing to think about, as this can directly affect playability. - and the Fender American Ultra Jazzmaster might just be the most technologically advanced the offset has ever been. The addition of the center block gives the Gretsch an added power and aggression not present in the fully hollow options. Expect plenty of bite and twang from the bridge pickup, alongside mellow warmth in the neck pickup position, with some great sounds in between too. The slim and comfortable C-shaped neck profile is incredibly playable and is a great jumping-off point for most players. The HSS arrangement is also handy, offering a wide selection of sounds. Price: 2,399 / $2,999 Originally released in 1952 - albeit in a very different guise - the Les Paul has gone on to define rock 'n' roll and become a cultural icon. This new and improved entry-level Yamaha is as simple as it comes, choosing to forgo fancy features in favor of a fairly no-nonsense approach. The popular "deep C" neck now sports rolled edges for a more comfortable feel, making it even easier to play those Jimi chords with your thumb. GuitarPlayer is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Scale Length: 24.72/628mm, + Classic looks with modern specs +Excellent pickups There are no hard and fast rules, but in this guide, well be looking at more models in the single-coil domain. High quality hardware, including locking tuners ensure great tuning stability and plenty of resonance. The ebony fingerboard carries on the theme of high-end and luxury, while the split block inlays clearly take inspiration from the likes of the ES-345. Scale Length: 24.75 / 629mm. Like its Les Paul sibling, the ES-339 has a relatively short 24.75-inch scale: whether this is a positive, a negative or completely neutral is up to you. The neck is notably an excellent-feeling one, with a rather unique 8.5-inch radius fretboard that splits the difference between the rounded, vintage feel of a 7.25-inch early Strat and a more modern board. Trust us, this is one of the best feeling guitars you'll ever play - it's effortless. For example, a guitar with two humbuckers and a three-way pickup selector might have everything you need. Guitar.com is the worlds leading authority and resource for all things guitar. Read our full PRS Special Semi-Hollow review. It just wouldnt be a Gretsch if it didnt sport the iconic Bigsby, and the one on offer here works very well-staying in tune beautifully - and adds just the right amount of wobble to your chords and lead lines. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, That said, youll often see some of the biggest rock guitarists in the world favouring the likes of a Gibson Les Paul or SG; country players are often drawn to the twang of a Fender Telecaster; semi-hollow and hollowbody guitars are great for jazz and blues, and the likes of the Fender Strat is great for pretty much anything. Neo soul guitar tones are most often clean and articulate, with a focus on clarity so those beautifully complex chord voicings really sing rather than power. Theres also a Dry switch that enhances the top end a little, and controls the low end. There are also other hidden tonal secrets under the hood, such as a treble bleed circuit to maintain high-end at any volume and an S-1 switch to override the pickup selector toggle and activates both pickups in series. The September 2021 issue of Guitar Magazine is out now. This is capped off with the classic Tune-O-Matic bridge, aluminum stop bar tailpiece, Grover Rotomatic "Kidney" tuners, and gold top-hat knobs with silver reflectors completing the 1960s aesthetic. Looking for a new axe to make some neo soul? Well, in fact, the feel and - more importantly - sound completely different. The December 2021 issue of Guitar Magazine is out now! Build: Alder body, bolt-on maple neck, ebony fretboard, 12 fretboard radius, 22 frets Read more on how we test gear and service at Guitar Player. However, traditionalists will be happy to hear that there is a maple center block present at the heart of this classy guitar, and it provides the much-needed mid-range push and feedback-busting qualities you'd expect from an ES-style guitar. + Lots of ergonomic touches. This years version of the iconic guitar features a 60s rounded neck profile, bound rosewood fingerboard, long tenon, and of course a solid mahogany body. Hardware: Gotoh T1802 vibrato bridge, Gotoh Magnum Lock machine heads with height adjustable posts Scale Length: 24.75 / 629mm, + Affordable entry point into the world of the Silver Sky However, all the instruments on this list sound great, are reliable and will tick a range of metaphorical boxes for players with a specific set of needs. The gunstock oil and hand-rubbed special wax gives the neck an incredibly smooth feel. (Neck/Middle Pickups), Tone 2. If the other semi-hollows on this list have been a little too modern, then perhaps Gibsons ES-339 is the one for you. Its hour-glass figure is reminiscent of the Gibson Firebird but more angular and futuristic - maybe if Ray Dietrich designed hover cars, this is the guitar he would have made. So, if youre looking for a versatile LP style axe, thats extremely friendly on your wallet, then look no further than the ESP LTD EC-256. It offers superb build quality, a wide range of clear and defined quintessential Strat tones, amazing playability and some great finishes. The November 2021 issue of Guitar Magazine is out now! This Mex-made Vintera Tele is a great replication of the renowned 60s models, with the addition of a Bigsby tailpiece (though if that trem unit isnt your thing, its also available as a hardtail). The single best electric guitar available is hard to pin down, however, if youre going down the route of bright, spanky single coil sounds, then the Fender American Pro II Strat (opens in new tab) is hard to beat. While not as overtly modern as the Player Plus Telecaster offerings, the standard Player Telecaster keeps things stripped-back yet not overly vintage. The Okoume body - similar to the more traditional mahogany - is complemented by the figured roasted maple neck and jet black ebony fingerboard. The modern two-point vibrato and locking tuners are a nice touch too, helping keep things stable throughout the most judicious of wobbling. The pickups here are actually mini-humbuckers, which have their own very unique tonality thanks to their smaller footprint along the length of the string. The secondary mode, offered by a push-pull knob, adds the neck pickup to switch positions one and two, giving you two more sounds not usually found on a Strat the neck pickups deeper tone combined with the brighter bridge or middle position certainly helps to keep things sounding full and articulate. Its everything a Strat should be, without having to spend an extortionate amount. The fretboard isnt quite as flat as the Player Plus 12 inches, instead measuring in at 9.5 inches. Build: Solid double-cutaway poplar body, bolt-on maple neck, rosewood fretboard with 8.5 radius, double-action PRS truss rod, small birds inlays, signature SE headstock decal It certainly looks the part, and comes loaded with some high-end specs despite its affordable price tag. Price: 939 / $1,099.99 Price: 1,359 / $1,599.99 This kept everything players loved about its big brother but shrunk the body down to a more manageable size. Build: Alder body with bolt-on maple neck, 9.5 radius maple fretboard, 22 frets (Bridge Pickup), Master Tone, Slide Switch, Volume Offset 1 (Neck Pickup), Volume 2 (Bridge Pickup), Ebony (Cashmere & Silk Charmeuse); Rosewood (Velveteen), 3 Music Man custom mini-humbuckers with chrome covers and gold foil, 250kohm volume and tone - .047F tone capacitor/ 5-way lever pickup selector, St. Vincent Modern tremolo with solid brass saddles, 58/15 LT Treble, PRS Narrowfield, 58/15 LT Bass, Volume and Tone Control with 5-Way Blade Pickup Switch and Two Mini-Toggle Coil-Tap Switches, Antique White, Aquamarine, Black Gold Wrap Burst, Charcoal Burst, Charcoal Cherry Burst, Dark Cherry Sunburst, Faded Whale Blue, Fire Red Burst, Yellow Tiger, how we test gear and service at Guitar Player, "Michael Jackson Was the Most Driven Individual Ive Ever Seen": Erick Walls Reflects on His Five Favorite Sessions, "Its the Basis for Everything I Do Because it Tells the Truth": How Joan Jett Combined Punk Toughness and Ear-Candy Pop Smarts on Bad Reputation, Best Guitar Amps Under $500 in 2022: Earth-Shattering Tones That Wont Break The Bank. This high-performance super-Strat style guitar caters for a massive range of players. Here, that manifests as a trio of noiseless single-coil Strat pickups, offering clean tones that are extra, well, clean no hum, even with compression or overdrive. Build: 3-ply Maple/Poplar/Maple top and back, set mahogany neck, spruce bracing, maple centreblock, 12 rosewood fretboard, 22 frets Over the last few years, the Gretsch Electromatic range has been going from strength to strength, with the release of new models, exciting new finishes, and updated revoiced pickups. The three-pickups and five-way switch offer a range of tones you simply can't achieve on other guitars - with clever switching and parlor tricks, you can get close, but you can't nail those Strat tones perfectly without a genuine Stratocaster. If you do need some wobble, Harmony also offers a version fitted with a Bigsby. The chambered mahogany body is light and resonant so is ideal for gigging, while the reshaped neck profile is a joy to play. Combining the feature set of a Telecaster and the fabulously wonky body of the Jazzmaster, this unique guitar is more than the sum of its parts. Electronics: 3x Player Plus Noiseless Strat pickups, five-way blade selector switch, volume, tone (middle and neck), push/pull bridge tone (adds neck pickup to positions one and two) The electric guitar is one of the most ubiquitous instruments in music.