From January 1st to December 31st, 2024, companies worked non-stop to bring you the best guitar gear 2024. But, as we all know, hard work and effort are nothing if they aren’t aimed in the right direction.
We rolled our sleeves, went through all the best pieces released, and hand-picked the very best to present you with this synthesis of the best new guitar gear 2024.
But that’s not all, because besides giving their all in 2024, guitar gear companies are planning some outstanding releases for 2025.
Let’s dive into the best 2024 has left us with and what we might expect for 2025.
The Year in Gear 2024
Guitar gear in 2024 was full of surprises from known brands and new players arriving at the game with outstanding new products to solve our guitar needs.
We divided them into categories to make it easier for you to surf them.
Guitars
Epiphone Dave Grohl
A heavy contestant for the Best Guitar 2024 award is Dave Grohl’s signature guitar. It was released by the upper mid-tier Epiphone line and satisfied waiting fans with a great instrument. You get the big, rich bottom end of the semi-hollow body and the rock-ready, mid-infused tone of the USA-made humbuckers.
Hands down, one of the best guitars I played in 2024.
Fender Mike McCready Stratocaster
Another 2024 best guitar contender is Mike McCready’s Stratocaster. Before the release of this instrument, you had to go all the way to the Custom Shop to buy a heavy-relic instrument. Well, this made-in-Mexico Stratocaster starts a new Fender tradition. Moreover, if you’re a well-versed Strat player, you’ll realize this is one of the best Mexican Strats ever made. Period.
If it’s within your budget, try one and let it surprise you too. You’ll look at the price tag twice, I promise.
EVH SA-126
Some of 2024’s best guitars are signature instruments. In this case, Wolfgang Van Halen designed and released a bombastic semi-hollow rock machine. The combination of the almighty humbuckers, the fast neck, and the hollow body makes the guitar tone humongous. But that’s not all, because if you know your way around the guitar’s controls, you can play in any style with it.
And I do mean any style. I went from jazz to metal, and it excelled at everything.
Fender Player II Series
One of the coolest guitar lines in 2024 was the revamped Fender Player II Series. Yes, the Mexican-made instruments follow Fender’s recipe of maximizing tone staying within the brand’s comfort zone. I’m not talking about cutting-edge 7-string guitar or 8-string guitar models. On the contrary, these are reliable, simplified versions of timeless classics.
With the stellar comeback of the slab rosewood fingerboard and updated specs, these guitars are superb for their price tag.
Acoustic Guitars
Epiphone 1942 Banner J-45
This isn’t exactly the best budget guitar for 2024 but it’s an affordable version of a classic. Epiphone’s revolutionary approach in 2024 allowed them to release the Gibson workhorse guitar of the ‘50s and ‘60s in the mid-price range with all the appointments the original one had.
If you are, like me, a Lennon fan, you can’t miss this guitar.
Martin 000-15E
Hands down, one of the best new guitars in 2024 in the acoustic range is this Martin 000-15E. It’s an affordable version of the mahogany-made Martin guitar line in a size that’s comfortable for all players. Furthermore, that quintessential, low-end and midrange Martin is known and loved for gets a push from the solid mahogany top and extra brightness from the sapele back and sides. Finally, the Martin E-1 electronics make it a road-ready guitar.
Basses
Sterling by Music Man Joe Dart
This bass is not only one of the best new bass guitars of 2024 but also one of the best inexpensive basses I’ve ever played. Straight from funkland with a natural finish, passive electronics, and a single volume control, it offers no shortcomings to pure tone. Speaking of which, the neck and body are made of maple giving it the ultimate razor-sharp, deep tone you need for your funky playing.
Harley Benton MV Series Basses
Beautiful color combinations and insanely low prices make these the best affordable bass guitar series of 2024. You can choose from a plethora of colors and pickups in the shape of Precision, Jazz Bass, and Mustang basses. Complete with matching headstocks and even block inlays, these are the perfect entry-level instruments.
Furthermore, if you overhaul them, they make terrific touring instruments as well.
Amps
Positive Grid Spark 2
The best guitar amp in 2024 must be a desktop amp. They look classy, are versatile, and invite you to always play. What’s the difference with this new iteration of the PG Spark? Well, it offers a built-in looper so you can play with and to yourself for hours. Besides that, the updated speakers and amp models will have you playing for a while for sure.
Fender Mustang Micro Plus
One of the best guitar amp modelers in 2024 was the Fender Tone Master Pro. What happens if you take away the prohibitive price tag and leave only the wonderful tones? Moreover, what if you could house all of that in a device that fits the palm of your hand? The Fender Mustang Micro Plus is the ultimate on-the-go device for guitar players.
It would also qualify as the best guitar amp plugins 2024 category. It’s definitely worth trying.
Boss Katana Gen 3
Every time Boss updates this amazing series, it makes it to the best guitar amp of the 2024 category. These come with extra amp models, improved UI, Bluetooth connectivity, and an overhauled software section. You can buy it as a combo in a wide variety of wattage ratings or you can buy it as a head.
Which, by the way, would also make it to the best guitar amp head 2024 list for sure.
Gibson Falcon Amps
You don’t need the best guitar amp attenuator 2024 for the new (old) Gibson Falcon amps. These are not cheap, but they offer the type of vintage tube tone you can’t fully emulate (yet) with modern technology. They come as 5-watt and 20-watt combos with the possibility to lower the wattage from the amp’s controls.
Sometimes, in a world where amp modelers and profilers rule, a fresh breath of valve tone is all you need. These amps pack tone for days in an easy-to-use, portable package.
Effect Pedals
Neural DSP Nano Cortex
One of the most awaited releases of 2024 was the nano version of the Neural Quad Cortex. Why is this one of the best guitar pedals for 2024? Well, because it can do most of the things the big brother can at a fraction of the price. Furthermore, you can even profile your favorite amps and take them with you on the road with none of the hassles of carrying a real amp.
If you haven’t already, give it a try. Be warned, though, you might never look back.
UAD Anti 1992
Another amp modeler made it to the podium of 2024’s best guitar pedals. This is Universal Audio’s version of the hugely popular 5150. It’s a high-gain amplifier modeler that packs some serious punch, insane levels of gain, and great versatility. Although all models of the UAD line are amazing, there’s nothing in the market today to compete with this pedal.
If you’re into high-gain tones, this is a must-try.
Boss IR-2
No “best guitar pedals in 2024” list would be complete without, at least, one Boss pedal in it. Well, when the IR-2 was released, Boss just altered the image response game forever. To begin with, it’s sized (and priced) as a normal Boss pedal. Secondly, it offers enough amp models to suit most players. Finally, it oozes the same reliability, availability, and tone all Boss pedals are famous for.
You can take the IR-2 on a world tour and come back unbeaten for a very affordable price.
MXR Joshua Ambient
The MXR Joshua Ambient is one of the best guitar pedals of 2024 because of its possibilities and because of its tone. You can do a lot with this pedal, and it all sounds amazing. Moreover, in my opinion, it can be a great studio tool sitting right up there with more expensive brands such as Strymon.
If you haven’t already, and you’re into playing textures, this pedal is a must-try.
What Can We Expect from 2025?
The best new guitar gear of 2024 was a fun ride, wasn’t it? Well, it’s nothing compared to the coolest new guitars that 2025 has in store for us.
Some of the confirmed gossips for upcoming guitar gear and guitars in 2025 are:
- Standard Series – More than one big name in guitars is warming up to release their version of the “Standard Series” guitars. These should be low-mid and mid-priced guitars aimed at the player on a budget, the beginner, and the hobbyist. Two confirmed brands to do this are Fender and Martin.
- Headless Guitars – Strandberg is the spearhead of a new generation of headless guitars. But they’re not alone, Ibanez is planning to upgrade and extend their acclaimed Q Series.
- Single-pickup Metal Guitars – Metal guitars have historically had two humbuckers, one in the neck and one in the bridge. According to what we’ve seen so far from brands like Jackson, the neck pickup is slowly fading away from their designs.
- Marshall Souped-up Factory Amps – Marshall is finally catching up with its own history. Soldano and Friedman made an entire career selling souped-up, modified Marshalls. It was about time the company itself did it too. New versions of the JCM800 and 1959SLP were released for NAMM. Should we see more soon?
- Smaller and more Powerful – Amp modelers are dominating the market and getting smaller. Since the release of the Nano Cortex, companies like IK Media, Hotone, and Mooer are catching up quite fast with smaller and ultra-powerful products.
Conclusion
I remember in previous years; I was always thinking: “Is gear for guitars any good this year?” While flipping the pages of my favorite guitar magazine. Well, the best guitar gear of 2024 easily outdoes anything I’ve seen before in terms of quality, diversity, and availability.
With that as an antecedent, 2025 promises to be an even bigger year for guitar gear.
Whether you’re about to invest your hard-earned money into a gleaming new axe or not, I’m sure you’ll find something for you in the market this year.
So, as an answer to my younger and present self, yes, guitar gear for this year is groundbreaking and amazing.
It’s a great time to be alive and play guitar.
Happy playing!
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