We’ve all been there, trying to get started on the musical journey and being bombarded with advertising by the best electric guitar brands in the world. All of them claim to have the guitar you’re looking for.
But how do you know what’s the best guitar to start playing? Moreover, how do you know what brand your second, third, or tenth guitar should be?
Well, with close to 3 decades of playing under the belt, we put together this post explaining why these are the best electric guitar brands today.
If you’re serious about playing, your next guitar is within these brands.
The Leading Top 3 Guitar Brands
The brands in this mini list represent the top best electric guitar brands. This choice is a mixture of the best-selling instruments, the volume of sales, and the perception players have of them.
The best budget electric guitar brands that these big names own, like Epiphone, Squier, and PRS SE are included here.
These are the top 3 electric guitar brands you should consider when buying.
Fender
The Fender Electric Guitar Company is the creator of the Telecaster and the Stratocaster. This last one is, perhaps, the most common instrument to find on a stage everywhere in the world. But that’s not all, in last year’s Reverb list of best-selling instruments, Fender guitars were 10 of the top 20 guitars. You must, at least, check them out before buying.
Gibson
The Gibson Electric Guitar Company is Fender’s classic contender. The Les Paul has become a rock and roll (and hard rock) symbol. Other models, like the SG also dominate the rock scene. Gibson has been around for a century and keeping strong under a new CEO. This is another must-try-before-you-buy scenario.
PRS
Paul Reed Smith is a very talented man with an amazing history. He worked his way into a very difficult podium among the best American electric guitar brands making amazing instruments. Yes, Paul placed his brand as one of the top electric guitar brands in the world by convincing the world’s top players he could do better. PRS guitars are the perfect combination of Fender and Gibson with Strat-like mahogany bodies, maple tops, and a 25” scale. The PRS Silver Sky, a combined effort with John Mayer, was on the top of the Reverb best-selling list for two years in a row.
The Runner-up Guitar Brands
Besides the top 3 best electric guitar brands in the world, a myriad of other brands compete to get the money out of the buyer’s pockets. These might not be as popular as the top 3 but are serious runners-up for the pole position.
Ibanez
Japan has a reputation for excelling at technological advances. Well, this huge guitar brand, the Ibanez Electric Guitar Company, is the shredder’s guitar of choice. Although the company started with books and lost a lawsuit against Gibson for copying their designs, they established a name of their own. These guitars are perfect for heavy music, virtuoso playing, and pyrotechnics for their fast necks, powerful pickups, and flashy colors.
Yamaha
Yamaha, a company founded in 1887 and a top name in piano making makes great guitars played on huge stages worldwide. They might not be as well-known as the names above, but players like Mike Stern, Santana, Phil X, and John Frusciante are a testament to their quality. Also, Yamaha is one of the top 3 names in the best acoustic guitar brands podium.
ESP
ESP is another brand coming from Japan. The guitars this brand makes are in the same line as Ibanez and can be seen on the biggest metal stages in the world. For example, in the hands of James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett of Metallica. But that’s not all, because Rolling Stone Ron Wood has his Telecaster signature model with them. If you’re searching for a rock guitar, this can be a great choice.
The Three Guitar Brands You Need to Check Out
The race to be at the top of the best electric guitar companies list always receives new runners. These are three not-so-popular brands you need to check out. Who knows, maybe your next guitar is one off the beaten path.
Strandberg
Ergonomic, modern, and even futuristic designs make Strandberg one of the best electric guitar brands for professional players. Coming straight from Sweden, they specialize in headless instruments, which are in vogue among virtuosos like PLINI, Jacob Collier, and Erin Coburn.
Gretsch
Gretsch guitars have been around since before the Stratocaster was born. They are, by legacy, craftsmanship, and sound among the electric guitar best brands in history. The thing is that they specialize in big, hollow, and semi-hollow body guitars which are not suitable for everyone. You’ll find them on stage in the hands of players from Martin Gore to John Frusciante. If you feel the call, try one today and see if they’re for you.
Ernie Ball/Music Man
Music Man is another company founded by Leo Fender; a lesser-known one. That said, the wide array of artists choosing Music Man is outstanding. These guitars are the choice of some of the most demanding players out there. From John Petrucci to St. Vincent, these endorsements prove that Music Man/Ernie Ball is worthy to be on this list as one of the best electric guitar brands for rock.
What is the Best Brand for Electric Guitar?
Just like the question “What is the best electric guitar ever made?” This is not an easy one to answer. The best-selling electric guitar brand in Reverb last year was Fender/Squier. That’s a great place to start looking.
Does the Brand of the Electric Guitar matter?
When you buy an electric guitar, reliability, and resale price are important. Therefore, choosing the best electric guitar brands for the money would take you to the second of the biggest brands; Epiphone, Squier, and PRS SE.
What's the Best Electric Guitar Brand for Beginners?
The best electric guitar brands for beginners are Epiphone and Squier. They offer playable, reliable instruments at affordable prices. Furthermore, besides being among the best affordable electric guitar brands, these brands also offer combos with amps and accessories.
The Bottom End
The most famous electric guitar brands in the world today are also the best electric guitar brands. Arguably, we’ve seen countless guitar heroes holding Fenders, Gibsons, PRSs, and Gretschs on stage. Well, seeing players who could literally play anything they want choosing a specific guitar brand and model indicates those are good choices.
I hope we have made your panorama clearer in terms of electric guitar brands and that you’re ready to make an informed decision.
Go buy the best guitar you can and start living the dream of being a musician today.
Happy playing!
