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Last updated: 19 Jan 2021
The Best Electric Guitars Under $1,500
When you're ready for the guitar of your dreams, these electric models have made millions of guitarists happy for years upon years. Below is our list of the best electric guitars under $1,500 in 2021.
Best Electric Guitars Buying Guide
3
Gibson Les Paul Special Electric Guitar
– Classic Choice
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Key Features
- Originally designed as student models, the Les Paul Specials did away with any frivolous decor and added switching for a bare-bones approach.
- With similar tonal characteristics to Gibson’s popular ’57 classic pickup, the Les Paul Special Tribute’s neck-position 490R and bridge-position 490T pickups deliver vintage humbucker growl with a contemporary edge perfect for any style of music. Both pickups employ Alnico II magnets for a buttery smooth high end, and they exhibit a slight bump in the upper midrange for a killer tone that leaps out of a dense mix
THE SCOOP
Paying tribute to the classic Gibson, this Les Paul Tribute guitar takes a modern, cherry satin look.
4
PRS S2 Standard 22 Electric Guitar
– Premium Pick
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Key Features
- The PRS S2 Standard 22 is a great-sounding, great-playing solidbody electric guitar.
- Key features of this series include PRS S2 locking tuners, custom-wound pickups, the PRS Pattern Regular neck shape, PRS bridge, and a hybrid gloss finish.
THE SCOOP
A strong design with a tight structure, the Paul Reed Smith S2 is nothing to overlook; nor anything to not want as yours.
5
Gretsch G5622T Electromatic Center Block Electric Guitar
– Also Consider
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Key Features
- With the Gretsch G5622T, you’ll get tons of sustain without the feedback of hollowbody guitars. Thanks to the full-length center block, this guitar resists resonant frequency feedback. This allows you to dial up the gain without making your amp squeal.
- For those who love mellow vibrato, you’ll adore the Bigsby B70 vibrato tailpiece that’s installed on the Gretsch G5622T. You can use this tremolo system to create smooth dipped chords and accented bends.
THE SCOOP
Gretsch is known for its unique style and clean design, and this Electromatic hard to ignore.
Best Electric Guitars Buying Guide
There are plenty of reasons to own an electric guitar. From the thrill of playing it to performing it, you'll get an incredible sense of freedom and accomplishment when you own one. But finding the right guitar is still a challenge. How do you find the best electric, acoustic, or hybrid model for your playing style? If you’re ready to buy an instrument, check out our top recommendations in the product list above. For more information on choosing an acoustic or electric model, read on.
American Songwriter delivers original review content that connects musicians of all skill level with outstanding products. We help people discover practical products that will improve their lives and are worth the investment, focusing on experience and real-life use cases. In the same way that readers trust American Songwriter to navigate music news, they also trust us to navigate the abundant world of internet shopping. General information about types of products and categories is provided here to assist readers in meeting their varied purchase needs and is not intended to represent the page author's endorsement in any way.
Tips
- Electric guitars are no different from acoustic guitars in that they require an extremely versatile amplifier. If you’re not able to find an amp with enough power, you may want to look for a preamp instead.
- Be careful when using a cable in an electric guitar case. You may find that it is susceptible to twisting or vibrating when plugged into an amplifier and could cause permanent damage. It may also be more difficult to transport.
- Be aware of the additional maintenance that electric guitars require. Some amps may require you to run a wire through the body of your guitar to keep the power cord from getting damaged. This wire may not always be available when you need it, so be sure to check regularly. Electric guitars also require regular tuning, and you should run your electric tuner periodically.
Electric Guitar Buying Considerations
If you’re going to buy an electric guitar, you need to find the right model. Here's everything you should consider when shopping for an instrument:
Pick a model that matches your playing style
An electric humbucker guitar will sound a certain way because it was designed to mimic the tone of a pick. You may have a favorite distortion pedal or you may prefer the clean sound of an American reissue. For the most part, an acoustic guitar has more in common with a tube amp. Measure your available space. If you live in a small apartment or studio, it's probably best to stick with an upright or acoustic model.
Think about the kinds of sounds you can make with your guitar
All electric guitars are pretty good when it comes to shredding, but if you want to add a little more variety to your sound, there are multiple ways to get it.
Get a versatile pickup
Some electric players prefer a single coil pickup for the overall tone, while others can get away with two coils and use one for sustain and the other for top end. There”s no right or wrong choice it all depends on your personal taste.
Know your strings
A guitar with good strings will last longer and will give you a rich, full tone regardless of which strings you use.
Price Range
When considering the prices of electric guitars, keep in mind that you get what you pay for. It’s common for beginners to pay $300 to $500 for a guitar, and this price range can be extended to a few hundred dollars for high-end models. If you‘re a professional who wants the very best, it's worth paying in the $1,000 to just over $5,500 range. For a beginner, this may not be an issue, but if you are a musician who is just starting out, an electric guitar can quickly put a serious dent in your wallet.
How We Chose Our Selection Of Electric Guitars Brand
When it comes to electric guitars, there are so many brands that you can easily find the perfect option for you. In order to ensure that we provided a wide range of brands for each product, we scoured the internet and selected some of the best brands to help ensure you don’t have to break the bank to buy an electric guitar.
Price
No one wants to spend money on an item that is going to be of no use to them. If you are looking to make a purchase, you will no doubt want to look at the quality of materials used, the sound quality, and of course the price. While it is possible to find guitars for a good price, it‘s worth investing in a quality instrument if you want a more reliable and long-lasting purchase.
Reviews
The only way we could determine which electric instruments were the most suitable for our readers was by reading reviews from existing customers. To ensure we picked only the very best, reviews were vital to our selection process. We scour the net and scours through numerous customer reviews to identify the top rated products from each brand.
Features To Look For In Electric Guitar
Before you purchase an instrument, make sure you consider these essential key features to consider before you make your final decision.
Model
It may sound a little silly, but it helps to choose your electric guitarist according to the model. You may want your new electric to have the same sound as your acoustic guitar, or you may prefer a new sound altogether. When you're choosing a model, be sure it matches the style and sounds of your instrument. Pick a guitar that matches your style, whether it be a brighter, louder sound, more warm, rich, shimmering sound. Just make certain that it has a similar sound to your original acoustic or electric. For example, if your old acoustic is a bright and bright red, a brand new bright electric may not be the right choice.
Type of Tuner
You can't just plug in your guitar and start playing. Before making your purchase however, ensure the electric you choose comes with a tuner so you get a better sound and a clearer tone. Some electric models have built-in tuners, which are a simple button on the guitar itself. Others require a dedicated tunercore to operate. Please note that some guitar tunings are based on semitone intervals, whereas others are pitch-class based.
Sound Quality
Considering how important it actually is to get the correct tone and sound from your chosen electric, look for an option that has been designed to offer both the warmth and the clarity that your playing requires. Whether you prefer an acoustic, electric or an up-tuned acoustic model all depend on what you plan on using your amplifier for. Other features such as pickups, effects, knobs, strings, pickup mounts, onboard effects and much more can all have an impact on how you sound when using the instrument to achieve your musical goals.
Final Thoughts
If you are reading this because you’re considering purchasing an electric guitar or you already own one and you want to know more about electric guitars in general, we've got you covered. The term “electric guitar” encompasses a wide range of instruments. Some electric instruments are built to be played with an acoustic or electric pick (think acoustic electric, acoustic acoustic pickup, or acoustic bridge). Others are plugged into a machine (which is what most electric basses are).
For our purposes, an "electric" guitar is any guitar you plug into an electronic amplifier and are able to play. So, for example, you might be looking at a Fender Stratocaster, a Les Paul Standard, and a Gretsch Flying V.
If, like most people, your first introduction to electric music was with a traditional acoustic guitar, the following definitions are not necessarily going to apply to you. An "electric," by definition, does not produce any of the traditional tonal qualities that you hear on an aldo (guitar), SG (mandoline), or Telecaster (electric.) An electric guitar does, however, produce a warmer sound than a typical acoustic (and, by extension, any string guitar). However, this difference isn't as obvious on a plastic or maple model.
As we mentioned above, plastic isn't a natural medium for producing resonant tones. What you end up with is a hybrid – a combination of a genuine acoustic and an electonic.
An electric pick by contrast is an actual pick–the kind you hold in your hand–that uses a magnetic field to generate a voltage. It sounds, to most ears, exactly like an anvil–except that the magnetic force is created by the force of an electromagnetic field.
There are two main types of electric pickups: those that plug directly into your amp and those you control with your computer.
Electric Guitar FAQ
Q: What is an electric guitar?
A: An electric acoustic guitar is a guitar that is plugged into an amplifier and features a string bridge. It will be identifiable by its distinctive, thin neck, which is usually made of maple.
Q: What strings are used on an acoustic electric?
A: There are 4 types of strings that you'll find on acoustic guitars: E Standard, E Flat, G Standard and G Full. Each of these strings has a particular sound. The 4 strings you're most likely to see on a standard electric include D, F, B and E. You'll also see a combination of D and F on some higher-end models. This type of string, known as E-string, is used for higher E notes. F and B strings have a more tonal quality, while the G- and A-strings are tuned to F. As for the combination, D-G-A, this is what you need if you want to play F in F Major.
Q: How do I pick a good electric bass guitar for beginners?
A: When looking for an excellent electric beginner bass, it's important to pay attention to the player's skill level. If you plan on playing a lot of gigs in your early years, then you don't need to spend a huge amount on your instrument as you get a better long-term return on investment. Pick a bass that's a comfortable length for your age and skill set. Also, if your bass has an onboard sound system, you might want a little more treble range. With this said, the best beginner electric guitars are typically around 6 to 7 inches long. Your choice of color will come down to personal preference. Black is the most popular choice. White is also a popular option, but it isn't the easiest on the eyes. Besides, most players prefer their bass to be a vibrant color. Most of the manufacturers will provide the color you pick, so you can pick the one that best suits your taste. Finding a solid wood bass for you will also come in handy. Solid wood is more durable and won't break as easily as plastic. However, many beginner acoustic basses are made from laminate plywood and aren't as durable. Once you've found the perfect bass and have it set up properly, go back to your main purchase, add in any accessories you may need and you should have an awesome instrument for yourself.
