The electric guitar is a staple of popular music, serving as the guiding voice behind countless genres, from old-school rock ‘n’ roll to modern metal and many more. Today, there are more diverse offerings for electric guitars than ever before, so narrowing down the one for you can be tricky. But don’t fear — Sweetwater has you covered with our list of some of the coolest electric guitars available right now! We’ve organized the list by price point so you can check out guitars at every budget. And if you don’t know where to begin, we’ve included some buying advice after the list to help you make the best buying decision. Now, it’s time to dive into our picks!

Note: At Sweetwater, we know there's no such thing as "best" when it comes to music gear. Every player and artist has unique tastes, which is what makes selecting gear so fun! The items on this list feature some of our favorite products from top manufacturers to help you start your buying journey! Explore these recommendations and dive into Sweetwater's massive collection of gear on our online store. For personalized picks and expert advice, please contact your knowledgeable Sweetwater Sales Engineer at (800) 222-4700!

Best Electric Guitars — Our Picks

Want to learn how to buy the best electric guitar for you? Check out our buying advice below.

Best Electric Guitars Under $200

Jackson Dinky Arch Top JS22 DKA – Satin Black

Tailor-made for Burgeoning Shredders

If you’re learning to shred, then you’ll need a high-performance guitar. That’s where the Jackson Dinky Arch Top JS22 DKA comes in. One of the most cost-effective entryways into the world of shred-approved axes, the JS22 checks all the right boxes: a slender graphite-reinforced neck, a fast-playing compound-radius fretboard, and scorching-hot humbucking pickups. It looks the part, too, thanks to Jackson’s trademark shark fin fingerboard inlays and an uber-pointy headstock.

Product:Jackson Dinky Arch TopBody Type:SolidbodyBody Wood:PoplarNeck:MapleFingerboard:AmaranthElectronics:Two Jackson High-output HumbuckersSounds Like:’80s Hair MetalPros:• Incredible playability at an affordable price
• Slim neck is great for beginners and players learning to shred
• Dual Jackson humbuckers deliver killer toneCons:• None to speak of at this price point

Squier Bullet Strat HT – Sonic Gray with Indian Laurel Fingerboard

You Can Never Go Wrong with a Strat

The Stratocaster is arguably the most ubiquitous guitar design of all time, and the Squier Bullet Strat HT is the most affordable Fender-style electric guitar in the company’s stable. This delightful rocker not only looks like a classic Strat but also sounds like it, thanks to three single-coil pickups and a 5-way blade switch. The Bullet Strat HT also includes a hardtail bridge for increased sustain and rock-solid tuning stability. Advancing players may also be interested in the Squier Classic Vibe ’70s Stratocaster, which features upgraded pickups, fretwork, hardware, and a vintage-style tremolo.

Product:Squier Bullet Strat HTBody Type:SolidbodyBody Wood:PoplarNeck:MapleFingerboard:Indian LaurelElectronics:Three Standard Strat Single-coilsSounds Like:Blues Rock, R&BPros:• Iconic look harkens back to famed guitarists from the ’60s and ’70s
• Three single-coil pickups provide a wide array of sounds
• Hardtail bridge increases sustain and improves tuning stabilityCons:• Advancing players may prefer upgraded appointments; check out the Classic Vibe ’70s Stratocaster HSS

Ibanez miKro GRGM21M – Metallic Purple

A Hard-rocking Short-scale Shredder

Tailor-made for nascent shredders, the Ibanez miKro GRGM21M makes high-speed fretboard pyrotechnics seem effortless. This guitar’s large cutaway enables access to higher frets for soaring leads, plus its 22.2-inch-scale neck offers superior playability for beginners and players with shorter arms and smaller hands. As for sound, the miKro GRGM21M’s dual humbuckers churn out all the thick, metallic tones you can handle. Are you craving some whammy bar abuse? If so, then check out the Ibanez Gio GRX70QA.

Product:Ibanez miKro GRGM21MBody Type:SolidbodyBody Wood:BasswoodNeck:MapleFingerboard:MapleElectronics:Two Infinity R Ceramic HumbuckersSounds Like:Modern Rock and MetalPros:• Large cutaway allows access to higher frets for soaring leads
• 22.2-inch-scale maple neck is great for beginners and guitarists with small hands or shorter arms
• Double humbucker pickup configuration delivers hard-hitting rock and metal tonesCons:• Some players may prefer a guitar with a tremolo bridge like the Ibanez Gio GRX70QA

Kramer Baretta Special – Purple

An ’80s-inspired Firecracker

Are you ready to rock? If so, then the Kramer Baretta Special is a value-packed reincarnation of the company’s fabled Baretta electric guitar. This killer axe’s open-coil zebra-style humbucker packs a punch, arming you with everything from aggressive growls to metallic screams. Its one-knob control scheme is pure rock ‘n’ roll. And its ’80s-style finish is guaranteed to turn heads. Want more than a single pickup? The Kramer Striker HSS will oblige by adding two single-coil pups plus a double-locking tremolo for your dive-bombing pleasure.

Product:Kramer Baretta SpecialBody Type:SolidbodyBody Wood:MahoganyNeck:MapleFingerboard:MapleElectronics:Alnico V Zebra Coil HumbuckerSounds Like:’80s Metal ShredderPros:• One-knob control scheme is pure rock ‘n’ roll
• Open-coil zebra humbucker packs a punch and growls with distortion
• Head-turning ’80s-inspired paint jobCons:• Want more than a single pickup? The Striker HSS is a great alternative.

Epiphone Les Paul Melody Maker E1 – Vintage Sunburst

Put Another Dime in the Jukebox, Baby

If you want to rock and roll, then the Epiphone Les Paul Melody Maker E1 is primed and ready. This fun electric guitar re-creates the look and feel of the classic “student” guitar that beginners and seasoned players alike love. The Melody Maker’s dual single-coil pickups serve up an array of killer tones, and its easy-to-play neck and fingerboard are great for marathon practice sessions. Do you prefer the classic Les Paul look and sound? If that’s the case, then you’ll find the Epiphone Les Paul Studio E1 more your speed.

Product:Epiphone Les Paul Melody MakerBody Type:SolidbodyBody Wood:PoplarNeck:MahoganyFingerboard:RosewoodElectronics:650SCR Ceramic Single-coil; Bridge: 700SCT Ceramic Single-coil Sounds Like:British BluesPros:• Re-creates the look and feel of a classic “student” guitar
• Dual single-coil pickups offer numerous sonic possibilities
• Everything you want in an affordable Les Paul variantCons:• Some players may prefer the standard Les Paul look; check out the Les Paul Studio E1

Best Electric Guitars Between $250–$500

Guild Surfliner – Sunset Orange

Hot-rodded Offset Fun

Are you searching for a wallet-friendly offset? Then you’ll love the Guild Surfliner. Its eye-grabbing offset body and retro-cool color are super-high on the fun scale. Its unique HSS pickup configuration and versatile controls yield endless ear-tingling tones. And its 10-inch-radius fingerboard facilitates fleet-fingered fretwork. If you dig the Surfliner’s vintage vibe but prefer something more streamlined, then check out the Guild Jetstar.

Product:Guild SurflinerBody Type:SolidbodyBody Wood:PoplarNeck:Maple Fingerboard:MapleElectronics:DeArmond Aerosonic Single-coil; Middle: DeArmond Aerosonic Single-coil; Bridge: Guild LB-1 HumbuckerSounds Like:Surf RockPros:• Striking offset body style and retro-cool colors
• Unique pickup configuration and controls provide plenty of tonal variety
• 10-inch neck radius offers smooth playing up and down the neckCons:• Complex controls are not for everyone; for a similar vintage vibe with streamlined controls, explore the Guild Jetstar

Schecter Omen Elite-6 – Charcoal

Packed with Power and Built for Metal

Players on a quest for the perfect bang-for-your-buck, built-for-metal axe owe it to themselves to pick up a Schecter Omen Elite-6. Technical playing is a cinch on this electric guitar, thanks to its deep cutaway and lightning-fast Thin “C” neck. Its Schecter Heretic humbuckers have what it takes to punish the front end of your amp with high-octane output and massive metallic tone. To top it all off, the Omen Elite-6’s burl top looks like a million bucks. For modern metal, consider an extended-range guitar like the Omen Elite-7.

Product: Schecter Omen Elite-6Body Type: SolidbodyBody Wood: MahoganyNeck: MapleFingerboard: RosewoodElectronics: Two Schecter Heretic 6 HumbuckersSounds Like: Progressive MetalPros:• Thin “C” maple neck is ideal for technical playing
• Cutaway allows easy access to frets higher up on the neck
• Hot-rodded Schecter Heretic pickups sound hugeCons:• For modern metal, you might consider an extended-range guitar; check out the Omen Elite-7

Squier Classic Vibe Starcaster Semi-hollowbody – 3-tone Sunburst

Embark on a Bold Hollowbody Adventure

The Squier Classic Vibe Starcaster puts a modern version of a ’70s-era cult classic in your hands for a fraction of the cost of a vintage electric guitar. This offset, semi-hollowbody bag of fun delivers a clear, fat sound accented beautifully by a set of Fender-designed Wide Range humbuckers. Are you looking for an offset solidbody with a similar vintage flavor? Get your hands on a Squier Classic Vibe ’60s Jazzmaster and don’t look back.

Product:Squier Classic Vibe StarcasterBody Type:Semi-hollowbodyBody Wood:Laminated Maple with Alder Center BlockNeck:MapleFingerboard:MapleElectronics:Two Fender Wide Range HumbuckersSounds Like:Neo-soul, Contemporary BluesPros:• Known for its clear, fat sound
• Modern version of a ’70s cult classic at a fraction of the cost
• Fender Wide Range humbuckers give you flexible tonal optionsCons:• If the offset semi-hollowbody isn’t for you, then check out another classic offset like the Classic Vibe ’60s Jazzmaster

Ibanez Standard S561 – Sea Foam Green Matte

A Hard-rock Guitarist’s Playground

Do you want to shred in spectacular style? Then strap on an Ibanez Standard S561 and get to work. This metal-ready rocker features a contoured body, a slick Wizard III neck, and a blazing-fast rosewood fingerboard. A versatile array of Quantum pickups delivers the tonal goods. Finally, a fixed-bridge design exhibits nearly endless sustain and ultra-reliable tuning stability. Want to bend, squeal, and dive? If that’s the case, then the Ibanez RG470DX, complete with a double-locking trem, will satisfy that itch perfectly.

Product:Ibanez Standard S561Body Type:SolidbodyBody Wood:MerantiNeck:MapleFingerboard:RosewoodElectronics:Quantum Single-coil; Middle: Quantum Single-coil; Bridge: Quantum HumbuckerSounds Like:Hard Rock or Metal Lead GuitarPros:• A great guitar for shredders
• Fixed-bridge design delivers incredible sustain
• HSS arrangement opens up numerous tonal possibilitiesCons:• Not equipped with a tremolo arm. Want to dive bomb? Shop the Ibanez RG470DX.

Gretsch G2622 Streamliner Center Block – Sapphire

A Value-laden Semi That Doesn’t Skimp on Quality

Gretsch semi-hollowbodies are cool, it doesn’t matter who you are, and the Gretsch G2622 Streamliner Center Block puts one in your hands without draining your wallet. Despite its relatively modest price tag, it’s high in quality. Its semi-hollow design and “V” stoptail tailpiece ensure feedback-free performance with loads of sustain, and its Broad’Tron pickups grant access to a wide variety of classic Gretsch tones. Lead players may dig the Gretsch G2210 Streamliner‘s deeper cutaway for easy upper-fret access.

Product: Gretsch G2622 StreamlinerBody Type: Semi-hollowbodyBody Wood: Laminated MapleNeck: NatoFingerboard: LaurelElectronics: Two Broad’Tron BT-2S HumbuckersSounds Like: Garage RockPros:• Feedback-free semi-hollowbody
• “V” stoptail tailpiece provides plenty of sustain
• Unmatched Gretsch tones at an affordable priceCons:• Lead players may find it difficult to reach high up on the neck, but the G2210 Streamliner allows more access with its deep cutaway

Best Electric Guitars Between $500–$1,000

PRS SE Custom 24-08 – Vintage Sunburst

This Guitar Has All the Tones

Teeming with Paul Reed Smith’s outstanding quality and sound, the PRS SE Custom 24-08 includes dual humbuckers with a coil tap on each pickup, unleashing a multitude of tasty tones. To top it off, this electric guitar’s Wide Thin neck facilitates extreme comfort and super-fast playability. If you’ve dreamed of owning a PRS, then the SE Custom 24-08 makes a terrific entry point.

Product: PRS SE Custom 24-08Body Type: SolidbodyBody Wood: MahoganyNeck: 3-piece MapleFingerboard: RosewoodElectronics: Two PRS TCI-tuned “S” HumbuckersSounds Like: Modern Rock and PopPros:• Renowned PRS quality and sound
• Coil tap feature for each pickup
• Thin neck allows fast playabilityCons:• None to speak of at this price point

Danelectro ’59M NOS+ Semi-hollowbody – Black

Danelectro’s Most Celebrated Axe

The Danelectro ’59M NOS+ is a semi-hollowbody electric guitar with a sleek, classic look. You’ll be blown away by the clear, punchy tone exhibited by this guitar’s NOS+ lipstick pickups. And, unlike vintage models, the ’59M NOS+ includes a truss rod to ensure long-lasting stability and reliability. Do you prefer a solidbody? Then check out the Danelectro Blackout ’59. It boasts a similar sound and aesthetic in a solidbody design.

Product:Danelectro ’59M NOS+Body Type:Semi-hollowbody, Chambered Body Wood:SpruceNeck:MapleFingerboard:Pau FerroElectronics:Two NOS+ Lipstick Single-coilsSounds Like:Indie Rock and Folk PopPros:• Sleek and classic look
• NOS+ lipstick pickups give you a punchy, clear tone
• Features a truss rod unlike vintage modelsCons:• Semi-hollows may not be for everyone; check out the Danelectro Blackout ’59 for a solidbody Dano

D’Angelico Premier Mini DC XT – Vintage Sunburst with Stopbar Tailpiece

Only Available at Sweetwater!

The D’Angelico Premier Mini DC XT is a semi-hollowbody electric with many killer appointments. For starters, its slim, classic body shape ensures hours-long playing comfort. Moreover, its Seymour Duncan humbuckers yield ear-tingling vintage tones, and its locking tuners make string changes a piece of cake. If you’re a whammy connoisseur, then look at the D’Angelico Premier Bedford. Its 6-point tremolo supplies all the expressive vibrato action you could want.

Product:D’Angelico Premier Mini DC XTBody Type:Semi-hollowbodyBody Wood:Flamed MapleNeck:MapleFingerboard:OvangkolElectronics:Seymour Duncan SH-2n Jazz Humbucker; Bridge: Seymour Duncan SH-4 JB HumbuckerSounds Like:AmericanaPros:• Comfortable, slim, classic body shape
• Seymour Duncan humbuckers deliver vintage vibe
• Locking tuners make changing strings a breezeCons:• Whammy lovers may miss having a tremolo arm; take a look at the D’Angelico Premier Bedford

Fender Player Jaguar – Black with Pau Ferro Fingerboard

An Alt-rock Offset with Scorching-hot Tone

Players searching for a distinctive offset guitar for grunge or shoegaze will totally dig the Fender Player Series Jaguar. One of the company’s most cost-effective guitars, this Jag boasts a versatile HS pickup configuration and coil-split capability for added sonic flexibility. You also get an easy-to-play short-scale neck plus a glide-worthy floating tremolo for expressive bends and warbles. Look at the Fender Player Jazzmaster if you don’t prefer short-scale guitars.

Product: Fender Player JaguarBody Type: SolidbodyBody Wood: AlderNeck: MapleFingerboard: Pau FerroElectronics: Player Series Alnico II Jaguar Single-coil; Bridge: Player Series Alnico III Jaguar HumbuckerSounds Like: Grunge and ShoegazePros:• One of Fender’s more affordable guitars
• Coil-split capability
• Glide-guitar-worthy floating tremolo tailpieceCons:• Short-scale guitars may not be for everyone; for those looking for a traditional scale size, check out the Fender Player Jazzmaster 

Godin 5th Avenue Kingpin Hollowbody – Cognac Burst

A Hollowbody Archtop with Attitude

The Godin 5th Avenue Kingpin is a sophisticated gem with an exquisite Canadian wild cherry top, back, and sides. Thanks to its hollowbody construction, it shouts like crazy — even before you plug it in. When you do plug it in, you’ll be bowled over by this electric guitar’s attitude-laden P-90 pickup. For even more tonal flexibility, feast your eyes (and ears) on the 2-pickup Godin 5th Avenue Uptown T-Armond.

Product:Godin 5th Avenue KingpinBody Type:HollowbodyBody Wood:Canadian Wild CherryNeck:Silver Leaf MapleFingerboard:Rosewood Electronics:Kingpin P-90 Single-coilSounds Like:Alt-country and JazzPros:• Gorgeous Canadian wild cherry archtop, back, and sides
• Beautiful hollowbody sound and projection
• P-90 neck pickup churns out gobs of warm toneCons:• Single-pickup configuration may feel limiting to some players; other Godin 5th Avenue series guitars offer increased tonal flexibility

Best Electric Guitars Above $1,000

Taylor T5z-12 Classic 12-string Hollowbody – Tropical Mahogany

A One-of-a-kind Hybrid 12-string

The Taylor T5z-12 Classic isn’t your typical 12-string acoustic-electric guitar. Its robust control set unveils a variety of sonic possibilities via an acoustic body sensor, a concealed neck humbucker, and a visible bridge humbucker, including acoustic and electric modes. No matter what type of sound you’re aiming for, the T5z-12 Classic can nail it. Searching for a six-string electric? No problem. The Taylor T5z delivers the same sound and features in a six-string instrument.

Product:Taylor T5z-12Body Type:HollowbodyBody Wood:SapeleNeck:SapeleFingerboard:EbonyElectronics:Hidden Humbucker; Middle: Dynamic Body Sensor; Bridge: Visible Humbucker Sounds Like:Singer/songwriter and AmbientPros:• Taylor quality and sound in a one-of-kind hybrid acoustic-electric 12-string guitar
• Controls give you a vast array of sonic possibilities
• Can toggle between acoustic and electric modes with a 5-way switchCons:• 12-string guitars aren’t for everyone; the T5z is an outstanding 6-string option

Gibson ES-335 Semi-hollowbody – Sixties Cherry

The Quintessential Gibson ES

When someone says “semi-hollowbody electric guitar,” the Gibson ES-335 is probably the first guitar to pop into your head — it’s the quintessential semi. Whether you’re shooting for a classic electric blues tone or contemporary neo-soul, the ES-335 will tackle it without breaking a sweat. Made in Nashville, Tennessee, the Gibson ES-335 includes premium electronics, hardware, and tonewoods. For a more affordable version of this legendary guitar, check out the Epiphone ES-335.

Product:Gibson ES-335Body Type:Semi-hollowbodyBody Wood:3-ply Maple/Poplar/MapleNeck:MahoganyFingerboard:RosewoodElectronics:Calibrated T-type Rhythm Humbucker; Bridge: Calibrated T-type Lead HumbuckerSounds Like:Electric Blues and Neo-soulPros:• Synonymous with legendary guitarists
• One of the most tonally versatile guitars on the market
• Made in Nashville, TennesseeCons:• Premium appointments come at a premium price. Epiphone offers a more affordable version of the ES-335.

Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay HT – Showtime

A Searing-hot Axe with Premium Appointments

The Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay HT is a top-flight electric guitar in every possible way. It starts with a lightweight, balanced-sounding alder body. Dual heat-treated humbuckers (hence the “HT” in this guitar’s name) unleash searing tones with a switchable +20dB gain boost for those extra-hot occasions. You also get premium hardware, including mega-reliable locking tuners. The StingRay RS is also available for players who can’t live without a tremolo bridge.

Product:Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay HTBody Type:SolidbodyBody Wood:AlderNeck:Roasted Figured MapleFingerboard:RosewoodElectronics:Two Music Man HT HumbuckersSounds Like:Contemporary RockPros:• Alder body provides lightweight and balanced tone
• +20dB gain boost accessible with push-activated tone knob
• Locking tuners keep you in tune and your intonation where it needs to beCons:• Some players may prefer a tremolo bridge instead of a hardtail bridge; check out the StingRay RS

Strandberg Boden Prog NX 7 – Charcoal Black

A Modern, Headless Seven-string Powerhouse

The Strandberg Boden Prog NX 7 seriously delivers the goods if you’re into high-octane, drop-tuned metal excursions. This lightweight, headless seven-string is tailor-made for marathon-length shows, and its extended-range design gives rise to a whole universe of new possibilities. Its multi-scale fingerboard offers ergonomic playability like nothing else out there. You also get a set of Fishman’s acclaimed multi-voice Fluence humbuckers. Need even more extended musical range? Then get your hands on the eight-string Strandberg Boden Original NX 8.

Product:Strandberg Boden Prog NX 7Body Type:Solidbody, ChamberedBody Wood:Swamp AshNeck:MapleFingerboard:RichliteElectronics:Fishman Fluence Modern 7 Alnico Humbucker; Bridge: Fishman Fluence Modern 7 Ceramic HumbuckerSounds Like:Prog Rock and Modern MetalPros:Light weight is great for marathon gigs
Seventh string opens a world of new notes and chords
Equipped with the highly coveted Fishman Fluence pickupsCons:For the heaviest music, a seven-string may not be enough; take a look at the eight-string NX 8.

Fender American Performer Stratocaster – Honeyburst with Rosewood Fingerboard

This Premium Strat Will Be Your New Number One

The Fender American Performer Stratocaster pulls out all the stops, providing classic Strat tones and a treasure trove of modern innovations. This guitar includes a comfort-contoured alder body, a Modern “C” maple neck, and a 9.5-inch-radius rosewood fingerboard. You also get three Yosemite single-coil pickups and a push-pull tone knob to add the neck pickup to any position. A vintage-style Synchronized Tremolo and ClassicGear tuners round out this amazing Stratocaster.

Product:Fender American Performer StratocasterBody Type:SolidbodyBody Wood:AlderNeck:MapleFingerboard:RosewoodElectronics:Three Yosemite Strat Single-coilsSounds Like:Neo-soul, BluesPros:Legendary vintage tones
Unique push-pull tone knob allows you to add the neck pickup to any position
Expressive vibrato while staying in tune with ClassicGear tunersCons:Few to speak of at this price point

Best Electric Guitar Buying Advice

How to Choose an Electric Guitar

Who hasn’t dreamed of playing guitar in front of thousands of screaming fans? We might not be able to help you play any better, but we can put the right axe in your hands! This Sweetwater buying guide includes information that can help you choose an electric guitar for your needs. Since there’s so much to consider when purchasing an electric guitar, don’t hesitate to call (800) 222-4700 for more information.

15 Best Guitars for Beginners 2022

The Anatomy of an Electric Guitar

Electric guitars are available in very diverse body styles, tonewoods, and electronics. We’ll discuss some of the critical aspects below. You can learn more about the individual components in this article: “Parts of a Guitar.”

Parts of a Guitar

Tonewoods for Electric Guitar: Sonic Signature

Since the earliest days of music, instruments and woods have had a relationship, and electric guitars are no different. The woods used in electric guitars are referred to as tonewoods. These are well known for having desirable tone and sustain when used in musical instruments. It’s interesting to note that the wood itself takes on different characteristics depending on which part of the guitar it’s used.

The woods listed below are the most common tonewoods for electric guitars, though you will find others. Even though one guitar may have the same tonewoods as another, they may still sound very different.

Common Tonewoods

Alder

Light weight with balanced tone

Ash

Open grain with balanced tone, great for transparent finishes

Basswood

Light weight and warm sounding with strong mids

Korina

Medium to heavy wood, very warm sounding with less highs

Mahogany

Medium to heavy weight, very warm with great sustain

Maple

Medium to heavy weight, very bright with long sustain

Poplar

Lightweight hardwood, bright and crisp

Common Neck Woods

Maple

Dense, hard and strong, very bright sounding with great sustain

Mahogany

Very warm and fat sound

Fretboard Woods

Maple

Dense, hard, and strong, fast playing, very bright sounding with great sustain

Rosewood

Smooth and fast with very warm tone

Ebony

Very hard wood, smooth and fast playing, very bright sounding with long sustain

Pau Ferro

Very hard wood, fast and smooth playing, brighter than rosewood, warmer than ebony

Three Bodies, Three Different Sounds

Electric guitars come in three primary types: solidbody, semi-hollowbody, and hollowbody. Solidbody guitars have… well, solid wood bodies. The hollowbody guitar is built like an acoustic guitar with a completely hollow inside. And a semi-hollowbody guitar adds a solid center block to a hollowbody design.

How Pickups Can Influence the Sound of Your Electric Guitar

Single-coil Pickups

The first electric guitars all used single-coil pickups. A single-coil pickup has only one coil of wire. It may have a single magnet, a single magnet with screws for adjustable pole pieces, or a separate magnet for each string. Regardless of the number and arrangement of magnets, it is still a single-coil pickup if it has only one coil of wire.

Unfortunately, a coil of wire is also a very efficient antenna. A coil of wire will “pluck” electromagnetic radiation out of the air, and we are surrounded everywhere by this radiation — most notably the 60-cycle hum from building wiring, electrical noises from fluorescent lighting, and more recent noise sources that trouble guitarists with single-coil pickups: the computer monitor and cell phone. In short, single-coil pickups are very susceptible to electromagnetic fields.

Single-coil pickups have a thin, clean, and transparent sound. These pickups are usually about three-fourths of an inch wide and 2.5 inches long. Single-coil pickups are common on Fender guitars such as the Stratocaster and Telecaster, both guitars that are very common in rock, country, and pop. Notable users of the Fender Strat single-coil sound include Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Famous Tele players include Bruce Springsteen, Buck Owens, and Johnny Paycheck. P-90s are another version of single-coil pickups with a tone that sits somewhere between a Strat-style single-coil pickup and a PAF-style humbucker pickup.

Humbucker Pickups

In the 1950s, Ted McCarty, president of Gibson and an engineer by training, assigned Walt Fuller and Seth Lover the task of designing a pickup that would not be prone to “humming” in the presence of transformers, rheostats, and other electrical interference. Lover began work in 1954 and a year later filed a patent application for a pickup that utilized two coils to cancel or “buck” the hum, commonly known now as “humbuckers.”

A humbucker ingeniously employs two wire coils instead of one, and the coils are wired “out of phase” so that any hum (or EMF) introduced in either coil is canceled when the output of the two coils are combined.

Electric Guitar Necks Explained

No two guitarists are alike, and their guitar preferences vary widely. That extends to guitar necks, too — you’ll find an almost bewildering variety offered by different guitar makers! But we can pare down the neck issue to four important factors: the wood (type and number of pieces), the neck joint (how it connects to the guitar’s body), the profile (the width, thickness, and shape), and the fingerboard radius.

What Wood You Do?

Whether your guitar’s neck is one piece or made of two or more sections laminated together (this often makes the neck stronger), the wood used to make it is an often-debated topic. The issues center on the “hardness,” determined by the tightness of the wood grain, and the weight, a crucial factor in constructing a balanced guitar. Here’s a brief description of some commonly used neck woods:

• Maple — This was what Leo Fender used on the first solidbody electric (which became known as the Telecaster). Maple is medium hard and medium weight, which worked well without causing the guitar to be neck-heavy. Fender also let the maple serve as the guitar’s fingerboard, too (more about this in a moment).

• Mahogany — Acoustic guitars have used this as neck material for a long time. It is slightly more “flexible” than maple and a bit lighter. Its distinctive, dark natural color makes a very attractive contrast to a maple or spruce top. Many acoustics also use mahogany for their backs and sides.

• Rosewood — This tight-grained, heavy wood comes in a number of varieties. One type — Brazilian rosewood — is now rare and expensive, the result of overuse and deforestation. Rosewood is also often used for fingerboards due to its smooth, hard surface. Paul Reed Smith builds electrics with rosewood necks, and many acoustics have used this wood, as well.

• Pau ferro — This up-and-coming replacement for Brazilian rosewood (the name literally means “iron wood”) is heavy and nonporous, which makes it easy to finish and popular for necks and fingerboards.

• Basswood — Considering this wood’s relatively wide grain, which makes it “softer” than others, basswood has found a place both in economy acoustics and in high-end electric settings. Parker Guitars coats a basswood neck with carbon/epoxy resin to produce an extremely light, incredibly strong result.

No Joint Pains for These Necks!

The neck joint is the point at which the neck is attached to the guitar’s body. This is an important process for a couple of reasons. First, the joint must be able to withstand the pressure and stress created when guitar strings are installed and tensioned — and that pressure can be very high! Second, joining the neck to the guitar’s body will affect the tone of the finished instrument, if only due to the increased mass of the guitar. For these reasons and more, the neck joint is carefully designed and constructed in both acoustic and electric guitars. There are three primary methods of attaching the neck:

Set (or Set-in) Neck

This simply means that the neck is glued into place. This method has been used as long as acoustic guitars have existed and is almost always used in acoustic guitar construction (with one notable exception described below). The set neck is carefully cut to match its mounting point on the guitar body, and the two sections are almost always connected with dovetail joints to maximize the gluing surface and minimize neck wiggle. The Gibson Les Paul models are prime examples of electric guitars with set necks.

Bolt-on Neck

This term was applied to Leo Fender’s first electric guitar, which would eventually be called the Telecaster. Ironically, Fender didn’t use bolts at all — his guitar neck was attached to the slab body with four wood screws. Nevertheless, the name stuck. Some manufacturers actually do use bolts. Taylor, a custom builder of acoustic and electric guitars, developed a special bolt-on design in which the head of the bolt is inside the body of the guitar. Almost all other bolt-on necks are seen on solidbody electrics.

Neck Through Body

This approach is limited exclusively to solidbody guitars. The “neck” is actually an integral part of the guitar’s body and extends the entire length of the instrument. In fact, Les Paul’s early experimental guitars began with a 4-inch wood post that ran from tail to headstock with the sawed-off halves of a guitar body glued onto its sides. More advanced neck-through designs use dovetail joints or dados — a “tab” in one piece that fits into a slot in the other — to connect the full-length neck to the body wings. Some players feel that the lower mass of the body wings cuts down on low-frequency resonance, creating a bright, thin-sounding guitar. Neck-through instruments work well in high-volume playing situations that call for definition and clear low end. Some neck-through guitars (Gibson’s Firebird, for example) use a mahogany neck piece. This softer wood provides a warmer, rounder tone more characteristic of a set-neck guitar. The Parker Fly Classic combines a neck-through design with light basswood underneath its carbon/glass “exoskeleton” to provide a lightweight guitar with the feel of much denser, harder woods.

Profiles: “C,” “U,” or “V”?

Neck profile (the shape of the neck) is probably the most personal element of a guitar. It affects how your hand and fingers “fit” the neck and how easily you can move from fret to fret. From early on, acoustic guitars employed some variation of a “C” shape. Electric guitar makers have experimented extensively, and a variety of profiles have evolved with the preferences of players. Jeff Beck’s favorite Fender Stratocasters had a very fat “C” shape; current models of Fender’s Custom Artist Jeff Beck Signature Strat have a smaller “C” to be more player-friendly.

Similar to the “C” is the oval neck profile. This offers a less pronounced curve at the back and has its followers. On the other side is the “U” — an almost-rectangular shape that appeared on many Fenders — perhaps best for players with long fingers. And Eric Clapton has favored a “V” neck that provides a comfortable groove down the middle. A variation on this is the “inverted V,” which is thicker on the bass side and thinner on the treble side.

Width is as much a factor in the neck profile as shape, leading some guitar makers to abandon the letter analogy and begin describing profiles as “wide-fat” or “regular-thin” and so on, in which widths are “wide, regular, or narrow” and depths range from “fat to regular to thin.” This often provides a clearer description of the profile and can help you when you’re shopping for guitars online. Parker and Paul Reed Smith use these types of descriptions.

“C,” “V,” and “U” neck profiles — Image courtesy of Fender

Fingerboard Radius

Electric guitar fingerboards are typically rounded, and the degree of that arc is expressed as the “radius.” Fingerboard radius is the curvature of the fingerboard across the neck from the lowest string to the highest string and is measured like the radius of a circle. If the number is lower, such as 7.25 inches, then the fretboard will be rounder. If the number is higher, such as 12 or 16 inches, then the fretboard will be flatter. To learn more about fingerboard radius, including compound-radius fingerboards, check out Don Carr’s excellent article, “What Is Fingerboard Radius?”

Do Frets Matter?

Most guitar players really don’t give a lot of thought to the frets, though these can influence both tone and playability. Instead, most players will view the frets as an integral part of a guitar’s fingerboard. If a guitar has a smooth, playable neck that allows you to bend notes, do hammer-ons and pull-offs, and deliver clean articulations at all positions up and down the neck, then it means that the frets have been perfectly matched and properly “dressed” to provide the best overall action. The bottom line is that frets do matter, but it’s the manufacturer who is best qualified to determine what size and thickness of fret wire matches the fingerboards of their instruments.

How Many Frets?

The number of frets on a guitar determines the number of notes available for each string. A guitar with 24 frets offers two more notes at the highest register than a guitar with 22 frets.

Stainless Steel Frets – Do They Make a Difference? Take a Listen

What to Look for in an Electric Guitar

Body Style

Electric guitars come in three basic body styles: solidbody, semi-hollowbody, and hollowbody. When sustain, loud amplification, and lots of effects are required, solidbody guitars are a good choice. Semi-hollowbody guitars are useful when more of the acoustic sound of the guitar with high levels of amplification are needed. Hollowbody, or “jazz,” guitars provide the acoustic sound of the guitar but can be prone to feedback at high levels of amplification.

Wood

Choice of woods naturally affects the tone and weight of a guitar, but so do a number of other factors. More expensive woods don’t necessarily mean a better-sounding guitar. The important question for you is whether you like the sound of the instrument.

Neck

Choosing the type of neck for your guitar depends on the size of your hand. Necks come in a number of shapes, such as “C” shape, thin, wide-thin, etc.

Set vs. Bolt-on Neck

Some people believe that a set (or glued-in) neck offers more sustain than a bolted-on neck. This may affect which instrument you choose, but if you want a Fender Stratocaster, the neck is bolted on. Period. Conversely, if you choose a Gibson Les Paul, it comes with a set neck.

Scale Length

Scale length influences both the tonal quality of the notes produced and the tension of the string at a particular pitch. Scale length refers to the vibrating length of the string, which is determined by the distance between the nut and the bridge saddle. Fret placement (see “Intonation”) is a ratio based on scale length, so longer scales have more distance between frets.

Most modern electric guitars employ one of two commonly used scale lengths: the “Gibson” scale, at 24.75 inches, gives the Les Paul its round attack and thick bass, and the “Fender” scale, at 25.5 inches, gives the Strat its clear, cutting quality. A third scale length, the 25-inch scale, as used by Paul Reed Smith among others, produces a distinctive tone and is not a compromise between “Gibson” and “Fender.”

Intonation

Intonation determines whether or not the notes are in tune as you move up the neck. If the distance between the frets (usually above the 12th fret) is off, then the guitar will be incapable of playing in tune and therefore useless as a recording or performance instrument.

Number of Frets

Most electric guitars come with 22 frets. However, if you like to play in the high register, a 24-fret neck will give you a full octave above the 12th fret.

Finish

With electrics, the type of finish does not affect sound as much as it does on acoustics, but you needn’t worry about it in either case. Guitar makers take this into account when they build the instrument.

Bridge

There are two main types of bridges for electric guitars: tremolo bridge and stoptail bridge. The tremolo bridge (or whammy bar) allows you to “dive” or bend all the strings at once, (good for metal), but they can throw strings out of tune. The stoptail bridge is more stable as far as tuning is concerned, and, because it is fixed to the body, some players feel that it provides more sustain than the tremolo bridge, which “floats” above the body.

Pickups

Some guitars have two pickups, one close to the neck, which provides a thicker sound, and one close to the bridge, which produces a more treble, “twangy” sound. A 3-position switch allows you to choose between pickups or blend them. Some guitars have a 5-position switch, which blends the pickups and changes their phase relationship to produce “glassy” tones. A third, or middle, pickup is also available on some guitars for more sound-blending options.

Tuning Machines

The type of tuning machines on your guitar is very important. This is what allows you to tune the strings and maintain the correct pitch. Enclosed machine heads resist rust and airborne corrosives and therefore don’t require as much maintenance or replacement as open tuning machines.

What Are You Waiting for? Get a New Electric Guitar Today!

So, what are you waiting for? There’s never been a better time to buy an electric guitar. In fact, there’s never a wrong time to buy an electric guitar! Shop solidbody, semi-hollowbody, and hollowbody electric guitars at Sweetwater or reach out to your Sweetwater Sales Engineer at (800) 222-4700 to get started today!