The Best Electric Guitars In 2023

The influence of the Stratocaster is unrivalled with only Gibson’s Les Paul snapping at its heels. But for us, it’s got to be the ever-reliable and ever-versatile Strat that takes the win. Finding its way into the hands of some of rock’s most influential players, the iconic S-shape has shared the limelight with Buddy Holly, Hank Marvin, Jimi Hendrix, Nile Rodgers, Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour, Eric Clapton and more.  

So, besides joining a lineage of all-timers, why pick up this Fender Player Stratocaster? Well, the chief reason to go for this alder-bodied Strat is its versatility. It offers crisp, clear tones with a bright, articulate midrange character from the three Player Series Single-Coil pickups that suits various genres - be it the warmer sound of the neck pickup, the classic rhythm guitar punch you get from the middle, or the sharper bite of the bridge pickup, which is perfect for solos (especially when pushed through an overdrive pedal).

Not only does it sound great, but the Fender Player Stratocaster guitar is a breeze to play. It’s got a maple C-shape neck that’s comfortable for all thumb positions, and it’s a delight for players both new and experienced.   

Sure, you could pick up a Strat from Fender’s still respected cadet brand Squier for a lower price, but with the high-quality components, craftsmanship and refined ergonomics, the Fender Player represents a notable improvement over its lower-priced cousin. This is a step closer to the guitars of professionals and, all things considered, it’s an absolute bargain.

In many ways, the Les Paul is the antithesis of the Stratocaster. Thick, weighty, and boasting unbeatable sustain, it’s long been the top pick for blues, rock and metal guitarists. Its powerful sound is down to the mahogany body and maple top. The Les Paul body's warm, full-bodied tone gets reinforced by dual humbucker pickups, which deliver a punchy, mid-focused sound that excels no matter what genre it’s working in. This versatility makes it great for both rhythm playing and solos. 

This Gibson Les Paul Studio carries the Les Paul legacy well. The 498T bridge pick-up will push the treble and push through the mix, while the 490R will be ready and waiting to round things out at the neck. You can also take advantage of its coil tap, which allows you to roll off the punchy aggression of the modern humbucker to get close to the lower output ’buckers heard on classic Les Paul-starring LPs like Led Zeppelin II and the Blues Breakers’ ‘Beano’ album. The slim taper of the Maplewood neck is exceptionally well-crafted and smooth to play and the whole guitar is much lighter than vintage models – a real blend of old and new.   

The Les Paul has found itself slung around the neck of many a musical icon, from Neil Young and Jimmy Page to Bob Marley and James Dean Bradfield. Pair this with a Marshall amp and you’ve got a timeless set up. 

The biggest hurdle to overcome with Gibson is the price tag, especially when its more affordable offspring Epiphone is right there in the wings. Yet, there’s something to be said for the quality control, consistent performance, and durability of the real-deal Gibson. You’ll only ever need to buy the one.

On the scene since ’51, the Fender Telecaster carries a distinct, delightful tone. Tighter than a Stratocaster, it has an unmistakable taut, cutting sound that allows notes to sing. You can hear the tell-tale Tele twang on classic albums from The Rolling Stones (Keef’s guitar of choice has been a Telecaster for decades), Bruce Springsteen, Dr Feelgood’s Wilko Johnson, Blur and countless others.

The Fender Player series has done amazing things for accessibility, letting mere mortals walk among the guitar gods for a fraction of the price of, say, anything from the Fender American ranges or the hallowed Custom Shop. And it's no exception with the Player Telecaster. 

Encompassing all there is to love about the Tele, this model boasts solid build quality, while its tone and playability are in perfect harmony. It features two Player Series single-coil pickups, offering a range of punchy and twangy tones. The modern C-shape maple neck is thin and sleek, letting your thumb float wherever you prefer, making for comfortable playing. The 22-fret fingerboard provides extended range over the 21 of vintage builds.  

For those wanting warmth and grunt with their Telecaster, versions loaded with humbuckers are readily available. We’d recommend picking up the Fender Player Telecaster HH MN, as it’s got all the mod-cons of this single-coiled version.

The Yamaha Pacifica 112V is such a good guitar for the money, it transcends being ‘budget’ and moves into that rarest of things in the current climate: genuine value for money.  

The best thing we can say about the Yamaha Pacifica 112V is that it’s great fun to play. The natural oiliness of the rosewood fingerboard makes for smooth lead lines, as does the C-shape neck, which also has the bonus of making chord and rhythm playing a cramp-free experience.  

With an alder body and maple neck, the Pacifica 112V has a rich tonality with respectable sustain and resonance. By combining Yamaha Alnico V pickups – two single coils and a coil-split humbucker – with a five-way selector, the Pacifica can slide from warm blues to hard-edged rock with a simple flick. This is a versatile guitar, providing a balanced and dynamic tone suitable for whatever you fancy noodling on at any given moment. 

There’s no getting away from the fact it’s a budget Strat copy, but we’d take this over a Squier any day based on the split-coil humbucker alone. Whether this is your first guitar or just a nice little addition to your collection, it’ll have you coming back time and time again. It’s not just some cheap guitar, it’s a friend for life.

It doesn’t matter what music you want to play. The Gretsch G5230T Electromatic Jet can deliver, and you’ll look great in the process. Behind its classic-cool facade, the G5230T hosts a range of tricks which refine the beloved big Gretsch tone. It’s best to think of it as a semi-solid guitar – though its body is mahogany, known for its darker expressions, it’s chambered, meaning there are hollow sections hidden within that improve the mid-tones. As a result, it’s exceptionally balanced and characterful. Coupled with the dual Blacktop Filter'Tron pickups, the G5230T Electromatic is primed for tone-rich jazz or punched-up punk.  

A real bonus with this model is the Bigsby B50 vibrato tailpiece, which adds a vintage whammy wherever required. No matter your style, you’ll be giving your licks a rockabilly lean with the Bigsby – it’s too enjoyable not to. Affordable and reliable, this model delivers the distinctive Gretsch sound with modern versatility.

ounded in 1833, Martin is one of the oldest names in guitars and has been relied on by the likes of Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Elvis Presley. The Martin D-X1E Mahogany Dreadnought combines the brand’s classic acoustic sound with electronic amplification.  
The dreadnought shape is probably the most popular acoustic shape around – there’s a good chance you’ve played one, even if you didn’t know it. Though there are louder acoustic shapes available – such as the jumbo – the dreadnought keeps a balance between powerful sound and versatility. The D-X1E has a mahogany body and offers a balanced and warm tonal response with enhanced projection. 

This guitar is equipped with a Fishman MX pickup and battery-powered preamp which ensures excellent amplified sound and stage-ready performance. It’s perfect for playing at home and at a gig or running through effect pedals. Just make sure if you are going live to have a spare 9V battery to hand. 

Notable on this D-X1E is the ‘Performing Artist’ neck. It’s Martin’s variation on a C-shape, notable for being nice and shallow. This makes for an easy play when compared with some other acoustics, which often have thick, U-shaped necks – this modern twist is especially welcome for anyone coming from a fully electric guitar.

With the rise of surf rock, Fender released the original Jaguar in 1962. Distinct not only because of its none-more ’60s aesthetic, the Jag is also renowned for its dual-circuit pick-up controls, which give you immense control over the tonal output. It’s a sonically powerful guitar with a superb low-end range and stunning mid-high sparkle.   

Here, these Jag roots get celebrated. The Vintera ’60s brings the distinctive round tone and playability of its vintage ancestor home, just with modern craftsmanship and reliability. It comes with two single-coil pickups, and it’s even got the floating tremolo tailpiece to get that pure-surf wobble off the ground.   

The Jaguar fell out of favour during the ’70s and found itself discontinued. It saw a resurgence in the ’90s, however, and has remained a common sight among indie and grunge outfits ever since, due in no small part to Johnny Marr and Kurt Cobain, who favoured a souped-up double humbucker version.

The Gibson ES-335 has been part of rock and roll since the beginning. Originally favoured by Chuck Berry and B.B. King, it’s since been taken on by Johnny Marr, Noel Gallagher, Suede’s Bernard Butler and Dave Grohl. 

The Gibson 335 is a hybrid of hollow-body and electric guitar designs, combining both worlds to create a sound greater than the sum of its impressive parts. It has incredible resonance and warmth but plenty of bite to hand out when the dials get pushed. So, if the Gibson is so good, why recommend the Epiphone version?   

The Epiphone ES-335 is part of the brand's ‘Inspired by Gibson’ range. Though it doesn’t boast that Gibson badge, it’s worth sacrificing as you won’t find a worthwhile Gibson ES for less than double this superb tribute. 

We love this Epiphone ES-335, which features dual Alnico Classic PRO humbuckers, delivering vintage-inspired tones with warmth, clarity, and versatility. The neck profile means that lead lines and chords feel effortless, and it generally feels like a quality crafted piece of kit.

If Paul Reed Smith is known for one thing, it’s craftsmanship. With the SE McCarty 594, the precision brand has fused this eye for detail with vintage sensibilities to create a wonderful, Les Paul-evocative instrument. Equipped with dual PRS 58/15 "S" humbuckers pickups, the guitar can deliver retro-modern tones with clarity, warmth, and a dynamic response. But it’s not only a humbucker sound you'll get from the McCarty 594 – thanks to the push/pull tone controls, you can switch to single-coil mode for cut-down bottom and sharper sparkle.   

Roll back the tone and sit in the neck pickup, and you’ll be treated to sounds that wouldn’t be out of place on some fusion records, à la Santana. Switch over to a higher register and you’ll be able to capture tones not dissimilar from classic Les Paul rock songs – fingerpickers can get close to ZZ Top’s staccato blues, while plectrums and a healthy dose of pentatonic sear like Guns N’ Roses’ Slash.  

The tobacco finish complements the cutaway nicely, while the chamfering on the lower horn avoids some of the fret-access issues encountered on similar single-cutaway guitars.