Do you want to learn a new instrument but aren’t sure whether or not you need an electric guitar vs. acoustic guitar? Each offers their own unique pros and cons, sound, and style that makes it challenging to choose.
Although choosing the right guitar isn’t an exact science, there are ways to empower your choice to find the best option for you. We’re going to break down the main differences between the two and how to decide before making your decision.
Differences Between Electric and Acoustic Guitars
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Before you buy a guitar, learn about the differences between electric guitar vs. acoustic guitar to find the best pick for you.
Electric Guitars
Electric guitars are ideal for ambitious beginners who want to get loud and rock out. They can shred through pickups, and the sound is amplified with the right equipment to give an energized performance.
Cheap electric guitar brands, like Jackson Guitars, hold their own if you’re a beginner or just looking to have fun learning to play. But to avoid feedback and intense distortion issues, you’ll need to invest more money in a higher-quality electric guitar, like a Fender.
Although an electric guitar’s sound and shape differ depending on the brand and style you choose, the universal sound it makes is the same. When the strings vibrate through the magnetic field of its pickups, you’ll get the sound and tone of an iconic electric guitar.
Here are some of the body shapes to consider when playing an electric guitar:
- Hollow Body – As the name implies, there is nothing inside of hollow-body guitars, but it does come outfitted with a sound box and pickups. The resulting full sound will impact the tone of the guitar. On the downside, the pickups and strings have nothing underneath them and are vulnerable to feedback and reverberation.
- Semi-Hollow Body – These electric guitars feature a wooden center block to mount the pickups and help reduce the distortion. The style of a semi-hollow guitar is similar to solid bodies but has a less focused low end and a louder tone.
- Solid Body – Solid body electric guitars are made of solid wood, without any resonating air spaces. This guitar model will sustain more action, have less feedback, and be more suitable for higher gains and hardcore playing.
Acoustic Guitars
Acoustic guitars are a great pick for beginners looking to learn a new instrument. They’re straightforward, easy to pick up and get started playing, and don’t need anything to plug in or extra gear to get started. When shopping for the best-sounding acoustic guitars, you’re probably choosing between one of the following”
- Jumbo – The largest body type of acoustic guitar with a deep, rich sound that’s well-suited for lead guitar players.
- Dreadnought – These are the most popular body type for acoustic guitar and produce a powerful sound with more versatility than other styles.
- Concert – The smallest acoustic guitar body type is known for its bright, lively sound that’s popular for fingerpicking styles.
Despite the size and shape of acoustic guitars, some brands are also easier to play than others. For example, Zager Guitars are constructed with easy playability in mind, including a slim neck and guitar strings that are set slightly closer together than other brands. Other options, like Martin Guitars, may be more challenging to learn for beginners due to their heavier strings and set neck.
The sound of an acoustic guitar will also depend on the quality of the tonewoods and construction. Higher-quality guitars use real wood instead of laminates and layers to produce a warm, bright sound. Many acoustics (called electro-acoustics) also come with a function to plug them into an amplifier, making them easier to hear on stage.
Are Electric Guitar Strings and Acoustic Guitar Strings Different?
Acoustic guitar strings use bronze alloy and plain steel that usually contain phosphorus to prevent corrosion and make the strings last longer. Electric guitars typically use nickel-steel alloy or just steel.
You may not notice the strings look all that different, but electric guitar strings are usually lighter than the acoustic version. Depending on the size of your hand and what you want to play, beginners may feel that eclectic guitars are easier to play.
Pros of Acoustic Guitars
Now that you know some of the differences between electric guitar vs. acoustic guitar, learn about the pros and cons to make your choice.
Natural Sound
The best-sounding acoustic guitars produce a rich, warm sound that doesn’t require electricity or amplification, making them ideal for small stages or playing at home. The sound is a natural and evocative way to resonate with an audience, especially if you value singer-songwriter styles of music.
There are some exceptions, like Ovation or Parker Guitars that stray from the traditional wood construction and instead rely on carbon fiber and lightweight synthetic materials. These guitar brands are usually polarizing and musicians seem to love them or hate them. The sound is definitely different, but some musicians swear by their unique construction and hybrid style that could make them easier to play onstage.
Music Versatility
When it comes to versatility, acoustic guitars don’t offer a lot of room for extremes. Short of figuring out the best-sounding woods and style, most acoustic guitars are best suited for folk, country, blues, and some rock that require a warm, resonant sound. You can’t really rock out on an acoustic guitar when you want to slay through some metal or harder rock songs.
You could also try an acoustic-electric version that’s more of a hybrid guitar. It’s still not going to slay like an electric guitar, but it does offer more versatility across musical genres and sounds.
Easy Maintenance
Acoustic guitars usually require less maintenance than electric guitars, with fewer moving parts, and don’t need restringing as often. With just a guitar case and strap, you can get up and running with an acoustic guitar the day you take it out of the box.
The main issue with caring for an acoustic guitar is avoiding drastic changes in temperature and humidity to prevent the wood from warping or cracking. You can get a humidified case, but keeping it stored in a dry room and a humidifier (as needed) will also work.
Overall Cost
A quality acoustic guitar is usually more affordable than an electric guitar, especially for beginner or intermediate players. You can pick a cheap guitar for around $100 and still get a decent sound as a beginner. With fewer maintenance costs, you’re more likely to save in the long run on acoustic guitar costs.
Popular name-brand guitars are almost always more expensive than the smaller companies and aren’t necessarily worth it if you’re new to playing the guitar. To keep up with the demand for affordable guitars, some brands also launch a new line to appease budget shoppers. For example, Fender’s budget-brand, Squier, uses cheaper woods, pickups, and hardware and passes along those savings to their customers.
Other guitar brands skip the middleman and sell directly to customers. Zager Guitars doesn’t sell its handcrafted brand in stores but offers a free, two-way shipping policy, so you can try it out and see if it’s the right fit for you.
Design and Style
Acoustic guitars are available in different designs and shapes, including traditional dreadnought, modern cutaways, and smaller parlor designs. You can find something that fits your preferences and lifestyle to make the most of your new hobby.
Some acoustic guitar brands also come with their own signature style. Some musicians can spot a Taylor or Martin Guitar from a mile away. Other brands, like Blueridge Guitars, create historical reproductions, making their Civil War-era instruments instantly recognizable and unique.
Cons of Acoustic Guitars
Despite all the pros of choosing an acoustic guitar, there are some downsides to owning one and mastering its rich, smooth sound.
Low Volume
Even the best acoustic guitars will never be as loud as electric guitars and may require an amplifier to cut through a crowd. If you want to be the star of the stage, an acoustic guitar may be too soft to hear over the rest of your band.
Limited Tone
Compared to electric guitars, acoustic guitars have limited tonal options. You get a consistently rich, warm, or bright sound. But you’re not going to hit and amplify notes while tearing up a song on an acoustic guitar. There are some exceptions. Ovation Guitars use quality wood but have plastic backs to help with amplification issues. When you plug in an electro-acoustic guitar, you often get feedback created by resonance in the body.
Are Often Challenging to Play
You may find acoustic guitar strings are too thick and require more finger strength to press down. The action, or distance between the strings and the fretboard, is often higher and more challenging to play fast or as intricately as electric guitars.
Potential to Damage
Due to their wooden construction, acoustic guitars are more susceptible to damage than electric guitars. As temperatures increase, you may notice your acoustic guitar expands or the woods contracting when it gets cold outside.
Long-term, erratic temperature changes and humidity could warp and distort the wood of your acoustic guitar beyond repair. While playing in consistent climates, you may not have much of an issue, but a hot, humid day could wreak havoc on your guitar.
Limited Playability Options
Acoustic guitars may not be as well-suited to certain styles of music, including metal or hard rock. You may also find limited choices if you want to join a band or play at specific venues.
Pros of Electric Guitars
Now that you know some of the pros and cons of acoustic guitars, it’s time to think about whether or not an electric guitar could be the right pick for you.
Range of Tones
Electric guitars offer a wide range of tones compared to acoustic guitars, from clean and bright to distorted and heavy. Electric guitars rely on pickups and ultimately convert the string vibrations into an electrical signal that’s later enhanced through an amplifier. There are also different types of pickups, including single-coil or humbucker, to zero in on various tonal nuances.
Beyond the pickups, electric guitars use treble, middle, and bass knobs to manipulate the tone and fine-tune their sound to the variation you want. Electric guitar players are often attracted to the instrument’s intentional distortion, reverb, and delay, and for a subtle to extreme sound.
Easy to Amplify
With so many pickups and effects to choose from, electric guitars have to be easy to amplify. The sound carries well and cuts through the noise with the right sound system in place.
Wide Range of Effects
Electric guitars can be used with a variety of effects, pedals, and digital processors, allowing players to shape and customize the sound they want. Seasoned guitarists can bend innovative sounds out of their electric guitars by manipulating the electrical components and pedals.
The pickups and electronics of your electric guitar impact the sound, the most basic being a single-coil pickup. This single magnet has a fine wire wrapped around it and creates a magnetic file to capture the strings’ vibrations. Single coils also have a recognizable bright and crisp tone that cuts through dense noise.
Humbucker pickups offer broader tonality beyond single-coil models. You end up with two single-coils wound together, with the magnets arranged opposite each other for contrasting polarity. This design helps to eliminate any humming.
Instrument Durability
Electric guitars are generally more durable than their acoustic counterparts. Their harder, synthetic construction makes them more durable, especially when traveling or performing on stage. Of course, they also have coils, pickups, and knobs that could prove delicate and damaged when not handled properly.
Design Variety
Electric guitars come in a wide variety of designs and shapes, from traditional solid bodies to more unique hollow and semi-hollow body designs. You can also customize your guitar with the right colors and embellishments to align with your signature style.
Cons of Electric Guitars
Just like any instrument, there are some cons to buying an electric guitar vs. acoustic guitar.
Cost
Electric guitars can be more expensive than acoustic guitars, especially when looking for a high-quality model, multiple pickups, or a tremolo system. You won’t find a new electric guitar in the $100 range, but they’re still within reach for under $500. You’ll also need to invest some money in equipment, including amplifiers and pedals.
Needs Electricity to Function
It goes without saying that electric guitars require electricity to function, such as a battery-powered device or an external amplifier. If you ever want to tinker with your guitar when you’re out and about or travel light without equipment, an electric model won’t play as well or sound as resonant as acoustic guitars.
Limited Versatility
Electric guitars offer a range of tones but aren’t well-suited for lighter music like folk or fingerstyle playing. You may find that electric guitars have limited versatility depending on your personal tastes and preferences.
Requires Extra Equipment
Generally speaking, electric guitars can’t be played right out of the box and sound like their intended use. You still need an amplifier, pedals, and cables, which can all add to the cost and the learning process. Beyond the extra cost, you just have more to pack up and take with you.
Can Be Challenging to Learn
There’s more to learning an electric guitar than figuring out the right chords. You also need to coordinate with an amplifier and effect pedals to master a song and your craft.
Heavier
Electric guitars are heavier than acoustic instruments, although some models are lighter than others. The synthetic construction is usually heavier than wood, and the equipment you need to haul around can also impact the weight you’re adding to your haul.
How to Choose Between an Electric and Acoustic Guitar
Once you understand the differences, pros, and cons of electric guitar vs. acoustic guitar, you can use some specific criteria to make your choice between the two.
Intended Use
The fundamental differences between an acoustic and electric guitar relate to how each sounds for the music you want to perform. Consider the type of music you want to play, including your own playing style and skill level.
Here’s a breakdown of which guitar to choose for which genre, starting with acoustic.
- Country
- Folk
- Singer-songwriter
- Blues
- Bluegrass
- Fingerpicking
- Classical guitar
- Flamenco
You’ll usually choose an electric guitar when playing:
- Hard rock
- R&B
- Blues
- Punk
- Funk
- Grunge
- Alternative
- Indie rock
There are always exceptions to which guitar can play what. There’s definitely some cross-over and flexibility, but the above gives you a better idea of which guitar shines in which genre.
Flexibility Options
Before you choose a guitar, think about the amount of amplification needed and whether you want the flexibility to adjust your sound with effects pedals or digital processors. An acoustic guitar is a simple and elegant solution when you just want to learn the instrument.
Cost
You can find budget-friendly guitars whether you choose an electric or acoustic guitar. Cheap electric guitars usually sound better than cheap acoustic versions. However, you’ll still need extra amplification and pedals to get the sound you want.
Top 10 Acoustic Guitar Brands
If you’ve settled on buying an acoustic guitar over an electric guitar, here are some of the top 10 brands to consider.
1) Fender Guitars
Fender Guitars are primarily known for their electric guitars, but also make acoustic guitars that everyone from beginner to pro pick up to take the stage. With a sleek design and style, you can find a Fender with the classic style musicians love with a bright sound that resonates.
Fender Guitars Pros and Cons
Fenders are a good choice if you’re into ultra-high-quality craftsmanship and attention to detail. They tend to sound consistent across different models and hold their resale value. Their thin profile necks make them easy to play and a good choice for beginners with some room in their budget.
Yet when it comes to buying a Fender, you’re paying for the brand recognition and could easily spend less on a similar quality guitar brand. But if you’re a pro looking for a premium Fender at a discount, you probably won’t find it anywhere in their catalog.
Fender’s Average Guitar Prices
$500 to $2,500
2) Zager Guitars
Zager Guitars is known for its quality, easy-to-play acoustic and electro-acoustic models. Unlike other brands, they’re comfortable to hold with a slimmer front-to-back neck and custom string placement to reduce buzzing and rattling while making them easier to reach. They also produce 12-string and left-handed guitars well-suited for beginners and professionals.
Zager Guitars Pros and Cons
Zager Guitars easy playability makes this brand more enjoyable to play than others, and at an affordable price. With meticulous craftsmanship and care, you know you’re getting a guitar created by professional musicians. Founder Denny Zager was part of the band Zager and Evans that made a splash in the late 1960s. Zager Guitars also cuts out the retail middleman and sells directly to consumers with a free, two-way shipping policy.
The fact that Zager Guitars are cheaper and sell directly to consumers is a win for your budget, but you also won’t find them in retail outlets. It could still be a pro on your list if you take advantage of their free two-way shipping and pay nothing to try it out for 30 days.
Zager’s Average Guitar Prices
$695 to $2,500
3) Yamaha Guitars
Yamaha Guitars are well-known for their versatile guitars that are easy to play and fun to look at. During the 1960s, they released an acoustic folk guitar with a symmetrical dreadnought-style body and innovative cutaway. Beyond their unique look, they’re also relatively affordable, but you’ll need to invest in one of their more expensive models to get a full sound that translates to the stage.
Yamaha Guitars Pros and Cons
Yamaha Guitars are versatile, so you can hit the rock hard or play softer, mellow sounds on their acoustic guitars. You’ll find their tone is steady and reliable and can scale with both slow and gentle or at fast speeds.
If you’re no stranger to the guitar, you may notice that lower-end Yamahas have smaller string spacing that is difficult to master if you’re into fingerstyle playing. The cheap woods of their low-end models make them affordable, but they don’t always sound as good as other budget-friendly brands.
Yamaha’s Average Guitar Prices
$300 to $1,500
4) Martin Guitars
Musicians turn to Martin Guitars for its premium models and upscale fingerpicking-style performance guitars. They sound incredible on the stage and come with a long history. As the oldest guitar brand in the world, Martin Guitars has a longstanding reputation in the music industry and is a leader in innovative designs, like an X-bracing that strengthens the guitar’s body for a richer tone.
Martin Guitars Pros and Cons
You’ll hear Martin Guitars cut through the noise on stage and dazzle the crowd with its bright sound and solid construction. You can use light or heavy strings on a Martin Guitar, but beginners may find the latter challenging to play. The flexibility is still a win if you want to experiment with different setups. There’s also a built-in electronics system so you can tune and get some feedback protection while you perform.
Martin Guitars’ expensive prices are worth its quality but doesn’t make a lot of sense if you also admire other guitar brands or are a beginner. Not all of their models have an electronics system right built-in, which may save some money when buying your guitar, but not fuel the stage performance you’re looking for.
Martin’s Average Guitar Prices
$800 to $3,500
5) Taylor Guitars
Established in the 1970s, Taylor Guitars was established in the 1970s and attracts folk, pop, rock, and country singers for its bright sound. Taylor uses high-quality tonewoods and offers electric guitars ready to rock on stage. With a slimmer neck profile, beginners may also find them easier to play and glide across the frets.
Taylor Guitars Pros and Cons
Taylor’s on-point construction and quality attract beginners and stage performers looking for the best of the best. Their high-quality construction and longevity are worth the investment for aspiring musicians and stage performers. With a modern sound, Taylor Guitars are known for their crisp, balanced tones and slim necks. They can be easier to play for musicians who have difficulty wrapping their hands around fret notes to get their chords just right.
Taylor Guitars are expensive and aren’t always worth it if you’re not planning to stick with the same instrument for the long haul. Some musicians also complain about sharp fret ends and their strings buzzing, disrupting their performance.
Taylor’s Average Guitar Prices
$500 to $2,500
6) Gibson Guitars
Gibson Guitars is the go-to choice for many musicians, known for their exceptional design and superior sound quality. As one of the most recognizable and respected brands in the music industry, Gibson has cemented its place in history by introducing the first archtop and hollow-body guitars in the early 1900s. Among their most iconic models is the Les Paul, which features a solid body and set neck design. With Gibson, musicians can expect the ultimate combination of style and performance.
Despite its iconic reputation, Gibson Guitars recently faced financial challenges that resulted in limited availability in some markets. Today, they’re still coveted guitars, even with the high price point.
Gibson Guitars Pros and Cons
Gibson Guitars’ humbucking pickups create the brand’s warm, rich sound. Rock, blues, and metal musicians reach for Gibson’s classic, iconic design. With a high-quality reputation, Gibson Guitars are well-regarded for their craftsmanship and sound quality but come with a premium price tag.
Despite the brand’s prestige in the industry, its high costs are often a hindrance for some musicians. It’s also not the best option if you’re looking for a guitar that retails below $1,000 and wants more flexibility in your budget.
Gibson’s Average Guitar Prices
$800 to $3,500
7) Takamine Guitars
Takamine Guitars was named after Mount Takamine and is a premier builder of classical guitars and mandolins. They’re known for their exceptional sound quality and pair well with the stage for a rich, full sound. You can find models that feature solid pickups and electronics for easy amplification. With a history of producing high-quality instruments and a reputation for excellence, Takamine Guitars are a top choice for classical guitarists, folk, country, and lighter rock.
Takamine Guitars Pros and Cons
Takamine Guitars style makes them an easy pick, but they’re also known for being somewhat uncomfortable to play with longer and broader necks. Depending on your skills and dedication to this brand, it may prove challenging to master.
Takamine’s Average Guitar Prices
$500 to $2,500
8) Breedlove Guitars
Founded by a group of former Taylor Guitars employees, Breedlove Guitars set out to make a name for itself in the industry as a contender among budget-friendly acoustic guitars.
The brand focuses on sound optimization with a dedication to extensive tonewood testing to produce renowned high-quality instruments. Although it doesn’t enjoy the same prestige as Taylor, Breedlove is affordable, high-quality, and a solid choice if you want great value in your guitar pick.
Breedlove Guitars Pros and Cons
Breedlove is an affordable guitar brand with high action and some string intonation issues while retaining decent quality control. Their cheaper end models means the tonewoods may not be as good as other brands but produces a lively and punchy sound.
Breedlove’s Average Guitar Prices
$400 to $1,500
9) Epiphone Guitars
A subsidiary of Gibson Guitars, Epiphone Guitars produces budget-friendly versions of their more expensive models. The quality is still good, but you’ll need to spend more on a higher-end model to get the best sound out of an Epiphone Guitar or add an amplifier to your purchase.
Although Epiphone works well for beginners and intermediate players, many musicians choose to upgrade to a higher-end Gibson or another alternative brand. Some of their most famous models include the Les Paul and the SG, often picked up by rock and blues players.
Epiphone Guitars Pros and Cons
Epiphone Guitars is your go-to if you love that classic Gibson sound without breaking the bank. They’re more affordable for beginners and can scale up with your skill.
If you’re a fan of the Gibson brand but not the price tag, the Epiphone line may be a great alternative. They are made overseas and mass-produced, but as your skills grow, you may notice the difference between an Epiphone and a Gibson.
Epiphone’s Average Guitar Prices
$300 to $800
10) Ovation Guitars
Ovation Guitars is a unique guitar brand founded by a group of engineers, scientists, and technicians from an aerospace company. They revolutionized the guitar industry with a semi-parabolic shaped guitar, similar to an orchestra shell, for a more efficient and effective way to play.
Ovation took their new model and ran with it to produce guitars with plastic backs and built-in amplifiers, totally changing the industry when it comes to playing an acoustic on-stage. The brand is also known for using carbon fiber tops, which gives their guitars a distinctive sound that can’t be found anywhere else.
Ovation Guitars Pros and Cons
You’re getting a unique instrument with Ovation Guitars and their round-back design, which sets them apart from other acoustic options. Combined with the durability and ease of playing on stage, makes them a popular choice for active performers looking for an electric or acoustic guitar hybrid option.
Although Ovation Guitars receive a lot of praise for its innovation, they are still a polarizing brand among musicians. Some performers love the unique tonality and durability of the plastic backs and carbon-fiber tops, while others may not be as fond of the sound of these materials. It’s essential to keep in mind that if you are looking for a traditional wooden acoustic guitar’s natural and warm sound, Ovation Guitars may not be the best choice for you.
Ovation’s Average Guitar Prices
$500 to $3,000
Top 10 Electric Guitar Brands
If playing hard rock won out in the electric guitar vs. acoustic guitar debate, here are the top 10 brands to consider.
1) Fender Guitars
Fender Guitars are known for their iconic electric guitars and punchy sound that resonates from their single-coil pickups. There’s bound to be a Fender electric guitar in just about every music store you can find, and they are mainstays for their quality and coveted designs. Popular guitar models include the Stratocaster and Telecaster, but you’ll pay the price for their most sought-after models.
The Pros and Cons of Fender Guitars
Fender Guitars look incredible and hold their value if you ever want to resell them. They’re also a highly scalable brand, and you can keep upgrading your guitar as your skills grow.
The significant downsides to Fender Guitars are that they’re costly compared to other brands, especially if you prefer iconic electric guitar models. They’re not always comfortable playing and can feel heavy when trying to play hard and fast. Their bright, punchy sound is also recognizable as signature Fender, but it may not be the sound you really want for every performance.
Fender’s Electric Guitar Prices
$600 to $3,000
2) Gibson Guitars
Like Fender, musicians flock to Gibson Guitars for their brand recognition and longstanding reputation in the industry. This guitar brand also made a splash in the 1900s by inventing archtop guitars and some of the first hollow-body guitars. Some of the most famous models include Les Paul, with a solid body and set neck.
Despite its popularity, Gibson Guitars has had its ups and downs over financial difficulties that swiftly led to limited availability and concerns about quality control. They pulled through and are back on track, but their prices are still high and often out of reach for seasoned and pro musicians.
Gibson Guitars Pros and Cons
Gibson Guitars has a rich sound and humbucking pickups that pairs well with rock and blues and transitions well to metal. It’s hard to go wrong with a Gibson; you get a high-quality guitar that’s well-crafted and sounds great.
Like other popular guitar brands, Gibson Guitars comes with a starting price tag of nearly $1,000. You’ll get a high-quality instrument, but it may not be worth the price when other options on the market also sound good.
Gibson’s Average Guitar Prices
$800 to $3,000
3) PRS Guitars
PRS Guitars, or Paul Reed Smith, got its start in the founder’s home when his parents couldn’t afford to buy him a guitar, so he made one himself as a teenager. Today, PRS is celebrated for its incredible construction with curved maple tops and is a popular choice among professional musicians. They’re known for being easy to play, whether you’re a beginner or want to shred on stage.
PRS Guitars Pros and Cons
PRS brings high-quality, handmade construction to the forefront of the industry with a unique, recognizable design aesthetic. You’ll find a range of solid-body, hollow-body, and semi-hollow-body options that come with top-notch playability and tonal versatility.
You get a premium instrument with PRS Guitars, but they come at a higher price than other brands. They also don’t have the same level of prestige and perceived value as other guitar brands, although PRS is still on par with their competition. You can play rough and get aggressive, but PRS chords can be easy to overpower as your skillset and desire to rock hard grows.
Paul Reed Smith’s Average Guitar Prices
$2,000 to $10,000
4) Ibanez Guitars
Ibanez Guitars have a thin neck and low action that feel smooth when you play. There are plenty of styles to choose from, whether you want solid or hollow-body models to fit the sound you’re looking for. Ibanez went through a series of copyright infringement lawsuits a few decades ago but is now considered a top brand with high-quality and design worthiness for even the most discerning electric guitar player.
Ibanez Guitars Pros and Cons
Even if you have small hands, you should be comfortable playing an Ibanez electric guitar. The neck is thin and narrow, and easy to play fast or leverage its low action. Although still a top-notch brand, Ibanez Guitars are much cheaper than high-profile Fender, Martin, or Gibson Guitars but still with a wide variety of styles.
Lower-end models may have sharp frets and problems with pickups staying in place, which isn’t unusual for a cheap guitar pick. There’s also some divisiveness about the brand from old-school musicians who still remember when Ibanez Guitars tried to knock off the likes of Gibson and Fender.
Ibanez’s Average Guitar Prices
$300 to $1,200
5) Gretsch
Gretsch Guitars has been around since the late 1800s when German immigrant Friedrich Gretsch set up a music shop in Brooklyn, NY. They’re renowned for their vintage design inspired by guitar trends of the 50s and 60s. One of their most popular electric guitar models is the eye-popping White Falcon for its flair and finish with an ornate design.
Gretsch Guitars Pros and Cons
Gretsch Guitars have an iconic vintage style that you won’t find with other guitar brands. Their twangy sound pairs well with genres like blues, country, and funk but doesn’t always scale to hard and heavy rock.
Gretsch Guitars may experience some feedback issues due to their hollow body design. Despite their versatility and strong reputation, they’re not known for their beginner-friendly guitars or being easy to play. Gretsch also comes with a high price tag and lacks affordable options. Due to the cost and reputation for being more challenging to learn than other brands, they may not be the best choice for beginners.
Gretsch’s Average Guitar Guitar Prices
$400 to $1,200
6) ESP Guitars
Metal lovers celebrate ESP Guitars for their affordable price and distorted sound and style. Despite how cheap they are compared to other brands, they produce a decent sound and work well for beginners or anyone who wants an over-the-top distorted style. Many of their models also have active pickups for a more aggressive output. An ESP guitar is also just fun to look at, with vibrant colors and finishes to choose from to suit your favorite stage-style.
ESP Guitars Pros and Cons
Metal lovers can get started with an ESP Guitar on a tight budget and are ready to shred. But like most budget-savvy brands, you’ll probably notice the frets buzzing and overly distorted style, which may work in your favor, depending on the type of music you enjoy. If you’re already a serious guitar player, the rough frets and imperfections in finishes may be challenging to overcome.
ESP’s Average Guitar Prices
$400 to $2,000
7) Rickenbacker Guitars
Rickenbacker Guitars was the first company to manufacture electric instruments and amplifiers. You’ll recognize their sound as the hallmark of 1960s and 70s rock from infamous bands including The Beatles and The Byrds.
Rickenbacker Guitars Pros and Cons
Rickenbacker Guitars have an iconic, crunchy, jangly sound from the early rock days. It’s a distinctive sound and style that reflects a part of rock’s history, but it may not be the best pick if you’re looking for more versatility.
Rickenbackers are also just expensive and are known as being more fragile than other electric guitar brands. If you like getting aggressive when you play, there are better guitar picks on the market. Rickenbacker Guitars are also not known as beginner-friendly but are worth the effort if you’re enamored with the sound and style when no other guitar will do.
Rickenbacker’s Average Guitar Prices
$1,500 to $3,500
8) Jackson Guitars
As heavy metal and rock rose to prominence in the 1970s, Jackson Guitars earned some street cred for their virtuoso overtones. Newcomers may recognize them for the sleek look of their V-shape neck. It’s also possible to play other musical styles on a Jackson, but the brand is famous for its metal roots and ability to slay.
Jackson Guitars Pros and Cons
The slim neck of Jackson Guitars is often easier to play for musicians, especially if you have smaller hands. Despite the more graceful neck, they pack in the high-out humbucker pickups that can sustain a hard rock performance.
Jackson is known as a cheaper guitar brand, which means its finish and hardware aren’t always that durable. Some musicians also complain about Jackson’s inconsistent sound, especially if you want a high-output amplified sound. You can always scale up to a slightly higher price point to get one of Jackson’s better quality guitars so you can play fast, enjoy a range of vibrato effects, and sustain the sound.
Jackson’s Average Guitars Prices
$200 to $1,500
9) Charvel Guitars
Charvel Guitars are sleek and modern and are now under the umbrella Fender brand, which signals that you’re getting an elite guitar. You can choose from beginner to advanced models at different prices to get the look, sound, and feel you want. Although not as well-regarded as Fender, Charvel still holds a rock-solid reputation for its fast-playing neck capabilities and pickups for an aggressive, rock-hard sound.
Charvel Guitars Pros and Cons
Charvel Guitars offer top-notch construction and craftsmanship that can scale up to more aggressive and powerful rock styles. But there may be some issues with limited tonality and versatility, as this guitar brand is all about rocking out. Despite being a less expensive brand compared to its parent company Fender, Charvel Guitars are still on the pricier side.
Charvel’s Average Guitar Prices
$500 to $1,500
10) Schecter Guitars
Schecter Guitars‘ innovative design makes them a popular pick for electric guitar and bass players who want to play hard and indulge in heavier, high-output sounds. Enjoy active pickups with a more aggressive sound than other guitar brands out there. With plenty of finishes and styles, you can find an electric guitar that works for your needs.
Schecter Guitars Pros and Cons
Schecter Guitars can hold its own against other electric guitar brands with its heavy, aggressive sound and high-playing gains. They’re also a good choice for beginners if you’re okay with the distortion and output of their lower-end models.
Although Schecter Guitars are more budget-friendly than brands like Fender, they’ll still put you back a few dollars. If you’re going to go cheap, make sure their lower-end models still sound great and will sustain a hard rock performance.
Schecter’s Average Guitar Prices
$500 to $1,500
Winner: Acoustic Guitar
Zager Guitars – We love Zager Guitars for their unique handcrafted approach where comfort and playability are prized. With a unique neck profile and meticulous string placement, Zager is both affordable and sounds great. Their impeccable sound also makes it an easy stand-out alongside some of the world’s most renowned brands.
Winner: Electric Guitar
Fender Guitars: With a longstanding reputation for building high-quality guitars, Fender Guitars are an easy choice. Their electric guitars are pricey, but their iconic Stratocaster and Telecasters stand in a class of their own. They also retain their value if you ever want to resell them to invest in an upgrade, sound great while rocking out, and come with innovative pick-ups that hold up during an aggressive performance.
Next Steps
Choosing between an electric and acoustic guitar ultimately comes down to personal preference and the type of music you plan on playing. Electric guitars are generally better suited for genres such as rock and metal, as they can produce louder and more distorted sounds. Acoustic guitars are better suited for genres such as folk and country, as they make a more natural and warm sound.
If you’re still undecided, it’s important to try both types of guitars and see which one feels and sounds better to you before making a final decision. Once you’ve made your choice, go for the highest quality guitar at the best possible price that considers the brand, style, and sound to enhance your skills.