Best Electric Guitars 2026 —
MusicRadar's pick for every budget
Fender, Gibson, PRS, Yamaha, Ibanez, Gretsch — MusicRadar tested dozens of guitars and selected the best by category. From beginner to premium. By Daryl Robertson and Matt McCracken.
🔗 Table of Contents
🏆 Best Overall — Fender American Professional II Stratocaster
Among the many Stratocaster options, the Fender American Professional II Stratocaster is undoubtedly one of the best. All the aura of an iconic Strat, with fantastic player-centric features that make it stand out from the pack.
It covers a huge amount of sonic ground. All classic Strat tones are available, and the neck pickup delivers a huge low-end that sounds phenomenal on the lower strings. Also available in an HSS model. Onboard treble bleed circuit, push-push switch for bridge + neck combination. Rolled fingerboard and deep 'C' neck profile make this an absolute tone monster.
MusicRadar verdict: "The American Professional II Series is reassuringly familiar yet manages to add subtle pockets of innovation and a fresh new look to Fender's flagship US models." — Rob Laing, Reviews Editor
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Body | Alder / Roasted Pine |
| Neck | Maple, rolled fingerboard, deep C profile |
| Scale | 25.5" (64.77 cm) |
| Frets | 22, Narrow Tall |
| Pickups | 3× V-Mod II Single-Coil Strat |
| Bridge | 2-Point Synchronized Tremolo, Cold-Rolled Steel Block |
| Left-handed | Yes |
✅ Pros
- One of the most versatile guitars around
- Incredible neck feel
- Lovely sounding pickups
- Outstanding build quality
⚠️ Cons
- No Ash body option
🎸 Best Les Paul — Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s
The traditional LP experience with no weight relief. Packed with the mojo of a classic Les Paul. The sound of the pickups is absolutely phenomenal — roars when paired with a tube amp, letting you know just why the LP remains so popular. The neck has a Slim Taper 'D' profile with a nice, low action straight out of the box.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Body | Mahogany + AA Figured Maple Top |
| Neck | Mahogany, Slim Taper D profile |
| Scale | 24.75" |
| Frets | 22, Medium Jumbo |
| Pickups | 2× Gibson 60s Burstbucker Humbucker |
| Bridge | ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic + Stopbar |
✅ Pros
- Powerful LP tone
- Excellent build quality
- Lovely neck feel
⚠️ Cons
- It's heavy
🎵 Best Telecaster — Fender Player II Telecaster
The Fender Player II Telecaster is an incredible value Tele for all levels. Updated pickups, improved bridge and modern conveniences make it an essential choice for country, rock and blues. One of the most accessible ways to get authentic Fender Tele tone.
MusicRadar: "An incredible value Tele for all levels."
🎓 Best for Beginners — Yamaha Pacifica 112V
The Yamaha Pacifica has long proved a benchmark for quality and specification, and the 112V remains one of the best guitars for beginners. The 112 is far from fancy and simply concentrates on the bare necessities. Yet the construction is of excellent quality. Trust us — if looked after well, this will be a guitar for life.
HSS configuration
Humbucker at bridge + two single-coils — maximum versatility for a beginner.
Build quality
MusicRadar: "A guitar for life" — with proper care.
Tones
From clean Strat-style tones to rock overdrive — one guitar for everything.
Value
Outstanding price-to-quality ratio for a beginner.
🎯 Best Intermediate — PRS SE Custom 24
The Korean versions of the 85/15 pickups nail a more classic humbucking sound. Bundle in that superb vibrato, lively resonance and easy playability — and it has to be money well spent. Coil-split opens up single-coil tones for country, funk, and anything in between.
MusicRadar: "Great range of tones" — from blues to hard rock. Fantastically well put together.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Body | Mahogany |
| Pickups | 2× PRS SE 85/15 Humbucker (with coil-split) |
| Frets | 24 |
| Bridge | PRS SE Tremolo |
💰 Best Budget — Squier Classic Vibe '60s Jazzmaster
If you want something different from your usual Stratocaster or Les Paul — the Squier Classic Vibe '60s Jazzmaster has a unique voice all of its own. Era-appropriate Narrow Tall frets, Fender-designed pickups. A real Swiss Army Knife guitar, suitable for any age or ability.
MusicRadar: "With its combination of fantastic value for money, stunning looks, and unique tone, the Squier Classic Vibe '60s Jazzmaster is easily one of the best cheap electric guitars on the market."
🤠 Best for Country — Gretsch G2622 Streamliner
The Gretsch G2622 Streamliner is the budget semi-hollow with authentic Gretsch vibe. The Streamliner concept is simple: more affordable Gretsch guitars without losing their specific DNA. Two Broad'Tron humbuckers in classic Gretsch control layout. More airy and less punchy than the higher Gretsch range — ideal for country, rockabilly and twang.
MusicRadar: "The budget semi-hollow with authentic Gretsch vibe" — one of the most affordable paths to the genuine Gretsch character.
🔥 Best for Shred — Ibanez RG550
The original super shred machine — the Ibanez RG550 has a ridiculously thin neck for fast playability and two powerful humbuckers for optimal metal guitar tones. The Wizard neck profile and Edge tremolo remain the genre standard.
MusicRadar: "The original super shred machine" — a ridiculously thin neck for fast playability and two powerful humbuckers for optimal metal tones.
MusicRadar 2026 — Full Ranked List
| # | Category | Model | Why it won |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🏆 Best overall | Fender Am Pro II Stratocaster | Most versatile. Rolled fingerboard, V-Mod II, treble bleed |
| 2 | 🎸 Les Paul | Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s | Traditional LP, no weight relief. 60s Burstbucker, Slim Taper D |
| 3 | 🎵 Telecaster | Fender Player II Telecaster | Incredible value for all levels |
| 4 | 🎓 Beginners | Yamaha Pacifica 112V | Quality benchmark for beginners. A guitar for life |
| 5 | 🎯 Intermediate | PRS SE Custom 24 | Coil-split humbuckers, great versatility. Fantastically built |
| 6 | 💰 Budget | Squier Classic Vibe '60s Jazzmaster | Unique voice. One of the best cheap electrics on the market |
| 7 | ⭐ Premium | PRS McCarty 594 | "Most highly-tuned instrument." 24.594" scale, 58/15 LT pickups |
| 8 | 🤠 Country | Gretsch G2622 Streamliner | Budget semi-hollow with authentic Gretsch vibe |
| 9 | 🔥 Shred | Ibanez RG550 | Original super shred machine. Wizard neck, Edge tremolo |
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