Best electric guitars 2024: our top picks for every playing style, ability and budget

Finding the best electric guitar is difficult but at the same time, thoroughly exciting. The term 'best' means different things to different people, and it's the subjective nature of this that makes the task so much harder – as well as the task of putting together this guide. For some players, the best electric guitar is something simple and utilitarian, and for others, it's a guitar that is dressed to the nines in a fancy paint job and has every conceivable gadget onboard.

Recent updates

21/02/24: This guide was given a full update with an all-new list of guitars and a few navigational tweaks to make it easier to find the best electric guitar for you.

01/11/23: 
As well as auditing the products to make sure the list is up to date with the very best electric guitars around, we've also given this page a fresh new look, improving the navigation to make it easier than ever to find the right model for you. Want to get to the good stuff without reading walls of text? Use the "quick list" section to get to know our top choices without any fuss. There are also links to read a more detailed review of each model if you'd like to learn more.  

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<a href="https://hawk.ly/m/Reverend-Guitars-Billy-Corgan-Signature-Z-One/i/GWBEG001" data-link-merchant="hawk.ly"">Reverend Billy Corgan Z-One
Body: Alder | Neck: Roasted maple | Pickups: Railhammer humbuckers

Smashing Pumpkins frontman, Billy Corgan, has been a keen endorsee of Reverend guitars for over six years, and this latest iteration of his signature axe is his third to date – and we think it might be the best. 

This stunningly beautiful offset is designed with the Alt rocker's heavier songs in mind, employing a set of newly designed Railhammer Z-One pickups to achieve a mid-focused sound that seriously packs a punch. 

Guitar World's Score: 5/5

Read the full <a href="https://www.guitarworld.com/reviews/reverend-billy-corgan-signature-z-one-review" data-link-merchant="guitarworld.com"" data-link-merchant="hawk.ly"">Reverend Billy Corgan Z-One review

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<a href="https://hawk.ly/m/Fender-American-Performer-Stratocaster/i/GWBEG002" data-link-merchant="hawk.ly"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Fender American Performer Stratocaster
Body: Alder | Neck: Maple | Pickups: Yosemite single-coils/humbucker

For many players, there comes a time when they want to branch out. To try new styles of playing, sounds or genres. And, while it would be nice to have specific guitars for each of these styles, sometimes that isn't possible. 

So we look for a jack of all trades. The Fender American Performer Stratocaster is one such guitar.

Offering the dual benefits of classic single-coil Fender attack, with the extra heft of a bridge humbucker, we get a guitar that can handle most styles of music with ease.

Guitar World's Score: 4/5

Read our full <a href="https://www.guitarworld.com/gear/review-fenders-american-performer-stratocaster-hss-and-telecaster-deliver-iconic-sounds-and-incredible-attention-to-detail" data-link-merchant="guitarworld.com"" data-link-merchant="hawk.ly"">Fender American Performer Stratocaster HSS review

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<a href="https://hawk.ly/m/Fender-American-Ultra-Telecaster/i/GWBEG003" data-link-merchant="hawk.ly"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Fender American Ultra Telecaster
Body: Alder | Neck: Maple | Pickups: Ultra Noiseless Vintage Tele

Launched in November 2019, Fender’s American Ultra Series visited sweeping changes across its Californian-built premium production line: noiseless pickups as standard, “Modern D” neck profiles, sculpted neck heels. Fingerboards now had a compound 10”-14” fingerboard radius, rolled edges and medium-jumbo frets for a contemporary feel.

Tone-wise, the bridge pickup is classic Telecaster, weapons-grade treble, bright, articulate, and takes on a really musical Nashville crunch with more gain. The neck rounds out the attack, while you might well find the bouncy sweet spot with both pickups in parallel. 

Guitar World's Score: 4.5/5

Read the full <a href="https://www.guitarworld.com/reviews/fender-american-ultra-series-stratocaster-and-telecaster" data-link-merchant="guitarworld.com"" data-link-merchant="hawk.ly"">Fender American Ultra Telecaster review

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<a href="https://hawk.ly/m/Epiphone-Les-Paul-Standard/i/GWBEG004" data-link-merchant="hawk.ly"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Epiphone Les Paul Standard
Body: Mahogany| Neck: Mahogany | Pickups: Alnico classic humbuckers

When we're talking value, one guitar instantly springs to mind. The <a href="https://www.guitarworld.com/features/best-epiphone-les-pauls" data-link-merchant="guitarworld.com"" data-link-merchant="hawk.ly"">Epiphone Les Paul Standard has been the go-to guitar for thousands of players over the years, and for good reason. Put simply, this guitar ticks a lot of boxes. We found it to be exceptionally well-made, sounds great and, importantly, it won't break the bank.

For many players, this guitar hits the perfect sweet spot between quality, price and performance. It's why you see so many people graduate to it as their first 'serious' axe, and why you see so many on the weekend warrior circuit. If a bona fide Gibson is out of reach financially, you can't go far wrong with one of these.

Guitar World's Score: 4.5/5

Read the full <a href="https://www.guitarworld.com/reviews/epiphone-les-paul-standard-50s-review" data-link-merchant="guitarworld.com"" data-link-merchant="guitarworld.com"" data-link-merchant="hawk.ly"">Epiphone Les Paul Standard '50s review

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<a href="https://hawk.ly/m/Charvel-Pro-Mod-DK22-SSS-2PT-CM/i/GWBEG005" data-link-merchant="hawk.ly"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Charvel Pro-Mod DK22 SSS 2PT CM
Body: Alder| Neck: Maple | Pickups: Seymour Duncan Custom Hot Rails/ Flat Strat

The original Superstrat returns and we think it's never looked better. This is one where we are best ignoring the name on the headstock and getting our heads around a guitar that offers lightning-quick playability, heavy-duty humbucker tones, the snap and twang of a Strat, and a boutique feel, all for around a grand.

The stacked bridge ‘bucker is a modern classic that’ll eat up high-gain and squeal when needed, but is also rich in detail. The Strat pickups in the middle and neck positions allow you to sell the illusion that it really does say Fender on that Stratocaster headstock.

Guitar World's Score: 4.5/5

Read the full <a href="https://www.guitarworld.com/reviews/charvel-pro-mod-dk22-sss-2pt-cm-review" data-link-merchant="guitarworld.com"" data-link-merchant="hawk.ly"">Charvel Pro-Mod DK22 SSS 2PT CM review

You can trust Guitar World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing guitar products so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

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Daryl Robertson

First and foremost, I'm a guitar enthusiast – a fanatic, some might say. I'm a firm believer that most of the world's problems can be solved with a Gibson SG and a catastrophically loud amp. As a Senior Deals Writer on Guitar World, I write about guitars for a living, but in a past life, I worked in music retail for 7 years, advising customers on the right guitars, basses, drums, pianos, and PA systems for their needs. I also have a passion for live sound; I'm a fully qualified sound engineer with experience working in various venues in Scotland, where I live with my wife and dog. 

With contributions from