Buying guides
Read before you buy
Each guide explains the specifications that actually change how an instrument plays, then names the instruments in our catalogue that get them right. Picks reference the same product records as the rest of the site, so a guide can never drift out of step with a review.
6 picks
The Best Guitars of 2026
Six guitars, from a $200 first instrument to a signature seven-string built for the studio. Every specification here was checked against the manufacturer before it was published.
Updated 2026-08-24
5 picks
The Best Electric Guitars
The electric guitar is not one instrument but half a dozen, each solving a different problem. Here is what separates them, and which one to buy.
Updated 2026-08-24
4 picks
The Best Guitars for Beginners
The specifications that matter to a beginner are not the ones on the front of the box. Here is what to look for, and the four instruments we would recommend.
Updated 2026-08-24
4 picks
The Best Guitars Under $500
Under $500 is where the guitar market is most competitive, and where the difference between a good specification and a marketing one matters most.
Updated 2026-08-24
3 picks
The Best Guitars Under $1,000
Under $1,000 is where hardware stops being a compromise. Here is what that buys you, and what is in our catalogue at this level.
Updated 2026-08-24
1 pick
The Best Basses of 2026
The bass market rewards knowing exactly what you want. Here is how the layouts differ, and what we would buy.
Updated 2026-08-24
1 pick
The Best Basses for Beginners
A first bass is a simpler decision than a first guitar, provided you get three specifications right.
Updated 2026-08-24
Explainer
The Best 5-String Basses
A five-string bass lives or dies on its low B. Here is what determines whether that string is useful or unusable.
Updated 2026-08-24