Yamaha · Electric guitar
Pacifica PAC611HFM
Translucent Black
Seymour Duncans, Grover locking tuners and Graph Tech hardware, on an alder Pacifica
9.0/104.2 (36)
Strat ergonomics rebuilt for speed and gain
Superstrat
Flatter fingerboards, 24 frets, a humbucker at the bridge and usually a locking tremolo. The superstrat took the Stratocaster outline and re-engineered everything behind it for high-gain playing.
Jackson · 7-string electric guitar
Pro Plus Series Signature Misha Mansoor Juggernaut ET7
Metallic Black
An EverTune bridge, stainless frets and a 20-inch radius — a studio seven-string
8.8/10No Amazon ratings yet
Cort · Solidbody electric guitar
KX700 EverTune
Open Pore Black
The tuning problem, solved in hardware — and the reason studios keep buying these
8.8/104.6 (7)
Cort · Solidbody electric guitar
G290 FAT II
Bright Blue Burst
Two humbuckers and a five-way switch — far more sounds than the layout suggests
8.8/105.0 (1)
Ibanez · Electric guitar
JEM7VP Steve Vai Signature Premium
White
The Vai signature, minus the Japanese price and almost none of the specification
8.8/104.5 (18)
Cort · Solidbody electric guitar
G280 Select
Amber
A Stratocaster layout with the upgrades most players end up paying for anyway
8.7/105.0 (3)
Yamaha · Electric guitar
Pacifica PAC112J
Black
The beginner guitar teachers actually recommend, and an alder body at Squier money
8.5/105.0 (1)
Ibanez · Electric guitar
AZES40
Purist Blue
Nine pickup sounds from three pickups, and a short scale that suits smaller hands
8.5/104.5 (95)
Jackson · Electric guitar
X Series Dinky DK3XR HSS
Neon Green
A double-locking Floyd Rose and a compound radius, in the loudest finish Jackson makes
8.3/105.0 (6)
Jackson · Electric guitar
X Series Dinky DK3XR HSS
Cobalt Blue
The same double-locking Dinky, in the finish you can take to a function gig
8.3/105.0 (3)
Jackson · Electric guitar
Pro Origins 1985 Limited Edition San Dimas SD1 HS FR
Yellow Bengal, ebony fingerboard
Jackson rebuilding its own 1985, down to the bengal stripes and the Duncan pair
8.2/10No Amazon ratings yet
Ibanez · Electric guitar
GIO GRX70QA
Transparent Black Sunburst
The cheapest honest route into a fast neck and a humbucker at each end
7.2/104.6 (2,567)
Cort · Solidbody electric guitar
KX100
Iron Oxide
The cheapest sensible route into a 24-fret, flat-radius metal guitar
7.2/104.7 (3)
Ibanez · Electric guitar
GIO GRX70QA
Transparent Emerald Burst
The cheapest honest route into a fast neck and a humbucker at each end
7.2/104.6 (2,568)
Ibanez · Electric guitar
GIO GRX70QA
Sunburst
The cheapest honest route into a fast neck and a humbucker at each end
7.2/104.6 (2,568)
Jackson · Electric guitar
JS Series Dinky JS11Q
Transparent Black, Austin Bazaar starter bundle
Everything a first metal player needs, in one box
7.0/10No Amazon ratings yet
Jackson · Electric guitar
JS Series Dinky JS11Q
Transparent Red, Austin Bazaar bundle without amplifier
The same JS11Q in red — but check what is in the box before you choose
6.8/10No Amazon ratings yet