Best high-end electric guitars

Roughly $2,000 and up. Top-tier electric guitars from PRS, Suhr, Tom Anderson, the Fender Custom Shop, Gibson, Music Man, Gretsch and Rickenbacker: the models boutique dealers and reviewers keep at the top of their lists.

Best electric guitars for beginnersBest value electric guitars: price and performance

What to look for

At this level every guitar is well made, so choose by voice: Fender-style single-coils, Gibson-style humbuckers or modern versatile designs like PRS and Suhr. Hear the demos back to back with the compare tool.

Our picks

  1. Play demo
    #1

    PRS Custom 24

    Solid bodyHH25″

    PRS’s flagship: versatile, fast and beautifully made.

  2. Play demo
    #2

    PRS McCarty 594

    Solid bodyHH24.594″

    Vintage-voiced PRS with a slightly shorter scale.

  3. Play demo
    #3

    PRS DGT

    Solid bodyHH25″

    David Grissom’s signature PRS: big neck, vintage-hot humbuckers.

  4. Play demo
    #4

    PRS Silver Sky

    Solid bodySSS25.5″

    John Mayer’s signature single-coil guitar.

  5. #5

    Suhr Standard Plus

    Solid bodyHSS25.5″

    Modern boutique S-style with a carved maple top and exceptional build quality.

  6. #6

    Tom Anderson Drop Top

    Solid bodyHSH25.5″

    Handmade California guitar with a carved top and famously smooth neck joint.

  7. Play demo
    #7

    Fender Custom Shop ’52 Telecaster

    Solid bodySS25.5″

    Custom Shop recreation of the early ’50s Telecaster.

  8. Play demo
    #8

    Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster

    Solid bodySSS25.5″

    Fender’s most advanced Strat with noiseless pickups and a fast modern neck.

  9. Play demo
    #9

    Fender American Vintage II 1957 Stratocaster

    Solid bodySSS25.5″

    Recreation of the late-50s Strat with a V-shaped neck.

  10. Play demo
    #10

    Gibson Les Paul Standard ’50s

    Solid bodyHH24.75″

    The classic Les Paul: thick, warm and sustaining, with a chunky 50s neck.

  11. Play demo
    #11

    Gibson ES-335

    Semi-hollowHH24.75″

    The original semi-hollow: warm, airy and at home in blues and jazz.

  12. Play demo
    #12

    Music Man Majesty

    Solid bodyHH

    John Petrucci’s neck-through signature guitar.

  13. Play demo
    #13

    Music Man Axis

    Solid bodyHH25.5″

    Descendant of the Eddie Van Halen design.

  14. Play demo
    #14

    Music Man JP15

    Solid bodyHH25.5″

    John Petrucci’s JP15 signature with a piezo bridge.

  15. Play demo
    #15

    Gretsch G6136T White Falcon

    Hollow bodyHH24.6″

    The ornate, big-bodied ‘White Falcon’ with Filter’Trons.

  16. Play demo
    #16

    Gretsch G6120T Players Edition Nashville

    Hollow bodyHH24.6″

    The orange rockabilly classic, made in Japan, with a Bigsby and Filter’Trons.

  17. Play demo
    #17

    Rickenbacker 360/12

    Semi-hollowSS24.75″

    The chiming 12-string heard on countless ’60s records.

  18. #18

    Ibanez JEM7V

    Solid bodyHSH25.5″

    Steve Vai’s signature guitar with its famous monkey grip.

  19. Play demo
    #19

    Ibanez AZ2204 Prestige

    Solid bodyHSS25.5″

    Japan-made modern S-style with a smooth roasted neck and highly versatile Dyna-MIX switching.

How we chose

Picks reflect the models most often recommended in 2026 buyer’s guides from Guitar World, Guitar Player, Sweetwater and guitarguitar, and in long-running player discussions on TalkBass and Reddit. Price ranges are approximate street prices and vary by country. Always play or hear an instrument before buying, and use the compare tool to hear any two side by side.