Best value electric guitars: price and performance
Roughly $500–$1,500. Guitars that punch well above their price: Mexican and Japanese Fenders, PRS SE, upper-line Yamahas and Ibanez, and the best of Epiphone, Sterling and G&L Tribute.
What to look for
This is where fretwork, hardware and pickups get genuinely good. Many players never need to go higher. Choose by pickup style first (single-coil, HSS or humbucker), then by neck feel.
Our picks
- Play demo#1
Fender Player II Stratocaster
The current Mexican-made Strat and one of the most popular guitars in the world.
- Play demo
- Play demo#3
Fender Player Plus Stratocaster
Player Strat upgraded with noiseless pickups, locking tuners and a push-push switch for extra combinations.
- Play demo
- Play demo
- Play demo
- Play demo
- Play demo
- Play demo
- Play demo
- Play demo
- Play demo
- Play demo
- Play demo
- Play demo
- Play demo
- Play demo
- Play demo
- Play demo#19
Gretsch G5622T Electromatic Center Block
Centre-block Gretsch with a Bigsby and high-output Broad’Trons.
- Play demo
- Play demo
- Play demo
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.