1. Carvin is a guitar company with a different business model than the rest. You wont find them at your local music store because Carvin only makes custom guitars. Their instruments are based around a handful of templates, and each one features components individually chosen by the buyer. For this reason, its very rare to find two Carvins that are completely identical.
Theres a Carvin model for just about every musical style, from metal to jazz to c .....
2. A few decades ago, during the Golden Age of Shred, Charvel guitars were front and center as one of the best guitar brands for hard rock, metal and brainmelting soloing. Then came the 1990s and the grunge revolution, and for a time anyway all things shred were out in favor of droning guitars and melancholy lyrics.
But the universe could only take so much of that, so it was only a matter of time before brands like Charvel came back to power. That t .....
3. Daisy Rock? Sounds like guitars for girls or something. It is! Daisy Rock is a company dedicated to empowering girls and young women, and giving them the resources they need to learn to play the guitar. They have starter, shortscale acoustic guitars for little girls, and some really cool electric guitars in the shapes of hearts, butterflies and flowers.
But dont think theyre all about foofy shapes and pastel colors. Daisy Rock also produces some .....
4. If you are into metal, Dean is a guitar company youll want to check out. Their classic ML design has become an icon in the extreme rock genre, thanks to the late Darrell Abbott of Pantera and Damageplan. In the 1990s Dime brought the old ML back to life, and Dean expanded the concept with some sharper, more modern designs.
These days there are several versions of the ML to choose from. Plus, Dave Mustaine of Megadeth endorses Dean with his signat .....
5. They are now owned by Gibson, but at one time Epiphone was one of Gibsons biggest competitors. Nowadays they are considered Gibsons budgetminded little brother.
Epi makes both electric and acoustic guitars, and many of their models are based around Gibson designs. In fact, they are the only guitar company allowed to use Gibson specs to make Les Pauls, Explorers, SGs, Flying Vs and other Gibson classics.
This is good news for young players, or any .....
6. During the 80s and early 90s, ESP was a guitar company known for creating incredible customshop instruments, and highquality original designs.
They still do that, and ESP guitars are still used by some of the best professional musicians on the planet, especially in the hard rock and metal genres. But when they branched out to their ESPLTD designs, ESP brought their legendary guitars to the masses.
ESP LTD guitars feature ESP designs like the Ecli .....
7. Along with Gibson, Fender is probably among the most recognized guitar names in the world. Of course models like the Stratocaster and Telecaster are etched into history as some of the greatest guitars ever made. Their USAmade instruments have shaped just about every genre of music for over 60 years.
Even though Fender offers a myriad of different Strat and Tele designs and configurations, along with other classics like the Jaguar, they still rema .....
8. The most famous Gibson guitar is the Les Paul, and it has been a mainstay in the music world for decades. The Gibson Les Paul is a highend, madeinthe USA instrument, and comes in a few different variations. Like Fender, Gibson has remained fairly consistent with the styles and designs that made them so great to begin with. In addition to the Les Paul, other famous Gibson electric guitars include the SG, Flying V, Explorer, ES335 and Firebird, and .....
9. G&L is a guitars company founded by Leo Fender. Yup, that Leo Fender. Many of the design are reminiscent of classic Fender classic instruments, with some improvements to form and design. Because of this, some guitar players feel G&L is a solid alternative to, and even an improvement over, owning a Fender guitar.
No doubt youll see Leo Fenders mind at work when looking at guitars like the ASAT and Legacy. But look a little deeper and youll find so .....
10. Gretsch is a guitar company that makes some truly beautiful instruments, especially if you into hollow and semihollow body guitars. The Gretsch White Falcon is a legendary instrument with a price tag to match its reputation, but there are other models in the Gretsch lineup, and something right for any level of player.
From signature Chet Atkins and Brian Setzer models, to the Jet and Duo Jet, Gretsch is to rockabilly and jazz what Jackson is to m .....
11. Guild is an American guitar company that makes some amazing semihollow electric guitars such as the Starfire and Aristocrat. These are guitars that will nail that retrorock sound and have the looks to match. Many classic Guild models have been revived through the Newark Street collection. While these guitars are cool beyond words, where Guild really shines is in the acoustic arena.
Guild acoustic guitars are played by some of the best professiona .....
12. Ibanez started out as a Japanese company specializing in making quality copies of famous American guitars.
Today it is known to many as a great guitar company in its own right, mainly for metal and hard rock players, but in truth they make guitars for just about every style and genre. But heavy music is definitely where they shine, and the metal crowd has flocked to Ibanez for decades.
The RG is probably their most iconic instrument, but the S se .....
13. Another brand known well among metal players is Jackson. Back in the 1980s, it seemed like Jackson guitars were in the hands of just about every metal and hard rock band on the planet. That tradition continues today, and models like the King V, Kelly, Rhoads, Soloist and Dinky are still coveted for their great sound and performance.
Jackson models are available in very expensive customshop and madeintheUSA versions, as well as less expensive guit .....
14. Back in the 80s Kramer was one of the premier names in metal and hard rock. In fact, Eddie Van Halen even played a Kramer for a short period of time.
In the 90s things took a weird turn, and Kramer was eventually bought up by Gibson. Anyone who remembers Kramer during this period probably also remembers a website called MusicYo, where Kramer guitars could be purchased direct and at bargainbasement prices.
These days, Kramer has seen somewhat of r .....
15. Martin is an American guitar company specializing in acoustic guitars. Most of their instruments are still built at their facility in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, and their legacy dates back all the way to 1833. Martin, in many ways, has helped to shape the look and sound of the American acoustic guitar. In fact, they invented the nowclassic dreadnought shape in an effort to help American country musicians who wanted more projection out of their guita .....
16. Ovation acousticelectric guitars are unique, innovative and, for some players, almost addictive! Once youve played an Ovation no other guitar may do. They have a different look and feel than most other acoustic guitars due to their design, which incorporates a wood top with a rounded, synthetic bowl shape instead of the traditional back and sides.
The result is a light, comfortable guitar with a distinctive sound. For players who prefer the feel .....
17. PRS is a guitar company founded by luthier Paul Reed Smith. Today they are recognized as some of the finest guitars in the world, on par and often surpassing highend Gibsons.
PRS really took off back in the 90s when it seemed just about everyone had swapped out their Les Paul for a PRS. Eventually they capitalized on this trend and made the PRS more accessible with the SE line of lowerbudget guitars. But these arent beginners guitars. Even though .....
18. Rickenbacker may be a name more closely associated with bass guitar, but they are a brand that makes some of the best acoustic and electric guitars as well. Like their fourstringed brothers, Rickenbacker guitars feature some spaceaged designs that have now become classic.
This is a guitar company that has been around since the 1930s, and they played a key part in the early days of rock n roll. Bands like the Beatles helped to bring the Rickenback .....
19. Schecter Guitar Research is a company that has really established themselves as one of the best guitar brands out there in recent years. Many of their guitars are focused on the heavy metal market, but players of any genre can find a Schecter that meets their needs. With superb craftsmanship and highend appointments youd expect to find on much more expensive guitars, they are also among the best values in the guitar world.
Many of their guitars a .....
20. Seagull acoustic guitars are among the best values you are going find. Theyre made in Canada, and theres an attention to detail and craftsmanship here you may not expect in guitars at these price points. The Seagull Artist series is the top of their lineup, and youll find unique tonewoods and highquality construction techniques while still keeping the guitar at an affordable price.
But as we work our way down the Seagull line and check out other .....
21. Squier is the baby brother of Fender, and makes inexpensive guitars players based on classic Fender models. Along with Epiphone, theyre one of the best guitar brands for beginners or newbies looking for their first real guitar.
Quality varies, but some are very good instruments. They also make starter packs that come with a guitar, amp and all the accessories youd need to get started playing.
A few Squiers that stand out above the rest are the Cl .....
22. Taylor guitars are among the best in the world. This American guitar company makes some incredible acoustic guitar designs and a few cool electrics too. Taylor guitars dont come cheap, but like Martin they are worth every penny.
Taylor and Martin are really the upper esheclon when it comes to Americanmade acoustic guitars. Like Martin, Taylor makes many acoustic and acousticelectric instruments that find their way into the hands of professional m .....
23. In the 1980s it seemed like Washburn guitars were everywhere, and they were leaders in the hard rock and metal guitar genre. Even though they arent quite as prominent as they once were they still feature some nice guitars in their lineup. From metal to jazz and anywhere in between Washburn has you covered, and with signature models for Paul Stanley and Nuno Bettencourt they still have strong name recognition in the rock world.
Its not likely Wash .....
24. Yamaha makes a little bit of everything, from organs to bass guitars to electric guitars to band instruments. Their acoustic guitars are always excellent, and there are options for all levels of guitar experience.
Beginners and intermediate players especially can find some outstanding instruments in the Yamaha lineup. This is a Japanese company that has stood the test of time over the years.
The Yamaha FG700 is widely considered one of the best a .....
