Are you, or someone you know, hunting for an electric guitar? Well, the good news is we are living in a golden era for the instrument. Improvements in manufacturing and heavy competition have created a market that is flooded with high-quality and affordable candidates.
Here are a few heavy hitters I have come across while working in music retail and playing guitar for 17 years.
Yamaha Pacifica PAC112V
If you see the name Yamaha on your instrument, you know it’s going to be good quality. Featuring an alder body, a bolt-on maple neck with either rosewood or maple fingerboard options, and a versatile HSS pickup configuration, the Pacifica PAC112V is ready for anything.
Working at a local music shop, I have had nothing but good experiences with these instruments. Like typical Yamahas, they play and sound great right out of the box and require little to no work. Just plug in and start playing! Coming in a wide range of colors and configurations, at $379.99, the Pacifica PAC112V is hard to beat.
Squier Classic Vibe Series
Launched in 2008, the Squier Classic Vibe collection brought players classic Fender designs loaded with vintage style. From Stratocasters and Telecasters to Jazzmasters and Jaguars, the Classic Vibe line has something for everyone. They even have basses!
Dividing the models into key decades from Fender’s past, specs like finish color and neck construction are subject to change. For example.) The Classic Vibe 50s Stratocaster has a maple neck with a 2-tone sunburst finish; the Classic Vibe 60s Stratocaster has an Indian laurel fingerboard and a 3-tone sunburst finish. For vintage guitar nerds like myself, these small details are greatly appreciated.
In my experience, guitars from the Classic Vibe series often look great and sound great, but can be a bit inconsistent when it comes to their fit and finish. QC issues like unlevel or sharp frets and finish anomalies have plagued the line in the past. Luckily, that issue has grown less common as Fender has been constantly pushing to improve the iconic line.
Ranging between $500 and $550, they are a tremendous deal.
PRS SE DGT David Grissom
Similar to Squier and Epiphone, the PRS SE line of guitars allows players access to iconic PRS designs at a fraction of the cost of their American equivalents. The one I often sell the quickest at the shop is the SE DGT.
An affordable take on guitarist David Grissom’s signature DGT model, it features a mahogany body with a maple cap, a set of “S” DGT humbucking pickups, and, of course, the patent PRS tremolo system. The fit and finish on these is always flawless, and they often seem to be gig-ready right out of the box.
Versatile and easy to use, the SE DGT is a dream come true at $979.99. Oh, did I mention it comes with a nice gig bag too?
Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom Series
Although some may not consider a guitar over a $1,000 budget-friendly, Epiphone’s Inspired by Gibson Custom collection is loaded to the brim with value. Hence the name, Epiphone partnered with the Gibson Custom Shop to create affordable versions of golden-era 50s and 60s Gibson electric guitars.
Instruments in the line include historic Les Pauls, SGs, ES-335s, and even Firebirds, all loaded with historically correct specs and high-end parts like USA-made Gibson pickups, Switchcraft switches and jacks, and boutique Luxe paper and oil capacitors. I’ve played many vintage Gibsons and offerings from the Custom Shop; these Epiphone guitars are the real deal.
They sound vintage, they feel vintage, they all have nice hardshell cases, and you don’t have to take out a bank loan to buy one. What’s not to love about that?
Closing Thoughts
Do you have to spend a fortune to get a good electric guitar? Absolutely not! These four examples merely scratch the surface of what is out there. Guitar manufacturing is only getting better, and with that will come even better guitars.
Head to your local music store, keep an eye out online, and check one of these amazing electric guitars out today!
Photo via Getty Images
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Author: Sam Blalock
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