A great guitar doesn’t mean an expensive guitar. One doesn’t have to spend several thousand dollars to get a good quality, excellent sounding guitar. It’s is very much possible to get one of your best guitars for under $1000. These guitars usually use cheaper materials and more basic electronics. But they are just as reliable, powerful and good-quality, as the more expensive ones. Don’t believe me? Take a look at one of these and your mind will be blown.
Best Electric Guitars under $1000 of 2021 – Reviews and Top Picks
- Fender Jimi Hendrix Stratocaster
- Body type: Solid
- Body shape: Stratocaster
- Body wood: Alder
- Neck: C-shaped
- Neck material: Maple
- Pick up: 3 Pure Vintage ’65 Gray-Bottom Single-Coils
- Fretboard wood: Maple
- Frets: 21, Medium Jumbo
- Bridge: 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo
- Tuners: Vintage style
- Fender Alternate Reality Meteora HH
- Body type: Solid Body
- Body shape: Offset
- Body wood: Alder
- Neck: C-modern, Bolt-on
- Neck material: Maple
- Pick up: Dual Player Series Alnico 2 Humbuckers
- Fretboard wood: Pau Ferro
- Frets: 22, Medium Jumbo
- Bridge: Adjusto-matic
- Tuners: Die-cast sealed
- Schecter 237 KEITH MERROW KM-7
- Body type: Solid
- Body shape: S-style
- Body wood: Swamp Ash
- Neck: Ultra-Thin
- Neck material: Maple
- Pick up: Seymour Duncan Nazgul / Sentient
- Fretboard wood: Ebony
- Frets: 24, X-Jimbo
- Bridge: Hipshot Hardtail
- Tuners: Schecter Locking
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This flipped-over Strat is a no-brainer for all you Hendrix fans that look for an affordable, high-quality axe. Fender Jimi Hendrix Stratocaster has a solid alder body and features a signature reversed neck and headstock. A versatile axe with plenty of power and effortless playability, it has quite a “different vibe” due to the warmer sound and enhanced harmonics at the upper strings.
We like
Despite being a bit different from other Strats, the flipped-over Jimi Hendrix Strat still has the quality of high-end Fenders. Having a flipped-over set up with shorter string length at the higher strings, it offers unique warm tones, brighter response, and enhanced sound. Optimized string tension from top to bottom not only produces easier bending but makes it suitable for a variety of different styles of play. Ideal for blues and rock’n’roll.
we dont like
Pure Vintage ’65 Gray-Bottom Single-Coils are, well, pretty vintage and use traditional electronics. They tend to produce some unwanted humming and noise if set up poorly. You can also feel some fret buzz as a result. Good news – buy a pair of pickups of your liking and both problems are solved.
PROS
• Excellent workmanship and Strat chime
Optimized string tension and easier bending
Bright response and enhanced harmonics at the higher strings
Tight, warmer sound
Versatility
Cons
Poor Pick up
Fret buzz
Fender Alternate Reality Meteora HH is a powerful, exceptionally balanced axe with a retro-modern offset body. A classic 60’s Fender offset look features some serious kick-ass electronics: 2 fat-sounding, explosive Alnico 2 humbuckers, crazy accurate Ajusto-Matic bridge, and precise 3-way toggle switch. It’s a reliable option for innovative and adventurous musicians.
We like
The greatest thing about this axe is its exceptional sonic power. Adjusto-Matic bridge delivers a remarkable control over a wide sonic range provided by the dual Alnico 2 humbuckers. Meteora HH also offers explosive, punchy tones with supreme articulation. A well-balanced guitar has excellent playability and suitable for a wide variety of music genres and styles of play.
we dont like
A very minor thing, but the factory set up is far from perfect. If you don’t know how to set up an axe from scratch a trip to the guitar doctor is obligatory.
PROS
Phenomenal sound balance and articulation
Wide sonic range
Individual volume controls
Playability and versatility
Cons
Poor factory set up
What you get from a Schecter Keith Merrow KM-7 is a mean, sturdy, metal beast, worthy of its creator Keith Marrow. Light as a feather, this 7-string axe with an ultra-thin neck delivers fast playability, suitable for all kinds of shredding, chording, bending and rhythm playing. It features Seymour Duncan Sentient and Nazgul humbuckers, Hipshot Hardtail with String thru Body design and a push/pull 3-way volume switch.
We like
The extremely light, but mighty machine delivers aggressive, punchy metal tones. The ultra-thin neck and the compound radius fretboard produce effortless and flexible playability, ideal for the offensive speed styles. The Seymour Duncan humbuckers deliver rich and fatty distorted tones and high output.
we dont like
The only downside, the quality of pickup switches, selector, volume knobs, and other little hardware pieces is simply not excellent. I would strongly recommend switching them to something more reliable as soon as you can.
PROS
Modern metal tone
Compound radius fretboard
Seymour Duncan Sentient and Nazgul humbuckers
Hight output and punchy tones
Cons
Bad quality of hardware
It may seem like this guitar is a classy vintage-sounding Les Paul, but don’t be confused – this is a real metal beast. This model has been specially adapted for the metal players and is capable of mean shredding, high outputs, sonic attacks, and rhythm work. The mahogany single-cutaway body is equipped with premium hardware, including genuine Seymour Duncan JB’/59 pickups, Tonepros Locking Tune-O-Matic bridge, and a tailpiece.
We like
Despite the affordable price, the axe features premium hardware, which is usually used on high-class, expensive guitars. Passive Seymour Duncan JB’/59 pickups are incredibly versatile and suitable for the most challenging solos. The axe has exceptional tuning stability, which lasts forever, no matter how often you change the tunings. The TOM bridge enhances the sound sustained by the solid mahogany body, while the Thin U neck allows for excellent playability and smooth fretwork.
we dont like
Some might find the fret work and finish a bit rough, but it’s easily fixed.
PROS
Quality hardware
Versatile Seymour Duncan JB’/59 pickups
Tuning stability
Sound sustain
Playability
Cons
Fret work
VH Striped Series is a tribute to the iconic Frankenstein guitar played by the one and only Eddie van Halen. And don’t be distracted by its catchy design and seemingly simple set up, it is a true shredding machine. Created with the rock and metal in mind, this solid body basswood guitar has a comfortable compound-radius fingerboard. The hardware is rather straightforward but rock-solid: single directly mounted humbucker and genuine Floyd Rose tremolo bridge.
We like
Despite the simple set up, the guitar feels and sounds like a $3000 axe. The compound radius fingerboard (12”-16”) allows for effortless playing and effortless shredding all the way up the fretboard. Flawless hardware, enhanced by the Floyd Rose with D-tuna allows you to drop the tuning with a single touch, without it going out of tune. The axe responds to your every touch and is as accurate as a Swiss watch. Thus, the action, tone, and overtones are simply amazing.
we dont like
If you push the axe to the highest volume there might be some unwanted buzz and static
PROS
Fast neck
Exceptional tone
Floyd rose with D-Tuna
Responsiveness
Tuning stability accuracy
Cons
Occasional static and buzz
Another incarnation of Fender’s Telecaster is the old-school, high-quality, and simply die-hard axe. This American-built classic finds a place in almost every studio and delivers a famous warm and meaty Tele tone. As it goes, the axe traditionally has an alder body, maple neck and fretboard. It features two Texas Special single-coils, responsible for that signature tone, and vintage style 3-saddle Tele bridge. And a little modern twist – Greasebucket tone circuit for exceptional sound control.
We like
probably its warm, rich, vintage, even jazzy sound. Classic Texas single-coils do their job perfectly and deliver an exceptional, high-quality Tele tone. Greasebucket tone control boosts up the tone clarity and sound power, without affecting the volume or guitar tone. A trademark build allows effortless playability and multiple playing styles.
we dont like
If one would be nit-picking, the fret finish could be better.
PROS
Classic Tele sound
Dual Texas Single Coil Pickups
Greasebucket tone circuit
Sound control and sustain
Clarity of tones
Playability
Cons
Fret finish
A guitar that combines two classics: rock and motorbikes. Inspired by the vintage Café Racer motorbike, the axe is a piece of art with some serious hardware and sound. Solid mahogany body, with a smooth set-in mahogany neck is equipped with active VP5 Alnico V P-90 single-coil pickups, dry switch, and Tune-O-Matic bridge. The axe has great sonic power, clean overdriven tones, and exceptional sustainability.
We like
The P-90 single-coil pickups with Alnico magnets give a clear, snappy vintage sound with richness and meatiness of the humbuckers. Powerful, overdriven tones are balanced by the Dry switch, which eliminates low frequencies, enhancing clarity. The quality mahogany body provides excellent sound sustainability, while the maple neck delivers that buttery, smooth playability. Overall, a reliable great sounding axe.
we dont like
Axe might give a bit of hum if you are pushing its volume limits.
PROS
Dry switch
VP5 Alnico V P-90 single-coil pickups Dry switch
Smooth playability
Sound sustainability and clarity
Cons
Occasional Humming
This guitar, created with Mark Holcomb, the band’s lead guitarist, embodies everything that a progressive metal guitar should be. This affordable Maryland-made model features a solid, mahogany body with a 25.5” scale maple neck, Mark Holcomb Signature Alpha & Omega Seymour Duncan humbuckers, and fixed plate-style bridge. A versatile axe made with plenty of power, versatility, control, and character.
We like
An ideal axe for under $1000 for the metalheads, and especially Periphery fans. There is no better option if you are looking to evolve in progressive metal, or looking for the classic Holcomb sound. The larger-scale neck and wide fretboard radius enable comfortable string-to-string playing, wide bends, and effortless playability up and down the frets. Signature Seymour Duncan Alpha and Omega humbuckers give plenty of punch, and attack power, with incredible sound stability and clarity of tones. The axe is also pretty versatile, allowing you to go beyond the metal genre and include blues and rock tones into your playing.
we dont like
Tuners aren’t ideal, it’s recommended to change it as soon as you get the axe. The nut quality remains wanting. So, if you want to avoid repeatedly tuning the guitar, replace the nut, and you’ll get yourself a perfect metal axe.
PROS
Signature Mark Holcomb guitar
25.5” scale neck
Seymour Duncan Alpha and Omega humbuckers
Playability and Versatility
Clarity of tones
Cons
Tuners
Nut quality
New vs Used Guitars
It’s really hard to draw the line between which guitar – new or used – is the absolute best. ‘New’ doesn’t mean perfect, and ‘used’ is nowhere near being horrible. But what’s good and bad about them?
Well, to start, the feeling of a new axe in your hands gives you so chills. Straight from the factory, it’s glossy, smooth, in perfect condition, and sometimes comes with some handy accessories. There is a higher chance that it will serve you longer, and it’s possible to buy new axes at a very affordable price.
Used guitars, however, have history, that none of the new axes have. The bad side is, well, they are used, and there is some wear and tear to them. It might be as minor as just a few scratches, and as grave as internal damage; which is noticeable only after you purchased it. Yet, some models are not issued any more, and if you are a great fan and looking for that one unique axe that has been gone since the ’60s, you gotta buy used.
Are Guitars Under $1000 Only for Beginners?
Rumour has it, only newbies should aim for a guitar under a grand.
To put it bluntly, this is not true.
Guitars manufacturers have come such a long way, and cheap doesn’t mean bad anymore. The majority of the guitars in this price segment have excellent quality and feature some kick-ass hardware, like the Yamaha REVSTAR Series RS502T, for example. With a proper amp and some effect pedals, no one will even notice how cheap or expensive your guitar is.
For a beginner, an affordable axe is an obvious choice, but trust me, even veteran guitarists can’t avoid guitars for a grand. You need to be able to afford six or seven axes, right?
Guitars $1000 Guitar: 101
Despite the increasing quality of these kind of guitars, there are still a couple things to keep an eye on. To start with, make sure the guitars are made from quality tonewoods: alder, maple, mahogany, and rosewood. It will increase the sound sustainability. Also, check the hardware – even if the bridge and pickups are basic, they should be well made and set up correctly. Be extra careful with the fretwork and finishes, as guitars for a grand have a tendency to be a bit rough around the edges. And most importantly, try it out first and check how it sounds. Nothing will tell you how good the axe is better than this.
What’s the Difference Between Expensive and Affordable Guitars?
There are a couple of things that differentiate guitars of various price segments. It would be weird if there weren’t.
The critical thing is the quality of materials and hardware. Yes, cheaper guitars use cheaper woods, paint, finishes, and basic, rather ordinary hardware and mechanics. Yet less expensive, doesn’t mean bad. Both $3000 and $800 guitars can have an alder body, and the sound sustain will be great on both of them. Some guitars like EVH Striped Series have a pretty basic set up, but its sound is as sick as, well, a pretty tricky to play Schecter Hellraiser C-1. You can never know until you try.
Another big thing is the manufacturing process. The majority of guitars are now done mechanically, at the factories. Thus, the cost of production for these guitars drops significantly. While expensive and, I might add, premium axes are hand-made, at least some parts are.
And lastly, place of origin means the world in the guitar industry. Traditionally, American-made guitars have higher quality and are more expensive, while Mexican, Korean, and Japanese guitars are usually cheaper. These are slowly becoming obsolete, though, as more and more small brands enter the market. Besides, big American brands like Fender, Les Paul, and Gibson are launching affordable versions of their classics.
Conclusion
Guitars are becoming more sophisticated, and it’s getting easier to find a genuinely gorgeous, reliable, and kick-ass sounding axe. No matter what kind of guitar you are looking for, you can find a great sounding axe in no time. If you are looking for something traditional, go for the twangy warm-sounding Fender American Tele. If you are a metalhead, there is nothing better than an ESP LTD EC-1000. If I were to choose the best guitar from the list, it would be nothing else but a crystal clear, versatile Fender Jimi Hendrix Stratocaster.
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