Picking the best electric guitar under $1000 that matches your playing style and sound amazing can be tricky. There are tons of high-quality electric guitars in the $1,000 price range, so how are you supposed to decide between them?
The only way is to review all the different electric guitars out there and compare their looks, tone, and playability to see which one fits your best. I know what you are going through. $1,000 is a big investment to make in a new guitar, so you want make sure you get the right now. We’ve researched the most popular guitars, looked at their features, and narrowed down the list for you.
Let’s check out the top-rated electric guitars under $1,000 that you should consider adding to your collection.
Compare the Top Electric Guitars Below $1,000
Contents
- 1 Compare the Top Electric Guitars Below $1,000
- 1.1 Fender American Stratocaster
- 1.2 Fender American Telecaster
- 1.3 PRS 6 String SE Mark Electric Guitar
- 1.4 Epiphone Les Paul Custom PRO
- 1.5 Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSH
- 1.6 Schecter Hellraiser C-1
- 1.7 ESP LTD EC-1000 Electric Guitar
- 1.8 Dean Dave Mustaine VMNT Electric Guitar
- 1.9 Ibanez S Series Iron Label SIX6FDFM
- 1.10 EVH Striped Series Stratocaster Electric Guitar
- 1.11 Guild S-200 T-Bird Electric Guitar
- 2 What We Recommend and Why
Here’s a list of the best $1,000 electric guitars with incredible tone that need to be part of your rig today!
- Fender American Stratocaster
- Fender American Telecaster
- PRS 6 String SE Mark
- Epiphone Les Paul Custom PRO
- Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSH
- Schecter Hellraiser C-1
- ESP LTD EC-1000
- Dean Dave Mustaine VMNT
- Ibanez S Series Iron Label SIX6FDFM
- EVH Striped Series Stratocaster
- Guild S-200 T-Bird
Fender American Stratocaster
Specs, features, and benefits
When we consider top guitar brands, Fender can most certainly lay claim to a sit among this elite club of guitar manufacturers. The truth is that the history of guitar cannot be told without mentioning this brand name a number of times.
One of the products it offers guitarists within our price limit is the American Special Strat. This is a guitar that totally rocks for Pop, Rock, Country and Blues. As we’ve come to expect from the American Special Strat, its body is made of alder and the 9.5 inch radius neck is made of maple. This guitar was designed to make playing easy as is shown in its highly playable maple fretboard and nicely done satin finish.
A look at the pickup section will reveal the guitar’s traditional trio of single coil pickups. These provide that all too well known strat tone. These precisely designed pickups will provide great clarity to those little nuances that differentiates one player from the other.
Plug in this guitar and enjoy the range, warmth and precision that made it dear to the likes of Eric Clapton.
Pros and Highlights
- Sound – has that great strat tone.
- Playability – It’s designed for enhanced playability.
- Controls – The controls offer loads of options.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Gig bag – May not be of the best quality.
Bottom Line
If you love Eric Clapton’s music, chances are that you also love the Strat sound. Get this guitar if you want to enjoy that widely loved traditional strat tone.
Fender American Telecaster
Specs, features, and benefits
From Fender’s American Special Stratocaster we move to the American Special Telecaster from the same brand. When Leo Fender’s Telecaster solid body guitar made its appearance, it was to be the beginning of something entirely new and unprecedented. This here is a taste of that iconic guitar that played a major role in shaping the guitar landscape.
This re-enactment of this classic guitar is complete with the retention of that traditional telecaster body style and alder tonewood. The standard C shape neck is made of maple same as the fretboard and the smooth stain finish offers a lovely playing experience.
This guitar comes with two Texas Special single coil pickups located at the bridge and neck respectively. To fine tune your tone, you have a pickup selector, a tone knob and a volume knob.
Still keeping it real, Fender sticks to the traditional hardware setup with vintage style tuning machines. It also features an ashtray bridge also of vintage style. Instead six adjustable saddles, this has three.
This is a lovely guitar that will work best with music that requires subtlety rather than brute force.
Pros and Highlights
- Construction – It is well built.
- Sound – It has a nice classic tone.
- Playability – It’s generally very playable.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Gig bag – This could be better.
Bottom Line
This is a must buy for anyone who loves that vintage tone that can only be gotten from a single coil telecaster. Get this and be prepared to go way back in time.
PRS 6 String SE Mark Electric Guitar
Specs, features, and benefits
When Paul Reed Smith founded PRS Guitars in 1985, its purpose was mainly the production of high-end guitars that were hand made. The quality of the brand’s products can be seen in this guitar.
Partnering with Periphery’s Mark Holcomb, PRS has developed the SE Series, a lineup that includes some very amazing guitars.
While speaking of the signature model, Holcomb described it as a special instrument that truly captures the “defining characteristics” of his Maryland-made guitar. He added that this model however streamlined it, making it a lot more affordable.
The guitar features a solid body with double cutaway design. It’s made of Mahogany with a beveled, quilted Maple top while the neck is made of 3-piece Maple and spots a gloss finish. This is a lovely guitar.
Coming to the heart of the guitar, we find the pickups that stand this line out. It features two Seymour Duncan pickups – Alpha and Omega, placed at the neck and bridge respectively. These are the pickups that drive the sound you’ve come to expect from Mark Holcomb.
Pros and Highlights
- Appearance – It is stunningly beautiful.
- Sound – It has a lovely sound.
- Playability – It is very playable.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Tuners – There have been a few complaints about the tuners.
Bottom Line
If you are a fan of progressive metal or you love the sound of Mark Holcomb, Periphery’s guitarist, then you can now enjoy that same sound with this guitar. That signature sound has been redesigned to be more affordable.
Epiphone Les Paul Custom PRO
Specs, features, and benefits
Lester William Polsfuss or Les Paul as he is more popularly known is no doubt one of the guitarists who have had the most impact on the guitar. The innovation he brought to the world of guitars is still being copied today.
This Epiphone custom PRO guitar is an attempt by the brand at recreating the style and tone of this great guitarist.
It is a solid body guitar with a body made of Mahogany and a set neck also made of Mahogany but with Rosewood fingerboards. The first thing you will notice about this guitar is how gorgeous it looks. Its rich black color contrast nicely with the gold hardware and bindings, resulting in a look that is nothing but classy.
Aside from the looks, the dual ProBucker humbuckers deliver a rich and robust tone that you will be sure to rock to.
This is an all-round solid guitar for any serious guitarist who has always wanted a Les Paul.
Pros and Highlights
- Appearance – This is a classy and elegant looking guitar.
- Sound – It has a full warm tone.
- Playability – It’s comfortable to hold and easy to play.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Setup – May require some setup to get it fully up to speed.
Bottom Line
Les Paul is an icon and most custom Les Pauls are pretty expensive. If you’ve always wanted one but could not come up with the funds to purchase it, you may just be able to finally own one with this offering from Epiphone.
Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSH
Specs, features, and benefits
Charvel Guitars may not be among the more popular guitar brands but it’s been around for a while and has built a solid reputation as a brand that delivers high-end guitars. One of its latest offering is the Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSH.
Absolutely outstanding in its satin orange crush color, there’s practically no hiding place for you when you are playing this. It’s a great guitar so there’s no reason to hide.
It’s a solid body guitar made of Alder. It has a 2-Piece caramelized Maple neck and fingerboard also made of caramelized Maple. This neck makes playing this guitar a breeze.
A peek into the electronic section reveals three different Seymour Duncan pickups. First is the Custom Full Shred SH-10B located at the bridge then the Custom Flat Strat SSL-6 single-coil that is used as the middle pickup and finally the Alnico II Pro APH-1N located at the neck. That’s two humbuckers and a single coil pickup.
Controlling all of these is a five-way pickup selector, a volume knob and a tone knob. You can also add some variations with the included tremolo.
Pros and Highlights
- Tone – Provides a versatile tone palette.
- Hardware – Good quality hardware.
- Playability – It plays really smoothly.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Tuning – A few reports of tuning instability.
Bottom Line
This is a guitar for the guitarist who likes being outstanding. It has a bright and loud color, matched only by the quality of its tonal delivery. Don’t go for this if you are shy.
Schecter Hellraiser C-1
Specs, features, and benefits
From a brand that simply manufactured replacement parts for the major guitar brands, Schecter Guitar Research has itself become a respected guitar manufacturer. The Hellraiser C-1 Electric Guitar is one of the guitars from this brand.
The Hellraiser series was introduced in 2006 and is focused on providing an impressive combination of aesthetics, sound quality and great build in an affordable bundle.
This guitar has a Mahogany body with a quilted Maple top. Its neck is also made of Mahogany while the fingerboard is made of Rosewood. A quick look at this guitar will show how lovely it looks but that’s not all there is to it.
Driving the sound are two EMG humbucking pickups, an 81TX for the bridge and an 89 for the neck. These two combine to deliver (in conjunction with the Mahogany body and quilted Maple top) a tone quality that will surely inspire.
With a 3-way pickup selector, two volume knobs and a tone knob, the tonal options available to you are pretty extensive. This baby can actually handle more than just metal.
Pros and Highlights
- Build – Well-built and great looking.
- Sound – It has a great tone with lots of options.
- Hardware – The featured hardware are of good quality.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Setup – It may need some setup depending on user.
Bottom Line
Any metal lovers will love this guitar. The Hellraiser is almost synonymous with metal music and provides metal guitarist with the right tools they need to shred to their heart’s content.
ESP LTD EC-1000 Electric Guitar
Specs, features, and benefits
ESP as a guitar manufacturer offers its LTD products as affordable guitars. Do not however make the mistake of thinking that because the ESP LTD EC-1000 Electric Guitar is pretty affordable that it is a low-end guitar. This is one guitar that offers an impressive combo of looks, feel and tone.
Shaped like a classic Les Paul, the body is made of Mahogany and features a lovely abalone purfling all around its top. The neck is made of 3-piece Mahogany with 24 jumbo frets on the pau ferro fingerboard. With its U profile, the neck plays really well.
For the electronics, the tonal engine is driven by two EMG humbucking pickups. A 60 is located at the neck while the bridge spots an 81. Each of these has a dedicated volume control as well as a 3-way selector switch and a tone knob.
These precise controls provide a wide range of tonal options that will allow you do more than just shred. You can actually achieve some clean, well-balanced tones on this guitar.
Pros and Highlights
- Playability – Playing this is effortless.
- Sound – It offers impressive tonal options.
- Build – This is one well-built and beautiful guitar.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- PUP selector – You may have a few issues with this.
Bottom Line
This the guitar you go for when you really love to shred but cannot afford the huge price tags of high-end guitars. The quality this offers will rival many guitars with much higher price tags. It’s a great buy.
Dean Dave Mustaine VMNT Electric Guitar
Specs, features, and benefits
Dean Guitars regards itself primarily as a Rock ‘n’ Roll guitar company. This much is clear in their guitar designs. Partnering with Dave Mustaine, Dean offers this signature electric guitar that reportedly has Dave raving.
From just its body shape – the flying V design – you can almost pinpoint the era that this guitar represents. Since Dave Mustaine also played in this era – 80s and 90s, and also has been known to love this body shape, it’s a no-brainer that a signature guitar of his will have this shape.
The body is made of Korina, both body and top. The D shaped neck is also made of Korina and is said to be one of Dave’s favorite necks.
For the electronics, it features two Seymour Duncan humbuckers for that screaming Dave Mustaine sound. As for the hardware, it comes with Grover tuners, a Tune-O-Matic bridge and Dunlop flush-mount strap locks for a distraction free stage performance.
Any diehard metal lover should not over-think this – just get it. You will love it.
Pros and Highlights
- Playability – It has a very comfortable and payable neck.
- Sound – It sounds great whether for metal or otherwise.
- Build – It is solidly built.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Setup – It may require some setup.
Bottom Line
If you have ever dreamed (or still do dream) of playing and sounding anything like Dave Mustaine, then you should hurry and get this guitar. It will make your journey to your goal shorter and less expensive.
Ibanez S Series Iron Label SIX6FDFM
Specs, features, and benefits
Ibanez has long been known for creating guitars that appeal to the whims of guitarists. In this case, the brand focuses on the avid shredder, offering its Iron Label series, which is practically made for metal music.
The SIX6FDFM is one product from this series. It is a solid body guitar with Mahogany body and a flaming Maple top. The fact that this guitar is built for speed and performance is pronounced in the three-piece Maple and Bubinga neck with Ebony fingerboard.
This guitar has a very balanced weight that is comfortable to carry while also solid enough to provide the platform on which its unique tone is built.
A look at the electronic section reveals two DiMarzio Fusion Edge pickups, one for the neck and the other for the bridge. These pickups deliver a crisp and precise tone that you can also fine tune with the simple controls.
If you are a metal lover, this is one guitar you cannot go wrong with.
Pros and Highlights
- Weight – It has a comfortable, balanced weight.
- Sound – It delivers a crisp and precise tone without muddiness.
- Playability – It enhances speed and performance.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Case – It does not come with a case.
Bottom Line
The Iron Label Series is Made for Metal guitar players!! That simply describes this guitar. Though you can use it for other kinds of music, it really shines when put in familiar surroundings –metal. If you are a shredder or hope to be one, get this guitar and shred away.
EVH Striped Series Stratocaster Electric Guitar
Specs, features, and benefits
The EVH brand is the brain child of Eddie Van Halen, a musician regarded by some as the god of Rock ‘n’ Roll. After spending many years chasing tone, he now offers other musician’s instruments designed based on the experience he has acquired over the years.
The EVH Striped Series Stratocaster Electric Guitar is one of such offerings. This is an affordable version of Eddie’s iconic striped Frankenstrat. The body with its double cutaway design is made of solid basswood while the neck is made of reinforced quarter sawn maple. This neck makes playing chords or solos a delight.
The electronic section reveals some of the simplest setups you will likely see; just the way Eddie likes it. It only has one Wolfgang Humbucking pickup; a direct mount, positioned right at the bridge.
The control is even more simplistic than the pickup with just the solitary knob for controlling the volume.
This is a stripped down guitar without frills but hey, don’t let that fool you. This guitar will deliver a huge sound that will remind you of everything you love about Eddie Van Halen.
Pros and Highlights
- Sound – It has a huge sound.
- Playability – It is very playable.
- Appearance – The black and white stripped design is lovely.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Tone – With just a single pickup, it lacks tonal options.
Bottom Line
This is a stripped down, simple and affordable way to get the EVH look and sound. It doesn’t get any better than this.
Guild S-200 T-Bird Electric Guitar
Specs, features, and benefits
The Guild Guitar Company may not be one of the most popular companies but some of its earlier products are quite the collector’s item today. One of such products is the Thunderbolt, which it stopped producing five years after its first appearance in 1963. This has now reincarnated in the S-200 T-Bird.
If you can afford to look past its odd body design, you will find a guitar that delivers a lovely retro tone.
The body is made of Mahogany as is the neck with its Rosewood fretboard. The neck has a C shape and holds 22 frets all of which can be easily accessed thanks to the double cutaway design of the asymmetrical body.
The tone of this guitar is driven by two LB-1 humbucking pickups, placed at the neck and bridge respectively. These are actually replicas of the Little Bucker humbuckers Guild used in the past.
A look at this guitar’s controls will reveal something unlike anything many guitarists may have ever seen on a guitar. They offer unrivalled tonal versatility.
Pros and Highlights
- Tone – It offers amazing tonal possibilities.
- Playability – It is lightweight and easy to play.
- Design – The unique design stands it out.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Controls – May be confusing for some, requiring some time to get used to them.
Bottom Line
This is a guitar for the musician who is not afraid to be different. The tonal possibilities offered by this guitar is incredible. If you love experimenting with tone, you will love this.
What We Recommend and Why
Wow! This has been an interesting journey. After carefully reviewing all the great guitars featured here, we chose the Epiphone Les Paul CUSTOM PRO Electric Guitar. While there were other great guitars on the list, a lot of them were built to favor particular music genres. This guitar from Epiphone provides more tonal variations that will allow it fit into a wide range of music genres.