Are you getting ready to make your first electric guitar purchase? Or maybe an upgrade from your first guitar of lesser quality? Have you read my article on the different types of electric guitars? If you answered ‘yes’ and ‘yes’, then this electric guitar buying guide is for you! I’ve reflected on the hundreds of hours I’ve spent researching and playing different electric guitars. And I’ve broken down my top three guitars across various price points and feature categories. This article focuses on my top recommended electric guitars that can be purchased for $1000 or less. In fact, I’ve provided you with three lists. One for solid body electric guitars, one for semi-hollow bodies and one for heavy metal fans.
Each electric guitar listed in the tables below are listed from left to right in slightly increasing cost. Let’s take a closer look!
Recommended Solid Body Electric Guitars Under $1000
Before I describe some of the details of each of these guitars, let me just say that the “Strat”, the “Tele” and the “Les Paul” are considered by many to be the holy trinity of electric guitars. They are all incredibly versatile and can be used to play virtually any type of music. As you climb up the cost ladder into the $1,500-$2,500 range, you will basically find these same guitars offered, with the major difference being that they are made in the USA versus made in either Mexico (Fender) or Asia (Epiphone/Gibson). Yes, some of the American craftsmanship may be slightly superior and they may include some fancier bells and whistles, but for any beginner or intermediate guitarists, these three guitars will serve you extremely well for many, many years.
 |  |  | |
| Price | Low | Low | High |
| Brand | Fender | Fender | Epiphone |
| Model (w/ Amazon Link) | Stratocaster | Telecaster | Les Paul |
| Pickup Configuration | 3 Single Coils | 2 Single Coils | 2 Humbuckers |
| Bridge Design | Floating Tremolo | Fixed | Tune-O-Matic |
| Body Material | Alder | Alder | Mahogany w/ Maple Top |
| Neck Material | Maple | Maple | Mahogany |
| Fretboard Material | Pau Ferro | Maple | Laurel |
Fender Player Stratocaster
- The basic shape of the Fender Stratocaster is considered to be one of the best industrial designs of all time. The contoured body is carved in just the right places to make this guitar extremely comfortable to play for long periods of time, whether you’re sitting or standing up.
- The alder body combined with single-coil pickups produce a range of tones from classic bright and glassy, to punchy and gritty.
- The vintage-style tremolo system allows any guitar player to creatively adjust string tension either slowly for epic sonic dive-bombs or more rapidly for voice-mirroring vibratos.
- Famous guitarists who helped give the Fender Stratocaster its legendary status include: Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy, Bonnie Raitt and David Gilmour.
Fender Player Telecaster
- In the spring of 1950, the Fender Telecaster debuted as the first mass-produced electric guitar. Since then they have been played by countless musical artists, largely thanks to their incredible versatility and musical range.
- It is known for a more powerful tone that is full of twang, making it extremely popular with country and rock musicians.
- Famous guitarists who will forever be associated with Fender Telecasters include: Brad Paisley, Vince Gill, Keith Richards and of course Bruce Springsteen.
Epiphone 1959 Les Paul Standard
- The set mahogany neck combined with the Tune-o-matic bridge create an extremely solid guitar that produces incredible sustain, which is the length of time that a note rings out once the strings are plucked or strummed. It’s one of the truly great features of a Les Paul.
- The flamed maple top, cream binding, vintage tuners and chrome hardware make this guitar a striking instrument to look at and an absolute pleasure to play.
- This is the only guitar of the three that also comes with a very nice vintage-style hard case to keep your precious instrument safe.
Recommended Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitars Under $1000
| |  |  |  |
| Price | Low | Mid | High |
| Brand | PRS | Gretsch | Ibanez |
| Model (w/ Amazon Link) | SE Hollowbody | G5655TG | AM153QA |
| Pickup Configuration | 2 Humbuckers | 2 Humbuckers | 2 Humbuckers |
| Bridge Design | Adjustable Stoptail | Bigsby Vibrato | ART-1 |
| Body Material | Mahogany | Maple | Ash |
| Neck Material | Mahogany | Maple | Nato/Maple |
| Fretboard Material | Ebony | Laurel | Ebony |
PRS SE Hollowbody
- The PRS design combines many of the best features of a Fender Stratocaster and a Gibson Les Paul. The comfortable body shape is borrowed from the Strat. And the mahogany body and humbuckers are featured on the Les Paul. He split the difference between the two on scale length. The result is a very balanced and versatile guitar suitable for any musical genre.
- A design feature that is 100% PRS are the gorgeous bird inlays found on the fretboard. Starting at the third fret, the birds are a Peregrine Falcon, Marsh Hawk, Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, Common Tern, Coppers Hawk, Kit, Sparrow Landing, Storm Petrel and Hawk Landing. Why birds you might ask? Well, the name PRS stands for Paul Reed Smith who is the founder and owner. Paul’s mother was an avid bird watcher. And so when Paul designed his new brand of guitars, he chose to honor his mother. And PRS fans around the world are very glad that he did.
- This guitar is already a great deal for the cost. And the fact that it includes a hardshell case makes it even more difficult to pass up.
Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic
- Gretsch has a long and proud history in the early days of rock n roll and country music. In the 1950’s Gretsch Guitars were played by legends like Duane Eddy and Eddie Cochran. In the 1960’s a Gretsch guitar was wielded by none other than George Harrison from The Beatles. And throughout his career starting in the 1980’s Brian Setzer has played nothing else besides a Gretsch guitar. You will also hear Gretsch guitars played on classic songs from AC/DC, U2, The Who, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.
- The Black Top Broad’Tron humbucking pickups are an original Gretsch design. Combined with the Bigsby B70 vibrato tailpiece and anchored Adjusto-Matic bridge, all of the key ingredients are included to produce “That Great Gretsch Sound!”
Ibanez AM153QA Artstar
- This beautiful guitar is loaded with special appointments. For starters the quilted ash top looks like a piece of art. The classy acrylic and abalone block inlays in the fingerboard are popular among jazz and fusion enthusiasts. The body and neck binding, bone nut and gold hardware just keep the hits coming on this stunning instrument.
- A unique feature of this guitar is the Tri-sound switch. It gives the neck humbucker pickup three different sounds, expanding the versatility of your instrument.
- This guitar also comes with a hardshell case to keep your instrument looking and sounding beautiful for years to come.
Recommended Heavy Metal Electric Guitars Under $1000
| |  |  |  |
| Price | Low | Mid | Mid |
| Brand | Jackson | Schecter | ESP LTD |
| Model (w/ Amazon Link) | RRX24M | Hellraiser C-1 | M-400 |
| Pickup Configuration | 2 Humbuckers | 2 Humbuckers | 2 Humbuckers |
| Bridge Design | Floyd Rose | Tune-O-Matic | Floyd Rose |
| Body Material | Basswood | Mahogany w/ Maple Top | Mahogany |
| Neck Material | Maple | Mahogany | Maple |
| Fretboard Material | Maple | Rosewood | Rosewood |
Jackson X Series Rhoads RRX24M
- Randy Rhoads is the epitome of heavy metal! The easy playability of this guitar will help you learn to play as fast as Randy himself. OK well maybe not quite as fast, but you get the picture.
- While most guitars have passive pickups, this metal master includes a pair of active Seymour Duncan Blackout pickups. Active pickups are powered by a 9V battery in your guitar. This increases the output levels and creates some of the unique tones that work so well for heavy metal.
- Another piece of guitar hardware popular with metal-heads is a Floyd Rose double-locking bridge. This tremolo system clamps down on the strings at both the floating bridge and the nut. This locks them in place and allows the guitar to stay in tune when your wailing on the whammy bar.
Schecter Hellraiser C-1
- This guitar features active EMG 81TW/89 pickups that deliver crushing metal tones. And when it’s time to tone it down just a bit, this guitar also includes push/pull volume knobs for single coil sounds with more clarity.
- The unique gothic cross inlays and abalone binding complement the devilish quilted maple top, giving this guitar hellish good looks.
ESP LTD M-400
- This guitar is a model of simplicity. Visually, the full matte black finish and black hardware give it a dark and heavy vibe. The single volume knob and pickup selector switch keeps the electronics simple as well.
- Like I mentioned earlier, metal heads love active pickups. This guitar includes a set of active EMG pickups with the Model 85 in the neck position and Model 81 in the bridge.
- High quality Grover tuners and a Floyd Rose bridge will keep your guitar in tune while you bang your head and push this guitar to the edge!
Summary of Buying Guide for Electric Guitars Under $1000
Hopefully, this article has shown you that if you’re willing to spend up to $1000 you can get your hands on some truly great guitars. There’s certainly nothing wrong with spending two or three thousand dollars on a guitar. But first, most people don’t have that kind of money laying around. And second, the biggest difference in guitars in that price range is that they’re made in the USA. Besides that, the materials and construction methods are virtually identical. Happy hunting and best of luck to you in learning and loving to play guitar!