When it comes to buying one of the best electric guitars under $1,000, you're not just buying a guitar. This move is a statement of intent. It's you, declaring to the rest of the guitar world that you're here, you're not a beginner anymore and that you're a force to be reckoned with. Once you reach up into this price bracket, you're buying an instrument which is an investment in you and your future ability. Any of the best electric guitars under $1,000 are going to take you far – with the right input, of course. These guitars are for those who've found their style, their niche – and want to commit fully to the guitar. It's like a marriage, but without the paperwork.
This price-point opens up a much wider area of the market. Gone are the quality restrictions of the beginner budget; instead, you've got access to guitars made in the Far East, Mexico, Japan and even some US-made axes. It all depends on what you're after – but if you've earmarked four digits for your new guitar, chances are you know exactly what you're looking for.
If you'd like to read some more in-depth buying advice about the best electric guitars under $1,000, then click the link above. If you'd rather get straight to the product guide, then keep scrolling.
Looking for a bargain? Well, our Black Friday guitar deals page is the place to go. From now until the end of Cyber weekend, we’ll be bringing you the very best offers we can find on a range of brilliant music gear.
The best deals on electric guitars under $1,000
1. PRS SE Custom 24
A true Swiss army knife guitar that won’t break the bank
Specifications
Body: Mahogany with a Maple top
Neck: Maple
Scale: 25”
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Frets: 24
Pickups: 2x 85/15 “S” humbuckers
Controls: Volume, tone (with push-pull coil split), 3-way blade
Hardware: PRS vibrato, PRS SE tuners
Left-handed: Yes
Finish: Charcoal Burst, Sapphire, Vintage Sunburst
PRS’ SE range of guitars has been responsible for some of the best budget instruments money can buy, and this iteration of the Custom 24 is no different. As the name suggests, this SE has a 24 fret ‘Wide Thin’ maple neck, that features PRS’ classic bird inlays. The body is made from the tried-and-tested combination of mahogany and maple, which provides a balanced tone full of depth and personality.
The 25” scale of the SE Custom 24 sits in between most other electric guitars, offering players an ultra-comfortable ride. The PRS designed hardware is super solid and the tremolo is smooth, making worries about playability and tuning-stability a thing of the past. Coil splittable 85/15 “S” pickups are the SE equivalents of what you’ll find on USA models, and they definitely live up to the hype - capable of sweet clean tones and ridiculous gain, and everything in between.
Granted, the SE might look a little plain compared to its’ USA-made brothers and sisters, but when they are over $3,500, is it worth the extra? We think not. We love this guitar so much, that we've even got a page dedicated the best PRS SE Custom 24 deals.
2. Chapman Guitars ML3 Pro Modern
Simple but well-equipped
Specifications
Body: Mahogany
Neck: Mahogany
Scale: 25.5”
Fingerboard: Roasted maple
Frets: 24 jumbo stainless steel
Pickups: Seymour Duncan Sentient (neck) and Pegasus (bridge)
Controls: Master volume, master tone, 5-way pickup switch with coil tap
Hardware: Fixed bridge, Hipshot locking tuners
Left-handed: Yes
Finish: Cyber Black, Hot White, Hot Blue
YouTube has been many things for musicians, from an always-on tutor to a place to ogle over new gear. We're not sure any of us expected it to be the springboard for a new type of guitar brand, although that's what we have in Chapman Guitars. Each model is designed with input from the very crowds who lap up videos from the brand's eponymous leader, and the end result is a range of guitars which very much give the people what they want.
The Chapman ML3 Pro Modern is a perfect example; by favoring simplicity, craftsmanship and high quality materials, this Tele-shaped guitar delivers a playing experience far superior to what you'd normally expect at this price bracket. Well worth investigating.
3. ESP LTD EC-1000
This singlecut beast is built for power
Specifications
Body: Mahogany
Neck: Mahogany
Scale: 24.75”
Fingerboard: Ebony
Frets: 24 extra jumbo
Pickups: EMG 60/81
Controls: 2 x volume, master tone, 3-way selector
Hardware: Tonepros locking TOM bridge and tailpiece
Left-handed: Yes
Finish: Many!
While the body shape may be familiar, the tones you can coax out of the ESP LTD EC-1000 are most certainly not. Sure, you can get meaty sounds out of a Gibson Les Paul, but when you need that little bit extra, the EC-1000 can get you into some truly extreme tonal territory.
Admittedly the pair of active EMGs aren't going to be highly desired by more genteel players, but for anyone looking to incorporate serious gain into their setup, you could do a lot worse than consider one of these relative veterans of the scene. High quality fixtures and fittings make this a serious guitar with tonnes of longevity. We're big fans of the vintage black version in particular, on account of its satin-smooth finish and classy gold hardware.
4. Charvel Joe Duplantier Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 2 HH
An elegant, yet ferocious instrument that won’t let you down
Specifications
Body: Mahogany
Neck: Mahogany
Scale: 25.5”
Fingerboard: Ebony
Frets: 22
Pickups: DiMarzio Fortitude and PAF 36th Anniv. humbuckers
Controls: Volume, 3-way toggle
Hardware: Charvel radius compensated bridge, Anchored tailpiece, Charvel locking tuners
Left-handed: No
Finish: Satin
If you’re here, then chances are you’ve heard a Joe Duplantier riff or two. For those who aren’t familiar, he’s the singer and rhythm guitarist of French metal titans Gojira - and he’s got good taste.
His latest signature model from Charvel features a solid mahogany slab body, bolt-on mahogany neck and an ebony fingerboard. These culminate in a solid-feeling instrument that produces a huge tone. The bolt-on neck provides some bright snappy-ness which compliments the mahogany body perfectly, making this a surprisingly versatile beast.
It’s a beefy guitar for sure, but it couldn’t be easier to play. Charvel has implemented a specially contoured neck heel for easy upper fret access, and the 12”-16” compound radius fingerboard makes fast legato playing and string bending an absolute pleasure.
Monsieur Duplantier has opted for a pair of DiMarzio humbuckers in this guitar, with his signature ‘Fortitude’ ‘bucker in the bridge position and a PAF 36th Anniversary in the neck. This configuration covers all potential requirements, from crushing, heavy riffs to open soundscapes. This Charvel really is hard to beat.
Read the full Charvel Joe Duplantier Signature Pro-Mod San Dimas review
5. Fender Vintera ‘50s Telecaster
Get a slice of history without vintage prices
Specifications
Body: Alder
Neck: Maple
Scale: 25.5”
Fingerboard: Maple
Frets: 21
Pickups: 2x Vintage-style ‘50s Tele single-coils
Controls: Volume, tone, 3-way selector
Hardware: Vintage-style 3-Saddle bridge, vintage-style tuners
Left-handed: No
Finish: 2-tone Sunburst, Fiesta Red, Sonic Blue
Fender’s Vintera series is an affordable, high-quality nod to the guitars that started it all - and this ‘50s Telecaster is the star of the show. For anyone that wants the sound and style of Fender’s golden era, this is the guitar for you.
The ‘50s Vintera Telecaster proves that sometimes simple is best. The slab-like alder body and bolt-on maple neck bring bags of bite and snap, with that iconic Tele twang that we’ve grown to know and love. The maple neck has the era-specific “Early ‘50s U” profile, and the maple fingerboard is radiused at a very old-school 7.25”. The frets are also vintage-style, for that traditional vibe that we dig.
Fender recreated their favorite set of ‘50s pickups especially for this Tele, and we’re glad they went to the effort. They sound quintessentially ‘Tele’, and are arguably unbeatable at this price point. Luckily for us, the electronics and wiring is done to today’s spec - but everything else feels perfectly vintage. For under a grand, there’s no Tele we’d rather have.
6. Yamaha Revstar RS502T
Pick up this double-cut and you’ll be off to the races
Specifications
Body: Mahogany w/ maple cap
Neck: Mahogany
Scale: 24.75"
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Frets: 22
Pickups: YGD-designed V5 Alnico soapbar single coils (neck and bridge)
Controls: Volume, tone (with push-pull “Dry” switch high-pass filter), 3-way selector
Hardware: Tune-o-matic bridge, aluminum tailpiece
Left-handed: No
Finish: Bowden Green, Black
A quick glance at the spec sheet for the RS502T suggests that the model is heavily influenced by Les Paul designs circa 1955, with a mahogany body and maple top, a set-in mahogany neck with a rosewood fingerboard, 24 3/4–inch scale and 22 frets plus a pair of P-90-style single-coil pickups. However, Yamaha has made numerous refinements to the designs and also introduced a few impressive innovations. There are master volume and master tone controls, and the master tone control pulls up to engage Yamaha’s passive “Dry” circuit, which rolls off frequencies below 2kHz by about -5 to -10dB to enhance clarity. The VP5 single-coil pickups built by Yamaha Guitar Development (YGD) feature alnico V magnets, a German silver baseplate, plain enamel wire and 8.3k ohms of output. Furthermore, the finish is probably the coolest shade of British racing green ever.
Soundwise, the RS502T is ballsy and aggressive, like a good P-90-equipped guitar should be, with complex upper midrange harmonics and tight low-end spank, plus impressive resonance and sustain from the floating tailpiece. Engaging the Dry switch takes the pickups towards fat Strat territory but with more body and midrange punch. The RS502T may not reinvent the wheel, but when you strap one on it’s still going to take you for one hell of a ride.
Best electric guitars under $1,000: Fender Player Plus Strat
7. Fender Player Plus Stratocaster HSS
The ultimate modern Strat?
Specifications
Body: Alder
Neck: Maple
Scale: 25.5"
Fingerboard: Pau Ferro, Maple
Frets: 22
Pickups: 2x Player Plus Noiseless Strat single-coils, 1x Player plus Humbucker
Controls: Master Volume, Tone 1. (Neck/Middle Pickups), Tone 2. (Bridge Pickup), 5-way pickup switch
Hardware: Nickel/Chrome, 2-point Tremolo w/ block saddles, Deluxe cast/sealed locking tuners
Finish: 3-color sunburst, Cosmic Jade, Belair Blue, Silverburst
The Player Series of guitars from Fender has been one of their most successful to date. Offering players a killer entry point to having the Fender name on their headstocks, we were all impressed with the exceptional playability and build quality of this budget-friendly series. The Player Plus range offers that same great playing experience, but with a few tasty extras.
The main upgrade from the Player to the Player Plus range is the electronics. Especially when it comes to this HSS offering, the Player series pickups have been replaced with a set of noiseless single coils and a Wide-Range looking bridge humbucker to elevate this Strat to another level. This is an edit which took us by surprise, and gives the Player Plus a sense of refinement which we love. The bridge humbucker offers lots more power and output, but when combined with the five-way switch, brings some sweet single-coil versatility too. Very nice.
The other main difference is the compound fingerboard radius, which is an updated 12" as opposed to the original 9.5". While 12" is pretty flat and might alienate some more traditionally-inclined players, the Player Plus is about updating, renewing and generally freshening up the Strat line and bringing it firmly into the 21st Century. As such, we love the modern, more shred-friendly appointments. All in all, a great Strat for those who want to freshen up their playing.
8. Ibanez RG550
The colorful Eighties icon returns
Specifications
Body: Basswood
Neck: Five-piece maple/walnut
Scale: 25.5"
Fingerboard: Maple
Frets: 24
Pickups: Ibanez V8 humbucker (bridge), S1 single coil (middle), V7 neck humbucker
Controls: Volume, tone, 5-way selector
Hardware: Edge locking vibrato
Left-handed: Yes
Finish: Desert Sun Yellow, Road Flare Red, Purple Neon, White
First introduced in 1987 and discontinued in ’94, the RG550, with its pointy edges, super slim Wizard neck and “totally eighties” finishes, conjures up fond memories for a generation of budding shredders. Now, Ibanez has resurrected the iconic guitar, keeping some features intact (including those finishes) and also updating it for a new era.
Features on the new RG550 include a solid basswood body and an ultra-fast Super Wizard 5-piece maple/walnut neck. There’s also a maple fretboard, jumbo frets and Gotoh tuners. Pickups are Ibanez V7 and V8 humbuckers in the bridge and neck and an S1 single coil in the middle position. Finally, there’s an Edge tremolo bridge to help players perform all manner of wild, Vai-like sonic acrobatics.
While the 550 no doubt comes off as a singular shred machine, tonally, the guitar covers a lot of ground. The V7 bridge humbucker will help you crank out razor-sharp riffs and biting leads, while the V8 in the neck adds a hint of compression at higher gains. The S1 in the middle, meanwhile, offers up suitably single-coil sounds. The new RG may look like a throwback, but this is no mere nostalgia trip.
9. Charvel Pro Mod So-Cal Style 1 HH FR
Break the speed limit with this sleek shred machine
Specifications
Body: Alder
Neck: 2-piece maple with graphite reinforcement
Scale: 25.5"
Fingerboard: Maple
Frets: 22
Pickups: Direct Mount Seymour Duncan JB humbucker, Direct Mount Seymour Duncan '59 Zebra humbucker
Controls: Volume with push/pull coil-split, No-Load tone, 3-way selector
Hardware: Floyd Rose FRT-O2000 double-locking tremolo
Left-handed: Yes
Finish: Rocket Red, Neon Pink, Matte Blue Frost, Satin Black, Snow White
Music trends have changed since the eighties, but fleet-fingered guitarists have always remained, which is why Charvel’s high performance guitars are still in favor. The Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 1 HH FR epitomizes the classic, stripped-down superstrat with premium components and an eye-catching finish that’ll turn heads, but with a price tag that won’t leave you down and out on the Sunset Strip.
The HH FR features an alder body, a two-piece maple neck with 25 1/2–inch scale length, 12- to 16-inch compound fingerboard radius, 22 jumbo frets and a heel-mounted spoke wheel for adjusting neck relief on the dual graphite reinforcement truss rods. The guitar comes equipped with a Floyd Rose double-locking, recessed tremolo and a pair of Seymour Duncan pickups, a master volume with push/pull coil-splitting, a master tone and a three-position blade switch.
Plugged in, the So-Cal’s high-output pickups turn any mild-mannered amplifier into a fire-breathing beast. When played with tons of distortion the Duncans sound huge, with a fat bottom end, warm mids and searing highs. The coil tap on the volume knob is a nice touch to get some brighter spank on cleaner settings. The combination of the hot-rodded pickups, hand-rubbed neck and Floyd Rose double-locking tremolo make the Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 1 HH FR a street lethal, fretboard-racing machine built for breakneck speed.
10. D'Angelico Premier Series SS
Classic D’Angelico looks at a lower price point
Specifications
Body: Laminated Maple
Neck: Maple
Scale: 25"
Fingerboard: Ovangkol
Frets: 22
Pickups: Duncan Designed (HB-102N neck and HB-101B bridge)
Controls: 2 x Volume, 2 x tone, 3-way selector switch
Hardware: Tune-o-matic bridge, D’Angelico stairstep trapeze/stopbar tailpiece, Rotomatic stairstep tuners
Left-handed: Yes
Finish: Black Flake, Ocean Turquoise, Fiesta Red, Champagne
With the introduction of its new Premier Series guitars, D’Angelico now offers a wide variety of instruments that sell well below the $1,000 price barrier. Even more amazing is that the Premier Series guitars offer as much elegant styling and playability as their more expensive predecessors. The attention to detail in the construction of these guitars is impressive. The single-cutaway, semi-hollow Premier SS features a laminated maple body, and the maple neck has 22 medium frets, an ovangkol fretboard, block inlays and a shallow C-shaped profile. The guitar's distinctive semi-hollow body design measures 15 inches wide and 1.75 inches deep. There’s also a stop-bar tailpiece, but D’Angelico offers the trapeze chrome stairstep tailpiece as an option.
The Premier SS' electronics consist of a pair of ultra-responsive Seymour Duncan designed humbuckers, each with their own volume and tone controls, and a three-position toggle switch. The Premier SS is a powerful semi-hollowbody that covers all ground, from smooth jazz tones all the way through to aggressive grit - all the while maintaining the construction, playability, sound and style that made the company’s guitars so desirable in the first place.
