Best Electric Guitars of 2018

Fender

Player Duo-Sonic™

Since its debut in 1956, the Duo-Sonic has found its way into the hands of genre-defining artists, becoming an underground sensation that helped create alternative music in the dingy clubs of New York City. A surprisingly hip guitar with upgraded contemporary features, this instrument features slick style and a unique sound that's perfectly at home in modern music.

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Bohemian Guitars

Moonshine - Electric Guitar

The two single-coil pickups combined with the hollow metal moonshine body give this guitar a rich twang and that oh-so-perfect amount of bite that can only come straight from the Appalachian still.

Russ Lorenz

The Shitar

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Harley Benton

SC-Junior Black

The Harley Benton SC-Junior – here in a lush black finish – is based on a classic single-cut design loaded with a single P90 single-coil at the neck position that gives you more drive, punch and warmth than you can shake a stick at! Raunchy rock tones meld with a luscious exterior replete with a range of quality details: A jet-black finish, a smoothly playable amaranth fretboard with characteristic dot inlays and a red tortoiseshell pickguard. That classy exterior is also reflected in the period-correct wrap-around bridge, Wilkinson vintage-style machine heads and the chunky playing feel provided by the C profile neck. A stripped-back, souped up rock machine!

Halo Custom Guitars

Salvus

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Obstructures

0.750b Machined Aluminum Electric Guitar

Our new and most refined model yet, the 0.750b features an adjusted body shape with more exaggerated horns for better balance and a machined aluminum bridge of our own design that is anodized to match. The new bridge is made from massive aluminum and mates with special ramps machined into the body and neck to ease the angle of the string as it rests on the saddle to reduce string breakage. Graph-tech “String Saver” saddles are employed with stainless steel hardware. 3/4” thick solid aluminum for massive tone with two pick-ups and volume controls. dimensions: 3/4” thick, 37” length, 11.5 lbs, 24-3/4” gibson scale with 22 frets finish: flat black hardcoat, clear or type 3 dyeless anodization. Two tone models are also available. hardware: Sperzel locking tuners, stainless inlays and straplocks. front strap button can be moved to opposite horn for left handed players electronics: two direct mounted alnico pole p-90 single coil pick-ups, on-on- on switch with 2 500k volume pots and 2 output jacks flanking rear strap button for symmetry case: custom aluminum, 2-3/4” thick with continuous stainless piano hinge and dense industrial foam cut to guitar shape

Xotic Pedals and Guitars

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Body Wood: Alder · Body Color: 3TB · Aging: Heavy Aged · Neck: Roasted Flame Maple neck and Indian Rosewood fingerboard · Fingerboard Radius: 9.5R · Fret: Jescar 55090 Silver Nickel · Neck Finish: Oil · Neck Grip: Modern C (slight D shape on the bass side and C shape on the treble) · Nut: Pure Bone · Pickups: Raw Vintage USA RV-60 · Control: 1 Vol, 2 Tone · Hardware: Nickel/Chrome · Strap Button: Fender Style Strap Button · Switch: CRL 5-way · Pickguard: Mint Ivory 3P · Weight: 7.6lbs/3.4kg · Included: Hard case SKB-66, fret protector, certificate of authenticity

Harley Benton

SC-500

The shape of this electric guitar has been a favourite of guitarists of all ages for decades. The timeless aesthetics speak for themselves: With its spotless white finish, cream-coloured binding on the basswood body and a maple neck with a blackwood fretboard and block inlays, the SC-500 BK looks simply stunning. The golden DLX hardware rounds off its refined appearance. While the SC-500 is fitted with two vintage-style humbucker pickups that effortlessly deliver authentic rock sounds and flawless playability, it has much more to offer than just tradition. Each pickup has its own volume and tone controls that combine with the three-way selector switch to put almost any tone within your reach, from clean chords to crunchy blues and from gritty power chords to singing leads. We sure that you’ll love this iconic guitar the first time you play it.

Chapman Guitars

ML1 Pro Traditional

Taking the crisp, bright and woody tones of tradition and conveying them through a modern chassis, the ML1 Pro Traditional is the best of both worlds. The specially-voiced Chapman Venus Witch single coil pickup set offer a wide palette of tones via the five way blade, transmitted through a stunning ash, satin finish, carved top body, 22 stainless steel frets and a silky smooth C-shaped maple neck. Available in Natural and White Dove finishes, the ML1 Pro Traditional is equipped with high end features such as rolled edges, strap locks and glow-in-the-dark-side dots and comes complete a Chapman Pro hard case.

Squier Guitars and Basses

FSR Bullet Telecaster

The Bullet Tele is a simple, affordable and practical guitar designed for beginners and students. A perfect choice for a first guitar no matter who you are or what style of music you want to learn. Featuring the classic features that made the Tele one of the world’s favorite guitars, the Bullet Tele is a great introduction to the Fender family. Case sold separately.

Harley Benton

DC-Junior FAT Faded Cherry

Originally conceived as an affordable guitar for learners, this stripped-back design was later seized on by rockers who loved its classic, raucous tones and simple layout. And in this highly affordable bundle edition, we’ve stayed true to that initial vision! The mahogany body and chunkier neck of the DC Junior FAT are paired with a stacked splittable “dog-ear” P90-style humbucker at the bridge position to give you plenty of growl that mellows nicely as you roll back the volume. The open-pore satin Faded Cherry finish brings out the best in the fine mahogany wood grain and, frankly, feels pretty darn sexy. Time to unleash this rock'n'roll animal!

Rivolta Guitars

Mondata II

Not everyone wants all the bells and whistles. Sometimes dead simplicity and pure tone is all that's necessary. So here comes another masterful design by the celebrated Dennis Fano of Fano Guitars/Novo Guitars fame. Introducing the Rivolta Mondata II: a stripped down, straight-to-the-point iteration of the new Rivolta Guitars Mondata. A stop-tail design, a couple of pickups, and a single toggle switch is more than you need to get the job done on stage, in the studio, or your living room.

Fender

American Vintage 65 Jazzmaster

The Fender American Vintage '65 Jazzmaster Electric Guitar takes you back to the middle of that musically momentous decade, when the reverb-drenched surf had largely receded and the Jazzmaster began its steady decade-long ascent toward alternative indispensability for subversive new generations of iconoclastic guitarists. It had also acquired some elegant new design features by 1965, such as a bound round-laminated rosewood fingerboard with larger pearl dot inlays, and distinctive white "witch hat" control knobs. The American Vintage Series has long presented some of Fender's best selling guitars (their early-'80s introduction, in fact, was one of the first signs that Fender was "back" as the CBS era ended). Today, Fender has boldly cleared the slate to make way for a fresh American Vintage series with new features, new specs and the most meticulous level of vintage accuracy yet. Rather than just replacing the previous models with different ones, they've completely and comprehensively re-imagined the entire vintage-reissue concept-restoring original tooling dies, voicing new pickups, reformulating vintage colors and more-based on actual vintage guitars. Includes case.

Gibson

Les Paul Standard '50s P-90 - Gold Top

The new Les Paul Standard returns to the classic design that made it famous. It pays tribute to Gibson's Golden Era of innovation and brings authenticity back to life. The Les Paul Standard '50s P-90 has a solid mahogany body with maple top and a rounded 50's-style mahogany neck with a rosewood fingerboard and trapezoid inlays. It's equipped with an ABR-1, the classic-style Tune-O-Matic bridge, aluminum stop bar tailpiece, vintage deluxe tuners with keystone buttons, and aged gold top hat knobs. The classic P-90 pickups (neck and bridge) are loaded with AlNiCo V magnets, audio taper potentiometers and orange drop capacitors.

Ibanez

ASV10A-TCL Artcore Vintage Series

Throughout the years, the Artcore line has provided excellent hollow and semi-hollow body instruments for working musicians. The Artcore Vintage series continues this tradition with guitars that recapture the style and sophistication of the good old days. Artcore Vintage models immediately feel as comfortable as a beloved old leather jacket. The ASV73’s stylish semi-hollow aged finished body is made to handle almost any musical challenge imaginable. The 3-piece set-in neck features a bound Laurel fretboard with aged white block inlays and medium frets for a super smooth feel. The ASV73’s Classic Elite pickups deliver a full-bodied tone and well-balanced output. Sure Grip III knobs provide non-slip functionality and an ART-1 bridge provides improved sustain and tuning stability.

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B.C. Rich Guitars

The Dagger

If the combination of a classic hollowbody with heavy metal power and styling is your thing, then this is the guitar for your. The B.C. Rich "The Dagger" has a comfortable 24-3/4" scale, ebony fingerboard, Dagger tip inlay and unique Dagger sound holes on either side of the solid maple center block. It has a traditional three to a side headstock, Chrome hardware, Chrome covered pickups and added strap locks. Overall the guitar is in excellent condition and comes with the original BC Rich gig bag.

Fender

Stratocaster (MIJ)

Fender Made In Japan models are known for quality at an unusually low price, and the MIJ Traditional Series presents time-honored Fender models–complete with classic Fender tone, foreign market finishes and premium components like rosewood fingerboards–for under $1,000 USD. Previously available only in Japan and SE Asian markets, the MIJ Traditional Series offers classic finishes like Arctic White, Surf Green, Black, and 3-Color Sunburst, as well as the sought-after Torino Red and Candy Tangerine and the rarely seen Flamingo Pink, Candy Blue, and California Blue. Each MIJ Traditional model is equipped with specific, period-inspired hardware, solid rosewood fingerboards, and top quality electronics designed to emulate the look, feel, and sound of various key eras in Fender’s history. From Stratocasters to Tele Customs, Mustangs and Fretless Jazz Basses, some of the most iconic Fender builds of the 20th century are represented, perfectly replicated for the modern player seeking a classic instrument at player’s price. Shop Fender MIJ Traditional Series guitars and basses at Chicago Music Exchange now to see what happens when you combine historically lauded tone with internationally renowned quality. You won’t believe what you get.

Gavelston

B.B. Stone

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Esteban

Esteban Midnight Legacy solid body electric

If you're aware of Esteban and his late-night home shopping appearances hawking bad acoustic guitars, then you know the man's name and dubious legacy. But did you know that he made a solid body electric guitar that has the sound of a Strat with the playability and neck profile of a Les Paul? Well, he did and he only offered this one model before going back to selling his bad acoustic guitars. Heck, he probably didn't actually have anything to do with this model, and that's what makes it such a nice little sleeper of a guitar. It's solidly built, has good weight to it, an easy to play neck and the single coil sounds of a Strat. If you're familiar with Dr. Groovy, Scott Grove, then you know that he's snatching up these Midnight Legacy guitars whenever he finds them because they're a solid, inexpensive guitar. This specimen has a smaller-than-a-quarter sized chip in the finish at the bottom of the body that has been colored back in with black Sharpie, but otherwise the rest of the guitar is in very good, clean shape. There are scratches on the pickguard from normal play, but nothing too bad. The neck is straight, I have set it up and intonated it and all of the pickups and settings work. This is a good, cheap guitar with the craziest headstock design ever, but it's sure a fun little one to play and you won't care if the kids get their grubby hands on it or if your jamming buddies shred with this thing.

Bohemian Guitars

Moonshine

The two single-coil pickups combined with the hollow metal moonshine body give this guitar a rich twang and that oh-so-perfect amount of bite that can only come straight from the Appalachian still.

Epiphone Guitars

Les Paul Custom

The new Les Paul Custom is part of Epiphone’s Inspired by Gibson Collection and honors the 1950s classic designed by Mr. Les Paul in 1954 as the “tuxedo” version of his groundbreaking solid body masterpiece. Featuring the traditional Custom bound all-mahogany body, 60s SlimTaper™neck profile, Ebony fingerboard with block inlay, gold Epiphone LockTone LockTone™ Tune-O-Matic bridge and stop tailpiece, a pair of critically acclaimed Epiphone ProBucker™ humbuckers, and Custom split-diamond inlay on the headstock. This Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Original model also has the Kalamazoo headstock, rolled neck for a comfortable feel, GraphTech® NuBone™ nut, era-appropriate wiring, and CTS pots. Optional hardshell or EpiLite Case is available.

Harmony Guitars and Amps

1964 Rocket 2 Pickup

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Epiphone Guitars

G-400 Pro SG

A true icon guitar, the SG was originally a successor Les Paul model from '61 to '68. This edition of the prized 1962 Gibson SG boasts the power and merciless sustain you expect to shake you all night long. It's constructed of a Mahogany neck glued into a Mahogany body, and comes upgraded with Alnico Classic Pro humbucking pickups. Other appointments such as its trapezoid inlay and Wilkinson tuners round out this classic rock staple. Case sold separately.