With so many guitars on the market right now, nailing down the best electric guitars under 1000$ can be a pretty tough endeavor. But, with careful research, we’ve managed to narrow down the list of the best electric guitars in the sub 1000$ range. This is usually the sweet spot for guitar models, as you get the most bang for your buck. And thankfully, many guitar manufacturers have a product or two that they offer in this price range. So let’s take a look at some of them today.
A List of Top-Rated Electric Guitars Under $1000
Fender Player Plus Strat HSS MN 3CSB
- Body: Alder
- Neck: Bolted Maple
- Fretboard: Maple
We’ve already featured the Fender Player Strat HSS previously in our Best Black Friday Guitar Deals article. So let’s talk again about why this is such an amazing guitar.
You can never go wrong with a Fender Strat. This one is made out of Alder, with a bolted Maple neck with a Maple fretboard. The fretboard itself is 22 medium jumbo frets long and has black pearloid dot inlays. Included through the neck is a synthetic bone nut. Now, let’s look at the hardware.
It has an HSS set up, thus its name. HSS is short for (humbucker-single coil- single coil). For those coils, it has 1 master volume knob, 2 tone controls, and a push/pull function for coil split on the second tone knob. The switch itself has 5 positions that it can be in. And, to round everything up, it also has a 2-point synchronized tremolo with block tailpieces. Most of the hardware is made out of either Nickel or Chrome.
The guitar itself comes in a 3-color Sunburst and a Deluxe Gigback included. This is a dream guitar for many a player.
Pros
- Suitable for many styles
- Noiseless pickups do kill the hum and sound valid
- Comfortable and easy to hold
Cons
- Not the best option for metalheads
Schecter Omen Extreme 6 BCH
- Top: Figured Maple
- Body: Mahogany
- Neck: Maple
- Fretboard: Rosewood
If I were to use a video game analogy to explain the Schecter Omen Extreme 6 BCH, then it would be that legendary axe at the end of the dungeon.
The Omen Extreme 6 BCH is an impressive piece of equipment in all regards. Its body is made out of Mahogany with a figured Maple top. It has a Maple neck with a Rosewood fretboard. Talking about the fretboard, it’s 24 frets long and it has Vector fretboard inlays.
Now, about the hardware. The Schecter Omen Extreme 6 BCH comes with 2 Schecter Diamond Plus humbuckers, this is the single piece of equipment that makes it so powerful! And it also has a Tune-O-Matic bridge with a string-through-body construction, which basically guarantees that it will stay in tune for long periods of intense playing.
The color that this specific model comes in is Black Cherry. A matching case is available but sold separately from the guitar… bummer.
Pros
- High-quality pickups
- Warm tones with enough brightness in it
- Comfortable to play
Cons
- Potential fret buzz over time
- Some high notes with thicker strings are hard to reach
Schecter Diamond Omen 7 Extreme BCH
- Top: Flame Veneer Maple
- Body: Mahogany
- Neck: Maple
- Fretboard: Rosewood
Now, if 6 strings weren’t enough power for you, then how about 7 strings?
The Schecter Diamond Omen 7 Extreme BCH is much like its 6-string counterpart, with minor alterations. For starters, its body is also made out of Mahogany, but it has a flame-veneered Maple top instead. It has a Maple neck with a Rosewood fretboard. And the fretboard is 24 frets long with vector inlays, so, nothing’s changed there.
Regarding the hardware, it’s practically the same. With the 2 Schecter Diamond Plus humbuckers, the TOM bridge, and the string through body set-up. Even the coloring is the same, that is, Black Cherry.
Pros
- Perfect for playing metal
- Professional look
Cons
- Very similar to it’s previous version
Epiphone Les Paul Standard 60’s IT
- Top: AA Flamed Maple
- Body: Mahogany
- Neck: Mahogany
- Fretboard: Indian Laurel
Many people think that Epiphone is an inferior brand because it’s a subsidiary of Gibson, to those people, I recommend they try the Epiphone Les Paul Standard 60’s IT.
What makes the Epiphone Les Paul Standard 60’s IT so good though? Well, for starters. It has a Mahogany body with a AA flamed Maple top and Cream bindings. Its neck is likewise made out of Mahogany, while its fretboard is made out of Indian Laurel. The fretboard comes with pearloid trapezoid fretboard inlays and measures 22 frets long. Now, onto the hardware.
It has 2 pickups. One is a ProBucker-2 (neck) humbucker and the other is a ProBucker-3 (bridge) humbucker. That configuration is what gives the Les Paul Standard its renowned “punchy” sound that so many players pursue. Regarding the knobs, it has 2 volume and 2 tone knobs with CTS electronics. It also comes with a Locktone ABR Tune-O-Matic bridge and a Stopbar tailpiece. Its machine heads are Rotomatic 18s 1 gear ratio.
This specific model comes in an Iced Tea color. Sadly, it doesn’t come with a gig back included.
Pros
- Overall, awesome guitar for the price
- High-quality build
- Inspiring to play blues-rock
Cons
- May be a bit too pricey
Jackson KVXMG King V Satin Black
- Body: Poplar
- Neck: Maple
- Fretboard: Laurel
And now something for the metalheads.
The Jackson KVXMG King V Satin Black has a Poplar body with a Maple Neck. The neck itself is a neck-thru-body and is made out of Laurel as well as having those iconic Pearloid Sharkfin inlays. Otherwise, the fretboard’s length is 24 Jumbo frets. Now let’s take a look at the hardware.
The KVXMG KING V comes with two humbuckers. In the bridge position, you have an EMG 81, and in the neck position, you have an EMG 85. You only have one volume and tone knob though. The switch itself can be set in 3 positions. And the bridge is a Floyd Rose Special double-locking tremolo (recessed). The machine heads are Jackson’s very own sealed diecast machine heads.
The color of this specific guitar is Satin Black. Sadly, no gig bag is included in the offer.
Pros
- Perfect for playing metal
- Epic-looking
- High quality parts
Cons
- No gig bag included at the time of reviewing
Solar Guitars A2.6C G2
- Body: Mahogany
- Neck: Maple
- Fretboard: Ebony
If you watch YouTuber Ola Englund, then you’re probably very familiar with Solar guitars by now. But did you know that the Solar A2.6C G2 is one of the best guitars in the sub 1000$ range?
The A2.6C G2’s body is made out of Mahogany with a Maple neck. The neck itself has an Ebony fretboard that measures 24 Super jumbo frets. The dot inlays are positioned on the side of the neck, thus giving it that clean sleek look, with the Solar Guitars logo at the 12th fret. For stability, you have a Graphite nut through the neck of the guitar.
The hardware itself is the following. You have 2 Seymour Duncan Solar humbuckers with one tome and one volume knob. The switch itself is a 5-way blade. And the bridge is a Duncan-Solar bridge. The machine heads are Solar with an 18:1 gear ratio.
The color of this specific model is Carbon Black Matte. A gig bag is not included in the offer.
Pros
- Effortless to play
- Rock-solid tuning machines
- Coil-splits make is surprisingly versatile
Cons
- Need to be careful around the razor-sharp headstock
Schecter C-6 Pro Charcoal Burst
- Top: Poplar Burl
- Body: Mahogany
- Neck: Maple, Carbon
- Fretboard: Wenge
To finish it off, we have the Schecter C-6 Pro Charcoal Burst.
The C-6’s body is made out of Mahogany with a Poplar Burl top. The neck is made out of Maple and is a three-piece with carbon reinforcements, this means that it’s a bolt-on neck. Its fretboard is a Wenge fretboard with dot inlays, the fretboard itself measures 24 x-Jumbo frets. For stability, a Graph Tech XL Black Tusq nut is included.
The guitar itself has 2 Schecter Diamond Decimator humbuckers with one tone and one volume knob. You’ll be happy to hear that the volume knob is a push-pull system as well. The switch itself is a 3-way switch. The bridge is a Schecter Custom Hardtail with a Strung Thru Body design. Its machine heads are likewise of Schecter design. The hardware is made out of Chrome.
This specific model comes in a Charcoal Burst, and, yet again, no gig bag is included.
Pros
- Thoughtful design
- Upper-fret access
- Sounds that run from bright and spanky to full-on aggression
Cons
- The burl/burr finish is not for everyone
Personal Favorite Pick: The PRS SE Tremonti Custom CA
Personally, if I had to choose out of all these guitars, I would pick the PRS SE Tremonti Custom CA. All of these guitars are incredible in their own regard, yet there’s something about a PRS that is so charming and irresistible. Everything from its shape to its finish, to the hardware included in the guitar itself, is calling to me… beckoning me… urging me toward it. Now I know how Frodo must have felt carrying the one ring to Mount Doom.