Best Guitars of All Time

AznWarlord

There are so many Guitar Makers/Models out there, it’s tough to choose just one but there has got to be a top guitar. Whether it’s Fender, Gibson, Rickenbacker, or anything else, there is a greatest guitar out there. Don't agree with the list? Vote for an existing item you think should be ranked higher or if you are a logged in, add a new item for others to vote on or create your own version of this list.

The Top Ten

1
Gibson
when I play or buy a guitar, I look for certain things,1 sound, I can't take a crappy buzzy sounding axe,2 look, I don't want my guitar to look like it is contructed by a 10 year old, and 3 feel, I want to have a comfortable guitar, good action, a neck that my hand eazily forms to. and a les paul, sg, firebird, or an es can do that.
Gibsons might be good guitars, but considering that almost everyone who voted for gibson considers Slash "The master of guitars" they are not completely correct. The other top two: fender and ibanez make incredible guitars (I own both) and there are plenty of boutique guitar makers such as Tom Anderson who make incredibly badass guitars.
When you find that perfect Gibson, it sings to you. The neck feels heavenly, and the guitar just feels right. Fender makes great guitars. But when you find that one Gibson, there is nothing that can compare. The guitar comes alive and as you caress the strings, it caresses you back. Gibsons are amazing guitars.
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2Fender
It is hard to distinguish a "best guitar" because some guitars are used for different genres but fender guitars are the most versitile in history. I own a fender MIM stratocaster, an epiphone les paul, and a because rich kkv and though my non-fender guitars may sound better for heavier rock or metal, the fender MIM strat outshines either of them for any other genre of music. A lot of their versitility comes from the 3 pickups, the 5-way selector switch and the 2 tone knobs and volume control. The only advantage a les paul has over a fender (as far as versitility goes) is that the les paul has a seperate volume control for each pickup.
The Fender Stratocaster and Telecaster are the greatest because there simply is no better guitar that translates all the emotions and feelings that you experience into the dynamics of its sound and tone. Hear a solo on a radio and you know it's being played with a Fender. That's how recognizable and ubiquitous it is in human music and in our psyche. I didn't realize it until I myself owned a great-sounding one. They are magical.
For me... the battle is between fender and gibson. An army of amazing players on both sides. I think is up to the style of the player. Ill give it up for fender because they have made more affortable guitars than gibson.. If gibson would have a more economic line of guitar with a lot of bang for your money I couldn't made this decision...
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3Ibanez
Great Guitars, The Sound Great, They look great, and they don't leave a great big hole in your Wallet, The Hardware is perfect and there is a great range of models in all shapes and sizes.
Affordable. I promise a $200 Ibanez is better than a $500 fender.
I think ibanez must be second not third. Its better than fender and ibanez guitars are very good looking and sounds very good
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4PRS - Paul Reed Smith

gibson and fender feels great but you have to realise most guitarist play them because they're sponsored by them. I used to have a shop near me with a PRS on sale that I used to 'test' out every week, it just felt right.

I've played Gibson, Ibanez, Fender, Taylor, PRS... Just about every brand of guitar, I've played. Got to put it out there that Paul Reed Smith is the most incredible guitar maker, and I love every single one of the PRS's I've picked up. Currently playing a Zach Myers SE, it's the best guitar I've ever played. Great work PRS.

I have some fender guitar and prs, they're good. But prs is the best, sound character is very complete and have elegant appearance.

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5ESP

Simply the best necks and quality for playing metal craftsmanship is perfect they seem to know what metal players want I like that they have 42mm instead of 43mm necks fits me like a glove

ESPecially made for ya! be it an electric or a bass... nice sound, nice make

I bought an ltd version (esp student version) and it is epic. way out classes my fender and the gibson models I have been trialing. Also, metallica use them. Kirk Hammet!

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6Schecter Guitar Research

Brilliant range of guitars but my no. 1 which I own is the Synyster Gates Custom-S model and it is absolutely brilliant!

I have the Zacky V blade custom. It is amazing, I would recomened it to anyone. It sounds great, and if you have a monster cable, and a Line 6 Spider Jam amp it is all around amazing.

far higher quality, sound, playability, features, and affordability than any prs, GIBSON, or fender. to be honest, in the fact that gibson and fender have lasted in the past 30 years is nothing more than remarkable. but its only due to the name brand. production method, quality, sound, playing, and PRICE are all deplorable. go find some threads about it. schecter is the best, in every category, by light years.

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7Rickenbacker

Some of the greatest songs ever thought of were written and played on a Rickenbacker. They have a sound that is hard to match. And they look like no other guitar, simply stunning.

Unique in all ways, tone, looks, evertything!


8B.C. Rich

teri maa ki chuth bhosdii key kerry king the guitar hai bhannchodh teri maa marey fr nt dis beibg d best...

I simply love the distinct shape of B. C Rich Guitars. This brand will ALWAYS be the best due to their affordability, awesome look, and great sound that will overall BLOW YOUR MIND.

i frawkin love this brand, but r3ally i love this brand because they are very good, and sounds clear, andlove them just the way they are no matter wat

mcl0v1n

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9Jackson

jackson is the best, the build quality is superb! I love this guitar very much! instead of it prices a little bit expensive, but it was worth it! the sound, the looks! jackson RR5FR. =)

Jackson is the best guitar I bought ever in my life which is good... In its sound quality.. The fingerboard... And more ... I LOVE JACKSON GUITARS VERY MUCH =D

Jackson RR model has the best shape of any other guitar in my opinion.
Quality is excellent as well. Great finish on Japan made models. Don't know much about USA made ones though. I love the fact that it is asymetric.

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10Manson

Love manson because matt bellamy(muse)use it on live and it has a such great sound... Long live matt bellamy and MANSON!

Muse, great band. Manson, great guitars. They need all the effects that Matt's got though, like the fuzz etc.

matt bellamy make it became popular guitar... red glitterati...

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The Contenders

11Dean

Have a dean boca 12 string converted to 6 strings nothing can compare to it

Because I own a dean. and I LOVE it. (i actually like gibson more but its too expensive. lol)

Floppypanda


12Hamer

Very underrated, but VERY good. They make quality instruments and because of this, they aren't very prolific. Still, they are one of the best and they make the best novelty guitars too like the famous checkerboard, the five-neck and Rick Nielsen's "Uncle Dick" guitar.


13Taylor

14Yamaha
I got a classical, acoustic, and electric, these three models were insane
it's the best guitar brand ever. (with affordable price)
80's Yamahas were top production, rivaling the big names such as Gibson and Fender.
I heard and I'am astounded, amazed with her sound
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15Martin

best acoustic guitar brand

richie4life


16Washburn

I love my Washburn acoustic so much! It has great sound quality and it's just plain awesome


17Kramer

eddie van halen and richie sambora played kramer and they were right because the sound is great

richie4life

Visit Kramer Website

18Gretsch

Will make the assumption that most people voting haven't played a White Falcon or this would be much higher

Nothing' Sounds like a Gretsch I will take my 6122 over my LP any day but I love them both, never had a Fender but like the sound of a good tele I also have a Kendrick "Tejes" which is a well balance Guitar with great sound but I like Twang so I keep coming back to my Gretsch. 40 years playing

Fantastic guitars. Truly beautiful sound and looks. The white falcon is a gorgeous guitar with the perfect tone.

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19Ibanez RG

20Epiphone Explorer

i like Gibson but i generally like epiphone explorers more.

bde111223344


21Cort
It's the best selection.

22Epiphone
Epihpone is the best!
Epiphones the best bro do you even gift

23Kaps

24Godin

25Premiere

26Takamine

Exceptional quality for the price. Precise in sound like a samurai sword and delicate in timbre as a flamand painter. Very, very good...

What is with the Takamine? It also has a really good sound and is the perfect guitar on stage or just for playing for fun. You make a really good decision if you buy this guitar - it sounds that soft and you just dream if you hear the sound...


27Pimentel & Sons

28Merrill & Company

29AXL

30Charvel San Dimas

I can't believe this one isn't in the top 5!

Visit Charvel San Dimas Website

31Saint Guitar Company

A smaller and newer company... Saint Guitar Company makes some of the most amazing and kick ass guitars you'll find anywhere... Pick one up and your Gibsons, Fenders, and PRS's, ect... will most likely start gathering quite a bit of of dust...

alexei


32Brian May

33Carvin
Playability, Quality, Value for what you get, Reliability. What more can be said!
Custom made, pick your own options, own colours, own wood type, and with an incredible quality. I have one, and it shreds like a beast while sounding incredibly amazing. Never had a better guitar than a carvin.

34Vintage

Great sounding guitars they're cheap but they hold there own against ibanez and other good makes it was my first guitar and weirdly I've grown attached to my vintage sg its being squashed dented the truss rods come out the pickups have being dented and all it took was a touch of glue for the truss rod and some polish and it looks amazing and the action and fretboard are top notch the pickups are good no high pitched feed back or pick up buzz and the cavity isn't even plated the down side the tuners don't cope very well to awkward tunings and the pots come lose and so does the jack input but overall a great guitar should be number 1 for durability sound price and for replacing parts as its cheap for them


35Peavey

36Mann

37Suhr

38Mustang
This guitar changed the 90's. Kurdt Kobain absolutely loved this guitar

39Shergold

40Framus

41Breedlove

42Reverend

43Steinberger

44Ernie Ball Music Man
This guitar has the potential to hammer Gibson. If the legendary progressive metal band Dream Theater approves of them, then this is a guitar to play. A flawless piece of craftmanship! They also make amazing basses.

45Flying V

46Stratocaster

47Jaguar

48JazzMaster

49Double Neck

50Telacaster

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List Info

This list was created 5 years, 167 days ago and has been voted on over 1,000 times.

Updated Friday, May 24, 2013


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