If you’re someone who loves and cares about the tone of your electric guitar, you’re probably willing to drop some dough for it. For that reason, we put together a list of eight of the best high-end guitars (like, $3,000 and up).
This goes out to all the face melters, shredders, and metalheads.
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Fender Custom Shop 1954 Telecaster Journeyman Relic
Want a guitar that feels like it’s been around for years but plays like new?
Fender Custom Shop’s handcrafted 1954 Telecaster replica features a 2-piece ash body and rift-sawn maple neck to give it an authentic vintage appeal.
The authentic 1954 “U” neck profile sits comfortably in your hand while the pair of hand-wound Loaded ’51 Nocaster single coils produce those iconic bright, cutting tones that guitarists chase after. Each guitar undergoes Journeyman Relic treatment, giving it realistic wear marks and aged hardware that tell a visual story without compromising sound quality.
Serious players will appreciate the attention to detail with vintage-style tuners, real bone nut, and Jescar medium vintage frets throughout. This USA-built masterpiece hits all the right notes for musicians who crave genuine Telecaster character without tracking down a rare original.
Specifications and features:
- Solid body
- Maple neck & fretboard
- Ashwood body & back
- String Material: Alloy Steel
Ernie Ball Music Man BFR JP15
Guitar players searching for technical perfection need to check out this limited-run JP15 from Music Man’s premium Ball Family Reserve collection.
John Petrucci’s signature 6-string gets the luxury treatment with a black limba body and gorgeous buckeye burl top that turns heads while delivering serious tone. Playing feels effortless thanks to the roasted maple neck with its super-slim “C” profile and smooth rosewood fingerboard with 24 stainless steel frets.
The DiMarzio Illuminator humbuckers pack a serious punch through the active preamp system, giving you all the clarity and power needed for intricate leads or crushing rhythms. You won’t need to worry about staying in tune during aggressive playing – the hard tail bridge provides rock-solid stability.
This electric guitar hits the sweet spot for technical players who need their guitar to keep up with complex playing styles while still looking absolutely stunning on stage.
Specifications and features:
- Solid body
- Maple neck
- Rosewood body & fretboard
- String Material: Stainless Steel
EVH Wolfgang USA – Stealth
Guitar players chasing Eddie Van Halen’s legendary sound will love this USA Wolfgang solidbody electric guitar in sleek Stealth finish.
The Big Leaf maple-topped basswood body gives you that perfect balance of warm sustain with snappy attack that made EVH’s tone so distinctive.
Speed demons will appreciate the graphite-reinforced quartersawn maple neck with its hand-rubbed urethane finish and compound-radius ebony fingerboard that feels buttery smooth under your fingers. The alnico EVH Wolfgang humbuckers deliver scorching, well-balanced tone with seemingly endless sustain for both rhythm and lead playing.
True to Eddie’s specs, the intentionally body-hugging Floyd Rose with D-Tuna lets you pull off all those classic EVH trem techniques while giving you instant access to Drop D tuning with just a flick.
For extra performance tricks, the red-button kill switch creates those stuttery effects Eddie made famous on tracks like “You Really Got Me.” This guitar delivers pro-level quality for players who demand the authentic EVH experience.
Specifications and features:
- Solid body
- Basewood body & back
- Maple neck
- Ebony fretboard
- Scale Length: 25.5”
- String Material: Maple
Ibanez Steve Vai Signature PIA3761
Lead guitarists searching for the ultimate performance tool will fall hard for this Steve Vai signature model crafted for speed and expression.
Built around a resonant alder body in striking Stallion White, it comes loaded with a versatile pickup combo with two powerful DiMarzio UtoPIA humbuckers and a sweet-sounding single coil for sonic options from whisper-quiet to face-melting.
Your fingers will race across the smooth rosewood fingerboard on the ultra-slim 5-piece PIA neck, with Ibanez’s premium Prestige fret treatment eliminating any rough edges that might slow you down. Bend notes to the stratosphere without tuning worries, thanks to the precision-engineered Edge tremolo that stays rock steady even after the wildest dive bombs.
Vai’s personal touches make this guitar special, from the iconic Monkey Grip handle to the gorgeous PIA Blossom inlays that catch the stage lights perfectly.
Specifications and features:
- Solidbody
- Alder back and body
- Walnut neck
- Rosewood fretboard
- Scale length: 25.5”
- String material: steel
Gretsch Limited Edition G8424T Billy Duffy Signature Falcon
Rock players wanting to channel that unmistakable Cult sound can now grab this limited edition Falcon modeled after Billy Duffy’s iconic ’70s White Falcon.
The 3-ply all-maple hollow body pumps out rich acoustic resonance that pairs beautifully with the custom-wound Black Top Filter’Tron humbuckers for tones that can fill any arena.
Fast licks and complex chords feel natural on the Standard U-shape maple neck, while the slick 12-inch-radius ebony fingerboard with deep cutaway lets you access every fret with ease. The Bigsby vibrato with its unique wire handle gives you all the tools for those signature pitch bends and subtle warbles that define Duffy’s playing style.
This gorgeous Vintage White guitar includes all the period-correct styling and special limited-edition appointments that turn heads both on stage and in the studio.
A perfect pick for musicians who need a guitar with an unmistakable presence that delivers everything from chimey cleans to powerful, overdriven rock sounds.
Specifications and features:
- Hollow body
- Maple neck, body & back
- Ebony fretboard
- String material: maple
