25 Best Guitar Brands: Top Acoustic and Electric Guitars
Discover the best guitar brands of all time!
Best Guitar Brands Ranked
The best guitar brands stay on top for good reason. If you’re looking for a new acoustic or electric guitar, it’s smart to start with the big names. These companies have built up their reputations over the years by producing high-quality instruments used by some of the best guitar players in the world.
If you’re new to guitar, or if you’re just now taking an interest in the different instrument makers for the first time, this guide should help you sort out what makes each manufacturer unique.
Electric and Acoustic Guitars for Beginners
Are you here because you're looking for advice on choosing the right guitar for a beginning guitarist? Here are a couple of articles you may find more helpful:
So which guitar brands are the best of the best? Below you'll find my ranking of guitar companies, sorted by electric and acoustic guitar. It's based on my opinion after 30+ years of playing guitar.
10 Best Electric Guitar Brands
Here is my ranking of the top 10 electric guitar brands:
- Gibson
- Fender
- PRS
- G&L
- Rickenbacker
- Ibanez
- ESP
- Jackson
- Schecter
- Epiphone
10 Best Acoustic Guitar Brands
Here is my ranking of the top 10 acoustic guitar brands:
- Martin
- Taylor
- Gibson
- Guild
- Seagull
- Yamaha
- Ovation
- Breedlove
- Fender
- Epiphone
Read on to learn more about each brand, along with a few notes and updates.
And be sure to check out the manufacturer’s websites for the latest info on their gear. Things are always changing in the guitar world, and the best place to get accurate info is straight from the source.
Good luck on your guitar journey, and I hope you find this page helpful!
1. Gibson
The most famous Gibson guitar is the Les Paul, which has been a mainstay in the music world for decades and one of the best electric guitars of all time. The Gibson Les Paul is a high-end, made-in-the-USA instrument, and it comes in a few different variations.
Like Fender, Gibson has remained fairly consistent with its styles and designs. In addition to the Les Paul, other famous Gibson electric guitars include the SG, Flying V, Explorer, ES-335, and Firebird. Their classic acoustics include the Hummingbird.
Recommended
As mentioned above, many of these models are available as Epiphone copies, but that doesn’t detract from the mystique of Gibson. Gibsons are legendary for their tone and craftsmanship, and for many players, nothing else will do except a real Gibson guitar.
Best Gibson Electric Guitar Models
- Les Paul
- SG
- Flying V
- Explorer
- ES-335
Notable Gibson Acoustic Guitar Models
- Hummingbird
- J-45
- J-50
- SJ-200
Gibson has made some interesting changes in their lineup in recent years, including the return of the classic Les Paul Studio design and the simplification of the Les Paul lineup with the '50s and '60s models.
2. Fender
Along with Gibson, Fender is probably among the most recognized guitar names out there. Models like the Stratocaster and Telecaster are etched into history as some of the greatest guitars ever made. Their USA-made instruments have shaped just about every genre of music for over 60 years.
One of the biggest changes over the past few years is the evolution of the Fender Player Series. These are the new MIM or "made in Mexico" Fenders, and the upgrades are subtle but significant.
I've been playing a MIM Fender Strat for years and I highly suggest checking out the Player Series Stratocaster if you are looking for a pro-level guitar at a very good price point. I think they have proven to be a big step up from the old MIMs.
And, like USA Fenders, you can choose between maple or rosewood fingerboards, HSS or SSS pickup configuration, and from an array of colors. There are also models available with a Floyd Rose tremolo and with pretty "plus" tops.
But for many players nothing but an American Fender, and for that you'll want to check out the American Original Series. These are pro guitars with premium components and vintage features that take us back to legendary designs of the past.
There is a reason the Stratocaster remains one of the best electric guitars of all time. At Fender, it seems the more things change the more they stay the same. If it ain't broke don't fix it, it seems. Fender is one of those brands that somehow manage to be both classic and cutting-edge at the same time.
Best Fender Electric Guitars
- Stratocaster
- Telecaster
- Jazzmaster
- Jaguar
- Mustang
Eric Clapton and the Fender Stratocaster
3. Martin
Martin is an American guitar company specializing in acoustic guitars. Most of their instruments are still built at their facility in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, and their legacy dates back all the way to 1833. Martin, in many ways, has helped to shape the look and sound of the American acoustic guitar. In fact, they invented the now-classic dreadnought shape in an effort to help American country musicians who wanted more projection out of their guitars onstage.
Martin makes some incredibly beautiful (and expensive) instruments like the D-28 and D-45, along with more affordable guitars that will fit into the budgets of up-and-coming players. It’s also worth noting that Martin is playing a big role in spearheading the effort to protect endangered forests by seeking out alternate tonewoods where possible.
The Martin DX1AE is an outstanding acoustic guitar for well under $1000, and it incorporates some environmentally-friendly build techniques. I grabbed one a while back and couldn't be happier with it. It sounds fantastic, with the kind of rich, full tone Martin dreadnoughts are known for.
Classic Martin Acoustic Guitars
- D-28
- D-18
- D-45
- D-35
4. Taylor
Taylor guitars are among the best in the world. This American guitar company makes some incredible acoustic guitar designs and a few cool electrics too. Taylor guitars don’t come cheap, but like Martin, they are worth every penny.
Taylor and Martin are really the upper echelons when it comes to American-made acoustic guitars. Like Martin, Taylor makes many acoustic and acoustic-electric instruments that find their way into the hands of professional musicians onstage. But they make a few that are more suited for working players as well.
Their 200-series is reasonably priced, and a great value for a Taylor guitar. They also make the Baby and Big Baby, and the GS Mini—smaller-bodied guitars perfect for intermediate players and beginners with a few extra bucks in their pockets. These are awesome acoustic guitars with a big sound. They might be small, but veteran guitar players love them for their tone and portability.