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The 10 Best Electric Guitars as of June 2026

Updated 18 June 2026 · Reviewed by the Pickarank team · Prices in GBP, subject to change

We compared the best electric guitars you can buy in 2026, scoring each out of 10 on performance, value, build quality and features. Here are the ten worth your money — with an at-a-glance table and the current best prices.

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Our top picks at a glance

Top pick

Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s

9.3Best premium
Check price on Amazon ≈ £2,500
Best value

Squier Classic Vibe 60s Strat

8.7Best budget
Check price on Amazon ≈ £400
Also great

Fender Player II Telecaster

9.0Best for twang
Check price on Amazon ≈ £700

Prices were correct at the time of writing and change often — tap through for today's price on Amazon.

How we ranked these electric guitars

Each pick earns a score out of 10 from weighted criteria:

  • Performance (35%) — how well each electric guitar does its core job.
  • Value (25%) — quality and features for the price.
  • Build & reliability (20%) — materials, longevity and warranty.
  • Features (20%) — meaningful extras that improve the experience.

At a glance: top 10 compared

#Electric GuitarsScoreBest forTypeApprox priceAmazon links
1Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s9.3Best premiumLP-style£2,500View Price
2Fender Player II Stratocaster9.1Best all-rounderS-style£700View Price
3PRS SE Custom 249.0Best modern versatileDouble-cut£900View Price
4Fender Player II Telecaster9.0Best for twangT-style£700View Price
5Epiphone Les Paul Standard 50s8.9Best for rockLP-style£550View Price
6Ibanez RG5508.9Best for metalSuperstrat£900View Price
7Yamaha Pacifica 112V8.7Best beginnerS-style£250View Price
8Squier Classic Vibe 60s Strat8.7Best budgetS-style£400View Price
9Gretsch G2622 Streamliner8.6Best semi-hollow valueSemi-hollow£450View Price
10Squier Sonic Stratocaster8.3Best ultra-budgetS-style£150View Price
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The full ranking

1
Best premium

Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s

9.3Our number one pick.

The Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s is the real thing, with rich, singing humbuckers, a slim-taper neck and the build and resale value that justify the price. It is a heavy investment, but it is a benchmark electric.

Sound: 9.4Playability: 9.2Build: 9.4Value: 8.4
Pros
  • Iconic, rich tone
  • Superb build
  • Holds its value
Cons
  • Expensive
  • Heavy
2
Best all-rounder

Fender Player II Stratocaster

9.1A superb runner-up.

The Fender Player II Stratocaster is the do-everything electric, with the classic chiming Strat tones, a comfortable modern neck and Mexican-made quality that holds up for years. It is not cheap, but it is a forever guitar that suits almost any style.

Sound: 9.0Playability: 9.2Build: 9.0Value: 8.8
Pros
  • Versatile classic tones
  • Comfortable neck
  • Built to last
Cons
  • Single-coils hum
  • Pricier than entry models
3
Best modern versatile

PRS SE Custom 24

9.0Rounds out our top three.

The PRS SE Custom 24 is a brilliantly versatile modern electric, with coil-splitting for single-coil sounds, a fast neck and flawless build at a sensible price. It suits everything from funk to metal.

Sound: 9.0Playability: 9.2Build: 9.2Value: 9.0
Pros
  • Hugely versatile
  • Flawless build
  • Fast neck
Cons
  • Not a vintage voice
  • Gloss neck divides opinion
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4
Best for twang

Fender Player II Telecaster

9.0A standout in the upper half.

The Fender Player II Telecaster delivers the cutting twang and rock-solid simplicity that has made the Tele a country, indie and rock staple for 70 years. It is more single-purpose than a Strat, but that classic bite is addictive.

Sound: 9.0Playability: 9.0Build: 9.0Value: 8.8
Pros
  • Classic cutting twang
  • Simple and reliable
  • Built to last
Cons
  • Less versatile than a Strat
  • Single-coil hum
5
Best for rock

Epiphone Les Paul Standard 50s

8.9A well-rounded mid-table pick.

The Epiphone Les Paul Standard 50s delivers fat, sustaining humbucker tone and the iconic look for a fraction of a Gibson, with build that has improved hugely in recent years. It is heavy, but for rock and blues it is superb value.

Sound: 9.0Playability: 8.8Build: 8.8Value: 9.2
Pros
  • Fat, sustaining tone
  • Iconic looks
  • Great value
Cons
  • Heavy
  • Setup may need tweaking
6
Best for metal

Ibanez RG550

8.9Great value in the middle of the pack.

The Ibanez RG550 is the shredder's choice, with a thin, fast Wizard neck, hot pickups and a locking tremolo built for high-gain playing and dive bombs. It is specialised, but for metal and technical playing it is superb.

Sound: 8.8Playability: 9.4Build: 9.0Value: 8.8
Pros
  • Ultra-fast neck
  • Built for high gain
  • Stable locking trem
Cons
  • Floating trem is fiddly
  • Specialised voice
7
Best beginner

Yamaha Pacifica 112V

8.7A dependable pick if the price is right.

The Yamaha Pacifica 112V is the beginner electric teachers recommend most, with an HSS pickup layout for versatility, reliable hardware and a comfortable neck. It is plain, but it plays and sounds well above its price.

Sound: 8.6Playability: 8.8Build: 8.8Value: 9.4
Pros
  • Versatile HSS layout
  • Reliable build
  • Brilliant value
Cons
  • Plain looks
  • Basic pickups
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8
Best budget

Squier Classic Vibe 60s Strat

8.7Solid, if outshone by pricier rivals.

Squier's Classic Vibe 60s Stratocaster is the budget electric that genuinely plays and sounds like a far pricier guitar, with vintage-voiced pickups and a lovely neck. It is the smartest first 'real' electric you can buy.

Sound: 8.6Playability: 8.8Build: 8.6Value: 9.4
Pros
  • Punches above its price
  • Lovely neck
  • Vintage tones
Cons
  • Budget hardware
  • Single-coil hum
9
Best semi-hollow value

Gretsch G2622 Streamliner

8.6A budget-friendly option worth a look.

The Gretsch G2622 Streamliner brings jangly semi-hollow character and retro looks at an accessible price, great for indie, rockabilly and jazz-tinged tones. It can feed back at high gain, but its voice is distinctive and charming.

Sound: 8.6Playability: 8.6Build: 8.4Value: 9.0
Pros
  • Distinctive jangly tone
  • Stylish looks
  • Good value
Cons
  • Feedback at high gain
  • Larger body
10
Best ultra-budget

Squier Sonic Stratocaster

8.3Rounds out our top ten.

The Squier Sonic Stratocaster is about the cheapest playable Strat going, a perfectly decent first electric for kids and absolute beginners. It needs a setup and the hardware is basic, but for the money it is a fine starting point.

Sound: 8.0Playability: 8.4Build: 8.0Value: 9.2
Pros
  • Very cheap
  • Decent first electric
  • Light
Cons
  • Basic hardware
  • Needs a setup
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Frequently asked questions

What's the best of the electric guitars in 2026?

Our top overall pick is the Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s, which leads on our combined score for performance, value and features. The Fender Player II Stratocaster and PRS SE Custom 24 are excellent alternatives depending on budget and needs.

How did we choose these?

We weight performance, value, build quality and features, drawing on hands-on use and independent testing. See the methodology box above for the full breakdown.

Are these prices accurate?

Prices are approximate UK figures at the time of writing and change frequently. Click through to Amazon for the current price.

The bottom line

If you just want the best electric guitars without overthinking it, the Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s is our top recommendation — it earns the highest overall score for performance, value and features. Have a look at the current price and see what you think.

Check price on Amazon ≈ £2,500

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