THE BEAST

Best Guitars For Metal Guitarists

By Shawn Leonhardt for Guitar Tricks and 30 Day Singer

If you want to play metal guitar there are a handful of models and makes that will be perfect for both beginner guitar players and advanced players. There are certain aspects of the build that will be important for playing heavy metal, but for the most part there aren’t many rules. The best metal guitar for you will be the one that looks great, fits your budget, and has fantastic reviews!

What Makes a Guitar Great For Metal?

The style of playing heavy metal is more important than the model of the instrument, however some things make the genre easier. First off, solid body wood is the best for size and sound, rarely do you see hollow or semi-hollow bodies (there would be way too much feedback). It is also important to have a slender neck profile as you will be playing arpeggios and shreds at fast rates. A wide radius will also help with this single note playing. Next time you’re on a guitar lesson , check out the neck width and radius.

Humbucker pickups are preferred as they provide a thicker sound, and there are a variety of ways to make those humbuckers now. In heavy metal the sound isn’t just from the pickups, our amps and pedals will also make a big difference so make sure to budget for a metal appropriate amplifier and other effects units.

If you still aren’t sure what the best guitar is for metal, look at what your favorite hard rock bands use. If you have a low budget, stick to a popular model that you like the looks of, if your budget is higher you can be a little pickier about your fretboard shape and materials. If you are just learning to play guitar , you might need to try a few makes/models out in order to learn what you like. Either way all these guitars below will work great for the genre!

Best Guitars For Metal Guitarists

Below are the most common names in heavy metal guitars and a couple models from each depending on your budget.

Jackson 

Jackson was an independent brand once, but now it is owned by Fender. It is one of the top names in metal guitars. The Jackson Rhoads JS32T is an excellent budget model in a flying V shape. The humbuckers are ceramic and the body is simply mahogany with a neck made for shredding and playing guitar chords . This guitar is affordable and it clearly looks the part!

The Jackson JS Series King V is also affordable and a V shape, or if you want a more expensive guitar you can try the Jackson X Series Soloist.

ESP LTD 

ESP is a Japanese company started in 1975 and well-known for great metal axes. The 1000 series models are around $1000 and perfect for higher budgets. The wood is just simple mahogany but the real magic lies in the Seymour Duncan and Pegasus pickups along with the locking tuners, bridge, and tailpiece. The only downside of this guitar is that it doesn’t look that metal! Other than the side tip this guitar has a more normal electric look.

The ESP LTD MH-203QM is better for those who want this brand but are on a budget. Or the ESP M10 is about as low budget as metal guitars come!

Ibanez

This is another Japanese company that is known for its great metal guitars, the RGA42M is one of many budget options with this company. It is simply mahogany wood with Quantum pickups, otherwise there is nothing too unique about this guitar. The best part is how it looks, it has a sleek design with two points and great color. If you want to spend under $500 for a guitar that looks the part, this will do. 

You can also try the Ibanez RG550 for twice the budget or if you need something cheaper the RG6003FM is under $400.

B.C. Rich 

This is an American maker that mostly specializes in metal guitars, here we have the Stranger Things Eddies Limited Edition. The specs on this guitar are much the same as the others, the reason it stands out is the wild design. This model is not cheap, almost reaching $1000.

If you want something fancy, the Mockingbird Extreme from B.C. Rich is exotic, colorful, and has wild shapes!

Dean

This is another American manufacturer known for making a variety of guitars, but the most famous would likely be the ones Dimebag Darrell played. The Razorback DB has a modest budget and looks pretty sick if you want something very metal. If you don’t like that shape there are many others including the Dean ZX with an actual Floyd Rose Tremolo system for extra string squealing!

Epiphone 

This company can trace its roots back far, in modern times it is part of the Gibson line. The Epiphone Explorer has that classic pointy body that started in the 1970’s, it looks like a guitar just for metal! It is around $700 and is made of mahogany and uses Probucker humbuckers, basically most guitarists will be getting this for the shape and look.

You can also play an Epiphone Les Paul Custom Limited Edition if you want a more classic looking axe. It still has two humbuckers and will work great for metal.

Solar 

Swedish guitarist Ola Englund started his own metal guitar making company known as Solar if you want something different than the normal brands. He makes them in all shapes and styles, one great model is the Solar V 1.7, which has 7 strings and a flying V shape. 

For those who want these style of guitars but have a lower budget the A 2 models are in the process of being released and look to be more affordable.

Schecter

Schecter is an American company that originally made parts for Fender and Gibson, now they produce great instruments themselves. If you need more than 6 strings on a budget, the Omen-8 is a great deal. Granted humbuckers with 8 strings can make for some overly heavy output, but some metal guitarists like that! 

The Reaper 7 is a similar guitar but with 7 strings, or if you want a lower budget and just 6 strings you can do the SGR Demon 6.

Fender

Fender doesn’t look like a classic heavy metal guitar if you want something a little different. The Jim Root Jazzmaster uses customized EMG humbuckers to get that Slipknot style metal sound. However any Jazzmaster models will not be cheap, so this is best for those with higher budgets!

For half the price you can also get a Fender Squire Paranormal Baritone or they have several Squire and Stratocaster models that have pickups more appropriate for metal.

Charvel

This is another brand that was once on its own, associated with Jackson, and now under the umbrella of Fender instruments. So while it may have unique designs it is going to be made under similar circumstances as Jackson and other Fenders. The Joe Duplantier San Dimas Style 2 is about medium budget with a simple rounded body that looks like its owning company.

There is also a Pro-Mod of this same guitar brand for those with higher budgets.

There you have a few great companies, models, and makes for the best heavy metal guitars. If you have a lot to spend then it’s good to take your time and really get into the details of the guitar, otherwise the budget options have all the features you will need. At the end of the day, pick what looks nice and buy it! If you want to shred and solo like a proper heavy metal guitarist you will need to practice all the time