Best Professional Guitar Reviews 2020

Picking the right guitar is an essential step at the beginning of your career as a guitarist. For this review, we have selected some of the most sophisticated and renowned guitars to create a mixture of types and prices. The review includes a few beginner guitars that will make your learning process easy and fun, as well as a couple of guitars that are more suitable for professional players. The following five guitars come from some of the best guitar brands on the market today, and they will spark a passion for this instrument!

Overview

PROS

CONS

SPECS

Type

Body Info

Neck/Fret

Finishes

Size

Our Top Choice

EVH Striped Series Stratocaster Electric Guitar

EVH makes high-end musical equipment such as electric guitars, amplifiers, and others. its products are renowned worldwide for their reliability.

Available in 3 colors. Impressive sound quality. Visually striking design. Durable construction.

Isolated complaints that the tone of the guitar is average, but this usually depends on how you tune the strings.

Electric Guitar

Basswood

Quartersawn maple neck

3 colors available

15 x 41 x 4.25 in

Best Value

Epiphone Standard Plus-Top Pro Electric Guitar

Epiphone is one of the most important names in the guitar industry and its products are widely used by multiple professional musicians.

Superb sound quality. Attractive design. Limited lifetime warranty. High-quality construction.

Slighty pricy, but it is a collector's item.

Electric Guitar

Mahogany

Rosewood fretboard

Heritage Cherry Sunburst

17 x 7 x 44 in

Martin Guitar BCPA4 Acoustic Electric Bass Guitar

Martin is a prestigious manufacturer of acoustic and electric guitars with decades of experience in the business.

Excellent sound quality and solid construction. Great for beginners and professionals alike. Top manufacturer.

Some customers complained that unplugged it doesn’t sound that good, but such opinions are always subjective.

Acoustic Electric Bass Guitar

J-14 Fret Cutaway

Select Hardwood neck

Natural

54.2 x 21 x 9.5 inches

Schecter Stiletto Custom-4

Schecter sells acoustic and electric guitars in different price points. Its products are well-crafted and visually attractive at the same time.

2 colors available. Left and right hand versions available. Attractive design. Lightweight and easy to use.

Minor complaints regarding the tone of the bass, but remember that the strings can be tuned according to your preferences.

Electric Bass

Laminated wood

Maple/Walnut Multi-ply Neck

2 color options

48.4 x 17.3 x 4.3 inches

Fender Sonoran™ SCE Acoustic Electric Guitar

Fender is a worldwide manufacturer of acoustic and electric guitars. Its products are used by professional musicians as well as beginner guitarists.

Excellent build quality. Good value for money. Attractive design. Comes with onboard preamp and tuner.

Doesn’t come with a case, but you can buy one separately at an affordable price.

Acoustic Electric Guitar

Laminated and solid wood

Maple neck, Rosewood fretboard

Natural

42.5 x 6 x 17 inches

(Updated May 9, 2018)

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How Do I Choose the Best Professional Guitar?

According to the IFPI Global Music Report for 2017, the music industry raked in 15.7 billion dollars in revenues. Whoa! That’s a head-spinning figure, right? It seems that learning how to play the keyboard, strum a harp or rock that guitar could have you smiling all the way to the bank. Rock stars are among the highest-paid musicians; most are top-notch guitarists. Owning a professional guitar is the first step towards perfecting your skills as a guitarist.

There are various types of professional guitars; the two most common ones are acoustic and electric guitars. When it comes to guitar brands, you have plenty of choices at your disposal such as Gibson, Fender, Yamaha, Taylor Guitars, and Ibanez, just to name a few. The Ibanez JEM70V Steve Vai Signature is actually a popular one these days, but there are plenty of other interesting options. Personal preference plays a major role in one’s pick when it comes to guitar shopping. Depending on your level of skills, you may lean towards a particular version of a professional guitar. At a professional level, it’s highly likely that you have had experience for some time, so you may know what works for you and what may not favor you.

That said, you need to pick the best professional guitar out there so that you may comfortably strum the right notes. You will generally find that guitars designed for professional use have a certain level of sophistication that appeals to most guitarists. The most important consideration before deciding on a particular instrument is what kind of music you want to play. Knowing this will help you choose between acoustic and electric. It’s worth noting that you can also get a combination of both electric and acoustic guitars, which offers you a wide array of versatility when it comes to music.

Price

Feeling like a rock star by owning a professional guitar doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. The price range of a professional guitar depends on a number of factors. Low-entry professional guitars usually cost less than $600, mid-range ones can cost between $600 and $900 while high-end professional guitars (usually used by famous guitarists in some cases) can cost more than $900, maybe close to $2,000. Guitars that have a combination of acoustic and electric versions tend to be pricier than those that come in only one version. You will find high-end instruments that have sophistication imprinted on them. These may be custom made to your needs using expensive materials that often drive the price up.

In your quest for good tunes, you will come across cheap professional guitars which we would like to discourage you from getting. It’s common to find that these instruments are an imitation of the original guitars and often lack an impeccable sound quality. Therefore, investing in such instruments will for sure not give you value for your money.

Features

Here are the important features to look out for before adding that professional guitar to your shopping cart:

Type -You will find three types of professional guitars: acoustic, electric and a combination of both.
Body -The most common material used to make the body is wood, which can be of different types, such as spruce, mahogany and even laminated wood.
Neck -The fret board is an important part of the guitar, and the materials used to make it greatly influence the quality of sound produced.
Finishes -The most common kind of finish is the natural look, but you may also find other types, such as sea foam and glossy finish.
Size -This is an important consideration because the size determines how comfortable you will be when playing.

Construction and Design

We will look at several factors that are common in the design of a professional guitar; these components will help you understand how the instrument functions. Let’s look at the following three things:

Material Different parts of the guitar use different materials. For example, the body may be made of mahogany or spruce wood. The reason wood is commonly used is because it’s appealing to the eyes, light in weight, and if treated well, may last for a very long time.
Accessories As the music world evolves, the design of guitars is also changing to accommodate accessories such as jacks and headphones to help you connect better with your instrument. You may also find that some manufacturers have included a carrying case and a chord book to enhance your experience.
Bridge Another important part of the construction of a professional guitar is the bridge, which is where the arm rests as you play. There’s usually a lot that goes on around this part, such as the tie block, which acts as the terminator of the instrument’s strings.

Performance and Ease of Use

The resonance of a professional guitar is what determines its performance. Resonance depends on factors such as the shape of the instrument and the type of wood used to make it. To get the best quality of sound from your guitar, you have to ensure that the resonance is right. The nature of the strings also determines the satisfaction you get from your guitar, in that thin strings have a much lower volume compared to medium strings.

Most professional guitars don’t require any installation or setting up. You just need to tune your instrument in order to start playing and making good music. In terms of maintenance, it’s important to keep your instrument from moisture, since most are made of wood, which may warp. It’s also important to store your guitar in a case once you are done playing in order to prevent dust from accumulating.

What is the Best Professional Guitar?

When picking a guitar, you must take into account your budget, but also what type of music you want to play. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to ask a professional guitarist to help you choose a good guitar for your needs. In this review, we strove to provide a great guitar for almost everyone, so let's start with the first one, an astonishing model from Ibanez!

Our Top Choice

The EVH Striped Series Stratocaster Electric Guitar is available in 3 different design options and it makes a powerful, groovy sound which helps you captivate your audience instantly! If you want a similar guitar, but in a black finish, check out the EVH Wolfgang Special which is equally powerful and inspiring.

EVH Striped Series Stratocaster Electric Guitar – 3 Color Options Available

EVH Professional Guitar 5107902576 – White/Black

Features

EVH is another professional brand which makes superb guitars featuring visually striking designs. This company puts an emphasis on making guitars with stripes in different colors, mainly inspired by the famous guitarist Van Halen. Apart from guitars, EVH also makes guitar amplifiers and similar accessories which will help you take your musical skills to the next level.

The EVH Striped Series Stratocaster Electric Guitar is available in 3 color options such as white with black stripes, red with black stripes and black with yellow stripes. It has a basswood body and a Floyd Rose locking nut which greatly improves the quality of the sound. This guitar looks great in the hands of both professional and beginner players and it produces a striking, profoundly inspiring sound. It has 6 strings and a maple neck and fretboard which are carefully put together by the EVH specialists. Its dimensions are 41 x 15 x 4.2 inches and it remains one of the most visually striking and powerful guitar money can buy today. Whether you buy it for yourself or offer it as a gift, it will definitely make a big difference in the long run.

If you prefer a different color scheme, check out the other professional guitars from EVH.

Best Value

The Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plus-Top Pro Electric Guitar is a popular gift idea and a superb musical instrument which produces a beautiful, vibrating and deep sound. If you prefer semi-hollowbody electric guitars, check out the Tom Delonge Electric Guitar from the same brand.

Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plus-Top Pro Electric Guitar with Coil-Tapping, Limited Lifetime Warranty

Epiphone Professional Guitar ENLPHSNH1 - Heritage Cherry Sunburst

Features

Since 1879 when Epiphone has entered the guitar-making scene, it has produced numerous masterpieces that have thrilled millions of fans and inspired thousands of professional artists. Epiphone definitely knows how to make a good guitar and we couldn’t have a complete list without including one of their products in our review.

The Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plus-Top Pro Electric Guitar comes with the popular Epiphone ProBucker 2 and ProBucker 3 pickups and it is made from a combination of high-quality woods such as rosewood for the fretboard and mahogany for the neck. It is ideal for different types of musical genres and it comes with a reassuring limited lifetime warranty period which is secured by the popular 24/7/365 Gibson Customer Service. The guitar also incorporates a Tune-O-Matic guitar bridge system and in the hands of a professional, this musical instrument is pure gold! Its dimensions are 17 x 7 x 44 in and it has a beautiful cherry sunburst finish which makes it stand out from the crowd. Whether you're a professional or a beginner guitarist, this model will definitely excite you to the bone!

If you have other preferences, make sure you take a look at the other guitars made by Epiphone!

The Martin BCPA4 is an excellent acoustic/electric bass guitar made from a great combination of woods such as Sitka Spruce, Hardwood, East Indian Rosewood and more. It makes a deep, powerful and amazing sound. If you prefer a standard acoustic/electric guitar, then take a look at the Martin DCPA4 guitar.

Martin Guitar Electro-Acoustic Bass Guitar with Fishman F1 Analog Electronics and White Corian Headstock

Martin Rock Star Guitar 10BCPA4 - Natural

Features

Martin is a guitar-making brand that has been producing musical instruments for more than 175 years. The experts behind this company have revolutionized the design of regular guitars by coming up with innovations such as X bracing or the 14-fret guitar. Such improvements are now standard in most modern guitars.

For our list, we have picked the Martin BCPA4 guitar because it is an excellent acoustic/electric bass guitar, one of the most appreciated on the market today.

Let's find out a couple of features related to this amazing guitar.

Equipped with onboard Fishman electronics, helping enhancing the quality of the sound
Whether you plug it in or not, this guitar makes a deep, true-to-life bass sound that can make your stomach vibrate
Comes with a hardshell case which will protect your guitar during trips
Adjust the volume and the tone of the sound using simple rotary controls situated on the side of the guitar

Before wrapping it up, we want to mention that Martin makes excellent acoustic as well as electric guitars and sells them at reasonable prices. This brand even has a comprehensive line of guitar care products that are useful for prolonging the lifespan of your musical instrument.

If you would like to explore more buying options, check out the other guitars made by Martin! You'll be spoilt for choice.

The Stiletto Custom-4 Electric Bass Guitar from Schecter is available in 2 color options and for both right handed and left handed guitarists. It features a stunning design and is suitable for multiple musical genres. If you want a bass guitar which works best in the studio, check out the Stiletto Studio-4 Electric Bass from the same manufacturer.

Schecter Stiletto Custom-4 Electric Bass – 2 Colors, Left and Right Handed Versions Available

Schecter Professional Guitar - Natural Satin

Features

Schecter specializes in bass guitars and it is one of the most popular and appreciated guitar brands in the world. Apart from electric and acoustic guitars, this company also makes hard shells and gig bags, guitar amplifiers and multiple other accessories. It sells its products worldwide and many famous artists love to play with a Schecter guitar, so why shouldn’t you have one?

For example, let's take a look at the Custom-4 Electric Bass Guitar from Schecter. This product is available in 2 color options such as natural satin and vampyer red satin. Best of all, the guitar is available in 2 versions, for left and right handed people alike. It comes with satin gold hardware and it has 4 strings as any other respectable electric bass guitar out there.

The overall construction is sublime as Schecter used a combination of maple and walnut for the neck. The body is made from laminated wood and it features a S-TEK bridge system. Once you get this guitar into your hands, you'll immediately know you have a quality product at your disposal and the sound it produces is deep and groovy, suitable for multiple musical genres including rock, blues, pop, and others.

If you'd like to explore more options, check out the other amazing guitars from Schecter!

The Sonoran SCE Acoustic Electric Guitar from Fender is a carefully-crafted guitar that produces a wonderful, warm sound and comes with an eye-catching natural finish. If you want to be a bass player and want a professional guitar suitable for your skills, check out the Fender Standard Precision Electric Bass Guitar.

Fender Sonoran SCE Electro-Acoustic Guitar with 20 Frets, Scalloped X Bracing and Active Onboard Preamp

Fender Rock Star Guitar 0968604021 - Natural

Features

You don’t have to be a professional guitarist to know that Fender is one of the most popular and renowned guitar companies in the world. This brand produces top-quality acoustic and electric guitars or acoustic/electric ones. We really wanted to pick a great, beautifully-crafted and attractive electro-acoustic guitar, which we have found in the Fender Sonoran SCE.

Let's explore some of the most important features of this amazing musical instrument.

A tight Dreadnought cutaway body shape makes it practical, easy to carry and easy to play
Produces a warm, vibrant and melodious sound which can instantly capture the attention of your audience
Fishman Isys III pickup system comes with an active onboard preamplifier and tuner
Maple neck
Features a dual-action trussrod and 20 frets
6 strings with bone string nuts that can be easily adjusted to create different types of sounds

Remember that if you want a good-quality guitar that can easily last for years and produce a bright, vibrant sound, then you can count on a product from Fender. This brand makes a multitude of guitars for beginners as well as professional players and many famous bands use Fender guitars during their concerts.

If you are not decided yet, check out the other acoustic/electric guitars made by Fender!

Get the Best Professional Guitar of 2020!

Hopefully, by now you have set your sights upon one of these five instruments which are some of the best professional guitars out there. Buy your preferred guitar before they run out of stock because the sooner you start playing, the better it will be for your musical career!

Our Top Choice

EVH Striped Series Stratocaster Electric Guitar

Best Value

Epiphone Standard Plus-Top Pro Electric Guitar

Martin Guitar BCPA4 Acoustic Electric Bass Guitar

Schecter Stiletto Custom-4

Fender Sonoran™ SCE Acoustic Electric Guitar