The Best Electric Guitar
The most consistently praised do-everything electric: studio-grade build, coil-splitting versatility, and a price that undercuts the legends. · Updated June 26, 2026
PRS SE Custom 24
$899Buy on Amazon
★star.shop pickReddit favorite
Pros
- Famously consistent build quality straight out of the box — minimal setup needed compared to similarly priced Fenders or Epiphones
- Genuinely versatile: 24 frets, twin humbuckers with a 5-way coil-splitting switch covers everything from clean single-coil chime to thick rock and metal
- Holds its value extremely well and earns compliments even from non-guitarists thanks to its figured-maple top
- Punches well above its price — repeatedly described as a guitar you can keep for your entire life as a musician
- Better pickups, tuners, neck radius and feel than most mid-budget rivals in head-to-head Reddit comparisons
Cons
- Standard (nickel) frets wear faster than the stainless-steel frets on rivals like the Yamaha Revstar
- Not the cheapest entry point — a Sire S5 or Yamaha Pacifica gets a beginner playing for a fraction of the price
- The 24-fret, slightly modern feel won't satisfy purists chasing a vintage Strat or Tele vibe
Minor nitpicks
- No carbon-fiber neck reinforcement, which the Revstar offers as a stability/BIFL feature
- Bolt-on neck and set construction mean it's not as trivially 'parts-swappable' as a Fender for the BIFL crowd
The other picks
- r/BuyItForLifeFender American Vintage / American Original Stratocaster — The classic 'as BIFL as it gets' choice — easily repaired, bolt-on neck, holds value, decades of proven longevity
- r/BuyItForLifeYamaha Revstar Standard — Stainless-steel frets and carbon-reinforced neck make it the strongest pure buy-it-for-life pick
- RedditSterling by Music Man Cutlass — Cited as the best-made, best-sounding electric some players have owned; Music Man survives heavy use better than any other brand
- RedditSuhr Classic S — The boutique 'best Strat out there' pick for those willing to pay considerably more