TOP 10 - Guitars
Choosing the electric or acoustic guitar that's right for you has become an art form. The materials used in construction, the inlays and other appointments or even just searching through the guitars of a manufacturer you trust will lead you to many possible options. So whether you're more of a tone connoisseur, appearance based purchaser or a brand loyalist; we at AMS are here to help with the following rundown of the more notable manufacturers of solid body and acoustic guitars that may help narrow down the instrument you seek.
Some of the biggest names in the business, Fender Electric Guitars are likely the most played solidbodies available in the last 60 years. Offering well revered models including the
Telecaster,
Stratocaster,
Jazzmaster,
Jaguar and
Mustang body styles each with a variety of pickup combinations, construction materials and finishes. A favorite among jazz and blues players as well as rockstars old and new, Fender Electric Guitars are an incredible asset to players of all influences.
Although better known for their solidbody models, Fender Acoustic Guitars are well loved by acoustic players due to their solid, durable design, excellent tone and their natural appearance. Fender offers many affordable entry level acoustics for beginners to help players make their first steps into playing and songwriting.
From their landmark
Les Paul models to their distinct
SG and
Flying V body styles, Gibson Solidbody Electric Guitars are notorious rock guitars played by rock legends including Slash, Angus Young and Jimi Hendrix. If you're looking for something with more soul, Gibson's Semi-hollow ES models have long been a staple for blues and country artists. Innovative humbucker designs, implementing the dependable Tune-O-Matic bridge several models and limitless support from players and fans has helped Gibson has stayed on top for over 50 years.
Gibson Acoustic Guitars have a history far longer than their solidbody counterparts, seeing as how Gibson started as a mandolin manufacturer it seems a perfect fit. With countless signature models for artists including John Lennon and Elvis Presley, Gibson acoustics are well designed using choice resonant tops with a fully complimenting back and side material. Featuring a variety of models from the Hummingbird dreadnought to the Jumbo and Super Jumbo acoustics, Gibson supplies numerous acoustics as diverse as the guitarists who love Gibson.
A long standing adversary to American Electric Guitar manufacturers, Ibanez has held it's own through thick and thin immerging as a titan of guitar production. Backed by visionary guitarists like Steve Vai and Joe Satriani, Ibanez has become a highly regarded manufacturer of fast playing guitar virtuosos who like to play fast and without boundaries. Ibanez Prestige models offer highly figurative models with incredible appointments while their Gio line supplies beginners with excellent entry level instruments for those starting on the road to rock stardom.
Incredible and unique body styles are abundant in the Ibanez Acoustic Guitar line. The Ibanez Exotic Wood models provide elegant natural guitars are made from gorgeous, renewable woods to make an acoustic that looks as good as it sounds. The thin bodied Talman is the answer for the player who wants an acoustic that plays more like an electric. Ibanez also offers JamPack acoustic packages that offer an acoustic that comes with all the accessories needed for beginner players at an exceptional price.
From the beginner to the professional, Yamaha has been making incredible sounding guitars with flawless playability and stunning looks for more than 60 years. Yamaha presents the total solution for the beginner with the Gigmaker Packages. The Yamaha EZ AG Acoustic has a fretboard with lighted bars to guide your fingers to the proper chord positions, with no strings, no sore fingers. In addition, Yamaha offers a huge range of Classical Acoustic Guitars crafted from the finest material.
Yamaha Acoustic Electric Guitars offer unparalleled amplified sound together with comfort and control. They are the perfect recipe for the studio or live performance. The Yamaha APX500 Acoustic Electric places emphasis on playability with a stylish thin profile that fits the musician's body. The Yamaha FGX730SC Acoustic Electric is part of Yamaha's FG acoustic guitars series and the company's longest running range of guitars.
Taylor Electric Guitars consist of the acclaimed Acoustic Electric series that provide exceptional acoustic tone with advanced electronics that will make any amplifier or PA system sing. Created with the same hand-crafted care that goes into their Acoustic Electrics, the Taylor Solidbody Electric guitars combine the highest quality woods with absolutely ingenious hardware for a fit that feels perfect in your hands. From country to rock, jazz to classical, Taylor Electric Guitars will surly produce the sound in your head for everyone to hear.
Taylor Acoustic Guitars represent decades of painstaking research into the art of acoustic guitar production. Used by some of the world's top artists, Taylor acoustic guitars are known for their classic tone and effortless playability. Available in multiple product lines to suite any budget, these guitars use select tone woods such as Indian Rosewood, Big Leaf Maple, and solid Sitka Spruce to conjure up the acoustic sound so many have been searching for so long. Whether you choose a Grand Auditorium, Dreadnought, or Grand Symphony, a Taylor Acoustic Guitar will become a mainstay in your arsenal for a long time to come.
Providing incredible acoustic designs for the top players around, Martin has made its place in the hearts and minds of guitarists everywhere. Meticulously built with high quality appointments, bracing and quality solid tops; these American made instruments go above and beyond your standard acoustics. Martin has a lot to offer, from their dreadnought D-series, orchestra OM models along with their distinct 00, 000 bodies and even smaller scale Travel and Little Martin acoustics.
Teaming their incredible acoustic models with preamps and pickups designed by Fishman and Roland, Martin knows incredible guitar tone and who to trust to translate that to an unrivaled amplified experience. Artists know and love Martin Guitars and they've shown their support throughout the years by continuing to play their guitars. Some of notable Martin Players include Johnny Cash, Eric Clapton, John Mayer and Beck. Martin continues to deliver a lifetime of impressive acoustic electric guitars that players love to play.
From their Masterbilt line of acoustics, to their outstanding dreadnought and jumbo bodies, Epiphone Acoustic Guitars feed the need for solid performance with a reasonable price. Featuring body styles made famous by their counterpart, Gibson, Epiphone models include the revered Dove and Hummingbird acoustics played by renowned artists worldwide. From their John Lennon and Elvis Presley signatures to their entry level Players packages, Epiphone has opened up the possibilities for affordable acoustics with dependable features.
Epiphone Electric Guitars are for anyone who loves Gibson body-styles from Les Pauls, to SGs, from Firebirds to Flying Vs. Epiphone provides affordable electrics built to Gibson specifications using great sounding pickups, excellent wood choices and often utilizing the pairing of a Tune O Matic bridge with a stopbar tailpiece to ensure dependable tuning and sustain. The hollowbody Dot models and eccentric Prophecy bodies add additional choices to this growing line of exceptional electric guitars.
With incredible guitar manufacturing designed for hard rock and metal, Dean Electric Guitars took the world by storm in the early 80s played by metal's top acts. These high-octane, heavy output guitar designs took the world by storm in the early days of MTV and in no time every long haired thrash rock enthusiast made it their goal to have one. Easily recognizable by their Dean Wings Headstock logo and insane body styles, Dean offers incredible signature models for notable metal guitarists including Dave Mustaine and Dimebag Darrell.
Offering models from their entry-level, short-scale playmate to the Exotica exotic wood acoustics, Dean acoustic guitars are impressive, feature packed acoustic guitars that keep both the player and affordability in mind. The MLCoustic model is an incredible blend between Dean's outrageous electric guitar body design blended with acoustic features that you can play anywhere, while the Performer models supply well pronounced presence with electronics that make for incredible acoustic electric performance guitars.
Started in 1883, Washburn's Acoustic guitars were in the right place at the right time. In the 1920s, Chicago based Washburn guitars became synonymous with the delta blues guitar style that would heavily influence the up and coming rock and roll explosion as their manufacturing site was located right in the neighborhood at the time. Washburn's D10 Acoustic comes in many forms and is highly regarded as the go to acoustic for affordability, dependability and tonality. Owning a Washburn acoustic is like owning a slice of history.
Loved by blues and metal players, Chicago based Washburn Guitars have a 120 year history of manufacturing top quality instruments for players. Providing innovation in guitar design that includes the Buzz-Feiten tuning system, Washburn has proven its place in history by giving players what they want, playable and tonal instruments. Offering signature models for rock guitar legends from Nuno Bettencourt to Paul Stanley to Dimebag for a period, Washburn is known and loved by artists who trust their ability to deliver quality instruments.
From their entry level instruments to signature models, Takamine Acoustic Electric Guitars are feature packed instruments that sound incredible. Once a year Takamine offers a Limited Edition model providing top-quality materials paired with the best preamp and pickup combo available at its release, usually with art depicting some form of astronomy or nature. On the opposite end of the spectrum Takamine Jasmine models provide low-cost, dependable, entry level acoustics electrics for beginners that rival other acoustics in their price range.
Affordable yet astounding, Takamine Acoustic Guitars have had 40+ year history of innovation that has led players around the world to marvel at their impressive acoustics. Started as a family business in Shakashita, Japan near Takamine Mountain, Takamine Acoustics offer incredible detail blended with projective top and body combinations to make instruments for the whole world to enjoy. Loved by folk, country and blues legends, Takamine has provided signature models for several artists including Glenn Frey and Kenny Chesney.