by Philip Brown

Created on: April 18, 2008

I am creating this list of the best guitar brands based on their overall playability and quality per dollar. I chose big name manufacturers that make both high priced and low priced instruments so that the list is equally helpful to a beginner looking for their first guitar or a seasoned player looking for a top quality instrument.

1. Dean

Whether you are looking for your first instrument or one with custom shop quality Dean is a great company to start with. I find the Dean V headstock to be one of the most resonant designs and it truly gives the guitar a richer tone. They offer both traditional and radical body shapes and even their cheapest import guitars play with a great action and have a quality fit and finish. My favorites are the Dean Z (Gibson explorer shape) and the V. They just have big beefy necks and sound amazing. I look at Dean as a kind of higher quality per dollar Gibson.

2. Jackson

Another company with lots of radical shapes and a lineup consisting of both budget priced and custom shop instruments. Most Jackson guitars have a wide and thin neck which I find very comfortable to play. They offer many "super-strat" and V body styles. Jackson is another company that makes solid import models that are almost as good as their professional quality stuff. I have probably played my Rhoads V more that any other guitar I own.

3. BC Rich

If you are looking for a cheap guitar with a radical body style BC Rich is a good bet. While their low end imports have been cluttering the market their higher end guitars are of amazing quality and playability. More unique instruments for the player looking to make a visual statement.

4. Ernie Ball / Musicman

I find that Ernie Ball guitars are extremely versatile. I played in a cover band with just one guitar (axis sport model) and had no trouble replicating the sound of any style of music. They have smaller sized necks which are very easy to play and the oiled finish on the neck beats a painted neck for playability any day. Ernie Ball does not have low end import guitars so you will have to spend a bit of money to attain one but they are a great value for what they are.

5. Hamer

Probably most famous for the over the top (5 neck!) guitars built for Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick, Hamer makes a wide variety of instruments that are all of good quality and playability. I like their standard model the best which is shaped like a Gibson Explorer.

You may have noticed that I left out both Fender and Gibson. Besides the fact that both already receive plenty of hype and attention, I feel that Gibson guitars are generally overpriced for what they are, which does not mean that they are bad guitars, just that Gibson charges a lot for their name and I feel that in most cases you can get a better guitar for less money. Fender is better with value per dollar but I feel that some of their lower end import models are really hit and miss with playability and fit and finish.

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