12 Best Electric Guitars for Classic Rock

If you love playing guitar on rock music from the ’60s through the ’90s, then Sweetwater has the perfect guitar for you. Whether you’re an aficionado of the British Invasion, blues rock, melodic hard rock, grunge, or some other genre from decades past, our Guitar Gallery is jam-packed with classic-rock tone machines designed to fit every style and budget. In this article, we’ll explore some of our favorite electric guitars for classic rock.

Note: At Sweetwater, we know there’s no such thing as “best” when it comes to music gear. Every player and artist has unique tastes, which is what makes selecting gear so fun! The items on this list feature some of our favorite products from top manufacturers to help you start your buying journey! Explore these recommendations and dive into Sweetwater’s massive collection of gear on our online store. For personalized picks and expert advice, please contact our knowledgeable Sweetwater Sales Engineers at (800) 222-4700!

Best Electric Guitars for Classic Rock Under $500Best Electric Guitars for Classic Rock Under $1,000Best Electric Guitars for Classic Rock Under $2,000Best Electric Guitars for Classic Rock over $2,000

Best Electric Guitars for Classic Rock Under $500

Epiphone SG Standard

For those about to rock

Whether you’re chasing Iommi-esque thunder, Angus-approved leads, or Thayil-style sludge, the Epiphone SG Standard is the perfect tool for the job. This electric guitar’s twin Alnico Classic PRO humbuckers deliver plenty of searing output, while its comfortable mahogany neck ensures fleet-fingered playability. Decked out in a handsome ebony finish, the SG Standard is a true rock ‘n’ roll classic with a recognizable look and a hard-hitting tone that screams, “I’m here to rock!”

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Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST

An alt-rock-worthy offset

If you’re an alt-rocker at heart, then you’ll appreciate everything the Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST has to offer. This solidbody electric is primed for everything from surf rock to shoegaze to indie rock with twin coil-split SQR Atomic humbuckers, and its roasted maple neck ensures easy playability and optimal sustain. This eye-grabbing axe features an offset-waist body with a gleaming Skyburst Metallic finish and lots of cool-looking chrome accents.

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Squier Classic Vibe ’60s Mustang

Catch that classic Mustang vibe

Nothing screams classic alternative rock louder — and prouder — than a Mustang, and the Squier Classic Vibe ’60s Mustang really delivers the goods. This offset beauty is built from a solid slab of poplar with a Sonic Blue finish that’s sure to garner many envious stares. Its smooth maple neck offers comfortable playability, and its Fender-Designed alnico single-coil pickups churn out crisp highs, ample midrange, and enough low-end growl to fuel your next punk-rock opus.

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Best Electric Guitars for Classic Rock Under $1,000

Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic Center Block Jr.

A semi-hollow classic rock machine

The Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic Center Block Jr. is your semi-hollow path to classic-rock bliss. This axe’s Black Top Broad’Tron humbucking pickups can not only pull off Stray Cats–style rockabilly with aplomb, but they can also pump out everything from AC/DC-inspired power chords to ska-punk trashiness without breaking a sweat. This versatile rock machine also includes a sustain-enhancing — and feedback-busting — center block plus an old-school Bigsby B70 vibrato tailpiece for added expression. The G5655TG’s Cadillac Green finish puts the perfect finishing touch on this rock-ready semi-hollowbody electric.

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Fender Player Stratocaster

This Strat begs to be played

Whether you’re a Clapton enthusiast or a Hendrix devotee, or you’re eager to unleash your pent-up Gilmour-isms, the Fender Player Stratocaster is the perfect vehicle for your forays into the land of classic-rock guitar heroics. This Strat exemplifies everything that makes this tried-and-true model a long-standing icon and then brings it squarely into the present. You’ll appreciate the playability of its fast-action, 22-fret roasted maple neck, and its three Player Series Alnico V Strat single-coil pickups supply you with all the legendary spank and sparkle you can handle. The Player Strat also boasts a Sweetwater-exclusive Sea Foam Green finish that’s guaranteed to attract attention.

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Best Electric Guitars for Classic Rock Under $2,000

Gibson Les Paul Special

A dead ringer for a sought-after classic

The Gibson Les Paul Special is your one-way ticket to primal rock ‘n’ roll fury. From Leslie West–style crunch to Live at Leeds–like bombast, this Les Paul is a serious classic-rock tone generator. This electric guitar’s P-90 pickups are ready to kick your amp in the teeth, while its lightweight mahogany-slab body offers the perfect blend of old-school Les Paul style and playing comfort. Given a nostalgic TV Yellow finish, the Les Paul Special will transform your riffs into pure thunder.

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G&L Fullerton Deluxe S-500

A classic design gets the Deluxe treatment

The G&L Fullerton Deluxe S-500 takes G&L’s most popular options and packs them into a classic-style solidbody electric that’s guaranteed to make any rock ‘n’ roll tone fiend jump for joy. A trio of Magnetic Field Design (MFD) single-coil pickups combines with G&L’s Passive Treble and Bass (PTB) tone circuit and a mini toggle switch to supply you with nearly every sonic texture under the sun. Dressed to kill in an eye-grabbing 3-tone Sunburst finish, the Fullerton Deluxe S-500 includes a rock-solid Dual-Fulcrum vibrato tailpiece.

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Reverend Roundhouse

A rock ‘n’ roll staple — with a twist

Modern players with a penchant for classic rock will love everything about the Reverend Roundhouse: it’s a lean, mean rock ‘n’ roll machine. This boutique-style axe boasts a traditional carved-top, set-neck design along with the slinky, relaxed feel afforded by a 24.75-inch scale length. The Roundhouse includes a comfortable 3-piece neck and an easy-playing rosewood fingerboard, plus a pumped-up set of HA5 humbuckers for fat, scorching tone that cleans up nicely via the guitar’s volume knob. A treble bleed circuit rounds out the electronics. Finally, the Roundhouse kicks as deftly as its name suggests, thanks to its gorgeous Violin Brown finish.

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D’Angelico Excel Mini DC

A semi-hollowbody with a heart of rock

Plug the D’Angelico Excel Mini DC into your favorite rock-voiced amplifier, and it will quickly dispel any notion that semi-hollowbody electric guitars are built for jazz. This semi-hollow brute features an all-maple body for a biting, resonant sound with truckloads of sustain, along with a solid center block for feedback-free rockin’. The Excel Mini DC’s Seymour Duncan humbuckers deliver the full gamut of tones, from Beatles-esque chime to Marr-style jangle to Neil Young-ian cacophony, and its comfortable 3-piece neck and smooth ebony fingerboard ensure an effortless playing experience. In addition to its gorgeous Vintage Natural finish, the D’Angelico Excel Mini DC includes head-turning mother-of-pearl split-block fingerboard inlays, multi-ply binding, a tortoise pickguard, a unique Skyscraper truss rod cover, and elegant gold hardware.

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Best Electric Guitars for Classic Rock over $2,000

Fender American Ultra Telecaster

A rock ‘n’ roll mainstay with modern appointments

If you’re aiming for true-to-life Springsteen, Townshend, or Richards guitar tones, then you gotta have a Tele. That’s where the Fender American Ultra Telecaster comes in. Its Ultra Noiseless Vintage Tele single-coil pickups deliver classic Tele punch and twang without any dreaded 60-cycle hum. What’s more, its “Modern D” neck profile and compound-radius fingerboard can tackle technical leads and full-tilt windmill strumming with equal aplomb. This high-end Tele includes a number of modern enhancements, such as ultra-reliable Fender Deluxe locking tuners and a super-slick Ultra Satin neck finish. The Fender American Ultra Telecaster features a road-ready poly finish and spotlight-stealing Texas Tea color.

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G&L CLF Research Doheny V12

Classic offset design meets modern performance

The G&L CLF Research Doheny V12 takes the classic offset-waist solidbody guitar and propels it into the future. This axe comes ready to rock with V12-style G&L MFD humbuckers along with versatile series/split/parallel mini toggles, enabling you to achieve just about any tone you hear in your head — from Woodstock to Lollapalooza and beyond. The CLF Research Doheny V12 offers stress-free tuning stability, thanks to a Dual-Fulcrum vibrato bridge designed by Leo Fender, and its Modern Classic neck profile ensures fast-and-easy hand maneuverability. The CLF Research Doheny V12 vaunts a classy yet severely rockin’ Alpine White finish.

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Gibson Les Paul Supreme

This Les Paul is the ultimate spotlight stealer

No matter how mighty your appetite for destruction might be, the Gibson Les Paul Supreme delivers a premier classic-rock playing experience. This Les Paul employs the time-tested maple/mahogany tonal recipe along with Burstbucker Pro humbuckers that teem with midrange muscle and sizzling overtones. A coil-split is also on hand, as are phase reversal and pure bypass options. Simply put, the Les Paul Supreme has all the tones. This electric guitar plays like a classic, as well, thanks to its SlimTaper neck and easy-playing compound-radius fingerboard. The Les Paul Supreme boasts all the high-end appointments you’d expect on a top-of-the-line Les Paul, such as a self-lubricating Graph Tech nut, an aluminum Nashville Tune-o-matic bridge, locking Grover Keystone tuners, and gold top hat knobs. Finally, when you step onstage, this Les Paul’s Trans Ebony Burst finish demonstrates that you mean business.

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Your Dream Guitar Is Only a Phone Call Away!

See something you like? Take a peek inside our Guitar Gallery, or give your Sweetwater Sales Engineer a call at (800) 222-4700. We’ll be happy to outfit you with the perfect guitar to fulfill your classic-rock dreams.
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