15 Best Electric Guitar Brands In The World

In this article, we are talking about some of the best electric guitar brands or best electric guitar companies in the world.

I am going to list 15 guitar brands in the world that are famous and well-renowned globally. These guitars, or music instrument manufacturers, are highly acclaimed and loved for their electric guitars.

Disclaimer: -This is not a ranking list as all of these brands are great and what brand someone likes is a completely personal preference.

Best Electric Guitar Brands In The World

Here is a list of 15 Best Electric Guitar Brands In The World:

• Gibson And Epiphone
• Fender and Fender Squire
• PRS
• Ibanez
• ESP LTD
• Ernieball Music Man
• Strandberg
• Suhr
• Schecter
• Hagstrom
• Kiesel
• Rickenbacker
• Gretsch Guitars
• Charvel
• Cort

Gibson

Founded in 1894 and headquartered in Nashville, TN, Gibson Brands has a legacy of world-class craftsmanship, legendary music partnerships, and progressive product evolution that is unrivalled among musical instrument companies.

Gibson is known for its Les Paul electric guitars, which are played by several known artists. Gibson acoustic guitars are also highly acclaimed and renowned.

Famous budget brands like Epiphone guitars, Kramer Guitars are also owned by Gibson.

Founded: 1894

Country Of Origin: USA

Some Famous Artist Playing Gibson

• Slash
• Kirk Hammett
• Zakk Wylde
• Angus Young
• Adam Jones

• Dave Grohl

Companies Owned By Gibson

• Epiphone — Music Instruments
• Kramer — Guitars
• Steinberger — Guitars
• KRK — Pro Audio
• Mesa Boogie — Amplifiers

Fender

Fender is the world's largest guitar manufacturer. With an illustrious history dating back to 1946, Fender has touched and transformed music worldwide and in nearly every genre: rock ‘n’ roll, country and western, jazz, rhythm and blues and many others.

Fender is well renowned for its Stratocaster and Telecaster electric guitars. Fender is also known for its bass guitars and amplifiers.

The budget line of fender guitars is called Squier and is owned by Fender. Fender also owns other guitar brands like Gretsch Guitars, EVH Guitars, Jackson Guitars and Charvel Guitars.

Founded: 1940s

Country Of Origin: USA

Some Famous Artist Playing Fender

• David Gilmour
• Kurt Cobain
• Jimi Hendrix
• Eric Clapton
• Jonny Greenwood
• John Frusciante

Companies Owned By Fender

• Gretsch — Guitars
• Jackson — Guitars
• Charvel — Music Instruments
• EVH - Music Instruments

PRS

PRS guitars are highly acclaimed for their superior craftsmanship. PRS guitars are a work of art with beautiful colours and inlays. They sound unique and play brilliantly.

PRS SE series electric guitars line is most renowned among its line-up. PRS is also famous for its bass guitars, acoustic guitars and amplifiers. 

Founded: 1985

Country Of Origin: USA

Some Famous Artist Playing PRS

• Carlos Santana
• John Mayer
• Mark Tremonti
• Steven Wilson
• Andrew Goddard
• Mark Hosking

Ibanez

Ibanez is a well-renowned Japanese guitar brand. Ibanez guitars are famous among rock and metal musicians. Ibanez's guitars are known for their value for money and great playability.

Ibanez is well renowned for its RG series, Iron Label and Prestige electric guitars. Ibanez is also famous for its bass guitars, effect pedals and amplifiers. Tube screamer is one of the highest-selling overdrive pedals from Ibanez.

The budget line of Ibanez guitars is known as Ibanez Gio.

Founded: 1908

Country Of Origin: Japan

Some Famous Artist Playing Ibanez

• Joe Satriani
• Steve Vai
• Paul Gilbert
• Munky
• Tom Quayle
• Andy Timmons

ESP LTD

ESP LTD guitars are one of my personal favourites. ESP guitars are famous among rock and metal musicians. These guitars are known for their great built, shred necks and value for money.

ESP is the high-end guitar line. LTD is the affordable budget line.

ESP LTD is well renowned for its EC series, Horizon series and Arrow electric guitars.

ESP guitars own Takamine Guitars (known for their well-built acoustic guitars) and ENGL Amplifiers.

Founded: 1975

Country Of Origin: Japan

Some Famous Artist Playing ESP

• Alexi Laiho
• Brian Welch
• James Hetfield
• Jeff Hanneman
• Nergal
• Stephen Carpenter

Companies Owned By ESP

• Takamine - Acoustic Guitars
• ENGL - Amplifiers

Ernieball Music Man

Music Man guitars are played by guitar virtuosos like John Petrucci, Steve Morse, Adam Levine and many more big names. Music Man Guitars. Ernie Ball Music Man guitars are renowned for playability, beauty and consistency.

The budget Friendly brand of Music Man guitars is called Sterling. Both Sterling and Music Man Guitars are a great value for the price.

Founded: 1974

Country Of Origin: USA

Some Famous Artist Playing Ernieball Music Man

• John Petrucci
• Albert Lee
• Steve Morse
• Adam Levine

Strandberg

Strandberg is known for its unique headless guitars. Strandberg guitars look small and compact, yet they are versatile and offer great playability.

Strandberg Original and Prog electric guitars line are most renowned among players. Strandberg is also known for its headless bass guitars.

Founded: 1982

Country Of Origin: Sweden

Some Famous Artist Playing Strandberg

• Plini
• Per Nilsson
• Ben Kenny
• Paul Masvidal

Suhr

Suhr guitars are handcrafted by some of the most experienced craftsmen.  Suhr guitars are known for their unique tone and great craftsmanship. Played by artists like Mateus Asato, Pete Thorn, these guitars are some of the highest quality guitars you can buy.

Suhr is also known for its tube amps, cabs, pickups and pedals.

Founded: 1997

Country Of Origin: USA

Some Famous Artist Playing Suhr

• Mateus Asato
• Scorr Henderson
• Pete Thorn
• Andy Wood
• Ian Thornley

Schecter

Schecter Guitars and basses appeal to a broad spectrum of players and diverse musical styles. Schecter's guitars are high-quality guitars at an affordable price. There is a huge line-up of Schecter guitars, and you are bound to find one that will fit your budget and playing style. 

Founded: 1976

Country Of Origin: USA

Some Famous Artist Playing Schecter

• Synyster Gates
• Nikki Sixx
• Paul Wiley
• Dan Donegan
• Jerry Horton

Hagstrom

Hagstrom guitars were a huge hit in the early rock era and were played by some of the biggest names like Frank Zappa, David Bowie, John Lennon, and Elvis Presley. Hagstrom guitars have lost their popularity in the modern age but are still one of the best value for money guitars one can buy. 

Hagstrom Swede series guitars are their most famous and loved. If you get a chance to play these guitars, do not miss it. You will love the tone, build,  playability and value for money that Hagstrom guitars offer.

Founded: 1920s

Country Of Origin: Sweden

Some Famous Artist Playing Hagstrom

• Pat Smear
• Justin York
• Todd Kerns
• Wisborg

Kiesel

Kiesel Guitars are premium custom guitars made in the USA. All guitars that Kiesel offers can be customized according to your requirements. You can build a guitar with your specs for as low as USD1300 which is just amazing value for money. 

All Kiesel guitars are well-built, plays like a charm and are unique.

Founded: 1985

Country Of Origin: USA

Some Famous Artist Playing Kiesel

• Aaron Patrick
• Andy James
• Allan Holdsworth
• Brian Bromberg

Rickenbacker

Rickenbacker is a string instrument manufacturer based in Santa Ana, California. The company is credited as the first known maker of electric guitars — a steel guitar in 1932 — and today produces a range of electric guitars and basses.

Rickenbacker guitars became famous when members of The Beatles and Pink Floyd started using them.

Founded: 1930s

Country Of Origin: USA

Some Famous Artist Playing/Who Played Rickenbacker

• John Lennon
• George Harrison
• Tom Petty
• Johnny Marr

Gretsch Guitars

Gretsch guitars started in 1883 and are to date famous among jazz and blues musicians. In 2002 Gretsch guitars was acquired by Fender guitars.

Founded: 1883

Country Of Origin: USA

Some Famous Artist Playing Gretsch

• Bono
• Billy Duff
• Brian Setzer
• Tom Petersson

Charvel

Charvel has offered innovative and original guitar models with the very best in high-performance design and features. With the modern-era DK24 platform, several new remarkable artist models, and the time-honoured San Dimas and So-Cal models, Charvel continues to forge a very bright high-performance future for guitarists everywhere.

Founded: 1970s

Country Of Origin: USA

Some Famous Artist Playing Chravel

• Rick Graham
• Guthrie Govan
• Joe Duplantier

Cort

Cort has been a guitar-making brand for more than 50 years. Cort guitars also manufacture music instruments for other big brand names. They are a global instrument manufacturer that produces and exports more than one million guitars and 300,000 amplifiers per year worldwide.

Founded: 1973

Country Of Origin: South Korea

Some Famous Artist Playing Cort

• Jim Triggs
• Greg Curbow
• Larry Coryell
• Matt Murphy

Check out the best guitar brands in the world that manufacture both acoustic and electric guitars.

If you are a beginner and wish to learn guitar, check out my free beginner guitar course.