American brand guitars. The quality of an electric guitar depending on the country of origin

In this article we will look at a number of well-known manufacturers of musical instruments. Of course, we will not look at all existing factories, but only those that have already gained a foothold in the Russian market and have earned at least some kind of reputation. Brands will be excluded from the review Gibson And Fender because There are many separate voluminous articles about these titans of guitar building, and I think there is no point in mentioning their significance once again.

Adams - a Chinese company, supposedly with Canadian roots. Indeed, the Canadian company of the same name exists and is quite successful, but apparently with a Chinese Adams has nothing in common. Despite the very sonorous (hinting towards the West) name, they do not stand out in anything special and are typical Chinese consumer goods. Closely associated with famous electric and bass guitars Rockwill, the same ones who by Adams.

Admira – affordable Spanish guitars in the mid-price range. Guitars from this factory are well suited for student and amateur purposes. Of course, there are professional products, but they are extremely rare.

Alhambra is a well-known Spanish factory that deals mainly with classical guitars, and just a little bit with the production of strings of the same name, cases and other small items. Founded in 1965, in the small Spanish town of Alicante. I don’t think it’s worth talking about the Spanish quality of guitars, it is almost impeccable, as is the sound of such instruments. Alhambra's prices are moderate, and the range is wide, ranging from inexpensive models to professional-level instruments.

A. Amati is a fairly common Chinese brand of musical instruments. Despite their origin, guitars Amati in most cases, they are made very carefully and in their characteristics are comparable to those loved by beginning guitarists Martinez. As a first guitar and for learning basic acoustic playing skills, the Amati is quite suitable.

Aria - originally a Japanese brand with a claim to legend, founded in 1953. The company's heyday was in the mid-70s, the last Japanese guitar was released in 1988, and later most of the production moved to Korea. Currently they are engaged in almost all types of guitars, including ethnic musical instruments, but are known primarily for their electric guitars. Nothing particularly stands out, the products range from budget models to professional ones. They haven’t come up with any innovations; all products are typical copies of products from more “fussy” competitors.

Ashtone - typical extremely cheap student guitars from the Middle Kingdom. With quality, everything is as usual - you can find either a decent tool, or one that will fall apart in a couple of months. What else can you say... “Ashtons” have been on the market for quite some time, at the very least they have proven themselves and their products can certainly be considered as the first budget guitar.

B.C. Rich – a recognizable brand of electric guitars, with a characteristic design a la “Made in Hell”. These guitars can be seen in the hands of many famous musicians playing in the heaviest genres of rock music. Originally an American brand, it experienced a difficult time of financial decline and poor quality in the 80s. Currently, most of the guitars presented in the CIS are made in China and Korea with a very decent level of quality, electronics and a characteristic “knocked down” metal sound. As the first student guitar B.C. Rich They are completely unsuitable (it is impossible to play comfortably while sitting with such guitars), but on stage, as a complement to the image of the “guy from hell”, such guitars are simply a godsend!

Burny – division Fernandes. Japanese manufacturer of not the cheapest musical instruments. All instruments are of traditionally high Japanese quality and traditionally accurately copy the products Gibson with minor differences.

Brahner – another confusing name for typically Chinese guitars, which by the way are very, very cheap. They are found everywhere and do not stand out in anything special, except perhaps for their extremely low price. If you are going to buy such a guitar, then you need to choose it very carefully.

Baton Rouge – very picturesque, or as they say now, creative guitars, (mostly pop acoustics) of the advanced amateur class. Guitars are created in China under “someone’s” professional guidance (either from the USA or from Germany, it is not specified on their website) have a very bright individual appearance and are a high-quality, factory-made product made from classic types of wood. The brand is very young (1999), but already quite well-known and popular in Europe, and this says a lot...

Caraya – it is unknown when and where the brand of Chinese guitars came from. They produce everything from classics to bass guitars. The range is very wide, the prices are very low, and therefore you need to choose very carefully, and it is better to generally pay attention to more reputable manufacturers.

Carvin is a little-known American brand that dates back to 1947. In addition to developing and selling their products, they engaged in “part-time work”, i.e. selling musical instruments to more successful competitors, for example C. F. Martin & Company. Despite the fact that all this time they remained in the shadow of their more successful colleagues, they managed to earn their positive reputation. Nowadays they deal mainly with electric guitars of a very high quality level. We have our own Custom Shop department, which takes into account all the customer’s wishes. Their prices are not the lowest, but, as you know, individuality cannot be cheap.

Caparison – a young Japanese brand (1995) of musical instruments. They showed a number of innovative and design solutions in their products. At first they seemed to work exclusively for the domestic market, but a little later they remembered that the world is not limited to Japan and went to conquer Europe. One thing can be said about the product – it is of exceptionally high quality.

Cort is one of the largest manufacturers of musical instruments in the world. All products have already gained a positive reputation due to low prices and good quality. Most of the production is concentrated in South Korea, famous primarily for their electric guitars and acoustics. In my opinion, it is the acoustics that stand out, since they have a very good ratio of appearance/price/quality and sound. The situation with budget electric guitars is a little different; you need to look at them more carefully, although they also have a good balance of quality. All products are clearly recommended for use.

Colombo – (former Skylark) are engaged in the production of perhaps the cheapest guitars and save on almost everything. Only on their guitars can you find frankly yellow and untreated frets made of soft brass. That is, essentially Colombo shows what guitars should NOT be. Despite all the shortcomings of their guitars, they can still be called preferable to domestic guitars or some left-handed noname.

Crafter is a very well-known manufacturer of professional musical instruments, dating back to 1972. Crafters can be seen in the hands of many famous musicians and this is absolutely no coincidence; their products are valued for their high quality, excellent acoustic characteristics and, not surprisingly... reasonable prices. They value their reputation, and therefore all products are manufactured exclusively in Korea under strict quality control. You can also see electric guitars in their product line, but they are not as popular as pop acoustics.

Dean – (Dean Guitars) is a well-known and original American manufacturer of musical instruments since 1976. There are many different types of guitars made, mainly for the "heavy stage". They appeared in Russia recently, around 2007. The company itself has experienced many internal discords, but has overcome all the problems and is currently quite successful and popular. A number of famous Western musicians play their instruments, and among domestic ones - Vladimir Kholostinin (Aria).

Ernail - a Chinese sharaga who rivets guitars using stencils Phil Pro, Rockwill one to one, without even changing colors. Of course, nothing special stands out, and guitars from this manufacturer must be chosen very carefully.

Epiphone - originally a manufacturer of musical instruments, founded in the city of Izmir (Turkey) back in 1873! In 1957, Gibson bought this company and made it its subsidiary. Currently, Epiphone successfully sells budget, Chinese Les Floors to everyone in need, and I must say it sells successfully. But what’s interesting is that reviews of their products vary greatly, some people absolutely love these Les Pauls, others, on the contrary, consider these guitars completely unacceptable, the rest is up to you to decide.

ESP is a famous Japanese musical instrument manufacturing company that recently celebrated its 30th anniversary. It is interesting, first of all, for its budget electric guitars, which have enviable quality and good sound characteristics. A number of famous musicians, such as Richard Kruspe (Rammstein) and James Hetfield (Metallica), use such guitars at their concerts and in recording studios. Most of the production is concentrated in Indonesia and China. Overall products ESP it is of very high quality, without pretense of elitism and enjoys well-deserved popularity.

Eurofon - an openly Chinese manufacturer who traditionally wants to be European. From personal experience I can say that the strings produced by Eurofon are the apogee of ugliness and low quality.

Flight is a Chinese manufacturer of quite passable musical instruments. At all Flight is already practically synonymous with the expression “student guitar”. Their guitars can certainly be considered as a first instrument (only carefully) and there are a number of reasons for this - low prices, acceptable quality and good sound. The assortment is very diverse - classical guitars, pop, electric and bass guitars. In general, “Flights” are not the worst consumer goods that meet the requirements of a beginning musician.

Furch – (in the USA they are known as Stonebridge) is a lesser-known Czech manufacturer of musical instruments than Strunal, but more advanced. Their product line includes everything from semi-professional level to real professional studio tools. In similar products to Strunal they stand out for their even higher price and correspondingly high quality. The acoustics of the Fürch are so good that they can easily compete with the products of Martin and Taylor. But overall, still a high-quality product Furch purely on his lover and admirer, who, of course, will always be found.

Freeway - Chinese manufacturer of budget guitars. With quality, as always, everything is difficult, you need to choose carefully, but their prices are very affordable and attractive. But again, you should buy this still untested and young factory only for lack of a better one in the same price category ( Amati, Flight, Martinez)

Godin – for 40 years of existence, Canadian company Godin became so famous that it practically became on a par with such giants as Martin And Taylor. All products are mostly professional and semi-professional in nature and are sold at a reasonable price (even low, with an incomparably high level of quality!). They value their reputation and therefore do not launch production in Asia. All products are manufactured exclusively in Canada and the USA from high-quality wood.

Guild is a company that rightfully closes the top three manufacturers of American acoustics ( Martin, Taylor, Guild). Although some will begin to be indignant at why Gibson is not in this trio, this is a separate story about the quality of acoustics from Gibson. So, Guild has an extensive history of making guitars since 1952, is very well known in professional circles and is currently owned by Fender. All products are of the highest quality and are intended for studio and concert needs. On guitars Guild played by many world-famous musicians who appreciated their magnificent sound and bright appearance.

Greg Bennett – good budget and beautiful guitars (mostly acoustics) from the Korean Samik ( Samick). Of course, there can be no talk of amazing quality and noble sound here, but as a budget guitar that emphasizes and complements the individuality of a provincial musician, Greg Bennenta is the one :)

Hohner - ubiquitous guitars that traditionally boast of their German origins. But they have enough German for exactly one name, otherwise it is typical Chinese consumer goods (still, as if under a German license) with questionable quality at the moment (2011). Just a couple of years ago they were distinguished by a very decent and stable level of quality, Now with the latter everything is very sad. There are a lot of defects among “Honers” and therefore, if you decide to purchase this “German of Chinese origin”, you will need to look carefully, otherwise you can complicate your life...

Hora – Romanian, original and very experienced (1951) manufacturer of musical instruments. They produce everything from violins (by the way, hi-end level ~3 thousand euros) to national musical instruments. They even produce electric and bass guitars, but they don’t stand out in any way, unlike the same classical and acoustic “Chora” instruments. But the latter are very interesting; at a price comparable to Chinese instruments, they are made on the spot, through the use of high-quality Carpathian wood and solid top decks. But not everything is as glorious in this kingdom and, unfortunately, the quality of the instruments is not as encouraging as we would like. You need to choose carefully, sometimes you come across a defect, and the instruments themselves are made using cheap fittings...

Hofner is a modest German company with solid experience (since 1887) and its own original ideas in guitar making, which, admittedly, have not become widespread. Most of the musical instruments produced are professional and represent first-class products. This is regarding production in Germany, and Chinese Hofners are comparable in quality and sound to their fellow countrymen-competitors Hohner, with the only difference being that they are less known.

Ibanez - the leading Japanese (despite the clearly Spanish name) company in the production of musical instruments throughout the world on an equal footing with Jackson And ESP. Without exaggeration, it has the widest range of bass and electric guitars. Perhaps the first real contender for legend after Fender and Gibson. Many famous musicians play Ibanez guitars, including Steve Vai and Joe Satriani. Everything is supplied to the market, from the most budget and inexpensive to the most advanced and professional guitars. The quality of the guitars also varies; if everything is clear with Japanese professional “Aibanez”, then cheap guitar models from the Middle Kingdom may raise some questions.

Jackson – is one of the valiant Japanese top three of the best ( Ibanez, Jackson, ESP). Currently owned by Fender. Most of the guitars presented in the CIS are made in India with very good quality, and the most advanced models are made in their historical homeland.

Kramer – initially a promising American brand of musical instruments, dating back to the 70s of the last century. Subsequently, something didn’t work out and the original Kramer “glued the fins together”; later they were bought up by the guys from Gibson, and then were completely abandoned. The history of Kramir is very confusing and incomprehensible, but one thing is clear that all modern inexpensive Kramer's on sale are nothing more than replicas of original products and naturally made in China...

Madeira - a Chinese brand, which, according to some sources, is closely related to the Romanian brand Hora (coincidence in models and their names, although perhaps this is a “different Madeira"). Unexpectedly of very good quality and very good building performance, so to speak. I personally felt these guitars, the quality impressions were very, very positive, but the sound of these guitars did not stand out at all compared to other Chinese ones...

Martin - fully C.F. Martin & Company, without exaggeration, the number one manufacturer of acoustic instruments in the world. The products are the most perfect, in absolutely every way. The history of “Martin” began in 1796 and is worthy of a separate voluminous article; I will only say that the guys from “Martin” finally paid attention to the market for budget guitars. Now any mortal can afford a Martin dreadnought not for $3-4 thousand, but at the divine price of 10-12 thousand rubles. Of course, such a guitar will be made entirely of musical laminate, but in the end it will be a legendary Martin and it will undoubtedly sound!

Martinez is a Chinese brand that has firmly and permanently gained a foothold in our market in the early 90s. Guitars are ubiquitous, stand out for their low price and very interesting sound for this very price. Nowadays, the Chinese have become lazy and the quality has dropped somewhat, so that the products of this “people's brand” should now be chosen more carefully. Despite the promising and suggestive name, it has nothing in common with Spain, much less with the original Martin'om don't have...

Phil Pro is another ubiquitous manufacturer of musical instruments. Many online stores present Phil Pro products as purely Korean, although the production itself has long since moved to the Middle Kingdom. The quality is naturally different, some praise it, while others outright spit it. It can be considered as a first guitar, but only for lack of a better one, otherwise with a bad guitar you can get a complete lack of “musical motivation”...

Rockwill by Adams – Chinese products suspiciously resembling products Phil Pro. See more details. Adams.

Schecter is a little-known American company that does not disdain producing its instruments in Asia. They are similar in quality to budget (and slightly higher) Aybanez guitars, although they differ from the latter in their greater “love” for good fittings and a more affordable price. For beginner guitarists, this is it.

Skylark - renamed to Colombo.

Stagg is a well-known brand of budget musical instruments along with Phil Pro. In general, everything that has been said about Phil Pro will be fair in relation to Stagg's.

Strunal – aka Cremona. Czech manufacturer of musical instruments in the style of the German guitar school. The products of Strunal, unlike the neighboring Furch, cannot be called professional; they are rather amateur instruments. All guitars are, first of all, famous for their indestructibility, so when buying a Strunal guitar, you can count on the fact that it will serve you not for a year or two, but for many decades. The “Strings” are also not deprived of accessories, although the necks of the budget line of guitars could have been processed better. But the whole appeal of guitars Strunal it’s lost when you see their price... a couple of years ago “Strunaly” were much cheaper, and the purchase then was more justified than now...

Takamine – a common brand of professional acoustic guitars in the musical environment. Almost a “Japanese Martin”, by the way, they even had some disagreements with “Martin” due to the obvious similarity of the products. The company was founded back in 1968 and produces exclusively high-quality products at exceptionally high prices.

Taylor - American titan of guitar making. Initially, all products were positioned as “analogs of Martins, only at a more reasonable price.” Currently, this principle has long been in the dustbin of history, and guitars Taylor having high-quality acoustic characteristics similar to Martins... they ask for the same high price.

Washburn is an American brand that dates back to 1883. Known primarily for their high-quality and inexpensive electric guitars from Asia, of course, there are American-made guitars, but they do not have the same price appeal as Asian ones. All of the guitars produced in the lower price range are perfect for beginners and already practicing guitarists.

Yamaha - a famous Japanese concern for the production of anything and everything. But in this case, they are interesting with their guitars. To begin with, I would like to highlight the quality with which these guitars are made - it is very, very good, one might say indicative, even for budget instruments. In the guitar product line Yamaha Anyone can find anything for themselves - from a traveling musician to a fierce professional, and that, I think, says it all. The product is definitely recommended for use.

Zombie is a common high-budget Chinese brand of musical instruments for those who don’t have enough for “something better.” Most Zombie electric guitars boast obvious “jambs” in quality and an extremely low price. The sound of such guitars also does not stand out in any way and is only suitable for a beginner guitarist for the first year.

The history of the Martin company began in 1796, when its founder, Christian Frederick Martin, was born. Christian was the successor of a line of guitar makers. Therefore, he did not have to think long about choosing a specialty - he became acquainted with guitars literally at the moment of birth, and already at the age of 15 he went to Vienna to study with the most famous master of those years, John Stoffer.

Within a few years, young Martin was in charge of Stoffer’s entire workshop. And a little later, Martin, already the father of the family, returned to his hometown and opened his own workshop. But then failures began to haunt him - the fact is that in those years all artisans had to belong to the appropriate trade union organizations in order to receive large orders. The infighting between these organizations and the impossibility of receiving large orders was the reason that in 1833 the Martin family moved from Germany to America and settled in New York, where Martin opened his first factory.

But the Martin family didn't like New York. They were accustomed to a calm, measured life, and the crazy rush of the Big Apple mixed with dirt and crime was not at all to their liking. In 1838, Martin moved to Pennsylvania and built a factory there. The small town with the historical name of Nazareth in the state of Pennsylvania is perhaps only known today for the fact that the world-famous Martin factory is located there...

Since then, for many generations, Martin's descendants have firmly held the lead in the world market as manufacturers of the most popular and high-quality instruments. They own almost all the innovations in guitar making. It was they who came up with a system of cross (x-shaped) fastening of springs, which at the beginning of the century made it possible to effectively use metal strings.

They were the first who, back in 1929, having lengthened the scale of the instrument, proposed attaching the neck to the box at the 14th fret, and not at the 12th, as is customary in classical guitars. And finally, they are responsible for the development of the famous hull shape - "Dreadnought" - which they invented for the Ditson company back in 1916 and went into mass production in 1931.

In other words, what we call a "Western" today was almost entirely developed by Martin.

Taylor

Takamine

Guild

Strunal (formerly Cremona)

Czech music workshops under the general name “Cremona” have been operating since 1946, there were more than two hundred and fifty of them in total. The first instruments produced under the Cremona brand were violins (from the eighteenth century). Acoustic guitars were added in the twentieth century.
In the Soviet Union, the Cremona brand guitar was always considered a high quality instrument. It was strikingly different from the instruments produced, for example, at the Leningrad Musical Instruments Factory, but was quite affordable. Even now, after the reorganization of the factory, when guitars are produced under the Strunal brand, the name “Cremona” is associated with quality. According to some professionals, the guitars from this factory are not inferior to Spanish ones, but are more durable, since the climate of their homeland - the Czech Republic - is closer to the Russian climate than the Spanish one. Durability and strength even made it possible to install metal strings on classical (!) guitars.
After the collapse of the USSR, the factory survived, the model range was updated. Unfortunately, we had to abandon the well-known and recognizable name “Cremona”, since this is the name of one of the provinces in Italy, famous for its violin makers. Now the factory is called “Strunal”.
The neck fastening of guitars from this factory is made according to the so-called “Austrian” scheme, which gives the instrument additional strength. Due to design differences, the sound of the Strunal differs from the acoustics of classical Spanish guitars.
Currently, more than two dozen models of classical “Strunal” guitars are produced, in addition, the factory produces acoustic guitars “Western” and “Jumbo” (about one and a half dozen models). Among the Strunal guitars you can find six-, nine- and twelve-string models.
Every year, Strunal produces more than 50 thousand acoustic guitars, 20 thousand violins, 3 thousand cellos and 2 thousand double basses.

Gibson

Gibson is an American manufacturer of musical instruments. Best known as a manufacturer of electric guitars.
Founded in 1902 by Orville Gibson, they were one of the first to produce solid body guitars, which are now simply known as "electric guitars." The principles of manufacturing solid-body guitars and pickups were brought to the company by the musician Les Paul (full name Lester William Polfus), after whom one of the most popular series of guitars was subsequently named.
In the 60s - 70s of the twentieth century, it gained enormous popularity thanks to the rise of rock music. Gibson Les Paul and Gibson SG guitars became the main flagships of this company. To this day, they remain one of the best-selling electric guitars in the world.
Original Gibson Les Paul Standard electric guitars from the 1950s are now worth over hundreds of thousands of dollars and are coveted by collectors.
Some artists who play/have played the Gibson: Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, Angus Young, Chet Atkins, Tony Iommi, Johnny Cash, BB King, Gary Moore, Kirk Hammett, Slash, Zach Wild, Armstrong, Billie Joe, Malakian, Daron.

Furch

Another musical instrument factory is located in the Czech Republic - Furch. It was founded by master Frantisek Fürch. This factory, which grew out of a small musical workshop, is distinguished by the fact that it has never produced low-quality consumer instruments at a low price. Acoustic guitars “Furch” are known in Russia and Europe, and the American market is now being developed. The first instruments produced at the factory were wok guitars, later they began making dreadnought and jumbo instruments. As a rule, the finishing of instruments is not luxurious, but, at the request of the customer, the factory craftsmen decorate the guitars with inlays.

Fender

The founder of the Fender company, Leo Fender, created his musical empire in 1946 in the USA, California. In 2007, Fender acquired the Kaman music corporation. Among the products manufactured by the company are acoustic and electric guitars and musical equipment.

Landola

In 1942, the Landola musical instrument factory opened in western Finland. Since the fifties, guitars have been exported to Europe and North America. This company produces only expensive high-quality instruments, applying the results of research in acoustics, as well as using the technology of artificial aging of wood. As a result of such processing, even a new guitar sounds like it has been “seasoned” and “played”. For musicians, owning a Landola guitar is not only professional, but also image-based and status-based.

Ibanez

Ibanez guitars are made in the USA, however, the trademark owner is the Japanese company Hoshino Gakki. The name “Ibanez” itself appeared in Spain (Salvador Ibanez guitars); in Japan, production under this brand began in 1957. Like Gibson, Ibanez electric guitars are better known than acoustic ones.

HOHNER

The German company HOHNER has actually existed since 1857. However, throughout its history it was known as a manufacturer of wind reed instruments - especially harmonicas. It is not known exactly who and why came up with the idea of ​​making guitars under her brand, but this man has already earned a lot of money...

Moreover, in the late 90s, the Hohner HC-06 guitar seriously “reformatted” the music market in Russia, putting an end to the supply of low-quality, nameless guitars from China. It became simply pointless to import them: the HC-06 cost the same, and in terms of acoustics even the Czech Strunal was supported from below. After the appearance of the HC-06 model, Russian craftsmen specially dissected this guitar to understand why it plays so well. We didn’t find any secrets, just precisely selected (cheap) materials and a correctly assembled body...

Almost all Hohner branded guitars are made in China. Technology and quality control are excellent. It is almost impossible to find a defective Hohner.

However, it should be understood that miracles do not happen. And you can make a cheap guitar only from very ephemeral materials. Therefore, one cannot expect longevity from the HC-06. This is a TRAINING guitar that will faithfully serve for 1-2 years (if you don’t ruin it with metal strings, of course). And then, if the student does not quit classes, he will in any case need an instrument of a higher class. Sometimes NS-06s live longer, but in general they don’t have to...

In addition to very cheap classic models, many different guitars are known under the Hohner brand, most of which are also made in China.

ADAMS

These guitars are made in China under license from the Canadian company ADAMS. And they are made very decently - both in design and materials. These guitars have a good price/quality ratio.

Among ADAMS there are both very cheap instruments for beginners and guitars that can successfully fight with Hohner and Martinez.

WANDERER

Wanderer guitars are made in a small workshop in the city of Izhevsk. Historically, it originated at the Izhevsk Guitar Factory and made “improved” versions of factory guitars, we have seen them. But for several years now, the workshop has spun off from the plant and is working completely independently.

The production is very original, although not as exotic as Sharov’s workshop in Ulan-Ude. The materials used are the most affordable ones - mainly birch and birch veneer. But the tuners on most guitars are not Russian, but inexpensive imported. There are also solid soundboards, although the majority of guitars have a laminated soundboard. The guitars are painted very well. For its price, the appearance of the Wanderer is a solid five, cooler than any Chinese. All guitar models are made with metal strings only. Structurally it is made of condo, but very durable. The main thing is that these guitars are not at all similar to the products of Russian factories; they are a completely different class of work. People's hands are sharpened normally, even if the materials are cheap...

The main highlight of these guitars is the wide neck on all models. The necks are non-convex, flat, approximately 50mm wide at the nut. The material is birch, the handle of the neck is glued together from several parts, the fretboard is also birch, tinted. The necks are glued in, with an anchor.

The main purpose of these guitars is consumable and travel. Recommended for experienced PCB employees. Very suitable guitars for “carrying” because they are durable, loud and picturesque in appearance. Their price is higher than regular factory ones, but comparable to cheap Chinese ones. And in terms of durability and sound, Wanderer is definitely better.

Corsa

This is about the same as ADAMS, but cheaper and made in a nearby factory. Typical budget Chinese guitars for educational purposes.

The FG-180 model is especially fun. This is the cheapest Ovation body guitar known. To save money, they even made the neck without a fingerboard. EQ 2-band passive. But for its price it is very well done.

AMATI

Despite the strange name, which refers to jokes about Stradivarius drums, AMATI are very decent inexpensive guitars of Chinese origin. Cheap models are no worse than Adams or junior Martinez. More expensive models have good finishing. There is a model with a jumbo body, which is rare among guitars of this class. Ovation is unique in its own way; its crocodile coloring is impossible not to notice...

ORPHEUS

Bulgarian “Orpheus” guitars were known in the USSR along with the Czech “Cremona” guitars, but were recognized as having poorer sound quality.

MASTER

These are certainly very strange guitars. So strange that there is no point in directly comparing them with other equivalent guitars.

These guitars are made by Sergei Sharov's workshop in Ulan-Ude. And these are very Buddhist guitars - both in form and content...

At first we didn't take these guitars very well. In terms of quality of finishing, they are inferior not only to Czech guitars, but even to Ukrainian ones. All the time I can’t shake the feeling that they were doing the finishing work there with the guitar on my knee...

And then somehow they listened and fell in love. This, of course, is a somewhat nostalgic effect, understandable to those who remember that very mythical “Leningrad guitar”. Because Sharov's guitars most closely resemble a GOOD Soviet guitar from 30 years ago. Not the one that was sold for 7-15 rubles in the general store, but which, through wild connections, was obtained in St. Petersburg and then wrapped in one’s own sweater in the cold...

Despite the “quasi-classical” appearance (typical of old Russian guitars), these are guitars with metal strings. At the same time, their neck is somewhat narrower than that of a normal “classic”, but noticeably wider than that of “westerns”. Very comfortable neck. The case is small, almost always with a cutout for the arm. The normal scale is 650mm.

Guitars are made from materials that can be found in Ulan-Ude. The neck is birch, the fretboard is also made of birch, but on the fret side it is veneered with red veneer. All bars with anchor. Well-aged birch. The headstock is also veneered with red veneer, its shape is very pleasant and unusual, probably Buddhist... The body is made of birch plywood and red veneer. There are guitars with cedar top and white edging. The design of the springs is very reliable. The counter-shells are made of sawn strips, which has a beneficial effect on acoustics. The stand is not just glued, but also screwed in with three screws. Therefore, it is difficult to tear it off. The socket is real, inset, mortise (this is usually typical for expensive craftsman guitars). Many guitars have colored inlays on the fretboard.

In short, these are exactly the kind of guitars that a guitar maker in the provinces can make in series. Hence the small knots and hitches and other splinters. But - I emphasize - within reason. No obvious mistakes or cracks were found there. And the ease of play and evenness of sound are undoubtedly present. These guitars should not be treated like factory Chinese twins. This is such a spiritual instrument, some kind of home instrument. Although simpler than Lorance.

Sharov makes guitars of various designs. All models with metal strings. There are 12-strings and even 9-strings (they only have thin strings paired). Of the 6-strings, the most interesting is the small cutaway guitar. It is suitable for those looking for metal strings on a wide fingerboard. Bards of different flights, again - to go to a rally (since the guitar is light, durable and small). About 10 years ago I would have just always carried it with me...

What this model is NOT suitable for: for synthetic strings (although Sharov has models for synthetics), for purely rocker matters (for which a dreadnought is more convenient).

Let me emphasize once again that Master guitars are very unusual and non-standard. If you are looking for a standard classical or western, you will prefer similar priced imported guitars. But if ordinary guitars somehow don’t suit you, be sure to check out Master, maybe this is just the guitar you want...

Martinez

This is of course not exactly MARTIN. It’s still simpler and to the west of America. Martinez is made in China to order from our Russian partners. They are produced in the same factory as cheap Ibanez and Fender models, using the same patterns and technologies. For example, the W-801 is an exact analogue of the Fender DG-3, the only differences are in the design nuances and the sticker. Martinez is cheaper because the buyer does not pay a “premium” for the promoted brand. Well that's it...

The brand has been around for almost 10 years and has accumulated extensive statistics. The manufacturer maintains very stable quality, there are few complaints.

The bulk of Martinez models are dreadnoughts, excellent in materials and finish. The most budget models are W-701, 702, 801 - typical Chinese guitars for initial training. Older models are pleasing with quality and finish, especially the W-805. And all this lives well in our climate, which is important.

Martinez has few classic models. Among them, the S-502, painted in a radical black color, catches the eye. Which is rare for a classic.

Recently new junior models have appeared: W-11, W-91C. They are cheaper than older models, but perform very well.

In general, Martinez is one of the most popular and relevant amateur brands. It has been present on the Russian market for a long time and has proven itself in a very worthy manner.

Colombo

At one time, these guitars came to Moscow under the Skylark brand. But then the Chinese did not share their favorite word (many guitars are made in different factories in China under this brand). Therefore, now the brand is called Colombo, although these are absolutely the same guitars, even the model numbers have not changed

Colombo is something of a budget line from Martinez. All guitars are very cheap and made EXTREMELY economically. In general, they live normally in Russia. But you should understand that it is impossible to make a good musical instrument for such a price. Therefore, their purpose is expendable: for initial training, to take on a hike, etc.

We are pleased with the abundance of compact folk guitars, which are not often found among budget instruments. However, we recommend that you do not test their strength with hard strings and desperate scratching. If handled correctly, they play fairly with their money.

Rigeira

Despite the Colombian-Uruguayan name, these are typical Chinese guitars in all respects. A little higher class than Colombo, but simpler and cheaper than Martinez. The initial models are quite economical, but the more expensive models are quite advanced, the materials are good and the finish is pleasing. But we recommend that you take into account that despite the rosewood, this is by no means Strunal...

We included a couple of Lucia models on the same list. In terms of production method and grade, it is almost identical to the Rigeira.

It’s interesting that on all models the fibers of the dumpling tree are placed horizontally, maybe the Chinese accidentally did it right, or maybe they really learned...

Traditionally, guitars of this class have bad strings; be sure to change them.

Phil Pro

It has been present on the Russian market for many years. Once upon a time it was a typical Korean company. Later production was moved to China. But in general, Phil was positioned higher class than ordinary Chinese brands.

In recent years, the range of these guitars has been constantly changing. What is happening under the carpet and how Phil lives now is unknown. But guitars with this name sometimes appear in stores.

The models with tone control and ovation are of greatest interest. There are even budget goodies. We present them.

Greg Bennett

As you know, for a long time all guitars, except Bobrov’s, are made in Korean Samick. His domain is spread wide, his hands stretch far. He has factories in Korea, Indonesia, and China. And even Gibson, if you scratch it thoroughly, will find the mark made by Samick...

American designer Greg Bennett worked for the Korean Samick. And the skillful hands of Indonesian workers materialized this project. The result is a very beautiful series of guitars named after old Greg. These are just BEAUTIFUL guitars, in terms of finishing and various small details. Although some models are quite budget-friendly. We present them.

Samick's guitars have been known in Russia for a long time. They even became somewhat of an eyesore with their red-brown decasses. GB differs favorably from the old Samick precisely in its design. You can give such a guitar to your beloved boss and hang it on the wall to decorate the interior... You can play them too, they are good guitars, although not loud.

Madeira

The Korean-Chinese brand is unexpectedly of very decent quality and with beautiful finishing. I am pleased with the abundance of folk models, also with cutaway. The guitars are very neatly finished and varnished. For the price everything is very good. We recommend. Especially compact Travel.

PEAL

PEAL is a Korean company. Production is located in China. This is a typical pattern for many Asian brands. And not only Asian ones.

But the result was far from typical. PEAL guitars are not cheap. And in class it is much higher than mass brands such as Martinez or Adams. And most importantly, most models are very specific; few people do this.

PEAL is something like the Korean Landola. Some models are painfully similar - both externally, structurally, and acoustically. Reincarnation probably...

At the moment when we had just unpacked the first boxes from Korea, master Sergei Rozhdestvensky came to us. He looked at PEAL for a while, and then said: “We’ve survived. The Chinese have learned to make guitars.” In fact, other than the traditional American dumplings, the other details are done right. On some models there is even an overlap of the fingerboard on the headstock - few people besides Taylor think of doing this. The indicator, however...

In general, these guitars are interesting. If the price is affordable and you want to find an unusual instrument “with character,” be sure to check it out. Only unimportant strings spoil them. And not very aesthetically pleasing cheap tone blocks. In the future, we hope to bring these guitars without sensors..

Hora

HORA is a small music factory in the city of Reghin in western Romania. Since 1951, she has been making bowed and plucked instruments (including guitars), as well as all sorts of folk and historical instruments, such as the psalter, kobza and balalaika. Geographically, Romania is located between the Czech Republic and Bulgaria. Therefore, Romanian guitars are reminiscent of both Czech and Bulgarian Cremona, and in terms of quality they occupy just the middle position.

As you know, Eastern Europeans (including Ukrainians) sleep and see themselves as real Western Europeans. Therefore, they are happy to calculate their prices in Euros, even if they use local currencies. This is why we get well-known results with prices in stores, the further the merrier...

Overall, HORA guitars are cheaper and simpler than Strunal. There are also expensive models, but the level of the factory is clearly not Spanish; there is no point in such models at all. Because the Romanians still haven’t even learned how to make stressed soundboards - which Strunal has been making for about 30 years. And even the Chinese know how... Therefore, carrying their guitars in the current conditions is not interesting.

However, in addition to the usual classical and western guitars, HORA makes the most amusing lute-like Travel Guitar, analogues of which are found only in Martin (and, accordingly, cost completely different money).

Folk (Balkan and not only) instruments are the main thing that makes HORA interesting. For example, they make American dulcimers, Greek bouzoukis, Italian mandolins... They even make Russian balalaikas. The prices of the instruments are reasonable, and the quality is sufficient to get acquainted with the principles of the game. This is exactly what is required when a musician has an interest in an unusual instrument. Ordering a dulcimer from the States for $1,200 “for dating” is somewhat strange. Buying a Romanian one for $150 and experimenting for a year is much more logical.

Since Romania is a country of maple and beech forests, these species are used in the manufacture of many models. Moreover, the maple necks are made without gluing, from a single piece (only the heel is separate). The soundboards on most instruments are made of solid spruce. Everything was glued and painted quite conscientiously. The tuners are only cheap. And the strings are also not pleasing, change them immediately.

Baton Rouge

Baton Rouge is a typical product of globalization. American designers had a hand in creating the brand, clearly having Taylor and Godin as their source of inspiration. At the same time, immortalizing the capital of the state of Louisiana in its name.

The office is located in Germany, in the city of Tübingen. And production, naturally, is much more easterly.

In all technical parameters, BR is a typical “semi-professional” guitar, made to order in China. Something like Walden or Seagull (what, do they make Seagull in Canada?... well, okay, let’s say in Canada...). Despite its proximity to the Czech Strunal, BR is not at all similar to it, it is not the same breed. Rather, it is a relative of the Martinez W-1216. But the relative is clearly an older one.

Particularly interesting is the STRANGE series, whose models are called not by numbers, but by proper names, like Freebird or Lily. Against the general mournful background of Chinese budget products, these guitars look alien. And by the way they play well...

In addition to design and acoustics, the STRANGE series showed good survivability in our conditions. These guitars are not cheap, but this is a rare case when it's worth it...

GMD

GMD is a small factory (or large workshop) in St. Petersburg, on Vasilyevsky Island. Only a few people work there. In fact, this is a new project launched in 2011.

The main idea of ​​the project is to make a good educational tool. Not free, like the old factories, but with a reasonable price. So that Russian guitars compete with Czech and Spanish ones not in price, but in sound and vitality. The project consultant is guitar maker and restorer Sergei Rozhdestvensky, whose famous hobby is remaking Spanish guitars for the Russian climate.

The main model of the project is C50. This is a direct and very dangerous competitor of the Czech Strunal. The body design is similar to the Czech Cremona (Austrian Kletz). Body material - solid birch. This birch is not directly related to birch plywood, but is a beautiful wood that resembles sparkle maple. It is rarely used on guitars, since birch is capricious when dried (and this wood is unusual for Asian factories). Soundboard - solid Canadian spruce. Maple neck, rosewood fingerboard and bridge. The spring design is close to the German Hanika. All buildings are closed only in winter, with a humidity of 10-15%. The acoustics of the guitar are the best in its class, Strunal looks pale compared to them, and the cheap Spanish ones look uncultured. The massive body of a classical guitar is immediately audible.

The Student and Master models are full-fledged competitors of Spanish brands. With Spanish dumpling and pattern based on Daniel Friederich. Solid maple and rosewood bodies. The acoustics correspond to the price and class.

GMD also has simpler, entry-level models. There are several types of 7-strings.

Lorance

Craftsman small-scale guitars made in the workshop of Mikhail Streltsov in Volgograd. For 15 years now, Streltsov has been making instruments in Russia that are comparable in merit to brands such as Ovation and Yamaha.

These are not strictly craftsman guitars, which the master makes 3 pieces a year (which is what he lives on). Streltsov produces several dozen, or even fifty instruments a year, using the unification of individual parts. Small European workshops such as Hanika have a similar operating principle. Perhaps this is the only way to get an acceptable price and maintain quality, unattainable with mass factory production. This quality is manifested in everything - in the careful processing of even hidden parts, the precision of the pairing of parts, excellent acoustics - which is verified separately for each instrument. The individuality of Lorance is especially obvious in the coloring of the guitars - no two in a hundred are alike. And this is not because the master’s hand trembled - Streltsov is simply not interested in making identical guitars and cloning solutions once found. That's the kind of person he is.

For all its originality, Lorance is, of course, a close relative of the American Ovation. Nephew, you might say. Therefore, Ovation features appear on many Streltsov guitars, and sometimes he deliberately copies (and parodies) the famous American Balladeer and Legend.

In the early 90s, prices for a real Ovation were absolutely prohibitive for a Russian musician. Streltsov at that time made electric guitars, but one day he agreed to work with acoustics. His brother, who had gone to the States, sent him a catalog. This is how the production of Lorance began - Streltsov began making custom copies of expensive American guitars. Since the customers were mostly professional musicians, the class of work was set to be very high from the very beginning. It was possible to save on finishing, but not on the acoustics of the instruments. And then, as they say, he was sucked in...

Lorance should not be perceived only as a Russian “imitation” of Ovation. Otherwise, you will have to keep expensive classic Yamaha models as fake Spanish guitars. And American Martin - for counterfeiting German guitars. The world has long been confused. And the main criterion now is WHAT exactly the master does, and not what kind of tribe he is and where he lives. And secondly, the issue of price. For musicians' pockets are more often full of holes than full. You can make a guitar for a million, but who can buy it?..

SANCHEZ

Guitars from the Antonio Sanchez workshop are not exactly factory instruments like the Strunal or Alhambra.

This is a small production where the master’s personal control over the process is still possible. But the instruments go through the technological cycle not one by one (as is the case with the MASTER guitar itself), but in a small batch. This allows you to significantly reduce costs while maintaining high quality. Most famous Spanish brands are made this way. 100% artisan (made personally by a master, including Antonio Sanchez personally) Spaniards are significantly more expensive.

Antonio Sanchez follows the old Spanish tradition. Structurally, these are guitars with a “Spanish” dumpling (“boot”), a typical spring pattern reminiscent of Torres. All guitars have solid cedar or spruce backs. The price is very obviously tied to the merits and price of the materials. On expensive models, the body is also strengthened, and transverse ties are made between the counter-shells.

Almost all Sanchez models have a mahogany body; rosewood appears only on the top models, and almost immediately in the form of solid wood. Sanchez is probably doing this on purpose to reduce the price, since the veneered rosewood body differs little in acoustics from the red one, but is noticeably more expensive. Perhaps there are some other reasons. The logic of Spanish guitar masters is not always clear even to Russian guitar masters...

The soundboards of Sanchez guitars are always solid. But there is a choice between spruce and cedar. Only flamenco always with spruce. According to our observations, top-end Sanchez models with spruce tops live better than those with cedar. That’s why the expensive Sanchez in the store mostly contain spruce.

Spanish guitars (of any brand) have a hard time living in Russia. This is partly a consequence of the general relaxation of the Spaniards and their laziness, and partly stems from the objective difference in our climates. Spain has warm winters, and humidity never drops to critical levels of 15-20%. And in Russia there is such humidity in houses for six months...

Sanchez guitars have long been known in Russia. Among the Spaniards this is a very tenacious brand, better than many. Be sure to store your guitar in a case and use a humidifier in the winter! And periodically show the guitar to the master - a high-quality Spanish instrument needs maintenance no less than a good car.

Almansa

Almansa guitars are made in Spain, in the city of the same name. By all appearances, these are typical guitars of Spanish origin, with characteristic acoustics. The guitars are factory-made, the technology is respected. The model range is extensive, from educational instruments to professional-grade guitars. The factory also makes lutes and other historical instruments. All guitars only have solid cedar or spruce tops. The rosettes on all guitars are mortise, the design of the dumpling is “Spanish boot”.

Like other Spanish mass-produced guitars, Almansa is sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity. Such guitars should be handled carefully, stored in a case and monitored for moisture. But you will get a ringing and bright Spanish instrument.

Rodriguez

Guitarras Manuel Rodriguez and Sons is a small family-owned factory located near Toledo. Makes traditional guitars, including flamenco. It is known that several very cheap models for them are produced in China, but models starting with C1 are already Spanish. The guitars are sonorous, large, even brutal - the necks are especially powerful... They have been brought to Russia since the 90s, but a few years ago something went wrong with the importer and they disappeared. Now they have appeared again.

Alcora

Alcora is another brand from Paco Castillo. The sticker inside the body is different, otherwise the guitars are identical. Even the models are numbered exactly the same.

The company was founded by two people with characteristic Spanish names: Lucas Julia and Juan Julia. Both had a direct connection to the Alhambra factory in the recent past. Why they fell out with Alhambra is not entirely clear. But the genetic relationship of Alcora (and Paco Castillo) with Alhamba and Almansa is quite obvious and demonstrable. The guitars are very light and sonorous, performed with the characteristic signature Spanish sloppiness. Only life-loving children of the land of eternal summer, who have never heard of -30 frosts even from scary nanny tales, can make guitars like this. However, all Spanish brands are like this...
Despite this sloppiness, Alcora showed excellent survivability in our conditions, surviving the winter of 2010-11 without significant losses. For a Spanish brand this is an important and rare property. Although, of course, you should not abuse it and you must strictly follow the storage rules in winter.

Amistar

If a guitar maker lives in the Czech Republic, his name will certainly be Frantisek. One such Franta makes Furch guitars. And another makes Amistar resonator guitars. Both are doing great. And their guitars are known along with Dobro and Taylor.
Amistar is a typical "small" professional brand. Production is actually piecemeal, made to order. The market for resonator guitars is very small and all the names are household names.
The price of these specific instruments corresponds to their place in the market and the size of their fame in general. Since we always have several cheap Chinese goods in our store, you can feel the difference yourself.

Baden

These guitars are the fruit of the aesthetic exercises of a famous person in the guitar world. TJ Baden is a steamship and a person rolled into one. Guitar Chubais. Once upon a time he rescued the dying Taylor from the abyss and gave him new life. And recently I decided to create my own small RAO ​​UES. And he made a new brand under his name - Baden.
If you look inside the body of the guitar, it is of course obvious that the creator of these guitars used to drive Taylor. But Baden is more laconic and more stylish. This is a guitar Mackintosh. The site design absolutely matches the spirit of these tools. Expensive, precise and slightly foppish. But without any pathos. This is how you should live - slap on the sleepers in slippers on your bare feet, playing the blues. Otherwise, there may be no point in living...
There are only two hulls: a dreadnought and a medium-sized jumbo with an asymmetrical hull. All guitars are made only from solid wood. All with hidden Fishman tone blocks. Structurally, the guitars are made by hand. And their creators understood perfectly well what exactly needed to be done with their hands. A rare case for serial instruments.
A separate question is where Baden is made. Unknown. TJ himself avoids a direct answer and talks about a large team of specialists from different countries. The office is of course in California (WHERE else could it be?). By the way, where are Macintoshes made?..
The “lack of pretentiousness” also applies to the acoustics of these guitars. They sound smooth, deep and thoroughbred. But no hysteria and no surprises. This is a high-quality professional tool for those who cannot be fooled. And who needs a guitar for work? Well, or at least for spanking on the sleepers in slippers on bare feet...

Hanika

The Hanika family has been making acoustic guitars since 1947. Now the second generation is working. The production is small, actually an artel.
These are 100% German guitars, made according to German tradition and by German hands. If rosewood grew in Germany, then the materials would also be 100% German...

Therefore, these guitars are absolutely uninteresting for Russian masters - there is nothing for them to repair or strengthen. Everything there is so sophisticated and well thought out that the only way to break it is by smashing it against the wall.

These guitars also play with a purely German accent; there is no Spanish at all in the factory. Who remembers the old Musima and Resonata - this is roughly how they play, only a higher class, because the bodies are massive and the varnish is a very thin layer.

In general, these are quality classical guitars with a characteristic booming acoustics. And they were done absolutely without pathos and without care. Almost the antipode of the Spaniards...

As sellers, we love such tools very much, and we can give a guarantee on them for at least 5 years...

Lakewood

Professional grade guitars. Produced in Germany since 1986.

Magic of Sound - what is it? This is when you play a melody and it seems to be alive and playing itself. This is when you pick up a guitar, and as soon as you start playing, inspiration and new ideas come to you with each new sound. This is when your guitar becomes your muse. This is that elusive element that represents the difference between factory-made guitars and a craftsman's instrument, which carries a piece of the soul of the master, and, ultimately, its owner.

I founded Lakewood Guitars back in 1986 with the sole purpose of creating very special musical instruments that will become a treasure for their future owners. My love for guitars started when I was still a teenager. Most of all I remember the times when we played guitars with my friends. When I was 18 years old, a man named Manfred Ploetz invited me to study guitar making in his workshop. Most of the instruments we made at the time were classical guitars, so it's no surprise that my first guitar love was "classical". We also made metal string guitars, all kinds of mandolins and acoustic basses. This was an important period for me and as a result I learned a lot about the string instrument family. I worked as an assistant for three years. I will be forever grateful to Manfred for the lessons he taught me.

Afterwards, I worked as a guitar technician repairing stringed instruments at local shops in our area. I quickly realized that repairing and restoring guitars is a more complex process than creating a new instrument. During this period, thousands of guitars passed through my hands. I heard a lot of different sounds and learned a lot of different guitar building techniques. I talked to owners of different guitars and found out what they liked and didn’t like. It was a never-ending experience of improvement that helped me develop a certain philosophy for making guitars.

Dieter Hopf

Dieter Hopf is a famous German guitar maker. His family has been making guitars and other musical instruments since 1655. So I gained some experience...

Although German instruments are usually associated with something conservative and traditional, some of his guitars are completely unconventional. Particularly amazing Artista Membrane. Its unusual appearance from the outside is revealed only by a strange insert in the acoustic lens on the soundboard. But from the inside it is not a guitar, but a finely calculated mechanism, executed with virtuoso precision. Under the deck there is another deck connected to the first by small springs. The parts are made of wood and carbon fiber. In fact, it is a kind of wooden dob with carbon strings.

The acoustics of this guitar differ from an ordinary high-quality Spanish guitar for $700 as much as an ordinary Spanish guitar differs from a Chinese plywood model. The guitarist who picks it up for the first time experiences shock. And he frantically looks inside the case, expecting to find an amplifier with a guitar processor there. But there is nothing there except an unusual thickened soundboard...

Each guitar is made to special order. Despite some unification of parts and serial production of these guitars, these are craftsman guitars - each instrument is made by one master, who also fine-tunes the acoustics of the guitar.

It's easy to guess that the price of these guitars is as exorbitant as their acoustics. However, in this case, it is not just the artist’s name or brand that is paid for. Therefore, we recommend that you look at this guitar VERY carefully - it’s easy to get sick. After such a guitar, there is no desire to pick up an ordinary Spaniard...

In addition to the specific soundboard, the design of other parts of the guitar is reminiscent of the Spanish one, including the way the neck is attached. The work is very thorough, with all the necessary reinforcements and re-glues. The neck is made of mahogany, the body is made of solid rosewood (2 halves, judging by the picture). Ebony pickguard and stand.

Epiphone

Godin

There are also these brands:

Do you want to buy an electric guitar, but don't know which instrument is right for you? In this article we will talk about the main brands and manufacturers of electric guitars, and also help you choose your first instrument.

The electric guitar market today

At the moment, there are a huge variety of electric guitars of various shapes and styles. However, any professional guitarist will tell you that there is simply no better electric guitar. Each instrument has its own unique sound character. The guitar companies presented below are world leaders in the production of the most famous guitars. If you've ever been to a rock concert, chances are the guitarists used instruments from these manufacturers on stage.

Gibson and Epiphone

And of course, we should start with the most famous brand of electric guitars - Gibson. Impeccable quality, long service life and breathtaking sound! The best electric guitars of the period 50-70 were created by Gibson, they remain the standard in guitar production today. Each unique Gibson instrument is literally fought over at auction because the company maintains a policy of hand-assembling each guitar, which, according to Gibson's founders, is what makes these guitars unique.

However, if you want to buy a Gibson, then be prepared to say goodbye to several thousand dollars - you pay for excellent quality. But you can be sure that the guitar will fully justify itself.

For beginners, Gibson came up with a more economical line of Epiphone guitars, which later grew into a subsidiary brand. Epiphone guitars are distinguished by cheaper materials and fittings, which is why they become available on the market to novice guitarists. The quality of such guitars also suffers, because they are not made in the USA, like Gibson instruments, but Epiphone holds the brand and is perfect for starting a creative journey.

Fender and Squier

The second forefather of electric guitars is the no less famous manufacturer Fender. Kurt Cobain, and other guitar virtuosos used them as primary guitarists for their warm, glassy sound. Unlike Gibson guitars, Fender instruments are more often used for light rock styles (grunge, blues, alternative rock, for example). Fender is a company with a very rich history, which has been producing top-class instruments for almost a century. The best electric guitar and Fender are synonymous in the understanding of many professionals.

To ensure affordability, Fender also created several lines of low-price electric guitars under the Squier brand. Squier instruments are great for beginners as well as experienced musicians.

It is worth noting that Fender is currently the leader in sales of its guitars, ahead of Gibson due to the demand for instruments with a diverse sound.

Ibanez

Japanese manufacturer Ibanez emerged later than its predecessors and dominates the market for seven- and eight-string electric guitars. In the early 2000s, heavier and lower-pitched sounds embraced popularity. With the advent of rock bands such as Korn and Slipknot, the fashion for a heavier nu-metal sound began to grow exponentially. The skilled Japanese, who previously produced guitars only for the domestic market, began to distribute their electric guitars as “new generation instruments” throughout the world. Today there is no difficulty in purchasing a sufficiently high-quality electric guitar from Ibanez. Production was moved to Indonesia and put into production. Any music store will tell you that Ibanez are the best cheap electric guitars available right now. The thing is that this company has a whole series of guitars in a very low price range, while in quality they are not much inferior to the top echelon guitars.

Ibanez pay special attention to the quality of materials for electric guitars: the best strings, tuners, frets. A beginner will not have to tune the instrument when purchasing, this is a serious plus for those who have never held a guitar in their hands.

Jackson

Another world-famous Japanese company is called Jackson.

Jackson has a very controversial history, and it is impossible to say that today it is a separate guitar manufacturer. Now the Jackson factories are under the influence of Fender - all shares are purchased by the American brand. Be that as it may, guitars of this brand are still produced under their true name, Fender owns and controls the production, but does not change the technology. And for good reason.

After all, in the 90s, every metalhead dreamed of purchasing a Jackson brand guitar. Why is that? The thing is that Jackson are known for aggressive shapes (the guitar in the photo above is made in the shape of Randy Rhoads, all rights to use this shape belong to Jackson), as well as attacking heavy sound. Almost every metal band has ever used it. This is why Jackson is included in the list of the best electric guitar companies in the world.

For a long time after the transfer of part of the production from America and Japan to India, there were rumors that Jackson would soon stop producing musical instruments, but after the market situation improved in 2012, Jackson continues to delight its customers with new guitars.

This is the best option for metalheads asking a question, for beginners. Do you like Cannibal Corpse or Napalm Death? Jackson is your choice!

P.R.S.

PRS instruments have always been distinguished by excellent quality and trouble-free fittings, this is an old American brand, famous in many respects for blues and jazz musicians. The best electric guitar solos ever recorded were mostly played on PRS guitars. Unfortunately, guitars from this company cannot be recommended to beginners - the price of even a used PRS varies from 600 to 1000 dollars, not to mention a new one.

At the same time, PRSs are hand-built, just like Gibsons, and are cheaper. There are many comparison videos where PRS guitars are compared to Gibson, and to its credit, the PRS holds up to the mark in terms of sound and build quality. PRS also constantly collaborates with Ernie Ball, which produces the best strings for electric guitars, this allows PRS customers to enjoy playing on excellent strings immediately after purchasing a new instrument.

Another important feature is that when ordering a PRS from the official website, you are free to choose the pickups you need and install them before purchasing, thereby choosing the potential of the future instrument. The color of the PRS body is most often stylized as ordinary varnished wood without frills, which makes the guitar more representative and solid. According to reviews from many professional musicians, PRS are considered the most comfortable guitars. PRS is perfect for both modern bluesmen and progressive guitarists.

ESP and LTD

ESP is a Japanese musical instrument company. Founded in 1975 as a chain of music stores, it later began producing its own instruments. Initially, only electric guitars were produced under the auspices of the Custom Shop - that is, there were no serial guitars put into production; soon ESP guitars began to be popular in Japan, and then throughout the world. The company began to produce several expensive, but mass-produced instruments, enjoying increasing success. Today, ESP is also positioned as a company that produces mainly unique instruments for famous bands and guitarists. Most of the signature electric guitars of existing rock musicians are produced by this company.

For any other guitarists, a subsidiary Korean brand LTD was invented. And we must pay tribute, LTD is developing so quickly that it has already filled almost the entire world market of different price categories with fairly high-quality and combat-ready instruments. What's the best electric guitar without the company's long and lasting history?! LTD, for example!

Dean

Dean electric guitars are widely known around the world thanks to the late metal guitarist Dimebag Darrell - he was the first to use instruments from this brand in his performances. Dean guitars make a huge impression with their appearance: sharp, rough body shapes, large headstocks with engravings of angel wings. And the dense, sharp sound has captured the hearts of many novice experimental guitarists. The best electric guitar in the Razorback series will not leave any lover of real metal indifferent, rest assured.

Despite their sophisticated shapes, these guitars, contrary to initial belief, are very comfortable to play - Dean technologists are constantly working to improve comfortable playing both in a standing and sitting position.

Quite rare B.C. instruments. Rich is also widely known to the public due to its unusual body shapes. At the end of the 80s, the glam rock genre was widely popular in the USA and European countries, and every musician was required to have a pair of such non-standard guitars in his arsenal. However, B.C. Rich allow you to get a really high-quality instrument for a very reasonable price, thereby adding their creations to the list of the best cheap electric guitars at the moment. However, finding a new B.C. Rich in Russia today is difficult - electric guitars are not produced in very large quantities, because the company B.C. Rich is not as popular as Gibson or Fender, for example.

Schecter

The Schecter company is the youngest of all those presented, but therefore the brightest and most progressive at the moment. The appearance in Russia dates back to the beginning of 2012, but this company amazes with the number of instruments produced. Every year new lines of six-string, seven-string and eight-string electric guitars of the highest class are released at affordable prices. Designers delight with a wide variety of colors and shapes of new guitars, and the presented catalog includes several instruments for each playing style - from blues to extreme metal.

Schecter shows hope for the future of guitar building by introducing a variety of innovations into its models, be it new pickups or fresh bridges. For beginners, Shecter annually presents very inexpensive series of guitars of various shapes and sound spectrums. For example, you can buy a completely new seven-string or eight-string Schecter for 12,000 rubles, which cannot but please musicians who are not averse to experimenting with the number of strings on their electric guitar. It is very possible that in the near future such companies will be able to claim the title of monopolies producing the best electric guitars in the world.

Yamaha

It would be wrong not to mention Yamaha electric guitars. If you have ever had to choose an electric guitar to start your creative journey, then you were most likely offered to start with the Yamaha Pacifica 112. According to many, this instrument is the best electric guitar for beginners because of its price/quality ratio. However, other modern guitars enjoy extremely low popularity among musicians. But Yamaha electric guitars from the 80s and 90s are bought very quickly at a variety of auctions. The thing is that at that time Yamaha produced its guitars in Japan, using the highest quality materials during assembly. But today the policy of nonsense has changed and Yamaha, unfortunately, is inferior to other guitar workshops. But the Yamaha Pacifica 112 is still produced and used in almost all music schools, because this electric guitar is essentially universal and is perfect for learning.

Conclusion

Choosing an electric guitar is a complex process that requires care and diligence. Fortunately, there are a huge variety of companies on the market that allow you to choose the tool you like. Don't forget - no matter what instrument you buy and no matter how much money you spend, the sound is largely determined by your playing skills. A guitar virtuoso can easily beat a several thousand dollar Gibson Les Paul Studio in sound with any low budget electric guitar purchased for a couple hundred dollars. You must understand that the variety of sound has long ceased to determine the wallet - a huge variety of lines of a wide variety of guitars confirms this. Decide on the genre you want to start playing in and pick up the appropriate instrument at a music store. Get creative and enjoy playing this musical instrument! Good luck!

If you decide to learn how to play guitar rock, then, one way or another, you will begin your journey into the world of music by purchasing an acoustic or electric guitar. Nowadays there are quite a few different manufacturers, types and lines of guitars for each of them. Already, sometimes, my eyes run wide. I will touch on the issue of choosing a guitar in future articles, but for now let's look at top ten best guitars in the world, in the sound of which you can be more than confident. After all, it is not enough to know a couple of simple chords, learn the pentatonic boxes, be able to play the barre, or have several options for replacing the F chord; you also need to have a good, reliable instrument. A guitar that not only sounds great, but also suits the style of music you choose.

Among the best of the best you will find not only electric guitars, but also acoustic guitars. Since rock performers sometimes give unplugged (acoustic) concerts using all kinds of guitars, in our top guitars There will also be instruments for classical music and jazz. So, welcome to the world of legendary guitars, to the world of the best ever created by man. Luckily for us, these guitars can still be found in music stores in our cities. They are known all over the world because they have become iconic, just like their manufacturers.

Top 10: The best guitars in the world

1. Archtops D "Angelico

Archtops D"Angelico

Guitar master named John D'Angelico is the creator of the best jazz guitars in the history of the music genre. The instruments were called archtops. This word comes from a combination of the English nouns arch (arc) and top (top deck). A very accurate name for guitars whose tops are not flat, like classical guitars (see below), but have a curved top arc, like a violin. Another element that makes these instruments similar to violins is resonators in the shape of the Latin letter f. Therefore, if you see an enlarged six-string violin with saddles on the neck in your local music store, you should know that this is one of the archtops, perhaps a D'Angelico.
D "Angelico are high-level cans that are still produced and are mainly used in jazz. Although many famous bluesmen and rockers also like to use these wonderful instruments.

These archtops feature a rich and warm sound, elegant finishes and careful choice of materials.

Years of production of D"Angelico archtops: from 1932 to 1964, from 2011 to the present day.

Many guitarists love to play not only jazz and blues, but also enjoy flamenco and adore classical music. Classical Ramirez guitars were created for them, which most musicians consider the best of their kind. These guitars are named after their creator, Jose Ramirez. They were produced from the mid-19th century and significantly influenced the subsequent production of classical guitars. It was Ramirez who replaced gut strings with nylon strings, which are now used in classical guitars and give us a rich sound.

Currently, Ramirez guitars also delight us with excellent craftsmanship and deep sound. They are not cheap, but the guitars are worth it. According to Spanish tradition, the name Jose Ramirez was borne by several guitar makers - his heirs. He is also considered the founder of the Madrid School of Guitar Mastery.

Years of production of Ramirez classic guitars: mid-19th century - to this day.

Duet Rodrigo y Gabriela - Orion (Metallica cover)

This wonderful guitar has been in production since 1963. It was thanks to her that we could hear the ringing and deep sound of such famous groups as the Beatles and Byrds. These are full body 12 string electric guitars. The ringing sound of early Beatles and Byrds guitars is the hallmark of the Rickenbacker 360-12. You will not confuse the sound of these guitars with any other guitars. The full body design made the sound warm and less "electric". Since the 1980s, these guitars have once again become popular with a new generation of musicians due to their unique sound.

Rickenbacker 360-12 production years: since 1963.

4.Martin D-28

Martin has been producing acoustic and dreadnought guitars since 1931. The Martin D-28 is one such guitar. Its distinctive feature is its booming bass tone and large body. Thanks to this, compositions performed on the Martin D-28 become recognizable from the first notes. As a result, acoustic guitars with metal strings began to be made with this design.

Years of production of Martin D-28: since 1931.

Perhaps you remember such country virtuoso as Chet Atkins? (Chet Atkins). So, the Gretsch 6120 is exactly his favorite musical instrument. However, this guitar was used by many rock and country fans in the 50s and 60s due to its bright sound and full-body design. Produced since 1954.

Years of manufacture of Gretsch 6120: since 1954.

This is Gibson's first solid body electric guitar. It is considered one of the symbols of rock music and one of the most popular guitars in the world. Developed in early 1950 by Ted McCarthy and guitarist Les Paul. It has a rich base sound, making it an excellent instrument for playing hard rock and heavy metal. The Gibson Les Paul body is made with a single cutaway. The significance and popularity of this guitar is confirmed by the fact that a Les Paul 1959 Standard today costs at least $75,000.

Gibson Les Paul Years: since 1952.

This is a famous acoustic guitar with a strong sound and attractive appearance. The Gibson J-200, thanks to its steel strings and large body, began to be actively used by country guitarists. The year of birth of this guitar is 1937. The finishing of the guitar is also at the highest level: rosewood wood with a bright pattern, inlaid stands with a shape that looks a little like a mustache. Thanks to these characteristics, the Gibson J-200 has become one of the most popular acoustic guitars in the world, and rightfully entered the top ten best guitars in the world.

This is a guitar with a half body design. Developed since 1958. Its sound is reminiscent of large archtops and solid body guitars. This is exactly what the developers wanted to achieve when they released the Gibson ES-335. And they succeeded. The guitar has a distinctive acoustic tone that allows you to play both jazz and rock 'n' roll. This guitar was admired by English guitarist Andy Summers.

Gibson ES-335 Years: since 1958.

World famous solid body electric guitar with two pickups. The impressive design and wonderful sound set a new direction in the production of electric guitars. It was introduced in the fall of 1949 and became the first guitar of its kind to be produced in large quantities. Telecaster guitars became popular among country guitarists. The guitar's construction features an alder or ash body, maple neck, and standard electronics that remain a classic to this day.

Fender Telecaster Years: since 1954.

And closes our top 10 guitars Fender Stratocaster. The guitar was designed by Leo Fender, George Fullerton and Friendy Tavares in 1954. It is still being produced, which proves its popularity. Its distinctive features: original sound, small size compared to jazz archtops and streamlined contours. This is what makes it the best electric guitar in the world, and every self-respecting music store should have a couple of Fender Stratocaster guitars in its inventory.

Fender Stratocaster Years: since 1954.

This is what the top ten looks like best guitars in the world.

Note

The review is based on a list top 10 guitars from Mark Phillips (music director of Charry Lane Music) and John Chappell (chief editor of Guitar magazine).

I hope that the information was useful to you and that you chose the desired guitar among them. And more rock and roll!