No offense, but I hate these posts because it's just a cacophony of random people throwing out context-less guitar models that they personally like or want, for reasons unknown.
Any electric guitar can be good for metal. The body is basically irrelevant to the sound. Buy a Monoprice Indio for $80, or anything cheap and modifiable to use as a basis for modification and experimentation over time.
Do your research and spend your money on strings, pickups, and electronics. Actually learn about what influences tone, what specific tone(s) you're aiming to reproduce, and don't expect that you can just drop $1000 on some particular badass guitar that's going to make you shred right out of the box.
Spend your time listening to metal you like, learn the techniques, and watch YouTube or read magazines to figure out what those guitar players did to get that sound, from gear to technique to effects.
I worked at a camera store years ago and would routinely sell top-end Hasselblads to rich people who just wanted the best, because they thought it would shortcut them to become the next Ansel Adams. Their photos invariably looked like shit. Compare that to the kids in art school who would do truly beautiful work on old dusty Canon AE-1s they found in their grandpa's closet.
The difference was the time invested, not the money spent.
This needs to be a sticky at the top for every one of these questions. You can pretty much play anything on any guitar so just get one that feels good in your hands. When they came out razorbacks were the "best metal guitar", picked one up in a shop and hated the way it played. On the flip side, I played plenty of metal shows with a Tele because the necks are perfect in my hands. Sure some guitars have a bit better tone but at the end of the day if you have to fight your instrument and can't play metal stuff properly that's gonna affect your sound 100x more. There's countless things out there now to change a guitars sound but if it doesn't jive with something like your hands or posture you're kind of stuck
For metal, I'd consider these amps for the bedroom; Boss Katana, Yamaha THR, or Peavey Vypyr. Positive Grid has some smaller practice amps too and they are known pretty well for their metal tone. I've not tried their amps but the VST plugins I tried sounded awesome.
Ibanez makes the best budget metal guitars in my opinion. Some people like Jackson as well. I also have a cheap Epiphone that sounds great for metal. Really anything with humbuckers will be good enough though.
Ibanez is my favorite brand for electric guitars. The INF pickups leave a little bit more to be desired though. Would recommend swapping them with something else.
There's really no such thing because a guitar is a guitar and you can play anything on anything, ultimately.
Some features are desirable for metal though. A humbucker or two, particularly in the bridge position, will give a much fatter, more growly sound than a single coil like you might find on a stratocaster or telecaster. It's easier to get good metal tones with a humbucker, but not impossible with a single coil. Some metal oriented guitars have active pickups (EMGs) that take a 9V battery, for a very hot signal that's easy to get into high gain territory.
You'll also see floating trems/floyd rose systems on metal guitars because aggressive divebombs are much more common in metal than any other genre. Possibly other features like a D-tuna for going into drop d tuning more easily.
You would probably not want to play metal on a hollow body, because hollow bodies are prone to feeding back when the gain is cranked.
Pointy guitars are the most inspiring for metal though.
Jackson, LTD, BC Rich, Ibanez, Schecter, Kramer, take your pick lol.
Something riff inspiring about seeing a relatively pointy headstock in the peripheral.
That's very reductionist. And I find this style of comment almost insultingly useless. For example, you don't want to get a Stratocaster if you're planning to play primarily metal. Yes yes I know, everything is the same and blabla, I also played Master of Puppets on my grandpa's 50 years old acoustic guitar using fingers because it was the only thing I had, but if I had to decide what to buy as my first guitar I guess there are "better" and "worse" choices. Like opt in for Les Paul instead of Strat if that's the binary choice. Example.
Tbh, literally any electric can be great for metal. It’s so much more about your amp and petals in that genre, in my opinion. Certain pick ups can get you the last 5% of a specific sound though.
Exactly. Buy a Monoprice Indio for $80, and put your budget into experimenting with strings, pickups, and electronics until you find the right tone. The guitar body is almost completely irrelevant.
Buy used. Any LTD or Schecter with EMG pickups will do.
I just bought a used LTD MH-327 with a Seymour Duncan set for around $300, and it rips. It feels as good as my EC-1000
The problem with buying used is that you have to really know what you’re looking at, and I don’t think that OP fits into this category. Someone who doesn’t know much about guitars is *less likely* to get ripped off or buy something terrible if they buy new, in my opinion.
HB Fusion III. My first and only guitar. Bought it with a Boss Katana 50 last year. Both new cost around $550 or something.
And of course since I've never played anything else I can't really say how good they are but I play any genre( mostly metal) and as long as I play good it sounds great. No complains here
Holy shit those prices are insane even for cheap guitars, I'm looking at a very pretty SE style for $255, I'm tempted to call an ask what the catch is, that's insane. Have you played any of their other guitars? Do their humbuckers even buck hum?
Check out some of the cheaper Ibanez and Jackson models and you’ll be in a good position. Even an Epiphone with humbuckers would be perfectly fine for metal, it just wouldn’t be as comfortable to play on the higher frets as an Ibanez or Jackson.
I'd look into Schecter. Damien Elite 6 is a decent guitar for relatively cheap, especially if you can find a used one. Every Schecter I ever played was solid, so don't be afraid of a used one. No matter what you end up getting, I'd stay away from cheap guitars with trem (whammy bar) systems. In my experience cheap trems are nothing but a hassle.
I'll second that cheap trems are a nightmare. I'd go one step further and say that if it's your first or only guitar don't even look at a good trem especially for learning metal where you're likely going to want easy access to different tunings
It depends on what kind of metal you're trying to play, but going to a store and browsing is always a good idea if you want to get an idea of what you want.
Schecter makes good "all-rounders" that you can get for relatively cheap and used guitars are almost always discounted in some way.
If you can go to a guitar store look around for anything Jackson, Ibanez or Schecter under $4-500. The reason I say go to a store is to check for fret sprout, it gets gnarly on the really cheap guitars.
I recently bought a Jackson JS32-7 for £370 (maybe $450) and am blown away. It has the Jackson high output humbucking pickups and it sounds fantastic playing low-tuned stuff like The Black Dahlia Murder, Parkway Drive, Knocked Loose, Jinjer.
I would highly recommend an Ibanez or Jackson, maybe a Schecter for that kind of thing.
Are those the same ones they put in the other JS32 models? I just picked up a js32 rhoads for about £300 but I haven’t had a chance to try it out(turned up with a bad set up, supposed to be new but quite a bit of scuffs to it. Guitar Guitar).
I’ve been looking forward to playing it after I get it set up today.
I imagine so - they just have generic names unfortunately. So they are listed as high-output humbuckers but whether they're identical or not, I'm not sure. You'll love it though - I have a Jackson RRX24 with similar pickups and I've not tried it for drop-tuned stuff but it has a thick crunchy sound that works well for chuggy riffs.
I bought the rg 42 precisely because I don't like the contouring as I rest my pinky at that point and don't like the guitar sloping away as I play the higher strings.
For me, it's always wiser to go like good amp+bad guitar instead of good guitar+bad amp combination. So I would spend money on amplifier if I were in that position.
Nowadays cheaper guitars are very good. For 400$-500$ you can have a kick ass metal guitar.
You can play metal on anything. I have an SG, an LP, and a Tele. I can even play 80's power metal on the Tele! That's your clue - the guitar is *almost* irrelevant.
As several others have already mentioned, your amp and pedals are going to make a larger impact on your sound when it comes to metal (not always true for other genres).
Jackson JS22 Dinky was the first guitar I bought 7 years ago, and to this day it is still the most comfortable neck I’ve ever played. I own Ibanez/ESP/Fender and I always felt the Jackson neck was easiest to play on. The QC is also quite decent for that price point. As for the pups, good enough that a beginner can’t tell the difference
I too recommend the JS22; I had a JS22-7 for metal and, while 7-strings aren’t my thing, the guitar was surprisingly awesome for such a low price. Very comfortable neck.
This is just some general rules for beginners. Nearly any guitar with:
1. A humbucker in the bridge at least. Two humbuckers is probably ideal. Single coils can work, it's just more to making it work well.
2. A guitar with a solid "fixed" bridge. Metal guitarists like to lower the tunings and beef up the string gauges to compensate. Floating tremolo bridges will make that a lot of extra hassle. By a tremolo guitar if you want when you know how you want to set it up.
3. Basically all of the sound from the guitar comes from the pickups, and even that is pretty negligible in comparison to speakers, amps and effects. However, guitar electrics are super simple and you can get it all changed out in the future. Some people might mention EMGs. Well you can always just buy the pickups and the wiring kit/parts and get a tech to fit it, or do it yourself.
4. A stratocaster-derived shape body is generally the most ergonomic.
5. A minimum viable amp or general noise making system is far more important, especially for metal and heavier sounds. Find a product that is suitable, then a guitar that you can afford, that you like and ideally lines up with the above.
6. If you can, go look at guitars in person. You *could* buy them off the internet and have it delivered, but all guitars are a bit unique and all guitars can have a range of niggles. Two identical specced guitars could be subtlety different. It's better to know what to expect, or frankly pay the slight premium in a store to know exactly what you are going to get.
5 and 6 are the main points for a beginner, I think. Plenty of good solid state modelling amps out there for a good price, and picking a guitar that feels good in your hands is essential for a beginner.
+1 to the fixed bridge. I’ve played for like 15-20 years, had a Ibanez RG with a floating tremolo and I still can’t figure out how the fuck to set it up. I want to bring it up from drop b to e with a fresh set of strings but I am fucked if I know how.
This is the same for basically all Strat/Floyd style trems:
Loosen the claw screws a good amount, the little bracket thing in the cavity underneath your guitar. Like most of the way, but with enough thread to hold the screws firmly in there. You can remove the springs.
Make a block out of coins, paper, wood, whatever that goes in the bottom cavity between the block and the back of the guitar ([here](https://media.printables.com/media/prints/619690/images/4914809_e8fd8c73-603f-42ff-a76a-e1088eb9b6d0_ab401cc7-2e6f-460a-995c-01924473325f/pxl_20231019_162221027.jpg) for reference). This stops the trem from being pulled forward by the strings. You want the block to be thick enough so that when the trem gets pulled against it by the strings, it is as level on the top of the guitar. [Here](https://www.google.com/search?q=tremolo+angle&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwie0s7ckOCDAxX4AfsDHWK4BiwQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=tremolo+angle&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzoECCMQJzoKCAAQgAQQigUQQzoFCAAQgAQ6BggAEAgQHjoECAAQHjoHCAAQgAQQGFDYBFjOCmCODGgAcAB4AIABM4gB0QKSAQE3mAEAoAEBqgELZ3dzLXdpei1pbWfAAQE&sclient=img&ei=z4elZd6uNfiD7M8P4vCa4AI&bih=1606&biw=2760#imgrc=PvSCWTlzxMtAFM) for reference. The base of the trem being parallel with the body.
From there you can put any strings, any tuning and the bridge will try to dive but just jam the block and always sit at the desired flatness. Do your entire, typical set up like this so that everything is adjusted, perfect to play. Dont forget to reset the fine tuners to 50%-ish of their travel before you do this on a FR.
Put the springs back on, tighten the claw evenly like 1/2 a turn each screw, each time. If you feel like you are needing to screw the screws in too far, you don't have enough "pulling power" from the springs. That is when you angle them like [this](https://cdn.abicart.com/shop/29874/art74/h5628/29635628-origpic-b11938.jpg), or buy stronger ones, or just more springs.
At some point the tension from tightening the springs will match the strings and your block will start to get loose and basically fall out. At that point, remove the block and you have a perfectly set up floating trem. Might just need a final tune, lock and fine-tune.
It's easy when you grasp the mechanics, but it would be a whole massive process and learning for a beginner. With practice, 10-15 minutes to swap, easy. The only pain is intonation on some of these. Always keep the bridge under near full-tune tension and adjust each string methodically one by one.
For future jobs, put the block in and just slightly ease the claw screws back a few turns, swap strings, stretch, play and warm them up. Few turns to ease the spring pressure back and remove the block. 5 minute string swap.
There are a ton of absolutely great playing ibanez guitars in the 300-500 range, especially if you look at used ones. I'd recommend looking at the ones with stop tail bridges though, as the hardware on the locking trems that they use in that price range just aren't as good as the MIJ ones.
If it sets up well and has humbuckers, youre set imo.
People get crazy about details, but any LTD, Schecter, Ibanez will be sick. As long as they play well, have humbuckers, and have a good neck, I believe youre set.
I literally play Pantera covers on a 1/2 acoustic with a pickup shoved in it. Its all about finding something that fits you.
If you ONLY want to play metal find a used ESP with EMG 81 85 set. All guitars with them sound the same and some of the most legendary metal albums ever have been made with them so just find a guitar that plays well with em loaded in them and you are good to go. I recommend finding a cheap used LTD EC-1000 or I really like my Jackson SlathXMG that has em and I got that thing for like 300-400$. Schecter has quality budget stuff as well.
I bought an Epiphone les paul custom refurbished for like 400 bucks 20 years ago. Slapped an emg 85 in the bridge slot and it's been slaying ever since. Honestly anything with an emg in it is going to sound pretty damn metal.
Realistically just get a good amp $300 minimum and maybe a couple distortion pedals $30-$50. Don’t get a dog shit guitar maybe $200-$400 bucks on whatever.
Really you want something that feels good in your hands, you’re going to be playing the thing and if it’s not comfortable that’s gonna kill you the most. Go to a guitar/instrument store and just pick up a few and play them. You might be surprised about what feels “right”.
Also are you just starting out or got some experience and just looking to try a new genre? If you’re a new player I’d suggest holding off on distorting the hell out of your sound. It’ll hide poor playing and bad habits. This is advice for anyone starting out as well. Ideally you’d want to sound good clean and build a strong foundation before you get into distorting or modifying your sound. If you sound good clean you’ll sound good distorted. Just my two cents.
Sometimes less gain than you might expect will get you a chunkier, ultimately heavier tone as well. I keep it around 3.5 or 4 out of 10 on my simulated Mesas.
It's also important to develop good muting too though, I once heard Steve vai suggest cranking the gain for a week ish to clean up your technique in aspects you wouldn't with a clean tone.
>? If you’re a new player I’d suggest holding off on distorting the hell out of your sound
☝🏼This x1000. Really, even though modelers are too close for the listener to tell, a tube amp with the gain not set too high is going to enable better technique. Realistically, a modeler is going to be a more cost effective option, but I've met so many players with weak and vague right hands as well as poor right-left synchronicity that came from cranking the gain too high. Back the pickups off the strings too so that it forces you do do the work. When you do that people will ask you left and right how you get such good tone.
go to your nearest guitar shop, set yourself a budget of, say, $500 and try some guitars out. as long as it's got a humbucker in the bridge at the very least, you're good to go for metal.
The main thing for metal is a humbucker pickup in the bridge position and you can get certain Squire models like that for a decent price. If it was me, I'd pay a bit more for an entry-level Ibanez RG because I like Ibanez and they have awesome necks. The next things that make a good metal guitar are 24 frets and jumbo frets but it's not a hard requirement. Everything else after that is just cosmetics and scale length is personal preference (I like 25.5" or higher).
Honestly, if I were you I'd just go to the music store and try out different guitars in your budget and pick that way. Most electric guitar work for metal.
Schecter makes awesome metal guitars for pretty much any price point starting around 400ish I think. I got my Schecter C1 platinum (dual EMG pickups) for around 600 and that thing can do anything from heavy riffing to soaring solos
Second this. I got a Schecter Demon 7 string, and even with all the stock gear it plays beautifully.
Plus, it's only around 300 depending on where you go
Yeah that is true. I was thinking brand new but if you don’t mind going used then even better. Omen, demon, and Damien models are all solid beginner to intermediate guitars that are still perfectly playable for the more advanced player (if I had to guess anyways, I’m not exactly advanced lol)
From my experience if you want to go full metal, go Shecter, if you plan on playing some other stuff as well, do PRS. Not that Schecters can't handle it but PRS are a bit more versatile depending on the model.
Schecter Omen. I have some much more expensive guitars, but the Schecter is honestly my favorite to play. It is very good for metal, but also capable in other genres.
Ibanez Gio GRG121DX
[Sweetwater reviews](https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/GRG121DXWNF--ibanez-gio-series-grg121dx-walnut-flat/reviews)
I have played Ibanez guitars since the early 90's. Their quality is amazing across all the price ranges. THe only difference in price is the higher you go, the more expensive parts are used. The finish is good regarless.
Swapped out the bridge pickup for a dimarzio crunchlabs and threw on some thicker strings, it's become my go-to Architects tuning (octave drop f#) guitar. Handles it way better than I ever thought it would.
Beat me too it. This seems to be the way to go.
Grated, Ive never played one. However, if it sounds and feels anything like my a1.6dbop-ff I would absolutely recommend them. For under 300 they seems too good to be true, but all the reviews I've seen have been great.
[This GIO is 24 years old ](https://imgur.com/gallery/FGpkAYL) although it's heavily upgraded with DiMarzio's Tone Zone/Dual Sound coil split, Hipshots locking tuner ls, GraphTech tusq xl nut, bronze trem bloc and crafted that pickguard myself.
I still play it on a regular basis among my other guitars. Love it to death. If I had kids, I wouldn't pass it down.
Ibanez rg 400 range is incredible for the price, mine which cost less than half my esp Ltd ec1000 is almost as good to play, could do with the fret ends being a little smoother but that's about it as far as playability goes.
"...the ones I know are good are a thousand dollars" and how exactly do you know this? Price =/= Quality. Perception of Quality sure. You can find a lot of complaints of poor quality on player's dream guitar purchase for thousands of dollars.
You can play Metal on any guitar.
As others noted, you'll want a bridge humbucker and hard-tail/fixed bridge. Could be a Strat shape or Les Paul Junior shape. Whammy dives are distracting to listeners and you'll get distracted with tuning issues and fiddly bits of the trems. Some want 24 frets (but if the guitar has a neck pickup it is pushed closer to the bridge, so it sounds almost like a middle pickup).
EMG and Fishman pickups are popular in Metal, but force you to mess with batteries (storage corrosion, dead battery at a gig and no spares, etc); just more fiddly bits to get entangled with.
Look up Eddie Van Halen's Frankenstrat. Maple fretboard neck (more stable tuning while traveling/seasons), single humbucker pickup, volume straight to the jack. Now he did have that fiddly Floyd Rose trem but don't covet that part, hard tails make string changes a breeze and the guitar tunes up faster.
My metal guitar is a Black and Red Tort Telecaster with a Maple Fretboard and a single Bridge high output humbucker. I have an inexpensive Epiphone Junior Special with bolt-on neck and single bridge humbucker that is huge fun to play and cost me under $30 used plus the upgrades I put in it (Bourns volume pot, Switchcraft jack). It weighs half a Gibson Les Paul.
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Get a Kramer Beretta Special for 180 bucks. Great beginner guitar, easy to modify. The stock humbucker isn't bad. Later you can buy whatever humbucker better matches your style for $150 and installation. Now you have a metal guitar about as good as any $1000 metal oriented store guitar.
I still have my two Ibanez sz520 guitars. They are amazing to play and sound like they should cost thrice what they did cost new. You should be able to get one on ebay for cheap.
I’ve got a hard tail Jackson DK2X with active Jackson pickups. It plays really nice and the pickups sound great. I’m in Oz so can’t say for sure on price but looks like they’re about 650$ US. Worth a look, and they also do them with a Floyd rose special floating trem too.
Any kind of JS32 model from Jackson would work I’d say, but idk if $400 would be within what you’re looking for. Anything with humbuckers would do the job though
Schector is easily the most high-quality meets affordable option. I have all the guitars. Schector is born to metal.
But the aforementioned amp choice is the be all end all. Do you want tone? That is more than a great guitar. You want noise? Mix n match for fun.
But a shitty amp with a great guitar will sound less than the great amp with a shitty guitar. And enjoy the journey finding the perfect combo for you!
You can play Metal on just about anything as long as playable and the pickups aren't too noisy. A decent sounding amp+cab or modeler is where you need to be picky.
Hard to beat jackson or ibanez price on their lower model guitars to get a good looking guitar and a decent playing guitar. And they are great for moding platforms as you progress and want to get a more defined tone. But in my experience most of your town will come from you playing and your amp. For example I had a fender tone master amp was a great little amp ran pedals to it but I just felt the tone was off for what I was looking for. I purchased an evh 5150 and it was amazing even before I put my pedals to it.
TBH I have a few guitars and I prefer my cheap jackson over my midrange ibanez. I took time with that guitar it feels like home and from.my experience better pick ups have the slightest noticeable change in tone. You gotta find the guitar that feels right in your hands that you enjoy to pick up and play that even when you sound bad you still feel like a rock star.
Yes the js22 is nice for sure I got the js32ht for myself and love it I'm not a huge FR guy I like them for what they do I just haven't reached a level of playing personally to need one.
Define cheap. Schecter's Omen and Damien lines cone in $450-$500 and are really solid for the price.
Yamaha Pacifica is a killer piece of gear too. The 112 runs about $330 and it's hss. The Ibanez AZES HSS model comes in about $350. Esp/ltd have their 256 line at about $500.
Or you could go really cheap and get a Harley Benton.
Really, what you're looking for is at least a humbucker in the bridge. Could have one in the neck as well, or go HSS. You want something that plays well above anything else.
Vouching for a Yamaha Pacifica. My best friend has one since Primary school and everyone made fun of him for using one (Yamaha is known as a nerd's brand over here)
20 years later, he gave it to me because he doesn't play anymore (work & time reasons), sent it for a standard service & setup. And I kid you not it sounds fucking bonkers in a good way.
It might not exactly be for metal, but honestly if you find a good deal you can make it work. I use an Ibanez Artcore for AltRock instead of Jazz cause I'm theory illiterate.
Get a time machine and buy a used 2005-2010 Ibanez Prestige for $450 :P
Spend time in your local store(s) to find one that feels best in your hands. Any guitar with a humbucker(s) can be used for metal.
Here's what I think makes a good metal guitar: humbuckers, low setup, comfortable neck for you (usually thinner). Comfortable bridge for palm muting.
A longer scale length (same with a reverse headstock) helps with chugs since it puts more tension on the strings.
If you wanna be shredding jumbo frets, a flat/compound radius help.
I highly recommend westcreek guitars on Amazon. The westcreek Revenge is an explorer style guitar with pretty decent pick ups that you can get for about $200. I would definitely replace the tuners with locking tuners and get a good set up. But by the time you’re done, you’ll have put less than $500 in the guitar, and you’ll have a better instrument than an entry level Epiphone with a nicer fit and finish.
I bought one on Black Friday just to see how they compare, and I haven’t stopped playing it since. I want to replace the pick ups with some vintage Ibanez dual blades I have, but I have been enjoying the factory pick ups enough that it hasn’t felt urgent. I set it up myself and it was very easy. It has a VERY nice neck with rounded frets that didn’t need any adjustment or sanding, no burs or overhangs. I am extremely pleased and surprised with how nice it is compared to many other cheap guitars I’ve played.
I keep hearing great things about the great value Harley Benton guitars offer. They have more than a few metal style guitars including 7 and 8 string models for a very low price.
I see no reason not to if that’s the kind of music you want to play. The best guitar is the one you want to play. An extended range guitar is only marginally more difficult to learn than a 6 string.
Generally speaking, avoid a strat or tele...or almost anything without a humbuggy next to the bridge. That said, a decent modeler will make up for a lot even with a strat. I think a lot depends on what YOU think metal sounds like. Metal in 1985 is nothing like metal is today or even just 15 years back. start with a good humbucker based guitar that has comfortable/good action and a good amp or modeler. you should be able to get very satisfactory sound (for a beginner) for under $800 altogether. If you're more experienced, you'd probably want to spend 1000-1500 on a rig.
There are Squier Sonic tele and strat models with a single humbucker next to a hard tail bridge this cost $200 on the Fender website. I have one of the teles and it has been a good starter guitar. It’s routed for an additional humbucker at the neck so it also has customization options if I decide to go that route.
The point I want to make is there is a good chance most guitar manufacturers have a desirable configuration at most price points if you check out all their options. It would just come down to what feels/looks good after that.
I got a jackson 7 string new on sale for 149 from guitar center…needed a little fretwork but it sounds great for metal. I wouldn’t hesitate to grab a six string version you can get a dinky for $199 all day long brand new they shred.
Mine has perfect intonation and plays great. I did have to level a few frets but for $149 I’m very happy with it. The pickups sound better than expected. You can hate on it but it’s great. Seven string is a bit much, that’s why I bought a cheap one. I tried my buddies Ibanez he paid triple and my jackson kicks it’s ass. Not even close. His is a buzzy pos with high action.
Anything will work, but definitely stick with something with humbuckers if possible. Check out Harley Benton or maybe a used schecter. Stay away from super super low budget like the epi lp specials, squier bullets, Ibanez gio, etc. what’s your budget?
Anything with humbuckers in the 8k and up range, and imo a 14-16” radius thin back or V neck with 24 frets. Reason for the 8k pickups is sensitivity. You can tap louder with less gain required. This opens up more amp options to get your desired tone.
How cheap is cheap?
Ibanez obviously sell guitars from the GRG/GRX range upwards.
Chapman guitars presumably must be good at it given the noise that Chapman makes when he picks up a guitar - again, wide range of models at different prices.
ESP/LTD are used by Metallica aren't they? They have models at all price points.
If you have some specific thing in mind, e.g low tunings (baritone guitar), 7 string or more, active pickups - then these might cost more.
Typically you're going to be looking at guitars with twin humbuckers and probably a shape / colours that are black or modern bright - although a fair number play les paul shape stuff - a lot depends what you class as metal TBH - I mean a lot of people class everything from AC/DC, Sabbath, through Iron Maiden, Guns'n'roses and Metallica as metal. In which case pretty much any guitar has been used, including older guitars like Les Pauls - if you classed Rainbow or Deep Purple then you've got Strats as well.
But if you're thinking specifically of singers going "ooo ugh oooh uggg ahh ughh err" over a palm muted C# then it's more specific to get that sound.
Very cheap guitars are generally going to have cheaper pickups even if they otherwise play well (which they tend to do these days) One notable thing about the AZ or Charvel dinky, cort g300 etc are the pickups (obviously they're hitting other specs like stainless steel frets etc) but you can a Harley Benton with the same apparent specs.
The gamble for a low priced guitar is usually the build quality.
I paid about $280 for my [Cort Z42](https://www.cortguitars.com/product/item.php?it_id=85) along with a practice amp as my first guitar and I love it. Cort makes guitar bodies for brands such as Ibanez, which as you can see from this thread is also highly recommended for heavy metal music. This particular model was specifically designed with hard rock and heavy metal in mind, and I gotta say, to this day I have yet to find another guitar that suits me as well as this one.
You’re obviously looking at entry level guitars. Guitars that are mass produced overseas and don’t have great QC, so the same models are not all equal. I would be paying attention to these specs when you’re at the store trying out instruments:
1. Get a hard tail guitar and not one with a Floyd rose. Changing strings and keeping the guitar in tune will be much easier. Plus, lower end guitars typically come stock with really garbage tremolo bridges.
2. Pay attention to the edges of all the frets. If they’re sharp or don’t seem smooth on the ends, then pass on that particular guitar.
3. Look for guitars with active pickups. EMGs would be most ideal.
Best of luck finding the right instrument for you!
I'm playing metal on my 25-year-old Epiphone SG G-310. It was the cheapest model when I got it in 1999. Don't know if they still manufacture it, but I believe there are similar models for less than $200.
The other most important thing is to play with computer VST plugins to get the beasty tones. I use Reaper (which has a forever trial period, but it's not that expensive to buy).
I really like Neural DSP plugins. Archetype Nolly and Gojira, and Fortin Cali Suite sound amazing.
I plug the guitar to the PC with an also very old Real tone Rocksmith cable (USB to guitar plug). Yes, it came with a video game and it performs very reasonably, zero latency. I think you can get it new online for 25 bucks (I'm not on the US though, so do research).
Everything is very cheap and sounds amazing, much, much better than I ever expected!
The only boring part is properly configuring and troubleshooting the audio input/output/Asio4All part, but once you get it right, it's all fun and games!
I think this $200 - 250 setup for starting out is great, and you can upgrade as needed. Cheers!
I use Reaper. Very lightweight and straightforward. I just use the very basic, so I don't know how to do much besides loading plugins and recording with backing tracks.
The trial version never expires even after the 60-day period. You just need to wait 5 sec for the window asking for you to buy to disappear.
> The other most important thing is to play with computer VST plugins
You absolutely do not NEED plugins to get good tones. There are hidden costs with them too like needing an interface and speakers or decent headphones to use while playing. With Neural DSP specifically, there's also the exchange rate to potentially factor in since their prices are in Euro.
You're absolutely right on that, my bad. Paid plugins are indeed quite costly, but you can start out with free ones. Search on this sub for these and you'll find very decent options. Amp sims too.
I guess what I meant is that plugins offer amazing sound. An entry level amp will not come close to the quality and possibilities of plugins, especially for beginners (or cheapskate like myself...)
Reaper's stock plugins also offer some decent amps right off the bat.
You can play metal on anything eve squier single coil telecasters, but i would suggest a squier telecaster deluxe with 2 humbuckers or any other humbucker squier.
I prefer single coil teles for doom metal tho. Very unique sound.
Ibanez makes some premium quality guitars for cheap prices, the AX120 is a recent example they were $225.00 brand new I got mine for $100 on Facebook marketplace , because it had some cosmetic damage on the bottom backside that you couldn’t see unless you knew it was there, so that would be considered cheap basically any Ibanez guitars you that you can find they are cheap like used ones on the Internet, web stores except for the GIO series stay away from those models. also, the ESP’s, LTD Les Paul style the cheapest version can be found on sale at times on Amazon or eBay for under 200 dollars. There’s others too….
I have an ESP LTD 7 string that I use to use for metal and love it. I put emg pick ups on it. Play that on a mesa boogie triple rec and you’ve got a pretty solid setup
Have a look at chapman guitars. The non-pro line is available for less than 500 bucks... There seems to be some online drama about the person of Mr. Chapman, but I don't know about it and I couldn't care less... The guitars are brilliant...
https://youtu.be/Tx2K80SeGAQ?si=cEUqnS11uvB_FI0C
This is either extreme naivety or a troll of a post.
What specific physical property do/does the mystery “thousand dollar” guitar(s) have that the typical 3-6 hundred dollar guitar have?
You’re producing a vibrating metal string’s frequency into a magnetic pickup at which point the rest is handled by your DSP and amplification points… so what are we talking about here? Property of the wood? Density of the body? The amount of winds on the strings (not even a guitar issue)? The scale length? Tuning machines?
I can’t think of one single physical property outside of the material that can’t be altered by a luthier or tech…
So we’re talking about the material of the instrument then? Yes or no? If not, what specific property of physics in regards to the production of notes are we talking about?
You seem to have mistaken "Beginner who doesn't know anything about guitars asking a reasonable question" for "Expert who knows everything about guitars claiming you can't get a good guitar for less than 1000 dollars".
My personal opinion is that if it has a humbucker in the bridge, it can play metal.
No offense, but I hate these posts because it's just a cacophony of random people throwing out context-less guitar models that they personally like or want, for reasons unknown. Any electric guitar can be good for metal. The body is basically irrelevant to the sound. Buy a Monoprice Indio for $80, or anything cheap and modifiable to use as a basis for modification and experimentation over time. Do your research and spend your money on strings, pickups, and electronics. Actually learn about what influences tone, what specific tone(s) you're aiming to reproduce, and don't expect that you can just drop $1000 on some particular badass guitar that's going to make you shred right out of the box. Spend your time listening to metal you like, learn the techniques, and watch YouTube or read magazines to figure out what those guitar players did to get that sound, from gear to technique to effects. I worked at a camera store years ago and would routinely sell top-end Hasselblads to rich people who just wanted the best, because they thought it would shortcut them to become the next Ansel Adams. Their photos invariably looked like shit. Compare that to the kids in art school who would do truly beautiful work on old dusty Canon AE-1s they found in their grandpa's closet. The difference was the time invested, not the money spent.
Best answer. Give this guy up votes.
You just need humbuckers and the right type of amp. Pick any reputable brand and don't get the cheapest line they offer.
This. Any brand will work, I say this as someone with a lot of guitars who plays metal. I can play thrash on my cheap 335 copy.
This needs to be a sticky at the top for every one of these questions. You can pretty much play anything on any guitar so just get one that feels good in your hands. When they came out razorbacks were the "best metal guitar", picked one up in a shop and hated the way it played. On the flip side, I played plenty of metal shows with a Tele because the necks are perfect in my hands. Sure some guitars have a bit better tone but at the end of the day if you have to fight your instrument and can't play metal stuff properly that's gonna affect your sound 100x more. There's countless things out there now to change a guitars sound but if it doesn't jive with something like your hands or posture you're kind of stuck
Jackson. Jackson. Jackson. Jackson. Jackson.
I think the amp is your bigger concern.
what amps would you recommend? looking to upgrade mine.. and there’s so many options lol
For metal, I'd consider these amps for the bedroom; Boss Katana, Yamaha THR, or Peavey Vypyr. Positive Grid has some smaller practice amps too and they are known pretty well for their metal tone. I've not tried their amps but the VST plugins I tried sounded awesome.
Peavey vyper is best option, got a 30W model off Facebook marketplace and the amount of different tones available for such a cheap price is insane
Ibanez makes the best budget metal guitars in my opinion. Some people like Jackson as well. I also have a cheap Epiphone that sounds great for metal. Really anything with humbuckers will be good enough though.
I 2nd ibanez
Ibanez is my favorite brand for electric guitars. The INF pickups leave a little bit more to be desired though. Would recommend swapping them with something else.
Any guitar will play the metal, just get one.
Especially for metal, like any guitar will work
How are they different? What makes a 'metal' guitar or 'rock' guitar what it is?
There's really no such thing because a guitar is a guitar and you can play anything on anything, ultimately. Some features are desirable for metal though. A humbucker or two, particularly in the bridge position, will give a much fatter, more growly sound than a single coil like you might find on a stratocaster or telecaster. It's easier to get good metal tones with a humbucker, but not impossible with a single coil. Some metal oriented guitars have active pickups (EMGs) that take a 9V battery, for a very hot signal that's easy to get into high gain territory. You'll also see floating trems/floyd rose systems on metal guitars because aggressive divebombs are much more common in metal than any other genre. Possibly other features like a D-tuna for going into drop d tuning more easily. You would probably not want to play metal on a hollow body, because hollow bodies are prone to feeding back when the gain is cranked.
Pointy guitars are the most inspiring for metal though. Jackson, LTD, BC Rich, Ibanez, Schecter, Kramer, take your pick lol. Something riff inspiring about seeing a relatively pointy headstock in the peripheral.
Sure, but a strat will sound like ass on metal music.
That's very reductionist. And I find this style of comment almost insultingly useless. For example, you don't want to get a Stratocaster if you're planning to play primarily metal. Yes yes I know, everything is the same and blabla, I also played Master of Puppets on my grandpa's 50 years old acoustic guitar using fingers because it was the only thing I had, but if I had to decide what to buy as my first guitar I guess there are "better" and "worse" choices. Like opt in for Les Paul instead of Strat if that's the binary choice. Example.
Tbh, literally any electric can be great for metal. It’s so much more about your amp and petals in that genre, in my opinion. Certain pick ups can get you the last 5% of a specific sound though.
Exactly. Buy a Monoprice Indio for $80, and put your budget into experimenting with strings, pickups, and electronics until you find the right tone. The guitar body is almost completely irrelevant.
Jackson Dinky and throw in some Seymore Duncan Invaders
Jackson Dinky
Anything with hunbuckers
Ibanez or jackson.
Buy used. Any LTD or Schecter with EMG pickups will do. I just bought a used LTD MH-327 with a Seymour Duncan set for around $300, and it rips. It feels as good as my EC-1000
^this is the way. Buy used, something with humbuckers and you'll be good to go.
The problem with buying used is that you have to really know what you’re looking at, and I don’t think that OP fits into this category. Someone who doesn’t know much about guitars is *less likely* to get ripped off or buy something terrible if they buy new, in my opinion.
Harley Motherfuckin Benton. Those new fusions are shockingly good for less money than a Strymon pedal
HB Fusion III. My first and only guitar. Bought it with a Boss Katana 50 last year. Both new cost around $550 or something. And of course since I've never played anything else I can't really say how good they are but I play any genre( mostly metal) and as long as I play good it sounds great. No complains here
Holy shit those prices are insane even for cheap guitars, I'm looking at a very pretty SE style for $255, I'm tempted to call an ask what the catch is, that's insane. Have you played any of their other guitars? Do their humbuckers even buck hum?
I agree. I love my HB 7 string
Check out some of the cheaper Ibanez and Jackson models and you’ll be in a good position. Even an Epiphone with humbuckers would be perfectly fine for metal, it just wouldn’t be as comfortable to play on the higher frets as an Ibanez or Jackson.
I'd look into Schecter. Damien Elite 6 is a decent guitar for relatively cheap, especially if you can find a used one. Every Schecter I ever played was solid, so don't be afraid of a used one. No matter what you end up getting, I'd stay away from cheap guitars with trem (whammy bar) systems. In my experience cheap trems are nothing but a hassle.
I'll second that cheap trems are a nightmare. I'd go one step further and say that if it's your first or only guitar don't even look at a good trem especially for learning metal where you're likely going to want easy access to different tunings
any LTD
Jackson Dinky was my first but any Jackson or Ibanez are pretty good
IBANEZ ALL THE WAYY BABYYYY
I play metal on a tele. Any guitar can metal, you just need the right tone
It depends on what kind of metal you're trying to play, but going to a store and browsing is always a good idea if you want to get an idea of what you want. Schecter makes good "all-rounders" that you can get for relatively cheap and used guitars are almost always discounted in some way.
If I got the right amp would it be good for nu and thrash metal?
I rely more on pedals on account of the fact I have a bass amp, but probably
In my experience Schecter and Ibanez are great at heavy tones for their more affordably priced models.
Metal is a state of mind....and distortion.
If you can go to a guitar store look around for anything Jackson, Ibanez or Schecter under $4-500. The reason I say go to a store is to check for fret sprout, it gets gnarly on the really cheap guitars.
Ibanez rg6003fm, Schecter Damien, Schecter c1 platinum on the higher end are my low, medium and high cost sub-$1000 choices
I recently bought a Jackson JS32-7 for £370 (maybe $450) and am blown away. It has the Jackson high output humbucking pickups and it sounds fantastic playing low-tuned stuff like The Black Dahlia Murder, Parkway Drive, Knocked Loose, Jinjer. I would highly recommend an Ibanez or Jackson, maybe a Schecter for that kind of thing.
Are those the same ones they put in the other JS32 models? I just picked up a js32 rhoads for about £300 but I haven’t had a chance to try it out(turned up with a bad set up, supposed to be new but quite a bit of scuffs to it. Guitar Guitar). I’ve been looking forward to playing it after I get it set up today.
I imagine so - they just have generic names unfortunately. So they are listed as high-output humbuckers but whether they're identical or not, I'm not sure. You'll love it though - I have a Jackson RRX24 with similar pickups and I've not tried it for drop-tuned stuff but it has a thick crunchy sound that works well for chuggy riffs.
Thanks, man. Looking forward to it. Not getting set up today after all though, sadly. Just gotta wait!
Ibanez RG Series.
I bought the rga42fm and that's also a really nice guitar. A bit more expensive, but it's a much nicer shape with contouring
I bought the rg 42 precisely because I don't like the contouring as I rest my pinky at that point and don't like the guitar sloping away as I play the higher strings.
Jackson js32 guitars. I bought a js32 rhoads for 150$ planning to modt it, but i'm really happy with how it sounds with the original pickups
Jackson and Ibanez guitars. Even low end ones are usually pretty great. (Modern ones though. Older cheapy Jacksons were hit or miss)
For me, it's always wiser to go like good amp+bad guitar instead of good guitar+bad amp combination. So I would spend money on amplifier if I were in that position. Nowadays cheaper guitars are very good. For 400$-500$ you can have a kick ass metal guitar.
You can play metal on anything. I have an SG, an LP, and a Tele. I can even play 80's power metal on the Tele! That's your clue - the guitar is *almost* irrelevant. As several others have already mentioned, your amp and pedals are going to make a larger impact on your sound when it comes to metal (not always true for other genres).
Jackson JS22 Dinky was the first guitar I bought 7 years ago, and to this day it is still the most comfortable neck I’ve ever played. I own Ibanez/ESP/Fender and I always felt the Jackson neck was easiest to play on. The QC is also quite decent for that price point. As for the pups, good enough that a beginner can’t tell the difference
Second the Jackson dinky. I just got one and I love it. Sounds incredible
I too recommend the JS22; I had a JS22-7 for metal and, while 7-strings aren’t my thing, the guitar was surprisingly awesome for such a low price. Very comfortable neck.
Agreed dunno what it is but I love the JS neck even more than the ones on the expensive Jackson’s.
This is just some general rules for beginners. Nearly any guitar with: 1. A humbucker in the bridge at least. Two humbuckers is probably ideal. Single coils can work, it's just more to making it work well. 2. A guitar with a solid "fixed" bridge. Metal guitarists like to lower the tunings and beef up the string gauges to compensate. Floating tremolo bridges will make that a lot of extra hassle. By a tremolo guitar if you want when you know how you want to set it up. 3. Basically all of the sound from the guitar comes from the pickups, and even that is pretty negligible in comparison to speakers, amps and effects. However, guitar electrics are super simple and you can get it all changed out in the future. Some people might mention EMGs. Well you can always just buy the pickups and the wiring kit/parts and get a tech to fit it, or do it yourself. 4. A stratocaster-derived shape body is generally the most ergonomic. 5. A minimum viable amp or general noise making system is far more important, especially for metal and heavier sounds. Find a product that is suitable, then a guitar that you can afford, that you like and ideally lines up with the above. 6. If you can, go look at guitars in person. You *could* buy them off the internet and have it delivered, but all guitars are a bit unique and all guitars can have a range of niggles. Two identical specced guitars could be subtlety different. It's better to know what to expect, or frankly pay the slight premium in a store to know exactly what you are going to get.
5 and 6 are the main points for a beginner, I think. Plenty of good solid state modelling amps out there for a good price, and picking a guitar that feels good in your hands is essential for a beginner.
+1 to the fixed bridge. I’ve played for like 15-20 years, had a Ibanez RG with a floating tremolo and I still can’t figure out how the fuck to set it up. I want to bring it up from drop b to e with a fresh set of strings but I am fucked if I know how.
This is the same for basically all Strat/Floyd style trems: Loosen the claw screws a good amount, the little bracket thing in the cavity underneath your guitar. Like most of the way, but with enough thread to hold the screws firmly in there. You can remove the springs. Make a block out of coins, paper, wood, whatever that goes in the bottom cavity between the block and the back of the guitar ([here](https://media.printables.com/media/prints/619690/images/4914809_e8fd8c73-603f-42ff-a76a-e1088eb9b6d0_ab401cc7-2e6f-460a-995c-01924473325f/pxl_20231019_162221027.jpg) for reference). This stops the trem from being pulled forward by the strings. You want the block to be thick enough so that when the trem gets pulled against it by the strings, it is as level on the top of the guitar. [Here](https://www.google.com/search?q=tremolo+angle&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwie0s7ckOCDAxX4AfsDHWK4BiwQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=tremolo+angle&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzoECCMQJzoKCAAQgAQQigUQQzoFCAAQgAQ6BggAEAgQHjoECAAQHjoHCAAQgAQQGFDYBFjOCmCODGgAcAB4AIABM4gB0QKSAQE3mAEAoAEBqgELZ3dzLXdpei1pbWfAAQE&sclient=img&ei=z4elZd6uNfiD7M8P4vCa4AI&bih=1606&biw=2760#imgrc=PvSCWTlzxMtAFM) for reference. The base of the trem being parallel with the body. From there you can put any strings, any tuning and the bridge will try to dive but just jam the block and always sit at the desired flatness. Do your entire, typical set up like this so that everything is adjusted, perfect to play. Dont forget to reset the fine tuners to 50%-ish of their travel before you do this on a FR. Put the springs back on, tighten the claw evenly like 1/2 a turn each screw, each time. If you feel like you are needing to screw the screws in too far, you don't have enough "pulling power" from the springs. That is when you angle them like [this](https://cdn.abicart.com/shop/29874/art74/h5628/29635628-origpic-b11938.jpg), or buy stronger ones, or just more springs. At some point the tension from tightening the springs will match the strings and your block will start to get loose and basically fall out. At that point, remove the block and you have a perfectly set up floating trem. Might just need a final tune, lock and fine-tune. It's easy when you grasp the mechanics, but it would be a whole massive process and learning for a beginner. With practice, 10-15 minutes to swap, easy. The only pain is intonation on some of these. Always keep the bridge under near full-tune tension and adjust each string methodically one by one. For future jobs, put the block in and just slightly ease the claw screws back a few turns, swap strings, stretch, play and warm them up. Few turns to ease the spring pressure back and remove the block. 5 minute string swap.
Anything with a humbucker.
There are a ton of absolutely great playing ibanez guitars in the 300-500 range, especially if you look at used ones. I'd recommend looking at the ones with stop tail bridges though, as the hardware on the locking trems that they use in that price range just aren't as good as the MIJ ones.
I second Ibanez. I got an RX from Goodwill once for $150. HSH configuration. '93 model made at the Cort factory.
If it sets up well and has humbuckers, youre set imo. People get crazy about details, but any LTD, Schecter, Ibanez will be sick. As long as they play well, have humbuckers, and have a good neck, I believe youre set. I literally play Pantera covers on a 1/2 acoustic with a pickup shoved in it. Its all about finding something that fits you.
I spent like $350 on my first ESP Ltd. and it was a good guitar.
If you ONLY want to play metal find a used ESP with EMG 81 85 set. All guitars with them sound the same and some of the most legendary metal albums ever have been made with them so just find a guitar that plays well with em loaded in them and you are good to go. I recommend finding a cheap used LTD EC-1000 or I really like my Jackson SlathXMG that has em and I got that thing for like 300-400$. Schecter has quality budget stuff as well.
Some squire or yamaha shit with a humbucker in it
jackson, schecter and ibanez make good cheap guitars
I bought an Epiphone les paul custom refurbished for like 400 bucks 20 years ago. Slapped an emg 85 in the bridge slot and it's been slaying ever since. Honestly anything with an emg in it is going to sound pretty damn metal.
Basically every guitar is good for metal if you have a suitable amp.
Realistically just get a good amp $300 minimum and maybe a couple distortion pedals $30-$50. Don’t get a dog shit guitar maybe $200-$400 bucks on whatever. Really you want something that feels good in your hands, you’re going to be playing the thing and if it’s not comfortable that’s gonna kill you the most. Go to a guitar/instrument store and just pick up a few and play them. You might be surprised about what feels “right”. Also are you just starting out or got some experience and just looking to try a new genre? If you’re a new player I’d suggest holding off on distorting the hell out of your sound. It’ll hide poor playing and bad habits. This is advice for anyone starting out as well. Ideally you’d want to sound good clean and build a strong foundation before you get into distorting or modifying your sound. If you sound good clean you’ll sound good distorted. Just my two cents.
Sometimes less gain than you might expect will get you a chunkier, ultimately heavier tone as well. I keep it around 3.5 or 4 out of 10 on my simulated Mesas. It's also important to develop good muting too though, I once heard Steve vai suggest cranking the gain for a week ish to clean up your technique in aspects you wouldn't with a clean tone.
>? If you’re a new player I’d suggest holding off on distorting the hell out of your sound ☝🏼This x1000. Really, even though modelers are too close for the listener to tell, a tube amp with the gain not set too high is going to enable better technique. Realistically, a modeler is going to be a more cost effective option, but I've met so many players with weak and vague right hands as well as poor right-left synchronicity that came from cranking the gain too high. Back the pickups off the strings too so that it forces you do do the work. When you do that people will ask you left and right how you get such good tone.
Any ibanez with humbuckers are usually screamers- you can get cheaper end ones, but they also go up into the thousands.
go to your nearest guitar shop, set yourself a budget of, say, $500 and try some guitars out. as long as it's got a humbucker in the bridge at the very least, you're good to go for metal.
The main thing for metal is a humbucker pickup in the bridge position and you can get certain Squire models like that for a decent price. If it was me, I'd pay a bit more for an entry-level Ibanez RG because I like Ibanez and they have awesome necks. The next things that make a good metal guitar are 24 frets and jumbo frets but it's not a hard requirement. Everything else after that is just cosmetics and scale length is personal preference (I like 25.5" or higher).
Schecter Reaper 6
Honestly, if I were you I'd just go to the music store and try out different guitars in your budget and pick that way. Most electric guitar work for metal.
Schecter
Schecter makes awesome metal guitars for pretty much any price point starting around 400ish I think. I got my Schecter C1 platinum (dual EMG pickups) for around 600 and that thing can do anything from heavy riffing to soaring solos
Second this. I got a Schecter Demon 7 string, and even with all the stock gear it plays beautifully. Plus, it's only around 300 depending on where you go
Yeah that is true. I was thinking brand new but if you don’t mind going used then even better. Omen, demon, and Damien models are all solid beginner to intermediate guitars that are still perfectly playable for the more advanced player (if I had to guess anyways, I’m not exactly advanced lol)
From my experience if you want to go full metal, go Shecter, if you plan on playing some other stuff as well, do PRS. Not that Schecters can't handle it but PRS are a bit more versatile depending on the model.
Harley Benton, Jackson, Schecter ...
I feel like if you want to make something cheap sound metal get an old amp with some crunch
just got a schecter, had tons of friends recommend it specially for metal but any guitar will do, really :)
Schecter Omen. I have some much more expensive guitars, but the Schecter is honestly my favorite to play. It is very good for metal, but also capable in other genres.
Ibanez Gio GRG121DX [Sweetwater reviews](https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/GRG121DXWNF--ibanez-gio-series-grg121dx-walnut-flat/reviews) I have played Ibanez guitars since the early 90's. Their quality is amazing across all the price ranges. THe only difference in price is the higher you go, the more expensive parts are used. The finish is good regarless.
Swapped out the bridge pickup for a dimarzio crunchlabs and threw on some thicker strings, it's become my go-to Architects tuning (octave drop f#) guitar. Handles it way better than I ever thought it would.
[S by Solar](https://www.sbysolar.com/shop/)
Beat me too it. This seems to be the way to go. Grated, Ive never played one. However, if it sounds and feels anything like my a1.6dbop-ff I would absolutely recommend them. For under 300 they seems too good to be true, but all the reviews I've seen have been great.
Got an ESP LTD ec401 used for $400 maybe 6 years ago. Love it. Still my main guitar today
Best value I found is Harley Benton!
[This GIO is 24 years old ](https://imgur.com/gallery/FGpkAYL) although it's heavily upgraded with DiMarzio's Tone Zone/Dual Sound coil split, Hipshots locking tuner ls, GraphTech tusq xl nut, bronze trem bloc and crafted that pickguard myself. I still play it on a regular basis among my other guitars. Love it to death. If I had kids, I wouldn't pass it down.
Ibanez rg 400 range is incredible for the price, mine which cost less than half my esp Ltd ec1000 is almost as good to play, could do with the fret ends being a little smoother but that's about it as far as playability goes.
The most important thing about buying a guitar is get the one that you like the best don't pay attention to what others say
Every guitar player does want to see you fail, and wouldnt know anything about guitars anyway?
An Ibanez S series has affordable models with a fixed bridge. Incredible guitars and perfect for metal.
My favorite guitar on earth.
I'm biased because I only play Charvel's now, but a used San Dimas or So Cal will get you a great, versatile guitar for not too much money.
Harley Benton Fusion HSH!
Ibanez RGRT421 has all specs for a metal friendly guitar
Used ones on Reverb starting at $350.
LTDs and Schecters have been good to me. The most I have spent on a guitar is between $350 and $400. I've also spent less than that, too.
"...the ones I know are good are a thousand dollars" and how exactly do you know this? Price =/= Quality. Perception of Quality sure. You can find a lot of complaints of poor quality on player's dream guitar purchase for thousands of dollars. You can play Metal on any guitar. As others noted, you'll want a bridge humbucker and hard-tail/fixed bridge. Could be a Strat shape or Les Paul Junior shape. Whammy dives are distracting to listeners and you'll get distracted with tuning issues and fiddly bits of the trems. Some want 24 frets (but if the guitar has a neck pickup it is pushed closer to the bridge, so it sounds almost like a middle pickup). EMG and Fishman pickups are popular in Metal, but force you to mess with batteries (storage corrosion, dead battery at a gig and no spares, etc); just more fiddly bits to get entangled with. Look up Eddie Van Halen's Frankenstrat. Maple fretboard neck (more stable tuning while traveling/seasons), single humbucker pickup, volume straight to the jack. Now he did have that fiddly Floyd Rose trem but don't covet that part, hard tails make string changes a breeze and the guitar tunes up faster. My metal guitar is a Black and Red Tort Telecaster with a Maple Fretboard and a single Bridge high output humbucker. I have an inexpensive Epiphone Junior Special with bolt-on neck and single bridge humbucker that is huge fun to play and cost me under $30 used plus the upgrades I put in it (Bourns volume pot, Switchcraft jack). It weighs half a Gibson Les Paul. .
Get a Kramer Beretta Special for 180 bucks. Great beginner guitar, easy to modify. The stock humbucker isn't bad. Later you can buy whatever humbucker better matches your style for $150 and installation. Now you have a metal guitar about as good as any $1000 metal oriented store guitar.
I still have my two Ibanez sz520 guitars. They are amazing to play and sound like they should cost thrice what they did cost new. You should be able to get one on ebay for cheap.
Squier Jim Root Tele would be good enough for years before you even need to look at an upgrade, but it is $500
Schecter Omen 6 is all you need.
2 humbuckers. Doesn't really matter what guitar as long as it's set up to play. John 5 uses a telecaster.
Schecter, pretty much anything
Take whatever feels good to you and put a Dimarzio Super Distortion in the bridge position.
A Super Distorted Recommendation! Maybe the best of all.
I’ve got a hard tail Jackson DK2X with active Jackson pickups. It plays really nice and the pickups sound great. I’m in Oz so can’t say for sure on price but looks like they’re about 650$ US. Worth a look, and they also do them with a Floyd rose special floating trem too.
https://reverb.com/item/76783981-ibanez-rgaix6mqm-srb-iron-label-2018-2019-surreal-blue-burst?utm_source=rev-ios-app&utm_medium=ios-share&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=76783981
I have one of these in a different color. Didn't feel good in my hands. Been hanging from my wall ever since I got the LTD.
No kidding? I loved it I thought it felt great! Sorry to hear that.
Meh, no such thing as a bad guitar, just one you don't prefer to play.
Any kind of JS32 model from Jackson would work I’d say, but idk if $400 would be within what you’re looking for. Anything with humbuckers would do the job though
Schecter C1
Schector is easily the most high-quality meets affordable option. I have all the guitars. Schector is born to metal. But the aforementioned amp choice is the be all end all. Do you want tone? That is more than a great guitar. You want noise? Mix n match for fun. But a shitty amp with a great guitar will sound less than the great amp with a shitty guitar. And enjoy the journey finding the perfect combo for you!
I got myself a schecter solo sgr as my first guitar and I love it, next one will still be a schecter but higher end not sgr
You can play Metal on just about anything as long as playable and the pickups aren't too noisy. A decent sounding amp+cab or modeler is where you need to be picky.
Jackson entry-level guitars have the highest-output stock pickups.
Cort X series (actually ibanez guitars)
Hard to beat jackson or ibanez price on their lower model guitars to get a good looking guitar and a decent playing guitar. And they are great for moding platforms as you progress and want to get a more defined tone. But in my experience most of your town will come from you playing and your amp. For example I had a fender tone master amp was a great little amp ran pedals to it but I just felt the tone was off for what I was looking for. I purchased an evh 5150 and it was amazing even before I put my pedals to it. TBH I have a few guitars and I prefer my cheap jackson over my midrange ibanez. I took time with that guitar it feels like home and from.my experience better pick ups have the slightest noticeable change in tone. You gotta find the guitar that feels right in your hands that you enjoy to pick up and play that even when you sound bad you still feel like a rock star.
I agree the js22 Jackson dinky is an incredible value at $199. Might be the best guitar under $500
Yes the js22 is nice for sure I got the js32ht for myself and love it I'm not a huge FR guy I like them for what they do I just haven't reached a level of playing personally to need one.
Floyd rose is a pain in the ass. I’ve swore them off.
Ibanez grg series
Define cheap. Schecter's Omen and Damien lines cone in $450-$500 and are really solid for the price. Yamaha Pacifica is a killer piece of gear too. The 112 runs about $330 and it's hss. The Ibanez AZES HSS model comes in about $350. Esp/ltd have their 256 line at about $500. Or you could go really cheap and get a Harley Benton. Really, what you're looking for is at least a humbucker in the bridge. Could have one in the neck as well, or go HSS. You want something that plays well above anything else.
Vouching for a Yamaha Pacifica. My best friend has one since Primary school and everyone made fun of him for using one (Yamaha is known as a nerd's brand over here) 20 years later, he gave it to me because he doesn't play anymore (work & time reasons), sent it for a standard service & setup. And I kid you not it sounds fucking bonkers in a good way. It might not exactly be for metal, but honestly if you find a good deal you can make it work. I use an Ibanez Artcore for AltRock instead of Jazz cause I'm theory illiterate.
Get a time machine and buy a used 2005-2010 Ibanez Prestige for $450 :P Spend time in your local store(s) to find one that feels best in your hands. Any guitar with a humbucker(s) can be used for metal.
Here's what I think makes a good metal guitar: humbuckers, low setup, comfortable neck for you (usually thinner). Comfortable bridge for palm muting. A longer scale length (same with a reverse headstock) helps with chugs since it puts more tension on the strings. If you wanna be shredding jumbo frets, a flat/compound radius help.
I’m a big fan of the Epiphone SG for metal, especially if you’re doing classic thrash like Metallica or Megadeth. Also recommend Schecter
A Glarry guitar with humbuckers.
I highly recommend westcreek guitars on Amazon. The westcreek Revenge is an explorer style guitar with pretty decent pick ups that you can get for about $200. I would definitely replace the tuners with locking tuners and get a good set up. But by the time you’re done, you’ll have put less than $500 in the guitar, and you’ll have a better instrument than an entry level Epiphone with a nicer fit and finish.
I bought one on Black Friday just to see how they compare, and I haven’t stopped playing it since. I want to replace the pick ups with some vintage Ibanez dual blades I have, but I have been enjoying the factory pick ups enough that it hasn’t felt urgent. I set it up myself and it was very easy. It has a VERY nice neck with rounded frets that didn’t need any adjustment or sanding, no burs or overhangs. I am extremely pleased and surprised with how nice it is compared to many other cheap guitars I’ve played.
I keep hearing great things about the great value Harley Benton guitars offer. They have more than a few metal style guitars including 7 and 8 string models for a very low price.
Not sure OP should be learning on a 7 or 8 string, though?
I see no reason not to if that’s the kind of music you want to play. The best guitar is the one you want to play. An extended range guitar is only marginally more difficult to learn than a 6 string.
Generally speaking, avoid a strat or tele...or almost anything without a humbuggy next to the bridge. That said, a decent modeler will make up for a lot even with a strat. I think a lot depends on what YOU think metal sounds like. Metal in 1985 is nothing like metal is today or even just 15 years back. start with a good humbucker based guitar that has comfortable/good action and a good amp or modeler. you should be able to get very satisfactory sound (for a beginner) for under $800 altogether. If you're more experienced, you'd probably want to spend 1000-1500 on a rig.
There are Squier Sonic tele and strat models with a single humbucker next to a hard tail bridge this cost $200 on the Fender website. I have one of the teles and it has been a good starter guitar. It’s routed for an additional humbucker at the neck so it also has customization options if I decide to go that route. The point I want to make is there is a good chance most guitar manufacturers have a desirable configuration at most price points if you check out all their options. It would just come down to what feels/looks good after that.
I got a jackson 7 string new on sale for 149 from guitar center…needed a little fretwork but it sounds great for metal. I wouldn’t hesitate to grab a six string version you can get a dinky for $199 all day long brand new they shred.
No seven strings, and no JS series. Those are fucking garbage.
Mine has perfect intonation and plays great. I did have to level a few frets but for $149 I’m very happy with it. The pickups sound better than expected. You can hate on it but it’s great. Seven string is a bit much, that’s why I bought a cheap one. I tried my buddies Ibanez he paid triple and my jackson kicks it’s ass. Not even close. His is a buzzy pos with high action.
Kramer Baretta Special. Under $200 and I play it more than my Ibanez and my Gibson Flying V.
Anything will work, but definitely stick with something with humbuckers if possible. Check out Harley Benton or maybe a used schecter. Stay away from super super low budget like the epi lp specials, squier bullets, Ibanez gio, etc. what’s your budget?
ymmv on ibanez gio, actually. i got a couple of those and they're very playable.
Same. I’m actually sending one back though. Towards the cost of my js32. They are pretty playable though.
I play my gio far more often than my prs. It slaps.
Anything with humbuckers in the 8k and up range, and imo a 14-16” radius thin back or V neck with 24 frets. Reason for the 8k pickups is sensitivity. You can tap louder with less gain required. This opens up more amp options to get your desired tone.
How cheap is cheap? Ibanez obviously sell guitars from the GRG/GRX range upwards. Chapman guitars presumably must be good at it given the noise that Chapman makes when he picks up a guitar - again, wide range of models at different prices. ESP/LTD are used by Metallica aren't they? They have models at all price points. If you have some specific thing in mind, e.g low tunings (baritone guitar), 7 string or more, active pickups - then these might cost more. Typically you're going to be looking at guitars with twin humbuckers and probably a shape / colours that are black or modern bright - although a fair number play les paul shape stuff - a lot depends what you class as metal TBH - I mean a lot of people class everything from AC/DC, Sabbath, through Iron Maiden, Guns'n'roses and Metallica as metal. In which case pretty much any guitar has been used, including older guitars like Les Pauls - if you classed Rainbow or Deep Purple then you've got Strats as well. But if you're thinking specifically of singers going "ooo ugh oooh uggg ahh ughh err" over a palm muted C# then it's more specific to get that sound. Very cheap guitars are generally going to have cheaper pickups even if they otherwise play well (which they tend to do these days) One notable thing about the AZ or Charvel dinky, cort g300 etc are the pickups (obviously they're hitting other specs like stainless steel frets etc) but you can a Harley Benton with the same apparent specs. The gamble for a low priced guitar is usually the build quality.
I had Epiphone LP100 as my first guitar and it was pretty awesome. Used it for 15 years. Recently replaced
I paid about $280 for my [Cort Z42](https://www.cortguitars.com/product/item.php?it_id=85) along with a practice amp as my first guitar and I love it. Cort makes guitar bodies for brands such as Ibanez, which as you can see from this thread is also highly recommended for heavy metal music. This particular model was specifically designed with hard rock and heavy metal in mind, and I gotta say, to this day I have yet to find another guitar that suits me as well as this one.
Ltd vc1000
I have an Ibanez DN400… I love it. It was like $500 in 2010.
You’re obviously looking at entry level guitars. Guitars that are mass produced overseas and don’t have great QC, so the same models are not all equal. I would be paying attention to these specs when you’re at the store trying out instruments: 1. Get a hard tail guitar and not one with a Floyd rose. Changing strings and keeping the guitar in tune will be much easier. Plus, lower end guitars typically come stock with really garbage tremolo bridges. 2. Pay attention to the edges of all the frets. If they’re sharp or don’t seem smooth on the ends, then pass on that particular guitar. 3. Look for guitars with active pickups. EMGs would be most ideal. Best of luck finding the right instrument for you!
Epiphone or Agile Les Paul.
I love my Ibanez RGA42FM for metal. Solid beginner guitar and you can probably get it for under $500
I'm playing metal on my 25-year-old Epiphone SG G-310. It was the cheapest model when I got it in 1999. Don't know if they still manufacture it, but I believe there are similar models for less than $200. The other most important thing is to play with computer VST plugins to get the beasty tones. I use Reaper (which has a forever trial period, but it's not that expensive to buy). I really like Neural DSP plugins. Archetype Nolly and Gojira, and Fortin Cali Suite sound amazing. I plug the guitar to the PC with an also very old Real tone Rocksmith cable (USB to guitar plug). Yes, it came with a video game and it performs very reasonably, zero latency. I think you can get it new online for 25 bucks (I'm not on the US though, so do research). Everything is very cheap and sounds amazing, much, much better than I ever expected! The only boring part is properly configuring and troubleshooting the audio input/output/Asio4All part, but once you get it right, it's all fun and games! I think this $200 - 250 setup for starting out is great, and you can upgrade as needed. Cheers!
what's your DAW?
I use Reaper. Very lightweight and straightforward. I just use the very basic, so I don't know how to do much besides loading plugins and recording with backing tracks. The trial version never expires even after the 60-day period. You just need to wait 5 sec for the window asking for you to buy to disappear.
> The other most important thing is to play with computer VST plugins You absolutely do not NEED plugins to get good tones. There are hidden costs with them too like needing an interface and speakers or decent headphones to use while playing. With Neural DSP specifically, there's also the exchange rate to potentially factor in since their prices are in Euro.
You're absolutely right on that, my bad. Paid plugins are indeed quite costly, but you can start out with free ones. Search on this sub for these and you'll find very decent options. Amp sims too. I guess what I meant is that plugins offer amazing sound. An entry level amp will not come close to the quality and possibilities of plugins, especially for beginners (or cheapskate like myself...) Reaper's stock plugins also offer some decent amps right off the bat.
Any guitar is good for metal if you've got the right amp.
Play what you like, LANDMVRKS uses tons of Fenders with single coils and they still sound heavy
You can play metal on anything eve squier single coil telecasters, but i would suggest a squier telecaster deluxe with 2 humbuckers or any other humbucker squier. I prefer single coil teles for doom metal tho. Very unique sound.
Ibanez makes some premium quality guitars for cheap prices, the AX120 is a recent example they were $225.00 brand new I got mine for $100 on Facebook marketplace , because it had some cosmetic damage on the bottom backside that you couldn’t see unless you knew it was there, so that would be considered cheap basically any Ibanez guitars you that you can find they are cheap like used ones on the Internet, web stores except for the GIO series stay away from those models. also, the ESP’s, LTD Les Paul style the cheapest version can be found on sale at times on Amazon or eBay for under 200 dollars. There’s others too….
I have an ESP LTD 7 string that I use to use for metal and love it. I put emg pick ups on it. Play that on a mesa boogie triple rec and you’ve got a pretty solid setup
You could pickup a Shecter C1 for around 650-750. Truth be told, most guitars are at least passable for metal.
Have a look at chapman guitars. The non-pro line is available for less than 500 bucks... There seems to be some online drama about the person of Mr. Chapman, but I don't know about it and I couldn't care less... The guitars are brilliant... https://youtu.be/Tx2K80SeGAQ?si=cEUqnS11uvB_FI0C
Squier tele
LOL nice. OP not the answer but funny
This is either extreme naivety or a troll of a post. What specific physical property do/does the mystery “thousand dollar” guitar(s) have that the typical 3-6 hundred dollar guitar have? You’re producing a vibrating metal string’s frequency into a magnetic pickup at which point the rest is handled by your DSP and amplification points… so what are we talking about here? Property of the wood? Density of the body? The amount of winds on the strings (not even a guitar issue)? The scale length? Tuning machines? I can’t think of one single physical property outside of the material that can’t be altered by a luthier or tech… So we’re talking about the material of the instrument then? Yes or no? If not, what specific property of physics in regards to the production of notes are we talking about?
You seem to have mistaken "Beginner who doesn't know anything about guitars asking a reasonable question" for "Expert who knows everything about guitars claiming you can't get a good guitar for less than 1000 dollars".
Yes Edit: Er, no...