Looking for the best Gibson electric guitars? Gibson is one of the top guitars brands of all time. Some of their iconic guitars include the Gibson SG and the Les Paul. This guide will help you pick out a great guitar.
Quick Look: Best Gibson Electric Guitars
★ #1 Best Gibson Electric Guitar Overall: Gibson Les Paul Standard ★
- Best Cheap Gibson Electric Guitar: Gibson Les Paul Studio
- Best Gibson Electric Guitar Under $2,000: Gibson Les Paul Classic
- Best Gibson Electric Guitar Under $1,500: Gibson Les Paul Special
- Best Les Paul Gibson Electric Guitar: Gibson Les Paul Slash
- Best SG Gibson Electric Guitar: Gibson SG Standard
- Best Gibson Hollowbody Electric Guitar: Gibson ES-355
I’ve played electric guitar for many years and have tried many models. I find Gibson to be quite reliable in terms of quality and sound. The guitars on this list would all make excellent choices for your next guitar.
About Gibson Electric Guitars
Gibson has been in business since 1902 and is a leading producer of electric and acoustic guitars. Gibson is well-known for its quality guitars, which have a distinct sound.
Top Gibson players include Jimmy Page, Angus Young, Tony Iommi, Slash, Zakk Wylde, Ted Nugent, Ace Frehley, and countless other great guitarists. It’s the go-to guitar for rock guitar styles, and it defined the rock era of the 1960s-1980s.
The Gibson Les Paul is the most iconic of Gibson guitars, along with the Gibson SG. Guitar players today still go back to the Gibson brand because their guitars are that good.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Gibson Electric Guitar
Here are some of the things to consider before you buy a Gibson electric guitar. These guitars are quite expensive, so you want to ensure that you get something that will work for you.
Body Style
The body style you get will depend upon your preferences. For example, some find the Gibson Les Paul to be too heavy, which might not be ideal for you. I prefer the SG body style as I find it comfortable and lightweight.
Experiment with the various body styles to find one that works for you. Not every model will fit your playing style or what you like. Have a look before you buy to find something that works for you.
The Overall Tone & Sound
You get a big tone out of the Gibson electric guitar thanks to the guitar’s dual humbuckers. These instruments are ideal for rock and metal styles but work for other styles like blues, jazz, and country.
Price
The downside to Gibson guitars is the price. You pay top dollar for these guitars. Basic models are over $1,000, and models with more features tend to be $2,000 and up. Here are some basic price ranges:
- Basic: $1,000+
- Intermediate level: $1,300-$2000+
- Advanced: $2,500+
Price ranges for Gibsons vary, but they’re not cheap, so you’ll need to shell out a good chunk to own a Gibson guitar. A regular Les Paul, for example, is around $2,500 or thereabouts.
Types of Gibson Electric Guitars
This list explains the various Gibson types or body styles, which are their main models. There is a body type for all playing styles and preferences when you choose a Gibson guitar.
Les Paul
The Les Paul is the basic model and the most popular. It’s an iconic guitar that helped shape rock and roll through the 1950s to 1980s. These guitars sound great, are easy to play, and are well suited for many different styles.
See more: Best Epiphone Les Paul Electric Guitars Buyer’s Guide
SG
The SG has a smaller body compared to the Les Paul, and it’s a lot lighter. It’s ideal for many guitar styles. Most models have two great-sounding humbucking pickups. One famous SG player is Angus Young from AC/DC.
Hollowbody
The Gibson hollowbody gives you the best of electric and acoustic sounds. These guitars usually have two humbucking pickups as well as f-holes for good sound projection. The Gibson Es-355 is the most famous model.
Explorer
The Gibson explorer has a unique body shape, and it’s well-suited for rock and metal guitar styles. They come with two high output humbucking pickups. James Hetfield and Lzzy Hale are two famous Explorer players.
Firebird
The Firebird is similar in shape to the Explorer but more rounded. It comes with two humbucking pickups that are great for rock, blues, metal, and other guitar styles.
Flying V
The Flying V is an iconic rock and metal guitar, thanks to its V shape. It has a space-age look to it. It comes with high output humbucking pickups. This guitar has been made famous by plenty of players, such as Randy Rhoads.
10 Best Gibson Electric Guitars
Here are the 10 best Gibson electric guitars. I’ve tried to pick guitars in all price ranges as well as styles. You should find something in this list that works for you.
Gibson Les Paul Studio
- Type: Les Paul
- Scale length: 24.75″
- Material & finish: Mahogany, maple, rosewood, nitrocellulose lacquer
- Best for: Intermediate players looking for a lower cost Gibson
The Gibson Les Paul Studio is a lower-cost instrument for intermediate players. It has excellent pickups, a smooth playing neck, and a lightweight body, so it’s comfortable to play. This is a superior Gibson guitar.
✅ Good pickups
✅ Grover machine heads
✅ Slim taper neck
✅ Coil tapping
❌ Expensive
❌ Case is softshell
Why I Recommend It
While the Gibson Les Paul studio is still expensive, it costs a lot less than a regular Les Paul. It has great humbucking pickups that include a coil tap so you can switch to single-coil sounds.
The guitar features a slim taper neck, so it’s comfortable to play up and down the fretboard. The Tune-O-Matic bridge and Grover machine heads help keep the tuning of the instrument stable.
Gibson Slash Les Paul Standard
- Type: Les Paul
- Scale length: 24.75″
- Material & finish: Mahogany, maple, rosewood, nitrocellulose lacquer
- Best for: Players that want a solid Artist Signature Les Paul
This Artist Signature Gibson Slash Les Paul Standard is an amazing guitar. It has custom Burstbucker Alnico II pickups, a vintage neck, a flamed maple top, a hand-wired harness, and Slash’s signature on the guitar.
✅ Custom pickups
✅ Amazing look
✅ Great neck
✅ Hardshell case
❌ High cost
❌ No pickguard
Why I Recommend It
You’ll spend a lot on this instrument, but you’ll get your money’s worth. The pickups give you Slash’s trademark sound with lots of crunch and sustain. The neck is a ’50s model, which is very comfortable to play.
The figured maple top looks great, and it has a solid mahogany body. The instrument also features a hand-wired harness that gives you the vintage tone that you want. This is one of the best pro Gibson electric guitars.
Gibson Les Paul Classic
- Type: Les Paul
- Scale length: 24.75″
- Material & finish: Mahogany, rosewood, maple, nitrocellulose lacquer
- Best for: Beginners/intermediate players looking for great Gibson
The Gibson Les Paul Classic is an excellent guitar. It features Burstbucker pickups, a Tune-O-Matic bridge, Grover machine heads, and a smooth playing 22 fret neck. This guitar ships with a hardshell case.
✅ Lower cost
✅ Good pickups
✅ Coil tap feature
✅ Graph Tech nut
❌ Expensive
❌ A bit heavy
Why I Recommend It
You get your money’s worth with the Gibson Les Paul classic. It’s a bit less expensive than some of the other Gibson models, but it’s a superior guitar. I like the Burstbucker pickups, which are perfect for rock, blues, and other styles.
This guitar has a Graph Tech nut, which helps keep the tuning stable. It has a nice rosewood fretboard for smooth playing up and down the neck. There is a push-pull control for accessing both humbucking and single-coil sounds.
Gibson SG Standard
- Type: SG
- Scale length: 24.75″
- Material & finish: Mahogany, rosewood, nitrocellulose lacquer
- Best for: Players looking for great SG
The Gibson SG Standard is the perfect guitar for rock or metal styles. It comes with two excellent pickups, a full set of controls, and a smooth playing neck, and it has a lightweight mahogany body.
✅ Great pickups
✅ Nice neck
✅ Good nut
✅ Soft case
❌ Expensive
❌ Case could be better
Why I Recommend It
I like the Standard SG because it’s smaller in size than the regular Les Paul. This guitar is perfect for rock guitar styles and has high output pickups that sound great through a distorted amplifier. The 22-fret neck is nice and smooth.
The weight of the SG is also another highlight of this guitar. It’s more comfortable to play compared to other instruments. This is a standout guitar for any player that wants a comfortable instrument.
Gibson ES-355 Semi-Hollow
- Type: Semi-hollow
- Scale length: 24.75″
- Material & finish: Maple, poplar, rosewood, nitrocellulose lacquer
- Best for: Players looking for acoustic/electric tones
The Gibson ES-355 is an iconic Gibson guitar suited for jazz, blues, and similar styles. This acoustic/electric guitar provides a wide range of tones thanks to the double humbucking pickups and a smooth playing neck.
✅ Huge tone
✅ Great neck
✅ 22 frets
✅ Hardshell case
❌ Expensive
❌ Not suited for some styles
Why I Recommend It
This instrument will cost you quite a bit, but you’ll get a massive tone out of it. This is the choice if you want to play blues or jazz music, as your chords and lead lines will sing when you play them.
The C profile neck is comfortable to play up and down the fretboard. It comes with 22 frets that are easy to access thanks to the cutaway. It features two tones, two volumes, and a pickup selector switch to sculpt your sound.
Gibson Flying V 1970s
- Type: Flying V
- Scale length: 24.75″
- Material & finish: Mahogany, rosewood, nitrocellulose lacquer
- Best for: Players looking for a solid rock/metal guitar
The Gibson Flying V is the perfect option for rock or metal guitar players. It has an amazing fast neck, excellent pickups, and the superior sound you want for playing these types of styles.
✅ Great pickups
✅ Easy fret access
✅ Lightweight
✅ Hardshell case
❌ Hard to hold sitting
❌ Expensive
Why I Recommend It
If you want a fast guitar neck, the Gibson Flying V is the ideal choice. You get easy access to the top frets on this instrument, and it’s easy to shred up and down the mahogany taper neck when you play.
You get great ’70s Tribute humbuckers with an amazing tone, especially when you put them through a distorted amplifier. The electronics are hand-wired, so that you’ll get a vintage tone out of your guitar.
Gibson Explorer
- Type: Explorer
- Scale length: 24.75″
- Material & finish: Mahogany, rosewood, nitrocellulose lacquer
- Best for: Players looking for rock guitar with a great look
The Gibson Explorer is an excellent rock guitar that has a unique look. It comes with an easy-to-play slim taper neck with 22 frets. The guitar has two excellent sounding Burstbucker humbucking pickups, which sound great.
✅ Great pickups
✅ Unique look
✅ Great tone
✅ Hardshell case
❌ Expensive
❌ Body style not for everyone
Why I Recommend It
For rock guitar players, the Gibson Explorer is an excellent instrument. The Burstbucker pickups have a great tone that’s well suited for distorted guitar lines or fast soloing. The slim taper neck makes it easy to access all of the frets.
The mahogany body makes the guitar easy to hold, as it’s lightweight. It has solid Grover tuners, which help keep the instrument in a stable tuning. This instrument will be ready to go right out on the box and sounds great.
Gibson 1959 Reissue
- Type: Les Paul
- Scale length: 24.75″
- Material & finish: Mahogany, figured maple, Indian rosewood, nitrocellulose lacquer
- Best for: Professional looking for a high-quality guitar
This guitar is a reproduction of the famous Gibson 1959 Reissue Les Paul. It features custom Alnico III pickups, a lightweight body, a fast C profile neck, vintage tuners, and a sound that can’t be beat.
✅ Excellent pickups
✅ Vintage looks
✅ Hardshell case
✅ Handwired electronics
❌ Huge cost
❌ Heavy
Why I Recommend It
The 1959 reissue Les Paul is not for everyone because it’s quite expensive. If you have the money, this is an amazing reproduction of that 1959 model. You get a pair of great-sounding humbucking pickups for a vintage tone.
Other extras on this guitar include vintage details such as Kluson-style tuners and hand-wired electronics. It has a solid mahogany neck and a figured maple top, giving the guitar a great look and excellent sustain.
Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute
- Type: Les Paul
- Scale length: 24.75″
- Material & finish: Rosewood, mahogany, maple, nitrocellulose lacquer
- Best for: Those looking for their first Gibson guitar
The Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute is the perfect option for a beginner looking to get into Gibson guitars. These instruments have excellent pickups, a smooth playing neck, a great finish, and that Gibson sound that you want.
✅ Great pickups
✅ Easy playing neck
✅ Deluxe tuners
✅ Smooth finish
❌ Case could be better
❌ May need some setup
Why I Recommend It
This is one of the best Gibson guitars for under $1,000. You don’t find many models in this price range. This one has excellent P-90 pickups, an easy-playing neck, a great nitrocellulose finish, and deluxe tuners for stable tuning.
This would be the ideal option for a beginner or an intermediate player set on the Gibson lineup but who can’t afford some of the more expensive guitars. You’ll still get a great tone out of this instrument, but it may need an initial setup.
Gibson SG Standard 61 with Vibrola
- Type: SG
- Scale length: 24.75″
- Material & finish: Rosewood, mahogany, nitrocellulose lacquer
- Best for: Those that want a top quality SG
The Gibson SG Standard 61 has a Tune-O-Matic bridge with a Vibrola system, making this SG unique. It has two high output Burstbucker pickups for a superior tone. It has a solid mahogany body and a full set of controls.
✅ Great pickups
✅ Vibrola unit
✅ Smooth neck
✅ Great finish
❌ Expensive
❌ Some may not like Vibrola
Why I Recommend It
Most Gibson guitars don’t have any type of tremolo system, but this SG has an excellent Vibrola so that you can create more sounds with your SG. The Burstbucker pickups are perfect for rock or metal guitar playing.
The Graph Tech nut and vintage machine heads ensure stable tuning. The guitar neck is slim-taper, so it’s perfect for both rhythm playing as well as lead guitar. This guitar is capable of producing a wide range of different sounds.
Gibson Electric Guitars Aesthetics & Build
There are a few things to consider in terms of the build of your guitar. Here is a little about the body and the finish of your new Gibson guitar.
Material
Gibson guitars use high-quality wood for their guitars. Good wood can make a world of difference in terms of the tone and playability of the guitar. Here are some common woods used:
- Mahogany: Often used for Gibson guitar bodies and sometimes the neck. It has a good tone and resonance.
- Walnut: This is another wood often used for guitar bodies. It has a similar tone to mahogany.
- Maple: Often used for guitar tops and necks. This is a solid and dependable wood.
- Rosewood: Used for the guitar fingerboard as it makes playing smooth up and down the fretboard
Finish
All types of finishes are used on electric guitars, including Gibson guitars. Here’s what you need to know about finishes.
- Lacquer: There are different lacquers used to finish electric guitars. These have a smooth shine, last a long time, and give the guitar a great look.
- Nitrocellulose lacquer: Nitrocellulose is a common lacquer used to finish Gibson electric guitars, which gives them their amazing shine and durability.
- Poly finish: A lot of new guitars feature poly finishes. One of the most common is polyurethane. This gives great shine, added durability and is easy to apply.
Color
There are quite a few color options for Gibson electric guitars. Sunburst, black, gold, cherry, and white are common colors. There are a few other options available when you purchase a Gibson guitar.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Here are a few commonly asked questions about the Gibson guitar. These questions will help you make a buying decision before you get that new guitar.
What Is the Best Model for Me?
It’s difficult to know the best model for an individual player. You may have to try out a few guitars to find something that’s right for you. The Les Paul model is the standard guitar that most players enjoy.
What Are Gibsons So Expensive?
The reason why Gibson guitars are so expensive is that they’re made in the United States. It costs more to make the instrument here than it does overseas. High-quality wood and electronics are used in the construction of these instruments.
How Much Do Gibson Electric Guitars Cost?
Gibson guitars can be quite expensive. Even the most basic model is close to $1,000 or more. Here is a basic rundown of the prices you can expect to pay.
- Basic: $1,000+
- Intermediate level: $1,300-$2000+
- Advanced: $2,500+
What Are the Best Gibson Electric Guitars?
Here are three of the best Gibson electric guitars. I picked a model for all playing levels so you can find something that works for you.
Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute: Best for Beginners
The Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute is an excellent model for beginners because it doesn’t cost a whole lot yet it has that vintage Gibson tone. You can get one of these for under $1,000, which is an excellent bargain for a Gibson.
Gibson Les Paul Studio: Best for Intermediate Players
Gibson Les Paul Studio is lower cost than the regular standard but still has excellent pickups, a nice neck, and great playability. It’s the perfect option for an intermediate player looking to step up to a better Gibson.
Gibson Les Paul Standard: Best for Professional Players
While there are various Gibson Les Paul models, the Gibson Les Paul Standard is probably the best option. It has amazing pickups, a great neck, a smooth finish, and is suitable for many different styles of music.
Where Are Gibson Electric Guitars Made?
Gibson electric guitars are made in the USA from high-quality materials. These guitars cost a premium, but they’re well worth it, thanks to the construction methods used to make the instrument.
What Is the Best Sounding Gibson Electric Guitar?
The best-sounding Gibson electric guitar is the Standard Les Paul model. This guitar is capable of so much. It’s perfect for most styles of music. The other models, such as the SG, are fine as well, but the Les Paul is the premier model.
Where to Buy Gibson Electric Guitars
There are several different locations where you can purchase a Gibson electric guitar. Here is a rundown of where you can pick up one of these iconic guitars.
Amazon
I prefer to shop on Amazon because they have reasonable rates, fast shipping, excellent customer service, and a wide selection of products. I read the product reviews before I buy, which helps me make a better purchasing decision.
Online Music Retailers
Sweetwater and Guitar Center are two other locations where you might want to pick up your Gibson electric guitar. They have a large selection of products, reasonable shipping rates, and excellent customer service.
Your Local Music Store
You can also pick up a Gibson electric guitar at your local music store. Keep in mind that the store may not have every product in stock, so you might have to wait or go with something you might not want.
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In Conclusion
Thank you for reading this guide to the best Gibson electric guitars. These are superior guitars that are capable of producing almost any sound you want. You’ll find one for all playing levels.
I hope this guide has helped you pick out a Gibson guitar that’s right for you. Don’t be afraid to try several different models because it can take time to find the right instrument.
Please comment, like, and share this article. I look forward to talking to you about Gibson guitars or guitars in general. Now, put fresh strings on your new Gibson and have a lot of fun.