12 Best Electric Guitars for Classic Rock

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

Under $500Under $1,000Under $2,000Over $2,000

Under $500

Epiphone SG Standard

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

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Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST

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

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Squier Classic Vibe ’60s Mustang

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

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Under $1,000

Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute Humbucker

The Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute Humbucker is your one-way ticket to primal rock ‘n’ roll fury. From Zeppelin-like crunch to scorching, Slash-style solos to mind-bending Wylde-isms, this Les Paul is a serious classic-rock tone generator. This electric guitar’s 490R and 490T humbucking pickups are ready to kick your amp in the teeth, while its lightweight mahogany-slab body offers the perfect blend of old-school Les Paul style and playing comfort. Given a gorgeous Vintage Cherry Satin finish, the Les Paul Special Tribute Humbucker will transform your riffs into pure thunder.

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Gretsch G5655TG Electromatic Center Block Jr.

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

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Fender Player Stratocaster

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

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Under $2,000

G&L Fullerton Deluxe S-500

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

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Reverend Roundhouse

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

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D’Angelico Excel Mini DC

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

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Over $2,000

Fender American Modified ’60s Telecaster

If you’re aiming for true-to-life Springsteen, Townshend, or Richards guitar tones, then you gotta have a Tele. That’s where the Fender American Modified ’60s Telecaster comes in. Its high-output Twisted Tele pickups are made for rafter-shaking rock ‘n’ roll. What’s more, its late-’60s-shaped neck and vintage-radius fingerboard are tailor-made for grabbing a chord and engaging in full-tilt windmill strumming. This high-end Tele includes a number of modern enhancements, as well, such as ultra-reliable Sperzel locking tuners and a fast-playing satin-finished neck. The Fender American Modified ’60s Telecaster features a road-ready poly finish and an exclusive Daphne Blue color that you’ll only find at Sweetwater.

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G&L CLF Research Doheny V12

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

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Gibson Les Paul Classic

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

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