The Top Ten Guitar Brands in the World

Top Guitar Brands

If you take a stroll to your local music store, you will most likely be greeted with hundreds of different guitars to choose from. There definitely is no shortage of guitar brands out there, and with all the options in the world, it definitely can be difficult to make a selection. However out of all the various guitar brands in the world, only a few come out on top as some of the best. We are going to take a look at a list of the top ten guitar brands in the world.

10. ESP

ESP Guitars is a Japanese guitar company that was founded in 1975. They originally got their start making reproduction replicas of high-end American guitars, but today they sell a wide range of guitars and basses. As a brand they gained momentum with the 1980’s metal scene with bands like Metallica, Slayer, and Megadeth. Their instruments range from entry-level guitars to high-end professional models.

9. Squire

Squire is a subsidiary of Fender and they are also worth mentioning. Now Squires certainly are not the nicest or the best sound guitars in the world by a long-shot, however they are very good at what they do best. Squire’s are entry-level guitars that are some of the best instruments for first-time guitar players. Their instruments are very affordable and many guitar players have learned on Squires.

8. Jackson

Founded by Grover Jackson in 1980, Jackson is another popular guitar brand that is based out of America. Jackson guitars are known for their slender profiles and aggressive features. While any guitar can be used for any genre of music, Jackson guitars are used by many modern hard-rock and metal bands around the world.

7. G&L Music Instruments 

G&L was created by George Fullerton and Leo Fender in the 1970’s after Leo sold his well-known company that all guitar players are familiar with. They wanted to keep creating instruments so they needed a new company and thus G&L was born. In terms of appearance, many G&L guitars look like Fenders however they use different materials and pickups to differentiate themselves.

6. Gretsch 

Gretsch can trace its roots as a musical instrument company all the way back to 1883, but it wasn’t until the 1950’s did they really make a splash with their guitars. The famous Gretsch White Falcon has become one of the most iconic guitar models of all time and their instruments are used by a range of professional musicians today. They are best known for their hollow-bodied electric guitars.

5. Taylor Guitars

In the world of acoustic guitars, Taylor is definitely one of the most well-known and respected brands. The have been producing quality acoustic guitars out of California for some 41 years now and their instruments are used by many notable musicians like Taylor Swift and Jason Mraz, among others.

4. Ibanez

Ibanez is probably the best known guitar brand from Japan and they were one of the first prominent Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a considerable market share in North America and Europe. Their instruments range from beginner instruments to high-end guitars that costs thousands.

3. C.F. Martin and Company

Martin is another top guitar brand and they are often regarded as the best manufacturer of acoustic guitars. The were established in 1833 in Nazareth, Pennsylvania and they have a long history of providing notable musicians with instruments. Like the other brands, they make a range of guitars but their high-end guitars are certainly in a league of their own and they sell for thousands. I’ve personally seen their guitar factory first-hand, and they definitely put large levels of attention to detail and care into their instruments. Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, and Woodie Guthrie are just a few of the prominent musicians that have played on Martins.

2. Gibson

It’s hard to rank these last two guitar brands on our list over one another, so consider them to be on the same level. Gibson is definitely one of the most-well known and most-respected guitar brands in the world. They have produced many guitars over the years, but their Les Paul model has certainly become an icon. You could easily fill a book of guitar players that use a Gibson, and you certainly can’t go wrong with owning one. Like many other high-end American instruments, their guitars are essentially investments and often increase in value over time.

1. Fender

Fender, much like Gibson, is yet another guitar brand that has gone down in history to be one of the best. There’s a very good chance that the last song you heard that featured an electric guitar was recorded with a Fender and they are also used by countless musicians all over the world. Additionally they are also accredited with creating the worlds first commercially available solid-body, electric guitar.

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Written by Sebastian Hensiek

From Philadelphia, Sebastian is a fan of music, writing, art, and entertainment.