The sound produced by electric guitars, which is typically amplified, is known to be particularly full. It is the primary instrument used in the electric guitar genre, and it is used to produce the distinctive sounds of rock, blues, country, and other musical genres. What steps do you take when you want to play an acoustic guitar instead? Acoustic guitars are much softer and quieter than electric guitars, and they are primarily used in the genres of pop and country music. Electric guitars are typically used in rock and metal music.
The cost is the concern that tops the list for the vast majority of people who are in the market for an electric guitar.
Despite the fact that there are a ton of different brands, models, and styles available to us, our budgets dictate the process from beginning to end, regardless of how well we play. In this article, we are going to take a look at the typical price of an electric guitar for those readers who are unfamiliar with the electric guitar market.

Pricing according to Brand
However, if you consider the Brand of electric guitar that you want to go for and the type of electric guitar that you want, it will be much simpler for you to start narrowing down your choices. For instance, brands can each be roughly categorized according to their own price ranges, as follows:
- Epiphone: $500-$900
- Squier: $200-$400
- Fender: $600-$1100
- Gibson: PRS between $2,000 and $3,000 SE: $400-$1200 PRS Main: $2000-$4000
Remember that these are just estimates for each different Brand, so keep that in mind. Let’s take a look at some specific models, along with the prices that were taken from their Sweetwater listing, so we can get a more in-depth answer.
Typical Price for 11 Popular Electric Guitar Models
Epiphone 1959 800 dollars for a Les Paul Standard and 1000 dollars for a PRS SE Custom 24
Gibson Prices range from $2500 for a Les Paul Standard to $1450 for a Fender American Professional Stratocaster.
Prices range from $400 for the Squier Classic Vibe ’70s Stratocaster to $825 for the Fender Deluxe Nashville Telecaster. PRS CE 24: $2000
Epiphone Les Paul Standard ’50s: $600
Epiphone Squier Affinity Series Telecaster: $230 Squier Affinity Series Telecaster: Les Paul Studio $450 Fender Player Telecaster: $700
What factors into the determination of the different prices?
You can see that the prices range quite a bit, which is somewhat surprising given that all of these guitars are extremely popular (they’re among the models that are selling the best all over the world), but you can also see that they all share a similar level of popularity.
Why is there such a significant difference in cost between the Gibson Les Paul Standard and the Epiphone Les Paul?
The following are some of the factors that will affect the cost:
1. Tonewood
Tonewood types such as alder, mahogany, and maple have a significant impact on how much it costs a company to manufacture a guitar. This is especially true in the context of acoustic guitars, but it also applies to electric guitars.
The instrument’s price increases in direct proportion to the rarity and quality of the type of wood used in its construction.
Mahogany, as opposed to pine, is an example of a material that is preferable to have.
2. Types of Wood Grades Available
Hardwood grading is another approach to assessing the quality of wood that takes into account additional factors and provides a more nuanced evaluation.
This method, which is also a factor in determining the price and quality of an electric guitar, is outlined in detail by the American Hardwood Export Council. Additionally, this method is a factor in determining the quality of the electric guitar.
3. Pickups
The guitar’s pickups are the second most important factor in determining the price, after the body of the instrument itself.
Pickups in less expensive electric guitars are frequently “stock” models or come from a less expensive brand produced by the parent company. A reputable third-party manufacturer, such as Seymour Duncan or DiMarzio, will be utilized in the construction of nicer guitars. Ibanez, for instance, is best known for making electric guitars, not pickups, despite its name. Therefore, Ibanez guitars with lower price tags come equipped with stock Ibanez pickups, while higher-end models feature DiMarzio or EMG pickups instead.
4. Hardware
Hardware components of an instrument’s hardware, such as the bridge, tremolo system, and tuning machines, are considered to be in the same category as pickups.
You have the option of purchasing lower-quality stock parts for a lower price or purchasing branded pieces with higher quality, such as Grover or Stewmac.
For instance, the bridge hardware that comes installed in a Squier Stratocaster isn’t nearly as nice as the bridge hardware that comes installed in a Fender American Stratocaster.
5. Electronics
The price may also be affected by the inclusion of supplementary electronic components such as volume knobs, tone knobs, and interior wiring.
On the other hand, these are extremely sensitive to the type of pickup and its mounting configuration.
In particular, for electric guitars that are built to the customer’s specifications, additional tone knobs, push-pull knob functionality, pickup switch options, and kill switch options can all drive up the price.
6. Maker of the product/Brand
Many of the more luxurious guitar brands also have a subsidiary that is sold at a lower price point and is more accessible to customers. PRS has their SE line of guitars, Gibson has their Epiphone lineup, and Fender has their Squier series of guitars.
In reality, the SE models are produced in a country other than the United States, whereas the mainline PRS models are constructed in the state of Maryland.
Although this indicates that prices can vary widely within each Brand, there are certain pricing conventions that can be identified regardless of which Brand is preferred.

7. The year in which the guitar was manufactured
As is the case with automobiles, the most popular models of the electric guitar will undergo significant revisions each year. As a direct consequence of this, you now have the 2020 Stratocaster, as well as 2019, 2018, and so on models.
Used electric guitars, much like used automobiles, will typically come with a date stamped on them indicating the year they were manufactured.
For instance, because it was a 2005 model when I purchased my PRS CE 24 in 2012, it was available at a significantly reduced price. When purchasing a used guitar, it is in your best financial interest to pay close attention to the model year of the instrument because doing so can result in significant cost savings.
These days, the most reliable source of information on used guitar gear is Reverb. Look through their selection of electric guitars to see older models of guitars from various years.
8. How many were manufactured, and how long were they available for purchase?
Some specialized or custom models of electric guitars are only made for a short period of time or in a small quantity. It should not come as a surprise that this, in most cases, results in a fairly significant increase in the cost. Making a Selection From Well-Known Electric Guitars Based on Their Prices I’m going to talk about some of the most well-known guitar brands and models now that we’ve established some pricing guidelines. To assist you in making a more educated decision regarding which guitar to purchase, we will discuss the types of players who might get the most out of each instrument.
Gibson Les Pauls & SGs
Gibson Les Pauls are recognized as high-end guitars that are adaptable to a wide variety of musical styles, but they are especially popular in the rock and metal music communities. Due to the high cost, we would only recommend them to experienced players or those who are determined to make a long-term investment in the instrument.
There are a significant number of modern players who make heavy use of Les Paul electrics, despite the fact that it is frequently used in a context more associated with classic rock. Adam Jones, Tom Morello, and Slash are just a few examples. They are all members of the band Tool.
Epiphone Les Pauls & SGs
From a visual standpoint, it can be difficult to tell an Epiphone Les Paul apart from its older Gibson sibling.
In point of fact, a good number of people believe that they offer a playing experience that is very comparable and sounds nearly as good. For this reason, as well as the fact that the parts and pickups are typically much more affordable, we recommend Epiphone to guitarists who are just starting out or are intermediate level. In this sense, they produce excellent guitars for modding, which means that you can buy an Epiphone and then upgrade its hardware or pickups to a higher quality. Les Paul guitars, even those manufactured under the Epiphone brand, have universal appeal, making them suitable for players of all skill levels and musical styles (rock and metal in particular).
Fender Stratocasters
As was mentioned earlier, Fender Stratocasters are available in a wide variety of models, each of which can be purchased at a unique price point (Player series, American series, etc.). Nevertheless, in most cases, lighter musical genres like blues and jazz, as well as more melodic styles, are best suited for their use. Due to the fact that it employs single coil pickups, its tone isn’t as robust as that of an instrument such as the Les Paul. However, the Stratocaster is the model of guitar that has sold the most units throughout history. Because of this, it is an excellent choice for guitarists of any skill level and can be played in a variety of styles.
Fender Telecasters
The Telecaster is the second most popular model offered by Fender. This guitar is well-liked in music genres that are similar to one another, but it is especially popular in country music circles. Again, it is suitable for a wide price range and a variety of skill levels, and it offers a distinctive tone thanks to the neck pickup and the single coil slanted pickup located at the bridge.
PRS SE Series
The SE models are produced in South Korea and do not have the same level of quality as the mainline PRS options (which we will discuss in the following section). Nevertheless, they do a good job of capturing a similar level of tone and quality, and they definitely have the feel of a genuine PRS. When it comes to choosing a second guitar, our go-to recommendation is always a SE model. These guitars are perfect for players who are just beginning the intermediate stage of their learning journey and are looking to upgrade their beginner electric. They can be found in the range of $600 to $800, which is a pretty comfortable price point for them. Used options on Reverb can frequently be found for sale in the $500 to $600 price range. Take note that the most recent sales are down below, and one of them even went for $120.
PRS Mainline Series
As is the case with Gibson Les Pauls, the majority of the mainline PRS models, such as the Custom 24 and CE series, are fairly pricey, which restricts their access to more experienced and dedicated players.
Their sound is fuller, much like that of the Les Paul, but the Stratocaster design gives them some of the playability and speed of that instrument.
Although we find it particularly useful for heavier and more modern styles, PRS electrics are capable of handling virtually any musical style. Both the Stratocaster and the Telecaster are made by Squier. Squier is an economy line of guitars produced by Fender. It offers a wide variety of low-priced options that are suitable for novice players and are even liked by some intermediate-level players.
The Fender Stratocaster and the Fender Telecaster models will, to a large extent, have the same allure for you to enjoy here.

Conclusion
The purchase of an electric guitar is a significant step. Even if you are just starting out, it is still an investment; therefore, it is going to be of great assistance to have an estimate of the range of costs that you can anticipate. Pay close attention to the length of time the guitar has been in production, the Brand, the model, the pickups, and any other features we’ve mentioned that might affect the price. As you look at different models, these will be the primary factors that determine whether an item’s price is higher or lower.