Electric Guitar Price Guide: Current Values & Sales

An electric guitar is only half the setup, since it needs an amplifier and a cable to be heard. Many shoppers compare guitar prices and forget that, so the real first-day cost is higher than the sticker price on the guitar alone.

The examples below come from retailer and maker listings for well-known models. They show where each tier tends to start, and they will not match every sale or every dealer.

Entry-level electrics are designed to be playable and affordable. The Squier Sonic Stratocaster is listed at $249.99, and Epiphone's Les Paul Standard 50s in Washed Cherry Sunburst is listed at $699 on Gibson's site. Epiphone is Gibson's lower-priced brand, which is why the same Les Paul shape appears across very different price points.

Beginner guitars sometimes need a setup to play comfortably, since string height and fret ends can vary from one unit to the next. A local shop can usually adjust this for a modest fee.

Mid-range electrics are where most players settle for years. Fender's Player II Stratocaster and Telecaster, both in black with a maple fingerboard, list at $849.99 each at Sweetwater. A Player II Stratocaster with a rosewood fingerboard and a sparkle finish is listed at $944 at Chuck Levin's.

Compared with the starter tier, these generally offer better pickups, more consistent hardware, and a finish that holds up longer. That is a tendency, and the best way to judge is to play a few.

Professional models use higher grade woods and more detailed finishing, and they are priced accordingly. Sweetwater lists the Fender American Professional II Telecaster at $1,639.99. Gibson's Les Paul Standard 50s is listed at $2,799 in Gold Top at Sweetwater and at $2,799 in Heritage Cherry Sunburst on Gibson's site.

Where a guitar is built also shapes price. A guitar assembled in one country and one assembled in another can carry very different prices, even in the same line.

These four names show up in most price lists because each owner sells a lower and a higher line. Squier is Fender's budget label, and Epiphone is Gibson's. The shapes look alike, but materials, electronics, and fit differ between the labels. Comparing a Squier to a Fender, or an Epiphone to a Gibson, is a comparison of tiers inside the same family.

Most new players need an amplifier, and a small practice amp is typically a separate purchase. A cable, a strap, picks, a tuner, and a gig bag add up too. Many retailers sell starter packs that include these, so compare the pack price against the guitar alone.

A hard case is worth considering at the professional end. Gibson guitars generally ship with a case, while many entry-level guitars do not include one.

Used electric guitars are common, and well-known models tend to keep much of their value. Look for neck straightness, fret wear, working electronics, and any refinishing or repairs. Ask a shop to check the instrument before you commit.