Skip to main content
Music Radar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Guitar Amps
  • Plugin Week 25
  • Guitar Pedals
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Artist news
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Software & Apps
  • Drums
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About Us
More
  • Plugin Week A-Z
  • You Oughta Know
  • Fake AI band
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Wrecking Crew
Recommended reading
Epiphone goes high-end with its Inspired By Gibson Custom 2025 collection: [from left] the '63 Firebird in Polaris White is joined by a 1959 Les Paul Standard, a '64 SG Standard, a 1960 Les Paul Special in TV Yellow and a 1962 ES-335 reissue.
Guitars Epiphone expands and upgrades Inspired By Gibson Custom range with 8 stunning "reissue" electrics
Kramer Volante HSGT Triburst: the all-new high-performance S-style from the GIbson-owned shred brand is a grown-up looking S-style.
Electric Guitars “It’s as comfortable as a guitar can”: Kramer Volante HSGT Triburst review
Jackson X and JS Series Surfcasters: the long-awaited offset electric guitar is now being offered in white, satin black and metallic black, and and at the entry-level JS price point and the mid-priced X Series.
Guitars “A bold new take on a classic metal machine”: Having ridden the wave of popular demand, Jackson’s Surfcaster offset has landed – and it’s built for speed
EVH Gear Wolfgang WG Standard T.O.M.
Guitars Hold the Floyd: EVH reimagines Wolfgang Standard as a high-performance shredder with a TOM bridge
PRS SE NF 53: the super-versatile bolt-on electric gets a long-awaited SE release, and here all three finish options – White Dog Hair, Black Dog Hair and Pearl White – are photographed in front of a pair of PRS half-stacks.
Guitars PRS remixes its NF 53 for the SE line – and it's a serious workhorse electric for under a grand
Harley Benton ST-80FR
Guitars Harley Benton erupts with '80s shred fever as it launches the Floyd-equipped ST-80FR Series S-styles
Duesenberg Alliance Series Tom Bukovac: the new semi-hollow signature model is a stunning singlecut with a quilted maple build in a natural finish.
Electric Guitars “Unbeatable... A play-anything guitar”: Duesenberg Alliance Series Tom Bukovac Session Man review
  1. Guitars
  2. Electric Guitars

The 12 best new electric guitars of 2018

News
By MusicRadar Team ( Total Guitar ) published 3 December 2018

The most desirable electric guitars on the planet

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

10. Patrick James Eggle Macon Jr

10. Patrick James Eggle Macon Jr

The Total Guitar MusicRadar Best in guitars 2018 polls received an astonishing 126,000 votes, and we're now ready to roll out the winners. The nominees were what we considered to be the guitarists and guitar gear that have excelled in 2018. Here, we present the best new electric guitars of 2018. 

Taking up positions 12 to 11 are:

12. Lowden GL-10 WA
11. Eastman T64/V-GB

Kicking off the top 10 we have the Patrick James Eggle Macon Jr...

We say: This guitar lies at the start-point, price wise, of the ever-expanding Patrick James Eggle line and is simply a beautifully considered rock ’n’ roll machine that’ll suit your pub or arena stage in equal measure.

Read the review: Patrick James Eggle Macon Jr review

The MusicRadar Best in guitars awards are brought to you in association with Ernie Ball. #colorsofrocknroll

Page 1 of 10
Page 1 of 10
9. Guild Jetstar

9. Guild Jetstar

We say: It’s not quite an impulse buy - but the very sensible price buys you a competent build and a distinctive retro vibe that’s matched by the sounds we hear.

Read the review: Guild Jetstar review

Page 2 of 10
Page 2 of 10
8. Schecter Demon-6 2018

8. Schecter Demon-6 2018

We say: The Demon-6 is a metal guitar, designed to summon something much more sinister, and it delivers in spades.

Read the review: Schecter Demon-6 2018 review

Page 3 of 10
Page 3 of 10
7. Jackson Soloist SL4X

7. Jackson Soloist SL4X

We say: If you have never played a Jackson, the SL4X will blow your mind. It’s naturally balanced, and with its jumbo frets and easy action it flatters your playing. Even after all kinds of whammy-bar abuse - divebombing, wobbles, ascending pitch squeals - the SL4X holds its tune admirably. 

Read the review: Jackson Soloist SL4X review

Page 4 of 10
Page 4 of 10
6. Gretsch G5220 Electromatic Jet BT

6. Gretsch G5220 Electromatic Jet BT

We say: Sweetly priced and surprisingly versatile, this is the sub-$500 twin-humbucker single-cut to beat.

Read the review: Gretsch G5220 Electromatic Jet BT review

Page 5 of 10
Page 5 of 10
5. PRS SE Santana Standard

5. PRS SE Santana Standard

We say: This guitar will not only get you on the PRS ladder, but for existing PRS fans it’s a good knockabout guitar that won’t make you blub inconsolably when they get dinged in action.

Read the review: PRS SE Santana Standard review

Page 6 of 10
Page 6 of 10
4. Hagstrom Viking Gold Top Artist Project

4. Hagstrom Viking Gold Top Artist Project

We say: For function band guitarists looking to cover all the bases and make a visual splash, this might just be the semi-hollow to beat.

Read the review: Hagstrom Viking Gold Top Artist Project review

Page 7 of 10
Page 7 of 10
3. Ibanez Prestige AZ2204

3. Ibanez Prestige AZ2204

We say: An immensely playable, versatile solidbody that can handle any genre you can throw at it.

Read the review: Ibanez Prestige AZ2204 review

Page 8 of 10
Page 8 of 10
2. Solar A2.6

2. Solar A2.6

We say: Given it's one of the most affordable offerings in the Solar Guitars range, we'd say Ola Englund may have just changed the metal guitar game: the A2.6 is near-impossible to fault.

Read the review: Solar A2.6 review

Page 9 of 10
Page 9 of 10
Winner: Fender Player Stratocaster

Winner: Fender Player Stratocaster

We say: One of the best mid-priced Strats Fender has ever produced. This guitar is hugely playable, offers an impeccable set of tones and plays well with dirt.

Read the review: Fender Player Stratocaster review

Page 10 of 10
Page 10 of 10
MusicRadar Team
MusicRadar Team
Social Links Navigation

MusicRadar is the number 1 website for music makers of all kinds, be they guitarists, drummers, keyboard players, djs or producers...

  • GEAR: We help musicians find the best gear with top-ranking gear round-ups and high- quality, authoritative reviews by a wide team of highly experienced experts.
  • TIPS: We also provide tuition, from bite-sized tips to advanced work-outs and guidance from recognised musicians and stars.
  • STARS: We talk to musicians and stars about their creative processes, and the nuts and bolts of their gear and technique. We give fans an insight into the actual craft of music making that no other music website can.
Stay up to date with the latest gear and tuition. image
Stay up to date with the latest gear and tuition.
Subscribe and save today!
More Info
Read more
Epiphone goes high-end with its Inspired By Gibson Custom 2025 collection: [from left] the '63 Firebird in Polaris White is joined by a 1959 Les Paul Standard, a '64 SG Standard, a 1960 Les Paul Special in TV Yellow and a 1962 ES-335 reissue.
Epiphone expands and upgrades Inspired By Gibson Custom range with 8 stunning "reissue" electrics
Kramer Volante HSGT Triburst: the all-new high-performance S-style from the GIbson-owned shred brand is a grown-up looking S-style.
“It’s as comfortable as a guitar can”: Kramer Volante HSGT Triburst review
Jackson X and JS Series Surfcasters: the long-awaited offset electric guitar is now being offered in white, satin black and metallic black, and and at the entry-level JS price point and the mid-priced X Series.
“A bold new take on a classic metal machine”: Having ridden the wave of popular demand, Jackson’s Surfcaster offset has landed – and it’s built for speed
EVH Gear Wolfgang WG Standard T.O.M.
Hold the Floyd: EVH reimagines Wolfgang Standard as a high-performance shredder with a TOM bridge
PRS SE NF 53: the super-versatile bolt-on electric gets a long-awaited SE release, and here all three finish options – White Dog Hair, Black Dog Hair and Pearl White – are photographed in front of a pair of PRS half-stacks.
PRS remixes its NF 53 for the SE line – and it's a serious workhorse electric for under a grand
Harley Benton ST-80FR
Harley Benton erupts with '80s shred fever as it launches the Floyd-equipped ST-80FR Series S-styles
Latest in Electric Guitars
The Gibson Les Paul Music City Special – 50th Anniversary is a limited edition hybrid that combines the old Marauder and Music City Junior, and offers them in wine, tobacco sunburst and ebony finishes.
Gibson celebrates 50 years in Nashville with limited run twist on a cult electric played by KISS
PRS SE NF 53: the super-versatile bolt-on electric gets a long-awaited SE release, and here all three finish options – White Dog Hair, Black Dog Hair and Pearl White – are photographed in front of a pair of PRS half-stacks.
PRS remixes its NF 53 for the SE line – and it's a serious workhorse electric for under a grand
Harley Benton ST-80FR
Harley Benton erupts with '80s shred fever as it launches the Floyd-equipped ST-80FR Series S-styles
Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Plini Edition Mirage
Strandberg launches limited edition Plini Boden Standard with glow-in-the-dark Mirage graphic finish
PRS Herman Li Chloe: the new shred-ready signature model for the DragonForce guitarist comes in two finishes and features an all-new body design.
PRS activates total shred mode for Herman Li of DragonForce’s feature-stacked Chloe signature guitar
Epiphone Jeff Beck Oxblood 1954 Les Paul
Epiphone unveils Inspired By Gibson Custom version of Jeff Beck’s iconic 1954 Oxblood Les Paul
Latest in News
Amerie
How Amerie created a ‘00s R&B/funk classic with producer Rich Harrison
Mooer Audio F15i Li Intelligent Amp: this battery-powered take-anywhere guitar amp is packed with amp and effects models, and is an all-in-one practice solution.
Mooer’s F15i Intelligent Amp is a desktop doozie equipped with 55 amps, 69 effects and a touchscreen
Queen at Live Aid
“Freddie rose to the occasion. I remember getting chills”: Brian May recalls the glory of Queen at Live Aid
EVH Gear Hypersonic FR-12: The newly launched FRFR speaker packs 1000-watts, is available in black or ivory, and might just be the perfect companion to your amp modeller.
EVH Gear drops the Hypersonic FR-12 FRFR speaker – 1000-watts to get the most from your amp modeller
Liam Gallagher (L) and Noel Gallagher (R) of Oasis perform during the opening night of their Live 25' Tour at Principality Stadium on July 04, 2025 in Cardiff, Wales
Hear Slide Away from Oasis’ first comeback gig, as massive streaming surge and earnings are revealed
AlphaTheta Chordcat
"Inspiring sequencing ideas, paired with an underwhelming sound engine": AlphaTheta Chordcat first look

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...