Note: At Sweetwater, we know there’s no such thing as “best” when it comes to music gear. Every player and artist has unique tastes, which is what makes selecting gear so fun! The items on this list feature some of our favorite products from top manufacturers to help you start your buying journey! Explore these recommendations and dive into Sweetwater’s massive collection of gear on our online store. For personalized picks and expert advice, please contact our knowledgeable Sweetwater Sales Engineers at (800) 222-4700!
Must-see Electric Guitars
Gibson SG Standard ’61 Electric Guitar
Take the stage in stunning TV Yellow
The Gibson SG Standard ’61 electric guitar has served as a staple Gibson solidbody for decades, so what makes this particular SG so special? That’s easy. The attention-grabbing TV Yellow finish. Originally found on Gibson’s 1950s-era Les Paul Special and Les Paul Junior models, TV Yellow’s charming and transparent hue is rarely found on SGs, making this 6-string a true show stopper. Apart from the slick finish, this guitar represents the very best of the vintage SG formula, boasting a slim mahogany body, a fast-playing mahogany neck, a rosewood fingerboard, and two classic PAF-style ’60s Burstbucker humbuckers.
Ernie Ball Music Man Kaizen 7-string Solidbody Electric Guitar
Angular and aggressive style, courtesy of Tosin Abasi
More than a signature model, the Ernie Ball Music Man Kaizen 7-string solidbody electric guitar is a two-part collaboration between the ever-inventive minds at Ernie Ball Music Man and modern-metal legend Tosin Abasi. Alder forms the foundation for this guitar’s wild, angular, and remarkably comfortable body, loaded with a biting neck-position mini-humbucker and a full-size HT humbucker in the bridge. As anyone familiar with Tosin’s 8-string virtuosity should expect, this guitar was built from the ground up for the highest level of performance. It includes a multi-scale flamed maple neck, an Infinity Radius ebony fingerboard, stainless steel frets, and Steinberger locking tuners. Make a statement in both style and sound with the Ernie Ball Music Man Kaizen 7-string solidbody electric guitar!
Epiphone Kirk Hammett “Greeny” 1959 Les Paul Standard Electric Guitar
Get your “Greeny” on
The iconic 1959 ‘burst Les Paul with a “magic” out-of-phase middle position makes its way to the Epiphone line with the Epiphone Kirk Hammett “Greeny” 1959 Les Paul Standard! From the gorgeous Greeny Burst maple top right down to the mismatched knobs, this guitar is an incredible re-creation of the Les Paul so famously wielded by Peter Green, Gary Moore, and (of course) Kirk Hammett. Best of all, the Epiphone Kirk Hammett “Greeny” 1959 Les Paul Standard comes equipped with a pair of Gibson USA Greenybuckers — the very same pickups found in Gibson USA’s Greeny models — granting you the clear, cutting, and somewhat funky sound of an out-of-phase middle position.
Fender Tom DeLonge Stratocaster Electric Guitar
Harness the power of a pop-punk legend
Made famous by one of the most exuberant front men of the pop-punk era, the Fender Tom DeLonge Stratocaster electric guitar is an exact replica of the axe that fueled Blink-182’s most iconic hits. Players who favor a no-nonsense approach to the 6-string will love how this guitar’s lightweight alder body sports a single Seymour Duncan SH-8 Invader pickup — a massive-sounding, high-output humbucker that’s equally suited toward crunchy power-chord rhythms, searing leads, and subtler clean sounds. Finished off with a hardtail bridge and a control section consisting of just a single volume knob, the Fender Tom DeLonge Stratocaster is designed to rock right out of the box!
Gretsch G6120-55 Nashville Chet Atkins Masterbuilt Hollowbody Electric Guitar
A 6-string time machine to Gretsch’s golden era
If we didn’t know better, we’d swear that the Gretsch G6120-55 Nashville Chet Atkins Masterbuilt hollowbody electric guitar rolled straight off of Fred Gretsch, Jr.,’s assembly line in the 1950s! Handcrafted by Gretsch Master Builder Chad Henrichsen, this 6120 painstakingly re-creates every minute detail of Gretsch’s most iconic model as it would have existed back when it first launched in 1955. Everything from the fully hollow maple body to the quartersawn maple neck brandishes a gleaming NOS nitro lacquer finish, paired with western motifs and the legendary “G” logo for the utmost visual authenticity. Add in the full-bodied bounce of the dual Seymour Duncan Dynasonic single-coils and the expressive edge of the Bigsby B6 BGVF, and the Gretsch G6120-55 Nashville Chet Atkins Masterbuilt hollowbody is a true testament to the big, orange, and timeless nature of the mighty Gretsch G6120.
Must-see Acoustic Guitars
Breedlove “Tonewood Showcase” Concert CE Koa Acoustic-electric Guitar
Captivating koa back and sides
If there are any holdouts in the audience who downplay the sonic distinctions provided by different tonewoods, then the Breedlove “Tonewood Showcase” Concert CE Koa acoustic-electric guitar is our prime evidence to the contrary! This comfortable, concert-sized guitar is a part of the SWX (Sweetwater Exclusive) Tonewood Showcase — an experiment where we teamed up with Breedlove to produce five precisely matched models of the same guitar, only with different wood on the backs and sides. Plus, this particular Concert CE wears a body made from premium koa that pairs with the Bearclaw Sitka spruce top to produce a crisp, bright, and focused voice. To check out sound samples of this guitar and our other four SWX Tonewood Showcase models, be sure to read our article “Acoustic Guitar Tonewoods — Do They Matter?“
Martin OM-45 John Mayer Platinum Anniversary Acoustic Guitar
Commemorating Martin and Mayer’s 20-year marriage
Celebrating John’s 20-year collaboration with Martin guitars, the Martin OM-45 John Mayer Platinum Anniversary acoustic guitar is a truly museum-grade 6-string crafted with the finest tonewoods that money can buy. Built upon the bones of Martin’s treasured long-scale OM-28 model, the OM-45 John Mayer Platinum Anniversary’s Engelmann spruce top and Guatemalan rosewood back and sides deliver a lush response that blooms with rich harmonic overtones. Moreover, this guitar fully lives up to its ultra-premium “45” designation, boasting elegant abalone and mother-of-pearl accoutrements from headstock to end pin.
Breedlove Draco Series Concertina C Acoustic Guitar
A dazzling Draco designed by Sweetwater’s guitar experts
Ask any of Sweetwater’s fingerstyle guitarists, and they’ll tell you that a world-class small-bodied guitar like the Sweetwater-exclusive Breedlove Draco Series Concertina C acoustic guitar is perfect for the guitarist who plays without a plectrum. The Draco Series Concertina C comes complete with solid East Indian rosewood back and sides, and the smaller surface area of the guitar’s sinker redwood top reacts and resounds to even the slightest pluck. Naturally, this makes it the perfect companion for fingerpicking guitarists of all varieties, but the Draco Series Concertina C is also a superb choice for providing intimate vocal accompaniment, recording with an immaculately balanced tone. Finish it all off with a genuine Honduran mahogany neck, EVO Gold frets, and a set of eye-popping Sweetwater-spec aesthetic elements, and the Breedlove Draco Series Concertina C acoustic guitar is destined to become your next 6-string companion.
Gibson Acoustic Miranda Lambert Bluebird Acoustic-electric Guitar
Big, bold, and blue
Coated in a captivating Blue Bonnet finish, the Gibson Acoustic Miranda Lambert Bluebird acoustic-electric guitar is a soaring spin on Gibson’s all-time classic Hummingbird acoustic guitar. In traditional Hummingbird fashion, this guitar features a square-shouldered dreadnought body paired with a responsive spruce top and a mahogany body, providing exceptional projection and robust bass — the perfect tonal foundation for supporting a singer/songwriter and covering country-style strummin’ duties. You also get an LR Baggs Element electronics system to plug in onstage, complete with a 3-band EQ, phase inversion, Garrett Null notch controls, and a built-in tuner.
Taylor Custom Grand Concert 12-string Acoustic-electric Guitar
12-string chime in a compact Grand Concert size
No list of must-see guitars would be complete without the shimmering jangle of a 12-string — like the Taylor Custom Grand Concert acoustic-electric guitar. Built upon Taylor’s compact Grand Concert body shape, this guitar is sure to be one of the most comfortable 12-strings you’ll ever have the pleasure to play. But don’t be fooled by this guitar’s size — a torrefied Sitka spruce top, Indian rosewood back and sides, and V-Class bracing team up to provide you with a seriously impressive projection, tackling even the most boisterous of strumming with a full-bodied chime. Stage-ready Taylor ES2 electronics and a comfortable cutaway shape seal the deal, making the Taylor Custom Grand Concert 12-string acoustic-electric guitar a champion of the stage, the studio, or even the couch.
Must-see Bass Guitars
Spector USA NS-2 Bass Guitar
Masterfully crafted PJ panache
Available only at Sweetwater, the Spector USA NS-2 bass guitar paints one of Spector’s most sought-after models with a moody Nightshade finish. Neck-through construction consisting of a 3-piece maple neck and lightweight swamp ash wings offers a prodigious level of both sustain and stability, along with an exceptionally defined articulation. Under the hood, this bass brandishes a superlative set of Aguilar pickups, including a J4HC and P4HC in an ultra-versatile PJ configuration. Crafted by Spector’s finest luthiers, this NS-2 is a true heirloom-quality bass that delivers on master-level craftsmanship, extreme sonic flexibility, and effortless performance.
Spector USA NS-2 Bass Guitar
J-style sounds meet Spector USA performance
A Spector of a very different sort is this Spector USA NS-2 bass guitar. It may share the name of our previous bass, but its build couldn’t be more different! While all the defining NS-2 hallmarks are here — including a 3-piece maple neck-through construction — this NS-2’s world-class tonewoods consist of a redwood body, an ebony fingerboard, and an absolutely stunning buckeye burl top. Next, this NS-2’s active EMG PJX pickups are sure to please bassists seeking full-range PJ power in the extreme with superior tone-shaping capabilities. Finally, a Spector Custom bridge and a treble-enhancing brass nut ensure that this bass’s stability is more than a match for its versatility and performance.
Sadowsky Limited-edition 2023 Masterbuilt 21-fret Custom J/J 5-string Electric Bass
The epitome of Sadowsky craftsmanship
The Sadowsky Limited-edition 2023 Masterbuilt 21-fret Custom J/J electric bass is a veritable 5-string masterwork, elevating the time-tested J-style formula to bold, new sonic heights. First up, this bass’s incredibly lightweight, chambered okoume body comes topped with a slab of quilted mahogany, bursting at the seams with dazzling figuring and grain lines. Tone-wise, a duo of Sadowsky hum-canceling pickups supplies all the single-coil bite of a vintage J-style without a hint of hum. You also get a powerful 2-band preamp to sculpt your sound. Lastly, this top-of-the-line Sadowsky comes complete with a glittering gold set of hardware consisting of a Sadowsky quick-release bridge and Sadowsky Light open-gear tuners.
Warwick Masterbuilt Corvette $$ Limited-edition 2023 Master Reserve 5-string Electric Bass Guitar
Hit the road with a top-of-the-line Warwick Corvette
Warwick is revered at Sweetwater for being a true trailblazer in the world of the electric bass guitar, but if you need proof, then just check out the Warwick Masterbuilt Corvette $$ Limited-edition 2023 Master Reserve 5-string electric bass guitar! This immaculately crafted, limited-edition 5-string beams with reserve-grade tonewoods and craftsmanship, including a roasted swamp ash body, roasted maple neck, and glassy ebony fingerboard. Plugging in this Warwick is a real treat, thanks to a pair of massive-sounding MEC (Music Electronic Company) passive humbuckers — a remarkably versatile pickup design, elevated with dual 3-way mini-toggle switches that supply series, parallel, and single-coil settings. Representing the very best of Warwick’s bass-building prowess, the Warwick Masterbuilt Corvette $$ Limited-edition 2023 Master Reserve 5-string electric bass guitar might just be the last bass you’ll ever need.
Ernie Ball Music Man Bongo 5 Bass Guitar
A custom-color Bongo 5 set to Sweetwater specs
One of Ernie Ball Music Man’s most idiosyncratic bass guitars, the Ernie Ball Music Man Bongo 5 5-string is a thoroughly 21st-century bass guitar. From the onboard 18-volt preamp to the dual neodymium-magnet-equipped humbuckers to the sculpted 5-bolt neck joint, this basswood bass proudly stands apart from the legions of vintage-style basses. You also get a speedy maple neck topped with a 24-fret, sleek ebony fingerboard to facilitate all manner of low-end finesse. Finally, this particular Bongo 5 comes coated in a Sweetwater-exclusive Emerald Iris finish that sparkles and shines with an elegant, understated hue.
Shop Sweetwater’s Most Must-see Guitars
Winter, summer, spring, or fall — Sweetwater’s nearly endless cast of must-see guitars and basses is constantly rotating with handcrafted one-offs, elegant acoustics, and plenty of Sweetwater-exclusive 6-strings. Whether you’re after one of these fine instruments or you want to know what new guitars are coming down the pipeline, make sure to call your personal Sweetwater Sales Engineer at (800) 222-4700 for expert-level buying advice on electric guitars, acoustic guitars, basses, and everything else gear-related!
