As you consider the best guitar for soloing, remember that picking off a beautiful instrument from a shelf is just the beginning. As a guitarist, this is your voice, partner in crime, as well as the medium through which you articulate your deepest musical thoughts.
But with so many options available, how do you pick what suits your style? Let’s go into the details of perfect guitars for soloing and some of the best ones currently in the market.
What Makes a Guitar Great for Soloing?
Before we look at specific models, there are certain key features that make a guitar good for soloing. Here are some things to consider:
- Neck Profile and Scale Length: When it comes to soloing, the neck plays an important role in its ability to navigate fast-changing chords across the fretboard. For soloists, having slender and speedy playing necks with scale lengths matching their styles is imperative (e.g., shorter scale lengths like 24.75 inches are often preferred because they allow easier bends). On the other hand, longer scales (25.5 inches) give more tension on strings, which makes them sound clear and is thus highly valued by some players who want accurate playing.
- Fretboard Material and Radius: The material of the fretboard affects tone and feel when playing. Maple boards tend to be bright and snappy, while rosewood or ebony have a warmer feeling under the fingers. Additionally, flatter fretboards (12″ and above) are liked by most soloists due to the ease in bending notes along with quick runs.
- Pickups: Think of pickups as microphones for guitars since they shape the sound produced from instruments. Generally speaking, humbuckers offer increased output power, resulting in fuller tones that sustain nicely, thus favored by those who play solos more frequently. Apart from this group who prefer clarity or chimy sounds such as those played in blues and funk music, some people may opt for single-coil.
- Bridge Type: The bridge of a guitar affects not only the stability of tuning but also how the strings feel. For soloing, floating tremolo bridges (e.g., Floyd Rose) have more range to dive bombs or wild pitch bending, though they require regular maintenance. On the other hand, fixed bridges provide better sustain and tuning stability, which are more liked by some soloists.
Now that we know what to look for, let us have a look at some of the greatest guitars for soloing.
Best Guitar for Soloing: Top Picks
These are the best guitars for soloing:
1. Ibanez JEM Series
The Ibanez JEM series, especially the JEM7V, is one of them when it comes to discussing the best guitar solos. The guitar was designed with input from Steve Vai, making it any soloist’s dream machine.
It has a very fast neck with a flat radius, which makes intricate solos effortless on this axe. Moreover, DiMarzio Evolution pickups allow high-output playing with enough clarity required to make every note sound sharp and long.
This ensures that even after intense whammy bar use, there will be no problem with tuning stability since the Edge tremolo system is one of the best.
In addition, higher registers on this guitar are scalloped, permitting easy bending as well as articulate notes during solos. Designed specifically for shredding purposes, whether you play rock, metal, or anything else in-between.
2. Fender Stratocaster
Soloists have been using the Fender Stratocaster for many years now. It is well-known for its versatility, thanks to the three single-coil pickups on the Strat.
They are able to produce a variety of sounds, ranging from bright and twangy to warm and mellow. Some players tend to prefer solos with more tension, which they believe leads to better clarity and precision.
The comfort that comes with the Strat’s body contours and C-shaped neck makes it perfect even for those long, demanding gigs. Even though it lacks high-output humbuckers preferred by some shredders, it remains one of the best guitars for soloing because of its versatility and classic sound.
3. Gibson Les Paul Standard
For those looking for a heavier sound, the Gibson Les Paul Standard is hard to beat. The Les Paul has dual humbuckers, which give it a thick, warm tone with plenty of sustain, thus making it perfect for slow, soaring solos.
A slightly shorter scale length (24.75 inches) in comparison makes bending easier and provides a bit looser feel to strings, counting as an advantage among many soloists.
Sound richness and excellent sustain are facilitated by set necks and mahogany bodies in Les Pauls, suitable in rock, blues, or even metal genres. It’s one of the best guitars for soloing if you want a guitar that can sing with authority.
4. PRS Custom 24
In terms of the best guitar for soloing, the PRS Custom 24 is also worth considering. Apart from having excellent craftsmanship like all PRS guitars, this particular model boasts an impressive build quality too.
The scale length is 25” which falls between that of a Stratocaster and a Les Paul, giving both feels at once. The neck profile is thin but still quite meaty enough, making you comfortable while playing and fast enough.
The Custom 24’s pickups, the 85/15, offer a range of sounds from clean to growling overdrive, making it quite versatile in terms of soloing styles. The PRS tremolo system also performs among the best, hence providing easy operation and good tuning stability.
5. Jackson Soloist SL2
The Jackson Soloist SL2 was built for shredding, as its name suggests. With a compound radius fretboard that is rounder on the nut side and flatter towards the neck for faster picking when playing intricate solos, this guitar is equipped with a compound radius fretboard.
A slim neck designed for speed and dual Seymour Duncan humbuckers give you high output with lots of sustain and clarity.
A great feature on the SL2 is the Floyd Rose tremolo system that allows you to make massive pitch shifts without worrying about going out of tune. One can argue that if you are into metal or hard rock, then this might just be the best guitar for soloing.
Final Thoughts On Choosing the Best Guitar for Soloing
It’s a personal journey finding out what constitutes being one’s choice of the best guitar for soloing. What works well for one player may not necessarily work well with another player. It is important to try different models until you come across what feels right and sounds perfect.
Maybe you love the Fender Stratocaster, which has various types of tones, or maybe the Gibson Les Paul, which sustains sound powerfully, or even the Ibanez JEM with slender speed; whatever your preferences are, there is an ideal gadget waiting somewhere in line specifically designed for solos.
Remember that it doesn’t matter how many guitars you have but rather how much they inspire you to keep playing, so don’t forget that rule. Happy shredding!
