Best Guitars for Playing Alternative Rock

Alternative rock has contributed a lot of famous songs over the years, including Radioactive by Imagine Dragons, Scar Tissue by Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Creep by Radiohead. Check out the following alternative rock guitars if you are looking for something that can play a range of unconventional and edge sounds, which alternative rock has become known for in some cases.

Epiphone Les Paul Special II Plus Limited Edition

The Les Paul Special II is a great guitar for alternative rock music with its great tones and definition. This guitar features a flamed maple top and a well-constructed mahogany body. The 650R and 700T pickup combo will allow you to produce the sizzle and snarl that generally only comes from humbuckers.

This alternative rock guitar might come as welcome relief for some as you will barely hear any buzzing noise, especially with the low E string. It’s also a really comfortable guitar and you will be surprised by its weight.

Ibanez GRGR120EX Electric Guitar

Another awesome guitar to consider for playing alternative rock music is the Ibanez GRGR120EX Electric Guitar. This model has been constructed for all levels of players so beginners may find some comfort when they are handling a rock guitar for the first time.

For its price, you will be surprised by the raw and aggressive sound, which is just what you will need to play alternative rock music of all kinds. It’s also lightweight so you won’t have any problems playing this guitar sitting down or standing up.

Fender Player Stratocaster

There are many reasons why we would consider the Fender Stratocaster one of the best guitars for alternative rock. For starters, it’s really fun to play and you will enjoy the bold and crisp tones produced by this guitar. The neck also has a great feel, which is important for guitarists that like to do a lot of sliding.

The one downside might be the die-cast tuners which some guitarists have found to be a bit iffy. That aside, you will find it difficult to find a guitar for the money such as this one.

ESP LTD EC-256FM Electric Guitar

This classic-looking guitar is worthy of the stage and will play a variety of alternative rock music with clarity and precision. It comes with a rosewood fretboard, two strong ESP humbucking pickups with a 3-way toggle switch, and individual volume control per pickup.

Guitarists who play this ESP model mention how the neck of the guitar is one of the most favorite necks they have played on. It’s thick enough to not feel like a toy, but also thin enough so that guitarists can play as fast as they wanted.

Squier Special Edition Bullet Stratocaster SSS

This affordable and practical rock guitar is a great choice because of the quality of its build (when you consider the price). It features a double cutaway body shape, c standard neck shape made of maple wood, and an Indian Laurel fingerboard.

Do note, however, that you may need to do some guitar setup yourself. For example, you may need to check the intonations, tighten the springs of the tremolo, and adjust the action until it fits your needs.

PRS CE 24 Electric Guitar

The final guitar to appear in our list of top guitars for alternative rock is the PRS CE 24. This guitar caters well for professional-level guitarists with its PRS 85/15 pickups and push/pull tone control.

People who play this guitar praise its remarkable clarity and its diverse high and low-ends. You will also find the bolt on the neck to be really solid. Fortunately, there are many styles you can pick from including gray black, vintage starburst, and amber stain.