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Tyler Connaghan is a guitarist, singer, producer, composer & engineer based in Los Angeles, California. Tyler has been playing the guitar since 2007. In between writing for guitar publications, he produces music for film and television. His favorite axe is his custom Pelham Blue Fender Stratocaster.
You know what? According to this thing we are running, Fender is the best electric guitar brand. And there’s no arguing that they have amazing guitars in their lineup. Here, we have filtered the cream of the crop for you. And the #1 choice is so good that the writer of this piece and the founder of this website decided to spend their hard-earned money to buy one for themselves.
Best Overall – Fender American Performer Stratocaster
Reviewer: Tyler Connaghan
Sound
Playability
Overall Quality
Value For Money
Summary
Pros -Incredible playability -Tonal versatility -The action feels great right out of the box
Cons -Vintage saddles might not be everyone’s cup of tea -Synthetic bone nut is cheap for this price
Who is this guitar for? The American Fender Stratocaster is the perfect guitar for anyone who wants a classic, high-quality, and versatile instrument that they can grow with.
Best Fender electric guitar for beginners and intermediate players
Cons
Telecaster purists might not like the included six-saddle bridge
Although a budget model, synthetic bone nut still feels cheap
Who is this guitar for?
I’d highly recommend the Fender Player Telecaster for players who have already developed some level of skill and want to move up to a better-sounding, more reliable instrument.
Some of the best components and hardware in the Fender lineup
Beautifully present tone
Improved body contour for easier access to the higher frets
Best-sounding Fender electric guitar money can buy
Cons
Very expensive
Who is this guitar for?
If you’re someone who values impeccable build quality, tonal flexibility, and outstanding playability, along with exceptional features like the S-1 switching system and Ultra Noiseless pickups, it’s one of the best high-end electric guitars around.
Best Budget – Fender Player Mustang 90(Works for Small Hands Too)
Some players might miss out on the versatility of the traditional HSS pickup configuration.
Although a budget model, synthetic bone nut still feels cheap
Who is this guitar for?
This guitar is great for indie guitarists looking for a distinct tone and vintage aesthetics, whether for alternative rhythm playing or heavy-hitting chords.
Best Vintage Sound – Fender American Professional II Telecaster
Of course, the brand has great historical significance, and each model is iconic in its own right. However, there were a few things I thought extremely important to consider beyond the three key points above.
For starters, I considered timelessness. For example, the Fender Stratocaster and Telecaster are two timeless designs that have played an influential role in shaping music history and haven’t changed much since their inception.
I also wanted to consider both tonal versatility and playability, as these factors greatly impact how wide of an appeal a guitar will have in the overall market.
I also considered craftsmanship and build quality. Fenders are high-quality instruments, though some stand the test of time and deliver better performance than others.
Lastly, I relied on my own experience of playing dozens and dozens of Fenders over to years.
My treasure, Fender American Performer Stratocaster:
Most electric guitars we recommend are run through tests like these:
We check electronics.
We inspect the guitar carefully to get a good idea of the finish and built quality of the guitar.
We inspect the fretwork and edges of the fretboard to make sure there are no sharp edges.
We run the guitar usually through BOSS Katana 50 MK2 and test clean, crunch, and distorted tones with lead and rhythm playing.
We use different playing styles to get a good feel for the playability. We use fingerpicking, sweep picking, riffs from different genres, shredding, tapping, chord playing, etc.
We test all the possible pickup combinations and use different Volume and Tone settings from the guitar.
I like my Tele,I’m a vocalist not much a guitarist,so I need help and this guitar provided it.At first,the high E kept popping out of the slot. I finally filed it and now works great. This guitar is easy for me to play and versatile.
Teemu Suomala
Hi Jon and thanks for commenting! Awesome that you got things sorted out with your Tele! What exact model is it?
Antonio
The public are voting with their wallet and Jazzmasters are having an unprecedented renaissance, so I’m surprised not to see one listed here, especially given there are two strats, teo teles and interestingly a mustang. Go figure.
Teemu Suomala
Hi Antonio and thanks for commenting! I love Jazzmasters, Mustangs, and Jaguars. But I think that Strats and Teles serve the most players the best when it comes to Fenders
Teemu Suomala
I couldn’t agree with Tyler more on number 1 here.
I have been recently tried to get my hands on one, but no stores in Finland currently have the Fender American Performer Stratocaster SSS in stock…
If someone wants to spend less, I wouldn’t shy away from Fender Player Strats…they sound and play great!
Justin Thomas
Was never much of a Strat person. Still, that Performer does look like it hits the perfect balance of price and specification.
I’d probably end up with the Player Tele, but I’d want to play a bunch before settling down with one. Need to have “that” moment with the guitar.
Justin Thomas
Oooh, but you mention the Thinline in the runners up…now, that’s made a bit of a problem for me.
Teemu Suomala
Fender Jim Adkins JA-90 Telecaster is a cool one. But it’s a bit pricey, it’s made in Indonesia. That being said. the quality could still be great, I just mean that since it’s cheaper to manufacture, it could cost a little bit less IMO.
Justin Thomas
Never going to discount an Indonesian made guitar. My PRS SE is the most at home that I have felt on a PRS ever. I have been lucky enough to play some American made PRS too, yet the Indo SE I have is just perfect.
Tyler Connaghan
What’s up, GND community!
Question for anyone here: How do you approach selecting the right Fender for the specific style of music you’re playing? If you’re someone who has multiple Fender guitars, do you have different favorites for different genres?
Thnx for share.. Very best post. Ty.
Thanks for stopping by!
I like my Tele,I’m a vocalist not much a guitarist,so I need help and this guitar provided it.At first,the high E kept popping out of the slot. I finally filed it and now works great. This guitar is easy for me to play and versatile.
Hi Jon and thanks for commenting! Awesome that you got things sorted out with your Tele! What exact model is it?
The public are voting with their wallet and Jazzmasters are having an unprecedented renaissance, so I’m surprised not to see one listed here, especially given there are two strats, teo teles and interestingly a mustang. Go figure.
Hi Antonio and thanks for commenting! I love Jazzmasters, Mustangs, and Jaguars. But I think that Strats and Teles serve the most players the best when it comes to Fenders
I couldn’t agree with Tyler more on number 1 here.
I have been recently tried to get my hands on one, but no stores in Finland currently have the Fender American Performer Stratocaster SSS in stock…
If someone wants to spend less, I wouldn’t shy away from Fender Player Strats…they sound and play great!
Was never much of a Strat person. Still, that Performer does look like it hits the perfect balance of price and specification.
I’d probably end up with the Player Tele, but I’d want to play a bunch before settling down with one. Need to have “that” moment with the guitar.
Oooh, but you mention the Thinline in the runners up…now, that’s made a bit of a problem for me.
Fender Jim Adkins JA-90 Telecaster is a cool one. But it’s a bit pricey, it’s made in Indonesia. That being said. the quality could still be great, I just mean that since it’s cheaper to manufacture, it could cost a little bit less IMO.
Never going to discount an Indonesian made guitar. My PRS SE is the most at home that I have felt on a PRS ever. I have been lucky enough to play some American made PRS too, yet the Indo SE I have is just perfect.
What’s up, GND community!
Question for anyone here: How do you approach selecting the right Fender for the specific style of music you’re playing? If you’re someone who has multiple Fender guitars, do you have different favorites for different genres?