The Best Electric Guitars For Hard Rock

If you search in Wikipedia for the style of music heavy metal you'll find that they have listed at least 3+ dozens of subgenres. From stoner metal to symphonic black metal, there's no shortage of mystic names.

Even though I like bands across the whole spectrum, the style that I seek as a guitar player and that I will always identify myself with is hard rock. But as times goes on this seems to be a style that is slowly fading.

Hard rock doesn't require the precision that heavy metal guitar playing has, super thin necks and active pickups are not a necessity But attitude, mojo and a good distorted sound, those are the main attributes I look for in a hard rock guitar.

There are many designs to choose from, but one thing is for sure, almost all are related either to the Les Paul or the Stratocaster. These have proven to be the best designs in electric guitars for hard rock music.

My favorite is the Les Paul, the combination of mahogany body, set neck and humbucking pickups produce the kind of sound that I very much prefer.

But I won't deny that the Stratocaster design is a lot easier to play and more ergonomic. That's why a very popular style of guitar for hard rock is the so called 'Superstrat'.

This style was mainly pioneered by Ibanez and very much influenced by the early guitars of Steve Vai. The main purpose is to adapt the regular Strat design to be even more appealing to heavier music.

The RG is probably the most famous Superstrat. The main attributes of any Superstrat is 1 or 2 humbuckers (Strats are known for single coils) and floyd rose bridges.

Another style that is very popular is guitars built in the shape of a Strat but with the ingredients of a Les Paul.