Metal music is an electrifying genre, renowned for its high-octane energy, thunderous riffs, and searing solos. At the heart of this sonic maelstrom is the guitar, an instrument that must be finely tuned to the demands of metal. The best guitars for metal possess a unique combination of features, from a solid-body construction to high-output pickups, all designed to produce the aggressive, powerful sound that defines the genre. Whether you’re a seasoned shredder or a beginner eager to dive into the world of metal, choosing the right guitar can significantly enhance your musical journey. In this article, we’ll explore the top five guitars that have proven their mettle in the metal scene.
Jackson Randy Rhoads V-Series Guitars
Distinctive Body Design
The Jackson Randy Rhoads V-series guitars are instantly recognizable, thanks to their iconic V-shaped body. This design isn’t just for show; it offers excellent balance and playability, especially during intense, high-energy performances. The sharp, angular shape allows for easy access to the upper frets, crucial for executing those lightning-fast metal solos. The body is typically made of mahogany, which contributes to a warm, rich tone with a pronounced mid-range. This mid-range emphasis helps the guitar cut through the dense mix of a metal band, where multiple instruments are vying for attention.
High-Performance Necks
These guitars feature Jackson’s signature Wizard-style necks. The Wizard necks are known for their thin, fast-playing profile, enabling guitarists to navigate the fretboard with incredible speed and precision. They are often made of maple, which provides a smooth, stable surface for the fingers. The fretboards are commonly crafted from ebony, offering a hard, durable surface that facilitates easy string-bending and precise fret- hand positioning. The combination of a thin neck and an ebony fretboard makes the Randy Rhoads V-series guitars a favorite among metal shredders.
Powerful Pickups
Jackson equips the Randy Rhoads V-series with high-output pickups. Many models come with Seymour Duncan JB and Jazz pickups. The Seymour Duncan JB in the bridge position is renowned for its tight low-end, a mid-range boost that cuts through the mix, and a screaming high-end, perfect for driving metal riffs and lead solos. The Jazz pickup in the neck position offers a warmer, more articulate sound, suitable for cleaner passages or adding a touch of melody to the chaos. These pickups, when combined with the guitar’s solid-body construction, produce a thick, saturated sound that is quintessential for metal.
Ibanez RG Series Guitars
Sleek and Fast-Playing Necks
The Ibanez RG series guitars are celebrated for their sleek, fast-playing necks. The Wizard-style necks on the RG models are similar in design to Jackson’s, with a thin profile that allows for rapid finger movement. This makes them ideal for the complex, high-speed riffs and solos that are characteristic of metal. The necks are often made of maple, providing stability and a bright, responsive tone. The fretboards, available in options like rosewood or ebony, offer different tonal characteristics. Rosewood fretboards contribute a warm, smooth feel, while ebony fretboards provide a more articulate, bright sound.
High-Output Pickups
Ibanez equips the RG series with high-output pickups, often from DiMarzio. For example, the RG550DX comes with DiMarzio Evolution pickups. These pickups are designed to deliver a balanced tone with a substantial amount of power. The Evolution pickups offer a tight low-end, a clear mid-range, and a biting high-end, making them suitable for a wide range of metal sub-genres, from classic heavy metal to modern metalcore. The high-output nature of these pickups ensures that the guitar’s sound can cut through the mix, even in the most aggressive musical settings.
Innovative Hardware
Ibanez is known for its innovative hardware on the RG series. Many models feature the Gibraltar Standard II bridge, which offers improved tuning stability and sustain. The Edge Zero II tremolo system, found on some RG guitars, provides precise and reliable tremolo action. This allows metal guitarists to add expressive effects like dive-bombs and wide-ranging string bends to their playing. The combination of high-quality pickups, fast-playing necks, and innovative hardware makes the Ibanez RG series a top choice for metal players.
ESP LTD EC-1000 Series Guitars
Mahogany Body and Set-Through Neck
The ESP LTD EC-1000 series guitars feature a mahogany body, which is prized for its warm, rich tone. The mahogany body, combined with a set-through neck construction, provides excellent sustain and a more seamless feel when playing. The set-through neck, where the neck is a single piece of wood that runs through the entire body, enhances the guitar’s resonance and tonal transfer. This results in a more focused, powerful sound, ideal for metal riffs and solos.
EMG Pickups
These guitars are typically equipped with EMG pickups, such as the EMG 81/60 combination. The EMG 81, in the bridge position, is known for its extremely high output and clear, articulate sound, even at high gain levels. It offers a tight low-end, a mid-range punch, and a screaming high-end, making it perfect for driving metal rhythms. The EMG 60 in the neck position provides a warmer, more balanced sound, suitable for adding a touch of melody or for use in clean passages. The EMG pickups, with their active electronics, are less prone to noise, ensuring a clean, powerful signal.
Versatile Design for Metal Genres
The ESP LTD EC-1000 series has a versatile design that caters to a wide range of metal genres. Whether you’re into classic heavy metal, thrash metal, or modern metalcore, these guitars can handle it. The combination of a mahogany body, set-through neck, and high-out put EMG pickups allows for a wide variety of tones, from the thick, aggressive sound of thrash to the more melodic elements of modern metalcore.
Fender American Professional II Telecaster
Unique Tonal Character in Metal
While the Telecaster is often associated with country and rock, the American Professional II Telecaster can also hold its own in the metal scene. It offers a unique tonal character that can add a different flavor to metal music. The Telecaster’s single- coil pickups, when paired with high-gain amplifiers or distortion pedals, can produce a biting, aggressive sound. The bridge pickup, in particular, has a bright, twangy quality that can cut through the mix in a metal band. The guitar’s solid-alder body contributes to a balanced tone, with a good amount of sustain.
Custom Shop-Inspired Features
The American Professional II Telecaster comes with custom-shop-inspired features. It has a compound-radius fretboard, which is flatter at the higher frets, allowing for easier string-bending and soloing. The neck profile is comfortable, with a modern “C” shape that provides a balanced grip. The guitar also features Fender’s V-Mod II pickups, which offer a more refined and versatile sound compared to traditional Telecaster pickups. These pickups can be adjusted to achieve a variety of tones, from a classic Telecaster twang to a more saturated, metal-friendly sound.
Modification Potential
One of the advantages of the Telecaster for metal players is its modification potential. Many guitarists choose to swap out the pickups for high-output humbuckers or install aftermarket electronics to further enhance its metal-playing capabilities. The Telecaster’s simple, yet robust design makes it easy to modify, allowing metal players to customize the guitar to their specific tonal preferences.
Epiphone Les Paul Custom
Classic Les Paul Design
The Epiphone Les Paul Custom offers the classic Les Paul design at a more affordable price point. The Les Paul design, with its solid-mahogany body and set-neck construction, is well-known for its warm, rich tone and excellent sustain. The body’s mahogany provides a thick, full-bodied sound, while the set-neck enhances the guitar’s resonance and tonal transfer. The Les Paul Custom’s double-cutaway design allows for easy access to the upper frets, which is important for metal solos.
Alnico-Magnet Humbuckers
This guitar is equipped with Alnico-magnet humbuckers. These pickups offer a warm, smooth sound with a good amount of output. The humbuckers are capable of producing a thick, distorted tone when run through a high-gain amplifier, suitable for metal riffs. They also have enough clarity to handle clean passages or more melodic sections of a metal song. The Alnico magnets in the pickups contribute to a more organic, vintage- style sound, which can add a unique touch to metal music.
Value for Money in the Metal Scene
The Epiphone Les Paul Custom provides excellent value for money in the metal scene. It offers the iconic Les Paul look and sound at a price that is more accessible to beginners or players on a budget. While it may not have the same high-end components as some of the more expensive Les Paul models, it still delivers a solid performance for metal playing. The guitar’s build quality is reliable, and its tonal capabilities make it a viable option for metal players looking for a classic-style guitar.
Conclusion
The world of metal music offers a diverse range of guitars, each with its own set of features and characteristics that make it suitable for the genre. The Jackson Randy Rhoads V-series, Ibanez RG series, ESP LTD EC-1000 series, Fender American Professional II Telecaster, and Epiphone Les Paul Custom are among the top choices for metal players. Whether you prefer the lightning-fast playability of the Jackson and Ibanez models, the powerful tone of the ESP, the unique tonal character of the Fender, or the classic Les Paul sound of the Epiphone, there’s a guitar on this list to meet your metal-playing needs. By understanding the features and capabilities of these guitars, you can make an informed decision and find the perfect instrument to unleash your inner metal guitarist.
