8 Best Guitar Brands in India for 2023
If there is one thing that touches your soul more than food, it has to be music. The gateway drug to happiness, music has been at the centre of human civilization. And one of the most popular instruments and perhaps the most important is the guitar.
Found with different variations viz. acoustic, electrical, spanish, classical, bass, among others- the guitar has been the most recognizable instrument. Some of the most popular musicians of the late 20th century and early 21st century have used the guitar as their preferred choice of instrument. Some of them include Slash, Jimmy Page, David Gilmour, Eric Clapton, Pete Seeger.
So, if you are a professional or a beginner and you are looking for the best guitar brands in India, you are on the right page. Buying a guitar is not just another regular purchase. It is an investment. Somewhere down the line, a part of your soul will be stuck to this guitar forever, so choose wisely young padawan.
Here are the Top 8 Guitar Brands in India for 2023
1. Gibson
Probably the most iconic guitar brand in the world, Gibson was founded way back in 1902 by Orville Gibson. They have some of the most iconic guitars, most notably the Gibson Les Paul series. Popular guitarists who used a Gibson include the likes of Slash, BB King, Elvis Presley, Angus Young, and Jimmy Page. Gibson is perhaps the favourite guitar brand for most guitarists, both in India and overseas.
2. Epiphone
Before getting acquired by Gibson, Epiphone was Gibson’s biggest competitor. And if you see the list of guitarists who used this brand, you will know why. The Beatles, The Edge (from U2), Matthew Followill, Keith Richards, Les Paul (Yes! The one and only) among many others. These days Epiphone is considered as the budget-friendly Gibsons, although they have picked up and manufactured a bunch of high-end guitars as well.
3. Ibanez
When you think of electric guitars, this is one of the two names that probably pops in your head! This Japanese company is one of the heavyweights in the guitar industry. Some of the famous names in rock music, including Steve Vai to Joe Satriani, Nita Strauss, Eddie van Halen, use an Ibanez. Their famous 7-string and 8-string guitars were the first of their kind. Metalheads swear that if Bible was an instrument, it would have been an Ibanez.
4. Fender
The other name when it comes to electric guitars is undoubtedly Fender. The most iconic Fender Stratocaster has been a preferred choice of the instrument by the likes of David Gilmour, Jimi Hendrix, Mark Knopfler, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Ritchie Blackmore. Throughout the ages, Fender has been the most recognized guitar brand. Any guitar enthusiast will tell you that he/she dreams to own a sleek Stratocaster after they turn pro!
5. Yamaha
A wonderful brand of guitars for beginners. Not that the pros don’t use it but due to its budget-friendly pieces with a quality tone, it is a hit with the ones who start playing guitars. Yamaha’s acoustic guitars are absolutely stunning. Although preferred by beginners and intermediate players, the likes of Bob Marley, Bob Dylan, Mick Jones, and John Denver have all used a Yamaha in their studio or live shows somewhere during their careers.
6. Takamine
Known for its steel-string acoustic guitars, Takamine is a Japanese guitar manufacturing company. One of the first guitar companies to come up with the acoustic-electric model, some of the biggest names in the music industry uses Takamine. The list includes Steve Wilson, Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen, and Bruno Mars. The tone of these acoustic guitars is unmatched!
7. Paul Reed Smith
Rock lovers unite! PRS is synonymous with high-end electric guitars. These handmade beauties enjoy a hugely loyal fanbase. Some even swear that they are as good as Fenders. Their quality and tone are unmatched in the industry. Some of the famous guitar players are Carlos Santana, John Mayers, Mark Tremonti, and Alex Lifeson.
8. Jackson
The combination of suave and electrifying, Jackson is owned by Fender. Sometimes considered to be the expensive version of Ibanez, these high-end guitars are a natural choice for professional and studio players. Adrian Smith, Buckethead, Dave Mustaine, Dave Murray, James Hetfield…The list goes on and with every name, we spell out for you, your impressed face will widen.
So, that’s our take on the best guitar brands of India. We deliberately missed out on names like Hertz, Pluto, Juarez, Signature, and the likes for a couple of reasons. These brands are definitely great and have a nice tone. However, they are on the lower side of the budget. We believe that if you are investing in an instrument, it should be the very best, both in terms of tone and quality. However, you can go with any of these brands. Rest assured, you won’t be making a mistake if you do.
Do you agree with our list? Let us know in the comments if you don’t and don’t forget to add your list!
