AudioFu

Best ST Style Guitars for Advanced 2026

Perfect st style guitars for advanced - easy to play and learn on

Last updated: January 21, 2026 • Next update: January 28, 2026

PRICE RANGES: Under $100 Under $200 Under $300 Under $500 Under $800 Under $1,000 Under $2,000 Under $5,000
SKILL LEVELS: For Beginner For Intermediate For Professional For Advanced
GENRES & STYLES: For Rock For Blues For Pop For Country For Funk For Indie
BRANDS: Fender Ibanez Harley Benton PRS Jackson Squier Kramer Guitars Suhr ESP Charvel Yamaha Larry Carlton Mooer Schecter Music Man Solar Guitars Cort Evh Sterling by Music Man Xotic Guitars Maybach Friedman
Fender 61 Strat Hot Rod Red RW NOS - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#1

Fender 61 Strat Hot Rod Red RW NOS

by Fender
Rock Pop Indie
Key Feature:
• Versatile 5-way pickup switching
✓ PROS
  • • Comfortable body contours
  • • Versatile 5-way pickup switching
✗ CONS
  • • Electronics may need shielding
  • • Single-coils can pick up interference

Fender 61 Strat Hot Rod Red RW NOSElectric GuitarBody: AshNeck: MapleFingerboard: Slabboard 9 mm AAA rosewoodNeck...

⭐ 4.6/5 (34 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 622301
$5,939
Buy at Thomann View Details
Fender 63 Strat RW 3TSb CC HSS - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#2

Fender 63 Strat RW 3TSb CC HSS

by Fender
Funk Indie Pop
Key Feature:
• Classic single-coil brightness
✓ PROS
  • • Excellent sustain and playability
  • • Classic single-coil brightness
✗ CONS
  • • Requires quality amplifier
  • • String bending can cause tuning issues

Fender 63 Strat RW 3TSb CC HSSElectric GuitarBody: AlderBolt-on neck: MapleFingerboard: RosewoodWhite micarta...

⭐ 4.8/5 (22 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 620318
$5,939
Buy at Thomann View Details
Fender 59 Strat RW Vintage Blonde JRN - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#3

Fender 59 Strat RW Vintage Blonde JRN

by Fender
Blues Rock Funk
Key Feature:
• Excellent sustain and playability
✓ PROS
  • • Versatile 5-way pickup switching
  • • Comfortable body contours
✗ CONS
  • • Electronics may need shielding
  • • Requires quality amplifier

Fender 59 Strat RW Vintage Blonde JRNElectric GuitarBody: AshBolt-on neck: MapleFingerboard: RosewoodWhite micarta...

⭐ 4.8/5 (15 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 620262
$5,389
Buy at Thomann View Details
Fender 55 Strat MN Sunburst CC - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#4

Fender 55 Strat MN Sunburst CC

by Fender
Pop Rock Country
Key Feature:
• Classic single-coil brightness
✓ PROS
  • • Comfortable body contours
  • • Great for clean and overdriven tones
✗ CONS
  • • Single-coils can pick up interference
  • • String bending can cause tuning issues

Fender 55 Strat MN Sunburst CCElectric GuitarBody: AshBolt-on neck: MapleFingerboard: MapleMicarta black fingerboard...

⭐ 4.7/5 (44 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 620330
$4,888
Buy at Thomann View Details
Ibanez S520AH-OBF - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#5

Ibanez S520AH-OBF

by Ibanez
Pop Blues Rock
Key Feature:
• Classic single-coil brightness
✓ PROS
  • • Comfortable body contours
  • • Excellent sustain and playability
✗ CONS
  • • May be too bright for heavy metal
  • • Requires quality amplifier

Ibanez S520AH-OBFElectric GuitarBody: AshBolt-on neck: MapleFingerboard: RosewoodOffset dot fingerboard inlaysNeck...

⭐ 5.0/5 (14 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 620903
$769
Buy at Thomann View Details
Fender 55 Strat MN White Blonde CC - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#6

Fender 55 Strat MN White Blonde CC

by Fender
Country Indie Blues
Key Feature:
• Classic single-coil brightness
✓ PROS
  • • Comfortable body contours
  • • Excellent sustain and playability
✗ CONS
  • • Requires quality amplifier
  • • Single-coils can pick up interference

Fender 55 Strat MN White Blonde CCElectric GuitarBody: AshBolt-on neck: MapleFingerboard: MapleMicarta black...

⭐ 4.5/5 (42 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 620329
$4,888
Buy at Thomann View Details
Ibanez RGT1220PBKCOL - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#7

Ibanez RGT1220PBKCOL

by Ibanez
Blues Pop Country
Key Feature:
• Comfortable body contours
✓ PROS
  • • Versatile 5-way pickup switching
  • • Comfortable body contours
✗ CONS
  • • May be too bright for heavy metal
  • • Requires quality amplifier

Ibanez RGT1220PBKCOLElectric GuitarBody: BasswoodTop: Poplar burlNeck-thru-body 7-piece neck: Maple /...

⭐ 4.8/5 (26 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 620918
$1,704
Buy at Thomann View Details
Ibanez GRGR221PA-AQB Bundle - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#8

Ibanez GRGR221PA-AQB Bundle

by Ibanez
Rock Country Pop
Key Feature:
• Excellent sustain and playability
✓ PROS
  • • Excellent sustain and playability
  • • Comfortable body contours
✗ CONS
  • • Electronics may need shielding
  • • Requires quality amplifier

Ibanez GRGR221PA-AQB Bundle*Bundle offer comprising*, Ibanez GRGR221PA-AQB*Electric Guitar*Body: OkoumeTop:...

⭐ 5.0/5 (39 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 623082
$325
Buy at Thomann View Details
Ibanez RG565R-LB - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#9

Ibanez RG565R-LB

by Ibanez
Indie Blues Pop
Key Feature:
• Comfortable body contours
✓ PROS
  • • Classic single-coil brightness
  • • Excellent sustain and playability
✗ CONS
  • • Single-coils can pick up interference
  • • Requires quality amplifier

Ibanez RG565R-LBElectric GuitarBody: Basswood5-piece bolt-on neck: Maple / WalnutFingerboard: RosewoodNeck profile:...

⭐ 4.9/5 (28 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 620952
$1,319
Buy at Thomann View Details
Fender Roasted '61 Strat ABLK/3TSB - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#10

Fender Roasted '61 Strat ABLK/3TSB

by Fender
Funk Indie Pop
Key Feature:
• Great for clean and overdriven tones
✓ PROS
  • • Comfortable body contours
  • • Great for clean and overdriven tones
✗ CONS
  • • Single-coils can pick up interference
  • • String bending can cause tuning issues

Fender Roasted '61 Strat ABLK/3TSBElectric GuitarLimited editionCustom Shop modelBody: AlderBolt-on neck:...

⭐ 4.6/5 (26 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 621224
$6,379
Buy at Thomann View Details
Fender 63 Strat RW 3-TSB CC HSS - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#11

Fender 63 Strat RW 3-TSB CC HSS

by Fender
Indie Blues Funk
Key Feature:
• Versatile 5-way pickup switching
✓ PROS
  • • Excellent sustain and playability
  • • Great for clean and overdriven tones
✗ CONS
  • • String bending can cause tuning issues
  • • May be too bright for heavy metal

Fender 63 Strat RW 3-TSB CC HSSElectric GuitarBody: AlderBolt-on neck: MapleFingerboard: RosewoodWhite micarta...

⭐ 5.0/5 (17 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 620319
$5,939
Buy at Thomann View Details
Ibanez GRG320FA-TVT - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#12

Ibanez GRG320FA-TVT

by Ibanez
Indie Rock Country
Key Feature:
• Comfortable body contours
✓ PROS
  • • Excellent sustain and playability
  • • Classic single-coil brightness
✗ CONS
  • • Requires quality amplifier
  • • Single-coils can pick up interference

Ibanez GRG320FA-TVTElectric GuitarBody: PoplarTop: Basswood with Art Grain in flamed maple lookBolt-on neck:...

⭐ 4.5/5 (24 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 622775
$439
Buy at Thomann View Details
Fender 63 Strat RW Black Relic HSS - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#13

Fender 63 Strat RW Black Relic HSS

by Fender
Country Pop Rock
Key Feature:
• Excellent sustain and playability
✓ PROS
  • • Classic single-coil brightness
  • • Versatile 5-way pickup switching
✗ CONS
  • • Requires quality amplifier
  • • May be too bright for heavy metal

Fender 63 Strat RW Black Relic HSSElectric GuitarBody: AlderBolt-on neck: MapleFingerboard: RosewoodWhite micarta...

⭐ 4.8/5 (2 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 620279
$7,149
Buy at Thomann View Details
Ibanez AZ47P2K-DEB - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#14

Ibanez AZ47P2K-DEB

by Ibanez
Blues Country Funk
Key Feature:
• Comfortable body contours
✓ PROS
  • • Versatile 5-way pickup switching
  • • Classic single-coil brightness
✗ CONS
  • • Single-coils can pick up interference
  • • String bending can cause tuning issues

Ibanez AZ47P2K-DEBElectric GuitarBody: BasswoodTop: KoaBolt-on neck: Roasted mapleFingerboard: EbonyMother of pearl dot...

⭐ 4.6/5 (3 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 620911
$1,704
Buy at Thomann View Details
Ibanez RGA21P1PB-DRL - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#15

Ibanez RGA21P1PB-DRL

by Ibanez
Indie Blues Pop
Key Feature:
• Comfortable body contours
✓ PROS
  • • Comfortable body contours
  • • Versatile 5-way pickup switching
✗ CONS
  • • Single-coils can pick up interference
  • • Requires quality amplifier

Ibanez RGA21P1PB-DRLElectric GuitarBody: BasswoodTop: Burl poplar / maple / walnut / curly maple / panga pangaBolt-on...

⭐ 4.9/5 (22 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 620935
$1,649
Buy at Thomann View Details

How to Choose the Best ST Style Guitars

Budget Planning

  • • Under $200: Entry-level
  • • $200-$500: Intermediate
  • • $500-$1000: Advanced
  • • $1000+: Professional

Quality Check

  • • Sound clarity & tone
  • • Build materials & finish
  • • Hardware durability
  • • Overall craftsmanship

Key Features

  • • Your musical style
  • • Skill level match
  • • Intended use case
  • • Brand reputation

Frequently Asked Questions

Key factors include build quality, sound characteristics, playability, brand reputation, warranty coverage, and value for money. Consider your musical style, skill level, and intended use to find the best match.
Budget depends on your needs and experience level. Beginners can find quality options for $200-500, intermediate players should consider $500-1500 range, while professionals often invest $1500+ for premium features.
Higher-priced st style guitars typically offer better materials, craftsmanship, and performance. They're worth it if you're serious about music, perform regularly, or need professional-grade features.
Top brands combine quality, innovation, and reliability. We evaluate brands based on build quality, sound performance, durability, and customer satisfaction to recommend the best options for different budgets.
Both have advantages. Online offers better prices and selection, while stores allow hands-on testing. We recommend researching online first, then testing in stores if possible. Many online retailers offer excellent return policies.

Related Best Lists

TOP

Best Humbucker Pickups

POPULAR

Best Distortion Pedals

POPULAR

Best Single Cut Guitars

RELATED

Best Dreadnought Acoustic Guitars

TOP

Best 4/4 Size Classical Guitars

POPULAR

Best 4-String Basses

We use cookies to improve your experience. Learn more