Les Paul created an early solid-body electric guitar in his spare time after work at the Epiphone factory in the early 1940's famously known as "The Log". It is believed that this was the first solidbody 'Spanish guitar' every built. He went on to develop the idea further until he took it to managers at Gibson sometime in 1945 or 1946 who immediately...
...did nothing.

Luckily another guitar innovator, Leo Fender, began having some sales success with his solidbody electric in 1950 (initially named the Esquire, then Broadcaster, and now it's called the Telecaster), so Gibson about-faced and one of the most iconic instruments in music history went into production.

As our very own Alexander Briones once said of the Gibson Les Paul, "It's like carrying a trophy and a guitar at the same time!"

Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin helped make the Les Paul famous again in the 1970's and Slash from Guns n Roses brought in another generation of Les Paul fandom in the 1980s and 1990s.

The Epiphone Les Paul Special II is today's entry-level version and is itself incredibly popular as evidenced by more than 4,100 reviews, critiques and recommendations for it currently on the internet along with the fact that Epiphone says this is their highest selling electric guitar.

Specifications

• Body: Mahogany
• Finish: Vintage Sunburst (pictured), Ebony or Heritage Cherry Sunburst
• Bridge: Tune-o-matic
• Pickups: Bridge - Epiphone 700T Humbucker, Neck - Epiphone 650R Humbucker
• Neck: Mahogany
• Scale Length: 24.75”
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Fingerboard Radius: 12”
• Number of Frets:
• Nut Width: 1.68”
• Controls: 1-volume, 1-tone
• Pickup Selector: 3-way Epiphone toggle

Pros

Many users describe it by phrases like "great value for the money", "great beginner guitar", and "great quality for the price". And while most of the raves are from beginners, there were experienced guitarists who shared their positive sentiments, specifically pointing to its build quality and playability. And while many cheap guitars are plagued with mass production setup inconsistencies, the Epiphone Les Paul Special II gets a lot of kudos from users who found that it plays nicely right out of the box.

Cons

This guitar would've rated better if not for some users who rate it lower because of unfair comparisons to more expensive models. Still, there are valid complaints, including the quality of the tuners and minor cosmetic blemishes.

Overall

The vast majority of people who bought this guitar are very happy with it.

Here is Guns n Roses featuring Slash playing the riff and solo on a Gibson Les Paul replica of which Gibson later released their own replica version called the Slash Appetite Les Paul:

The Stratocaster, AKA 'The Strat', is almost certainly the highest selling electric guitar design of all time having first been released in 1954.

The list of famous Stratocaster players is almost endless, but it includes some of the greatest of all time including Jimi Hendrix and Dave Gilmour from Pink Floyd

The Squier Bullet Strat is the lowest cost entry point into the world of Stratocasters but there is also a slightly higher spec'd version with a street price of $199.99 that you might like to check out called the Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster (SSS).

Specifications

• Body: Basswood
• Finish: Brown Sunburst / Polyurethane (pictured), also comes in Black, Fiesta Red, Pink or Arctic White
• Bridge: 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo
• Pickups: 3 x Standard Single-Coil Strat
• Neck: Maple
• Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Fingerboard Radius: 9.5" (241 mm)
• Number of Frets: 21
• Nut Width: 1.650" (42 mm)
• Controls: Master Volume, Tone 1. (Neck Pickup), Tone 2. (Middle Pickup)
• Pickup Selector: 5-Position Blade: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup, Position 3. Middle Pickup, Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup, Position 5. Neck Pickup

Pros

This guitar is still consistently commended for its excellent value, thanks to its inherent versatility, which allows for 5 different tones via the pickup selector. It continues to get recommendations from experienced players, including those who want to try guitar modifications.

Cons

The tremolo bar (aka whammy bar) and tuners got some flak from users who reported having tuning stability issues, but this happens with most guitars in this price range. As expected from something that's cheap and popular, there are some users who unfairly compare this guitar to more expensive models.

Overall

This is the most inexpensive version of the Strat that you can buy, and it continues to be popular for many years.

Here is Eric Clapton playing the riff and solo on a Fender Stratocaster:

The SG (Solid Guitar) was originally meant to be a re-design of the Gibson Les Paul and Gibson gave it the same name. Les Paul wasn't involved in the redesign and asked that his name be removed and so Gibson obliged and renamed it the SG.

The new design was meant to boost sales because the original was fading in the market, and it worked with more than 6,000 units sold during the first 3 years after the 1961 launch - more than 3 times the number of the original Les Paul Standards sold from 1958 to 1960.

Gibson said in 2009 that the SG Standard was their highest selling guitar of all time.

Legendary SG players include Angus Young from AC/DC and Tony Iommi from Black Sabbath.

Specifications

• Body: Mahogany
• Finish: Cherry (pictured), also comes in Ebony
• Bridge: LockTone Tune-O-Matic
• Pickups: Bridge 700T humbucker, Neck 650R humbucker
• Neck: Hard maple
• Scale Length: 24.75”
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Fingerboard Radius: 12”
• Number of Frets: 22
• Nut Width: 1.68"
• Controls: 1-master volume, 1 master-tone with KillPot
• Pickup Selector: 3-way

Pros

Students and expert alike describe this guitar as a fun instrument, and goes further by commenting that it has exceeded their expectations. From its fast action playability to the quality of the finish, the Epiphone SGSpecial continues to rake in compliments. Several people even said that it comes surprisingly close to the feel and sound of a Gibson SG.

Cons

There were complaints about the quality and sound of the pickups - generally the same types of complaints found about most types of budget guitars. Some have gotten really good results by merely swapping out the pickups.

Overall

If you're a fan or classic rock and metal, then this is the budget guitar for you.

Here is AC/DC featuring Angus Young playing the riff and solo on a Cherry Red Gibson SG:

The Telecaster is the guitar that effectively started the solid-body electric guitar revolution.

During the 1930s and 1940s several companies tried to produce a solid-body electric but none of them were commercially successful. Then Leo Fender released his design in 1950 with a single pickup under the name Esquire, then added a second pickup and sold it under the name Broadcaster but soon had to change it due to a lawsuit from Gretsch who were already selling a drum kit using that name. Thus the "Tele" as we know it today was born.

Its popularity continues and as of today the Squier Affinity Series Telecaster is the highest rated solid-body electric guitar that sells for less than $200.

Specifications

• Body: Alder
• Finish: Lake Placid Blue / Polyurethane (pictured), also comes in Brown Sunburst, Gun Metal Gray, 2-Color Sunburst, Black and Arctic White
• Bridge: 6-Saddle Top-Load Tele
• Pickups: 2 x Vintage-Style Single-Coil Tele
• Neck: Maple
• Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Fingerboard Radius: 9.5" (241 mm)
• Number of Frets: 21
• Nut Width: 1.6” (40.6 mm)
• Controls: Master Volume, Master Tone
• Pickup Selector: 3-Position Blade: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge and Neck Pickups, Position 3. Neck Pickup

Pros

It's hard to overstate how well liked this version of the Tele is by people who have bought and played it - something which is evidenced by its very high Gearank score. Most commendations point to its playability, tone and overall build quality.

Cons

For something that's continues to sell well, there are relatively very few complaints. Most of which are from people who encountered setup and cosmetic issues out of the box.

Overall

You can't go far wrong with the highest rated guitar under $200.

Here are the Rolling Stones with Keith Richards playing his Fender Tele:

As this is the highest rated guitar under $200 here is a second video showing the range of tones you can get from a Squier Affinity Series Telecaster:

The Pacifica series were originally designed during the 1990's in California and manufactured in Japan as Yamaha's take on Fender's two main designs - the Telecaster and the Stratocaster. The Pacifica PAC112J is a superstrat.

The Yamaha Pacifica PAC112J is their highest rated electric guitar under $200 but they also have a slightly cheaper option called the Pacifica PAC012DLX which also comes with a HSS configuration.

Specifications

• Body: Alder
• Finish: Black (pictured), also comes in Lake Blue, Natural, Old Violin Sunburst
• Bridge: Vintage Tremolo
• Pickups: Bridge Humbucking, Middle Single coil, Neck Single coil
• Neck: Maple
• Scale Length: 25 1/2" (648 mm)
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Fingerboard Radius: 13 3/4" (350 mm)
• Number of Frets: 22
• Nut Width: Not specified
• Controls: Master Volume, Master Tone
• Pickup Selector: 5-Position

Pros

Many guitarists favored the Yamaha Pacifica PAC112J over the budget Squire HSS strats in their reviews. They commend its build quality and its tone. Value for money got repeated mentions, with some going as far as claiming that this guitar plays as well as those priced twice more.

Cons

There were no consistent complaints about this guitar in customer reviews - just a few of the same negatives about quality and tuning stability that most guitars in this price range get.

Overall

With its high rating, and Yamaha's reputation for student friendly quality, you can't go far wrong with the Pacifica PAC112J.

Here is a good review and demonstration of the Yamaha Pacifica PAC112J::

Like many other Japanese guitar manufacturers in the 1960's and 1970's, Ibanez were essentially building copies of American guitars from the likes of Gibson and Fender which led to lawsuits which in turn led to Ibanez needing to come up with their own designs.

Then in 1986 they teamed up with Frank Zappa's guitarist Steve Vai to create a new design which led to the JEM and RG series that were launched in 1987 and Ibanez hasn't looked back since.

These types of guitars are known as 'Superstrats' because of their obvious body shape similarity to Fender's Stratocasters.

The GIO series are their current entry-level guitars with the GRX20Z, combining a superstrat style body with two humbucking pickups, being their highest rated option under $200.

Specifications

• Body: Poplar
• Finish: Black Night (pictured), also comes in Green Metallic, Jewel Blue, Vivid Orange and Silver
• Bridge: FAT-6 tremolo
• Pickups: 2 x Infinity R Humbucking passive/ceramic
• Neck: GRX Maple
• Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Fingerboard Radius: 400 mmR
• Number of Frets: 22
• Nut Width: 42 mm
• Controls: 1 x Volume, 1 x Tone
• Pickup Selector: 3-way

Pros

This is another budget guitar that is routinely praised for the excellent value for money it provides. Many reviewers point to its playability as its strongest point, which is not surprising given that this guitar is from Ibanez. There were even several people who wrote in their reviews that they liked the GRX20Z so much that they had bought it more than once.

Cons

Other than a few complaints saying it doesn't stay in tune well enough (similar complaints can be found about all budget guitars) there weren't many consistently stated negatives about the GRX20Z.

Overall

If you're looking for an affordable shred machine that will help you get your chops up, then get the Ibanez Gio GRX20Z.

Here's a demonstration of a GRX: