Solid body guitars with humbuckers are well documented in light audio recording. Now, I use my Dean USA Z, which I picked up pretty cheap.
But, there are other solid body humbuckers options available. Here are some reliable favorites. Each one represents a different price point to help you navigate your budget, as well as different design styles. However, all will be less than $800.
So, here, “the best” means more like, “decent guitars depending how much money you have.”
Perhaps I’ll do a post down the line focusing on specific model types. But, let’s see how this one goes first.
BC Rich Warlock | $75 – $799.99
Firstly, I’ll get the pointy one out of the way. The design style may not be to everybody’s taste, but you can’t deny it’s not fun! And cheap!
Although, it conjures images of spotty teenagers without a tuner, metal t-shirts, and stickers of cannabis leaves and Monster energy drink adorning the guitar, especially models with a black finish.
But, because used models start for as little as $75, and the brand is good enough for Slash and Joe Perry, I don’t think these should be ignored.
If you’re looking for a super-cheap solid body guitar with humbuckers, specifically for not recording too seriously, this could do the job. Even if you’re not metalwards inclined, this will do what you need at a low cost. And perhaps some comic value.
There are multiple versions of the Warlock available. If we’re looking at the cheapest, we’re looking at the Bronze series, which features
- Agathis body
- BC Rich’s own designed humbuckers
- Bolt-on neck
- 24 jumbo frets
- One volume, and one tone knob
- Rosewood fingerboard
Despite the perceived low cost and quality of the Warlock, they do have models that exceed $1,000, namely vintage ones and limited edition runs.
While Reverb has plenty of Warlocks, so will your local Craigslist or Guitar Center.
Epiphone Les Paul Custom | $325 – $650
Secondly, we have the Epiphone Les Paul Custom. Used ones are on Reverb, for as little as $325. Or the current model, the Les Paul Custom Pro, is shiny and new from $648.
Epiphone are the quintessential guitar brand for affordability, and the Les Paul Custom is one of its premium Les Paul models. Even pros like Frank Iero from My Chemical Romance have a longstanding association with them. And veteran producer, mixer, and engineer, Michael Wagener has one in his studio.
And I got one for my 21st birthday, so, this model has been out for a long time.
Looking through the specs for the Les Paul Custom, you can see why it costs a little more than the Warlock.
- Mahogany body
- Alnico humbuckers
- Set neck
- 22 frets
- Two volume knobs, and two tone knobs
- Rosewood fingerboard
The two things in particular that support a slightly higher price are the mahogany body and the set neck. Mahogany is a more dense and more expensive wood. And the set neck takes more craftsmanship than the bolt-on neck of the Warlock.
Paul Reed Smith SE Custom 24 | $400 – $729
PRS are a rare brand, in that they’re not exclusively associated with a specific genre.
After decades being recognized as a premium brand, eventually they targeted players with less money with the SE range. While the Custom 24 started as a flagship model from the company’s inception, it actually wasn’t an immediate part of the SE range.
A quick look at the specs shows that it’s a little bit fancy, and getting that fanciness to an affordable price may have taken some time.
So, let’s see exactly the Custom 24 SE is more expensive than the Warlock or the Les Paul Custom.
- Mahogany body with a maple veneer
- 85/15 humbuckers
- Set neck
- 24 frets
- Two knobs, one for each pickup, with a pull/push function to adjust the tone/volume of each pickup
- Rosewood fingerboard with birds inlays
The humbuckers seem to PRS’s own. But, it’s the maple veneer and the birdies on the inlays that nudge up the price of the the Custom 24, beyond the scope of the Warlock or Les Paul.
The best solid body guitars with humbuckers for light audio recording: conclusion
In conclusion, a key raison d’etre of light audio recording is accessibility. One of the reasons for referring to this approach to audio recording as “light” is that it should be light financially.
While many guitars make appearances throughout my own light recording process. While this list barely even scratches the surface of what’s out there in terms of solid body electric guitars with humbuckers, it gives an idea: the Epiphone is the middle spot, with the Warlock below it, and the PRS above it.
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