What is the most popular guitar model of 2021? Here are the 20 most popular and best-selling guitars of 2021, according to Reverb…
When you think of a guitar, what do you see? Me, I see a Gibson Les Paul. In black. My best friend? He sees a Fender Strat. Others might think of a Telecaster. Either way, 9/10 people think of a guitar made by either Fender or Gibson.
Reverb is one of the biggest musical instrument retailers on the planet; it shifts and helps people sell thousands of guitars every month, so when REVERB does a data drop, we’re always interested in taking a look, especially when it relates to the best-selling models of guitar.
Earlier this week, REVERB dropped some data about the best-selling guitar models from the past 12 months. The list included the 20 most popular and best-selling guitar models for 2021. And they are as follows:
Best Selling Guitars 2021
- Fender Player Telecaster
- Fender Player Stratocaster
- PRS Silver Sky John Mayer Signature
- Squier Affinity Telecaster
- Fender American Professional II Stratocaster
- PRS SE Custom 24
- Fender American Professional II Telecaster
- Gibson Les Paul Standard ’60s
- Gibson Les Paul Standard ’50s
- ESP LTD EC-1000
- Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster
- Fender American Standard Stratocaster
- PRS CE 24
- Fender American Professional Series Stratocaster
- Fender American Ultra Telecaster
- Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster
- Squier Classic Vibe ’60s Jazzmaster
- Fender American Standard Stratocaster (1986–2000)
- Gibson Les Paul Classic
- Fender Standard Stratocaster (1998–2005)
As you can see, the best selling and most popular guitars are all made by either Fender or Gibson. Fender owns Squier too, so we’re heaping those ones in with Fender. The only other non-Fender/Gibson brand to make the top 20 was PRS and ESP which is pretty surprising. I cannot believe there aren’t any Epiphone models in there.
The most popular guitar of 2021 was the Fender Player Telecaster, no surprise there – it is an exceptional guitar. The second most popular guitar of 2021 was the Fender Player Stratocaster. In third place, we have PRS Silver Sky John Mayer Signature, a truly beautiful guitar that plays and looks like a dream.
If you want an iconic-looking guitar that plays like a dream for less than $300, the Squire Affinity Series – which includes Teles, Strats, and Jazzmasters – is exactly where you want to be looking. They’re all the guitar you’ll ever need…
Most Popular Guitar Design
Out of all the top 20 most popular guitars, the most popular style of guitar appears to be Les Paul, Telecaster, and Strat – again, nothing new here, these have been the most popular guitar shapes for decades. It is nice to see a couple of Jazzmaster models making the top 20 though in the form of the Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster and the Squier Classic Vibe ’60s Jazzmaster.
I am also not surprised by the PRS CE 24 in the list either. PRS guitars are incredibly well built and play unlike anything else. And the PRS CE 24 is one of its finest and most loved models. The PRS CE 24 is HELLA expensive but if you’re serious about guitars that not only play wonderfully but also hold their value, the PRS CE 24 is a great option.
The Squier Affinity Telecaster, which came in at number 4, is also a very good affordable option. You can pick one up for next to nothing – less than $250 in most cases – and it plays like a dream. I have a couple of Squier Affinity models and they’re all superb, well-crafted, and play amazingly well – almost as good as my Player Series Fender Tele.
The upshot of using a Squier guitar, however, is that you get everything that makes a Fender guitar so special for a fraction of the cost – usually below $200. And you can now get plenty of Squier guitars with humbucker pickups which makes them perfect for metal and rock. My personal favorite right now? The Squier Affinity Series Deluxe – it costs less than $300 and it comes with dual humbuckers.
Need more options? Check out our guides on the best guitars for beginners, the best Fender guitars for metal, and the best Epiphone Les Paul models.
We’re massive fans of Epiphone here at ELECTRIKJAM, so I was really surprised not to see any of its models included in the most popular guitars of 2021, especially since Epiphone has dropped SO MANY good models this year…
Learn More About Epiphone Guitars: Best New Models, Buying Guides & Tone Tips
Recommended Gear
The latest and best gear we recommend right now…
Spark Amp – The amp itself is brilliant, coming with a bunch of great tones and plenty of power with its 50W speaker. But the real magic happens when it is paired with your phone, opening up access to thousands of effects and tones that you can customize to your exact specifications. And best of all? It’s not even that expensive either.
BIAS FX 2 – If you want to run your guitar through your PC or Mac, BIAS FX 2 is one of the best ways to develop and create amazing-sounding tones. BIAS FX is an amp and effects simulator and it is one of the best in the business. Inexpensive and perfect for jamming and recording, BIAS FX 2 is one of my favorite amp sims for Mac and PC.
Fender Mustang Micro – The Fender Mustang Micro is a small gizmo that plugs directly into your guitar’s jack. You then plug in some headphones and can switch between 12 of Fender’s Mustang amp, complete with effects and modification options. It doesn’t have any wires, it will fit in your pocket, and it even doubles as a USB audio interface too. It is one of the coolest things I’ve tested all year.
Fender Play – Learning guitar can be hard. It takes forever, seemingly, and progress is slow. But if you take a focussed approach with learning the basics and even more advanced stuff, you’ll develop much quicker. That’s why we love Fender Play; it has over 3,000 lessons and everything a beginner player needs. You can also get a free trial right now too – so you have literally nothing to lose!
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