In this article, we’ll single out four of the most affordable, popular, and reputable models available in the death metal category. This guide will show you that good gear doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg, but rather a great guitar within a reasonable price.
Besides the budget, we will discuss the guitar’s construction and quality and determine which one compliments your fierce playing style. We’ve included models from such brands as ESP LTD, Fender, Jackson, etc. Besides, every guitar mentioned below is great for shredding and fat riffing!
We’ll take a closer look at each of these models in the following section. Here are the four best guitars for death metal:
 | 1. Best Guitars for Death Metal Editor’s Choice – Fender Dave Murray Stratocaster This guitar has plenty of crunches, screams, and a top-quality vibrato. Within the incredible functionality, versatile sounds, and Floyd Rose double-locking tremolo, this guitar is a complete package. | Buy on Amazon |
 | 2. Best Ltd Guitars for Death Metal – ESP LTD KH-602 This signature model of Kirk Hammett represents a very cool and powerful sounding shredding machine. Great for down-tuning, this guitar has an incredibly unique, eye-catching design. | Buy on Amazon |
 | 3. Best Death Metal Guitars Under 500 – Jackson JS32 Dinky DKA Electric Guitar Pavo Purple The Jackson JS32 is equipped with Jackson High-Output cheapo pickups, licensed Floyd Rose Tremolo, and a maple bolt-on neck. Within this budget, you will get more than expected. | Buy on Amazon |
 | 4. Best Guitars for Melodic Death Metal – Schecter OMEN-6 6-String Electric Guitar A lightweight guitar with excellent wood tones and design. The guitar features cheapo Schecter Diamond Plus high-output alnico humbuckers, basswood body, and maple neck with a rosewood fretboard | Buy on Amazon |
Best Death Metal Guitars Reviewed
Best Guitars for Death Metal Editor’s Choice – Fender Dave Murray Stratocaster
A feature that stands out from the rest is the harmonically rich bark of the bridge that’s giving solos a fiery heat and squeal. In addition, there are some unexpected sweet spots when signals are pushed just beyond the breaking point.
But, it is the neck pickup that defines Murray’s DNA. It delivers a bright, precise, yet still slightly adenoidal tone. You will be able to play fast and articulately with complete control.
Cleans are warm and airy, and with a Duncan JB Jr at the middle position, this guitar delivers all midrange bite and raunch. The tuning stability is another fantastic feature, and honestly, we were utterly shocked at how little you need to retune it.
The Fender Dave Murry Stratocaster comes with a Fender Deluxe gig bag, and a pair of hex wrenches supposedly for the Floyd. But, the wrenches they provided are not compatible with the guitar.
Pros
- A set of versatile sounds
- A great all-rounder
- Iconic Iron Maiden tones
Cons
- Suitable for more classic sounds
Check out the sound of the Fender Stratocaster below and see if it suits your playing style.
Best Ltd Guitars for Death Metal – ESP LTD KH-602
The ESP LTD KH-602’s neck-to-body transition is short and steep, allowing more straightforward access to the upper body. Having a smoother transition improves the playability of the guitar’s upper neck. Besides that, the neck-thru construction provides all the sustain you could ever need.
Compared to ESP KH-2, sustainability is also improved because both the nut and bridge are attached to the same piece of wood. This will surely increase reverberation, but not to the point of making a bolt-on inferior.
This guitar features a set of EMG Bone Breaker pickups that produce a rich, fat sound. It also possesses an incredibly comfortable, ultra-thin neck ideal for playing fast solos. Lastly, there’s a Floyd Rose bridge, which is essential in death metal music.
You will get a reasonably good guitar with great features for its price range, which is more than decent.
Pros
- Great value
- Neck-thru construction
- Beautiful design and finishes
- Easy to play
- Comes with a case
Cons
- A bit heavy
Here is a little sound test to decide whether you like the ESP LTD KH-602 or prefer a different sound.
BBest Death Metal Guitars Under 500 – Jackson JS32 Dinky DKA Electric Guitar Pavo Purple
If you are a beginner, there is a big possibility that you are on the budget. Jackson JS32 is a starter instrument that will probably fit your price range and satisfy your beginner’s needs.
The guitar is equipped with Floyd Rose Tremolo, powered with Jackson High-Output cheapo pickups, poplar body, and maple bolt-on neck.
Poplar and maple make this guitar-less expensive, so JS32 is available at reasonable pricing. Even though it isn’t the best wood, it should be enough for most players.
There isn’t much refinement on this guitar compared to more expensive ones. In our opinion, when we talk about the terms of sound quality, it’s decent enough out of the box to qualify as a midrange guitar. However, this guitar might not be versatile enough for those just discovering their playing style.
We understand the questionable price, but it still offers a mid-range quality, making it perfect for both amateurs and professionals alike.
Pros
- Snappy pickups with plenty of definition
- Very affordable
- Satin finish neck
Cons
- Uncomfortable to play in a sitting position
- Not so versatile
Check the sound of Jackson JS32 and see if this guitar suits your playing needs.
Best Guitars for Melodic Death Metal – Schecter OMEN-6 6-String Electric Guitar
The Omen 6 body is constructed of basswood and rosewood for fretboard. It has a 24-fret bolt-on maple “Thin C”-shaped bolt-on maple neck, while the design is economical and compatible with most budgets.
This guitar features Schecter’s “C” body design which we believe it’s cool, and aesthetically speaking, it has a very “heavy metal look.” The Schecter Omen is suited more for intermediate and expert players than beginners on the budget.
Our favorite guitar hardware feature is the “thru-TOM” bridge. It’s an easy-to-use bridge that does what it’s supposed to do. It is reliable, intuitive, and doesn’t interfere with your playing. The tuning is also a big plus from our perspective. Even if you’re the most aggressive and face-melting player, it stays in check.
The neck is not too thick or too thin, and the fretboard is not too round nor too flat.
When it comes to sound quality, it’s hard to take issues. There is no wrong way to play this, and it goes well with both distortion pedals and metal amplifiers. We think that Schecter Omen might make it work as an all-purpose guitar.
Pros:
- Great sustain
- Fantastic value
- No dead frets
Cons:
- Heavier than other guitars
- Some fret edges are rough
Here’s a little demo to hear how this Schecter OMEN-6 6-String Electric Guitar sounds.
Buying Guide
Do I need a special guitar for death metal?
If you have the right amplifier and chops, you can use almost anything to create a metal sound. On the other hand, death metal guitars are designed exclusively to make your playing easier if you are after those super-heavy, overpowering tones.
When looking for a death metal instrument, try to find a guitar with humbuckers rather than single coils. Another thing is that if you want a friendly, clean tone, too, particularly during quiet interludes and breakdowns, look for guitars that have coil-tap options.
The hardware, fingerboards, electronics, necks, and bodies are crafted to draw out the best death metal tones possible from that guitar. And that’s what distinguishes them from other guitars.
What should I look for when buying a death metal guitar?
Answer questions like what type of death metal you want to play and which era of metal you would like your playing to reflect. A second question is what you would like your metal guitar to look like, including tonewoods. For example, mahogany is excellent for death metal because of its rich, deep, resonant tones. But basswood offers greater depth and resonance at a lower cost.
One should be aware that not all of the best death metal guitars are pointy. Specific models get extra marks because they are sharp enough to be classified as weapons. However, there are also some very ‘normal-looking’ models.
This depends on what kind of metal you’re going to play and how you will play it. If you are practicing in your room, you should choose a more comfortable option.
On the other hand, if you need the sharpest, pointiest, and most offensive death metal guitar possible, there are guitars for your needs. Maybe the design is what you worry about, or you are looking for something more sensible, like signature models?
Think about it. If you don’t get something that looks and feels right, you won’t enjoy it, and soon enough, you will need to replace it.
Should I get extended-range guitars for death metal?
Extended-range guitars with 7 or 8 strings give you an extended range of notes you can play. You will have more choice of chord shapes and finger placements. However, many guitar players don’t like it because they can’t use the guitar’s full range.
The 7-string guitar is great for playing low-pitched notes when playing heavier music since it will give you that extra low B string.
The 8-string will deliver a low F# (although you can tune them differently). It has a broader range of tones, non standard tunings (such as major-thirds tuning), or both. Longer scale lengths can also help in low tunings, so this too should be considered when choosing the best guitars for death metal.
On the other hand, a 6-string and a thicker string gauge should work fine if you’re in drop D or C.
Conclusion
Choosing the right guitar for death metal players can be challenging. You have to consider the hardware, electronics, the overall body, your budget, and many other things before purchasing.
Due to this, we have created this guide to help you find a guitar that suits different budgets, needs, and even styles. Any of these 4 guitars would be a great choice; however, if we must choose one, it must be the ESP LTD KH-602.
Believe it or not, we could not find flaws in this guitar. The only downside is that it is a bit heavier than other metal guitars, but considering its features, it is negligible.
It possesses a lot of sustainability and increased reverberation. The guitar produces a rich, fat sound with its set of EMG Bone Breaker pickups. Even though the guitar is a bit heavy, it has an incredibly comfortable, ultra-thin neck that makes it easy to play fast solos.
In sum, it possesses excellent features and delivers beautiful death metal sound at a reasonable price for its value. We cannot ask for more.
Last update on 2023-04-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
