The 4 Best Rhythm Guitars on the Market – Reviews 2023

best electric guitar for rhythm, good rhythm guitars, best rhythm guitar

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Playing rhythm guitar is something you can do on every single model available today. With that said, some of these are going to be better suited for the job than others.

We’ve decided to try and find 4 of the best rhythm guitars and also show you just what kind of variety exists out there. We have used several criteria for our search. For one, we looked for models that have humbuckers (with one exception, which we’ll go into later). Single coils can play rhythm as well, but humbuckers often have more girth for most things.

The models we have chosen are going to be divided into several price bracket, so you can check out what is best aligned with your own budget. So, without further ado, here are our selection of the top rhythm guitars.

Ibanez RG450DX

Ibanez and humbuckers are a pair made in heavens. Rhythm capabilities of their axes have been legendary so far. Whether you are into metal, which is frankly what most of the RG series was designed for, or you just need a solid rhythm guitar, you can’t go wrong with Ibanez RG450DX. It is simply that good.

Features

This particular model comes with a basswood body (see full specs) that comes mostly in solid colors. The pick guard is there to provide some type of a contrast, and it comes in white pearl. Pickups are a whole different ballgame. You get a humbucker-single coil-humbucker combo that is mostly comprised of in-house built components, but the quality of these shouldn’t be something to worry about.

Performance

It being dominantly a metal ax, rhythm comes naturally to the Ibanez RG450DX. There is plenty of width, girth and that cutting edge tone you definitely want to have if you are into metal. Even though it is somewhat of a niche guitar, Ibanez RG450DX brings the level of performance that will allow you to use it in just about any genre of music. It’s a truly versatile guitar—and one of the best rhythm guitars also.

My Ibanez RG450DX is THE BEST GUITAR I HAVE EVER OWNED! | Ibanez RG450DX Review

Schecter OMEN-6

Now that we have covered a great general purpose guitar, let’s be a bit more genre specific. Our next pick is a guitar made by Schecter Sound Research, and it is every metal player’s wet dream. This bad boy comes with a killer appearance, great components, and an even better sound. Do you need heavy driving rhythms that are layered with multiple distortion effects? Try this Schecter on for size.

Features

On a grand scale of things, Omen-6 ranks right around the middle of the list. However, considering its initial purpose, Schecter OMEN-6 does a great job when it comes down to value for the money. The body is a basswood design, and the finish is just incredible.

The tone of Schecter OMEN-6 is fatter in some areas, while other parts of the frequency band are either neutral or trimmed in terms of bass. The whole guitar is optimized for metal right out of the box, but with some work you can definitely turn it into a great general purpose electric guitar.

Performance

If heavy distortion is the name of your game, then Schecter OMEN-6 among the few real answers in this price range. You might not get the clean tones you would like to, but the distorted one is going to sound like a million bucks as soon as you plug yourself in.

Schecter Diamond Series Omen 6 Review

Epiphone SG-Special

Long gone are the days when Epiphone was considered to be just a low-cost version of Gibson. Sure, they’ve been bought for this purpose alone, but things are way different these days. Epiphone still produces cheaper Gibson designs, but the quality of sound you can expect has risen to a pretty decent level. SG model we are looking at today is a perfect example of that claim.

Features

If you are familiar with the original Gibson SG, almost all of the features on this guitar will be easy to understand and control. The body features that legendary SG shape and comes in several different colors. Clean lacquered ones are the most popular by far, but there’s also a black version. Humbuckers are Epiphone’s in-house design, and they work pretty well when it comes to experiencing a portion of the older Gibson tone.

Performance

Lots of heavy driving rhythm distortion and even better response to even the subtlest of inputs tells you all you need to know about this guitar. It packs a pretty decent punch for the price you are asked to pay, on top of delivering a good taste of what a genuine Gibson SG feels like. It’s among the best rhythm guitars for the money.

Epiphone SG Review

Oscar Schmidt OE30 Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar


A lot of rhythm players like the acoustic-like sound depth and roundness of tone you can get from a semi-hollowbody electric. The Oscar Schmidt OE30 also has the humbucker pickups most rhythm players prefer, and a smooth-playing D-shaped neck that’s ideal for the rhythm technique.

Value is something else you’ll get from the Oscar Schmidt OE30. It’s priced for both hobbyists and professionals, and one of the most affordable semi-hollowbody guitars you’ll find.

Features

The Oscar Schmidt OE30 comes installed with two Washburn HH humbucking pickups. They’re a relatively low-output pickup, with a warm sound that’s perfect for most rhythm players. If you do want a hotter pickup, it’s easy enough to upgrade to a humbucker with more output.

The hardware on the Oscar Schmidt OE30 is admittedly its weakest feature. It stays in tune well enough while you’re playing, but there’s nothing special about the tuners, and professionals especially may want to upgrade them. That said, the tuners won’t break or slip on you, so the hardware is on par with what you’d expect for the price of the guitar.

Performance

You’ll love the feel of the Oscar Schmidt OE30. The action is perfect—nice and low but without any fret buzz. The easy playability of the OE30 is enhanced by the D-shaped neck profile, which is slimmer than the C-shaped necks you’ll find on many electric guitars. This makes chunky chords easier and reduces finger strain. It’s also one of the things that makes it perfect for beginners as well as pros, since you can practice longer without getting tired.

Conclusion

All of the models listed here can be considered among the best rhythm guitars. We were careful to select those that have both the humbucker pickups as well as overall build quality. The sound quality will always remain our No. 1 criteria, but since that is a fairly subjective factor we decided to sift through a variety of sonic domains and find a little something for everyone’s needs. Playing comfort is something else rhythm players will want to think about. A low action and shallow neck can make chords easier to play.

Additionally, we went for the highest possible durability and value for money. In simple terms, we wanted to get you the best bang for the buck experience you can afford. Good stuff, a thumbs up from here!

Written and Reviewed By

  • Micah Johnson started playing music in high school, when he taught himself the bass to join his friend’s band. He added guitar and drums during his twenties playing in local clubs, and along the way, he picked up unique, hands-on experience from hand drums to studio mixers. On Song Simian, he aims to share this knowledge from 20+ years playing and recording music. When not in gearhead mode, he enjoys photography and travel.

  • Marko is the senior editor and writer on Ultimate Guitar, the No. 1 guitar spot on the web, since early 2013. His work was also featured on a variety of other notable gear spots such as Guitar Fella, Consordini, and, of course, Song Simian. His musical journey began at a very young age, and he finally opted to pick up an instrument in his early teenage years. A fan of King Crimson. A travel enthusiast.

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