The Best Shredding Guitars
There is a certain segment of guitar players who live to shred. Shredding is generally defined as the ability to play very fast with technical precision. Determining the best shredding guitars, however, can be difficult; a guitar player's own style and different guitar specs, such as neck radius, work together to facilitate one's ability to shred. That said, there are some guitar brands and models that routinely show up in the hands of well-known shredders from Steve Vai to Eric Johnson.
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Ibanez Guitars
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Perhaps no other brand of guitar is more associated with shredding than Ibanez. Found in the hands of guitar legends such as Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Paul Gilbert and many others, Ibanez has embraced the needs of shredders even when the shred style of guitar wasn't popular. One aspect of Ibanez guitars that facilitates shred playing is a thin guitar neck that Ibanez calls their Wizard neck, which can be found on many of their models, including the RG, S, and Jem series guitars.
Dean Guitars
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Dean guitars make no bones about their approach; they aim straight for the shredder market. Unlike other brands on this list, Dean hasn't had such a stable history. In the early-to-mid '80s, Dean was a well-known brand, but it declined with the grunge era of the early '90s. It wasn't until the rise of Pantera and the late Dimebag Darrell Abbott, a well-respected shredder and Dean enthusiast, that Dean came back to life. Today, Dean offers signature models for renowned shredders such as Dave Mustaine, Michael Angelo Batio and Vinnie Moore.
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Jackson Guitars
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Jackson guitars have long been a staple among guitar players in the thrash and speed-metal genres, where speed and accuracy are at the very foundation of the playing technique. It's no surprise then that Jackson continues to be a favorite among shredders of all ages. Although different Jackson models boast a thin neck, many other features make them preferable to shredders as well, such as having 24 frets, dual locking tremolos and humbucking bridge pickups. Jackson offers signature models for shredders such as Chris Broderick, Phil Demmel and Adrian Smith.
Fender Guitars
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No other guitar manufacturer on this list has a history as rich and deep as Fender. Until recently, Fender Stratocasters and Telecasters were generally found in the hands of nonshredding blues and rock players. Sure, the occasional shredder, such as Yngwie Malmsteen, Eric Johnson and Stevie Ray Vaughan would play them, but they were exceptions. Recently, however, Fender has gone after the shredder audience, particularly with its Telecaster model; having introduced signature series models for shredders John 5 and Jim Root, Fender is now a legitimate player in the shred-guitar market.
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