Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
Don't miss these
Eric Johnson wears headpnones as he takes a solo on his Strat during the 2023 G3 Tour.
Artists Eric Johnson on why pick choice and picking style are fundamental to your playing – and how his favourite jazz player got his sound by using his thumb
timbre wolf
Tech "Boy, do people hate it": 10 of the most divisive products in music tech history, from iLok to the Akai Timbre Wolf
Neural DSP Quad Cortex
Guitar Pedals Best multi-effects pedals 2026: Our pick of the best all-in-one guitar FX modellers
A PRS McCarty 594 on a hard case
Electric Guitars Best electric guitars 2026: Our pick of guitars to suit all budgets
A landscape shot of the iconic Guitar Center logo and shop entrance to its Sunset Boulevard store.
Guitars “We are about to do something insane”: Guitar Center is launching its own guitar brand “from the ground up”
Close up of a Taylor GS Mini acoustic guitar lying on a wooden floor
Acoustic Guitars Best acoustic guitars 2026: Super steel string acoustics for all players and budgets
Harley Benton goes for the '80s vibe as it refreshes its ST-80FR shred guitars in six Sparkle Burst finishes – including Hologram.
Guitars Harley Benton takes on the high-performance heavyweights with a Sparkle Burst refresh of its $400 Floyd-equipped S-style
A Spark Link receiver in a Spark Mini practice amp
Guitars Best guitar wireless systems 2026: Cut the cord and liberate your playing today
A Warm Audio Tube Squealer guitar pedal on a wooden floor with guitar cables in the background
Guitars Calling all guitarists! Guitar Center's legendary Guitar-A-Thon sale has finally dropped including up to $700 off a Gibson - here's 9 of the best deals selected by an expert
Headphones next to electric guitar
Headphones Best guitar amp headphones 2026: My top picks for practicing your guitar quietly
Taylor Academy 10E
Acoustic Guitars Best acoustic guitar for beginners: Strum your first chords with our choice of beginner acoustic guitars
Two guitars lying on the floor with guitar cables
Guitars Best guitar cables 2026: Leads and patch cables for all budgets
Woman in orange hat plays classical guitar in front of a laptop
Guitar Lessons & Tutorials What are the best online guitar lessons in 2026? I’m a professional guitar gear reviewer and these are my highest-rated lessons platforms
Man presses acoustic bridge pin into an acoustic guitar
Guitar Strings Best acoustic guitar strings 2026: Find your favourite acoustic strings
Texan guitar phenom Eric Johnson plays a Fender Stratocaster in a Tropical Turquoise finish during a 2016 performance with the Experience Hendrix Tour.
Artists “It would be way better if drummers weren’t reduced to nothing”: Eric Johnson on the one thing he doesn’t like about modern pop music
More
  • Sly and Survivor
  • In My Life
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • One chord Diamond
  1. Guitars
  2. Acoustic Guitars

Total Guitar 2015 readers' poll

News
By Total Guitar published 25 November 2015

Vote now for your favourite gear and guitarists of the year

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Best electric guitar

Best electric guitar

It's been a great year for the electric guitar, with plenty of instruments offering outrageous value for money and killer spec for ever-lower prices.

But which of these fine axes spanning jazz to metal will take the prize? Only you can decide…

Page 1 of 11
Page 1 of 11
Best signature guitar

Best signature guitar

No longer simply a case of slapping an artist's name on the headstock, the signature guitar is now something that's honed over years of collaboration between artist and manufacturer.

These six guitars are testament to that development, and their appeal extends well beyond their immediate fanbase. Which takes your fancy?

Page 2 of 11
Page 2 of 11
Best acoustic guitar

Best acoustic guitar

The acoustic guitar continues its unstoppable rise in 2015, thanks to a bevy of high-profile stars and their strummers.

We've seen some cracking instruments come through our doors this year, from downsized dreadnoughts to USB-equipped electros – but only one can win…

Page 3 of 11
Page 3 of 11
Best guitar amp

Best guitar amp

Innovation was the name of the amplifier game this year, with modelling and new tonal territories high on the agenda.

But which of these nine powerhouses would win a place in your rig?

Page 4 of 11
Page 4 of 11
Best guitar effects pedal

Best guitar effects pedal

Every year, best pedal is the most hotly contested category, and 2015 is no different.

From budget to boutique, some phenomenal stompboxes have landed at our feet, but which takes the prize?

Page 5 of 11
Page 5 of 11
Best guitar innovation

Best guitar innovation

Oh, the sights we have seen, the sounds we have heard! Innovation is very much alive and well in the guitar world, as these pedals, amps, interfaces and accessories attest.

But tell us, which was best?

Page 6 of 11
Page 6 of 11
Best rock guitarist

Best rock guitarist

A whole host of heavy hitters were back in force this year with new albums and world tours, but we've seen some monster riffs and solos across the board.

Who ticks your rock box?

Page 7 of 11
Page 7 of 11
Best prog guitarist

Best prog guitarist

Prog is becoming an increasingly broad church, and we're pleased to be able to include such a diverse range of players in this category.

From sonic trickery to technical perfection, which of these players lights your fire?

Page 8 of 11
Page 8 of 11
Best metal guitarist

Best metal guitarist

The heavy was strong this year, with returning champs unleashing new releases and accompanying tours, as well as bright young talents blazing new trails.

There are a lot of guitar partnerships on our list, but it seems unfair to choose between them, doesn't it?

Page 9 of 11
Page 9 of 11
Guitar personality

Guitar personality

These are the players who keep us entertained, whether that's through snappy soundbites in the press or insightful – and occasionally hilarious – videos.

Who had you enthralled this year?

Page 10 of 11
Page 10 of 11
Best new guitarist

Best new guitarist

The new blood was flowing this year, with everything from blues to alt-rock and metal getting a swift kick up the backside from these upstarts.

But who is the future star?

Page 11 of 11
Page 11 of 11
Total Guitar
Total Guitar
Social Links Navigation

Total Guitar is Europe's best-selling guitar magazine.

Every month we feature interviews with the biggest names and hottest new acts in guitar land, plus Guest Lessons from the stars.

Finally, our Rocked & Rated section is the place to go for reviews, round-ups and help setting up your guitars and gear.

Subscribe: http://bit.ly/totalguitar

Read more
All the best guitar gear from this year's NAMM Show
Guitars The best new guitar gear of NAMM 2026: More effects, more amps, more guitars and more tech than ever
 
 
A PRS McCarty 594 on a hard case
Electric Guitars Best electric guitars 2026: Our pick of guitars to suit all budgets
 
 
Man presses acoustic bridge pin into an acoustic guitar
Guitar Strings Best acoustic guitar strings 2026: Find your favourite acoustic strings
 
 
Close up of Squier Classic Vibe '50s Telecaster
Electric Guitars Best electric guitars under $500/£500 2026: Affordable electrics
 
 
MusicRadar author Matt McCracken plays a Manson 007 electric guitar at The Guitar Show in Birmingham, UK
Guitars Here's 7 of the hottest guitar gear releases I tried at The Guitar Show this weekend that are available to buy right now
 
 
Close up of a Taylor GS Mini acoustic guitar lying on a wooden floor
Acoustic Guitars Best acoustic guitars 2026: Super steel string acoustics for all players and budgets
 
 
Latest in Acoustic Guitars
A landscape shot of the iconic Guitar Center logo and shop entrance to its Sunset Boulevard store.
Guitars “We are about to do something insane”: Guitar Center is launching its own guitar brand “from the ground up”
 
 
The Gibson Songwriter Recording Artist Series in cutaway and non-cutaway versions, and in Rosewood Burst or Antique Natural finishes.
Guitars A future player favourite? Gibson unveils the Songwriter Recording Artist acoustics
 
 
Epiphone Inspired By Gibson Acoustics 2026: the new all-solid core range takes its design cues from classic high-end Gibson USA builds.
Guitars Epiphone raises the bar for its acoustic guitar range with all-solid builds, rosewood fingerboards and affordable takes on Gibson classics
 
 
Custom Line King-12 CE NT
Acoustic Guitars "For a guitar that comes in at this price, the overall build is impressive, with a level of attention to detail that’s more than respectable": Harley Benton Custom Line King-12 CE NT review
 
 
Harley Benton NAMM 2026 releases include left-handed options on its V-style electric and offset bass guitars, fresh finish options for the SC single-cuts, and new colours for its HSS S-style
Guitars Harley Benton’s 2026 mega-drop: Metallica makeovers, fresh colours and a baritone SC Custom III, all-solid acoustics for under $250 and more
 
 
Gibson Original Collection (L-R) featuring the SJ-200 60s, J-160E, and the LG-2 50s.
Guitars The Beatles-approved J-160E makes its return as Gibson unveils a trio of Original Collection flat-tops celebrating the golden era of acoustic guitar making
 
 
Latest in News
Deals of the week logo
Tech MusicRadar deals of the week: We've found $200 off Fender, $160 off Epiphone, plus hundreds off keyboards and studio gear
 
 
Afrika
Artists Hip-hop progenitor Afrika Bambaataa dies at 68
 
 
A black-and-white live shot of Kurt Cobain performing in 1991 with Nirvana
Artists Could your next amp be Kurt Cobain’s stage-played Fender Twin? Nirvana’s Bleach-era touring backline goes up for sale
 
 
A Warm Audio Tube Squealer guitar pedal on a wooden floor with guitar cables in the background
Guitars Calling all guitarists! Guitar Center's legendary Guitar-A-Thon sale has finally dropped including up to $700 off a Gibson - here's 9 of the best deals selected by an expert
 
 
Roland Orzabal's hardback 320-page memoir 'Welcome To Your Life' on a starry background
Artists “The story he’s never told — the band, the fame, the heartbreak, the healing. And yes, the astrology”: Tears For Fears’ Roland Orzabal writes his first-ever autobiography and it's an astrological memoir
 
 
minimoog model d synth
Samples SampleRadar: 250 free bass synth samples
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...