As a big time guitar junkie, I look forward to seeing Reverb’s list of best selling guitars for the year. It always comes out in December, and in today’s video I want to talk about the top 10 best selling guitars on Reverb for 2024.
Oh… as an aside, this post is available in video format on my YouTube channel for those who’d rather watch.
Let’s just read the list first, and then I’ll share some thoughts.
- Fender Player Telecaster
- Fender American Professional II Stratocaster
- PRS SE Silver Sky
- Fender Player Stratocaster
- Fender American Professional II Telecaster
- Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s
- Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s
- PRS Silver Sky John Mayer Signature
- PRS SE David Grissom Tremolo Signature
- PRS SE Custom 24
If we count the brands, there are four Fenders, four PRS, and two Gibsons. If you want to check out numbers 11 through 20, there’s a link to the Reverb page at the bottom of this web page.
OK. At number one, the Fender Player Telecaster, selling for between $609 and $679 new on Reverb. This is a made in Mexico Telecaster, with Alnico V pickups and medium jumbo frets. I think this is a solid guitar for the money, but I think you lose a little sustain on your high E string when you’ve got individual saddles. You can get compensated brass saddles for this Tele, like I did on mine, and I think it gives the high E string a little more fullness. Otherwise, great guitar.
Number two is the Fender American Professional II Stratocaster, which is the longest name on the top 10 list. Reverb currently has it between $1,289 and $1,599. I think $1,300 is a reasonable price for an American Strat, but I’d be looking for a used American Strat for under a grand. I’m a little surprised that the American Strat outsold the Mexican Strat in 2024 on Reverb, honestly – it’s the opposite of the Tele. Why do you think that is? If you know, please share with the rest of the class in the comments area.
Number three is the PRS SE Silver Sky. On Reverb these are going for $625 to $675. This guitar has sold like mad since it came out, which is good news if you want one, because you can find them used pretty easily. I think it’s great for the money, but the reason you find so many of them used is that the neck is beefier than the regular Fender Mexican or American Strat. Not everyone likes fatter necks – it’s a pretty personal decision. I prefer a thinner neck, myself. I do like the SE Silver Sky pickups, and there aren’t any other SE pickups that I like much, so there’s that.
Number four is the Fender Made in Mexico Player Stratocaster. They’re between $609 and $679, just like the MIM Teles. What’s not to like? It’s a Strat. I love Strats. I think $609 is a great price.
Number five is the Fender American Professional II Telecaster, the second longest name in the list. Guess what we get in the American version? The improved 3 piece compensated brass saddles. Awesome! Comes with great pickups and selling for between $1,349 and $1,549. Again, I’d go used, if I wanted one. But I do think it’s worth the money.
Number six is our first Gibson – the Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s. It’s $2,199 through $2,799. Clearly I’m not the target audience for this guitar. If you are OK with no binding and less pretty wood, and you’re OK with buying used, you can get a Gibson Les Paul Tribute or Studio for half the price that pretty much sounds the same. On the other hand, the Les Paul Standard is one of the most iconic guitars ever, so if you’ve got the money, I totally get why owning one would be cool.
Number seven is the Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s. It has a fatter neck, but other than that, I have the same opinions, so I’ll move on.
Number eight is the PRS Silver Sky John Mayer Signature. Priced between $2,000 and $2,549, here’s my opinion – these seem to be set up perfectly from the factory, unlike the Fender American Strats earlier on this list… but they cost more money. The pickups are very cool, the neck is fat, and you might love it if you like fat strat necks.
For the record, I am a John Mayer fan. If the SE Silver Sky came with a skinny neck, I’d own one.
Two left.
Number nine is the PRS SE David Grissom Tremolo Signature. Priced between $721 and $764, this guitar has been earning high marks online, for good reason – it plays great. You can tap the humbuckers, but honestly I’m not blown away by these pickups. I think they’re good, not great. But pickup sound is a very personal thing, so don’t take my word for it. I’ve never met a PRS SE humbucker that I loved.
And finally, at number 10, my personal favorite PRS SE guitar – the SE Custom 24, priced between $613 and $721. I have an older SE Custom 24, back when they were made in South Korea, and it’s one of my three favorite guitars. Again, I prefer upgraded pickups, but that aside, these guitars are amazing. They look great and they play great. I’m a big fan.
So basically it’s the same old guitars in the top 10 – Teles, Strats, Les Pauls, and PRS humbucker guitars. 7 out of 10 of these guitars are less than 2 grand, and half of them are less than 1 grand. Nothing too surprising. The only thing that really raises my eyebrows a bit is that four of the top 5 guitars are Fender, and the one that isn’t is the SE Silver Sky, which is basically a Strat copy with a fatter neck. Leo Fender got it right back in the 50s.
