best electric guitars

Rank #1 in Best Electric Guitars 2026: 10 Ranked, 3W to 40W Amps

Squier Debut Stratocaster Beginner Electric Guitar, Black

£139.99 4.6 from 2,450 Amazon ratings
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Price and rating as shown on Amazon when we collected them. Both change.

The Squier by Fender Debut Stratocaster is the number one pick in this guide at £139.99. It is a guitar rather than a kit, and the listing is candid about that in one place and not in another: the set name is "Beginner's set", while the included components field lists a single item — a 2-year warranty. No amplifier, cable, bag or strap appears in the description at all. That makes the watts argument that runs through the rest of this guide irrelevant here; there is no output figure to compare because there is no amp in the box.

What the listing does give is 4.6 out of 5 from 2,450 ratings, a rating it has earned on the guitar alone, plus a quoted instrument weight of 4.1 kg and a best sellers rank of 1 in Solid Body Electric Guitars. The description positions it as a genuine Fender-designed Stratocaster for beginners, with a slim "C"-shaped neck, three single-coil pickups, 5-way switching and a vintage-style tremolo, and it includes a free trial of Fender Play. Everything on this page comes from the Amazon listing, not from any testing we carried out.

How those 2,450 ratings break down

An average hides its own shape. This is the spread behind the 4.6 stars.

5 star
77%
4 star
14%
3 star
5%
2 star
2%
1 star
2%

Specification

Exactly as published on the Amazon listing, field for field.

Price £139.99
Rating 4.6 out of 5 from 2,450 ratings
Item weight 4.1 kg (as listed)
Set name Beginner's set
Included components 2 year warranty
Body material type Fichtenholz (as listed)
Best sellers rank 1 in Solid Body Electric Guitars
Model number 0379600506

What buyers actually say

Quoted from customer reviews on Amazon

Verified purchase

“I have been playing electric guitar for 11 years, I've had a few guitars that I paid over a grand for, this squier sounds just as good as these as my other guitar it's great you can go on YouTube and compare the sound quality with other more expensive models and the squier sounds just as good sometimes better!!! I'm running a tubescreamer and um300 through a 20watt amp great guitar sound is amazing. I was thinking of upgrading to an American professional but really there is no point because both guitars will sound pretty much the same!”

GuitarSteve
Verified purchase

“I'm new to the guitar world and I have to say this has been a great first guitar to learn on, it's not too heavy but it's made well, the guitar is a bit thinner than most Stratocasters which makes it easier to play on, the sound quality is really good for such a low cost guitar, all the knobs and switches feel great quality and work well, easy set up required and performs well, it's a great overall size and shape that fits your needs”

Jenesse

What it is up against

The rivals it was ranked against in Best Electric Guitars 2026: 10 Ranked, 3W to 40W Amps.

Questions people ask

Does the Squier Debut Stratocaster come with an amplifier?

The listing does not mention one. The set name is "Beginner's set", but the included components field lists only a 2-year warranty, and no amp, cable or bag is described anywhere on the page.

What does the Squier Debut Stratocaster weigh?

The listing quotes an item weight of 4.1 kg for the instrument.

How many pickups does it have?

Three single-coil pickups with 5-way switching, according to the listing, plus a vintage-style tremolo with a removable arm.

What warranty comes with it?

A 2-year limited warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship from the original purchase date, as stated by Fender.

Do lessons come with it?

Yes — the listing says a free trial of Fender Play is included, with step-by-step lessons.

What rating does it have?

4.6 out of 5 from 2,450 ratings at the time of writing, and a best sellers rank of 1 in Solid Body Electric Guitars.

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