#1
Fender Stratocaster
New wave primary guitar (Andy Summers, The Police) · 3 single-coil pickups, 5-position switch, 25.5-inch scale, alder body, chorus and effects platform(American Professional II: $1,000–$1,400 used / Player: $600–$850 used)Best for: Andy Summers Police-style new wave, clean chorus and delay Stratocaster tone, INXS and Talking Heads-adjacent clean new wave guitar, flexible single-coil platform for chorus processing
The Fender Stratocaster is the definitive new wave guitar — Andy Summers (The Police) used a 1961 Fender Stratocaster with heavy chorus effects for 'Every Breath You Take,' 'Roxanne,' and the Police's catalog of new wave guitar. The Stratocaster's clean, bright single-coil tone processes through chorus and delay to produce the shimmering, wide new wave guitar character. Tom Verlaine (Television) used a Stratocaster for the angular, clean tones of proto-new wave. Used at $600–$1,400.
What to check used: New wave Stratocaster tone is produced by effects — the guitar alone is just a clean Stratocaster. Essential new wave effects: Chorus (Boss CE-2, TC Electronic Corona, Boss CE-1 for authentic Police tone), digital delay (Roland SDD-3000 is the reference; Boss DD-8 modern equivalent), reverb (short room or hall for space). The Police tone specifically uses heavy chorus with relatively little reverb. Without effects, no guitar sounds like new wave.
#2
Rickenbacker 360
British new wave chime (The Jam, The Cure) · Semi-hollow, 2 Hi-Gain single-coil pickups, 24.75-inch scale, distinctive chime, stereo output$2,100–$2,500 new / $1,500–$2,100 usedBest for: British new wave chiming chord progressions, Paul Weller and The Jam power-chord new wave, The Cure-adjacent mid-period new wave texture, stereo processing for wide new wave stereo image
The Rickenbacker 360 is the British new wave chime guitar — Paul Weller (The Jam) used Rickenbackers for the driving, chiming new wave-influenced post-punk of 'The Eton Rifles' and 'Going Underground.' Pete Buck (R.E.M.) defined post-new wave jangle with Rickenbacker arpeggiated chord work. The Rickenbacker's distinctive jangle processes through chorus and reverb to produce a specifically British new wave character. Used at $1,500–$2,100.
What to check used: The Rickenbacker is a premium investment for players specifically targeting the British new wave character. The Fender Stratocaster or Fender Jazzmaster through chorus and delay produces broader new wave capability at lower cost. The Rickenbacker is for players who specifically need the Rickenbacker jangle.
#3
Fender Telecaster
Angular new wave rhythm (Blondie, Wire, Television) · 2 single-coil pickups, 25.5-inch scale, bright bridge pickup, maple neck, simple controls(Player Tele: $600–$850 used)Best for: Angular new wave rhythm guitar, Blondie and Wire-style clean new wave chord work, Television-influenced angular rhythm playing, bright articulate new wave rhythm cuts through synth-dominated mix
The Fender Telecaster suits the angular, percussive new wave rhythm guitar style — Television (Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd) used Telecasters for the angular, clean interlocking guitar parts of 'Marquee Moon' that defined new wave guitar technique. Blondie's Chris Stein used Telecasters and similar instruments. The Telecaster's percussive bridge pickup cuts through the keyboard-heavy new wave mix. Used at $600–$850.
What to check used: The Telecaster is brighter and more percussive than a Stratocaster — some new wave playing requires the Stratocaster's smoother middle position tone (Andy Summers Stratocaster neck-position chorus tone). The Telecaster is the choice for angular, articulate new wave rhythm; the Stratocaster is the choice for smooth, lush chorus new wave.
#4
Gibson SG Standard
Dark new wave (The Cure Robert Smith SG) · Mahogany body, 2 humbuckers, double-cutaway, 24.75-inch scale, American-made$900–$1,300 usedBest for: Dark new wave and post-punk, Robert Smith Cure-style open chord drone new wave, gothic new wave guitar, warm humbucker for effects-laden new wave ambient chord work
Robert Smith (The Cure) is associated with Fender Jazzmaster and Gibson guitars — the SG's warm humbucker tone through heavy chorus and reverb produces the dark, ambient new wave character of The Cure's mid-period recordings (Pornography, Faith). The SG humbucker provides a warmer, darker foundation for effects-heavy new wave than Stratocaster single-coils. For players whose new wave influences are darker (Joy Division, Bauhaus, early Cure), the SG is the recommendation. Used at $900–$1,300.
What to check used: Gibson SG humbuckers produce a warmer, heavier character than Fender single-coils — the SG processes through chorus and reverb to produce a thicker new wave texture that suits dark post-punk. Players targeting the clean, bright Andy Summers-style Police new wave should choose the Stratocaster. Players targeting darker, drone-heavy new wave should choose the SG or Jazzmaster.
#5
Fender Jazzmaster
Robert Smith dark new wave offset guitar · Offset body, 2 Jazzmaster single-coil pickups, floating tremolo, rhythm/lead circuit, warm bass-heavy clean tone(American Vintage II: $700–$1,200 used)Best for: Robert Smith Cure guitar tone, dark new wave chord droning, offset new wave aesthetic, warm bass-heavy single-coil for chorus and reverb-heavy new wave
Robert Smith (The Cure) is closely identified with the Fender Jazzmaster in his most iconic new wave period — the Jazzmaster's warm, bass-heavy rhythm circuit produces the lush, dark chord drone of early Cure material. The Jazzmaster's floating tremolo allows subtle pitch expression in ambient new wave passages. The rhythm circuit's rolled-off treble suits the thick, murky low-pass character of dark new wave. Used at $700–$1,200.
What to check used: The Jazzmaster requires maintenance knowledge for the floating bridge and tremolo — more mechanically complex than a Stratocaster or Telecaster. For Robert Smith-inspired dark new wave, the Jazzmaster is the direct tonal recommendation despite the maintenance requirement.
#6
Epiphone Casino
Pop new wave hollow-body tone · Fully hollow, 2 P-90 single-coil pickups, 24.75-inch scale, laminate maple body, double cutaway$600–$700 new / $400–$560 usedBest for: Pop new wave and Britpop-adjacent new wave, hollow-body warmth for new wave chord work, accessible fully hollow P-90 tone for new wave rhythm
The Epiphone Casino provides hollow-body P-90 tone for new wave rhythm playing — the natural resonance and P-90 midrange character suits the chord-forward rhythm style of pop new wave and Britpop-adjacent new wave. The Casino through chorus produces a warm, shimmering chord texture. At $400–$560 used, the Casino is accessible. Used at $400–$560.
What to check used: The Casino without tremolo arm lacks the pitch-bending expressiveness of Jazzmaster or Stratocaster new wave guitars. The Casino is best for rhythm-focused new wave playing rather than lead expression.
#7
Squier Classic Vibe 60s Stratocaster
Budget new wave Stratocaster · Alder body, Fender-designed single-coil pickups, 5-position switch, 25.5-inch scale, vintage-style synchronized tremolo$350–$430 new / $220–$300 usedBest for: New wave beginners who want Stratocaster platform for effects, budget Andy Summers-style clean new wave, affordable entry to Fender single-coil new wave tone
The Squier Classic Vibe 60s Stratocaster provides the Stratocaster platform for new wave at accessible prices — through chorus (Boss CE-2 or CE-5) and delay, the Classic Vibe produces new wave character at $220–$300 used. For new wave players who want to explore the style before investing in an American Stratocaster, the Classic Vibe is the starting point. Used at $220–$300.
What to check used: Invest in quality effects before upgrading from Squier to American Stratocaster — the most important tone improvement for new wave is a quality chorus pedal. A Classic Vibe Stratocaster through a Boss CE-2 chorus produces more authentic new wave character than an American Stratocaster through a cheap chorus.
#8
Fender Telecaster Deluxe
Humbucking Telecaster for new wave-rock crossover · Humbucking neck and bridge pickups, Fender body, wider neck profile, 25.5-inch scale(Vintera Telecaster Deluxe: $700–$950 used)Best for: New wave-rock crossover that requires warmer tone than standard Tele single-coils, humbucking Telecaster body for new wave players who want more warmth
The Telecaster Deluxe with humbuckers provides a middle ground between Stratocaster brightness and Gibson warmth — for new wave players in a rock context who need more warmth than standard single-coil Telecasters provide, the Telecaster Deluxe suits the wider tonal needs of new wave-rock crossover playing. Used at $700–$950.
What to check used: The Telecaster Deluxe is less common than standard Telecasters — fewer used market options. The standard Telecaster and Stratocaster cover the new wave tonal range more effectively for most players; the Deluxe is for players who specifically want humbucking warmth in a Telecaster body.
