Metal guitars need three things: high-output pickups for aggressive drive, a fast neck for shredding, and stable tuning for heavy playing and alternate tunings. The best metal guitars are designed from the ground up for these demands.
Ibanez RG and S series guitars are the standard for metal. Their ultra-thin "Wizard" necks, high-output pickups, and Edge/Floyd Rose tremolo systems are built for speed and dive bombs. Used RG models range from $200 (lower-end) to $800+ (Prestige series).
Jackson, ESP/LTD, and Schecter all make excellent metal guitars. The Jackson Soloist and Dinky, ESP/LTD EC-1000 and MH-1000, and Schecter Hellraiser are all professional-quality instruments that appear under $500 used.
Do not overlook PRS SE models and Charvel Pro-Mod guitars. PRS SE Custom 24 and Charvel DK24 are increasingly popular with modern metal players who want versatility beyond just heavy tones.
