There are literally thousands of guitar instruments to choose from the countless number of quality guitar makers of modern day. The once dominated market days of Gibson, Fender, Washburn and Danelectro are now gone. Younger and more technically savvy guitar players strive to raise their level of play by opting to newer and more modern guitar instruments. That doesn’t mean that the old school is in any threat of disappearing, it just means they have to step up and deliver to the guitar virtuosos.
Gibson Guitars
Some musical instruments electric guitar giant Gibson has dominated in for years and still has a healthy demand for. The Les Paul and the SG are two that immediately come to mind. The SG is a great guitar for a player of any skill level. Small and light and a great fit for any size of hand. The Les Paul is a heavier guitar instrument but can still be utilized by most skill levels.
Fender Guitars
The Stratocaster is the classic two horn style of guitar that pretty much every guitar company has copied into each and their own line of guitar instruments. The maple construction of the Fender guitars (telecaster included) give them a very bright tone and usually sound best with a darker sounding amp to level them out.
Ibanez Guitars
Always known as a top quality instrument manufacturer in the guitar world, Ibanez has definite levels of quality ranging from no-so-great made in China models, to mid range made in Korea guitars, to top quality made in Japan and USA instruments. I own a Korean made model known as an SV model. It sounds and looks great but has developed littles cracks in the lacquer over the years. It's a string-through which gives it a great sustaining tone.
Schecter Guitars
An electric guitar instrument, in my opinion, should not only sound great but also look and feel great. Schecter is a company with beautiful construction and detailing of their guitars and they are worth every penny. I've played a few in the music shop and favorite is the C-1 custom. Very close in looks and comfort as my SV but man the overall quality eclipses it. And the sound out of this guitar is smoking clean when you want it too or screaming distorted sustain as well. My next guitar 
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ESP Guitars
Most of the modern heavy metal masters are using ESPs these days and with good reason. They're built tough and come standard with powered EMG pickups. They're made for this genre and they are one loud and mean line of guitar instruments. The LTD line is my choice here.
I own or have owned a guitar from every one of the above companies. I love all my guitars and always have, but, of all my guitar like instruments (I have a 5 string banjo too…can you say deliverance haha) I love my Les Paul best. It suits my heavy metal style with a bluesy overdriven melody ability that I have loved since I was a teenager. My ESP Truckster is a close second and may one day take over.