Chapman Guitars have grown from humble UK beginnings to become a force to be reckoned with in the guitar world. With a wealth of models to choose from, you may find yourself presented with a difficult question: what is the best Chapman guitar for me?
In this guide, we'll explore the ins and outs of the Chapman guitar range, plus a few recommendations for your style and price point!
The Chapman Guitars range has grown from a handful of instruments to an all-encompassing line-up that's popular worldwide. Models range from affordable T-types to stunning baritone guitars — they're not afraid to push the boat out!
So what's the best Chapman guitar for you? In this guide, we'll explore what's on offer — starting with the main ranges and going into more detail about style, budget and much more. Read on...
Chapman Standard Series Guitars - Coming in a huge variety of different shapes, colours and styles, the purpose of the Chapman Standard Series Guitars is to put the absolute best guitar possible in the hands of any player, no matter where they are on their musical journey. Don't be fooled by their affordable price point, these guitars pack features well above their pay grade!
Where it all began — the ML1 was the very first Chapman electric guitar design! This sleek S-type was designed in collaboration with Chapman fans and followers around the world, and comes in a number of different configurations to suit every style price point. The ML1 Standard is among the most affordable in the Chapman range, while the Pro series offers more premium specs and ultra-smooth playability while remaining relatively accessible.
There are three main ML1 configurations in the current lineup:
Chapman's take on the iconic single-cut guitar design leaves no stone unturned in its quest for tonal glory — featuring a modified body shape with a sleek, modern vibe as well as their angled pennant headstock which provides a straight string angle for a balanced tension across all strings as well as improved tuning stability. The ML2 Pro also features a gorgeous Flamed Maple top on a Mahogany body, with a rock-solid Roasted Maple neck, Hipshot locking tuners, a Graph Tech nut as well as a pair of ferocious Seymour Duncan Sentient and Pegasus humbuckers.
The ML3 is Chapman's contemporary take on the timeless T-style guitar design that fuses classic aesthetics with precise, modern performance. It's among the Chapman's most popular guitars, with a number of configurations revolving around the tried-and-tested T-type body shape:
One of Chapmans most loved and requested body shapes, the Ghost Fret is a tonal powerhouse for all things rock and metal not to mention just about everything else in between. With its signature points and stealth-shaped headstock it’s as much an artistic statement as it is a guitar.
After a 7-String or Baritone? Chapman has you covered...
The starting point of the Chapman extended-range offerings is the ML1 Modern Baritone; familiar in size and playability, but with an extended scale length and optimised pickups which are designed to handle lower tunings. The Law Maker Baritone Legacy lets you unleash the thunderous low end of a baritone in an ML3-styled package whereas the ML1 Pro7 String Modern gives you an extended range in an ergonomic and refined design.
Growing from strength to strength each year, Chapman Guitars is a solid choice for any guitar player no matter where they are on their musical path. From humble UK origins to a world-recognised guitar brand that has been played on every sized stage or recording studio imaginable these tone machines have you covered. Built upon the love and community of guitar players around the globe Chapman Guitars continues to push the limits and expectations of what can be achieved from a guitar manufacturer. With a sizeable arsenal of models to choose from, we hope this guide has proven useful. Please feel free to contact us if you have any further questions or take a look at our additional Chapman blogs and guides below…
