Shred or Die: 5 Hard Rock & Metal Guitars That Mean Business
🔥 Your Next Guitar Doesn't Apologise. Neither Should You.
You don't play guitar. You unleash it. You've got riffs that could crack concrete, solos that make ears bleed (in the best possible way), and a tone that was born somewhere between a Marshall stack and a thunderstorm. The question isn't whether you need a new axe — it's which one is worthy of your brutality.
We've done the homework so you don't have to. Below are five battle-tested, tone-drenched shred machines built for hard rockers, metalheads, and anyone who thinks "clean" is for washing dishes — not guitar tones.
Buckle up. Things are about to get heavy.
⚡ The Arsenal: 5 Guitars Built for Mayhem
| Guitar | Image | Price (SGD) | Pickup Config | Bridge | Style |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washburn RX-20 |  |
$325 | H-S-S | Fulcrum Tremolo | Versatile Strat-style |
| Washburn RX-25F |  |
$400 | H-S-S | Floyd Rose | Super Strat Dive Bomb King |
| MetalGear ST14SA-FR-BKS |  |
$445 | H-S-S | Floyd Rose | Fat Strat — Metal-spec |
| MetalGear ST14SA-VS |  |
$385 | H-S-S | Fulcrum Tremolo | Fat Strat — Vintage Soul |
| MetalGear ST15FM-BKS |  |
$475 | H-S-H | Fulcrum Tremolo | Super Strat — Flame Top Prestige |
🎸 Deep Dive: Meet the Machines
1. Washburn RX-20 — The Gateway Drug to Greatness
At SGD $325, the Washburn RX-20 is the hardest punch below $350 in Southeast Asia. Think Fender Strat ergonomics remoulded for the dark side — an H-S-S pickup layout that gives you crushing humbucker aggression in the bridge position, with single-coil clarity when you need it. If Strats are polished diplomats, the RX-20 is the diplomat who shows up to the peace talks with a flamethrower.
This is the ideal first serious metal guitar or a stellar backup for gigging musicians who don't want to cry if it takes a knock on stage. Versatile. Punchy. Merciless.
Best for: Hard rock beginners, gigging rhythm players, Fender fans crossing to the dark side.
Vibe: AC/DC, Soundgarden, early Metallica.
👉 Check Out the Washburn RX-20
2. Washburn RX-25F — The Floyd Rose Beast
Want to make your audience think their ears are defying gravity? Meet the Washburn RX-25F — the Super Strat with a genuine Floyd Rose tremolo system built for dive bombs, screaming harmonics, and whammy bar theatrics that would make EVH nod approvingly.
At SGD $400, this H-S-S configuration packs serious firepower. The Floyd Rose keeps your tuning locked even when you're yanking that bar to the headstock and back. Zero apologies. Pure chaos, controlled.
Best for: Lead guitarists, shred players, whammy bar addicts.
Vibe: Van Halen, Steve Vai, Dimebag Darrell's wilder moments.
👉 Grab the Washburn RX-25F Floyd Rose
3. MetalGear Conquerer ST14SA-FR-BKS — Fat Strat with Floyd Rose Fury
The name alone tells you everything: Conquerer. The MetalGear ST14SA-FR-BKS is a Fat Strat done the metal way — black matte attitude, an H-S-S pickup array that eats through mix like a blade, and a Floyd Rose system for those moments when subtlety walks out the door.
At SGD $445, this is your mid-range powerhouse. The black plate hardware screams serious player, not bedroom warrior. If you've outgrown your starter guitar and need something that commands respect on a stage — this is it.
Best for: Intermediate-to-advanced metal players who want Floyd Rose versatility.
Vibe: Slayer, Lamb of God, Pantera.
👉 Conquer with the MetalGear ST14SA-FR-BKS
4. MetalGear Conquerer ST14SA-VS — Fat Strat with Vintage Soul
Not every metalhead wants a Floyd Rose. Some prefer the feel of a fulcrum tremolo — tighter, more resonant, with better sustain on palm-muted chunk riffs. The MetalGear ST14SA-VS is that guitar.
At SGD $385, the VS (Vintage Sunburst) finish adds a touch of class to the brutality — because even your guitar can look good while it's destroying eardrums. H-S-S pickups, fulcrum tremolo stability, and the Conquerer DNA that means this thing is built to last. If Tony Iommi had played Strats, it might have looked a lot like this.
Best for: Rhythm-first players, hard rockers who want fulcrum tremolo precision.
Vibe: Black Sabbath, Rage Against the Machine, Queens of the Stone Age.
5. MetalGear Conquerer ST15FM-BKS — The Flame-Top Throne
If the other four guitars are soldiers, the MetalGear ST15FM-BKS is the general. The flame maple top (FM) elevates this into boutique territory — visually stunning, tonally superior. The H-S-H configuration unlocks a wider tonal palette: thick neck humbucker warmth, bright single-coil sparkle in the middle, and a snarling bridge humbucker that anchors everything in crushing low-end authority.
At SGD $475, this is the crown jewel of this lineup. A Super Strat that looks as ferocious as it sounds. Buy it once. Play it forever.
Best for: Advanced players, tone chasers, stage performers who want to turn heads before they've played a single note.
Vibe: Zakk Wylde, John Petrucci, Michael Romeo.
👉 Command the MetalGear ST15FM-BKS
🥊 Fat Strat vs Super Strat — The Verdict
Here's the deal. Both styles descend from the Stratocaster bloodline but evolved for very different warriors.
Fat Strats (ST14SA Series)
A Fat Strat keeps the classic Strat silhouette but swaps the neck single-coil for a humbucker — giving you that big, punchy, full-bodied tone without losing the comfort and playability Strat players love. The result: versatility dialled up to eleven.
- Pick the ST14SA-VS ($385) if you're a rhythm-first player who prefers fulcrum tremolo feel, palm-muted punch, and a guitar that won't fight you on stage.
- Pick the ST14SA-FR-BKS ($445) if you want all of the above plus a Floyd Rose for those moments when your lead lines demand whammy chaos.
Super Strats (RX-25F, ST15FM-BKS)
A Super Strat takes the Strat body and arms it for war — faster necks, higher-output pickups, Floyd Rose or locking tremolos, and aesthetics that belong on a battlefield. These are purpose-built shred machines.
- Pick the Washburn RX-25F ($400) if you want an entry into Floyd Rose territory with proven Washburn quality and H-S-S flexibility.
- Pick the MetalGear ST15FM-BKS ($475) if you want the full package — flame maple top, H-S-H configuration, and stage presence that makes other guitarists quietly envious.
Bottom line: Fat Strats are for rockers who want precision and reliability. Super Strats are for shredders who want maximum weapon-grade versatility. Both are exceptional. Your call.
💬 What's YOUR Pick? Tell Us.
The riff doesn't lie — and neither does your gut. We want to know:
- Are you a Fat Strat loyalist or a Super Strat devotee?
- Floyd Rose or fulcrum tremolo — and why?
- Which of these 5 guitars speaks to your inner demon?
- Are you a rhythm backbone or a lead guitar showstopper?
Drop your thoughts in the comments below. Battle-test your opinion. We read every single one — and the best debates get featured in our next gear showdown.
And if you're still on the fence, head over to our store and compare them side by side. Sometimes the right guitar just feels right the moment you see it.
👇 Your stage name is waiting. Go claim it.
Washburn RX-20 Washburn RX-25F MetalGear ST14SA-FR-BKS MetalGear ST14SA-VS MetalGear ST15FM-BKS