Best Maple Fretboard Sterling Electric Guitars in 2026
Here you'll find the best Maple fretboard Sterling electric guitars. This is one of the most popular types of wood used in all kinds of guitars. It's heavy, strong and compact, which makes it great for necks. However, it's also used for fretboards, bodies and tops due to its light color, resistance and beautiful patterns. When it comes to tone, it highlights the mid and high frequencies.
After comparing the 2000+ guitars in our database, these are the best scoring ones with these characteristics. You can use our filters to the left to narrow down these results, or click on "Compare" to get a deep comparison between them. Our automated scoring system takes into account the ratings from ours users who own the guitar, and dozens of parameters to determine the build quality, playability, pickups quality, value for money, and more.
There are affiliate links on this page that may earn us a commission if you purchase after clicking. We are members of the Amazon Associates Program, and many others. However, we compare each guitar against each other under the same parameters, so this doesn't influence our scoring.
After comparing the 2000+ guitars in our database, these are the best scoring ones with these characteristics. You can use our filters to the left to narrow down these results, or click on "Compare" to get a deep comparison between them. Our automated scoring system takes into account the ratings from ours users who own the guitar, and dozens of parameters to determine the build quality, playability, pickups quality, value for money, and more.
There are affiliate links on this page that may earn us a commission if you purchase after clicking. We are members of the Amazon Associates Program, and many others. However, we compare each guitar against each other under the same parameters, so this doesn't influence our scoring.
1. Sterling Cutlass Short Scale
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What our users think
- Neck profile shape: D (1 vote)
- Neck speed (thickness): Balanced (2 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (11 votes)
- Pickups power: Slightly Hot (12 votes)
Show All Specs
| Sterling Cutlass Short Scale | ||
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Brand: | Sterling | |
| Year: | 2020 | |
| Configuration: | HS | |
| Strings: | 6 | |
| Made in: | Indonesia | |
| Series: | Cutlass | |
| Colors: | Green, Pink | |
| Left-Handed Version: | No | |
| Body | ||
| Type: | Solid Body | |
| Body Material: | Poplar | |
| Bridge: | Fulcrum Tremolo | |
| Neck | ||
| Neck Joint: | Bolt-On | |
| Tuners: | Diecast | |
| Fretboard: | Maple | |
| Neck Material: | Hard Maple | |
| Decoration: | Dot Markers | |
| Scale Size: | 24" | |
| Shape: | Cutlass | |
| Thickness: | 1st Fret: 0.827'' (21mm) - 12th Fret: 0.965'' (24.5mm) | |
| Frets: | 22 Narrow Tall | |
| Fretboard Radius: | 12" | |
| Nut: | Compensated | |
| Nut Width: | 41.9mm (1.65'') | |
| Electronics | ||
| Bridge Pickups: | Sterling Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) | |
| Neck Pickup: | Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil / Passive) | |
| Switch: | 3 | |
| Knobs: | Bell | |
| Volume Controls: | 1 | |
| Tone Controls: | 1 | |
| Hardware | ||
| Strap Lock: | No | |
| Hardware Color: | Chrome | |
Strengths & Weaknesses
Sterling Cutlass Short Scale
Sterling Cutlass Short Scale
- Compensated Nut
- Tremolo
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in Indonesia
- No Expensive Woods
- No Top Brand Pickups
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
2. Sterling Jared Dines
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What our users think
- Neck access to high frets: Very Hard (1 vote)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (11 votes)
- Pickups power: Slightly Hot (12 votes)
Show All Specs
| Sterling Jared Dines | ||
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Brand: | Sterling | |
| Year: | 2020 | |
| Configuration: | HH | |
| Strings: | 6 | |
| Made in: | Indonesia | |
| Series: | Artist | |
| Colors: | Black | |
| Left-Handed Version: | No | |
| Body | ||
| Type: | Solid Body | |
| Body Material: | Mahogany | |
| Bridge: | Vintage Tremolo | |
| Neck | ||
| Neck Joint: | Bolt-On | |
| Tuners: | Locking | |
| Fretboard: | Hard Maple | |
| Neck Material: | Hard Maple | |
| Decoration: | Dot Markers | |
| Scale Size: | 25.5" | |
| Shape: | Jared Dines | |
| Frets: | 24 Medium | |
| Fretboard Radius: | 12" | |
| Nut: | Compensated | |
| Nut Width: | 41.9mm (1.65'') | |
| Electronics | ||
| Bridge Pickups: | Sterling Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) | |
| Neck Pickup: | Sterling Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) | |
| Switch: | 3 | |
| Knobs: | Dome | |
| Pickup Mods: | Killswitch | |
| Volume Controls: | 1 | |
| Tone Controls: | 1 | |
| Hardware | ||
| Strap Lock: | No | |
| Hardware Color: | Gold | |
Strengths & Weaknesses
Sterling Jared Dines
Sterling Jared Dines
- Locking Tuners
- Expensive Wood
- Compensated Nut
- Killswitch Pickups
- Tremolo
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- Made in Indonesia
- No Top Brand Pickups
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
3. Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS
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What our users think
- Neck access to high frets: Normal (1 vote)
- Fret edges: Slightly sharp (1 vote)
- Tuning stability: Won't stay in tune (1 vote)
- Weight: Lightweight (1 vote)
- Neck profile shape: D (1 vote)
- Neck speed (thickness): Balanced (2 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noisy (2 votes)
Show All Specs
| Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS | ||
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Brand: | Sterling | |
| Year: | 2021 | |
| Configuration: | SSS | |
| Strings: | 6 | |
| Made in: | Indonesia | |
| Series: | Cutlass | |
| Colors: | Black, Blue, Red | |
| Left-Handed Version: | No | |
| Body | ||
| Type: | Solid Body | |
| Body Material: | Poplar | |
| Bridge: | Fulcrum Tremolo | |
| Neck | ||
| Neck Joint: | Bolt-On | |
| Tuners: | Diecast | |
| Fretboard: | Maple | |
| Neck Material: | Hard Maple | |
| Decoration: | Dot Markers | |
| Scale Size: | 25.5" | |
| Shape: | Cutlass | |
| Thickness: | 1st Fret: 0.827'' (21mm) - 12th Fret: 0.965'' (24.5mm) | |
| Frets: | 22 Narrow Tall | |
| Fretboard Radius: | 12" | |
| Nut: | Compensated | |
| Nut Width: | 41.9mm (1.65'') | |
| Electronics | ||
| Bridge Pickups: | Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil / Passive) | |
| Middle Pickup: | Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil / Passive) | |
| Neck Pickup: | Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil / Passive) | |
| Switch: | 5 | |
| Knobs: | Bell | |
| Volume Controls: | 1 | |
| Tone Controls: | 1 | |
| Hardware | ||
| Strap Lock: | No | |
| Hardware Color: | Chrome | |
Strengths & Weaknesses
Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS
Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS
- Compensated Nut
- Tremolo
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in Indonesia
- No Expensive Woods
- No Top Brand Pickups
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
4. Sterling Cutlass CT30HSS
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What our users think
- Neck profile shape: D (1 vote)
- Neck speed (thickness): Balanced (2 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (11 votes)
- Pickups power: Slightly Hot (12 votes)
Show All Specs
| Sterling Cutlass CT30HSS | ||
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Brand: | Sterling | |
| Year: | 2020 | |
| Configuration: | HSS | |
| Strings: | 6 | |
| Made in: | Indonesia | |
| Series: | Cutlass | |
| Colors: | White, Black | |
| Left-Handed Version: | No | |
| Body | ||
| Type: | Solid Body | |
| Body Material: | Poplar | |
| Bridge: | Fulcrum Tremolo | |
| Neck | ||
| Neck Joint: | Bolt-On | |
| Tuners: | Diecast | |
| Fretboard: | Maple | |
| Neck Material: | Hard Maple | |
| Decoration: | Dot Markers | |
| Scale Size: | 25.5" | |
| Shape: | Cutlass | |
| Thickness: | 1st Fret: 0.827'' (21mm) - 12th Fret: 0.965'' (24.5mm) | |
| Frets: | 22 Narrow Tall | |
| Fretboard Radius: | 12" | |
| Nut: | Compensated | |
| Nut Width: | 41.9mm (1.65'') | |
| Electronics | ||
| Bridge Pickups: | Sterling Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) | |
| Middle Pickup: | Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil / Passive) | |
| Neck Pickup: | Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil / Passive) | |
| Switch: | 5 | |
| Knobs: | Bell | |
| Volume Controls: | 1 | |
| Tone Controls: | 1 | |
| Hardware | ||
| Strap Lock: | No | |
| Hardware Color: | Chrome | |
Strengths & Weaknesses
Sterling Cutlass CT30HSS
Sterling Cutlass CT30HSS
- Compensated Nut
- Tremolo
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in Indonesia
- No Expensive Woods
- No Top Brand Pickups
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
5. Sterling Axis Flame Maple
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What our users think
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (11 votes)
- Pickups power: Slightly Hot (12 votes)
Show All Specs
| Sterling Axis Flame Maple | ||
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Brand: | Sterling | |
| Year: | 2021 | |
| Configuration: | HH | |
| Strings: | 6 | |
| Made in: | Indonesia | |
| Series: | Axis | |
| Colors: | Gold, Blue | |
| Left-Handed Version: | No | |
| Body | ||
| Top: | Flame Maple | |
| Type: | Solid Body | |
| Body Material: | Jabon | |
| Bridge: | Fulcrum Tremolo | |
| Neck | ||
| Neck Joint: | Bolt-On | |
| Tuners: | Die Cast | |
| Fretboard: | Hard Maple | |
| Neck Material: | Hard Maple | |
| Decoration: | Dot Markers | |
| Scale Size: | 25.5" | |
| Shape: | Axis | |
| Thickness: | 1st Fret: 0.849'' (21.6mm) - 12th Fret: 0.939'' (23.9mm) | |
| Frets: | 22 Narrow Tall | |
| Fretboard Radius: | 12" | |
| Nut: | Compensated | |
| Nut Width: | 41.9mm (1.65'') | |
| Electronics | ||
| Bridge Pickups: | Sterling Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) | |
| Neck Pickup: | Sterling Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) | |
| Switch: | 5 | |
| Knobs: | Bell | |
| Volume Controls: | 1 | |
| Tone Controls: | 1 | |
| Hardware | ||
| Strap Lock: | No | |
| Hardware Color: | Chrome | |
Strengths & Weaknesses
Sterling Axis Flame Maple
Sterling Axis Flame Maple
- Compensated Nut
- Tremolo
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in Indonesia
- No Expensive Woods
- No Top Brand Pickups
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
6. Sterling Axis Quilted Maple
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What our users think
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (11 votes)
- Pickups power: Slightly Hot (12 votes)
Show All Specs
| Sterling Axis Quilted Maple | ||
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Brand: | Sterling | |
| Year: | 2022 | |
| Configuration: | HH | |
| Strings: | 6 | |
| Made in: | Indonesia | |
| Series: | Axis | |
| Colors: | Blue, Red | |
| Left-Handed Version: | No | |
| Body | ||
| Top: | Quilted Maple | |
| Type: | Solid Body | |
| Body Material: | Jabon | |
| Bridge: | Fulcrum Tremolo | |
| Neck | ||
| Neck Joint: | Bolt-On | |
| Tuners: | Die Cast | |
| Fretboard: | Hard Maple | |
| Neck Material: | Hard Maple | |
| Decoration: | Dot Markers | |
| Scale Size: | 25.5" | |
| Shape: | Axis | |
| Thickness: | 1st Fret: 0.849'' (21.6mm) - 12th Fret: 0.939'' (23.9mm) | |
| Frets: | 22 Narrow Tall | |
| Fretboard Radius: | 12" | |
| Nut: | Compensated | |
| Nut Width: | 41.9mm (1.65'') | |
| Electronics | ||
| Bridge Pickups: | Sterling Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) | |
| Neck Pickup: | Sterling Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) | |
| Switch: | 5 | |
| Knobs: | Bell | |
| Volume Controls: | 1 | |
| Tone Controls: | 1 | |
| Hardware | ||
| Strap Lock: | No | |
| Hardware Color: | Chrome | |
Strengths & Weaknesses
Sterling Axis Quilted Maple
Sterling Axis Quilted Maple
- Compensated Nut
- Tremolo
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in Indonesia
- No Expensive Woods
- No Top Brand Pickups
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
7. Sterling CT20HSS
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Show All Specs
| Sterling CT20HSS | ||
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Brand: | Sterling | |
| Year: | 2024 | |
| Configuration: | HSS | |
| Strings: | 6 | |
| Made in: | Indonesia | |
| Series: | Intro Cutlass - Sterling by Music Man | |
| Colors: | White, Black, Blue, Orange | |
| Left-Handed Version: | No | |
| Body | ||
| Type: | Solid Body | |
| Body Material: | Poplar | |
| Bridge: | Vintage fulcrum tremolo | |
| Neck | ||
| Neck Joint: | Bolt-On | |
| Tuners: | Diecast | |
| Fretboard: | Hard Maple (BK, CVW), Amaranth (Purple Heart) (ELB, SRO) | |
| Neck Material: | Hard Maple | |
| Decoration: | Black Dot Markers (BK, CVW), White Dot Markers (ELB, SRO) | |
| Scale Size: | 25.5" | |
| Shape: | Music Man Standard | |
| Frets: | 22 Medium | |
| Fretboard Radius: | 12" | |
| Nut: | Compensated | |
| Nut Width: | 42mm (1.654'') | |
| Electronics | ||
| Bridge Pickups: | Humbuckers (Humbucker / Passive) | |
| Middle Pickup: | Single Coil (Single Coil / Passive) | |
| Neck Pickup: | Single Coil (Single Coil / Passive) | |
| Switch: | 5 | |
| Knobs: | Bell | |
| Volume Controls: | 1 | |
| Tone Controls: | 1 | |
| Hardware | ||
| Strap Lock: | No | |
| Hardware Color: | Chrome | |
Strengths & Weaknesses
Sterling CT20HSS
Sterling CT20HSS
- Compensated Nut
- Tremolo
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in Indonesia
- No Expensive Woods
- No Top Brand Pickups
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
