Best V Style Guitars With Locking Nut in 2026
Here are the top V style guitars with Locking nut. Instead of the typical nut, this nut locks the strings in place and will make them stay in tune even after heavy tremolo use. This type of nut provides the best tune stability, but they also make the guitar more expensive.
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. ESP E-II Arrow
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What our users think
- Neck profile shape: C (4 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (9 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (23 votes)
- Pickups power: Hot (15 votes)
Show All Specs
| ESP E-II Arrow | ||
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Brand: | ESP E-II | |
| Year: | 2014 | |
| Configuration: | HH | |
| Strings: | 6 | |
| Made in: | Japan | |
| Series: | Arrow | |
| Colors: | White, Black, Gray | |
| Left-Handed Version: | No | |
| Body | ||
| Type: | Solid Body | |
| Body Material: | Alder | |
| Bridge: | Floyd Rose Original | |
| Neck | ||
| Neck Joint: | Neck-Through | |
| Tuners: | Gotoh Locking | |
| Fretboard: | Ebony | |
| Neck Material: | 3pc Maple | |
| Decoration: | Shark Fin | |
| Scale Size: | 25.5" | |
| Shape: | Thin U | |
| Thickness: | 1st Fret: 0.787'' (20mm) - 12th Fret: 0.866'' (22mm) | |
| Frets: | 24 XL Jumbo | |
| Fretboard Radius: | 12" | |
| Nut: | Locking | |
| Nut Width: | 42mm (1.654'') | |
| Electronics | ||
| Bridge Pickups: | EMG 81 (Humbucker / Active) | |
| Neck Pickup: | EMG 85 (Humbucker / Active) | |
| Switch: | 3 | |
| Knobs: | Dome | |
| Volume Controls: | 1 | |
| Tone Controls: | 0 | |
| Hardware | ||
| Strap Lock: | Yes | |
| Hardware Color: | Black | |
Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP E-II Arrow
ESP E-II Arrow
- Locking Tuners
- Made in Japan
- Expensive Wood
- Locking Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Neck-Through Build
- Tremolo
- Retainer Bar
- Strap Lock
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
All Prices
2. ESP LTD MK-600
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What our users think
- Neck profile shape: D (39 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (50 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (29 votes)
- Pickups power: Hot (29 votes)
Show All Specs
| ESP LTD MK-600 | ||
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Brand: | ESP LTD | |
| Year: | 2016 | |
| Configuration: | HH | |
| Strings: | 6 | |
| Made in: | Indonesia | |
| Series: | Signature | |
| Colors: | Black | |
| Left-Handed Version: | No | |
| Body | ||
| Type: | Solid Body | |
| Body Material: | Mahogany | |
| Bridge: | Floyd Rose 1000 | |
| Neck | ||
| Neck Joint: | Neck-Through | |
| Tuners: | Grover | |
| Fretboard: | Pau Ferro | |
| Neck Material: | 3pc Maple | |
| Decoration: | Dots | |
| Scale Size: | 24.75" | |
| Shape: | Thin U | |
| Thickness: | 1st Fret: 0.787'' (20mm) - 12th Fret: 0.866'' (22mm) | |
| Frets: | 24 XL Jumbo | |
| Fretboard Radius: | 13.78" | |
| Nut: | Locking | |
| Nut Width: | 42mm (1.654'') | |
| Electronics | ||
| Bridge Pickups: | Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic (Humbucker / Active) | |
| Neck Pickup: | Fishman Fluence Modern Alnico (Humbucker / Active) | |
| Switch: | 3 | |
| Knobs: | Dome | |
| Pickup Mods: | Multi-Voicing | |
| Volume Controls: | 1 | |
| Tone Controls: | 0 | |
| Hardware | ||
| Strap Lock: | No | |
| Hardware Color: | Black | |
Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP LTD MK-600
ESP LTD MK-600
- Expensive Wood
- Locking Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Neck-Through Build
- Multi-Voicing Pickups
- Tremolo
- Retainer Bar
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in Indonesia
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
3. Dean Kerry King V
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What our users think
- Neck access to high frets: Very Easy (1 vote)
- Fret edges: Smooth (1 vote)
- Tuning stability: Not bad (1 vote)
- Weight: Slightly heavy (1 vote)
- Neck profile shape: C (1 vote)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (1 vote)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (23 votes)
- Pickups power: Hot (15 votes)
Show All Specs
| Dean Kerry King V | ||
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Brand: | Dean | |
| Year: | 2020 | |
| Configuration: | HH | |
| Strings: | 6 | |
| Made in: | Indonesia | |
| Series: | Artist | |
| Colors: | Black Satin | |
| Left-Handed Version: | No | |
| Body | ||
| Top: | Maple | |
| Type: | Solid Body | |
| Body Material: | Eastern Mahogany | |
| Bridge: | Kahler Hybrid | |
| Neck | ||
| Neck Joint: | Set | |
| Tuners: | Grover | |
| Fretboard: | Ebony | |
| Neck Material: | 3 Piece Maple | |
| Decoration: | KK Nails | |
| Scale Size: | 24.75" | |
| Shape: | Kerry King Spec. C Shaped | |
| Frets: | 24 Jumbo | |
| Fretboard Radius: | 12" | |
| Nut: | Locking | |
| Nut Width: | 41mm (1.614'') | |
| Electronics | ||
| Bridge Pickups: | EMG 81 (Humbucker / Active) | |
| Neck Pickup: | EMG 85 (Humbucker / Active) | |
| Switch: | 3 | |
| Knobs: | Dome | |
| Pickup Mods: | Boost | |
| Volume Controls: | 1 | |
| Tone Controls: | 1 | |
| Hardware | ||
| Strap Lock: | No | |
| Hardware Color: | Black | |
Strengths & Weaknesses
Dean Kerry King V
Dean Kerry King V
- Expensive Wood
- Locking Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Boost Pickups
- Tremolo
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in Indonesia
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Retainer Bar
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
4. Jackson USA Signature Corey Beaulieu King V KV7
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What our users think
- Neck profile shape: D (61 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (60 votes)
Show All Specs
| Jackson USA Signature Corey Beaulieu King V KV7 | ||
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Brand: | Jackson | |
| Year: | 2017 | |
| Configuration: | HH | |
| Strings: | 7 | |
| Made in: | United States | |
| Series: | Artist Signature | |
| Colors: | Black, Red | |
| Left-Handed Version: | No | |
| Body | ||
| Type: | Solid Body | |
| Body Material: | Alder | |
| Bridge: | Floyd Rose Original Double-Locking Tremolo | |
| Neck | ||
| Neck Joint: | Neck-Through | |
| Tuners: | Jackson Sealed Die-Cast | |
| Fretboard: | Ebony | |
| Neck Material: | Quartersawn Maple | |
| Decoration: | Pearloid Sharkfin | |
| Scale Size: | 25.5" | |
| Shape: | Speed | |
| Thickness: | 1st Fret: 0.775'' (19.7mm) - 12th Fret: 0.835'' (21.2mm) | |
| Frets: | 24 Jumbo | |
| Fretboard Radius: | 12" to 16" | |
| Nut: | Locking | |
| Nut Width: | 42.9mm (1.688'') | |
| Electronics | ||
| Bridge Pickups: | Seymour Duncan Blackouts AHB-1B 7 (Humbucker / Active) | |
| Neck Pickup: | Seymour Duncan Blackouts AHB-1N 7 (Humbucker / Active) | |
| Switch: | 3 | |
| Knobs: | Dome | |
| Volume Controls: | 1 | |
| Tone Controls: | 0 | |
| Hardware | ||
| Strap Lock: | Yes | |
| Hardware Color: | Black | |
Strengths & Weaknesses
Jackson USA Signature Corey Beaulieu King V KV7
Jackson USA Signature Corey Beaulieu King V KV7
- Made in United States
- Expensive Wood
- Locking Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Neck-Through Build
- Tremolo
- Compound Radius Fretboard
- Strap Lock
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Retainer Bar
All Prices
5. ESP Arrow
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What our users think
- Pickups noise: Noisy (1 vote)
- Pickups power: Hot (1 vote)
Show All Specs
| ESP Arrow | ||
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Brand: | ESP | |
| Year: | 2014 | |
| Configuration: | HH | |
| Strings: | 6 | |
| Made in: | Japan | |
| Series: | Arrow | |
| Colors: | Black, Brown Patterns | |
| Left-Handed Version: | No | |
| Body | ||
| Type: | Solid Body | |
| Body Material: | Alder | |
| Bridge: | Floyd Rose Original | |
| Neck | ||
| Neck Joint: | Neck-Through | |
| Tuners: | Gotoh | |
| Fretboard: | Ebony | |
| Neck Material: | 3pc Maple | |
| Decoration: | Shark Fin | |
| Scale Size: | 25.5" | |
| Shape: | Thin U | |
| Thickness: | 1st Fret: 0.787'' (20mm) - 12th Fret: 0.866'' (22mm) | |
| Frets: | 24 XL Jumbo | |
| Fretboard Radius: | 12" | |
| Nut: | Locking | |
| Nut Width: | 42mm (1.654'') | |
| Electronics | ||
| Bridge Pickups: | Seymour Duncan Blackouts AHB-1B (Humbucker / Active) | |
| Neck Pickup: | Seymour Duncan Blackouts AHB-1N (Humbucker / Active) | |
| Switch: | 3 | |
| Knobs: | Dome | |
| Volume Controls: | 1 | |
| Tone Controls: | 0 | |
| Hardware | ||
| Strap Lock: | No | |
| Hardware Color: | Black | |
Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP Arrow
ESP Arrow
- Made in Japan
- Expensive Wood
- Locking Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Neck-Through Build
- Tremolo
- Retainer Bar
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- 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. Schecter V-1 FR Apocalypse
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What our users think
- Neck profile shape: C (67 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (52 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (6 votes)
- Pickups power: Hot (6 votes)
Show All Specs
| Schecter V-1 FR Apocalypse | ||
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Brand: | Schecter | |
| Year: | 2019 | |
| Configuration: | HH | |
| Strings: | 6 | |
| Made in: | South Korea | |
| Series: | Apocalypse | |
| Colors: | Red Patterns | |
| Left-Handed Version: | No | |
| Body | ||
| Type: | Solid Body | |
| Body Material: | Swamp Ash | |
| Bridge: | Floyd Rose 1500 Series | |
| Neck | ||
| Neck Joint: | Set | |
| Tuners: | Grover Rotomatic 18:1 | |
| Fretboard: | Ebony | |
| Neck Material: | Maple/Padauk Multi-ply w/Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Rods | |
| Decoration: | Roman Numerals | |
| Scale Size: | 25.5" | |
| Shape: | Thin C | |
| Thickness: | 1st Fret: 0.79'' (20.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.87'' (22.1mm) | |
| Frets: | 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel | |
| Fretboard Radius: | 12" to 16" | |
| Nut: | Locking | |
| Nut Width: | 41.3mm (1.625'') | |
| Electronics | ||
| Bridge Pickups: | Schecter USA Apocalypse-VI (Humbucker / Passive) | |
| Neck Pickup: | Schecter USA Apocalypse-VI (Humbucker / Passive) | |
| Switch: | 3 | |
| Knobs: | Dome | |
| Pickup Mods: | Coil Split | |
| Volume Controls: | 1 | |
| Tone Controls: | 1 | |
| Hardware | ||
| Strap Lock: | No | |
| Hardware Color: | Black | |
Strengths & Weaknesses
Schecter V-1 FR Apocalypse
Schecter V-1 FR Apocalypse
- Stainless Steel Frets
- Expensive Wood
- Locking Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Coil Split Pickups
- Luminescent Inlay
- Tremolo
- Compound Radius Fretboard
- Retainer Bar
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in South Korea
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Weight Relief
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
7. Solar V1.6FRLB
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What our users think
- Neck profile shape: C (16 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Balanced (8 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (10 votes)
- Pickups power: Slightly Hot (11 votes)
Show All Specs
| Solar V1.6FRLB | ||
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Brand: | Solar | |
| Year: | 2018 | |
| Configuration: | HH | |
| Strings: | 6 | |
| Made in: | Indonesia | |
| Series: | Type V | |
| Colors: | Green Burst Matte | |
| Left-Handed Version: | No | |
| Body | ||
| Top: | Flame Maple Veneer | |
| Type: | Solid Body | |
| Body Material: | Mahogany | |
| Bridge: | Floyd Rose 1000, with 34 mm Block | |
| Neck | ||
| Neck Joint: | Set | |
| Tuners: | Solar 18:1 Locking Type | |
| Fretboard: | Ebony | |
| Neck Material: | Maple | |
| Decoration: | Solar Logo on 12th Fret | |
| Scale Size: | 25.5" | |
| Shape: | Solar C Shape | |
| Thickness: | 1st Fret: 0.787'' (20mm) - 12th Fret: 0.866'' (22mm) | |
| Frets: | 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel | |
| Fretboard Radius: | 13.78" | |
| Nut: | Locking | |
| Nut Width: | 43mm (1.693'') | |
| Electronics | ||
| Bridge Pickups: | Duncan Solar/Bridge (Humbucker / Passive) | |
| Neck Pickup: | Duncan Solar (Humbucker / Passive) | |
| Switch: | 3 | |
| Knobs: | Dome | |
| Pickup Mods: | Coil Split | |
| Volume Controls: | 1 | |
| Tone Controls: | 1 | |
| Hardware | ||
| Strap Lock: | No | |
| Hardware Color: | Black | |
Strengths & Weaknesses
Solar V1.6FRLB
Solar V1.6FRLB
- Stainless Steel Frets
- Locking Tuners
- Expensive Wood
- Locking Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Coil Split Pickups
- Luminescent Inlay
- Tremolo
- Made in Indonesia
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Weight Relief
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Retainer Bar
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
8. Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA
Compare
What our users think
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (8 votes)
- Pickups power: Hot (5 votes)
Show All Specs
| Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA | ||
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Brand: | Washburn | |
| Year: | 2018 | |
| Configuration: | HH | |
| Strings: | 6 | |
| Made in: | United States | |
| Series: | Parallaxe | |
| Colors: | Yellow | |
| Left-Handed Version: | No | |
| Body | ||
| Type: | Solid Body | |
| Body Material: | Mahogany | |
| Bridge: | Original Floyd Rose with GraphTech String Saver Saddles | |
| Neck | ||
| Neck Joint: | Set | |
| Tuners: | Black Grover Exclusive 18:1 | |
| Fretboard: | Ebony | |
| Neck Material: | Mahogany | |
| Decoration: | Parallaxe Inlay At 12Th | |
| Scale Size: | 25.5" | |
| Shape: | Washburn Parallaxe | |
| Frets: | 24 Medium | |
| Fretboard Radius: | 12" | |
| Nut: | Locking | |
| Nut Width: | 42.9mm (1.688'') | |
| Electronics | ||
| Bridge Pickups: | Fishman Fluence Modern (Humbucker / Active) | |
| Neck Pickup: | Fishman Fluence Modern (Humbucker / Active) | |
| Switch: | 3 | |
| Knobs: | Dome | |
| Pickup Mods: | Multi-Voicing | |
| Volume Controls: | 1 | |
| Tone Controls: | 1 | |
| Hardware | ||
| Strap Lock: | No | |
| Hardware Color: | Black | |
Strengths & Weaknesses
Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA
Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA
- Made in United States
- Expensive Wood
- Locking Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Multi-Voicing Pickups
- Tremolo
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Retainer Bar
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
9. ESP LTD MSV-1
Compare
What our users think
- Neck profile shape: D (39 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (50 votes)
- Pickups noise: Slightly Noisy (1 vote)
- Pickups power: Hot (1 vote)
Show All Specs
| ESP LTD MSV-1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Brand: | ESP LTD | |
| Year: | 2021 | |
| Configuration: | H | |
| Strings: | 6 | |
| Made in: | Indonesia | |
| Series: | Signature | |
| Colors: | White | |
| Left-Handed Version: | No | |
| Body | ||
| Type: | Solid Body | |
| Body Material: | Mahogany w/ Maple Cap | |
| Bridge: | Floyd Rose 1000 | |
| Neck | ||
| Neck Joint: | Neck-Through | |
| Tuners: | Grover | |
| Fretboard: | Macassar Ebony | |
| Neck Material: | 3Pc Mahogany | |
| Decoration: | Blocks | |
| Scale Size: | 24.75" | |
| Shape: | Thin U | |
| Thickness: | 1st Fret: 0.787'' (20mm) - 12th Fret: 0.866'' (22mm) | |
| Frets: | 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel | |
| Fretboard Radius: | 13.78" | |
| Nut: | Locking | |
| Nut Width: | 42mm (1.654'') | |
| Electronics | ||
| Bridge Pickups: | EMG JH James Hetfield (Humbucker / Active) | |
| Switch: | 0 | |
| Knobs: | Bell | |
| Volume Controls: | 1 | |
| Tone Controls: | 0 | |
| Hardware | ||
| Strap Lock: | No | |
| Hardware Color: | Chrome | |
Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP LTD MSV-1
ESP LTD MSV-1
- Stainless Steel Frets
- Expensive Wood
- Locking Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Neck-Through Build
- Tremolo
- Retainer Bar
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in Indonesia
- 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
10. ESP LTD Arrow-1000
Compare
What our users think
- Neck profile shape: D (39 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (50 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (23 votes)
- Pickups power: Hot (15 votes)
Show All Specs
| ESP LTD Arrow-1000 | ||
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Brand: | ESP LTD | |
| Year: | 2021 | |
| Configuration: | HH | |
| Strings: | 6 | |
| Made in: | Indonesia | |
| Series: | Arrow | |
| Colors: | Red, Purple | |
| Left-Handed Version: | Yes | |
| Body | ||
| Type: | Solid Body | |
| Body Material: | Mahogany | |
| Bridge: | Floyd Rose 1000SE | |
| Neck | ||
| Neck Joint: | Neck-Through | |
| Tuners: | Grover | |
| Fretboard: | Macassar Ebony | |
| Neck Material: | 3pc Maple | |
| Decoration: | Shark Fin | |
| Scale Size: | 25.5" | |
| Shape: | Thin U | |
| Thickness: | 1st Fret: 0.787'' (20mm) - 12th Fret: 0.866'' (22mm) | |
| Frets: | 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel | |
| Fretboard Radius: | 13.78" | |
| Nut: | Locking | |
| Nut Width: | 42mm (1.654'') | |
| Electronics | ||
| Bridge Pickups: | EMG 81 (Humbucker / Active) | |
| Neck Pickup: | EMG 85 (Humbucker / Active) | |
| Switch: | 3 | |
| Knobs: | Dome | |
| Volume Controls: | 1 | |
| Tone Controls: | 0 | |
| Hardware | ||
| Strap Lock: | No | |
| Hardware Color: | Black | |
Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP LTD Arrow-1000
ESP LTD Arrow-1000
- Stainless Steel Frets
- Expensive Wood
- Locking Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Neck-Through Build
- Tremolo
- Retainer Bar
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in Indonesia
- 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
