I live in an apartment and my downstairs neighbors complain about the noise. I'm interested in an electric guitar with a low noise level or the ability to plug headphones directly in. What models would you recommend in the 15,000 - 25,000 range?
The most reliable option is to get a dedicated headphone amplifier system like the Yamaha THR or Vox Amplug - they're specifically designed for quiet home playing. If you want a regular electric guitar within your budget, look at models with active electronics (like the Ibanez SR series or Schecter), they give you a more focused sound that's easier to mute through headphones via an audio interface. The main thing is don't rely only on the guitar's volume - it'll still make noise when you hit the strings anyway; you need a way to hear yourself in headphones without turning on an amp.
Are you already plugging it into an amp or still playing straight through? If it's the latter, the main thing is finding a guitar with a good pickup so the signal is clean and can go straight to headphones through an interface without an acoustic amp. Look at semi-hollow bodies like the Ibanez Artcore or similar - they're quiet on their own and sound pretty decent through headphones. From there it all depends on the interface: even budget hobby-class stuff (Behringer, Focusrite) lets you record or listen through headphones with zero noise, and your neighbors definitely won't wake up.
The thing is, even a good electric guitar will sound pretty loud on its own if you play without an amp - the pickups just amplify the string vibration. The real solution is to plug the guitar into an interface (even a cheap audio input on your computer will work) and listen through headphones, then your neighbors won't hear anything at all. With your budget you can grab a decent Squier or Yamaha, the main thing is not to get hung up on the guitar brand - for silent playing at home it's not critical, what matters more is the interface itself and the software (like amp simulators).
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