You may think about what I can expect in an electric guitar under 500, but there are a lot of features present in this range of guitars.
Among all the price ranges, this is probably the most crowded of all of them. You will drown in choices and options and will have a wide variety to choose from depending on your choice and playing style.
To help you nudge in the right direction, I have created a list of best electric guitar under 500 with some well-known brands that have been trusted by the legends in the business so that you can make the right choice. And I also compiled a separate list of training guitars for armatures looking for a budget pick.
REVIEW OF Best electric guitar under 500
1) ESP LTD EC-256FM - best 6 string electric guitar
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How can I not kick off this list of best electric guitar under 500 with a Les Paul? This guitar has the same sound, quality, and shape, but with a few upgrades. This is among the most popular in the affordable range and has duplicated the same characteristics of what made Les Paul one of the most legendary players in history.
It has a lightweight mahogany body that is comfortable with a 3 pc U- shaped neck that is quick and playable. It also features 22 jumbo frets, which are convenient if you have large hands and are perfect for string bending.
On the electronics front, it comes with simple humbucking pickups, but with the flexible option of coil splitting. Whether you are into rock or blues or jazz or prog, this guitar will not disappoint.
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2) Squier by Fender - best Stratocaster Electric Guitar
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This is one of the more recent models from Squire from Fender and the best electric guitar under 500 in my list. For those unaware of a Squire, it is the more adventurous and affordable junior of Fender, one of the top guitar brands in the market. The contemporary series has been specially built for thrashing, aka hard metal. Obviously, for metal, you need a powerful pickup system, and this model delivers it.
You get two humbucking pickups with Floyd Rose tremolo and a wide fretboard that makes aggression and shredding easier. It features a red metallic body with a quick maple neck that has a C profile to increase access to the frets higher up.
Coming to its looks, it has the standard Squire design with its block saddles, painted headstock, zebra bobbins, and timeless design.
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3) Ibanez JEMJRWH Steve Vai Signature - best electric guitar for metal
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There are some guitars you glance at, and then there are some that are hard to ignore. Steve Vai's signature collection is one such example. Whether you are a fan of this legendary Steve Vai or not, this beauty from Ibanez is going to impress you. It is another best electric guitar under 500.
It features a mahogany body, a wizard ll maple neck with the monkey grip that is quick and broad ergo perfect for arpeggios,
A rosewood fretboard with the tree of life inlays and jumbo frets perfect for string bending. On the electronics front, you get dual Quantum humbuckers with one single-coil with five-way switching. Add a double locking tremolo bridge to this and you have got yourself a wailing winner.
This electric guitar was built to shred and awe the person who listens to it.
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4) PRS Paul Reed Smith SE Custom 24 Electric Guitar
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You may have heard of the prized Paul reed smith guitar. Similarly, the standard 24 is the recreated version of the original with a sturdy bound mahogany body, rosewood fretboard with bird inlays, tapering maple neck, and a molded tremolo bridge.
On the electronics front, you get a treble and bass pickup with volume and tonal controls and coil taps, and finally, a pickup switch that allows you to dial in the exact tone you want and shape it. You get a guitar that delivers a good powerful sound with complete tonal shaping and stability,
It has an attractive exterior with distinct features at a price tag that does not burn a hole in your pocket. So grab this best electric guitar under 500 if you are looking for a guitar at an affordable range.
Pros
- Tonal shaping.
- Sturdy construction.
- Affordable.
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5) Schecter OMEN-6 6-String Electric Guitar, Black
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What Schecter is famous for is making high-end models for a fraction of the price, so you know that every time you buy one, you are only getting unmatched quality. OMEN 6 is no different.
This beautifully carved guitar with its sturdy basswood body, maple neck, and rosewood fretboard may have the basic structure. But the black chrome finish and the Pearloid inlays are what makes it an attractive guitar that looks good under the stage lights.
On its playability, you get a fast neck with a high output sound that comes from the versatile Diamond plus pickups by Schecter. They add the right punch to your sound and keep the clarity constant irrespective of the range and can be extremely versatile, depending on what genre you prefer. So this is another best electric guitar under 500.
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6) Oscar Schmidt OE30 - best Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar
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Are you looking for a best electric guitar under 500 that not only has good tonal stability, but also enough acoustic resonance for that fat sound? This Oscar Schmidt semi-hollow body guitar with volume and tonal controls and black chrome hardware is your best bet.
On the electronics front, it comes with dual Washburn HH pickups that are versatile and has a good range between punchy and mellow without losing its clarity.
This particular model comes with a comfortable neck and a soft rosewood fretboard that increases overall playability by a great deal. You also get dot inlays and a stop tailpiece with a tune o Matic bridge that increases intonation and keeps the guitar in tune for longer.
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7) Dean MLX Flame - BEST ELECTRIC GUITAR FOR rocker concerts
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Think of this guitar as something right out of a 70’s rock concert. If you are an avid guitar enthusiast then you need this Dean in your guitar collection. This Flame top guitar with its vintage-inspired body and sound will surprise you especially with its tone and sustain.
The shape also helps increase the resonance making it warmer and louder. Due to the shape of the headstock, the strings are longer hence you get more tenacity and a sound like no other. On the hardware front, it has a poplar body with a flamed maple top and a trans red finish.
It also features a dual-action adjustable truss rod, a 3-way toggle switch, volume, and tonal controls, tunes o matic bridge and sealed die-cast tuners that have good intonation and projection.
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8) Yamaha RevStar RS420 Electric Guitar with Gig Bag, Black Steel
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Next up in my list of best electric guitar under 500 comes the Yamaha revstar, which will remind you of those café racer motorbikes from the sixties, because they inspired their hardware. The aim was to capture the same character and attitude and create this unique guitar that is the perfect workhorse but not run of the mill.
The body is perfectly contoured to be comfortable and playable while the upgraded neck joint helps access of all frets across the board. When it comes to choosing the pickup system, restart matches every pickup with the guitar designed to check, which sounds the best.
Simply put, the wound pickups in this model are tailor-made for this guitar. Lastly, we come to the dry switch feature that allows you the flexibility of a coil switch to get that exact frequency response you want without the hum.
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9) Gretsch G5445T - best Double Jet Electric Guitar
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If you are chasing after that synonymous Gretsch sound, then this resonant electric guitar is the perfect example for it. This guitar is the complete package of style, playability, and legendary sound.
The double jet comes with a Bigsby tremolo that gives you that distinct tone and the blacktop filter Tron pickups give that much necessary punch.
On the hardware front, it has a double-cutaway body with an arched maple top and humpback inlays across the fretboard. Other features include G arrow knobs, the Gretsch logo on the pickguard, strap buttons, and finally, an automatic bridge.
If all that did not convince you, then you should know that George Harrison of The Beatles religiously played a Gretsch. Need I say more?
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10) Danelectro '56 - best Baritone Electric Guitar
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There are some guitars that you may not expect much of but will creep up on you and surprise you with their range and tonal capabilities. The baritone electric guitar from Danelectro with its hollow twang and resonance is one of those. Did you know Led zeppelin made Danelectro famous?
The sound of this particular model will remind you of fifties rock or surf music and is perfect if you are primarily into punk. It has a hollow plywood body and an adjustable truss rod with metal strap pegs for durability. This is an extremely affordable guitar perfect for traveling around and experimenting with.
On the hardware front, it has a single cut body with a dolphin headstock, a short-scale neck for comfort, and an adjustable bridge through the headstock. If you want an affordable guitar, plays great, and sounds even better then go for this best electric guitar under 500.
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CONCLUSION
You may be lost in the names of Led Zeppelin and The Beatles, but the bottom line is, just because your idols used it, does not mean it will be the right fit for you.
Every guitar has to be a form of custom-made item that matches your body, style, and genre perfectly. In this price range, do not worry about the wood; instead, focus on sound and then go for the pickups.
All the guitars on my list of best electric guitar under 500 value for money, so when you go for a low budget one, try as many as possible and then make an informed choice.
Greetings, I am Scott Shetler, a Senior Instrument expert, and Guitarist. My hobby and passion are all about music, and I like to explore new gadgets and instruments available in the market. From my experience, I reviewed and showcase the best products on our site to ensure the worth of readers’ expectations and money.