QUICK HIT: A roundup of the best electric guitars under 500 dollars, ideal for beginners and intermediate players.
What are the best electric guitars under 500 dollars?
While there are a lot that fall under this price range, they aren't all winners. In fact, there are just a handful that we're comfortable recommending, after setting a price floor of $300.
We're looking for a measure of quality that gives you the experience of a nicer instrument, with guitars that are built to mirror more expensive models, yet while adhering to our $300 to $500 scope.
There are six electric guitars under $500 that we most often recommend to our readers.
We'll cover them all in this roundup.
Read more: Best electric guitars overall
Best Electric Guitars Under 500 dollars (top 6 picks)
Guitars | DETAILS | Rating | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Squier Classic Vibe '50s Telecaster | n/a | |
 | Epiphone Les Paul Junior | n/a | |
 | Epiphone SG Classic | n/a | |
 | Squier Classic Vibe '70s Stratocaster | n/a | |
 | Gretsch G2622 Streamliner | n/a | |
 | Epiphone Les Paul Studio | n/a |
1. Squier Classic Vibe '50s Telecaster
The Classic Vibe series from Squier is the nicest series of guitars offered by the budget-friendly Fender knockoff, much nicer than the Bullet and Affinity series from the same brand.
We like the '50s Telecaster since it closely resembles the Fender Player Telecaster, giving you a similar pickup scheme, decent tone, and all the aesthetics of a much nicer guitar.
While we don't love everything Squier does to make their guitars cheaper, the Classic Vibe series is a great roster of discount guitars that are ideal for beginners.
IDEAL FOR: Beginners, clean tones, basic practice, and versatile playing styles (lead, rhythm, multiple genres ,etc.)
TONE
n/a
EQ/CONTROL
n/a
BUILD/STRENGTH
n/a
COST/VALUE
n/a
The Pros
- Look and feel of a Fender Player Telecaster
- Clean tones sound decent for a Squier
- Vintage-style bridge looks great
- People love the yellow
The Cons
- All stock pickups, all the time
- Cheaper tonewood than the Fender models
2. Epiphone Les Paul Junior
The Epiphone Les Paul Junior is made to mimic the Gibson Les Paul Junior, with a single Dog Ear pickup at the bridge position and a volume and tone control. It's a fun electric guitar, especially for those more interested in rock and heavier playing styles.
For someone that wants an electric guitar with just the basics, the Junior is a simple outfit that doesn't try to be too fancy.
The stock parts are, well...stock, but we'd expect as much, given the price tag.
IDEAL FOR: Minimalism, rock, beginners, and Gibson/Les Paul fans
TONE
n/a
EQ/CONTROL
n/a
BUILD/STRENGTH
n/a
COST/VALUE
n/a
THE PROS
- Simplicity
- Fun to hold and play
- P-90 style pickup is a great look and decent tone
- Looks the part of the Gibson version
THE CONS
- More stock parts
- Not the most flexible guitar
3. Epiphone SG Classic
The SG Classic is a different style than the Les Paul Junior, with a little more versatility. You have two pickups in this guitar (one at the bridge and neck position), along with dual tone and volume knobs and a three-way pickup selector.
We like the SG Standard for a wide range of styles but especially for fans of classic rock.
The green finish also looks great.
If you want a guitar with a little bit of a heavier edge to it but that can also hang in more nuanced, vintage bluesy styles, the SG Standard is a good compromise.
IDEAL FOR: Classic rock fans and beginners
TONE
n/a
EQ/CONTROL
n/a
BUILD/STRENGTH
n/a
COST/VALUE
n/a
THE PROS
- Aesthetics are fantastic (love the green color)
- Dual tone and volume control gives some flexibility
- Great for classic rock fans (AC/DC vibes)
- Plays and sounds decent for the price
THE CONS
- Again, pickups are stock
4. Squier Classic Vibe '70s Stratocaster
Though all the parts are stock, and cheaper than what you get on a Fender Stratocaster, the Classic Vibe series does a good job here getting you a guitar that looks and feels almost identical to the Fender versions.
Pickups and hardware are pretty low-end, which we don't like, but that's how they keep the price under $500 these days.
Single coil pickups (the ones used on this Strat) are typically better for bluesy styles and lead tones, and not as aggressive as a pair of humbuckers, like we see on the SG Standard.
Clean tones and lead are well served by the Classic Vibe Strats.
IDEAL FOR: Lead, clean tones, blues, and beginners
TONE
n/a
EQ/CONTROL
n/a
BUILD/STRENGTH
n/a
COST/VALUE
n/a
THE PROS
- All the trimmings and aesthetics of a full-tilt Fender Stratocaster
- Great for blues, clean tones, and lighter playing styles
- Stratocaster is one of the most popular guitar designs on the planet
THE CONS
- Not great for heavier playing styles or thicker tones
- Not great for heavy distortion
5. Gretsch G2622 Streamliner
The Streamliner is one of Gretsch's econ models, with a semi-hollow body and all the trimmings of a more expensive Gretsch.
We like it for clean tones and perhaps for people who are a little more experienced with the guitar.
You have to like/want the larger body size, as there's an adjustment period if you're used to smaller electric guitars.
IDEAL FOR: Clean tones, intermediate players
TONE
n/a
EQ/CONTROL
n/a
BUILD/STRENGTH
n/a
COST/VALUE
n/a
THE PROS
- Semi-hollow body design creates a thick and full tone
- Sounds great through clean amp settings
- Larger body design looks great
- Overall aesthetics are highly desirable
- Tone quality is good for the price
THE CONS
- Other than the expected stock parts, there's not much to complain about
6. Epiphone Les Paul Studio
The Epiphone version of the Les Paul Studio is made to mirror the Gibson version, with a dual humbucker setup and dual tone/volume controls.
It even has the same style pickguard that we see in the nicer guitar.
While the looks match up, Epiphone uses cheaper pickups and parts to keep the price under $500.
Still, we like it for beginners or even intermediate players that want a bargain. It's good for rock and heavier styles, with plenty of versatility to boot.
IDEAL FOR: Beginners, intermediates, heavier playing styles, rock
TONE
n/a
EQ/CONTROL
n/a
BUILD/STRENGTH
n/a
COST/VALUE
n/a
THE PROS
- Dual humbucker setup is great for rock and heavier styles
- Looks like the Gibson version
- Dual tone/volume knobs
- Heavier tone profile works great with rhythm and power chords
THE CONS
- More stock parts
What to expect in an electric guitar under $500
There are typically a few areas where companies will cut costs to get their guitars under the $500 price point:
- Hardware
- Pickups
- Tonewood
- Body design/carving
This means you should expect some downgrades in that price range. Hardware and pickups will be stock, so I wouldn't expect any pickups from third party manufacturers (Seymour Duncan, DiMarzio, etc.).
Tonewood will also typically be cheaper and you're unlikely to have a separate top piece of tonewood, which is common in more expensive guitars.
You might also notice less nuance and body carving, which gives these guitars less of a distinctive "pop" in their aesthetics.
Which pickup configuration should I target?
Stratocasters and Telecasters are the two main types of guitars that utilize single coil pickups, which are the smaller and thinner pickup design. These are typically better for lighter playing styles and more "airy" tone, which is usually utilized for blues, lead guitar, and sometimes jazz styles.
They aren't known for being "fat" or heavy pickups.
The more common type of pickup configuration is the dual humbucker setup, with the two squared off pickups like we see on the Epiphone Les Paul Studio.
These pickups tend to produce a thicker, heavier sound that's better for rhythm and rock tones.
If that's the style of music you prefer to play, target a guitar with dual humbuckers instead of single coil pickups.
Is $500 enough for an electric guitar?
In most situations, $500 should be enough for a decent electric guitar.
However, I would caution that this price range puts you more firmly in the "beginner" camp. If you're not a beginner, I might recommend you spend more than $500 to get something with a little more staying power.
Electric guitars in the $700 - $900 price range are great for intermediate players and can even stand on their own as professional level instruments for more advanced guitarists.
But if you stay in the $300 to $500 price range, just be aware that you're shopping primarily for a beginner electric guitar.
Read more: Best beginner electric guitars
Which electric guitar brands are best under $500?
The two best and most popular economy electric guitar brands are Squier and Epiphone. They also have the most electric guitars that fall within our $500 price range.
If you're looking for a cheap electric guitar, those are the two brands we recommend starting with.
While most other brands will have cheap guitars, no other brand has as many options as Squier and Epiphone do.
Conclusion and Questions
Keep in mind there are plenty of other options for you in this price range. However, we've tried to highlight only the best electric guitars under $500 to give you an idea of what you should be looking for, even if you don't choose any of our six recommendations.
While it may seem like a lot of money, $500 is actually pretty cheap for an electric guitar, so it's important to make sure you're getting something decent, that's not just a toy.
In this price range we like to recommend guitars that are made to mimic nicer guitars as a budget-friendly alternative.
Hopefully this list helps you narrow things down and gives you some direction as you shop.
If you have questions about finding an electric guitar, feel free to drop them in the comments section below. We'll jump in there and help out as much as possible.
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Written by Bobby on Electrics and Roundups
Written by Bobby on Electrics and Roundups
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