Best Budget Electric Guitars Under $500

Looking for the best budget electric guitars? Check out our top picks for affordable guitars with great sound and quality. Find your best match today!

Best Budget Electric Guitars

Great Tone At Awesome Prices!

As a guitar player, finding a guitar with a great tone at an affordable price is always a win-win situation. Fortunately, many budget electric guitars offer great sound quality.

Here are some guitar brand options available for those on a budget that still want to get the best sound possible.

  • Epiphone
  • Ibanez
  • Squier
  • Yamaha

No matter where you are located globally, you can easily find one of these guitar brands offering their best cheap electric guitars in your local area.

Best Budget Electric Guitars for Beginners

If you’re new to playing guitar,  you may feel hesitant to splurge on your first electric guitar. However, you also want a good-quality guitar with great sound to motivate you to learn. Thankfully, you can still find budget electric guitars with excellent tones, and these options prove it.

EPIPHONE Budget Electric Guitars

Epiphone is a guitar brand with a long history of producing good-quality instruments accessible to players of all levels. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned professional, you’re bound to find an Epiphone guitar that suits your needs and budget.

The Epiphone Les Paul Melody Maker E1 (previously known as Epiphone Les Paul SL) is a stripped-down, no-nonsense guitar perfect for players who want a classic Les Paul design at an affordable price of $159.

This model features a lightweight poplar body with a vintage sunburst finish, a bolt-on mahogany neck, and a rosewood fingerboard. The dual single-coil pickups produce a bright, clear tone perfect for rock, punk, and indie music. 

SG Special Satin E1 is a budget electric guitar ($199) with a classic SG rock tone and style. The guitar features a poplar body, Okoume neck, and rosewood fretboard, which provide a comfortable feel. It has a double cutaway providing easy access and playability. The guitar features two humbucking pickups that deliver thick, rich tones with plenty of midrange punch, making it a good option for rock and metal players. The “vintage worn” finish gives it a stylish look that will turn heads.

The $269 Les Paul Studio E1, formerly the Les Paul Studio LT, is an upgraded choice from the previous recommendations. It showcases a carved mahogany body, a set neck, and two alnico humbuckers. 

The mahogany body ensures excellent sustain. It also has individual volume and tone controls, allowing you to dial in your desired sound. With premium die-cast tuners, your guitar stays in tune for extended periods.

The Epiphone Power Players Series caters to the needs of young players or beginners with smaller hands, offering scaled-down body sizes and shorter scale lengths for a comfortable playing experience. This guitar features a mahogany body and neck, an Indian Laurel fingerboard, and two powerful humbucking pickups. This is a fantastic deal for a guitar priced at only $279.

IBANEZ Budget Electric Guitars

Ibanez is a Japanese guitar brand with a rich history by Hoshino Gakki. Over the years, Ibanez gained recognition for its exceptional craftsmanship and innovative designs. In the 1960s and 1970s, Ibanez became known for producing high-quality replicas of popular guitar models, which led to its prominence among musicians seeking affordable alternatives to well-known American brands. 

Ibanez further solidified its position in the guitar industry by introducing original designs and collaborating with notable artists like Steve Vai. Today, Ibanez continues to be highly regarded for its diverse range of electric, acoustic, and bass guitars, renowned for their playability, versatility, and high-performance features.

Another short-scale guitar tailored for guitar players with small hands and shorter arms. It has a maple neck and fretboard, basswood body, and two humbucking pickups. The larger cutaway allows easy access to higher frets, expanding your playing possibilities. Priced at just $169.99, it offers an affordable and high-value option for shredders looking to rock out.

With the Ibanez Gio Collection, there are at least three exciting options available to kickstart your journey into rock and metal music. Here are some budget electric guitars to consider: Ibanez Gio GRX70QA, Ibanez Gio GRG131DX, and Ibanez Gio GRG7221M. But don’t overlook this collection as just another casual offering—especially the last one, as it boasts an impressive 7-string setup, allowing you to explore a broader range of sonic possibilities. You’ll be amazed that you can get your hands on one of these collections for just $199.99 and $249.99.

The Ibanez Standard series includes models for aggressive metal, rock, blues, and more with unique designs and sounds. It features a wide range of models, each with its own distinct characteristics and tonal options. With a variety of body shapes to choose from, players can pick an electric guitar that suits their preferences. The guitars have thin necks, comfortable body shapes, and excellent pickups, providing effortless playability. 

From classic designs to modern innovations, there is a guitar in this series to suit every playing style and musical genre. You can grab any guitar of these series, including the Ibanez AX120, Ibanez AZES, Ibanez RG421, and Ibanez Standard S561 at incredible prices: $229.99, $299.99, $329.99, and $399.99 respectively.

SQUIER Budget Electric Guitars

In 1890, Victor Carroll Squier established his shop, which was later acquired by Fender in early 1965. Today, Squier Guitars is a brand known for offering affordable alternatives to Fender guitars, making them accessible to a wider range of musicians.

Squier guitars capture the essence and iconic designs of their Fender counterparts, including the Stratocaster, Telecaster, Jazzmaster, and Precision Bass, among others. While they may have differences in materials and components, Squier guitars are built to deliver solid performance and reliable playability.

YAMAHA Budget Electric Guitars

Yamaha electric guitars are designed with player comfort in mind. They feature sleek and ergonomic body shapes that facilitate easy access to the upper frets, allowing for smooth and effortless playing. The necks are typically crafted for speed and playability, with options like slim profiles and smooth fingerboards.

When it comes to electronics, Yamaha equips their guitars with pickups to suit different musical genres. Whether it’s the classic single-coil pickups for a vintage tone or the high-output humbuckers for heavier styles, Yamaha ensures that their pickups deliver rich and dynamic sounds with excellent clarity and balance. This versatility enables guitarists to explore a range of tones and express their musical creativity across various genres.

The Yamaha Pacifica is a series of electric guitars popular among beginner and intermediate players since its introduction in 1990. The Pacifica series is known for its versatility, playability, and affordability. The guitar’s body is solid alder or agathis wood, with a maple neck and rosewood fingerboard.

It is equipped with either three single-coil pickups or a combination of two single-coil and one humbucking pickup, allowing for a wide range of tonal options. The Pacifica is also available in different colors and finishes, catering to the individual preferences of players. The Yamaha Pacifica has earned a reputation as a dependable and solid choice for guitar players of all levels.

You can check these guitars, Yamaha PAC012DLX Pacifica and Yamaha PAC112V Pacifica at a price range of $209.99 to $339.99.

The Yamaha Revstar Element is a modern electric guitar that blends vintage style with contemporary design.

The guitar has a distinctive shape and is crafted with top-notch materials, including a mahogany body, neck, and rosewood fingerboard. It has a pair of Yamaha’s Alnico V humbucking pickups that deliver a versatile range of tones, making it ideal for players who demand sonic flexibility.

Quality Guitars Within Reach

It’s time to take your pick from a vast selection of quality electric guitars available to you. Find your perfect budget electric guitar today and unleash your musical potential!

Electric Guitars for Beginners

Customize your style. Set your budget. Define your sound. Select your preferred brand.

  • Customize your style – Choose a guitar design, finish, and aesthetics that align with your musical taste and visual preferences. Whether you prefer a classic look, a modern design, or something in between, some guitars cater to different styles.
  • Set your budget – Determine the price range that suits your financial considerations. Guitars come in a wide range of prices, and by setting your budget, you can focus on finding options that offer the best value within your preferred price range.
  • Define your sound – Different guitars produce different sounds, and you can choose one that complements the genre or style of music you play. Whether you seek a bright and twangy tone, a warm and mellow sound, or something more versatile, understanding the sonic qualities you desire can help guide your decision.
  • Select your preferred brand –  Different guitar brands have unique qualities and reputations. Some players may have a preferred brand based on personal experience, recommendations, or specific features they value. Choosing a trusted brand can assure quality craftsmanship, reliability, and access to brand-specific features.

With this diverse array of accessible and good-quality electric guitars, you can rock with confidence and flair. Seize the opportunity to find the instrument that resonates with you.  Shop now and discover your new favorite guitar!

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