Best Electric Guitars Under $500 in 2024
Here you'll find the best electric guitars under $500. Here you'll find the best electric guitars under $500.
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. Harley Benton Guitar MAX Fusion Signature
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What our users think
- Neck profile shape: C (12 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (7 votes)
Strengths & Weaknesses
Harley Benton Guitar MAX Fusion Signature
Harley Benton Guitar MAX Fusion Signature
- Stainless Steel Frets
- Locking Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Coil Split Pickups
- Tremolo
- Retainer Bar
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in Indonesia
- No Expensive Woods
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
2. Schecter S-II Omen
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What our users think
- Neck profile shape: C (42 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (37 votes)
- Pickups noise: Slightly Noisy (11 votes)
- Pickups power: Slightly Hot (11 votes)
Strengths & Weaknesses
Schecter S-II Omen
Schecter S-II Omen
- Expensive Wood
- Black Tusq XL Nut
- Coil Split Pickups
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in Indonesia
- No Top Brand Pickups
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Tremolo
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
3. Gretsch G5210-P90 Electromatic Jet Two 90
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What our users think
- Neck access to high frets: Normal (2 votes)
- Fret edges: Slightly sharp (2 votes)
- Tuning stability: Holds tune well (2 votes)
- Weight: Heavy (1 vote)
- Neck profile shape: C (8 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (12 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (2 votes)
- Pickups power: Slightly Hot (3 votes)
Strengths & Weaknesses
Gretsch G5210-P90 Electromatic Jet Two 90
Gretsch G5210-P90 Electromatic Jet Two 90
- Expensive Wood
- Synthetic Bone Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Weight Relief
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in China
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Tremolo
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
4. Ibanez JEMJRSP
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What our users think
- Neck access to high frets: Very Easy (1 vote)
- Tuning stability: Holds tune well (1 vote)
- Neck profile shape: D (20 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (23 votes)
- Pickups power: Slightly Hot (1 vote)
Strengths & Weaknesses
Ibanez JEMJRSP
Ibanez JEMJRSP
- Locking Nut
- Tremolo
- Retainer Bar
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in Indonesia
- No Expensive Woods
- No Top Brand Pickups
- No Neck-Through Build
- 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
5. Fender Squier Classic Vibe Starcaster
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What our users think
- Neck access to high frets: Normal (1 vote)
- Fret edges: Slightly sharp (1 vote)
- Tuning stability: Holds tune well (1 vote)
- Weight: Slightly heavy (1 vote)
- Neck profile shape: C (29 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Balanced (25 votes)
- Pickups noise: Slightly Noisy (2 votes)
- Pickups power: Clean (2 votes)
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Squier Classic Vibe Starcaster
Fender Squier Classic Vibe Starcaster
- Bone Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in Indonesia
- No Expensive Woods
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Tremolo
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
6. Harley Benton Fusion-T EMG HT Roasted
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What our users think
- Neck profile shape: C (12 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (7 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (4 votes)
- Pickups power: Hot (3 votes)
Strengths & Weaknesses
Harley Benton Fusion-T EMG HT Roasted
Harley Benton Fusion-T EMG HT Roasted
- Stainless Steel Frets
- Locking Tuners
- Ivory Tusq Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Made in Indonesia
- No Expensive Woods
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Tremolo
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
7. Harley Benton Fusion-III EMG HT Roasted
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What our users think
- Neck profile shape: C (12 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (7 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (4 votes)
- Pickups power: Hot (3 votes)
Strengths & Weaknesses
Harley Benton Fusion-III EMG HT Roasted
Harley Benton Fusion-III EMG HT Roasted
- Stainless Steel Frets
- Locking Tuners
- Black Tusq XL Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Made in Indonesia
- No Expensive Woods
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Tremolo
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
8. Harley Benton MR-Modern Baritone
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What our users think
- Neck access to high frets: Normal (1 vote)
- Fret edges: Slightly sharp (1 vote)
- Tuning stability: Sightly unstable (1 vote)
- Weight: Slightly heavy (1 vote)
- Neck profile shape: C (20 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Balanced (17 votes)
- Pickups noise: Slightly Noisy (1 vote)
- Pickups power: Clean (1 vote)
Strengths & Weaknesses
Harley Benton MR-Modern Baritone
Harley Benton MR-Modern Baritone
- Stainless Steel Frets
- Locking Tuners
- Expensive Wood
- Ivory Tusq Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Coil Tap Pickups
- Tremolo
- Made in Indonesia
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
9. Harley Benton MR-Modern
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What our users think
- Neck profile shape: C (20 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Balanced (17 votes)
- Pickups noise: Slightly Noisy (1 vote)
- Pickups power: Clean (1 vote)
Strengths & Weaknesses
Harley Benton MR-Modern
Harley Benton MR-Modern
- Stainless Steel Frets
- Locking Tuners
- Expensive Wood
- Black Tusq XL Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Coil Tap Pickups
- Tremolo
- Made in Indonesia
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
10. Harley Benton Fusion-III HSS Roasted
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What our users think
- Neck access to high frets: Normal (2 votes)
- Fret edges: Slightly sharp (2 votes)
- Tuning stability: Holds tune well (1 vote)
- Weight: Lightweight (1 vote)
- Neck profile shape: C (12 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (7 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noisy (2 votes)
- Pickups power: Slightly Hot (3 votes)
Strengths & Weaknesses
Harley Benton Fusion-III HSS Roasted
Harley Benton Fusion-III HSS Roasted
- Stainless Steel Frets
- Locking Tuners
- Ivory Tusq Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Coil Split Pickups
- Tremolo
- Made in Indonesia
- No Expensive Woods
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock