So you want to shred without all the lettuce. You want to strum without losing all your Benjamins. You want an electric
10. Epiphone Les Paul Standard PlusTop PRO Electric Guitar
While there’s still 9 more guitars to talk about on this list, you really can’t go wrong with stopping here, at the Les Paul Standard. This
9. ESP LTD Electric Guitar
Since 1996, ESP’s subsidiary LTD has been creating quality guitars at very affordable prices. The EC-256, for example, is a great
8. Ibanez GRX70QA Electric Guitar
If you’re looking for a decent
7. Schecter Stealth C-1 Electric Guitar
Get used to people staring when you bust out this
6. Dean Custom 350 Floyd Electric Guitar
The Dean Custom falls right in the middle-range for guitars under $500. For around $350, this
5. Yamaha Pacifica PAC012 Electric Guitar
A perfect jammer or learner
4. Epiphone G-400 PRO Electric Guitar
We’re bookending this article with two Epiphone guitars. Why? Because Les Paul was the man. And G-400 Pro was actually a successor Les Paul model from ’61 to ’68, making this
3. PRS (Paul Reed Smith) SE Electric Guitar
Perfect as a first
2. G&L Tribute Legacy Electric Guitar
The G&L Legacy blends contemporary refinements from the Leo Fender-designed S-500 and Comanche models with classic Alnico V pickups. If your holy grail is faithful Alnico single-coil tone with modern refinements and superb craftsmanship, the Legacy makes for an excellent choice thanks to the work of Paul Gagon, G&L VP Engineering. Gagon found his inspiration reviewing original prints stored in Leo’s private laboratory at G&L, but that was just the start. Gagon tirelessly analyzed many examples of what were considered holy grail guitars, spending time out on the shop floor talking to builders still working in the pickup department since the 1950s, all on a quest to discover where the real mojo was – and wasn’t. What he learned from the builders matched his own engineering analysis. Gagon’s persistence paid off as the Legacy garnered rave reviews from both players and magazines like
1. Fender Standard Stratocaster Electric Guitar
There’s an old proverb that goes, “If you can’t afford a Fender Strat, get a Fender Standard Strat.” We can’t agree more. This is the
So there you have it. Ten electric guitars under $500. And we know you have a few more great electrics in mind, so please let us know! Also, don’t forget to check out: the 10 Best Acoustic Guitars Under $500!
By John Lombard