In this expert review, we examine the best electric guitars under $500 that provide the greatest overall value for beginner to intermediate players.

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What’s the Best Electric Guitar Under $500? Let’s Find Out!

Budget Electric Guitars at a glance:

Product	Feature Image	Rating	Relative Price
#1 Best Value Squier by Fender Deluxe Stratocaster			$$
#2 Modern Voicing Schecter C-1 SGR			$$
#3 Most Versatile Yamaha Pacifica Series PAC112V			$$$

In Review: The Top 3 Electric Guitars Under $500

1. Best Value: Squier by Fender Affinity Series Stratocaster Guitar

Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster Electric Guitar, Brown Sunburst, Laurel Fingerboard

The Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster Electric Guitar is a very affordable electric guitar that beginners and intermediate players can buy. It has a poplar body and maple neck with a radius of 10”.

The pickups used for the guitar are three Strat single coils. They’re dynamically responsive, clear-sounding  crisp, and provide a rich tone.

The Squier Affinity Stratocaster comes with suitable die-cast tuners good enough to tune the guitar and play it, although there are tuners that are better. The well-crafted maple neck sports a laurel fingerboard with a very smooth satin finish; perfect for moving up and down the fretboard .

The Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster comes in a rainbow of attractive finishes to suit any taste. Considering the parent company’s heritage and outstanding consistent level of quality, this is certainly one of the best electric guitar under $500.

A great option especially for those who want an electric guitar that not only sounds good, but looks good as well.

Squier Strat Key Features

• Guitar body is made of basswood and has a polyurethane finish
• Neck is made from maple and has a radius of 9.5”
• Has 22 medium jumbo frets that is on a maple fingerboard
• Makes use of single-coil pickups that are Three Duncan Designed
• Has a synchronous twin-pivot tremolo
• Has controls for volume, tone and a position selector
• Available in different colors

Squier Affinity Series from Fender >>

Squier Affinity Stratocaster Electric Guitar in Review

What are Squier Affinity Strat Owners Saying? >>

2. Most Modern: Schecter C-1 SGR Electric Guitar

C-1 SGR by Schecter Beginner Electric Guitar - Walnut Satin (Amazon Exclusive)

The C-1 SGR by Schecter beginner electric guitar has an arched top, carved body with a maple neck, and rosewood fretboard. It has pearloid dots, a custom inlay on the 12^th fret, and has black chrome hardware.

This is a great looking guitar that plays excellent considering it’s low price. The C-1 SGR by Schecter we examined on our workbench had all the earmarks of great overall value.

Many entry-level guitars can have less than great ergonomic design making uncomfortable to play.

This guitar is shaped with the comfort of the player in mind.

C-1 Key Features

• smooth, arched top
• pickups are clean and reasonably well balanced
• polished black chrome hardware
• 24 frets for a full two octave span
• pearloid dots
• unique pattern on the 12^th fret
• attractive and unique shape
• comes with its own gig bag
• easy playing, fast action neck

Schecter C-1 SGR Electric Guitar in Review

What Are Schecter C-1 SGR Customers Saying? >>

Read our complete expert Schecter C-1 SGR electric guitar review here.

3. Most Versatile: Yamaha Pacifica Series PAC12 Electric Guitar

Yamaha Pacifica Series PAC012 Electric Guitar; Metallic Red

The guitars that fall under the Yamaha Pacifica Series such as this PAC12 Electric Guitar are well known for their tone as well as how great they are to play. It comes from a well- known brand when it comes to producing musical instruments.

It certainly qualifies as one of the best electric guitars under $500 for those who are looking for a guitar with a great quality of sound.

This Yamaha guitar comes in different colors and there are also different models that are under the same series. They can also be purchased as a set with accessories, with the amp only, or a guitar only.

Yamaha PAC12 Key Features

• Body is made from solid alder
• The neck is made of maple and is bolt-on
• It has a beautiful rosewood fingerboard
• It includes a vintage tremolo
• Finished with a clear varnish to showcase the natural grain of the wood
• Has a 5-position pickup switch with humbucker coil-splitting
• There are 2 single-coil pickups and an Alnico V magnet humbucker
• Guitar can be purchased as the guitar alone, with a set of accessories or only with the amp

Yamaha Pacifica PAC12 Electric Guitar in Review

What Do Yamaha Pacifica PAC12 Users Think?

What To Look For When Choosing A Good Electric Guitar Under $500

The best way to learn how to play an electric guitar is to have a decent instrument that you can practice on. At first it may seem that some electric guitars are too expensive, which is why some choose to go for a self-contained acoustic.

If you’re committed to learning and playing an electric guitar, you’ll certainly find one that will fit your $500 budget.

There are tons of electric guitars are under $500, but you still have to make sure a particular electric guitar you choose is well suited for you.

There are electrics that not only sound great but look great too – but keep in mind cosmetic appointments come at a price. Still, these are instruments you’ll certainly be happy to take with you to your gigs and jam sessions.

Of course there are electric guitars produced by well-known brands; these may be budget friendly, but they’re still great quality.

When selecting a guitar, it’s important to consider how you’re going to use it. It must It must also be user friendly and easy to play. This will help make sure the guitar you choose will really be useful to you.

Compare your best choices for electric guitars under $500:

Best Electric Under $500

Squier by Fender Deluxe Hot Rails Stratocaster...

Most Modern Voicing

C-1 SGR by Schecter Beginner Electric Guitar...

Most Versatile Guitar

Yamaha Pacifica Series PAC112V Electric Guitar...

Final Verdict: Which Mid-level Electric Guitar Promises the Best Value?

Affordable guitars under $500 are available today and you can find a great quality model within that budget.

The three mentioned here are all under $500 but if we just had to choose one, we’d say that the Squier Affinity Stratocaster Electric Guitar is the best electric guitar under $500.

For those who are concerned not only with the sound and quality but also the appearance of their guitar, this guitar can certainly be taken to gigs and jamming sessions.

EDITOR’S PICK

Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster Electric Guitar

What are Squier Strat Owners Saying? >>

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