Guitars guide
The best electric guitars under £500
Seven guitars that sound and play well above their price, and how to pick the right one for the music you play.
By James, Undertuned · Updated 11 October 2026
£500 buys a seriously good guitar in 2026. The gap between budget guitars and expensive ones has never been smaller: at this price you get solid tuning, decent pickups and necks that are comfortable to play for hours. The hard part is choosing, because the right guitar depends far more on the music you play than on the badge on the headstock.
Why trust this guide?
I've been playing guitar since I was eight. I learned the essential chords and songs through Oasis, and picked up fingerpicking from Donovan, Don McLean and Jake Bugg. Over the years I've owned a fair few guitars and plenty of gear, and I know how overwhelming the choice of brands, models and variants can be. This guide is the shortlist I'd give a friend.
The quick list
- Squier Classic Vibe '50s Stratocaster: best all-rounder
- Squier Classic Vibe '50s Telecaster: best for twang, indie and country
- Epiphone Les Paul Standard 50s: best for rock and blues
- Epiphone SG Standard: best lightweight rock guitar
- Gretsch G2622 Streamliner: best semi-hollow
- Ibanez AZES40: best for fast playing and heavier styles
- Yamaha Pacifica 112V: best on a tight budget
How we chose
Every guitar here is made by a well-established brand, sold new by mainstream UK music retailers, and typically sells for around £500 or less new. We picked one guitar for each main style of music rather than seven versions of the same thing. Retailers don't pay to be included, and no guitar is here because of the commission it might earn. Prices change often, so check today's price before you buy.
Best all-rounder
Squier Classic Vibe '50s Stratocaster
Good for: almost everything: blues, pop, funk, indie, classic rock.
If you don't know what to buy, buy a Strat. It's the most versatile electric guitar design there is, and the Classic Vibe range is widely seen as the best-value Squier you can get, with a vintage feel that punches well above its price.
“My own Strat is a bit of a mongrel: a Squier body I bought from a friend, fitted with a custom neck. That's the other great thing about Strats. They're easy to modify and upgrade, so a good-value one can grow with you.”
What's good
- Bright, clear sound with lots of variety from five pickup settings
- Comfortable contoured body
- Vintage-style details and finish usually found on far dearer guitars
Worth knowing
- Single-coil pickups hum a little, especially with lots of gain
- Not the best choice for heavy metal
Best for twang, indie and country
Squier Classic Vibe '50s Telecaster
Good for: country, indie, rock 'n' roll and anyone who likes a simple, punchy guitar.
The Telecaster is the simplest classic electric guitar: two pickups, one volume, one tone. That simplicity is the point. It's a working guitar that sounds great plugged straight into an amp.
“I owned a Fender Vintera '50s Telecaster. It was beautiful to look at, but its vintage-style neck didn't suit me for long sessions, so I sold it. Neck shape is personal, so whatever you're buying, try it in person first if you can.”
What's good
- Bright, cutting bridge pickup that sits well in a band
- Simple controls: very little to go wrong
- Classic look that suits almost any style
Worth knowing
- Fewer sound options than a Strat
- The bridge pickup can sound harsh through bright amps
Best for rock and blues
Epiphone Les Paul Standard 50s
Good for: rock, blues, classic rock and thick, warm lead tones.
Epiphone is owned by Gibson, and the current Les Paul Standard is the closest you'll get to the real thing for this money. Humbucker pickups mean no hum and a big, smooth sound that loves distortion.
“For me, an Epiphone Les Paul is close to the perfect first serious guitar. The humbuckers are great: warm, full and forgiving, so it sounds good even when your technique is still catching up.”
What's good
- Fat, warm humbucker sound with plenty of sustain
- Mahogany body with a maple top, like the Gibson original
- Chunky 50s-style neck that many players love
Worth knowing
- Heavy: noticeable on a long gig
- Price often sits right around £500, so check today's price
- The chunky neck isn't for everyone
Best lightweight rock guitar
Epiphone SG Standard
Good for: rock, hard rock and players who find a Les Paul too heavy.
The SG is the Les Paul's lighter, more aggressive sibling: thinner body, double cutaways, and the same type of pickups. If you want that Gibson-style rock sound without the weight on your shoulder, start here.
What's good
- Much lighter than a Les Paul
- Easy access to the highest frets
- Same style of humbucker sound
Worth knowing
- Can feel neck-heavy on a strap
- A thinner sound than a Les Paul
Best semi-hollow
Gretsch G2622 Streamliner
Good for: jazz, blues, indie, rockabilly and anyone who wants a warmer, airier sound.
A semi-hollow guitar has hollow wings either side of a solid centre, so it sounds rounder and more alive than a solid body, without howling with feedback. The Streamliner range is one of the best-value ways into that sound.
What's good
- Semi-hollow body gives a warm, open tone
- Centre block keeps feedback under control at volume
- Looks stunning for the money
Worth knowing
- Bigger body takes some getting used to
- Not ideal for very high-gain styles
Best for fast playing and heavier styles
Ibanez AZES40
Good for: metal, hard rock and fast lead playing.
Ibanez has been the go-to brand for fast, modern guitars for decades. The AZES brings the feel of its more expensive AZ range down to a very low price.
What's good
- Thin, fast neck built for speed
- Humbucker in the bridge for heavy sounds, single coils for clean ones
- Excellent value
Worth knowing
- Modern look won't suit vintage tastes
- Hardware is more basic than dearer Ibanez models
Best on a tight budget
Yamaha Pacifica 112V
Good for: beginners and anyone who wants a great guitar for well under £500.
The Pacifica 112V has been recommended to beginners for years for one reason: it's consistently well made. If your budget has to cover an amp, cable and strap as well, this is the one to get.
What's good
- Comfortable and well made for the price
- Humbucker plus single coils covers most styles
- Leaves money in the budget for an amp
Worth knowing
- Basic tuners and hardware
- You'll eventually want to upgrade
What to think about before you buy
Single coils or humbuckers?
Single-coil pickups (Strat, Tele) sound bright and clear but pick up a little hum. Humbuckers (Les Paul, SG) sound thicker and warmer and cancel the hum, which suits distortion. Guitars with both, like the Pacifica and Ibanez, give you a bit of each.
Weight and neck shape
A heavy guitar or a neck that's too chunky for your hand will put you off playing. If you can, try a similar model in a shop before buying online.
Budget for the extras
You'll need an amp (or an audio interface for playing through a computer), a cable, a strap, a tuner and a gig bag if one isn't included. A professional setup, which adjusts the strings and neck so the guitar is easy to play, is worth paying for if the guitar feels awkward out of the box.
Your rights when buying online in the UK
When you buy online from a UK retailer, you normally have 14 days after delivery to change your mind and return it (Consumer Contracts Regulations). Many music retailers give you longer, so check their returns policy.
Compare prices
We're adding live prices from UK retailers soon. In the meantime, see how our price comparison pages will work.