Best Electric Guitar Under £500
Upgrading your sound doesn't have to break the bank. The £300 to £500 price bracket is the ultimate "sweet spot" in modern guitar manufacturing, offering professional-grade tonewoods, upgraded hardware, and exceptional electronics. Whether you are an advancing student ready for your first serious gigging instrument or an experienced player seeking a high-quality workhorse, our curated guide to the best electric guitars under 500 will help you find the perfect match.
At MusicStreet, we believe every guitar deserves to play its absolute best. That is why every single best electric guitar under 500 in our collection undergoes a rigorous professional workshop setup (worth £75) by our expert techs in our Huntingdon showroom before shipping, ensuring flawless playability straight out of the box.
✓ Hand-Selected for Playability ✓ Free UK Delivery over £99 ✓ Professional Setup Included
Explore Best Electric Guitar Under £500 at MusicStreet
The MusicStreet Setup Advantage: Why It Matters Under £500
At the sub-£500 price point, you are investing in an instrument capable of professional stage and studio work. However, even the best mid-range guitars straight from the factory are rarely optimized for playability. Wood naturally shifts during transit across different climates, and factory setups are designed for speed, not precision.
At MusicStreet, we believe every player deserves a perfect instrument. That is why we perform a **free £75 professional workshop setup** on every single guitar we sell. Our expert luthiers adjust the truss rod, file the nut slots, level the bridge saddles, and polish the frets to ensure your new instrument plays like a dream straight out of the box.
🔧 Free £75 Professional Setup
Every guitar is individually set up in our in-house workshop. We adjust the action, intonation, and neck relief to match your playing style, ensuring it plays perfectly straight out of the box.
🛡️ 12-Month Warranty
We stand behind every instrument we sell. All of our electric guitars come with a full 12-month warranty, giving you complete peace of mind with your purchase.
🚚 Free UK Delivery & 14-Day Returns
Get free, fully insured UK shipping on all orders over £99. If the guitar isn't the perfect fit for your hands, return it to us within 14 days for a hassle-free refund or exchange.
Top Brands for Electric Guitars Under £500
The sub-£500 price bracket is incredibly competitive, featuring outstanding models from the world's leading manufacturers. Here are some of the top brands and models we highly recommend in this price range:
Squier Classic Vibe Series
The pinnacle of Squier's lineup. The **Squier Classic Vibe** series (featuring '50s, '60s, and '70s Stratocasters, Telecasters, and Jazzmasters) offers vintage-correct styling, custom-designed alnico pickups, and gorgeous gloss neck finishes. They look, sound, and play like instruments costing twice as much.
Yamaha Pacifica 212 & 311
Stepping up from the entry-level Pacificas, the **Yamaha Pacifica 212V** features stunning flamed maple tops, while the **Pacifica 311H** offers a unique P-90 and Humbucker pickup combination, Grover locking tuners, and a hardtail bridge for rock-solid tuning stability and incredible tonal versatility.
Epiphone & Ibanez Standard
Epiphone's **Les Paul Studio** and **SG Standard** models in this price bracket feature solid mahogany bodies, Alnico Classic PRO humbuckers, and CTS electronics for authentic vintage growl. For modern players, the **Ibanez RG** and **S Series** offer ultra-fast Wizard III necks and high-output pickups.
Guitar Trade-In & Part-Exchange Program
Ready to upgrade your current rig? We make it incredibly easy to trade in your pre-owned gear. Through our straightforward guitar part-exchange program, you can bring your old guitar, amplifier, or effects pedals into our showroom (or send us details online) and put its value directly toward any new or used electric guitar in our store.
Visit Our Huntingdon Guitar Showroom
If you are searching for premium guitar shops in Cambridgeshire, come visit our showroom in Huntingdon. Located at 10 Chequers Court, our showroom is the perfect place to plug in, test out different neck profiles, and chat with our friendly, knowledgeable team. We are easily accessible from Cambridge, Peterborough, and Bedford, with convenient parking nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions About Electric Guitars Under £500
Are electric guitars under £500 good enough for gigging? +
Absolutely. Guitars in this price bracket (such as the Squier Classic Vibe or Yamaha Pacifica 311H) feature highly reliable hardware, excellent pickups, and solid construction. When combined with our professional workshop setup, these instruments are fully capable of handling regular gigging and studio recording.
What is included in your £75 professional setup? +
Our expert in-house technicians perform a complete multi-point inspection. This includes adjusting the neck relief (truss rod), setting the optimal string action (height) at both the nut and bridge saddles, setting the intonation, cleaning and conditioning the fretboard, polishing the frets, checking all electronics/pots, and installing a fresh set of premium strings.
Can I customize my setup preferences when I buy? +
Absolutely! When you place your order, you can leave a note at checkout or contact us directly to specify your preferred string gauge, brand, and tuning (e.g., standard, drop D, half-step down). Our workshop technicians will set up the guitar to your exact specifications before shipping.
Can I trade in my old gear toward a purchase? +
Absolutely. We offer a highly competitive part-exchange program. You can bring your gear directly to our Huntingdon showroom for an on-the-spot valuation, or contact us online with photos and details to receive a preliminary trade-in estimate.
The MusicStreet Difference: Why Our Setup Matters Most
Many mid-range guitars in the £300 to £500 price bracket are built with fantastic materials but are shipped straight from overseas factories with minimal setup. This can result in high action, uneven frets, or poor intonation.
At MusicStreet, we don't believe in "box shifting." Our in-house workshop is staffed by expert guitar technicians who meticulously inspect, adjust, and play-test every single guitar under £500 before it leaves our store. We lower the action, smooth the fret edges, adjust the neck relief, and perfectly intonate the bridge. With our professional setup, your new guitar will play and feel like a premium instrument costing twice as much.
The Top Contenders: Best Electric Guitars Under £500
1. The Squier Classic Vibe Series
The absolute pinnacle of Squier craftsmanship. The Squier Classic Vibe series (including the '50s, '60s, and '70s Stratocasters and Telecasters) pays tribute to the golden eras of Fender design. Featuring vintage-voiced alnico pickups, period-correct finishes, and tinted gloss necks, these instruments offer boutique-level vintage vibe, tone, and aesthetics at a highly accessible price point.
2. The Yamaha Revstar Element (RSE20)
Inspired by vintage cafe-racer motorcycles and Japanese heritage, the Yamaha Revstar Element features a striking, double-cutaway design and an innovative chambered mahogany body. Utilizing Yamaha's proprietary Acoustic Design process, this guitar is engineered to maximize resonance and sustain while reducing weight. Loaded with dual custom-wound Alnico V humbuckers and a push/pull "Dry Switch" high-pass filter, it offers incredible clarity and modern power.
3. The Epiphone Les Paul Muse & Studio
Capture the legendary, commanding presence of a Les Paul. Epiphone's mid-range offerings deliver the classic mahogany body, carved top, and dual humbucker formula that defined rock history. With coil-splitting capabilities and high-output pickups, these guitars offer incredible sustain, warm midrange punch, and modern tonal versatility.
4. The Ibanez RG421
The ultimate high-performance shred machine for under £500. The Ibanez RG421 features a sleek, lightweight mahogany body, an ultra-thin Wizard III maple neck, and high-output Quantum humbucking pickups. It is engineered from the ground up for lightning-fast playability, tight low-end response, and absolute clarity under high gain.
4. The MusicStreet Difference: Workshop-Prepared Playability
At MusicStreet, we treat every advancing player and budget-conscious musician with the same respect and care as a professional touring artist.
- No Drop-Shipping: Every guitar listed on our site is physically in stock at our Huntingdon store.
- 1-Year Warranty: We back every instrument we sell with a comprehensive 1-year warranty.
- Free UK Shipping: Enjoy free, fully insured UK shipping on all orders over £99, with competitive rates worldwide.
- Flexible Financing: Buy with confidence using Klarna or PayPal split payments.
5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What makes a £500 electric guitar better than a £200 one?
Guitars in the £500 price bracket typically feature upgraded tonewoods (like solid mahogany or alder instead of poplar), higher-quality pickups (such as Alnico V instead of ceramic), more reliable hardware (including sealed die-cast tuners and high-mass bridges), and superior fretwork and neck finishing.
Can I use a £500 electric guitar for gigging and recording?
Absolutely! Modern guitars under £500 are exceptionally well-made and highly dependable. When combined with our professional workshop setup (worth £75), these instruments are fully capable of handling the rigors of live performances and delivering studio-quality tones.
Does my guitar come set up?
Yes. Every single guitar purchased from MusicStreet receives a professional, custom setup in our in-house workshop before dispatch. If you have specific preferences for string gauge, tuning, or action height, simply let us know when placing your order, and our techs will configure it to your exact specifications.
Can I try these guitars in person?
Absolutely. We welcome you to visit our independent showroom at 10 Chequers Court, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire. You can get hands-on with our collection, test them through premium amplifiers, and get honest, expert advice from our team of working musicians.
