Best Guitars for under €500: Our Top 10 Budget Electric Guitars!
Got €500 or less to spend? These electric guitars by Squier, Epiphone, Cort and Harley Benton should be on your radar
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Here's our list of the Best Electric Guitars under €500! · Source: Harley Benton/Gearnews
Summer is upon us and what better way to enjoy the weather than to go out and buy a new guitar, then go jam with your friends. I always enjoy summer jams and a nice wallet-friendly guitar is always an excuse to find inspiration for new songs. If you’re looking for new guitar but have less than €500 to spend, these models should be your radar. There should be something for everyone here. Here’s our list of the Best Guitars Under €500!
Harley Benton TE-20HH SBK Standard Series
Harley Benton TE-20HH SBK Standard Series · Source: Thomann
For a great price you can pick up the Harley Benton TE-20HH SBK Standard Series * with its twin humbuckers and moody blacked-out look, this T-style rocker will have you riffing hard and enjoying life whilst the sun shines.
You can read my full article all about this black beauty here and I think you’ll agree this budget model is quite a looker.
Harley Benton TE-52 NA Vintage Series
Harley Benton TE-52 NA Vintage SeriesRoswell TEA Alnico-5 TE-style single coils · Source: Thomann
Okay, so maybe the moody black look isn’t for you and you would prefer a traditional single-coil pickup configuration. Then we have you covered with the Harley Benton TE-52 NA Vintage Series * which comes in a traditional colour scheme too.
This one costs a little more, but it will reward you with classic tones via the Roswell TEA Alnico-5 TE-style single coils and a traditional American ash body and Canadian maple neck. Twang!
Harley Benton DC-Junior
Harley Benton DC-Junior TV Yellow · Source: Thomann
Based on the ’50s student guitar style, the Harley Benton DC-Junior TV Yellow* may only have one pickup, but it is certainly no one-trick pony. It can give you almost any rock or blues tone you desire using the two controls. I’ve recommended this model before, but believe me when I say it is a real bargain and a super guitar for the money.
Loaded with a single Roswell P90D Alnico-5 Dog Ear single coil that will scream or bloom depending on how you attack it. This all-mahogany double-cut design comes with 22 medium jumbo frets for modern-day playability.
Harley Benton SC-550 II
Harley Benton SC-550 II · Source: Harley Benton
They are new, they are upgraded and they pack some serious punch. In fact, I doubt you’ll find more for your money anywhere else. At the time of writing, these models are brand new; you can read the full article all about them here.
Loaded with the new Tesla Opus-1 humbucking pickups which use Alnico 5 magnets, they should sound sweet too. Plus, there are some great colour options: Paradise Amber Flame, Black Cherry Burst, Desert Flame Burst, Faded Tobacco Flame and Silver Burst.
Cort G 250
Cort G 250 Silver Metallic · Source: Thomann
The Cort G 250 * is an S-style model and comes in a few nice finishes, including the Silver Metallic below and a Champaign Gold. This model also comes with a two-point vintage trem system, perfect for adding some shimmer to your chords. With a set of Cort AlNiCoV pickups in an HSS configuration, and a volume and a tone pot with a coil-tap, this guitar has plenty of tones on tap.
Fender Squier Contemporary Strat HH FR
Fender Squier Contemporary Strat HH FR · Source: Thomann
This hot-rodded Squier Contemporary Strat * is well worth a look, with its Floyd Rose locking trem system and twin Atomic humbuckers. With a lightweight poplar body that has a sculpted heel and a sweet roasted maple neck, this little shredder is perfect for summer jams. Plus, I think this Gunmetal Metallic finish looks ace, but you can also get it in a Shell Pink Pearl if you want something different.
We covered this new Squier range here, so you can check out the full range of the Squier Contemporary series in more detail. It was hard to choose just one, but I like this modern configuration and the price is great, too.
Squier Affinity Series Telecaster Deluxe
Squier Affinity Series Telecaster Deluxe · Source: Thomann
Available in Burgundy Mist, Black or Charcoal Frost Metallic finishes, these are some very good looking guitars in my opinion. And the price point is fantastic too. These ’70s style Squier Affinity Series Telecaster Deluxe * models have some sweet colours. They were part of a recent batch of releases that included many other classic designs from the Fender back catalogue. Well worth checking out.
Squier FSR Classic Vibe 60s Esquire
Squier FSR Classic Vibe 60s Esquire Lake Placid Blue with a bound body · Source: Thomann
Yes, I know it’s another single pickup guitar. But if you haven’t played an Esquire then you really are missing out on some sweet tones. These Squier FSR Classic Vibe 60s Esquire* models are pretty amazing value for the tones on offer.
I like the colours, as well as the bound bodies. Check out my article all about the release here.
Squier FSR Bullet Competition Mustang
Bullet Competition Mustang Daphne Blue with Orange stripes · Source: Thomann
This Squier FSR Bullet Competition Mustang * looks fantastic! I’m loving the colour scheme, with the orange stripes on the Daphne Blue. It takes the traditional Mustang formula and twists it, with twin humbuckers and a hardtail bridge, perfect for your 1991 Grunge revival band this summer.
You can read all about this and a couple of sweet ’60s Telecasters here. These 24″ scale length models are perfect for sweet dirty riffs and smashing amp stacks.
Epiphone ES-339
Epiphone ES-339 Pelham Blue · Source: Thomann
This Epiphone ES-339 in Pelham Blue* just looks amazing. It should reward you with some super-sweet tones, as well. There are other finishes on offer, too, so you can also opt for Cherry, Sunburst or Natural. But, I really love a Pelham Blue semi-hollow guitar and so it’s the Summertime Blues for me!
With a pair of Alnico Classic Pro humbuckers, wired via a three-way switch and dual volume/tone controls, this semi-hollow model has you covered for a wealth of great guitar tones.
Best Guitars under €500: More Information
- Harley Benton official website
- Cort Guitars official site
- Fender Squier official site
- Epiphone official site
- For more Harley Benton news, click here
- For more Cort Guitars, news, click here
- For more Fender Squier news, click here
- For more Epiphone news, click here
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