Buying a good electric guitar is not an easy job, it requires quite some research and possibly few trips to your local music store (if you prefer). It is also a rather personal choice, with countless shapes and sizes out there to choose from, all of which suit different music genres. But we hear you, as a amateur musician, you want a electric guitar (maybe a very first) that sounds good, last long and cost less. With that goal bear in mind, we have put up a list of 10 best electric guitars for beginners, and they are all under $500, sounds good? Read on and let’s see what they are.
But first, lets learn some basics:
Body Types
Solid Body: This is the most common guitar body type. Basically, these guitars are a simple solid slab of wood. They range from simple bodies with single pickups to more detail ones with multiple pickups. They are less resonant, but the tonewoods do have influence over the sound.
Hollow Body: As the name suggests, these guitars have more of a hollow body much like that of acoustic guitars. For this reason, the sound is more resonant than a solid body guitar. They are usually prone to feedback and have an archtop. Since it has a deeper and fuller tone, it’s best for jazz.
Semi-hollow Body: Consider this a bridge between the solid and hollow body as they are essentially hollow but have a solid wood center to give more sustain and cut down on the feedback commonly found in hollow guitars. This is particularly a favorite for blues players because of the resonant side with increased sustain. They span genres and can be used for playing jazz, rock, and more.
Neck Types
Bolt on: This neck is bolted to the body and is usually seen on cheaper electric guitars. This type of construction has less resonant sound and less sustain. However, it is easy to replace them so you can keep your guitar as good as new.
Set necks: These necks are glued to the body then clamped down so the glue dries and sets. This is a much more stable neck and has better sustain and resonance. However, it is hard to repair them.
Neck through: It is a laminated neck and has wings and fins glued to it. This has the highest sustain out of all the neck types. Repairing it is difficult, but wouldn’t require total replacement. If you are looking for a lot of resonance then this is the one for you.
Squier by Fender 6 String Solid-Body Electric Guitar
The Squier by Fender Affinity Series Telecaster comes equipped with two Single-Coil Telecaster style pickups which provide the timeless Tele tone that has graced countless recording. The six saddle bridge design provides accurate note intonation throughout the neck as well as the ability to adjust the string height in relation to the fingerboard. With master volume, tone control, and three way pickup-selectors provide vast tonal variations.
The smooth satin “C” shaped neck is designed to fit the natural curvature of a human palm allowing player to feel a direct connection to the hard maple. The Affinity Series is designed to be the perfect first guitar for anyone who wants to begin their pursuit into the art of playing electric guitar.
Epiphone Les Paul Standard Electric Guitar
This plain top Epiphone Les Paul Standard is an electric guitar that delivers all the signature sound of a Gibson Les Paul at a fraction of the cost. The mahogany body provides superb resonance while the Alnico Classic humbucker pickups deliver loads of warmth. The set mahogany neck with slim-tapered profile and rosewood fretboard give you the familiar feel and fast action that Les Paul players love so dearly. Neck and body binding and trapezoid inlays produce the classic look seen on stages around the world for decades. The LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece provide more sustain and string changing easier.
Yamaha Pacifica Series PAC112V Electric Guitar
From the Pacifica Series, this Yamaha PAC112V Electric Guitar really steps it up, offering a solid alder body with pro-level hardware and electronics – an amazing value in its price range. It comes with a classic comfort-contoured body, bolt-on maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, vintage-style vibrato, and 5-way switching of the H-S-S pickup configuration. Other standout features include an Alnico V humbucker with coil-splitting, block saddles, upgraded chrome hardware, and knurled master tone and volume knobs.
By design it’s an altogether more modern, brighter and lighter take on a hot-rod Strat. But when we say brighter that doesn’t mean overly shrill. Neck and middle combined produces a fine modern Strat-like mix – the added brightness will cut through a multi-FX patch nicely.
Squier by Fender Classic Vibe Stratocaster ’60’s Beginner Electric Guitar
An affordable homage to one of the most iconic electric guitars of the past 50 years, the Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster ’60s sports updated modern features combined with vintage-inspired appointments. The result is the sound that made the Strat a stage and studio staple for generations. The rough-and-tumble Classic Vibe Stratocaster ’60s evokes that musically adventurous decade, adding a few modern features.
With three alnico single-coil Strat pickups and essential 5-way switching, the thick tone comes from the alnico V single-coil pickups-quick attack with a bit more midrange force. Custom staggered pole pieces provide improved string-to-string balance. The 60s-style neck hosts a modern 9.5″ radius for comfortable playing and string bending.
Epiphone Les Paul Special II Electric Guitar
Providing all of the necessary features expected in a quality electric guitar at a budget-friendly price, the Epiphone Les Paul Special II is perfect for those just beginning their musical journey or the seasoned guitarist looking for an everyday guitar for practice. The 650R humbucker pickups combined with the open coil design deliver strong and sustained tones. As seen on all Epiphone guitars, the Special II has over 500K potentiometer for both tone and volume, and a toggle selector with a 3-way pickup to focus in on the clarity of the sound and decreased excess humming.
The body and neck are made with mahogany, while the fretboard has dot inlays within the rosewood design. String changing is also made easier due to the stopbar tailpiece, which helps to add more sustain in sound when combined with the LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge.
Ibanez AG75BS Artcore Hollowbody Electric Guitar
The Artcore AG75 has a large full hollowbody that is truly full-hollow. Unlike many so-called “full acoustics” which feature soundblocks in the body, the AG75 gives you the rich, complex tones you can only get from a true, full-hollow guitar. The mahogany neck with bound laurel fretboard plays fast and easy. An ACH1 neck humbucker and ACH2 at the bridge dish up plenty of midrange punch.
The AG75 hollow body features an Art core neck for great high-neck sustain, a maple body, large and fast frets, an Art-1 bridge, an ACH1 neck pickup, an ACH2 pickup in the bridge, and a VT50 stop tail piece. The Sure Grip III knobs are designed for precise control with nonslip functionality, along with smooth and classic looks.
Fender 6 String Bullet Mustang Electric Guitar
Perfect for the raucous sound of indie music, the Bullet Mustang HH is just plain fun to play. Powered by a pair of giant-sounding humbucking pickups, it sports a comfortable “C”-shaped neck with a modern 12”-radius fingerboard and a modern six-saddle hardtail bridge. A tonal powerhouse that punches well above its weight, the Bullet Mustang HH is the ideal instrument to power your next hit.
Highlights include a thin and lightweight body, an easy-to-play “C”-shaped neck profile and a short 24” scale length that is great for small hands. This model also boasts a pair of humbucking pickups with three-way switching for sonic variety, and a string-through-body hardtail bridge for reliable tuning stability.
ESP LTD EC-256 Electric Guitar, Black
Available in beautiful Black or Metallic Gold, the LTD EC-256 is an amazingly affordable way to get into the look and sound of an all-time great guitar that’s great for every style of music, with great-sounding ESP Designed LH-150 passive pickups. It even includes features you don’t often find in a low-cost guitar, like set-neck construction and body, 3 pc. neck, and headstock binding.
Translucent finishes include Lemon Drop, Dark Brown Sunburst, and See Thru Green. The EC-256 includes individual volume controls for each pickup, as well as a tone knob with a push-pull control to split the pickups. Fully-bound body, neck, extra-jumbo frets, TOM bridge, and more.
