Best guitar for under $500.00?

[Doctor Morbius]

... I'd prefer a Humbucker(N)-Humbucker(B) setup. I NEVER USE TREMOLO, so I don't want a guitar with one on it.

There goes my suggestion.

[SkippyX]

 

Are you looking at used stuff? In today's economy $500 cash will buy a very nice second hand guitar. Craig's list is flooded with sellers in my area. I like Carvins and they are inexpensive used. A DC127 would be nice.

 

 

+10000:thu:

 

I'm not ashamed to say that I'm a cheap bastid because I have to be. If we're talking something that costs more that $50 new, you can bet I'll check the used market first.

 

Especially in this economy. People are selling all kinds of stuff on the cheap these days.

 

Yesterday I saw an Epiphone Valve Junior combo on craigslist for $80. If I wasn't in a bit of a bind right now, I'd have bought it on the spot.

 

Last week I picked up a used Dell 21" flat screen CRT for $25.

 

Shop used. Let the other pay the merchant his profit and take the depreciation.

[Wyltica]

Check out ESP LTD series, (especially the 400, some years ago in this price range a guitar built like this with real Seymour Duncan humbuckers were unheard of).

 

 

But if you hate mahagony necks/rosewood fretboard and LP shaped guitars, I dunno man, it all depends a lot on the entire guitar itself, not just the neck, ect. I bought the EC 400 guitar for the sound and its versitality, not for the looks (even though it looks killer, the only downside is that it weights a lot, like a Gibson LP) and I usually dispise LP shaped guitars and mahagony necks, as I am very used to Strat maple necks (smoother to play on) and my hands are tiny. But it blew my head off and I was on a looow budget. :poke:

 

Awesome guitars for the money and I take them over any Epiphone. I got mine slightly used with a case for $400. But I don't live in the US so I had to pay customs, if you live in the US you're extra lucky. ESP LTD is not just for metal, if you think so...There is also the LTD Horizon, MH, and the Deluxe EC 1000 series (I prefer these over the AX you mentioned), also one with SD. If I were you I would try as many guitars as possible.

 

Reverend guitars have some great affordable ones especially if you get one used and they are pretty versatile, same with Ibanez, not all Ibanez guitars are shredder like, for instance the Jet King series with humbuckers and they also have with single coils ect. And as someone else said DiPinto guitars, those are nice as well.

 

Anyway, whatever you decide to choose, always try em out in a shop first, then try to find one used or something online, you can save a bunch of $$$ and probably end up with a better guitar than buying a lower budget guitar brand new. And don't be afraid to try lesser known brands, you might get one hell of a surprise. Most of the Ibanez's below you can get used/ on ebay for a good deal.

 

Ibanez AR 200:

http://cgi.ebay.com/IBANEZ-AR200-Artist-Electric-Guitar-ar-200-ar-200_W0QQitemZ230294219722QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item230294219722

 

Ibanez Artist series:

http://ibanez.com/eg/series.aspx?s=artist

 

Ibanez SZR 520

http://ibanez.com/eg/series.aspx?s=szr

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/Ibanez-SZR520-LBB-Electric-Guitar-SZR-520_W0QQitemZ300263548648

 

Ibanez SZR 720

http://cgi.ebay.com/Ibanez-SZR720-BB-Electric-Guitar-SZR-720_W0QQitemZ290265084958

 

http://www.music123.com/Ibanez-SZR720-Electric-Guitar-518117-i1389803.Music123

 

 

 

Reverend: (they have bunches of maple necks and different body shapes) there's a lot of Reverend's on ebay at the moment

http://www.reverendguitars.com/

 

Reverend Flatroc (bolt-on, maple neck) they have these in several colours

 

Reverend Dare Devil

 

ESP LTD EC series:

http://espguitars.com/guitars_ec.html

ESP LTD EC 400 VF review:

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/ESP-LTD-EC400VF?sku=512884

ESP LTD EC 400-AT review:

http://www.electric-guitar-review.com/2007/01/22/review-esps-ltd-ec-400at-archtop/

 

ESP LTD Potbelly series (if you find it used its a hell of a bargain) but it has a mahagony neck which you said you didn't like)...

http://espguitars.com/guitars_pb.html

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/ESP-LTD-PB500?sku=512893

 

I used some time to put this together...so thank me for tha help...And if it didn't I'm sorry to have wasted your time. Also, do you want EMG's humbuckers, single coils, what? Could help me more into giving you more advice..

[D Carroll]

MIM Telecaster deluxe. Go used, and you will end up with a decent guitar, for little bank.

[charveldan]

For features vs price ,Ibanez is hard to beat, new or used.

[Schtang]

there is no such thing as a good guitar in Australia under $500 (maybe under $1000 on the used market).

[D Carroll]

For features vs price ,Ibanez is hard to beat, new or used.

 

Does that not depend on what you need out of a guitar? I have one Ibanez, and it is a great guitar, but I would not recommend it to everyone...

[Ballfuzz]

PRS SE

 

LTD EC400

 

Ibanez S470

[helixmendes]

I would definitly get a Cort or a Schecter. Ibanez or other brands in that price range (under 500 dls) are bad guitars with cheap material.

 

SCHECTER DAMIEN 6 BLACK

http://guitare.playback-europe.com/schecter-damien_6_black-11617.html

 

Cort - Check out the VX, EVL or KX series:

 

www.cortguitars.com

 

All Corts I've played are just awesome guitars, I can tell you that. Under 500 dls, you can't get better guitars. Great woods, great pick ups, great finishes...

If you don't like it, I'd recomend you a Schetcher.

Buying a good brand guitar under 500 dls, it's like throwing money away

 

Che:thu:ers

[23miles]

There are a ton of nice guitars under $500, especially if you buy used. For Instance I have bought the following:

Under $100: Fullerton Strat

Under $200: DeArmond M-66, M-68, Starfire Special.

Under $300: DeArmond Starfire Special (#2), Gibson 2 PU Melody Maker, DeArmond M-70, G&L Tribute Legacy, , Epiphone Wildkat

Under $400: Epiphone Casino, G&L Tribute ASAT Semi-hollow, G&L Tribute ASAT Classic

In general I think although many of today's lower end guitars are built well, they really don't hold their initial value. If you are a little discriminating and buy used, you can get a nice guitar for low $$$.

The same thing is also probably true of all music gear including higher-end guitars. I think retail prices have been driven up by the vintage and collectible markets but even custom shop guitars depreciate in price and buying used you can save the "new guitar" premium.

You can save a bunch buying used amplifiers as well.

[BeanoBoy]

I bought a PRS SE Singlecut, replaced the pups and now it's amazing. A cheap no frills guitar. If you can find a used one, all the cheaper.

[zosofan]

I have a Dillion Sg and its amazing.

Its much better than some Sg's I test drove that cost twice as much.

Dillion also makes very good LP and flying V copies that are in your price range.

[satannica]

BC Rich? I love their new line. Very well made and great feeling. Think about pickups though.

[Will Chen]

Based on some of your responses, looks like you like the double cutaway design and dual buckers. I would suggest something from the Michael Kelly or Tradition line which would easily meet your ~$500 budget.

 

Michael Kelly Valor X

 

 

Tradition MTP-250

 

 

 

You might also like to read this thread covering the topic. http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2092011

[Force Majeure]

Based on some of your responses, looks like you like the double cutaway design and dual buckers. I would suggest something from the Michael Kelly or Tradition line which would easily meet your ~$500 budget. Michael Kelly Valor X Tradition MTP-250

 

Or a MK Patriot for $369-500 new at GC.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Michael-Kelly,Solid-Body-Electric-Electric-Guitar.gc

[TruSlice]

Try a New PRS SE, they are Korean made (in their own high-standards factory) Paul Reed Smith and are of extreme quality for the price. They all have a 25" scale, which allows the stiffness of a 25.5" scale, but the warmth of a 24.75" scale.

 

I own and play guitars with all of the above scales (including my own PRS SE), and the PRS is actually the most comfortable to play and most sonically versatile. There are many models, including chambered and semi-hollows too.

[streetknight]

If you can live with the 24 3/4 " scale than you can't beat a Michael Kelly Patriot Black for the music you mentioned. I have one it it just kills. Best part is the pups are very articulate and they clean up nice too when you roll off the volume. For $469.00 new, they're a steal. Here's mine.

 

[walleyealx]

used gibson les paul studio

 

used sg faded

 

or

 

used Esp ltd ec-1000

[d_dave_c]

Yamaha Pacifica 521.

 

Just don't use the trem. You can get one used for less than $200.

[plunky]

I like my Schecter C-1 Elite and it seems to meet your terms...not hard to find used for $300 or so.

[Exocaster]

used gibson les paul studio used Esp ltd ec-1000

 

Where are you finding either of those for under $500? Those are an absolute steal at those prices. (I would contend the EC1000 is actually a nicer guitar, but the LP Studio has a higher resale value and sounds like a Paul, while the EC sounds more SG-ish, with the thinner body and all.)

[NOS68]

The Schecter Blackjacks are fantastic guitars, should be able to find one of those that trip your trigger.

 

And Bored Guitarist you do know that Epi Custom Shop is Marketing, not Custom Shop in any way shape or form like Fender or Gibson, they use it on limited issue models. Its great you love your SG but give it a rest already.

[Silverfox]

Dunno if this is too heavy for you if you wanna play hard rock as well, I mean. Since it only has two dimebuckers, also the shape is quite radical.

 

Why? Because the Dean V neck fits perfectly in the hand, but it's still able to be fast enough for wicked shreds. The shape makes it able to sit with the guitar while playing it and feeling comfortable, unlike gibson flying V's and RR guitars. Also the shape is a love/hate matter.

And if you like the brutal sound of the dimbuckers, it's a great deal

 

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Dean-Razorback-DB-Electric-Guitar-514870-i1328231.gc

 

Here's a pic of mine:

 

[BoredGuitarist7]

Lol, here's a quick video with a horrible microphone, and having to keep it down because of neighbors. Should give you at least sort of an idea of the distortion and the cleans the 1966 Epiphone G-400 can make.

 

http://tinypic.com/player.php?v=291c9ki&s=4 - Video Link

 

Edit: Just listened to it... I get cut-off at about halfway through. Oh well, still gets the point across lol... And I turned down the volume on the cleans, so you might want to turn up your computer around halfway through to hear them.

 

[Mikeman75]

 

gotta find a deal though: http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Schecter-C1-Blackjack-Electric-Guitar?sku=518480 i got mine for $450 w/ a case. the pick-ups are waaaay versatile and allows you to play practically anything.

 

 

All the guitars from MF that I want don't ship to Canada.