5 of the BEST Guitars UNDER $500!

Today I look at 5 of my favourite "high value" guitars under $500!
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DARRELL'S GUITARS & GEAR LIST!

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OTHER FAVOURITE GEAR:

SOLI DEO GLORIA!

[DarrellBraunGuitar]

Would you guys add any other models to my list? Share your top 5 under $500 and I'd love to see what you choose!

[rroades]

Was never a good guitarist, but after 35 years, want to start again. These videos are perfect, new sub and watching as much as I can!

[mattmanley]

It’s amazing how far budget guitars have come

[matthewhyman]

One guitar I'd recommend is the Yamaha Pacifica 311h. I have owned one for a few years and gigged with it and it has been amazing. Very good spec for £300, locking tuners, tusq nut and string retainers, etc. Stays in tune extremely well, sounds awesome, and is very versatile.

[quintenvermeulen]

I started playing again last year after a 9-year break and decided to treat myself with a new guitar back in June. I went to the store for a Squier strat, left with a metallic grey Gretsch G5222 and I couldn't be any happier. It cost me a little over €500 and not only is it an absolutely stunning guitar to look at, it plays amazingly as well. Classic rock? No problem. Thrash metal with a lot of sliding over the neck? Why not! The only thing left to do now is to improve my playing until I'm worthy of this beaut.

[skipwiley]

It’s a long story, but I’m fresh home from the army and learning how to live with a disability. My doc said music was good for the spirit so here I am. Thank you for these videos.

[enthused]

The Gretsch is my choice out of these. I own the P90 junior and you really do get professional level tones out of those things, but they are absolute bare bones rockers. No frills, flat tops, etc. They give you actual higher-output pickups and good quality pots, while most of it's competitors are sandbagging the quality of the electronics to protect the prices on the higher priced models.

[garyheaton]

I have bought the guitars you have reviewed over the last two or three years. A es-335, a very cool half hollow body telly with three knobs..and a flower pattern inlaid finger board, and a Les Paul knockoff you really liked when you reviewed it. I love them all..not as much as my real fender stratocaster, but close!!
You have always given trustworthy reviews, and I have not been let down by one yet. I plan on buying more in the future..I do rework the fret ends, and polish a little here and there on them. A little action work..nothing big. I Changed a set of tuners on one of them to lockers..since then they are ALL solid as rocks!
Thanks bro! 😁✌️

[grayaj]

I know that these are subjective and there are always ones that should be on the list-- but I am happy you included the Gretsch. My first electric guitar was an Electromatic Jet Club -- $359 in 2019, and was the lowest rung on the Gretsch ladder at that time (before the Streamliner line was introduced). It's *still* one of my favorites.

[USWNTfan]

Love my Epiphone LP Studio for $450. Was a great “starter” guitar for me.

[jonnybroomhead]

Ibanez is my go to for trying out new styles of guitars! They make one of any style at an entry level price and a high level of quality.

[michaelolz]

By far, my favorite under $500 is the Squier Classic Vibe. I bought one expecting that I was going to want to return it after hearing all the good reviews. Well, there’s a reason for all the good reviews—it’s a really nice feeling, playing and sounding guitar. It really exceeded my expectations.

[pace]

My favorite part of the day is when my dog scratched it butt across my carpet.

[vaughanmacegan]

After having the obligatory starter guitar I managed to buy myself a Yamaha RGX 211 (iirc) for $499 - this was years ago. It had a Humbucker with coil split, and a single coil - sounded great in all positions. Had a floating type trem system proprietary (not a floyd), a neck to die for, 24 frets and great upper fret access, and an aggressive look. Was red of course, so it played faster :) To me it was Yamaha's answer to the Ibanez RG, except better in all respects. Was almost heartbroken when I accidentally stepped on the neck one dark night and it started creaking.

[justnik]

A $499 guitar or a $4999 guitar in Darrell's hands sound fantastic and a pleasure to hear and watch. Thank you Darrell. Best wishes from Sydney Australia.

[petestewart]

Plus 1000 on the Gretsch, I added one of these to my collection a few weeks ago and every day it reminds me what it means to have fun playing a guitar.

[straightight]

Thanks again Darrell for all your hard work, dedication, education and appreciation for guitarists all over the world. You rock!! Well done.

[drkshter]

For me, the best are yamaha Pacifica in different configurations...
I have hh, hss, sss, and always is very good...

[zacharymicah]

Both of my Ibanez RG's, 6 and 7 string were both around $250 each, they're both hardtail, and they're both string thru body which is a huge sell for me. That added tension for sustain is awesome.

[tacob]

Totally agree with the Cutless I couldn't believe the price when they came out last year. A guitar I think should be on there is the LTD 256.I have one from along time ago and now that I'm old and can afford it I have an Eclipse E-ll and a ESP one.I still find myself playing the LTD once in a while for nostalgic reasons and end up playing the whole time with it.Very solid guitar for under $500.