Best Electric Guitar Sets Under $500 2026
Affordable electric guitar sets under $500 - great value without compromising quality
Last updated: January 21, 2026 • Next update: January 28, 2026
#1
⭐
4.4/5
(47 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Harley Benton SC-550 II PAF Bundle
Complete Setup
Beginners
First Electric Guitar
Key Feature:
• Convenient one-purchase solution
✓ PROS
- • Great for beginners and gifts
- • Components designed to work together
✗ CONS
- • Less flexibility in component choice
- • Upgrade path can be expensive
Harley Benton SC-550 II PAF Bundle*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton SC-550 II PAF*Electric Guitar*Deluxe...
⭐
4.4/5
(47 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 522760
$494
#2
⭐
4.9/5
(21 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Harley Benton Custom Line King-CE VS Set
Budget-Conscious
Gift Purchase
All-in-One Solution
Key Feature:
• Everything needed to start playing
✓ PROS
- • More affordable than buying separately
- • Great for beginners and gifts
✗ CONS
- • Not customized to specific needs
- • Less flexibility in component choice
Harley Benton Custom Line King-CE VS Set*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton Custom Line King-CE VS*Acoustic Guitar...
⭐
4.9/5
(21 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 560575
$479
#3
⭐
4.9/5
(50 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Harley Benton SC-550LH II PAF Bundle
Budget-Conscious
Gift Purchase
Beginners
Key Feature:
• Convenient one-purchase solution
✓ PROS
- • Everything needed to start playing
- • Great for beginners and gifts
✗ CONS
- • May include unnecessary accessories
- • Upgrade path can be expensive
Harley Benton SC-550LH II PAF Bundle*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton SC-550LH II PAF*Electric...
⭐
4.9/5
(50 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 522791
$494
#4
⭐
5.0/5
(52 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Harley Benton MultiScale-7 BBB Set
All-in-One Solution
Budget-Conscious
Complete Setup
Key Feature:
• Convenient one-purchase solution
✓ PROS
- • Components designed to work together
- • Convenient one-purchase solution
✗ CONS
- • Not customized to specific needs
- • Less flexibility in component choice
Harley Benton MultiScale-7 BBB Set*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton MultiScale-7 BBB*7-String Multi-Scale...
⭐
5.0/5
(52 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 559323
$424
#5
⭐
4.8/5
(50 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Harley Benton Fusion-III HH HT EB BK Set
First Electric Guitar
Complete Setup
Gift Purchase
Key Feature:
• More affordable than buying separately
✓ PROS
- • Components designed to work together
- • Convenient one-purchase solution
✗ CONS
- • Not customized to specific needs
- • Individual components may be lower quality
Harley Benton Fusion-III HH HT EB BK Set*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton Fusion-III HH HT EB BK*Electric...
⭐
4.8/5
(50 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 566955
$494
#6
⭐
4.8/5
(42 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Harley Benton SC-Custom III VBK Set
Complete Setup
Gift Purchase
Beginners
Key Feature:
• Components designed to work together
✓ PROS
- • Everything needed to start playing
- • Great for beginners and gifts
✗ CONS
- • Less flexibility in component choice
- • Not customized to specific needs
Harley Benton SC-Custom III VBK Set*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton SC-Custom III VBK*Electric Guitar*Body:...
⭐
4.8/5
(42 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 598299
$483
#7
⭐
4.8/5
(27 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Harley Benton SC-Custom III Lemon Fla Set
Gift Purchase
First Electric Guitar
Complete Setup
Key Feature:
• Convenient one-purchase solution
✓ PROS
- • Convenient one-purchase solution
- • Components designed to work together
✗ CONS
- • May include unnecessary accessories
- • Not customized to specific needs
Harley Benton SC-Custom III Lemon Fla Set*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton SC-Custom III Lemon Flame*Electric...
⭐
4.8/5
(27 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 598337
$439
#8
⭐
4.7/5
(5 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Harley Benton SC-Custom III Purple Bu Set
All-in-One Solution
Beginners
Budget-Conscious
Key Feature:
• Convenient one-purchase solution
✓ PROS
- • Everything needed to start playing
- • Convenient one-purchase solution
✗ CONS
- • Individual components may be lower quality
- • Less flexibility in component choice
Harley Benton SC-Custom III Purple Bu Set*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton SC-Custom III Purple Burst*Electric...
⭐
4.7/5
(5 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 598320
$439
#9
⭐
4.7/5
(22 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Harley Benton R-458FFB Roasted MultiS Set
Beginners
Gift Purchase
Budget-Conscious
Key Feature:
• Components designed to work together
✓ PROS
- • More affordable than buying separately
- • Components designed to work together
✗ CONS
- • May include unnecessary accessories
- • Upgrade path can be expensive
Harley Benton R-458FFB Roasted MultiS Set*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton R-458FFB Roasted MultiScale*8-String...
⭐
4.7/5
(22 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 599232
$389
#10
⭐
4.4/5
(37 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Brümmer E-Gitarren ST-90SA Set
by
Brümmer
First Electric Guitar
Gift Purchase
All-in-One Solution
Key Feature:
• Great for beginners and gifts
✓ PROS
- • Components designed to work together
- • Convenient one-purchase solution
✗ CONS
- • Not customized to specific needs
- • Less flexibility in component choice
Brümmer E-Gitarren ST-90SA Set*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton ST-90SA Swamp Ash DLX Series*Electric...
⭐
4.4/5
(37 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 479613
$387
#11
⭐
5.0/5
(51 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Harley Benton HWY-25BKS Progressive S Set
All-in-One Solution
Gift Purchase
Budget-Conscious
Key Feature:
• Great for beginners and gifts
✓ PROS
- • Convenient one-purchase solution
- • More affordable than buying separately
✗ CONS
- • Upgrade path can be expensive
- • May include unnecessary accessories
Harley Benton HWY-25BKS Progressive S Set*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton HB-80R Celestion*Combo Amplifier for...
⭐
5.0/5
(51 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 567174
$345
#12
⭐
4.5/5
(8 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Harley Benton SC-550 II FTF Bundle
Beginners
Complete Setup
Gift Purchase
Key Feature:
• Convenient one-purchase solution
✓ PROS
- • Convenient one-purchase solution
- • Great for beginners and gifts
✗ CONS
- • May include unnecessary accessories
- • Not customized to specific needs
Harley Benton SC-550 II FTF Bundle*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton SC-550 II FTF*Electric Guitar*Deluxe...
⭐
4.5/5
(8 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 522736
$494
#13
⭐
4.5/5
(23 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Harley Benton SC-Custom III Gold Top Set
All-in-One Solution
Budget-Conscious
Gift Purchase
Key Feature:
• Convenient one-purchase solution
✓ PROS
- • More affordable than buying separately
- • Great for beginners and gifts
✗ CONS
- • Not customized to specific needs
- • Upgrade path can be expensive
Harley Benton SC-Custom III Gold Top Set*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton SC-Custom III Gold Top*Electric...
⭐
4.5/5
(23 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 598322
$439
#14
⭐
4.6/5
(13 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Harley Benton SC-Custom III Desert Bu Set
First Electric Guitar
Beginners
Budget-Conscious
Key Feature:
• Convenient one-purchase solution
✓ PROS
- • Components designed to work together
- • Great for beginners and gifts
✗ CONS
- • Individual components may be lower quality
- • Upgrade path can be expensive
Harley Benton SC-Custom III Desert Bu Set*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton SC-Custom III Desert Burst*Electric...
⭐
4.6/5
(13 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 598317
$439
#15
⭐
4.8/5
(8 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Harley Benton ST-Modern HSS LPB Set
Budget-Conscious
First Electric Guitar
Gift Purchase
Key Feature:
• More affordable than buying separately
✓ PROS
- • More affordable than buying separately
- • Convenient one-purchase solution
✗ CONS
- • Upgrade path can be expensive
- • Individual components may be lower quality
Harley Benton ST-Modern HSS LPB Set*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton ST-Modern HSS LPB*Electric Guitar*Deluxe...
⭐
4.8/5
(8 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 602549
$314
How to Choose the Best Electric Guitar Sets
Budget Planning
- • Under $200: Entry-level
- • $200-$500: Intermediate
- • $500-$1000: Advanced
- • $1000+: Professional
Quality Check
- • Sound clarity & tone
- • Build materials & finish
- • Hardware durability
- • Overall craftsmanship
Key Features
- • Your musical style
- • Skill level match
- • Intended use case
- • Brand reputation
Frequently Asked Questions
Key factors include build quality, sound characteristics, playability, brand reputation, warranty coverage, and value for money. Consider your musical style, skill level, and intended use to find the best match.
Budget depends on your needs and experience level. Beginners can find quality options for $200-500, intermediate players should consider $500-1500 range, while professionals often invest $1500+ for premium features.
Higher-priced electric guitar sets typically offer better materials, craftsmanship, and performance. They're worth it if you're serious about music, perform regularly, or need professional-grade features.
Top brands combine quality, innovation, and reliability. We evaluate brands based on build quality, sound performance, durability, and customer satisfaction to recommend the best options for different budgets.
Both have advantages. Online offers better prices and selection, while stores allow hands-on testing. We recommend researching online first, then testing in stores if possible. Many online retailers offer excellent return policies.
