Best Electric Guitar Sets Under $500 2026
Affordable electric guitar sets under $500 - great value without compromising quality
Last updated: January 14, 2026 • Next update: January 21, 2026
#1
⭐
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
#2
⭐
4.5/5
(46 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Harley Benton CST-24T Black Cherry Fl Set
All-in-One Solution
Budget-Conscious
Complete Setup
Key Feature:
• More affordable than buying separately
✓ PROS
- • Everything needed to start playing
- • Great for beginners and gifts
✗ CONS
- • Upgrade path can be expensive
- • May include unnecessary accessories
Harley Benton CST-24T Black Cherry Fl Set*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton CST-24T Black Cherry Flame*Electric...
⭐
4.5/5
(46 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 566773
$420
#3
⭐
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
#4
⭐
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
#5
⭐
4.4/5
(20 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Harley Benton DC-Junior FAT TV Yellow Set
Complete Setup
Gift Purchase
Beginners
Key Feature:
• Everything needed to start playing
✓ PROS
- • More affordable than buying separately
- • Convenient one-purchase solution
✗ CONS
- • Individual components may be lower quality
- • Upgrade path can be expensive
Harley Benton DC-Junior FAT TV Yellow Set*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton DC-Junior FAT TV Yellow*Electric...
⭐
4.4/5
(20 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 566958
$461
#6
⭐
4.7/5
(7 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Harley Benton SC-Custom III P90 Black Set
All-in-One Solution
Complete Setup
First Electric Guitar
Key Feature:
• Convenient one-purchase solution
✓ PROS
- • Components designed to work together
- • Everything needed to start playing
✗ CONS
- • Not customized to specific needs
- • May include unnecessary accessories
Harley Benton SC-Custom III P90 Black Set*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton SC-Custom III P90 Black*Electric...
⭐
4.7/5
(7 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 603123
$465
#7
⭐
4.9/5
(29 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Harley Benton R-457 BK Bundle 3
Budget-Conscious
Gift Purchase
First Electric Guitar
Key Feature:
• Components designed to work together
✓ PROS
- • Convenient one-purchase solution
- • More affordable than buying separately
✗ CONS
- • May include unnecessary accessories
- • Upgrade path can be expensive
Harley Benton R-457 BK Bundle 3*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton HB-80R Celestion*Combo Amplifier for Electric...
⭐
4.9/5
(29 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 288487
$362
#8
⭐
4.6/5
(15 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Harley Benton SC-500 BK Vintage Series Set
All-in-One Solution
First Electric Guitar
Beginners
Key Feature:
• Components designed to work together
✓ PROS
- • Everything needed to start playing
- • Convenient one-purchase solution
✗ CONS
- • Less flexibility in component choice
- • Upgrade path can be expensive
Harley Benton SC-500 BK Vintage Series Set*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton SC-500 BK Vintage Series*Electric...
⭐
4.6/5
(15 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 561026
$351
#9
⭐
4.7/5
(20 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Harley Benton Fusion-III LH HSH EB FB Set
Beginners
All-in-One Solution
Complete Setup
Key Feature:
• Great for beginners and gifts
✓ PROS
- • Great for beginners and gifts
- • More affordable than buying separately
✗ CONS
- • Individual components may be lower quality
- • May include unnecessary accessories
Harley Benton Fusion-III LH HSH EB FB Set*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton Fusion-III LH HSH EB FBB*Electric...
⭐
4.7/5
(20 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 566952
$494
#10
⭐
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
#11
⭐
4.4/5
(17 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Harley Benton RB-612CS Classic Series Set
All-in-One Solution
First Electric Guitar
Complete Setup
Key Feature:
• More affordable than buying separately
✓ PROS
- • Components designed to work together
- • More affordable than buying separately
✗ CONS
- • Less flexibility in component choice
- • May include unnecessary accessories
Harley Benton RB-612CS Classic Series Set*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton RB-612CS Classic Series*12-String...
⭐
4.4/5
(17 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 599184
$411
#12
⭐
4.9/5
(39 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Harley Benton DC-Custom II Cherry Set
Beginners
First Electric Guitar
Complete Setup
Key Feature:
• Great for beginners and gifts
✓ PROS
- • Convenient one-purchase solution
- • Components designed to work together
✗ CONS
- • Less flexibility in component choice
- • Upgrade path can be expensive
Harley Benton DC-Custom II Cherry Set*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton DC-Custom II Cherry*Electric...
⭐
4.9/5
(39 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 598342
$406
#13
⭐
4.8/5
(15 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Harley Benton SC-1000LH SBK Progressi Set
Gift Purchase
Complete Setup
Budget-Conscious
Key Feature:
• Convenient one-purchase solution
✓ PROS
- • Components designed to work together
- • Convenient one-purchase solution
✗ CONS
- • Less flexibility in component choice
- • Not customized to specific needs
Harley Benton SC-1000LH SBK Progressi Set*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton SC-1000LH SBK Progressive...
⭐
4.8/5
(15 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 561007
$354
#14
⭐
4.5/5
(27 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Harley Benton SC-1000LH SBK Progressi Set
All-in-One Solution
Gift Purchase
Budget-Conscious
Key Feature:
• Components designed to work together
✓ PROS
- • Components designed to work together
- • Everything needed to start playing
✗ CONS
- • Less flexibility in component choice
- • May include unnecessary accessories
Harley Benton SC-1000LH SBK Progressi Set*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton SC-1000LH SBK Progressive...
⭐
4.5/5
(27 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 561004
$334
#15
⭐
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
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.
