Best Heavy Guitars Under $500 2026
Affordable heavy guitars under $500 - great value without compromising quality
Last updated: January 21, 2026 • Next update: January 28, 2026
#1
⭐
4.8/5
(34 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG VW w/Bag
Death Metal
Metal
Metalcore
Key Feature:
• High-output pickups for distortion
✓ PROS
- • Great for palm muting
- • Extended range capabilities
✗ CONS
- • Limited clean tone versatility
- • Requires high-gain amplification
Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG VW w/Bag*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG VW*Electric Guitar*Pro...
⭐
4.8/5
(34 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 558030
$461
#2
⭐
4.9/5
(16 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Harley Benton EX-76 Classic GHW AN
Metalcore
Metal
Death Metal
Key Feature:
• Great for palm muting
✓ PROS
- • Extended range capabilities
- • Designed for high-gain amplifiers
✗ CONS
- • Often heavier than standard guitars
- • May be too aggressive for other genres
Harley Benton EX-76 Classic GHW ANElectric GuitarBody: MahoganySet-in neck: MahoganyFingerboard: AmaranthWhite dot...
⭐
4.9/5
(16 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 480679
$362
#3
⭐
4.8/5
(27 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Schecter C-6 Deluxe SBK
by
Schecter
Hard Rock
Progressive
Metal
Key Feature:
• Designed for high-gain amplifiers
✓ PROS
- • Extended range capabilities
- • Solid construction for heavy playing
✗ CONS
- • Limited clean tone versatility
- • Requires high-gain amplification
Schecter C-6 Deluxe SBKElectric guitarBody: BasswoodBolted maple neckFretboard: Rosewood (<i>Dalbergia...
⭐
4.8/5
(27 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 437619
$472
#4
⭐
4.8/5
(31 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Harley Benton EX-76 Classic GHW AN w/Case
Death Metal
Metalcore
Progressive
Key Feature:
• High-output pickups for distortion
✓ PROS
- • Extended range capabilities
- • Solid construction for heavy playing
✗ CONS
- • May be too aggressive for other genres
- • Limited clean tone versatility
Harley Benton EX-76 Classic GHW AN w/Case*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton EX-76 Classic GHW AN*Electric...
⭐
4.8/5
(31 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 618602
$462
#5
⭐
4.6/5
(20 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG BK
Death Metal
Hard Rock
Progressive
Key Feature:
• High-output pickups for distortion
✓ PROS
- • Designed for high-gain amplifiers
- • High-output pickups for distortion
✗ CONS
- • May be too aggressive for other genres
- • Requires high-gain amplification
Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG BKElectric GuitarPro SeriesBody: NyatohSet-in neck: NyatohEbony fingerboardWhite dot...
⭐
4.6/5
(20 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 482140
$439
#6
⭐
4.8/5
(41 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Harley Benton EX-76 Classic GHW AN w/Bag
Djent
Metal
Metalcore
Key Feature:
• Great for palm muting
✓ PROS
- • High-output pickups for distortion
- • Great for palm muting
✗ CONS
- • Requires high-gain amplification
- • Complex electronics in some models
Harley Benton EX-76 Classic GHW AN w/Bag*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton EX-76 Classic GHW AN*Electric...
⭐
4.8/5
(41 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 618600
$384
#7
⭐
4.6/5
(49 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Harley Benton EX-84 Modern BK
Metal
Metalcore
Hard Rock
Key Feature:
• High-output pickups for distortion
✓ PROS
- • High-output pickups for distortion
- • Solid construction for heavy playing
✗ CONS
- • Often heavier than standard guitars
- • Limited clean tone versatility
Harley Benton EX-84 Modern BKElectric GuitarPro SeriesBody: MahoganyNeck: MahoganyNeck attachment: Set-inFretboard:...
⭐
4.6/5
(49 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 480653
$329
#8
⭐
4.6/5
(28 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Harley Benton EX-84 Modern BK w/Bag
Hard Rock
Progressive
Djent
Key Feature:
• Designed for high-gain amplifiers
✓ PROS
- • Solid construction for heavy playing
- • High-output pickups for distortion
✗ CONS
- • May be too aggressive for other genres
- • Requires high-gain amplification
Harley Benton EX-84 Modern BK w/Bag*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton EX-84 Modern BK*Electric Guitar*Pro...
⭐
4.6/5
(28 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 558023
$351
#9
⭐
4.5/5
(44 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Jackson JS32 Rhoads AH SG
by
Jackson
Progressive
Death Metal
Metal
Key Feature:
• Solid construction for heavy playing
✓ PROS
- • Extended range capabilities
- • Solid construction for heavy playing
✗ CONS
- • Limited clean tone versatility
- • Often heavier than standard guitars
Jackson JS32 Rhoads AH SGElectric GuitarBody: BasswoodOne-piece neck: Maple with graphite reinforcement and scarf...
⭐
4.5/5
(44 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 460559
$395
#10
⭐
4.5/5
(17 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Jackson JS32 Kelly Snow White
by
Jackson
Hard Rock
Progressive
Djent
Key Feature:
• High-output pickups for distortion
✓ PROS
- • Solid construction for heavy playing
- • High-output pickups for distortion
✗ CONS
- • Complex electronics in some models
- • Often heavier than standard guitars
Jackson JS32 Kelly Snow WhiteElectric GuitarPoplar bodyBolt-on maple neck with graphite reinforcement and scarf...
⭐
4.5/5
(17 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 378291
$395
#11
⭐
4.5/5
(19 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Jackson JS32 King V AH Gloss Black
by
Jackson
Djent
Death Metal
Hard Rock
Key Feature:
• Designed for high-gain amplifiers
✓ PROS
- • Great for palm muting
- • High-output pickups for distortion
✗ CONS
- • Requires high-gain amplification
- • Limited clean tone versatility
Jackson JS32 King V AH Gloss BlackElectric GuitarPoplar bodyOne-piece bolt-on maple neck with graphite reinforcement...
⭐
4.5/5
(19 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 456262
$395
#12
⭐
4.8/5
(37 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Harley Benton EX-84 Modern BK w/Case
Metalcore
Hard Rock
Metal
Key Feature:
• Great for palm muting
✓ PROS
- • Great for palm muting
- • High-output pickups for distortion
✗ CONS
- • Complex electronics in some models
- • Requires high-gain amplification
Harley Benton EX-84 Modern BK w/Case*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton EX-84 Modern BK*Electric Guitar*Pro...
⭐
4.8/5
(37 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 558024
$433
#13
⭐
4.5/5
(10 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Ibanez PSM10-BKPaul Stanley Sign.
by
Ibanez
Progressive
Death Metal
Metalcore
Key Feature:
• Designed for high-gain amplifiers
✓ PROS
- • Great for palm muting
- • Designed for high-gain amplifiers
✗ CONS
- • Often heavier than standard guitars
- • Limited clean tone versatility
Ibanez PSM10-BK Paul Stanley Sign.Electric GuitarPaul Stanley (Kiss) Signature ModelBody: PoplarNeck: MapleFretboard:...
⭐
4.5/5
(10 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 406182
$362
#14
⭐
4.9/5
(21 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Jackson JS32T Warrior NO AH
by
Jackson
Metalcore
Metal
Death Metal
Key Feature:
• Solid construction for heavy playing
✓ PROS
- • Solid construction for heavy playing
- • Designed for high-gain amplifiers
✗ CONS
- • Limited clean tone versatility
- • Complex electronics in some models
Jackson JS32T Warrior NO AHElectric GuitarBody: NATOBolt-on neck: mapleFretboard: AmaranthSharkfin fretboard...
⭐
4.9/5
(21 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 461999
$347
#15
⭐
4.9/5
(20 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Jackson JS32T Kelly AH SBK
by
Jackson
Death Metal
Metalcore
Djent
Key Feature:
• Extended range capabilities
✓ PROS
- • Solid construction for heavy playing
- • High-output pickups for distortion
✗ CONS
- • Requires high-gain amplification
- • Often heavier than standard guitars
Jackson JS32T Kelly AH SBKElectric GuitarBody: PoplarNeck: Maple with graphite reinforcement and scarf jointNeck...
⭐
4.9/5
(20 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 318808
$358
How to Choose the Best Heavy Guitars
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 heavy guitars 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.
