AudioFu

Best ST Style Guitars Under $5,000 2026

Affordable st style guitars under $5,000 - great value without compromising quality

Last updated: January 21, 2026 • Next update: January 28, 2026

PRICE RANGES: Under $100 Under $200 Under $300 Under $500 Under $800 Under $1,000 Under $2,000 Under $5,000
SKILL LEVELS: For Beginner For Intermediate For Professional For Advanced
GENRES & STYLES: For Rock For Blues For Pop For Country For Funk For Indie
BRANDS: Fender Ibanez Harley Benton PRS Jackson Squier Kramer Guitars Suhr ESP Charvel Yamaha Larry Carlton Mooer Schecter Music Man Solar Guitars Cort Evh Sterling by Music Man Xotic Guitars Maybach Friedman
Mayones Guitars Duvell Elite 4Ever 6 PB - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#1

Mayones Guitars Duvell Elite 4Ever 6 PB

by Mayones Guitars
Blues Rock Funk
Key Feature:
• Versatile 5-way pickup switching
✓ PROS
  • • Comfortable body contours
  • • Great for clean and overdriven tones
✗ CONS
  • • Single-coils can pick up interference
  • • Requires quality amplifier

Mayones Guitars Duvell Elite 4Ever 6 PBElectric GuitarBody: MahoganyTop: Master grade birds eye poplarBolt-on 5-piece...

⭐ 4.8/5 (43 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 607675
$4,949
Buy at Thomann View Details
Xotic Guitars XSC-1 RW BLK Super Heavy Aged - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#2

Xotic Guitars XSC-1 RW BLK Super Heavy Aged

by Xotic Guitars
Country Indie Pop
Key Feature:
• Classic single-coil brightness
✓ PROS
  • • Classic single-coil brightness
  • • Great for clean and overdriven tones
✗ CONS
  • • String bending can cause tuning issues
  • • May be too bright for heavy metal

Xotic Guitars XSC-1 RW BLK Super Heavy AgedElectric GuitarCalifornia Classic SeriesBody: AshNeck: Roasted...

⭐ 4.9/5 (32 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 446976
$4,069
Buy at Thomann View Details
Mayones Guitars Duvell Elite VF 6 IBG - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#3

Mayones Guitars Duvell Elite VF 6 IBG

by Mayones Guitars
Country Funk Indie
Key Feature:
• Classic single-coil brightness
✓ PROS
  • • Classic single-coil brightness
  • • Excellent sustain and playability
✗ CONS
  • • Requires quality amplifier
  • • Single-coils can pick up interference

Mayones Guitars Duvell Elite VF 6 IBGElectric GuitarBody: MahoganyTop: AAA poplarBolt-on 5-piece neck: Wenge /...

⭐ 4.5/5 (44 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 607676
$3,959
Buy at Thomann View Details
Xotic Guitars XSC-2 MN LPB Heavy Aged - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#4

Xotic Guitars XSC-2 MN LPB Heavy Aged

by Xotic Guitars
Funk Pop Country
Key Feature:
• Excellent sustain and playability
✓ PROS
  • • Comfortable body contours
  • • Great for clean and overdriven tones
✗ CONS
  • • Single-coils can pick up interference
  • • Electronics may need shielding

Xotic Guitars XSC-2 MN LPB Heavy AgedElectric guitarBody: AlderNeck: Roasted Master Grade curly mapleFingerboard:...

⭐ 4.4/5 (39 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 454905
$4,888
Buy at Thomann View Details
Music Man Sabre HT Honey Bear - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#5

Music Man Sabre HT Honey Bear

by Music Man
Blues Indie Pop
Key Feature:
• Versatile 5-way pickup switching
✓ PROS
  • • Excellent sustain and playability
  • • Classic single-coil brightness
✗ CONS
  • • Requires quality amplifier
  • • Electronics may need shielding

Music Man Sabre HT Honey BearElectric GuitarBody: OkoumeTop: flamed mapleNeck: roasted flamed mapleFingerboard: roasted...

⭐ 4.9/5 (32 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 605752
$4,509
Buy at Thomann View Details
Music Man Stingray HT Dark Rainbow - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#6

Music Man Stingray HT Dark Rainbow

by Music Man
Pop Funk Blues
Key Feature:
• Great for clean and overdriven tones
✓ PROS
  • • Classic single-coil brightness
  • • Excellent sustain and playability
✗ CONS
  • • Requires quality amplifier
  • • String bending can cause tuning issues

Music Man Stingray HT Dark RainbowElectric GuitarBody: AlderNeck: roastedflamed mapleFingerboard: EbonyScale: 648...

⭐ 4.5/5 (16 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 601924
$3,519
Buy at Thomann View Details
Fender Am Ultra II Strat HSS MN SFL - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#7

Fender Am Ultra II Strat HSS MN SFL

by Fender
Funk Rock Blues
Key Feature:
• Great for clean and overdriven tones
✓ PROS
  • • Comfortable body contours
  • • Versatile 5-way pickup switching
✗ CONS
  • • Requires quality amplifier
  • • Single-coils can pick up interference

Fender Am Ultra II Strat HSS MN SFLElectric GuitarBody: AlderBolt-on neck: MapleFingerboard: MapleFingerboard inlays: 7...

⭐ 4.9/5 (38 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 595884
$2,639
Buy at Thomann View Details
Fender Am Ultra II Strat MN SFL - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#8

Fender Am Ultra II Strat MN SFL

by Fender
Country Pop Blues
Key Feature:
• Comfortable body contours
✓ PROS
  • • Great for clean and overdriven tones
  • • Excellent sustain and playability
✗ CONS
  • • May be too bright for heavy metal
  • • Requires quality amplifier

Fender Am Ultra II Strat MN SFLElectric GuitarBody: AlderBolt-onFingerboard: MapleBlack 7 mm Pearloid Dot fingerboard...

⭐ 4.6/5 (34 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 595792
$2,622
Buy at Thomann View Details
Charvel MJ SC1 24 HSS FR BLK - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#9

Charvel MJ SC1 24 HSS FR BLK

by Charvel
Pop Country Funk
Key Feature:
• Excellent sustain and playability
✓ PROS
  • • Great for clean and overdriven tones
  • • Classic single-coil brightness
✗ CONS
  • • String bending can cause tuning issues
  • • Requires quality amplifier

Charvel MJ SC1 24 HSS FR BLKElectric GuitarBody: AlderNeck: MapleFingerboard: MapleFingerboard inlays: Black...

⭐ 4.7/5 (36 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 583530
$2,562
Buy at Thomann View Details
Jackson American SRS SL2MG SLO - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#10

Jackson American SRS SL2MG SLO

by Jackson
Pop Country Blues
Key Feature:
• Excellent sustain and playability
✓ PROS
  • • Classic single-coil brightness
  • • Great for clean and overdriven tones
✗ CONS
  • • String bending can cause tuning issues
  • • Single-coils can pick up interference

Jackson American SRS SL2MG SLOElectric GuitarBody: AlderThree-piece neck-through-body: MapleFingerboard:...

⭐ 5.0/5 (47 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 584163
$2,540
Buy at Thomann View Details
Yamaha Pacifica Professional SPB RF - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#11

Yamaha Pacifica Professional SPB RF

by Yamaha
Indie Funk Pop
Key Feature:
• Great for clean and overdriven tones
✓ PROS
  • • Great for clean and overdriven tones
  • • Excellent sustain and playability
✗ CONS
  • • Single-coils can pick up interference
  • • Electronics may need shielding

Yamaha Pacifica Professional SPB RFElectric GuitarBody: AlderNeck: Bolt-on mapleNeck finish: custom tinted satin...

⭐ 4.8/5 (24 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 584247
$2,365
Buy at Thomann View Details
Fender Anniv. AM Pro II Strat RW 2TS - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#12

Fender Anniv. AM Pro II Strat RW 2TS

by Fender
Blues Funk Country
Key Feature:
• Classic single-coil brightness
✓ PROS
  • • Great for clean and overdriven tones
  • • Excellent sustain and playability
✗ CONS
  • • Requires quality amplifier
  • • String bending can cause tuning issues

Fender Anniv. AM Pro II Strat RW 2TSElectric Guitar70th Stratocaster Anniversary EditionBody: AlderNeck: Bolt-on...

⭐ 4.8/5 (15 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 580767
$2,199
Buy at Thomann View Details
Fender AM Pro II Strat HSS DK NIT - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#13

Fender AM Pro II Strat HSS DK NIT

by Fender
Indie Country Funk
Key Feature:
• Excellent sustain and playability
✓ PROS
  • • Great for clean and overdriven tones
  • • Comfortable body contours
✗ CONS
  • • String bending can cause tuning issues
  • • Single-coils can pick up interference

Fender AM Pro II Strat HSS DK NITElectric GuitarBody: AlderNeck: Bolt-on mapleFingerboard: RosewoodNeck profile: Deep...

⭐ 4.5/5 (6 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 500675
$2,199
Buy at Thomann View Details
Fender AM Pro II Strat MN MYST SFG - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#14

Fender AM Pro II Strat MN MYST SFG

by Fender
Blues Funk Country
Key Feature:
• Great for clean and overdriven tones
✓ PROS
  • • Classic single-coil brightness
  • • Excellent sustain and playability
✗ CONS
  • • Requires quality amplifier
  • • Single-coils can pick up interference

Fender AM Pro II Strat MN MYST SFGElectric GuitarAlder bodyBolt-on Maple neckMaple fretboardDeep "C" neck...

⭐ 5.0/5 (39 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 500481
$2,144
Buy at Thomann View Details
Fender AM Pro II Strat MN DK NIT - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#15

Fender AM Pro II Strat MN DK NIT

by Fender
Funk Rock Blues
Key Feature:
• Comfortable body contours
✓ PROS
  • • Excellent sustain and playability
  • • Great for clean and overdriven tones
✗ CONS
  • • String bending can cause tuning issues
  • • May be too bright for heavy metal

Fender AM Pro II Strat MN DK NITElectric GuitarBody: AlderBolt-on neck: MapleFretboard: MapleNeck profile: Deep CScale:...

⭐ 4.7/5 (41 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 500484
$2,111
Buy at Thomann View Details

How to Choose the Best ST Style 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 st style 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.

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