AudioFu

Best ST Style Guitars Under $5,000 2025

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

Last updated: October 22, 2025 • Next update: October 29, 2025

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 Xotic Guitars Sterling by Music Man Maybach Friedman
Mayones Guitars Duvell Elite VF 6 IBG - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#1

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
Mayones Guitars Duvell Elite 4Ever 6 PB - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#2

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
Music Man Stingray HT Golden Delicious - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#3

Music Man Stingray HT Golden Delicious

by Music Man
Indie Rock Funk
Key Feature:
• Versatile 5-way pickup switching
✓ PROS
  • • Excellent sustain and playability
  • • Comfortable body contours
✗ CONS
  • • Electronics may need shielding
  • • Requires quality amplifier

Music Man Stingray HT Golden DeliciousElectric GuitarBody: AlderNeck: Roasted flamed mapleFingerboard: RosewoodScale:...

⭐ 4.8/5 (29 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 601922
$3,519
Buy at Thomann View Details
Music Man Stingray HT Dark Rainbow - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#4

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
Jackson Dinky DK1 Black USA - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#5

Jackson Dinky DK1 Black USA

by Jackson
Indie Blues Country
Key Feature:
• Classic single-coil brightness
✓ PROS
  • • Comfortable body contours
  • • Versatile 5-way pickup switching
✗ CONS
  • • Requires quality amplifier
  • • May be too bright for heavy metal

Jackson Dinky DK1 Black USAElectric GuitarCustom Shop ModelBody: AlderNeck: MapleFingerboard: EbonyPearl shark fin...

⭐ 4.4/5 (30 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 505467
$3,518
Buy at Thomann View Details
Charvel MJ SC1 24 HSS FR BLK - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#6

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
Fender 50 Strat Black NOS - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#7

Fender 50 Strat Black NOS

by Fender
Pop Indie Rock
Key Feature:
• Versatile 5-way pickup switching
✓ PROS
  • • Excellent sustain and playability
  • • Versatile 5-way pickup switching
✗ CONS
  • • Single-coils can pick up interference
  • • May be too bright for heavy metal

Fender 50 Strat Black NOSElectric GuitarCustom Shop modelBody: AlderBolt-on neck: "Plain Grain"...

⭐ 4.6/5 (9 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 611598
$4,894
Buy at Thomann View Details
Music Man Cutlass 6 Jason Richardson KF - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#8

Music Man Cutlass 6 Jason Richardson KF

by Music Man
Rock Country Indie
Key Feature:
• Great for clean and overdriven tones
✓ PROS
  • • Excellent sustain and playability
  • • Classic single-coil brightness
✗ CONS
  • • May be too bright for heavy metal
  • • Single-coils can pick up interference

Music Man Cutlass 6 Jason Richardson KFElectric GuitarJason Richardson (All That Remains) signature modelBody: Light...

⭐ 4.6/5 (6 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 598343
$4,399
Buy at Thomann View Details
Xotic Guitars XSC-1 RW BLK Super Heavy Aged - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#9

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
Friedman CALI-AMCHH+ - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#10

Friedman CALI-AMCHH+

by Friedman
Funk Indie Rock
Key Feature:
• Classic single-coil brightness
✓ PROS
  • • Excellent sustain and playability
  • • Versatile 5-way pickup switching
✗ CONS
  • • Single-coils can pick up interference
  • • String bending can cause tuning issues

Friedman CALI-AMCHH+Electric GuitarFinest seasoned woods and Plek'd-finished fretworkBody: AlderBolt-on neck:...

⭐ 4.9/5 (51 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 610230
$3,959
Buy at Thomann View Details
Music Man Stingray II Cory Wong Model CB - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#11

Music Man Stingray II Cory Wong Model CB

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

Music Man Stingray II Cory Wong Model CBElectric GuitarCory Wong Signature modelBody: AlderNeck: Roasted flamed...

⭐ 4.4/5 (24 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 607368
$3,666
Buy at Thomann View Details
Jackson American SRS SL2MG SB - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#12

Jackson American SRS SL2MG SB

by Jackson
Indie Blues Rock
Key Feature:
• Excellent sustain and playability
✓ PROS
  • • Versatile 5-way pickup switching
  • • Great for clean and overdriven tones
✗ CONS
  • • Requires quality amplifier
  • • String bending can cause tuning issues

Jackson American SRS SL2MG SBElectric GuitarBody: AlderThree-piece maple neck-through-body neckFingerboard:...

⭐ 4.8/5 (44 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 584167
$2,474
Buy at Thomann View Details
Jackson American SRS VTO GOLD RUSH - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#13

Jackson American SRS VTO GOLD RUSH

by Jackson
Indie Funk Rock
Key Feature:
• Excellent sustain and playability
✓ PROS
  • • Great for clean and overdriven tones
  • • Classic single-coil brightness
✗ CONS
  • • May be too bright for heavy metal
  • • String bending can cause tuning issues

Jackson American SRS VTO GOLD RUSHElectric GuitarBody: AlderPRS-designed bolt-on 5-piece neck: caramelised maple /...

⭐ 4.6/5 (10 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 620084
$2,419
Buy at Thomann View Details
Fender AV II 61 STRAT RW FRD - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#14

Fender AV II 61 STRAT RW FRD

by Fender
Pop Country Indie
Key Feature:
• Excellent sustain and playability
✓ PROS
  • • Comfortable body contours
  • • Great for clean and overdriven tones
✗ CONS
  • • May be too bright for heavy metal
  • • Electronics may need shielding

Fender AV II 61 STRAT RW FRDElectric GuitarAlder bodyMaple neckBlock-glued slab board rosewood fingerboardClay dot...

⭐ 4.9/5 (11 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 548695
$2,408
Buy at Thomann View Details
Fender Jim Root Stratocaster EB BK - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#15

Fender Jim Root Stratocaster EB BK

by Fender
Pop Indie Funk
Key Feature:
• Classic single-coil brightness
✓ PROS
  • • Classic single-coil brightness
  • • Comfortable body contours
✗ CONS
  • • String bending can cause tuning issues
  • • Single-coils can pick up interference

Fender Jim Root Stratocaster RW BKElectric GuitarArtist signature seriesMahogany bodyNeck: MapleModern C-Shape22 Jumbo...

⭐ 5.0/5 (26 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 241189
$2,199
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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