Most underrated guitars under $500

[ElectricVoodoo]

About 2 months ago, I purchased a new deluxe players mim strat for 649.00. A little higher that the title suggests, but an incredible guitar and has the vintage noiseless pu's in it.

A kick ass guitar and imo, blows away the kramer 84 I had purchased back in december for 50$ more.
I run it through a DOD 250 overdrive into a low gain setting on the 800 and it nails the yngwie tone.
Compared to the US standard strats I've owned, this one easily rivals them. I will install the yjm furys on the next strat I get.

Same one pictured here, sorry for the oversize..

 

[ElectricVoodoo]

Used frnder deluxe players strat. Less than $325 with upgraded pickups from dragonfire

I see you have one too

Great guitars aren't they? I cant believe I waited so long to grab one. Best bang for the buck imo.

 

[mightywarlock]

i'll 2nd the Ibanez SZ Series.
They are the best sounding once you yank the HB103 Duncan Designed pickup out and throw in a real Duncan Distortion in the bridge, and have amazing 25.1" scale necks.
Used to be more expensive, but now on GC Used website they are so cheap it's hard to not keep buying them. Just recently scored an SZ320MH for only $200 out the door. Popped in a new pickup, tuned it to C, and BAM, this guitar rocks! Sounds great!

for $2-300 bucks worth every penny.

 

[Mudder]

I just picked up a Schecter Hellraiser Avenger that's pretty nice in that price range.

 

[ChadVanHalen]

B.C. Rich Gunslinger Retro... Especially the earlier ones from 08/09 made in Korea... Great straightforward 80's rock machine. That neck is like butter

 

[mchn13]

-GIBSON SG's-

-too many model's to list, but I guess you can start with the faded's-

This. I have bought fadeds with an ebony board and the gothics as well. I just passed up a gothic on go used online for $440.

 

[sg guy]

-GIBSON SG's-

-too many model's to list, but I guess you can start with the faded's-

This. I have bought fadeds with an ebony board and the gothics as well. I just passed up a gothic on go used online for $440.

-your obviously a man of superior knowledge!!... And a fine ear for tone!!

-(except for passing up on a Gothic)-

 

[mchn13]

-GIBSON SG's-

-too many model's to list, but I guess you can start with the faded's-

This. I have bought fadeds with an ebony board and the gothics as well. I just passed up a gothic on go used online for $440.

-your obviously a man of superior knowledge!!... And a fine ear for tone!!

-(except for passing up on a Gothic)-

Meh next year after I buy a house. I really want a black small pick guard standard. But I need another gothic too, just couldn't get more stuff right now. Those and the fadeds with the ebony boards are just steals. That and I really want to abuse my 90's studio lite and wear the paint down this year. It's in too good shape for a 23 year old guitar lol.

 

[sg guy]

-GIBSON SG's-

-too many model's to list, but I guess you can start with the faded's-

This. I have bought fadeds with an ebony board and the gothics as well. I just passed up a gothic on go used online for $440.

-your obviously a man of superior knowledge!!... And a fine ear for tone!!

-(except for passing up on a Gothic)-

Meh next year after I buy a house. I really want a black small pick guard standard. But I need another gothic too, just couldn't get more stuff right now. Those and the fadeds with the ebony boards are just steals. That and I really want to abuse my 90's studio lite and wear the paint down this year. It's in too good shape for a 23 year old guitar lol.

-i have a GOTHIC as my main guitar,... But right now I'm all about the 24 fret SG's-(SG-1,...SG-X,...)-or better yet the BARITONE's...

 

[Brandon Breeze]

I was actually thinking about starting a $100 pawn shop find thread, several of mine were scored for next to nothing and are great playing guitars after a I set them up.

DeArmond S67 is a 7 string that looks like a Gibson SG, Indonesian
Switch Vibracell, a much more affordable somewhat similar guitar to the Parker fly, neck thru
Aria Pro II Urchin U-60T MIJ
Jackson COW unknown where made
Ibanez rg3exfm1, probably the lowest quality of the bunch, Indonesian
Hamer Slammer Diablo MIK
Kaman GTx22 MIK
BC Rich Bich unknown where made
Ibanez rg4ex1 Indonesian
Epiiphone Zakk Wylde MIK
Agile Pro 727 MIK neck thru

 

[SFW]

For the money, I think its hard to beat Schecter.

 

[mchn13]

-GIBSON SG's-

-too many model's to list, but I guess you can start with the faded's-

This. I have bought fadeds with an ebony board and the gothics as well. I just passed up a gothic on go used online for $440.

-your obviously a man of superior knowledge!!... And a fine ear for tone!!

-(except for passing up on a Gothic)-

Meh next year after I buy a house. I really want a black small pick guard standard. But I need another gothic too, just couldn't get more stuff right now. Those and the fadeds with the ebony boards are just steals. That and I really want to abuse my 90's studio lite and wear the paint down this year. It's in too good shape for a 23 year old guitar lol.

-i have a GOTHIC as my main guitar,... But right now I'm all about the 24 fret SG's-(SG-1,...SG-X,...)-or better yet the BARITONE's...

Ugh. There's a Sg-x on reverb for $319 right now with a JB in it. Killing me.

 

[Mudder]

I was actually thinking about starting a $100 pawn shop find thread, several of mine were scored for next to nothing and are great playing guitars after a I set them up.

DeArmond S67 is a 7 string that looks like a Gibson SG, Indonesian
Switch Vibracell, a much more affordable somewhat similar guitar to the Parker fly, neck thru
Aria Pro II Urchin U-60T MIJ
Jackson COW unknown where made
Ibanez rg3exfm1, probably the lowest quality of the bunch, Indonesian
Hamer Slammer Diablo MIK
Kaman GTx22 MIK
BC Rich Bich unknown where made
Ibanez rg4ex1 Indonesian
Epiiphone Zakk Wylde MIK
Agile Pro 727 MIK neck thru

Love that urchin!

 

[Brandon Breeze]

The pawn shop gave that urchin away! I had to remove the absolutely horrid paint job, but it's a bad ass guitar for a lot price for sure. Even the pickups rock! No need for replacement.

 

[Brandon Breeze]

You can make any guitar that's decent quality an awesome guitar. Install pickups of your choosing, install good quality tuners, set you action/intonation/truss Rod, & you're ready to rock. I have Schaller, planet waves, Grover, ping, and sperzel tuners. The locking ones stay in tune much better, unless you have a locking system, then grovers are fine. Grovers on a fixed bridge are pretty decent as well.

I think this is a part that a lot of folks miss.

 

[sg guy]

-GIBSON SG's-

-too many model's to list, but I guess you can start with the faded's-

This. I have bought fadeds with an ebony board and the gothics as well. I just passed up a gothic on go used online for $440.

-your obviously a man of superior knowledge!!... And a fine ear for tone!!

-(except for passing up on a Gothic)-

Meh next year after I buy a house. I really want a black small pick guard standard. But I need another gothic too, just couldn't get more stuff right now. Those and the fadeds with the ebony boards are just steals. That and I really want to abuse my 90's studio lite and wear the paint down this year. It's in too good shape for a 23 year old guitar lol.

-i have a GOTHIC as my main guitar,... But right now I'm all about the 24 fret SG's-(SG-1,...SG-X,...)-or better yet the BARITONE's...

Ugh. There's a Sg-x on reverb for $319 right now with a JB in it. Killing me.

-if my memory isn't failing me again,.. It has a neck repair,... -(Red burst?)-

 

[mchn13]

-GIBSON SG's-

-too many model's to list, but I guess you can start with the faded's-

This. I have bought fadeds with an ebony board and the gothics as well. I just passed up a gothic on go used online for $440.

-your obviously a man of superior knowledge!!... And a fine ear for tone!!

-(except for passing up on a Gothic)-

Meh next year after I buy a house. I really want a black small pick guard standard. But I need another gothic too, just couldn't get more stuff right now. Those and the fadeds with the ebony boards are just steals. That and I really want to abuse my 90's studio lite and wear the paint down this year. It's in too good shape for a 23 year old guitar lol.

-i have a GOTHIC as my main guitar,... But right now I'm all about the 24 fret SG's-(SG-1,...SG-X,...)-or better yet the BARITONE's...

Ugh. There's a Sg-x on reverb for $319 right now with a JB in it. Killing me.

-if my memory isn't failing me again,.. It has a neck repair,... -(Red burst?)-

Yep. Headstock. I've had sg's with that repair before,not a biggie. If it wasn't 24 frets I'd have already snagged it.