The Best Guitars for Metal Beginners under $500

Who else wants to find the best guitars for metal beginners under $500?

It’s no secret that finding the best guitar for a beginner who wants to play metal can be confusing and frustrating. Add to that the constraint of a $500 budget, and it gets even more frustrating and confusing.

Beyond that, choosing which options, and which model is the best can be even more confusing.

But don’t worry! We’ve done the research, and found the best guitars available for you. We’ve weighed the models and options and chosen the best ones that are available today.

Check them out! You won’t be disappointed.

The Best Guitars for Metal Beginners under $500: Best Overall

Schecter Omen Extreme-6

Are you ready for a metal playing machine that has the tones, quality, and looks of a true metal machine? Then you’re ready for the Schecter Omen Extreme-6.

It has an arched mahogany body, with a quilted maple top so it has some stunningly metal looks, as well as being comfortable to play.

The maple neck is in a thin “C” shape with a radius of 14″ so playing metal riffs is easy, and it’s still comfortable to play chords at the nut.

Plus, with 24 X-Jumbo frets, Abalone and Pearloid Vector inlays, and a TUSQ nut, the rosewood fretboard ensures easy playability that’s perfect for metal as well as a distinct, no-nonsense look.

The two Schecter Diamond Plus pickups at the neck and the bridge are controlled by a 3-way switch, separate volume controls for each pickup, and a push/pull tone knob that lets you split-coil your pickups. As a result, it has a wide palette of tones perfect for meta, as well as other styles of music.

Finally, the Tune-O-Matic bridge features a string-thru-body design so it has high-performance tuning stability as well as adding maximum resonance and sustain.

As you can see, the Schecter Omen Extreme-6 has the metal looks, and tones you’ve been looking for.

We’re sure you’ll find that its playability, looks, and tone make it an excellent value.

Click here to get yours today! You won’t be disappointed.

The Best Guitars for Metal Beginners under $500: Best Budget

Ibanez Gio GRX20Z

Are you looking for an electric guitar to play some metal that also easily fits your budget? Then check out the Ibanez Gio GRX20Z.

It has a poplar body in Ibanez’s iconic RG shape, so it’s lightweight, resonant, and is comfortable to play.

The GRX-shaped bolt-on maple neck has a 12″ radius making it comfortable to play leads, and chords on as well as adding brightness and stability.

With 22 medium frets and simple dot inlays, the jatoba fretboard adds a rich mid-range and a crisp high end to your tone.

The Ibanez Infinity humbuckers at the neck and bridge positions are controlled by a master volume knob, master tone knob, and a 5-way switch. They’re all wired for split-coil so they have a great range of tonal variety.

Lastly, the T106 tremolo means easy and straightforward intonation and plenty of tuning stability.

All in all, the Ibanez Gio GRX20Z is a fabulous bargain with easy playability and Ibanez quality.

We’re sure you’ll agree that it has the looks and features that make it an excellent budget metal machine.

Why wait another day? Click here to get yours now!

The Best Guitars for Metal Beginners under $500: Best Runner-Up

ESP LTD MH-203QM

Are you looking for a metal machine that’s easy to play and has a very versatile sound? Then check out the ESP LTD MH-203QM.

It has an arched mahogany body with a quilted maple top so it looks stunning, has a classic tone, and is comfortable to play.

The bolt-on maple neck has a thin “U” shape and a radius of 13.75″ making it easy to play chords on, as well as being comfortable for playing leads.

With 24 extra-jumbo frets and tiny offset inlays, the maple fretboard has a natural look, is easy to shred on, and adds a classic tone to your sound.

Thanks to the pickups, it has a versatile sound that’s great for playing metal, as well as many other styles of music.

The ESP Designed LS-120N in the neck position, and ESP Designed LS-120M in the middle, and an ESP Designed LH-150B at the bridge position enable you to play everything from clean, crisp highs, to high gain lows at the toggle of a switch.

Finally, the LTD by Floyd Rose tremolo ensures tuning stability while allowing for crazy bends and dive bombs.

As you can see, the ESP LTD MH-203QM has some stunning looks, and tones that surpass simply playing metal.

We think you’ll find that it’s got versatile sounds, and is great for a wide variety of playing styles, and genres.

Don’t miss this opportunity! Click here and get yours now.

The Best Guitars for Metal Beginners under $500: Best Under $400

Schecter OMEN-6

Are you after a truly metal machine at an affordable price? Then check out the Schecter Omen-6.

It has an arched basswood body that is light and resonant with a very metal look to its design.

The bolt-on maple neck has a thin “C” shape and a radius of 14″ making it comfortable to play riffs on, and still easy to play rhythm on.

Plus, the fretboard is made of rosewood, with 24 X-Jumbo frets, a Graph Tech XL TUSQ nut, and Pearloid semi-goth inlays, so it has a true metal look as well as a classic tone.

With Schecter Diamond Plus pickups in the neck and bridge positions, it has a solid, clear clean tone as well as having a crunchy low end that slices through distortion.

Lastly, the Tune-O-Matic bridge has a string through body design that ensures dynamic tuning stability, as well as enhancing your sustain.

All in all, the Schecter Omen-6 has a timeless metal look, especially with its opulent fretboard inlays and aggressive headstock shape.

We think you’ll agree that it’s a shred-ready metal machine, available at a great price.

Why wait? Click here and get yours today.

The Best Guitars for Metal Beginners under $500: Best Under $300

Jackson Dinky Arch Top JS32 DKA

Are you looking for an affordable metal machine that has a great look and tone? Then check out the Jackson Dinky Arch Top JS32 DKA.

It has a poplar body with an arched top in Jackson’s Dinky shape so it’s got a classic setup that does metal well.

The bolt-on maple neck has a scarf joint and graphite reinforcement so it has high-performance stability and durability. Additionally, the compound radius of 12″-16″ ensures a natural playing feel no matter where you’re playing on the neck.

The amaranth fretboard has 24 jumbo frets and Jackson’s iconic Sharkfin inlays so it has metal looks and maximum playability.

With two Jackson High-Output humbuckers you’re ready to play heavy metal tones and drop-tuned songs.

Lastly, the Floyd Rose Licensed Jackson Tremolo ensures high-performance tuning stability and painless intonation.

All in all, the Jackson Dinky Arch Top JS32 DKA has the looks and tones to play metal at a price you can afford.

We think you’ll find that it’s the best choice for playing metal on a budget.

Why forgo the pleasure? Click here and get yours.

The Best Guitars for Metal Beginners under $500: FAQ

There you have the best guitars for metal beginners under $500!

• Which guitar is best for metal?
  • You definitely want a guitar with humbuckers. If you’re playing through some really heavy distortion, you’ll probably want some active pickups.
• Which type of guitar is best for beginners?
  • For a beginner, I’d recommend a guitar with a hardtail bridge, and simple controls. If you’re just starting out, consider our budget option or our best overall. Also, see this post on Jackson metal guitars.
• What guitar is used for metal?
  • Brands like Jackson, ESP, and Schecter produce guitars that cater more to the metal playing market. They usually have fast necks, humbuckers, and some kind of Floyd Rose.
• Can you play metal on any guitar?
  • For the most part, yes. If all you have is a Strat with single coils, it won’t cut through the distortion as well, but if you use the neck pickup, and put the tone on full, you can get by.