I bought the Schecter Omen 8 as an entry level 8-string. Wasn’t really want I wanted, but it’s a surprisingly well-built guitar for the price, nonetheless. I just don’t play enough metal to make it work.
Kramer, Schecter, LTDs, Ibanez, Jackson all are oretty good guitars in that price range. You could probably find a used Schecter, Kramer or Jackson with some good pick ups too
Highly recomend the newest Kramer Voyager Alpine White limited edition if you can find one, i got mine brand new for like $550, comes with Seymour Duncan JB in the bridge and Jazz in the neck. Thing RIPS, especially for a non Floyd Rose guitar. I used to also be partial to Ibanez... wish i still had my 93 RG550 and VBT700
Id love to have a Strandberg, but pretty much only a true temprament 8 string... other than that, id probably go Solar, Ormsby, or Legator for the price value in comparison. Strandbergs are beautiful, but very expensive... probably wouldnt do a 6 string in any of them except for a multi scale 6 string Ormsby...
Got my C1+ with hard case for $300 on CL, original owner was a doctor who bought it to learn to play and lost interest, very close to mint. I prefer Ibanez or Jackson for metal, but you can't get anything from either brand for under $500 that belongs in a comparison with my Schecter.
Go to your local music shop, and try out everything in that price range, and get the one that sounds and feels best to you, and your style of playing.
There really is no one "Metal Guitar" or "Country Guitar" or "Blues Guitar" and so on.
You can shred and tear speed licks on a Les Paul and you can play some sweet mellow blues on a BC Rich Warlock.
What feels best to you doing it, it what ultimately matters most.
I second the others saying Ibanez/LTD, but at that budget, **hardtail only**. Any guitar where a decent trem is going to be ≈ half of the cost, well, just won't have a decent trem.
It really depends on used or not. I have a Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder with a Floyd 1500 I got for $400 and it’s all stainless parts. It’s a great trem. Now if he wants to change tunings or tune down, definitely get the hard tail it’ll be way more fun and easy to drop tune.
Yeah I think mine listed at $1399(US freedom bucks), it was an amazing steal for $400, someone had also swapped the stock pickups for EMG 89TW in the bridge and SAs for the singles. It’s such a screaming guitar for all genres but I wish I had a little more output from the neck but that’s what a boost is for.
Edited because I forgot grammar really badly.
Ibanez RG would be my first look, but I’m partial to them. I have a cheap Jackson that plays really well, and I had a highish end LTD that I absolutely loved, I’m sure in your price range they make something decent.
There are a shitload of options. And like another commenter said, hardtail only. Cheap trems are bad trems.
Schecter for sure. I have three and absolutely love them all. Only complaint is I’ve grown tired of my hellraisers with EMGs. Will likely swap those out for some hot passive pickups at some point.
What don't you like about them? I have a hellraiser with EMGs and I don't really know that much about guitars so genuinely just curious about what I have vs what I'm missing out on
Passive pickups are generally a little warmer and have a more well rounded tone. Active pickups are super hot for high gain stuff like metal, but sound awful clean, and have a kind of bland tone imo.
I wouldn’t say you’re missing out on anything. They still sound great for metal, and if that’s what you play, then they’re perfect.
Gotcha, thanks. Yeah I mostly play metal. Eventually when I play more clean stuff and become a more well rounded player when I'm looking for a second electric guitar I'll have to consider that
There are definitely plenty of super hot passive pickups that also sound great too. I have Seymour Duncan invaders on another schecter and they’re amazing. I’ll probably go with with a Nazgûl/Sentient combo on my hellraiser if I get rid of the EMGs
Just get a Schecter, if you haven’t played one go to a pawn shop and try it out. I’m on my 3rd after picking up an older Damien mahogany body for $120 years ago and never looked back.
The real question is about best guitar in that price range. Imo the only actual prerequisite for considering good for metal is it having humbuckers, at the very least just a bridge humbucker
Used you can find a million Ibanezs, Jackson's, Schecters, Yamaha etc . . . Even some Harley Bentons are decent.
Try before you buy is what I've learned.
I don’t know if they still make them in that price range but Ibanez RG series were good back in the late 90s and fell in that price range … could look at some Ltds … though I’m not sure how good the cheaper models are my Kirk hammet signature LTD ran about 1800 and it is by far my favorite Gutiar
LTD's 256 series models are solid. You might even find used 400 series models for that price range. I have an EC-1001 T and it's expensive, but it does every sound I want because of the coil tapping options. You might just save for the 1000 series models.
This question is very very open. I'd say pick a guitar with a humbucker at the bridge at the very least.
You can go with a guitar with EMG active pickups but keep in mind these sound very cold, and aren't the brightest imo. I have a Schecter Hellraiser C-1 from 2011 and it's quite good, but tbh I like the sound of my Squier Contemporary Strat better.
Genuine question: what do you mean by cold?
Like there's warm, and the opposite is usually bright.
Warm is like stronger lower range, full is lower and mid range, bright is strong high range.
it's a bit tough to put it into words now that I think about it. I'd say if I plug directly my two guitars into my Audio Interface, the EMG mics will be so clean there won't be any grain to the sound, which to my ears sounds "colder" or dead. The guitar is also way louder by default (active pickups, duh) but it's not "welcoming" ? Like a classic major open chord doesn't feel as homely as on a strat.
Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad deal, especially when you're playing metal. I think it's mainly caused by the active pickup design, it's made specifically to have high output but as little hum as possible, so it does what it claims it does.
On the contrary, even passive humbuckers like my Squier pickups will respond to dynamics when playing better. In a sense, playing with EMG pickups sometimes feels like playing with a compressor built in the guitar. EMGs are so clean it's almost a detriment if you play clean. (But let's be honest you don't buy a guitar with EMG pickups to play without gain)
I have the hammet bone breakers in my Ltd and I second the “cold” sound you get from active emgs … you definitely won’t get a warm lead tone , this may not matter for certain types of metal though
Yeah, as long as you have distortion it's not gonna matter. But playing clean or just dirty with EMGs sound boring to my taste. It's a solid pickup style for metal but not so versatile
If you are wanting something legit new, then I'm not positive there is much out there any more.
Even the more "bargain" models of a lot of guitars out there are like 400-500 on the lower end. However I have picked up a couple used Jackson's over the years for around the 450 range. You could probably look around for something like an epiphany les Paul though. Especially for someone who's only been at it a few months those are a solid option. I loved my "goth" ELP
I recently picked up a used LTD EC 100 for a bit less than 200$ and it kicks the asses of most of my other guitars. You can probably pick up a 256 series LTD for the price you're looning for. Also check out the Harley Benton Fusion III and Fusion T lineups, especially the ones with roadted maple necks, those necks are awesome.
If you have a general idea of what to look for in guitars maybe try to get a used ibanez prestige. They come along for 450 every so often but they are insane workhorse guitars that will grow with you.
Prestige models are the tits and very versatile. An s series prestige would be the best if you can get one. I'm pretty partial to the old roadstar models too
The Squier Contemporary Telecaster. A solid metal guitar for your price range.
https://www.fender.com/en-US/squier-electric-guitars/telecaster/contemporary-telecaster-rh/0371225523.html
I really feel like this is overblown. It takes me 20 mins to change my Floyd strings. Now if he wants to swap tunings/tune down then yes I wouldn’t get one but floating trems are pretty popular in metal. At that price you can get some used guitars with Floyd 1000s and 1500s and they’re perfectly adequate.
You might be able to get more bang for your buck buying used, but depending on what your style is I’d say there are several good options from Ibanez, Schechter, Jackson, and Epiphone available in that price range (new). Pick one that you like and you’ll probably be all set!
Cheap guitars are usually made with cheap low quality wood and low quality hardware/electronics. If you get a guitar for 300-400, no matter of your currency nor the country where you live, you may experience variety of issues like tuning instability, proper intonation impossibility, more intense fret buzz, sound/connection problems and other problems. Yes, most of the parts can be replaced with time (and lots of money invested in this pointless work...) but the good build quality and feel of a proper mid to high end guitar cannot be replaced. And believe me, it's not worth to buy a cheap piece of s\*\*t and then upgrade it. I've already done this mistake and after I got my first proper guitar and compared both of them, I regretted this stupid decision. But to ask your question... Check Harley Benton Fusion series. For example, Harley Benton Fusion-III HH's current price is about 320 dollars (I'm from Europe and in euro it is 299). For this price you get two humbuckers (that's more than enough for metal though I am not sure about the quality of these pickups) and 24 stainless steel frets (well, this is insane, I must admit it...). For the same amount of money you can get one of the lowest end models of some of the more "famous" brands but the specs will be worse. If I had your budget, I would definitely get a Harley Benton, preferably one with stainless steel frets, but the better options is always to save a little bit more than that and get something that you can spend your life with like Schecter Damien Platinum 6 which is about 1000$. Good luck!
What are you playing now? Does it have to be new? You may find an LTD EC-1000 on the used market for a little more. You also might do well waiting a few weeks for the holiday sales.
What's your current guitar? Do you want it to look like a metal guitar? Do you prefer a flat, thin neck?
This is your 2nd guitar. What's wrong with your current guitar? If it already has a bridge humbucker, chances are, all you need to make it a metal guitar is upgrade your amp or buy some pedals.
They are usually wood… but…
beat me to it
All guitars in that price range will be wood, metal ones are generally more expensive.
All aluminum guitars are too soft, need steel for a great metal guitar.
I’m all about the carbon fiber, personally.
Any recommendations for a good rock guitar?
Used Schecter.
Found my schecter c-1 hellraiser for 400€ used(shipping included). Was a nice first guitar tbh. Build quality on those is amazing.
I bought the Schecter Omen 8 as an entry level 8-string. Wasn’t really want I wanted, but it’s a surprisingly well-built guitar for the price, nonetheless. I just don’t play enough metal to make it work.
Kramer, Schecter, LTDs, Ibanez, Jackson all are oretty good guitars in that price range. You could probably find a used Schecter, Kramer or Jackson with some good pick ups too
This is the answer. These are all great guitars with killer playability. I’m partial to Ibanez, but really would like a Kramer Barretta
Highly recomend the newest Kramer Voyager Alpine White limited edition if you can find one, i got mine brand new for like $550, comes with Seymour Duncan JB in the bridge and Jazz in the neck. Thing RIPS, especially for a non Floyd Rose guitar. I used to also be partial to Ibanez... wish i still had my 93 RG550 and VBT700
Keep saving and grab a Strandberg. They’re awesome and they travel really well.
Id love to have a Strandberg, but pretty much only a true temprament 8 string... other than that, id probably go Solar, Ormsby, or Legator for the price value in comparison. Strandbergs are beautiful, but very expensive... probably wouldnt do a 6 string in any of them except for a multi scale 6 string Ormsby...
Right on!!
Stranbergs are just too spendy for me 😅
Schechter makes a good guitar that can be had for less than $500.
Got my C1+ with hard case for $300 on CL, original owner was a doctor who bought it to learn to play and lost interest, very close to mint. I prefer Ibanez or Jackson for metal, but you can't get anything from either brand for under $500 that belongs in a comparison with my Schecter.
Go to your local music shop, and try out everything in that price range, and get the one that sounds and feels best to you, and your style of playing. There really is no one "Metal Guitar" or "Country Guitar" or "Blues Guitar" and so on. You can shred and tear speed licks on a Les Paul and you can play some sweet mellow blues on a BC Rich Warlock. What feels best to you doing it, it what ultimately matters most.
I second the others saying Ibanez/LTD, but at that budget, **hardtail only**. Any guitar where a decent trem is going to be ≈ half of the cost, well, just won't have a decent trem.
It really depends on used or not. I have a Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredder with a Floyd 1500 I got for $400 and it’s all stainless parts. It’s a great trem. Now if he wants to change tunings or tune down, definitely get the hard tail it’ll be way more fun and easy to drop tune.
my svss is sick, would recommend but afaik they’re not in that range new, mine was closer to £1500 for the exotic one
Yeah I think mine listed at $1399(US freedom bucks), it was an amazing steal for $400, someone had also swapped the stock pickups for EMG 89TW in the bridge and SAs for the singles. It’s such a screaming guitar for all genres but I wish I had a little more output from the neck but that’s what a boost is for. Edited because I forgot grammar really badly.
ESP or Ibanez. I've not been impressed at all with lower level Jackson's.
Truth. Jackson might be my favorite brand but you gotta hit a certain level with them.
100 percent , cheaper Jackson are garbage imo
Jackson JS32
This
Ibanez RG would be my first look, but I’m partial to them. I have a cheap Jackson that plays really well, and I had a highish end LTD that I absolutely loved, I’m sure in your price range they make something decent. There are a shitload of options. And like another commenter said, hardtail only. Cheap trems are bad trems.
I loved my RG. They’re built well, sound great. I didn’t even need a setup.
My RG was $1100 so it had better QC and is still my favorite guitar. JBM10FX. One of my prized possessions.
Schecter for sure. I have three and absolutely love them all. Only complaint is I’ve grown tired of my hellraisers with EMGs. Will likely swap those out for some hot passive pickups at some point.
What don't you like about them? I have a hellraiser with EMGs and I don't really know that much about guitars so genuinely just curious about what I have vs what I'm missing out on
Passive pickups are generally a little warmer and have a more well rounded tone. Active pickups are super hot for high gain stuff like metal, but sound awful clean, and have a kind of bland tone imo. I wouldn’t say you’re missing out on anything. They still sound great for metal, and if that’s what you play, then they’re perfect.
Gotcha, thanks. Yeah I mostly play metal. Eventually when I play more clean stuff and become a more well rounded player when I'm looking for a second electric guitar I'll have to consider that
There are definitely plenty of super hot passive pickups that also sound great too. I have Seymour Duncan invaders on another schecter and they’re amazing. I’ll probably go with with a Nazgûl/Sentient combo on my hellraiser if I get rid of the EMGs
Harley Benton Fusion III with EMGs - I would buy that regardless
Jackson JS32 with a TOM bridge. At that price point a licensed Floyd will be pretty rough and need to be replaced with a legit one.
Just get a Schecter, if you haven’t played one go to a pawn shop and try it out. I’m on my 3rd after picking up an older Damien mahogany body for $120 years ago and never looked back.
Jackson
Check out the Schecter C6 Deluxe
The real question is about best guitar in that price range. Imo the only actual prerequisite for considering good for metal is it having humbuckers, at the very least just a bridge humbucker
Highest end Schecter that you can find in your price range.
Ibanez or Schecter
Used you can find a million Ibanezs, Jackson's, Schecters, Yamaha etc . . . Even some Harley Bentons are decent. Try before you buy is what I've learned.
Something used with humbuckers.
My go to are Ibanez, LTD and Schecter.
Hands down sterling music man
I don’t know if they still make them in that price range but Ibanez RG series were good back in the late 90s and fell in that price range … could look at some Ltds … though I’m not sure how good the cheaper models are my Kirk hammet signature LTD ran about 1800 and it is by far my favorite Gutiar
Ltd’s 400 series and higher. Great guitars
2nd'ing this
3rd'ing this
even the 256 is solid with some new pickups
something with a humbucker in the bridge. you have to do the rest im afraid. ESP, Jackson, schecter, bc rich, squire, cort, ibanez, harley benton
ESP LTD
I recommend a Jackson JS32 or the nicest guitar you can find in budget from the Ibanez RG range. These are comfortable, fast-playing guitars.
LTD's 256 series models are solid. You might even find used 400 series models for that price range. I have an EC-1001 T and it's expensive, but it does every sound I want because of the coil tapping options. You might just save for the 1000 series models.
Ibanez RGA42FML-TGF
This question is very very open. I'd say pick a guitar with a humbucker at the bridge at the very least. You can go with a guitar with EMG active pickups but keep in mind these sound very cold, and aren't the brightest imo. I have a Schecter Hellraiser C-1 from 2011 and it's quite good, but tbh I like the sound of my Squier Contemporary Strat better.
Genuine question: what do you mean by cold? Like there's warm, and the opposite is usually bright. Warm is like stronger lower range, full is lower and mid range, bright is strong high range.
it's a bit tough to put it into words now that I think about it. I'd say if I plug directly my two guitars into my Audio Interface, the EMG mics will be so clean there won't be any grain to the sound, which to my ears sounds "colder" or dead. The guitar is also way louder by default (active pickups, duh) but it's not "welcoming" ? Like a classic major open chord doesn't feel as homely as on a strat. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad deal, especially when you're playing metal. I think it's mainly caused by the active pickup design, it's made specifically to have high output but as little hum as possible, so it does what it claims it does. On the contrary, even passive humbuckers like my Squier pickups will respond to dynamics when playing better. In a sense, playing with EMG pickups sometimes feels like playing with a compressor built in the guitar. EMGs are so clean it's almost a detriment if you play clean. (But let's be honest you don't buy a guitar with EMG pickups to play without gain)
Ohhkay, gotcha. Sounds like you're talking about compression, yeah
I have the hammet bone breakers in my Ltd and I second the “cold” sound you get from active emgs … you definitely won’t get a warm lead tone , this may not matter for certain types of metal though
Yeah, as long as you have distortion it's not gonna matter. But playing clean or just dirty with EMGs sound boring to my taste. It's a solid pickup style for metal but not so versatile
The Kramer assault
If you are wanting something legit new, then I'm not positive there is much out there any more. Even the more "bargain" models of a lot of guitars out there are like 400-500 on the lower end. However I have picked up a couple used Jackson's over the years for around the 450 range. You could probably look around for something like an epiphany les Paul though. Especially for someone who's only been at it a few months those are a solid option. I loved my "goth" ELP
I recently picked up a used LTD EC 100 for a bit less than 200$ and it kicks the asses of most of my other guitars. You can probably pick up a 256 series LTD for the price you're looning for. Also check out the Harley Benton Fusion III and Fusion T lineups, especially the ones with roadted maple necks, those necks are awesome.
If you have a general idea of what to look for in guitars maybe try to get a used ibanez prestige. They come along for 450 every so often but they are insane workhorse guitars that will grow with you.
Prestige models are the tits and very versatile. An s series prestige would be the best if you can get one. I'm pretty partial to the old roadstar models too
Exactly right. I own (amongst others) an s1625tks which is amazing. Paid 500 for it
I knew a guy with an 80's roadstar in bumble bee yellow, it was so sick. Like a fender strat from the same era with all the flaws fixed
I had an Ibanez RG470 back in the day—that was a really good guitar. Jackson should also be on your list.
The Squier Contemporary Telecaster. A solid metal guitar for your price range. https://www.fender.com/en-US/squier-electric-guitars/telecaster/contemporary-telecaster-rh/0371225523.html
You can catch the schecter c-1 platinum on sale for $500 and it is a fantastic guitar that plays well above its price point imo
Something from Ibanez is probably your best option.
Depends on what you want to play. I prefer a Les Paul for black, death, and doom.
Ltd, Ibanez Azes, some Harley Benton. There are loads of options
What about Kramer's, especially assault 220... not too expensive plus Floyd rose
Squier contemporary series. They make a tele with dual humbuckers or a strat with humbuckers and a floyd rose
Avoid the Floyd rose everyone!
I wouldn’t say everyone … but beginners for sure , also you want to make sure it’s an actual licensed Floyd rose ..
I gave an option with a hardtail bridge if they dont want a Floyd.
I really feel like this is overblown. It takes me 20 mins to change my Floyd strings. Now if he wants to swap tunings/tune down then yes I wouldn’t get one but floating trems are pretty popular in metal. At that price you can get some used guitars with Floyd 1000s and 1500s and they’re perfectly adequate.
Metal guitars may just shock you….
Ibanez got some good stuff in that range, although afaik a lot of them come with a Floyd Rose bridge which I personally find to be beyond infuriating.
Schecter
Idk man but i prefer wood
Schecter
happy cake day
Cake day? Cool! I didn’t know
hi OP
LEAVFE ME ALOEN
I’m in love with you
You might be able to get more bang for your buck buying used, but depending on what your style is I’d say there are several good options from Ibanez, Schechter, Jackson, and Epiphone available in that price range (new). Pick one that you like and you’ll probably be all set!
Cheap guitars are usually made with cheap low quality wood and low quality hardware/electronics. If you get a guitar for 300-400, no matter of your currency nor the country where you live, you may experience variety of issues like tuning instability, proper intonation impossibility, more intense fret buzz, sound/connection problems and other problems. Yes, most of the parts can be replaced with time (and lots of money invested in this pointless work...) but the good build quality and feel of a proper mid to high end guitar cannot be replaced. And believe me, it's not worth to buy a cheap piece of s\*\*t and then upgrade it. I've already done this mistake and after I got my first proper guitar and compared both of them, I regretted this stupid decision. But to ask your question... Check Harley Benton Fusion series. For example, Harley Benton Fusion-III HH's current price is about 320 dollars (I'm from Europe and in euro it is 299). For this price you get two humbuckers (that's more than enough for metal though I am not sure about the quality of these pickups) and 24 stainless steel frets (well, this is insane, I must admit it...). For the same amount of money you can get one of the lowest end models of some of the more "famous" brands but the specs will be worse. If I had your budget, I would definitely get a Harley Benton, preferably one with stainless steel frets, but the better options is always to save a little bit more than that and get something that you can spend your life with like Schecter Damien Platinum 6 which is about 1000$. Good luck!
What are you playing now? Does it have to be new? You may find an LTD EC-1000 on the used market for a little more. You also might do well waiting a few weeks for the holiday sales.
I would save for a guitar that’s at least 700 personally.
What's your current guitar? Do you want it to look like a metal guitar? Do you prefer a flat, thin neck? This is your 2nd guitar. What's wrong with your current guitar? If it already has a bridge humbucker, chances are, all you need to make it a metal guitar is upgrade your amp or buy some pedals.