# Which solid-body electric guitar offers the best value for money under £500? — Verified Specification Comparison

> All specification data verified from official manufacturer documentation.

Which solid-body electric guitar offers the best value for money under £500?

## Products

### PRS SE CE 24 Standard Stoptail
```yaml
product: prs-se-ce-24-standard-stoptail
brand: PRS SE
price_gbp: 408.72
origin_country: null
confidence_score: null
summary_source: generated_from_verified_specs_v1
scale_length: 25 in
body_material: Mahogany
neck_material: Maple
number_of_pickups: 2
number_of_strings: 6
pickup_configuration: Humbucker-Humbucker with coil-tap (push/pull)
```

- **Price:** £408.72 [^1]
- **Summary:** All-mahogany solidbody with a bolt-on maple neck, 24 frets, PRS 85/15 S pickups and a stoptail bridge for stable tuning. Suits players seeking a versatile, affordable PRS with warm tone and humbucker-to-single-coil options.
- **Additional Sources:** [^2]

### Yamaha Pacifica 112J
```yaml
product: yamaha-pacifica-112j
brand: Yamaha
price_gbp: 167.51
origin_country: null
confidence_score: null
summary_source: generated_from_verified_specs_v1
scale_length: 25.5 in
body_material: Alder
neck_material: Maple
number_of_pickups: 3
number_of_strings: 6
pickup_configuration: HSS (1 Humbucker, 2 Single-Coil)
```

- **Price:** £167.51 [^3]
- **Summary:** The Pacifica 112J is an HSS Strat-style solid-body electric with an alder body, bolt-on maple neck and rosewood fingerboard. It offers versatile tones from its humbucker plus two single-coil pickups and a vintage-style tremolo, making it well suited to beginners and gigging players seeking an affordable, flexible guitar.
- **Additional Sources:** [^4], [^5]

### Harley Benton ST-20HSS Standard Series
```yaml
product: harley-benton-st-20hss-standard-series
brand: Harley Benton
price_gbp: 81.15
origin_country: null
confidence_score: null
summary_source: generated_from_verified_specs_v1
scale_length: 648 mm
body_material: Poplar
neck_material: Maple
number_of_pickups: 3
number_of_strings: 6
pickup_configuration: HSS
```

- **Price:** £81.15 [^6]
- **Summary:** HSS Strat-style electric with a poplar body, bolt-on maple neck and laurel fingerboard. Versatile pickup set (humbucker bridge, two single-coils) suits beginners and gigging players who need clean to high-gain tones.
- **Additional Sources:** [^7], [^8]

### Gretsch G5210-P90 Electromatic Jet
```yaml
product: gretsch-g5210-p90-electromatic-jet
brand: Gretsch
price_gbp: 431.79
origin_country: null
confidence_score: null
summary_source: generated_from_verified_specs_v1
scale_length: 24.6 in
body_material: Mahogany
neck_material: Mahogany
number_of_pickups: 2
number_of_strings: 6
pickup_configuration: P90 / P90
```

- **Price:** £431.79 [^9]
- **Summary:** Chambered mahogany body with a maple top, mahogany neck and dual P-90 single-coil pickups deliver warm, punchy tone with clear highs. Suited for players seeking vintage-style single-cut playability and P90 grit at an affordable price.
- **Additional Sources:** [^10], [^11]

### Squier Sonic Stratocaster HSS
```yaml
product: squier-sonic-stratocaster-hss
brand: Squier
price_gbp: 186.11
origin_country: null
confidence_score: null
summary_source: generated_from_verified_specs_v1
scale_length: 25.5 in
body_material: Poplar
neck_material: Maple
number_of_pickups: 3
number_of_strings: 6
pickup_configuration: HSS
```

- **Price:** £186.11 [^12]
- **Summary:** A lightweight, player-friendly Stratocaster with a poplar body, maple neck and an HSS pickup layout (ceramic humbucker plus two single-coils). It offers versatile tones and a slim C-shaped neck, suited for beginners and gigging players who want both clean chime and higher-output bridge tones.
- **Additional Sources:** [^13], [^14]

### Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS
```yaml
product: squier-affinity-series-stratocaster-hss
brand: Squier
price_gbp: 207.71
origin_country: null
confidence_score: null
summary_source: generated_from_verified_specs_v1
scale_length: 25.5 in
body_material: Poplar
neck_material: Maple
number_of_pickups: 3
number_of_strings: 6
pickup_configuration: HSS
```

- **Price:** £207.71 [^15]
- **Summary:** The Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS is a beginner-friendly Strat with a lightweight poplar body, maple neck, and an HSS pickup layout for versatile tones from clean to overdriven. It suits beginners and intermediate players who want classic Strat playability with added bridge humbucker power.
- **Additional Sources:** [^16], [^17]

### Epiphone Les Paul Junior TV Yellow
```yaml
product: epiphone-les-paul-junior-tv-yellow
brand: Epiphone
price_gbp: 393.83
origin_country: null
confidence_score: null
summary_source: generated_from_verified_specs_v1
scale_length: 24.75 in
body_material: Mahogany
neck_material: Mahogany
number_of_pickups: 1
number_of_strings: 6
pickup_configuration: P-90 bridge (Dogear)
```

- **Price:** £393.83 [^18]
- **Summary:** Single-cut, stripped-back Les Paul with a mahogany body and neck, rosewood fretboard, a single P-90 Dogear bridge pickup and wraparound bridge. Suited to players seeking raw, overdriven tone and a simple, vintage-style instrument.
- **Additional Sources:** [^19], [^20]

---
## References & Sources
[^1]: PRS Guitars, accessed 2026-06-06. https://prsguitars.com/electrics/model/se_ce_24_standard_stoptail_satin
[^2]: Brian's Guitars, accessed 2026-06-06. https://briansguitars.com/products/paul-reed-smith-se-ce-24-standard-satin-stoptail-ice-blue-metallic
[^3]: Gear4music, accessed 2026-06-06. https://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Yamaha-PAC112J-Electric-Guitar/2QG
[^4]: The Music Works (TMW), accessed 2026-06-06. https://tmw.com.sg/product/pac112j-electric-guitar/
[^5]: FindMyGuitar (listing), accessed 2026-06-06. https://findmyguitar.com/reviews/Yamaha-PAC112J-review.php
[^6]: Thomann, accessed 2026-06-06. https://www.thomannmusic.com/harley_benton_st_20hss_sbk_standard_series.htm
[^7]: Harley Benton (official), accessed 2026-06-06. https://harleybenton.com/product/st-20hss-sbk/
[^8]: Equipboard (merchant listing quoting Thomann), accessed 2026-06-06. https://equipboard.com/items/harley-benton-st-20hss-lh
[^9]: Gretsch, accessed 2026-06-06. https://www.gretschguitars.com/gear/build/solid-body/g5210t-p90-electromatic-jet-two-90-single-cut-with-bigsby/2507190561
[^10]: Guitar Center, accessed 2026-06-06. https://www.guitarcenter.com/Gretsch-Guitars/G5210T-P90-Electromatic-Jet-Two-90-Single-Cut-with-Bigsby-Electric-Guitar-Amethyst-1500000388056.gc
[^11]: The Music Den, accessed 2026-06-06. https://themusicden.com/gretsch-g5210-p90-electromatic-jet-two-90-single-cut-with-wraparound-cadillac-green/
[^12]: Guitar Center, accessed 2026-06-06. https://www.guitarcenter.com/Squier/Sonic-Stratocaster-HSS-Electric-Guitar-Midnight-Blue-1500000473888.gc
[^13]: Fender, accessed 2026-06-06. https://www.fender.com/products/squier-sonic-stratocaster-hss
[^14]: West Music, accessed 2026-06-06. https://www.westmusic.com/squier-sonic-stratocaster-hss-maple-fingerboard-black-308112
[^15]: Guitar Center, accessed 2026-06-06. https://www.guitarcenter.com/Squier/Affinity-Series-Stratocaster-Maple-Fingerboard-Electric-Guitar-Olympic-White-1500000348232.gc
[^16]: Music Store Live, accessed 2026-06-06. https://www.musicstorelive.com/fen-0372820002.html
[^17]: FindMyGuitar, accessed 2026-06-06. https://findmyguitar.com/compare/Fender-Squier-Affinity-Series-Stratocaster-HSS-vs-Fender-Squier-Affinity-Series-Stratocaster-comparison.php
[^18]: Thomann, accessed 2026-06-06. https://www.thomannmusic.com/epiphone_les_paul_junior_tv_yellow.htm
[^19]: Manchester Music Mill, accessed 2026-06-06. https://manchestermusicmill.com/epiphone-les-paul-junior-electric-guitar-tv-yellow-w-gigbag/
[^20]: Empire Music, accessed 2026-06-06. https://empiremusic.com/products/epiphone-les-paul-junior-tv-yellow-27446