Best Metal Guitar Rigs Under £500

The best metal guitar rigs for a £500 · Sweet Spot budget. 4 artist-matched rigs — recommended guitar, amp, pedals, and signal chain.

£200 · Beginner£1,000 · Pro-Level£2,500 · Premium

Why It Works

A 50W solid-state high-gain amp with a noise gate is the sweet spot for metal at £500. Less authentic than valves, but more reliable at venue volumes.

Tony Iommi
Tony IommiMetal
Total~£497
GuitarEpiphone SG Special£149
AmpBoss Katana 50 MkII£149
BoostPaul Cochrane Timmy£199
Full rig breakdown →Tone guide
Randy Rhoads
Randy RhoadsMetal
Total~£497
GuitarEpiphone Explorer£299
AmpBoss Katana 50 MkII£149
DistortionBoss DS-1 Distortion£49
Full rig breakdown →Tone guide
Kirk Hammett
Kirk HammettMetal
Total~£592
GuitarJackson JS22 Dinky£219
AmpBoss Katana 50 MkII£149
WahDunlop GCB95 Cry Baby Wah£69
DistortionBoss DS-1 Distortion£45
Full rig breakdown →Tone guide
Dimebag Darrell
Dimebag DarrellMetal
Total~£478
GuitarIbanez RG421 EX£329
AmpBoss Katana 50 MkII£149
Full rig breakdown →Tone guide

Standard Signal Chain Order

Guitar
→
Tuner
→
Wah / Filter
→
Overdrive / Fuzz
→
Modulation
→
Delay
→
Reverb
→
Amp

More £500 · Sweet Spot Rigs

RockBluesJazzIndieAll genres →

Shop by category

Best Guitar under £200 →Best Guitar under £500 →Best Amp under £200 →Best Amp under £500 →
All £500 · Sweet Spot rigs →All Metal guitarists →Rig Builder →Gear alternatives →