Best Used Guitars Under £500
The used guitar market offers exceptional value — guitars that cost £800–1,500 new appear regularly at £300–500 used after 1–3 years of light use. For players who know what they want, second-hand is consistently the better value proposition.
Best Used Guitars Under £500
Fender Player Stratocaster — Used £350–400 | Best Used Guitar Under £500
The Player Strat (2018–present) replaced the Mexican Standard Strat — Player Series Player pickups, 22-fret neck, 9.5" radius. New price: £850. Used price: £350–400 in good condition. A £450 saving over new, for a guitar 6–18 months old.
Where to find: Reverb, eBay, Andertons Used, Guitar Village Used, local classifieds.
What to check when buying used: Fret wear (shine on frets indicates heavy use), neck straightness (look down the neck from the headstock), pickup output (test all positions), tuner stability.
Fender Mexican Standard Stratocaster (MIM Standard, 2005–2018) — Used £250–350
The predecessor to the Player Strat — also made in Mexico (Ensenada), Fender-designed pickups, maple or rosewood fingerboard. Excellent used value — nearly the same guitar as the Player Strat but at lower used prices due to age.
Best for: Players who want Fender quality without the new Player Strat price premium.
Fender American Standard Stratocaster (2007–2016) — Used £450–600
USA-made, Samarium Cobalt Noiseless (SCN) or Custom Shop Texas Special pickups (depending on year), noiseless preamp (original SCN models), American standard bridge. A USA-made Fender Stratocaster for under £600 used — significantly better than any new Mexican guitar.
Best for: Players who want USA-made Fender for the price of a new Mexican.
Gibson Les Paul Studio — Used £450–550 | Best Used Les Paul Under £600
The Studio is Gibson's entry-level Les Paul — mahogany body, maple top (thinner than Standard), Gibson humbucker pickups (490R/498T in most years). New price: £1,400. Used: £450–550.
Studio vs Standard: The Studio has a thinner maple top and fewer cosmetic features (no binding on the fretboard, simpler headstock) — the tone is very similar to the Standard.
Best for: Players who want a genuine Gibson Les Paul at a realistic budget.
Where to Buy Used Guitars in the UK
Reverb.com: The largest online second-hand guitar marketplace — extensive selection, buyer protection, price guides.
eBay UK: Broad selection; less guitar-specific than Reverb; good for finding local pickup options.
Gumtree/Facebook Marketplace: Local second-hand — no shipping, can inspect before purchase. Best for cheap guitars under £300.
Specialist retailers: Andertons (Used section), Guitar Village Used, GAK Used — vetted second-hand guitars with retailer warranty.
Used Guitar Buying Checklist
Before purchasing:
- Check the neck is straight (sight down from headstock — small relief is normal, back-bow is bad)
- Check fret wear (heavy fret wear reduces playability and requires fret levelling/replacement)
- Check all electronics (test each pickup position, volume and tone pots for crackling)
- Check tuning stability (tune up and play for 10 minutes; should hold tuning)
- Check nut and saddle condition (nut slots that are too low cause open string buzz; saddle should sit flush in bridge)
The Used Market Systematically Beats New at This Budget
The core insight this entire guide rests on is worth stating plainly: guitars that cost £800-1,500 new appear regularly at £300-500 used after just 1-3 years of light use. At the £500 budget specifically, buying used isn't a compromise — it's the mathematically superior choice, since no new guitar at this price matches the specification of a used Player Strat or Les Paul Studio.
Treat "new guitar under £500" as the fallback option, not the default — only choose new if the specific checklist risks of buying used (condition uncertainty, no warranty) outweigh the substantial specification upgrade used buying provides.
Common Mistakes
Skipping the used-guitar checklist because a listing looks trustworthy. As the Used Guitar Buying Checklist outlines, neck straightness, fret wear, electronics function, tuning stability, and structural integrity all need direct verification — a good-looking listing photo doesn't substitute for checking these specifics.
Using bank transfer for an online used guitar purchase. As the FAQ warns explicitly, this bypasses the buyer protection that Reverb.com or PayPal Goods and Services provides — a real, avoidable financial risk when better payment options exist.
Assuming the American Standard Stratocaster's higher used price isn't worth it over the Player. As the guide notes, a USA-made Fender for under £600 used is significantly better specification than any new Mexican-made guitar — the extra £150-200 over a used Player buys a genuine manufacturing-origin upgrade.
Overlooking local marketplaces for the lowest-risk in-person purchases. As the Where to Buy section notes, Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace allow inspection before purchase with no shipping risk — often the safest option specifically for guitars under £300 where shipping damage risk matters proportionally more.
ToneStakr's Take
At this specific budget, actively searching the used market before considering any new guitar purchase is the single highest-value move available — the guide's own numbers show a genuine £450 saving on a Player Stratocaster that's only 6-18 months old. For players specifically wanting Gibson quality, the used Les Paul Studio market deserves equal attention, since it's the only realistic way to own a genuine Gibson for close to £500 rather than the £1,400 new price.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best used guitar under £500?
A used Fender Player Stratocaster (£350-400 used) — excellent value from a well-made guitar typically only 6 to 18 months old, representing a substantial saving over its £850 new price.
Is it safe to buy a used guitar online?
Yes, on Reverb.com specifically — buyer protection covers non-delivery and misrepresentation issues. On eBay, using PayPal Goods and Services provides similar protection. Avoid direct bank transfers, which offer no recourse if something goes wrong.
What should I look for when buying a used guitar?
Neck straightness, fret wear, electronics function, tuning stability, and confirmation of no structural damage — including cracks in the body, headstock breaks, or bridge separation on acoustic instruments.
Is it worth paying a premium for a used guitar from a specialist retailer like Andertons Used over a private seller?
Often yes for buyer peace of mind — specialist retailers typically offer a retailer warranty and have already inspected the instrument, which reduces risk compared to a private sale, even though the price is usually somewhat higher than an equivalent private-seller listing.
How much should I budget beyond the guitar price for a used purchase that needs setup work?
A reasonable allowance is £40-60 for a professional setup, which is worth factoring into your total budget from the start — many used guitars play noticeably better after this relatively small additional investment.
Does buying used affect warranty coverage on electronics or hardware?
Generally yes — most manufacturer warranties are tied to the original purchaser and don't transfer to a used buyer, which is part of why the used-guitar checklist's emphasis on testing electronics and hardware condition before purchase matters so much.