If you’re searching for some of the best cheap guitars with active pickups, don’t worry – you’ve come to the right place! In today’s in-depth guide, I’m going to highlight some of the coolest and most affordable electric guitars of this type.
The truth is that finding a good, reliable and inexpensive axe with active pickups isn’t that easy. Quite a lot of guitars with active pickups are really expensive, but there are still a few models that particularly deserve a lot of attention.
That’s why I decided to create a list of 10 cheap guitars with active pickups! Hopefully, this guide will help you find your next dream axe. The sound demos are included as well, so you’ll be able to hear how they all sound.
1. Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster
Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster is one of the best cheap guitars with active pickups that you can currently find on the market. It has everything you need – the looks, the feel and the sound!
What makes it so special? Well, the guitar features a poplar body and a comfortable Modern C-shaped maple neck with an easy-playing laurel fingerboard. This is a huge advantage of that model, especially for those who enjoy shredding.
The manufacturer equipped that model with a pair of active ceramic pickups which give you access to a lot of fantastic tones. They deliver a really wide tonal range and a really impressive output. Surely, all lovers of rock and metal will be satisfied with that kind of tone.
When it comes to pricing, it’s not the cheapest guitar on today’s list, but it’s definitely one of the best axes of this type that you can find under $500. And although it’s a pretty cheap guitar, it doesn’t sound or feel cheap at all. Squier really cares about their quality control these days!
Overall, I have no hesitation in recommending the Contemporary Active Jazzmaster to all guitarists who are looking for a great sounding and reliable guitar of this type. This model exceeds all the expectations.
Here’s the sound demo.
2. Harley Benton ST-20HH Active
Harley Benton ST-20HH Active is one of the cheapest electric guitars mentioned on today’s list. Just like all the other axes made by this brand, it offers a surprisingly good value for the money.
The ST-20HH model features a lightweight poplar body, a comfortable maple neck and an easy-playing roseacer fingerboard. It may look like a regular Stratocaster, but it’s way more powerful than any other cheap Strat. Surely, all lovers of shredding will appreciate that!
The manufacturer equipped this model with a pair of active high gain HBZ humbuckers which sound really good. Additionally, the sustain of that axe is also great, so it’s a perfect choice for everyone who likes hard rock and heavy metal.
Undoubtedly, Harley Benton ST-20HH Active is one of the best cheap guitars with active pickups that you can currently find on the market. It’s definitely worth the money!
Here’s the sound demo.
3. Schecter Hellraiser C-1
Schecter Hellraiser C-1 is one of the most expensive electric guitars on today’s list, but it definitely deserves a lot of attention. It’s not exactly a cheap guitar, but considering the fact that it looks, sounds and feels like a premium model, it’s worth checking out.
The guitar features a solid mahogany body and a mahogany neck with a smooth rosewood fingerboard. The thin neck of that model is a huge advantage, because it allows you to efficiently practice and play fast solos without getting tired.
Schecter equipped this model with a pair of EMG active pickups (81TW and 89) which sound absolutely amazing. They’re perfect for rock and metal, so if that’s your kind of vibe, you’ll immediately fall in love with that guitar. Additionally, the TonePros TOM bridge with through-body construction significantly improves the tuning stability and sustain.
Although it’s not a budget guitar, it’s definitely one of the best guitars with active pickups that you can find under $1000. That’s why I have no hesitation in recommending it to all lovers of heavier genres of music!
Here’s the sound demo.
4. Schecter Damien Platinum 6
Schecter Damien Platinum 6 is an another fantastic electric guitar with active pickups. It has everything that you potentially need from a guitar of this type – it sounds, looks and feels fantastic.
The guitar features a mahogany body with a 3-piece maple neck and an easy-playing rosewood fingerboard. The Thin C shape of that neck is a huge advantage of that model – it’s perfect for all lovers of fast solos! Additionally, this model also features the Grover Rotomatic tuners which significantly improve the tuning stability.
Just like any other guitar mentioned on today’s list, the Schecter Damien Platinum 6 is equipped with a pair of active pickups (EMG 81 and EMG 85). Both of them are perfect for rock and metal, so if you like that kind of music, you will definitely enjoy playing on that Superstrat.
Undoubtedly, this is one of the best guitars with active pickups that you can find under $1000. It’s not the cheapest axe out there, but it definitely exceeds all the expectations. That’s why I love it!
Here’s the demo.
5. Harley Benton SC-1000 SBK Progressive Line
Harley Benton SC-1000 SBK Progressive Line is an another amazing budget-friendly guitar with active pickups. This particular model looks, sounds and feels like a much more expensive axe of this type, so it definitely deserves a lot of attention.
The guitar features a mahogany body and a comfortable Okoume neck with the amaranth fingerboard. The quality of these woods is really high, so it guarantees an enjoyable playing experience.
Additionally, Harley Benton equipped this model with a pair of Active HBZ Hi-Gain humbuckers. Both of these pickups sound very powerful and they can easily compete with much more expensive pickups of this type.
I have no hesitation in recommending the Harley Benton SC-1000 SBK Progressive Line to all guitarists who are looking for a great sounding and reliable guitar with active pickups. It exceeds all the expectations!
Here’s the sound demo.
6. Schecter Demon 6
Schecter Demon 6 is an another excellent electric guitar available at a relatively low price. Just like all the other axes made by this famous brand, this model is perfect for all enthusiasts of rock and metal music.
The guitar features a lightweight basswood body and a comfortable maple neck. It has a really thin shape, so it’s ideal for shredding. Additionally, the manufacturer equipped this model with the Floyd Rose bridge which makes this guitar even more versatile.
What’s more, the Demon 6 also has a pair of Schecter Diamond Active Humbucker Pickups which sound amazing too. They will definitely help you cut through the mix, so if you play in band, you will definitely enjoy using that axe during live performances.
Undoubtedly, anyone who’s looking for the best guitars with active pickups should consider getting this particular model. It’s definitely one of the best mid-range guitars of this type that you can currently find on the market!
Here’s the demo.
7. Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG
Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG is an another amazing electric guitar suitable for guitarists of all levels. It doesn’t matter whether you’re an experienced musician or not – you will definitely enjoy playing on that axe!
The guitar features a mahogany body and a set-in mahogany neck with an easy-playing ebony fingerboard. The quality of these woods is really high, so they guarantee an enjoyable and comfortable playing experience. Additionally, the Slim Taper C neck profile is perfect for shredding.
What’s important, Harley Benton equipped that model with a pair of active EMG pickups (EMG 60 & EMG 81). Both of them sound amazing and they’re ideal for rock and metal, so if that’s your kind of vibe, you’ll immediately fall in love with it.
Surely, Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG is one of the best cheap guitars with active pickups that you can currently find on the market. It exceeds all the expectations, so I highly encourage you to check it out!
Here’s the sound demo.
8. Squier Contemporary Active Starcaster
Squier Contemporary Active Starcaster is an another amazing electric guitar designed for the most demanding guitarists out there. Just like any other axe from the Contemporary Active Series, it guarantees a really good quality and it’s not that expensive.
The guitar features an offset body with a maple top, back and sides. Additionally, it has a comfortable roasted maple neck with a roasted maple fingerboard. It certainly looks and feels like a much more expensive guitar!
The manufacturer also equipped this Starcaster with a pair of Squier SQR active humbuckers which offer a lot of versatility when it comes to tone. Whether you’re into rock, metal, punk, grunge or indie – you will definitely enjoy their tone.
Undoubtedly, Squier Contemporary Active Starcaster is one of the best cheap guitars with active pickups that you can find under $500. It’s definitely worth every cent, so I highly recommend checking it out!
FAQ
Suitability with metal music
Yes, active pickups are perfect for metal music! They’re usually more powerful than passive pickups and they have a better sustain.
Active pickups or passive pickups?
It’s debatable whether active pickups are better than passive pickups – it all depends on your own style and on your own preferences. However, active pickups are very often used by lovers of shredding and metal music.
Are active pickups good for rock?
Yes, active pickups are also a really good choice for rock and hard rock music.
Is it worth putting good pickups in a cheap guitar?
HELL YES! Sometimes it’s the only thing that you need to do if you want to sound better. It’s probably the simplest way to improve your overall tone. So if you’re thinking about doing it, it’s definitely a good idea!
Summary
As you can see, there are a lot of cheap guitars with active pickups out there. No matter what model you decide to choose, I’m sure that if you stick to axes mentioned on today’s list you will be extremely satisfied. These guitars prove that you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars in order to get a good and reliable axe with active pickups!
Which model would you choose for yourself and why? Leave a comment down below and let me know what you think, I’m really interested to hear your thoughts.
Thanks for checking out today’s guide, hopefully it was helpful and you found what you were hoping to find. If you enjoyed this article and you’re searching for more gear recommendations, you may also like:
