These 9 eye-popping bargains in Guitar Center's annual Guitar-A-Thon sale are almost too good to be true – including a massive $700 off a Gibson Les Paul

With a ginormous $700 reduction, this is one of the biggest savings I’ve seen in the whole sale. It’s got some very clever switching options, which means alongside the classic PAF tones, the humbucker offers you can also unlock single-coil sounds, making it a lot more versatile than it appears at first. It’s also got a compound radius fretboard for easier playability, flattening as you move further up the neck. If you want to own a proper LP that can do a few extra tricks, then this is a great way to get one for a lot less. Check out what we thought in our Gibson Les Paul Traditional Pro V review.

This Fender Player II Strat HSS is a super versatile instrument that’s ideal for players who want a gig-worthy guitar without spending north of a grand. With $230 off the price in the GC Guitar-A-Thon sale, this limited edition version is incredibly affordable and comes with a proper rosewood fretboard and rolled fingerboard edges for a super comfortable playing experience. The HSS pickup configuration is really versatile as well, so you can cover a lot of ground with this instrument.

With three iconic Tube Screamer circuits in one unit, the Warm Audio Tube Squealer is a great addition for anyone who wants to add these famous mid-hump tones to their pedalboard. At just $119 in the sale, it’s less than an actual TS808 and only slightly more expensive than a TS9, and considering it has both of these circuits and the TS10, that makes it an absolute steal in my book.

This all-solid Martin GPC Grand Performance acoustic guitar has been heavily discounted in the Guitar-A-Thon sale, reduced by a massive $200. Coming in at well below a grand, it’s incredible value for an all-solid acoustic with a solid Sitka spruce top and solid sapele sides. The single cutaway makes it a comfortable player, and the Grand Performance body shape has the depth of a dreadnought but a narrower waist, putting it in the sweet spot for Martin acoustic body sizes.

This stunning-looking Vox AC10 Custom has got a gigantic $250 off in the sale, making it a great shout for anyone who wants those classic chime tones without having to spend loads. It’s relatively light and compact for a tube amp, and gives you those lovely airy tones Vox amps are famous for. Whether it’s ripping leads or crunchy rhythm tones, it can handle them all, and it definitely sounds its best when cranked.

If you’re looking for a cheap practice rig to pair with some guitar amp headphones, this Line 6 POD Express is a great shout at just $129.99 in the sale. It packs all the quality HX tones of the larger offerings from Line 6, but in a super compact chassis that can be popped into a gig bag or backpack and taken on the road. It’s a brilliant all-rounder, capable of playing multiple roles no matter what type of music you’re into.

At nearly half price, this deal on the Electro-Harmonix Ehxtortion JFET Overdrive is excellent value if you want to add another gain stage to your pedalboard. Packing in an overdrive and separate boost section, you can do everything from low-gain drive to full-on metal distortion with this bad boy, and it’s down to just $119 in the sale thanks to an $84.20 reduction.

If you like your Les Paul’s a little less traditional and a bit more ‘metal’, this amazing-looking Epiphone Les Paul Custom Widow might just take your fancy. It’s got a nice $160 discount in the sale and is exclusively available at Guitar Center, so you won’t find this particular finish anywhere else. Dual ProBucker humbuckers deliver searing tones for rock and metal, and it’s got CTS potentiometers as you’d find on a more expensive Gibson model. Grover tuners and a Locktone tune-o-matic bridge make up a rock-solid hardware offering, making this a great guitar for gigging on a budget.

The Vintera II deals have been going for a while now, and they’ve all but died out apart from this one. A colleague of mine reviewed the Fender Vintera II Antigua Strat and really enjoyed the fact that the hardtail bridge makes it an incredibly stable player. It delivers all of those bold Strat tones we know and love, and although divisive, we think the Antigua finish is actually pretty nice. It’s below a grand in the sale thanks to a huge $390 reduction, so well worth picking up as one of the last Vintera II deals still going.