I own a Squire Stratocaster and would like to upgrade to a nicer guitar I would like to spend less then $500.
I have my eye on a Standard Stratocaster Hss. What would you recommend?

Hey There, It depends on what type of music you play and what guitar feels comfortable. I believe standard Strats are more than $500. If you play rock or metal I'd recommend you look at schecter guitars (My personal favourite). For Blues I'm not too sure but Telecasters are pretty decent. Ibanez and Jackson guitars are decent for all round but they are more on the rock side. But in the end it all comes down to personal preference

Ibanex does make a nice guitar for a decent price. You can get a good used guitar for $500 or less too. Look in pawn shops, or in the classified ads. Good luck.

Pick a guitar that fits your style of music, but...

Cheaper guitars are almost NEVER set up well. Beginners are often frustrated by strings sitting too high off the neck, making it harder to fret and play. It is soooo worth the money to get a professional setup from a local guitar tech. Often you can find one at a music store. Ask your teacher, or ask a local working musician who they recommend to setup your guitar. Even if it's a cheapie, it will be easier to play after a good setup, which means more fun, and less frustration.

Also, when learning use as light a gauge of string as possible. Heavier gauge (thicker) strings have better tone, but are harder to fret for beginners. Stevie Ray Vaughn used .013's (thirteens) on his start which is like playing with power lines for strings. . 009s (Nines) are about the minimum commonly available for electrics. Disclaimer - You're likely to break more strings playing lighter guages, but that's just rock and roll man. The numbers (like 13 or 9) refer to the gauge of the lightest string, usually the high E.

Eventually, you get calluses and the pain goes away. Any finger pain you get when you start will go away soon. Play for the rest of your life.

Rock on.