In this article you'll read about some of the top electric guitars in the $200-300 price range. Best Electric Guitars For Under $300. Some are of poor quality and cheap materials and should be available in the sub $300 price range or lower. It's even made with a mahogany body, just like a Gibson Les Paul. Best Electric Guitar Under $300? This is the concert version of Best acoustic electric guitar under $300 range. For a hard rock or classic rock sound, consider the Epiphone Les Paul or G-310. But, with age comes wisdom (hopefully) and now I know them as one of my favorite names in electric guitars. Ibanez’s RG421 is made with mahogany and maple, which respectively are great for low to mid and high range frequencies, making this guitar really well balanced in terms of tone. We feature guitars that offer both quality and value that are perfect for beginners, or experienced guitarists. Epiphone is owned by Gibson, the company famous for guitars like the Les Paul, SG, and Explorer. The Yamaha PAC112V is one of the rare beginner guitars with three pickups. Yamaha makes some great basses and acoustic guitars, but they don’t always get credit for their electric guitars. Middle and upper-level Schecters are beautiful guitars, but they also offer a few outstanding options at lower price points. Under $200. That may make your decision easy right there. Jackson guitars are sleek and fast and considered among the top guitars for shredders for decades. Guitar Articles The Best Starter Guitars Under $300 . Check out the Ibanez Mikro in this review. Ask yourself how loud you need to play, and if the answer is “not very,” and you’d love to see yourself with a Telecaster, this could be the guitar for you. You might find the action set a bit too low for many uses, and for beginners whose fingers aren’t dialed in for finesse, I’d recommend having it setup just a bit higher. If you’re looking for some helpful material in your search for the right guitar to learn how to play without breaking the bank, then you’ve come to the right place. Epiphone guitars have their share of fans and haters. After you’ve been around guitar for a while you kind of figure it out. Add to this a push-pull coil switching feature found in the volume control, and you can really tweak your tone for just about every genre except death metal. 1. All in all, I think this is a great guitar for the price, and if you were to upgrade the tuning machines and pickups, you could have an almost professional grade instrument in the Epiphone Les Paul Studio LT. Jumping now to the lesser side of this spectrum, and we’ll find the Squier Affinity Series Telecaster. Squier is owned by Fender, so beginning guitarists can own a real-deal Stratocaster right from the start of their playing careers. Unfortunately, some veteran guitar players can be downright snooty when it comes to gear, and 300 dollars isn't much to spend when you look at the cost of big-name guitars. Electronics – Dual Vintage-Style single coil Tele pickups, A tonewood combo that makes a Telecaster sound like a Telecaster, Pickups designed for vintage Telecaster tone, Only 21 frets limits your riffing capabilities, Low end single coil pickups have a lot of buzz and feedback, Electronics – Neck: Yamaha Alnico V single coil  Middle: Yamaha Alnico V single coil  Bridge: Yamaha Alnico V humbucker, Versatile pickup configuration and controls to dial in your tone, Lightweight alder body reduces player fatigue, Great for many different genres and playing styles, So many pickup configurations can overwhelm beginners, Mahogany + maple tonewood combo for great tonal balance, Quantum humbuckers have too much noise at high volumes, Electronics – Neck: 650R Epiphone Zebra Ceramic humbucker  Bridge: 700T Epiphone Zebra Ceramic humbucker, 60’s SlimTaper “D” neck profile gives classic comfortable playing, Powerful budget Epiphone Zebra humbuckers give loads of power with little extra buzz, A very close remake of the famous Gibson Les Paul, Can benefit from a tuning machine upgrade. This article from Wired Guitarist will walk you through it step-by-step. It is an amazing guitar. Here are a few more awesome guitars that didn't make my Top 5 for one reason or another. Mahogany is a warm resonant tonewood, similar to basswood but a bit richer across the tonal spectrum. However, its pickups leave something to be desired, which we’ll talk about just a little later. After that one, the other electric guitars reviewed here are pretty versatile and can be played in, I’d say, every genre. They play great, look good, and sound good enough to please amateur to intermediate player. They have a great feel, solid components, and a sound that gives Fender MIM Stratocasters a run for their money. Both have basswood bodies with bolt-on maple necks and 24-fret rosewood fingerboards. You may choose to purchase your guitar online or from a local shop. The best for metal is definitely the Ibanez. Taylor Academy 12e-N. Whether you are typing, driving, or even fighting. There are some real gems out there if you take the time to look. Best Cheap Electric Guitars Under $200 That Sound Great! For me, you betcha. The Pacifica is a versatile guitar for rock, jazz or country, and has earned its reputation as an excellent guitar for beginners or intermediate players. It’s a fairly basic guitar, yet offers a little more than you’d expect in a guitar of this price. Least obvious is that Epiphones are machine-made, without any of the finesse that comes with Gibson’s hand-binding or other attention to detail. The Omen 6 is one of those instruments. Telegram. Ibanez RG421 Electric Guitar: Another great electric guitar under $300 is the Ibanez RG421. The Standard Tele is basic and gives you everything you’d expect in a Telecaster, especially when it comes to that classic tone. Another reason why Pacifica PAC112V is so great for beginners is the fact that it sports 22 medium-sized frets and a somewhat shorter scale length. It's up to you of course, but here are some thoughts: Not a beginner? With $200, you can still net an electric guitar that punches well above its weight. Pros Excellent value for an Ibanez rock guitar They feature solid appointments like hot Jackson pickups, double-locking tremolos, fast necks, and, of course, the classic Jackson "shark fin" fret markers. If you’ve heard of the RG’s reputation there is no need to wait until you are a more advanced guitar player to grab one. You see, when you are learning how to play guitar one of the first things you learn is how to play chords. Best for: Metalheads and shredders love the RG for its speed, precision, and scorching sound, but any humble rock guitarist will be pleasantly surprised by the quality of sound Ibanez brings to the table. While they may have imperfections in … The neck is in the Gibson-style of the 1960s, a SlimTaper “D” profile that incrementally curves in going toward the upper frets, giving you a thin enough field for speedy solos but maintaining enough space for gripping chords with ease. It's a body style I grew up with, and my first real electric guitar was a Rhoads shape. This will attract your eyes because it’s a concert version. In my opinion the Squier that has the HSS option(not shown here) is the best one. If you play rock or metal, the Jackson JS series offers some of the best affordable electric guitars you're going to find. The G-400 PRO is a great guitar and super affordable, but it will bump you slightly over your $300 budget. RGs typically feature basswood bodies, but this guitar is made from mahogany. The pickups just can’t cut it, and you’ll sound unprofessional in any kind of real-world performance. Posted on 11/18/2019 … In the end, I had a tough time choosing between the Ibanez RG421 and the Epiphone Les Paul for first place, but I think the Epiphone is more versatile overall so I had to give it the crown. The Squier is easier to master chords because the neck has a slight curve to it. Updated March 2020. I like to play metal such as Pantera, metallica, megath etc as well as EVH, Satriani etc. You can read my review of my Omen 6 here. Best for: Extreme metal and heavy rock players, especially those who plan to tune the guitar down a step or more. In some of these guitars, the tuning machines can definitely use a boost, so if you feel handy and want to make the guitar feel more like it’s yours, I highly recommend giving this a go. I used to call be Schecter Omen the best metal guitar under $300, though now I'd have to say it is the best under $350 or so. In almost every Fender, and in this Squier, an alder body meets a maple neck and fingerboard, which really sharpens your tone and gives Telecasters their bright, crystalline sound. They hold well enough to not be annoying, but you will have to retune a little every few songs. My first ever DIY guitar upgrade was upgrading the tuning machines on my Yamaha bass. I’m a huge Ibanez fan, and the RG421 could have had the top spot if its pickups weren’t so noisy when you crank up the volume. Its super fast Wizard III neck and dual Quantum humbuckers give you the speed and low-end power you need for the heaviest music genres. Share. It’s equipped with a smooth-playing rosewood fingerboard whose naturally oily surface feels great on the fingertips and transmits each vibration with sonic sweetness. Schecter Guitar Research has gained a reputation for making quality instruments that cost less than you’d think. 0 . It’s when you get into the pickups that the difference is evident; these guitars are wired for beginners, and while they won’t blow the minds of any audiences, they’re perfect for practicing and building your skill set. It also doesn't hurt that they're made by some of the best names in the guitar world, so you can expect quality and value. The Best Starter Guitars Under $300. They're excellent for beginners, but intermediate and advanced players might find them worthy of adding to their collections as well. When you’re in the market for an electric guitar, you might think you need to spend big bucks in order to get something worth playing. Best Electric Guitars under $300 of 2021 – Reviews and Top Picks. Its the wood that Fender uses on the majority of their guitars, and you can read Fender’s article to find out more about it. Unless you’ve got the money to blow and are looking for a guitar to smash on stage, none of these electrics are really worth the time of an expert musician. Sure, if you’re playing a FirstAct electric, each guitar on this list can blow that out of the water. For more info check our Affiliate Disclosure page. Give ESP LTD guitars a good look in this price range. The radius on the squier is 9.5, Las Paul is about 12, and the Yamaha is 13.75. Two single coils join a bridge-position humbucker, all under one tone control and a 5-way selector switch, so you can play around with different sounds to find what works best for your needs. The name Jackson has long been synonymous with heavy metal guitar. The Squier by Fender Standard Telecaster is one of the best electric guitars under $300. Why, the neck radius and sound. In fact, this is the second time it’s made our lists, and you can read more about it here. Under $200. Skip to content. They’re perfect for learning and practicing, and you can really start to master your hobby on these instruments. This setup promotes speed, so practicing scales and licks will come with ease. At this price point, you need to know what to expect from a guitar. The first guitar we’ve got here is an absolute beauty. However, there are many serious players who appreciate what Squier has to offer as well. It’s got a great alder + maple tonewood combo, bringing its sound pretty close to modern Telecasters. Professionals already know that these aren’t meant for them, and I don’t need to say much more about it. There are many great axes out there for those of you on a tight budget, and I’ve picked the best of the best electric guitars under $300 for you to try out. Otherwise, let’s get to it. However, they’re not good in the sense that I wouldn’t play any serious show with them. However, you can get the MH-50 with a Floyd Rose tremolo for under your budget, where if you want an Omen with a Floyd you’re going to have to bump up to the Extreme model. Your fingers will be trained where to go and all you have to do then is modify your fingers to the different neck radius slightly. 14 best budget electric guitars under $200. You may even be able to grab the MH-100 if you can get a good deal. Some think such snobbery is an indication that they know their craft and, like a high-society wine connoisseur, are enlightened enough to hold their heads above those who do not agree with them. We picked these guitars based on two main criteria: their ‘uniqueness’ and the value of their feature set, construction and specs. Big-name guitar manufacturers might makes some expensive instruments, but they know today's beginner and intermediate players are tomorrow's pros. As far as playability goes, this is an amazing electric guitar, and any beginner can almost immediately feel like a shred-master with this axe in their hands. Best Electric Guitars under $500 of 2021 – Reviews and Top Picks. Best for: Anyone looking for a versatile guitar. Check Price on Amazon. It also has a fixed bridge and is available in sunburst and metallic finishes. The under $300 range has more guitars than I can count, some of them great like the ones I’ve reviewed here, and some of them total trash. Honestly, guitarists aren’t billionaires (most of us anyway) and we need to improve our techniques, research new genres, tricks and brands and we need several guitars for it! So to start I would recommend the Fender Squier just to learn how to play. Best electric guitars under $1500. Of course, the Studio LT is not a Gibson, but with a price tag of a couple of thousand dollars less surely nobody expects Gibson quality. As a matter of fact, it just might be the best electric guitar under $300. Remember, these are my choices, based on my opinion and experience. Credit: Getty Images. The single-coil pickups are classic for those styles of music. This can be a little too much control for a beginner, who should be focused less on precise tone and more on technique, but it’s always fun to experiment to find the tone that works best for you. While you always have to choose carefully, Squier makes some darned good guitars for the money. The guitars are made by some of the best guitar brands in the world, and by going with an instrument listed above you’re giving yourself a great shot at success as a new guitarist. You may not have heard of Squier, but you’ve probably heard of Fender. I was dubious, having a fair amount of experience with high-end Jacksons, but after playing a few I feel quite confident recommending them to metal players on a budget. Overall, these are “good” guitars, or else they wouldn’t have made it to our list of the best electrics under $300. You'll still end up with an amazing guitar for a fraction of the cost. Simply the best classical guitar for most people. The Squier Affinity Series Telecaster is a good enough Fender Telecaster remake to make it to this list of the best electrics under $300, and overall is a great choice for your first electric guitar. My verdict: Don't believe the naysayers. In my opinion, the Schecter Omen is the best of the lot, but I’d also suggest checking out the ESP LTD MH-50. And if you are looking for your best option under $300 you have a couple of choices in the Squier lineup. If you’re looking for the best electric guitar under $500, we'd highly recommend the PRS SE Standard 24, as there’s a lot to be said for just how much ground one PRS guitar can cover. If you are a total beginner on a tight budget you may prefer to check my article on beginner's electric guitars under $200. You might even find you like one of these guitars so well it becomes your main ax. You can play single coils for some songs or play the Humbuker for some songs. Best for: Country, blues and rock players who love that classic Strat sound. Of course, both are great all-around rock guitars ad well but be aware that single-coil pickups present a brighter sound. At less than under $300, guitars will start to have some annoying problems. To me, it screams metal, through and through. Any that you choose from this list will do you good, and if one of them calls your name, I don’t think you can go wrong. I like to take a more realistic approach, and consider the pros and cons of each model and who is most likely to buy a guitar in this range. It's a shame, because they are really missing out on some of the best guitar bargains out there. Classic Jackson body designs such as the King V, Warrior, Rhoads, Dinky, and Kelly are all amazing, but the high-end models are too expensive for many players. We hope that you find in our 5 Best Electric Guitar Under $300 article the perfect one for you. Email. There are many brands like Fender, Schecter, Epiphone,Yamaha,etc but I don't know which one to choose from. If I were looking for my first electric guitar all over again this is definitely the one I would go with. Truth is, the cost of manufacturing has decreased a lot over recent years, and brands like Epiphone and Squier offer low-cost electrics that rival the highest quality models from Gibson and Fender. Last of the similarities, it looks pretty much exactly like any name-brand Les Paul, save for having an Epiphone logo rather than the Gibson. The Telecaster isn’t quite as versatile as the Strat, but it does have a distinctive sound. Squier is the perfect example of a guitar company that knows how to give you what you need to sound good without all the bells and whistles that drive up the cost of the guitar. For metal, choose between the modern sound and look of the Schecter and ESP LTD, or the more classic vibe of the Jackson JS Series or Ibanez. Fortunately, Epiphone also gives us the G-310, an SG with slightly downgraded components and a very wallet-friendly price tag. If you play extreme metal you may love the stock pickups, but if you want a little more clarity you might look at replacing them down the road. I've been playing the acoustic guitar for a couple of years now and I want to shift over to the electric guitar. The Pacifica is the exception, and in my opinion, it is one of the best inexpensive guitars out there. Like the Gibson it’s based on, this Epiphone Les Paul is an all-mahogany build in the body and neck, which gives Les Paul its signature fat, warm sound. This isn’t quite the same guitar as the PRO version. You can find an inexpensive guitar that is just as good as the most expensive ones. The Jackson JS Series is a stable of classic Jackson guitars, aimed and beginner and intermediate players. The Epiphone Les Paul Studio LT is a true-to-form replica of Gibson’s iconic Les Paul, differing only slightly in a few ways but for a price that’s roughly $1000 less. As you’d expect, Asia-made models from big brands dominate this list. It meets all the basic standards of quality: solid construction, fun and comfortable playability, dependable wiring, decent tone, and good aesthetics. Think sharp fret edges, bad tuning and intonation, wiring issues, and poor playability. So… Read More . Not a huge problem, but it’s worth talking about. It sports a C-shaped neck and rosewood fingerboard, so you can play for hours without excessive finger pain and hand cramps. The Squier Standard Strat is a solid option for serious beginners or guitarists looking to step up from their starter instrument. If you are into country or blues, you may want to go with the Squier Strat or Tele. Guitar.com. Despite many preconceptions, there are still plenty of gems to be found among electric guitars under the $200 bracket. The 15 Best Electric Guitars for Under $1,000. It’s got a thick tone with great sustain and a well-pronounced low to midrange. It’s the Schecter Hellraiser C-1. The Squier name is known to many as a low-cost “value brand” alternative to the Fender name. View Category Squier Standard Stratocaster Three Single Coils of Sweetness. Best for: Guitarists who are into metal and hard rock, particularly modern, more aggressive styles. Personally, I really like them. But that’s a decision you have to make for yourself based on your budget. They give you a lot of control over your tone, and with three pickups you can tune into whatever is best for your preferred genre. My favorite it the Rhoads. As an entry-level guitarist, you might not want to buy your first electric and immediately rip out its pickups, but after you’ve played for a while and your interest in electric guitars has grown, changing out your pickups for something with more power and precision can be a great project. Facebook. Breedlove is one of the best brands of acoustic electric guitar. I am looking for a new electric guitar under $300. If there isn’t a high-profile name on the headstock some players are prone to look down on the guitar and the player who wields it. Contents. No doubt, I’d play at least an open mic with this guitar. WhatsApp. They tend to play pretty well, and the slight price increase over the Affinity & Bullet series is made up for by the better hardware. However, to avoid you from confusion and headache, we have created a list of acoustic-electric guitars which perfectly match with your pocket as well as your demands. The only thing you may think the RG421 is lacking is a locking tremolo. The Best Electric Guitars Under $300 By Fender. This Amazon’s Choice product costs you less than $850, so already the price is right. If you’re already a seasoned pro, these guitars might serve well for alternate tunings, as the base for project guitars, or just for annoying your spouse by buying a $300 guitar and telling them you spent $1,000. It plays well and is a fun Tele to jam on, but with only 21 frets and no special features giving it a boost of coolness, it’s my least favorite of this roundup. Like Schecter, ESP LTD is a guitar company that walks a clever line between quality gear and affordable pricing. Jackson designs with hot pickups and quality builds. In my opinion, these are at the top of the list when it comes to best beginner guitars for metal. The ESP LTD MH-50 has more of a traditional metal look as compared to the Schecter design, but the guitars share many specs. Considering all it has going for it and the ease with which pickups can be replaced, these pickups are not enough reason to pass on this guitar. It’s a solid guitar for the money, and a great way to grab a real Ibanez RG and stay within your budget. The Wizard III neck is one of my favorite in the world, with an ultra thin profile that makes riffs practically explode from your fingertips. One of the reasons you don't break the bank on your first Guitar and just have something you can play, learn,and to have fun playing Guitar. An official take on the classic Stratocaster design. But first, the highlights of the market… Top 7 Best Guitars Under $300 It might sound weird for a veteran guitar player with 30 years of experience, but I've had a Schecter Omen in my collection for years. 1.1 Yamaha Pacifica PAC112; 1.2 Jackson JS32 Dinky; 1.3 Gretsch G5425 Electromatic Jet Club; 1.4 Ibanez RG421; 1.5 Schecter 430 C-6 Deluxe; 1.6 Squier by Fender Affinity Stratocaster HSS; 1.7 Squier Standard Telecaster; 1.8 Epiphone SG Special; 1.9 Dean Vendetta XM; 1.10 Sterling by Music Man CT30 I recommend the Squier Telecaster for things like country, pop, and soft punk, the Yamaha Pacifica for most rock genres, funk, and jazz, and the Epiphone Les Paul for all rock genres, blues, and most other styles. Best Picks: Electric Guitars under $3,000. The best classical guitars available today (Image credit: Taylor) 1. The best electric guitars under 300 are not necessarily cheaply made. What more could you ask for as a newbie metal guitarist? Intermediate and advanced players who love the Jackson look and sound and want to expand their collections. There is a misconception that only expensive axes are good and professionals won’t consider a guitar that costs less that $2,000. Schecter Hellraiser C-1. You’ll have to bump up to the RG450 for that, but don’t let that sell you short on the 421. Twitter. Looking for a hollow body electric? Skip to content. The Squier Affinity Series Telecaster is a good enough Fender Telecaster remake to make it to this list of the best electrics under $300, and overall is a great choice for your first electric guitar. Also, be aware that a guitar company may change their specs over time, so be sure to check that out as well. For something in the middle, consider the Yamaha with its HSS pickup combination. The bones, so to speak, of electric guitars under $300 are usually great, and barely differ from guitars costing several hundred more. Personally, I count myself among the veteran guitarists who are pleasantly surprised with Squier guitars. Epiphones were at one time a guitar brand that I would ignorantly consider to be too cheap to play. 2.1 Some Good Under $300 Electric Guitar Options; Play The Guitar Before You Buy . Fortunately, Jackson doesn't leave us monetarily challenged guitarists out of the loop. This is the best electric guitar under $300 for those who want a guitar package from one of the well-known brands in producing fine electric guitars – Epiphone. It has to be under or at $300.I like SG's and stuff like les pauls or strats with tremelo.But not to cheapy or junk-sounding please! Intermediate players who are looking to own their first Strat. After that, then go to another brand you chose after you learn the basics. The highs are fine, but don’t exactly scream like they would if the pickups were higher quality. Gibson guitars are some of the best in the industry and feature incredible craftsmanship and design. Think Ibanez might be the brand for you but just not this model? For the most part, I’m not one to knock a certain guitar just because it comes from a maker who is considered “cheap.” There are some exceptions to this, but Squier is not one of them. From there we have a fast Wizard III maple neck (check), rosewood fingerboard with 24 jumbo frets (check), and a pair of hot Quantum pickups (check). Newbie looking for their first metal guitar. If you buy online, just be sure to use a reputable company with a good return policy. This Ibanez model has a mahogany body and a Wizard III maple neck with a jatoba fingerboard, delivering a rich, warm yet punchy tone. Epiphone is licensed to make Gibson-style guitars, and the Epiphone Les Paul Studio LT is a good choice for a guitar in this price range. It’s an outstanding guitar for the money, with solid construction that can lend well to modding down the road. 5 Best Electric Guitar Under $300 Electric guitars are more stylized, and they avail users more sound quality because of the use of technology than the acoustic guitars that often tend to look the same. After the chart we will diving into some of the reasons these affordable guitars prove worthwhile for both beginners and experienced players. Mahogany adds depth and darkness while maple contributes sparkle and articulation, combining to form an electric that sounds great no matter where it’s played. Their price can go upto a thousand dollars. It does have a mahogany body, the same rosewood fingerboard, same slim-taped “D” neck and both have a Tune-o-Matic bridge. If the Les Paul doesn’t do it for you, the SG probably will. The Fender Stratocaster is one of the most iconic guitars in the rock world, played by legendary players since the 1950s. It's got a basswood body with a bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fretboard, string-thru design, and hot humbuckers. Improvements in manufacturing, quality control and technology means high-end guitars no longer have to cost a fortune. These pickups are fine for at-home applications, especially if you’re playing at a low volume. This one is an honorable mention only because the price tag has risen slightly above our stated budget. The differences are harder to spot, but of course they exist. Fender CD-60 SCE Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Guitar. Lastly, Gibson’s use top-of-the-line humbuckers, whereas Epiphone uses their house brand. Epiphone makes some of the best electric guitars for intermediate players. However, there are a few good choices at under $200, and we’ve outlined them for you here. Some are built with quality materials that appeal to nearly every user. So in short, they are not only good, but great for beginners, but they are not good guitars for anyone wanting to do professional performing or recording. A great way to hear both and decide which sound you like. It’s got an alder body with a bolt-on maple neck and rosewood fingerboard, an HSS pickup configuration, a vintage-style tremolo system and a coil tap, which can give you a single-coil sound with the bridge pickup. This PAC112V has a lot going for it. The RG421 may be at the lower end of the RG spectrum, but it checks all the right boxes. Spawned in the ‘80s, it has since appeared in the hands of metal guitarists and shredders around the globe. Players who are into a wide range of styles, from country to rock to jazz, especially beginners who don't feel like dealing with a tremolo system. The bigger the number, the flatter the Finger Board is. This is a big yes from me. Best electric guitars under $500: Guitar World's choice. Yamaha’s Pacifica series guitars are great beginner electrics. This makes the Squier Affinity Tele just one step away from greatness, only missing the mark with its substandard single coils. Whether you’re on a strict budget for your first axe or you’re looking for a project guitar, here are our picks of the best electric guitars under $500. Unless noted, at the time of this writing these are, in my opinion, some of the best electric guitars under $300 for beginners and intermediate players. The Epiphone Les Paul Electric Guitar Player Package comes complete with the guitar and accessories that you need to play.