The Best Guitars for 300 Dollars

Is $300 enough to buy a good guitar?

At $300 you can expect to buy a solid guitar that will please any beginner.

The level of quality will be good and you have a better chance of receiving a properly set up guitar.

For $300 you’ll get a guitar that’s more than playable.

If it’s an acoustic you can expect a high level of fit and finish.

If it’s an electric guitar, it’ll still be a great choice, but expect fewer features and options at this price point.

Amazingly, you can get a good quality guitar for so little money nowadays.

Who are these guitars meant for?

Beginners seem to be the main target market for guitars at this price but they’re also popular with enthusiasts.

The guitar will be playable out of the box but may have to adjust some things and ignore some details at this price.

Anyone looking for a good guitar for not a lot of money will be happy at this price point.

They also make a good choice for guitarists who want to try different guitars and different styles of playing.

You can find one of the best guitars for shredding, a Jackson Dinky, at this price point.

It makes it easy to try out shred guitar if they’re a jazz guitarist.

Or to take up acoustic if they’ve always played acoustic.

Is $300 a good amount for a beginner to spend?

You can expect to find higher-quality guitars at this price point.

For whatever reason, the quality seems to make a big jump at this price point.

Often the manufacturer will put more care into the fit and finish of a $300 guitar.

Plus, at this price, they seem to straddle the line between basic features a beginning guitar player needs and quality components.

If you’re looking for a good electric guitar to start with then $300 makes an excellent price point.

And if you’re more interested in acoustic guitars, the level of quality for a $300 acoustic guitar will surprise you.

It’s also common for manufacturers to see this price point as an opportunity to add features you wouldn’t see on a lesser-priced guitar.

But some features won’t be found on a $300 guitar.

The tonewoods and electronics used won’t be top-notch.

But everything will be more than satisfactory for a beginner.

Plus, at this price, you have many different styles and options to choose from.

Is it better to buy an acoustic or an electric guitar?

Deciding what kind of guitar to start with can be confusing.

At the end of the day, it comes down to your preference.

Plus, it’s influenced by the style of music you plan on learning to play.

If you have your heart set on playing the electric guitar, it’s fine to start there.

Same if you prefer the tones of an acoustic guitar.

Since they each have their trade-offs one isn’t better than the other.

Acoustic guitars tend to be simpler to start with since you don’t need much other than the guitar and a pick.

Electric guitars require an amp and cable in order to start playing.

While you can play electric guitar without an amp, doing this can cause some bad habits to form.

But you won’t be able to get certain sounds and tones from an acoustic guitar that you can get from an electric.

If you’re looking to play anything requiring distortion you’re going to need an electric guitar.

But if you’re just focused on learning the basics of playing, you’d do well to consider an acoustic or even a classical guitar first.

Is there any choice in the range of styles?

You’ll be happy with the wide range of models available for $300.

You have a lot of choices in style and features.

For a beginner, a properly set up guitar with good playability makes learning a lot easier.

At $300 you have an excellent chance of purchasing one.

Especially among different models of electric guitars.

It seems like every major manufacturer has offerings at this price point.

So whether you’re interested in a classic Stratocaster or a modern Ibanez, you’ve got a nice range to choose from.

While manufacturers produce fewer styles of acoustic guitars you still have plenty you can choose from.

And you can even find acoustic-electric guitars which let you plug your acoustic guitar into an amplifier.

The range of choices means you’re sure to find something you like for $300.

Plus, no matter what, you’ll be able to say you got a good deal on your purchase.

Even if you don’t keep it for very long or play it anymore.

What kind of guitar should I expect for $300?

Beginners often ask about the quality of a guitar that costs $300.

You’ll get a more than decent guitar at this price.

It’ll be perfect for learning to play and if you take care of it, it’ll last you a lifetime.

But it won’t be made of high-end tonewoods or have fancy features or electronics.

If you’re a professional musician, it’s not the guitar you’re gonna take touring.

But if you’re not a professional, you’ll get a guitar that you’ll be more than happy to learn on.

If you keep playing there’s no reason to think you’ll need to get rid of it.

You’ll want to upgrade as you get better and better understand tonewoods and features you like.

It’s not uncommon to discover you like a different kind of bridge or that you prefer the sound of different pickups.

It’s part of the process, but for $300 expect a good quality guitar, electric or acoustic, that’ll be perfect for learning and playing on.

Whether you take lessons or not, you’ll have something that’ll be perfect for a lifetime of playing.

What kind of fit and finish should I expect?

Details on a $300 will not always be the best.

Expect a rough fit and finish.

Since the manufacturer uses very little manual labor they can offer the guitar at a very low price.

This keeps the cost down since manual labor tends to be the most expensive part of production.

From 20 feet away you won’t see any difference.

It’s only up close, looking at the details, will you notice any problems.

Sharp fret ends tend to be common on lower-priced guitars.

Same thing with small details you may not even notice.

The important parts of the guitar, playability, a good tone, and a nice look, will be there.

Once you start looking at things like joins will you find anything.

The rough finish on these guitars means they’re able to offer them at a lower price.

Are sharp fret ends a problem at this price?

Expect to make some trade-offs at this price point.

The overall quality of the guitar will be pretty high, but you can expect to find some sharp fret ends often.

The time necessary to buff and polish the fret ends on a guitar would end up making the price much higher.

Some sharp frets end up being the trade-off.

This doesn’t mean you’ve got bad frets.

It just means they were not seen to by a human being.

So far no one’s invented a machine to polish the fret ends.

For this price, you can be certain you’re still getting a solid guitar.

Just be aware there’s a good possibility it may have sharp fret ends.

And remember, they can be taken care of with a sanding sponge very easily.

Or just wait until the friction from your playing hand wears them down.

It’s a small price to pay for a quality guitar at a very reasonable price.

What if I’m just starting out?

Learning to play the guitar can be an adventure.

For your first guitar, you’ll want to think about the style of music you’re most interested in playing.

Taking a minute to think about the purpose you have in learning the guitar will help you to choose the right guitar for you.

If you’re into heavy metal music, you’ll want to think about an electric guitar with humbuckers.

Whereas if you’re more into old-school folk music, you’ll be happier with an acoustic guitar with a mahogany top.

It’s up to what kind of guitarist you want to become.

If you’re interested in learning the guitar from the ground up you might even decide to start with a classical guitar.

You’ll be learning to play the guitar “properly” and in a structured manner.

There’s no “right” way to learn the guitar which makes it something like an adventure.

Is it better to start with an acoustic guitar?

Simpler to start with an acoustic guitar? In some ways, yes.

You don’t need an amp and it’s always ready for you to play.

You can get your basics down on an acoustic guitar and then start on learning the electric.

It makes a good starting point and knowing how to play the acoustic guitar will help for a lifetime.

It can be harder to start with an acoustic too, though.

When compared with an electric guitar, the strings on an acoustic guitar tend to be thicker with a higher tension.

When you’re starting to learn, this can make it more difficult on your fingers.

It’ll take more hand strength to play a chord and playing fast leads can take a bigger toll on your fingers.

You’ll build more hand strength over time and you’ll build callouses on your fingers.

That’ll make playing the electric guitar seem like a breeze.

But it’s up to you.

If you enjoy the dulcet tones of acoustic, it’ll be better for you to start with acoustic.

The best one for you will be the one you’re most excited about playing.

How do I choose my 1st acoustic guitar?

When choosing your first acoustic guitar remember to keep it simple.

At this price point, the style of guitars available will be similar.

You definitely want a comfortable neck and body shape.

A popular guitar shape is a dreadnought.

It can be a bit too big for some people though.

It has a large sized body that produces a lot of volume and sound.

Some people find the sound of a dreadnought too “boomy” and loud.

If you want something smaller and less “boomy” then try a parlor-sized guitar.

They’ve got a smaller body and have a brighter sound when compared with a dreadnought.

Is it okay to start with an electric guitar?

The sound of an electric guitar can’t be beaten!

It’s a lot easier to play the electric guitar than an acoustic in some cases.

You need less hand strength since they use smaller string gauges.

Plus, the lower string tension makes them easier to play.

It gets more complicated after though.

You need an amp in order to play electric guitar.

It creates an extra step or two, (or three) which can prevent a beginner from playing.

You’ve gotta set up your amp and plug everything in.

If you’re just gonna play for 5 minutes, you’re better off starting with acoustic.

But if you’re just interested in learning the electric guitar you’re better off just buying an electric guitar.

It’s fine to start with electric guitar.

You’ll get your basics down and be able to play an acoustic or classical if you understand how to play an electric.

How do I choose an electric guitar?

Playing the electric guitar starts with knowing the style of music you most want to play.

The looks of an electric guitar play a big part in its appeal.

If you’re into death metal, you’ll be happiest with something from a company like Schecter.

But a black guitar with a coffin-shaped headstock won’t appeal to someone interested in learning jazz guitar.

(I’m not saying it can’t, I’m just saying it’s…less likely.)

So look at the guitars your favorite guitarists play.

For instance, if they’re using Strat-type guitars with humbuckers, look around for one of those in your price range.

You should be able to find a guitar with a similar setup in your price range.

The looks of your guitar must appeal to you.

Fortunately, today you have a wide range of styles and features to choose from.

With a bit of research, you’ll be able to find a guitar that’s perfect for you.

If you’re just looking for the best guitar to learn, go for a Strat-style guitar.

It’s comfortable to play and creates versatile tones.

Is it better if my electric guitar comes with an amp?

Package deals that include an amplifier can be a good way to get started playing electric guitar.

It can be a good deal since you’re ready to hit the ground running.

It depends on your preferences though.

If you want a good practice amp you can spend around $100 for one.

That’s in addition to your electric guitar.

When the amp comes in a package for $300, you’re getting a $200 or even a $100 electric guitar.

The quality, fit, finish, and electronics won’t be the same as on a $300 electric guitar.

But that doesn’t the guitar won’t be fine for a beginner to learn on.

It does mean you need to weigh costs and options when you make your decision.

If you’re going to start playing the electric guitar you need to have an amp.

So you need to keep this in mind when you consider your budget.

Is there anything else I should budget for?

Beginners often don’t realize they need to budget for things like strings and guitar picks.

The strings on your new guitar may be very old and can have been sitting on it for a over year.

After such a long time, they won’t sound great and may have degraded quite a bit from dust and dirt.

That’s why it’s important to put fresh strings on your guitar.

You don’t have to do it right away, but you won’t know how good your guitar can sound until you do.

Other accessories you’ll want to pick up include a tuner and a string winder.

A Gig bag and a stand will help with storage, travel, and general peace of mind.

String winders, especially ones with a built-in string cutter, make changing strings a lot easier.

A guitar stand makes it easy to keep your guitar ready to play and prevents it from falling.

The Best Guitars for 300 Dollars: FAQ

• What type of guitar should a beginner buy?
  • See our Best Overall and our Best Budget recommendations. The best guitar for a beginner who wants to play electric guitar is definitely a Stratocaster or a Strat-type guitar. See this post for Stratocaster recommendations and this post for a more in-depth explanation of how to choose a guitar.
• What is the best guitar under $200?
  • See this post and this post for acoustic guitar and acoustic electric guitar recommendations.
• What is a good cheap beginner guitar?
  • See our Best Budget recommendation and see this post for acoustic guitar recommendations and this post for more electric guitar recommendations.
• How much should a good guitar cost?
  • You can get a decent electric or acoustic guitar for under $100, but the quality control can be a bit hit or miss. If you want something that’s going to play great out of the box, you should expect to spend around $300.