Best Cheap Electric Guitars: Great value for Sound Quality 2023
Best Cheap Electric Guitars: Single Coil Pickups
LyxPro LYXEGBK0030B (SSS)
Cons
- Fretwork and action inconsistencies
- Tone is a bit bland
Pros
- Super affordable bundle
- Good quality build using renewable wood
- Familiar Strat sound and tone controls
- Many color finishes to choose from
The LyxPro LYXEGBK0030B is a budget friendly Strat style electric guitar package. It features a body crafted from Phoenix wood. This wood is from a tree called Paulownia. It's a hardy tree can re-grow into a tree again with just their root systems, hence the Phoenix nickname. Wood quality and build of the body is quite good for the price and it comes with over 10 color finish options.
The neck is crafted from maple and comes with a fingerboard that's made from "engineered" rosewood. Fretwork is OK, especially on the lower frets, but there are setup and build quality inconsistencies as you go up. Thankfully, it's not too bad, so the guitar is still generally playable.
It is unfair to expect a budget electric guitar to play as smooth as more expensive electric guitars. Having it setup by someone with more experience will improve the playing feel.
It comes with conventional Strat style electronics and hardware. This included a triple singlecoil pickup configuration, 5-way pickup selector and hardtail tremolo bridge.
Since it follows traditional Strat configuration, it also produces old school Strat style tones. It's well enough for beginners to appreciate. It doesn't have the ballsy bass and trebly chime that you'd hear from more expensive Strats, though.
It comes bundled with a 20 Watt combo amplifier, guitar cable and digital tuner, so you can plug-in and play right out of the box. This means that for the price, you're getting a complete working electric guitar set that's good enough for beginners and students.
The quality of the included gig bag and cable does not match that of the guitar, so you may want to buy another guitar cable to be sure.
If you're looking for a plug-and-play super affordable electric guitar bundle, then this is for you.
Specifications
- Body: Phoenix
- Finish: Black, Blue, Red, Sunburst, Natural, Pink
- Bridge: 6-Saddle Hard Tail
- Pickups: SSS (Triple Singlecoil)
- Neck: Maple
- Fingerboard: Composite
- Number of Frets: 22
- Controls: Volume controls, Tone, Tone
- Pickup Selector: 5-Position Blade
| Website | Source | *Rating Value |
| YouTube | jamierobinson777 | 90/100 |
Squier Bullet Strat HT (SSS)
Cons
- No tremolo
- Minor inconsistencies
Pros
- Official affordable Strat
- Better tuning stability and sustain
- Good balanced Strat voicing and tone control
- Simpler Hard Tail configuration
It's been 60 years since Fender guitars unleashed the Stratocaster to the world. It continues to be among the most in demand, and the most copied electric guitar design on the market. Cheap electric guitars often come in the Stratocaster style.
The Squier Bullet Strat HT is its "official" modern representative in the entry-level market. I have to highlight "official" because there are now so many Strat clones, some even from premium brands! This official affordable Strat stays true to the original double cutaway electric guitar profile. Because of the price point, it uses cost-effective materials and production methods.
It is called an HT model because of its Hard Tail bridge, and this helps this budget guitar stay reliably in tune. It also results in extra sustain, both of which are beneficial for learners.
Hard Tail Bridge
Everything else is as Strat as it gets, with 3 single-coil pickups and a 5-way pickup selector. It gets the basic Strat tones down, including the in-between pickup tones of position 2 and 4. Just remember to set the pickup heights properly before you play, this is a common issue I see with many Strat style cheap electric guitars.
When all pickups are setup properly, you get a nice balanced sound. The bass and highs are not as detailed as higher tier Strats, and the mid range aren't as full sounding. But this shouldn't be a big deal for students.
Build quality is good. Not quite at the level of the best electric guitars in the market. But if you want to make the most of it, you'll have to deal with minor setup related inconsistencies. These include adjustments to pickup height and string action.
The Squier Bullet Strat HT is an affordable way to enter into the world of single-coil electric guitars. Get the Fender Stratocaster sound without resorting to unofficial clones. If you can extend your budget by a bit and you're looking for more mid-tier quality, check out the Squier Classic Vibe Strat.
Specifications
- Body: Basswood
- Finish: Arctic White, Black, Sunburst, Red
- Bridge: 6-Saddle Hard Tail
- Pickups: Standard Single-coil Strat x 3
- Neck: Maple
- Scale Length: 25.5"
- Fingerboard: Laurel
- Fingerboard Radius: 9.5"
- Number of Frets: 21 Medium Jumbo
- Nut Width: 1.650
- Controls: Master Volume, Tone, Tone
- Pickup Selector: 5-Position Blade
| Website | Source | *Rating Value |
| KillerGuitarRigs | Rodrigo Sanchez | 92/100 |
Best Cheap Electric Guitars: Humbucker Pickups
Ibanez GIO GRX20Z (HH)
Cons
- Not chimey clean tones
- Will need hardware upgrades for advanced techniques
Pros
- Shred friendly tone and playability
- Dual humbuckers with good output
- Good body and neck craftsmanship
- Single piece output jack
In the 1960's and 1970's, Ibanez were building copies of American electric guitars. Copies from the likes of Gibson and Fender led to lawsuits. This, in turn, led to Ibanez needing to come up with their own designs.
Then in 1986 they teamed up with Frank Zappa's guitarist Steve Vai to create a new design: JEM and RG series. They were launched in 1987 and Ibanez hasn't looked back since. These types of electric guitars are known as 'Superstrats'. In essence, they are an upgrade to Fender's Stratocasters to suit the music at the time.
The GIO series are their entry-level line, and the GRX20Z is their highest rated option under $200. Despite being a cheap solid body guitar, it gives you the comfort and style of a superstrat body.
It has two humbucking pickups and an easy to play neck. Controls are a simple master volume and master tone. All combine to make this a beginner friendly guitar for students who are into rock, metal and similar styles.
It's not surprising that playability is its strongest point. The thinner shape of the neck and quality of fretwork makes it great for learning beginner to advanced level fretting techniques.
Overall craftsmanship of the poplar body and headstock is also quite good, so the guitar looks and feels like a proper guitar. Another thing that I like about it though is its single-piece output jack. This simple innovation solves a common problem that cheap guitars often have - that is loosening or even breaking their output jacks.
More reliable single-piece output jack
The Ibanez Infinity pickups have good enough output that makes it sound great when used with distortion. As a humbucker, it has no 60 cycle hum noise that can be annoying to some beginners. It also has good string to string balance, and it responds well even when used in styles that require heavy pick attack. The downside is that it doesn't have the chime and clarity of single coil pickups.
Hardware used is OK, but don't expect the guitar to hold its tuning when doing extreme techniques. While they may not be as good as premium hardware components, they are up to par, if not better than what others in this price range offer.
All in all, the Ibanez Gio GRX20Z is a great starter shred machine that will help you take your chops to the next level. It's one of the best cheap electric guitar models on the market today. It's the best electric guitar under 200.
Specifications
- Body: Poplar
- Finish: Black Night (pictured), also comes in Green Metallic, Jewel Blue, Vivid Orange and Silver
- Bridge: FAT-6 tremolo
- Pickups: 2 x Infinity R Humbucking passive/ceramic
- Neck: GRX Maple
- Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)
- Fingerboard: Rosewood
- Fingerboard Radius: 12"
- Number of Frets: 22
- Nut Width: 1.653"
- Controls: 1 x Volume, 1 x Tone
- Pickup Selector: 3-way
| Website | Source | *Rating Value |
| YouTube | Andrew Friedberg | 98/100 |
Here's a demonstration of a GRX:
Jackson JS22 Dinky Arch Top (HH)
Cons
- Too metal looking for use with other styles
- Action can be too low for some
Pros
- High-gain friendly tone and fast playing feel
- Distinct rock and metal friendly aesthetics
- Arched top with good craftsmanship
- Decent clean tone
Other companies were content at cloning popular designs. Jackson started out by modifying classic electric guitars to meet the demands of virtuosos. They helped shape the Strat design into one of the best electric guitars for technical playing: The Superstrat.
The JS22 Dinky Arch Top showcases Jackson's penchant for Superstrats, and does so while retaining a very affordable price tag. For the price, you are getting a shred friendly instrument with some nice features.
It features a graphite reinforced neck, a classy looking arched top, and Jackson's distinct headstock design. The neck is designed for guitarists who like to play fast, so it has a slim and smooth feel.
Cheap guitars often fall short in feel. For an entry level guitar, fretwork and string action is good enough to please even intermediate players. String action can even be too low for those who are used to traditional setups.
It has great looking shark fin inlays, which helps complete its rock and metal vibe. The same quality standard and vibe applies to the body, which has a well-crafted arched top, this is quite special in this price range.
Classy looking arched top
Jackson's distinct angled back headstock completes its overall metal look. The downside is it may be too metal for other styles. You may want to switch to another guitar if you're playing pop or ballads.
Jackson's high-output humbuckers give the guitar a high-gain friendly tone that matches its looks. It does a good job of retaining bite and clarity even when volume and distortion is cranked.
It does the rock and metal sound quite well, albeit a little too generic, lacking any sort of distinct voice definition. Still, this can be good for those who shape their sound using other gear.
Surprisingly, the clean sound is quite good, balanced with some chime. Unfortunately, it'll look a bit awkward to play this guitar in clean tone settings.
The Jackson JS22 Dinky is a good quality hotrodded shred machine that'll fit well with future rock virtuosos. For rock music and metal music, it's one of the best budget electric guitars for the genres.
Specifications
- Body: Poplar
- Finish: Satin Black, Natural Oil, Metallic Blue, Snow White
- Bridge: 2-point Tremolo/Vibrato bridge
- Pickups: Jackson High-output Humbuckers
- Neck: Maple
- Scale Length: 25.5"
- Fingerboard: Amaranth
- Fingerboard Radius: 12" to 16" Compound
- Number of Frets: 24 Jumbo
- Nut Width: 1.6875"
- Controls: Master Volume, Master Tone
- Pickup Selector: 3-Position Blade
| Website | Source | *Rating Value |
| YouTube | Ronald Jr | 96/100 |
Best Cheap Electric Guitars: Mixed Pickups
Squier Bullet Strat HT HSS - Laurel Fingerboard (HSS)
Cons
- Not a traditional Strat
- No tremolo
- Minor quality issues
Pros
- Versatile HSS configuration
- Strat style neck and mid position tones
- Overdrive friendly humbucker bridge
- Simpler hardtail bridge
This is the HSS version of the popular and affordable Squier Bullet Strat HT (Hard Tail). Instead of triple single coils, this one sports a humbucker pickup in the bridge position. It's partnered with two singlecoil pickups in the middle and neck.
This means that you get the simpler setup benefits of a hardtail, along with better sustain. While it doesn't allow for vibrato bar control like classic Strats, it is more beginner friendly. I'd recommend solid body guitars with this type of bridge for first time buyers.
The inclusion of a humbucker in the bridge position allows this Strat to cover higher gain territories better. This also gives students a hum-free pickup option that they can use for practicing single note lines and building up their soloing chops. And it does so without compromising the chime of the neck and middle positions. It gives you the best from both single coil and humbuckers.
The single coil tone of its neck and middle pickups are similar to the other Bullet Strat HT, providing good cleans with that distinct Fender chime.
The bridge pickup does a good job of providing higher output tone that works great with overdrive and distortion. It has a flat voicing with a bit of a bump in the lower mids, so you won't get the same chime as you would with a single coil bridge pickup.
Experienced musicians will notice that it lacks some of the extra zing and harmonic overtones of premium Strat models. But, it would be unfair to expect those things from a beginner guitar.
Being a licensed Stratocaster, this guitar follows after conventional design and specs. Albeit using more cost-effective materials and production. The double cutaway body is crafted from basswood, and it has a C-shape maple neck with 21-fret Indian laurel fingerboard. Craftsmanship and hardware quality is OK, but don't expect them to be flawless.
Cheap electric guitars with the HSS pickup configuration are one of the most versatile guitars. This is one of the best cheap electric guitars if you're looking for an affordable HSS configuration Strat.
Specifications
- Body: Basswood
- Finish: Arctic White, Black, Sunburst, Red
- Bridge: 6-Saddle Hard Tail
- Pickups: HSS (Humbucker Bridge, Single-coil x 2)
- Neck: Maple
- Scale Length: 25.5"
- Fingerboard: Laurel
- Fingerboard Radius: 9.5"
- Number of Frets: 21 Medium Jumbo
- Nut Width: 1.650
- Controls: Master Volume, Tone, Tone
- Pickup Selector: 5-Position Blade
| Website | Source | *Rating Value |
| YouTube | Johan Joos Laur | 93/100 |
Ibanez GIO GRX70QA (HSH)
Cons
- No traditional chimey cleans
- Lacks bite for mid to low gain use
Pros
- Versatile HSH configuration
- High-gain friendly humbuckers
- Student friendly playabiltiy
- Fat 6 Tremolo bridge
It's hard to deny the popularity and legacy of Ibanez guitars, thanks to their long list of endorsers. These include virtuoso guitarists like Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and many more. The Ibanez Gio GRX70QA makes their Superstrat design more accessible. Students can start learning on a sleek and hot rodded instrument from the get go.
What sets this apart is its HSH pickup configuration. It features humbuckers for the neck and bridge position, and a single coil pickup in-between. Both humbuckers sound good with distortion, and respond well especially when pushed to higher gain territories.
It seems to be lacking bite when used in mid to lower gain settings, but this can be remedied by EQ or a boost pedal.
The middle pickup sounds good when used in clean tone settings. It has a bright tonality that you wouldn't get from just a dual humbucker configuration. But it might not appeal to those who are used to traditional Strat style cleans.
The downside to HSH, is that the middle pickup will not get a lot of use, so in terms of usage, the guitar is essentially an HH.
Another distinct feature of this guitar is its quilt maple "art" top, which probably means that it has a veneer that looks like quilted maple. It does make it look more premium than it actually is. And it comes in 6 color variations so you can choose which one strikes fancy.
The double cutaway body is crafted from basswood, and craftsmanship is quite good for the price.
Coming from Ibanez, playability is a given. It has a thin Neck Profile and flat fretboard radius that makes it very comfortable for the left hand. Fretwork quality is good, but don't be surprised to find some minor imperfections.
Another noteworthy inclusion is the FAT 6 tremolo bridge. It has independent saddles for string-by-string height and intonation adjustments.
If you're looking for an entry-level rock and shred guitar, then definitely check out the Ibanez GIO GRX70QA.
Specifications
- Body: Poplar
- Finish: Transparent Black, Transparent Blue, Transparent Emerald, Transparent Red, Violet, Sunburst
- Bridge: Fat 6
- Pickups: 2 x Power Sound Humbucker, 1 x Powersound Singlecoil
- Neck: Maple
- Scale Length: 25.5" ( 648 mm)
- Fingerboard: Purpleheart
- Fingerboard Radius: 15.75"
- Number of Frets: 22 Medium
- Nut Width: 1.65" (41.91 mm)
- Controls: 1 x Volume, 1 x Tone
- Pickup Selector: 5-way
| Website | Source | *Rating Value |
| YouTube | Guitarist Next Door | 94/100 |
Things to Consider When Buying an Electric Guitar for a Beginner
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It's perfectly fine to buy cheap electric guitars. Most guitars these days are built with CNC cutting for consistency. However, it's usually at the assembly and setup that a lot of these cheaper guitars become substandard. Many also don't do to well during shipping so it's best to get your electric guitar set up by a professional to maximize its playability.
When buying, you have to keep your expectations in check, don't expect premium quality build and design. You won't find good quality semi hollow guitars in this price range. And don't expect premium mahogany body designs and finishes.
It's worth noting that a student guitar from the 60's, the Fender Mustang, still found professional use over the decades. If you're wondering how long do cheap guitars last, it all depends on how well they're set up and maintained.
While not included in this guide, I recently reviewed a modern student guitar, the Ibanez AZES31 and likened it to the Fender Mustang.
The best cheap electric guitars are ones that inspire you to learn and be creative. It's worth taking time to consider the best electric guitars in this price range.
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Having an electric guitar as your first guitar is completely alright. However, you have to consider that you need at least an amplifier or effects with headphone outputs to hear it.
Cables are also a must-buy. Acoustic guitars are simpler and does not require extra gear, but they are bulkier and can be tougher to play compared to electric guitars.
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Popular brands like Squier (From Fender), Jackson, and Ibanez retain their spots in this edition. And while Epiphone (From Gibson) was bested by lesser-known brands this time around, don't count them out yet.
They continue to be among the most popular brands in the entry-level category. The Epiphone Les Paul in particular is one of their most popular guitars, they also have semi hollow body guitars for those who can extend their budgets.
These brands have experience and manufacturing capabilities. This allows them to continue to produce quality entry-level electric guitars of different styles. So, if you didn't find you're preferred guitar in this guide, chances are you can find it from these brands. Other well-known brands that have guitars in this price range include LTD (From ESP), Dean, Washburn, Donner and more.
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Many affordable guitars are designed for students. Manufacturers know that playability is of utmost priority. This is the reason why many of these budget guitars don't stray from familiar neck and body measurements. This ensures that they feel as close to premium guitars as possible. They lower the price by utilizing more cost-effective materials and production methods.
While many of them will satisfy players out of the box, it is unfair to expect these guitars to play like a dream. This is especially when considering their price. While not always required, it is recommended to have every guitar checked and set up by an experienced guitarist or technician. By doing so, you can make full use of its potential. Given the price range, don't expect premium builds and materials like having a mahogany neck with rosewood fretboard, or stainless steel guitar frets.
Another important playability consideration is your dominant hand orientation, choose between Left Handed vs Right Handed Guitar models.
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There are two main basic types of pickups for electric guitars, Single Coil and Humbucking (double coil). The most practical difference is that single coils tend to sound crisp and bright. Humbuckers tend to sound warmer (for more information see Seymour Duncan's detailed explanation).
An electric guitar can have any combination of the two types. The combination on a guitar is described using the first letter of the pickup type in order from the one closest to the bridge. For example a classic Stratocaster will be described as SSS meaning all three pickups are single coil.
A more recent development is the HSS strat which means it has a Humbucker at the bridge with two Single coils. I've put the pickup configuration of each guitar above in brackets after the model name. You can easily see which pickups each guitar has and in what positing they are.
There are other pickup types out there. Examples include the P90, Filtertron, and rails. They are usually found on guitars that are well above the price range this guide covers. But, you can find some of them in our guitar to Electric Guitars between $200 and $500.
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This is the distance measured between the saddle and the nut. Or it's double the distance from the nut to the 12th fret plus some "compensation" added by the position of the saddle. A longer Guitar Scale Length requires higher tension in the strings and results in a brighter tone. A more detailed explanation with examples is presented quite well by Stewart MacDonald.
A good description of the implications of different scale lengths can be found on Guitar Player. Guitars based on Stratocaster and Telecaster designs usually have a longer 25.5" scale. While Les Paul and SG style guitars are characterized by a shorter 24.75".
Is it OK to buy a cheap electric guitar?
Should I buy electric guitar first?
Cheap Electric Guitar Brands
Playability
Pickups
Scale Length
Cheap Electric Guitar Selection Methodology
The first edition was published in August 2016. The current edition was published on May 23, 2023.
To make this guide focused and useful, we've selected a strict set of criteria that ensures it covers the most widely available guitars that you will be able to easily find at online retailers and which have a good chance of being available from local stores as well.
To be considered for inclusion in this guide a guitar had to meet the following criteria:
- We only included solidbody guitars;
- They had to have a street price under $200;
- They had to have 6 strings and be a full size guitar, meaning a scale length of at least 24";
- Must have been widely available from major American music gear stores.
We looked at all of the guitars that met the criteria above, and ended up with an initial list of 33 guitars, you can find those guitars listed here. We then collated ratings, reviews and forum comments about each guitar and fed that data to the Gearank Algorithm which produced rating scores out of 100 for each guitar - we processed over 30,000 rating sources. Finally we chose our top picks from the highest rated guitars for each category above. For more information about our methods please read How Gearank Works.
About the Author and Contributors
Here are the key people and sources involved in this guide's production - click on linked names for information about their music industry backgrounds.
Lead Author & Researcher
Alexander Briones
I have been writing about and researching music gear for many years, all while serving as a music director at my local church. I engage in guitar playing and singer-songwriter stints, in addition to mentoring young musicians and teaching guitar and bass.
My first electric guitar was an HSS configuration solid body, with floating tremolo. I was influenced by the fancy guitars that I saw in the covers of Guitar Techniques, Guitar World and other guitar magazines. Needless to say, it was a nightmare to setup for a beginner, so I ended up trading it in for a simple Strat.
Fast forward to today, I've helped prevent the same scenarios with my students and friends. Beginners now have it easy, with a wide choice of good quality entry-level electric guitars.
Contributors
Jason Horton: Supplemental writing, Editing and Illustrating.
Media
Main/Top Image: Compiled using photographs of the Ibanez GIO GRX20Z, Squier Bullet Strat HT, Jackson JS22 Dinky Arch Top and Ibanez GIO GRX70QA.
The videos have been embedded in accordance with YouTube's Terms of Service.
The individual product images were sourced from websites, promotional materials or supporting documentation provided by their respective manufacturers.
Comments
The following guitars came
Submitted by Jason Horton on
The following guitars came off our recommended list when we published the September 2022 Edition:
We have removed the Donner
Submitted by Jason Horton on
We have removed the Donner DST-102 (HSS) due to it being discontinued.
We have moved our
Submitted by Jason Horton on
We have moved our recommendation for the Yamaha PAC012 to our guide for Solidbody Guitars Under $500 due to a price increase.
Publication of our May 2021
Submitted by Jason Horton on
Publication of our May 2021 Edition resulted in the following guitars coming off the recommended list above, but you can still see our analysis of them:
We've moved our
Submitted by Jason Horton on
We've moved our recommendation for the Yamaha Pacifica PAC112J to the guide for Electric Guitars Under $500 due to a price increase.
The following guitars came
Submitted by Jason Horton on
The following guitars came off the recommended list above as a result of our June 2020 update:
We've removed the following
Submitted by Jason Horton on
We've removed the following from the recommended list above due to price increases:
As a result of our April 2019
Submitted by Jason Horton on
As a result of our April 2019 update the following guitars came off our recommended list above, but you can still read our analysis of them at:
I want a double neck steel
Submitted by Swapan Pal (not verified) on
I want a double neck steel guitar with double pick up and humbucking for playing with a steel or bar.
We haven't provided any
Submitted by Jason Horton on
We haven't provided any guides or done any research on Lap Steel Guitars here at Gearank.com so we can't help you with any advice on that one.
squier affinity series, looks
Submitted by bo moats (not verified) on
Squier affinity series, looks and sounds great, Fender & Gibson had to start somewhere, so everyone wants to be a star & copy, but everybody's hands and minds are different, don't need to be a star or copy cat to make a name, if the guitar feels good and sounds good, so be it. Be the First, off-brand- (Star),,,,, take the cheap version to new and higher heights,
As a result of the November
Submitted by Jason Horton on
As a result of the November 2017 update of this guide there were two guitars that were removed from our recommended list, but you can still read about them here: