The Best Cheap Electric Guitars Under $200
Author & Contributors
Alexander Briones
He's written about and researched music gear for many years, while also serving as a music director at his local church, in addition to teaching guitar, bass and mentoring young musicians.
Pickup Type: Single Coil
Epiphone Les Paul SL (SS)
The Epiphone Les Paul SL is the most affordable licensed Les Paul in the market, and it's doing quite well even with big changes in its setup.
The most important difference is that instead of humbuckers, this one comes equipped with single coil pickups with basic knobs that let you adjust master tone and master volume. But what it lacks in specs, it makes up with its distinct appearance and colorful finish options.
Features
- Body: Poplar
- Finish: Pacific Blue, Ebony, Heritage Cherry Sunburst, Sunset Yellow, Turquoise, Vintage Sunburst
- Bridge: Adjustable Wrap Around Stopbar
- Pickups: 650SCR Ceramic Single-coil Neck, 700SCT Ceramic Single-coil Bridge
- Neck: Mahogany
- Scale Length: 24.75
- Fingerboard: Rosewood
- Fingerboard Radius: 14"
- Number of Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo
- Nut Width: 1.6875"
- Controls: Master Volume, Master Tone
- Pickup Selector: 3-Position Switch
Pros
Value for money is the most commended trait of the Epiphone Les Paul SL. While not perfect, many report that its sound and build quality exceed their expectations. As expected, most of the ratings are from students and beginners, but there are even some experienced guitarists who are impressed with its tone.
Cons
There are some complaints about the quality of its default strings, while others report tuning stability issues. Thankfully, there are also plenty of users who are satisfied with the guitar after changing the strings and making minor adjustments.
Overall
Thanks to the Epiphone Les Paul SL, you can now have an officially licensed Les Paul for a very modest amount of money. Those who are looking for a single-coil equipped Les Paul will also find this guitar appealing.
Squier Bullet Strat HT (SSS)
At publication time this was the Highest Rated Solely Single Coil Equipped Solidbody Electric Guitar Under $200.
More than 60 years after its first production, the Stratocaster continues to be among the most in demand, and the most copied electric guitar designs on the market.
The Squier Bullet Strat HT is its modern representative in the entry-level market, staying true to the original double cutaway profile, albeit using more cost-effective materials and production methods.
It is called an HT model because of its Hard Tail bridge, but everything else is as Strat as it gets, with 3 single-coil pickups and a 5-way pickup selector.
Features
- 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
Pros
Many owners are satisfied with the Bullet Strat HT's overall performance, more notably, the way it retains tuning. It receives a lot of positive comments for its build quality, while others are pleased with its in-between pickup tones. A recurring theme among reviews is that this guitar is a great buy, especially for beginners.
Cons
Most of the complaints are centered on the poor quality of the strings that it ships with. There are also a few users who felt that the color was a bit off compared to the images, but still liked how the guitar performs.
Overall
The Squier Bullet Strat HT is an affordable and reliable way to enter into the world of electric guitar playing.
Pickup Type: Humbucker
Ibanez GIO GRX20Z (HH)
At publication time this was the Highest Rated Solely Humbucker Equipped Solidbody Electric Guitar Under $200.
Like many other Japanese guitar manufacturers in the 1960's and 1970's, Ibanez were essentially building copies of American guitars from the likes of Gibson and Fender which led to lawsuits which 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 which led to the JEM and RG series that were launched in 1987 and Ibanez hasn't looked back since.
These types of guitars are known as 'Superstrats' because of their obvious body shape similarity to Fender's Stratocasters.
The GIO series are their current entry-level guitars with the GRX20Z, combining a superstrat style body with two humbucking pickups, being their highest rated option under $200.
Features
- 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: 400 mmR
- Number of Frets: 22
- Nut Width: 42 mm
- Controls: 1 x Volume, 1 x Tone
- Pickup Selector: 3-way
Pros
This is another budget guitar that is routinely praised for the excellent value for money it provides. Many reviewers point to its playability as its strongest point, which is not surprising given that this guitar is from Ibanez. There were even several people who wrote in their reviews that they liked the GRX20Z so much that they had bought it more than once.
Cons
Other than a few complaints saying it doesn't stay in tune well enough (similar complaints can be found about most budget guitars) there weren't many consistently stated negatives about the GRX20Z.
Overall
If you're looking for an affordable shred machine that will help you get your chops up, then get the Ibanez Gio GRX20Z.
Here's a demonstration of a GRX:
Epiphone Les Paul Special VE (HH)
The Les Paul is easily the most iconic dual humbucker guitar, used by equally iconic artists like Les Paul himself, Neil Young, Slash, Zakk Wylde and many more. And to this day it is being cloned and copied by so many manufacturers.
Gibson's sub-brand Epiphone, is at the forefront when it comes to affordable Les Pauls, the Special VE being the best rated one among its siblings.
It features the same unmistakable single cutaway body, but using more affordable materials which include poplar for the body.
Other features include having a mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard and Tune-o-matic fixed bridge.
Features
- Body: Poplar
- Finish: Cherry, Cherry Sunburst, Vintage Sunburst, Vintage Worn Walnut, Ebony, Vintage Sunburst
- Bridge: Tune-o-matic fixed bridge
- Pickups: 650R Humbucker Neck, 700T Humbucker Bridge
- Neck: Mahogany
- Scale Length: 24.75" ( 629 mm)
- Fingerboard: Rosewood
- Fingerboard Radius: Not Specified
- Number of Frets: 22, Medium Jumbo
- Nut Width: 1.6875" (42.86 mm)
- Controls: 1 x Volume, 1 x Tone
- Pickup Selector: 3-way
Pros
Given its price, most reviewers are surprised to find themselves liking the Les Paul Special VE's tone. It gets a lot of kudos for how good it sounds, especially when overdriven. Being light and easy on the hands are also often commended in reviews.
Cons
There are some reports of quality issues, from minor cosmetic concerns to neck setup problems. Some users recommended getting this guitar properly restrung and setup to make the most of it.
Overall
If you're looking for an entry-level Les Paul, then this is your best bet.
Squier Bullet Mustang (HH)
The Fender Mustang was made popular by alternative rock guitarists like Kurt Cobain back in the '90s, but its origins go way back to 1964.
And now more than half a decade after it was first introduced, the Mustang design is alive and well, and is represented in the entry-level market by the Squier Bullet Mustang.
This budget friendly version of the Mustang brings with it the same offset waist, short scale neck, and double cutaway profile, but with a more streamlined approach to its electronics.
Features
- Body: Basswood
- Finish: Imperial Blue, Black
- Bridge: 6-Saddle Hard Tail
- Pickups: Standard Humbucker x 2
- Neck: Maple
- Scale Length: 24"
- Fingerboard: Laurel
- Neck Shape: C Shape
- Number of Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo
- Nut Width: 1.650
- Controls: Volume, Tone
- Pickup Selector: 3-way Switch
Pros
Being a short scale guitar at 24", many find the Squier Bullet Mustang to be easy to play. It also gets a lot of kudos for its humbucker tone, which users describe as good enough for rock and similar styles of music. Many owners also report that this guitar gave them more than their money's worth.
Cons
Tuning instability is mentioned a few times in reviews, while others report getting better results after replacing the default strings.
Overall
If you're looking for a good entry-level short-scale electric guitar, then this is for you.
Pickup Type: Mixed
Yamaha Pacifica PAC012DLX (HSS)
At publication time this was the Equal Highest Rated Mixed Pickup Solidbody Electric Guitar Under $200 along with the Ibanez GIO GRX70QA.
Designed in the US back in the 90's, and manufactured in Japan, the Pacifica Series is Yamaha's take on Fender's two main designs - the Telecaster and the Stratocaster.
The Yamaha Pacifica PAC012DLX is sought after because of its very accessible price tag, especially when considering that it sports a Superstrat HSS configuration, along with Yamaha's brand of student friendly playability and quality.
Features
- Body: Agathis
- Finish: Black, Old Violin Burst, Metallic Blue, Raspberry Red,
- Bridge: Vintage Tremolo
- Pickups:2 x Yamaha Ceramic Single Coil, Yamaha ceramic Humbucker
- Neck: Maple
- Scale Length: 25.5"
- Fingerboard: Rosewood
- Fingerboard Radius: 13.75"
- Number of Frets: 22 Medium
- Nut Width: 1.614"
- Controls: Master Volume, Master Tone
- Pickup Selector: 5-Position Blade
Pros
Market opinion continues to be positive, thanks to owners rating this guitar highly because of its overall quality. Most users comment that the PAC012DLX gives you more quality per dollar, while others describe it as a very student friendly instrument. It gets a lot of kudos for its nice sounding single-coil tones, while the humbucker impresses even experienced players.
Cons
The usual pitfalls of budget electric guitars are represented in reviews, from minor aesthetic issues, to tuning problems. Thankfully, many users report improved playability and overall experience after setting up the guitar properly.
Overall
The Yamaha Pacifica PAC012DLX is highly recommended if you want a good quality HSS guitar while squeezing as much as possible out your budget.
Ibanez GIO GRX70QA (HSH)
At publication time this was the Equal Highest Rated Mixed Pickup Solidbody Electric Guitar Under $200 along with the Yamaha Pacifica PAC012DLX.
It's hard to deny the popularity and legacy of Ibanez guitars, thanks to their long list of endorsers, which include virtuoso guitarists like Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and many more.
The Ibanez Gio GRX70QA makes their brand of Superstrat design more accessible, so students can start learning on a sleek and hot rodded instrument from the get go.
It has a double cutaway body crafted from basswood, and comes equipped with HSH configuration pickups: two humbuckers for the neck and bridge, and a single coil in the middle position.
Other noteworthy features include having a FAT 6 tremolo bridge and a quilted grain art on the top.
Features
- Body: Basswood
- Finish: Transparent Black, Transparent Blue, Transparent Emerald, Transparent Red
- 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
Pros
Overall response to the Ibanez GIO GRX70QA is positive, with most reviewers sharing a common sentiment that this guitar is a great buy. Coming from Ibanez, playability is a given, and this is reflected in many reviews. It also impresses many with its tone, and the quality of its bridge and tuners. Many of the perfect ratings are from beginner to intermediate players, but there are also some experienced guitarists who chipped in with their good reviews.
Cons
There are some who report that the pickups are not as hot sounding as they want. There are also a few who note that the color may appear a bit different in person compared to the picture.
Overall
If you're looking for an entry-level rock and shred guitar, then definitely check out the Ibanez GIO GRX70QA.
Things to Consider When Buying a Cheap Electric Guitar
-
Cheap Electric Guitar Brands
The four most prominent electric guitar brands in this price range are Squier (From Fender), Epiphone (from Gibson), Yamaha, and Ibanez. Thanks to their experience and manufacturing capabilities, these brands continue to produce quality entry-level electric guitars of different styles. Other well-known brands that have guitars in this price range include LTD (From ESP), Jackson, Dean, Washburn and more.
-
Playability
Since affordable guitars are designed for students, manufacturers know that playability is of utmost priority. This is the reason why many of these budget-friendly guitars don't stray from familiar neck and body measurements. This ensures that they feel as close to premium guitars as possible, albeit 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, 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, so you can make full use of its potential.
-
Pickups
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 while 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 and 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 so you can easily see which pickups each guitar has and in what positing they are.
There are other pickup types out there, like the P90, Filtertron, Rail etc - but 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.
-
Scale Length
This is essentially the distance measured between the saddle and the nut, or more accurately described as double the distance from the nut to the 12th fret plus some "compensation" added by the position of the saddle. A longer 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 and 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".
Cheap Electric Guitar Selection Methodology
The first edition was published during August 2016 and the latest edition was published on June 25, 2020.
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 full sized 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 19 guitars, you can find most of those guitars listed here. This entailed analyzing over 7000 related reviews and ratings, including the most recent ones up to the second half of June of 2020. That data was then processed via the Gearank algorithm, resulting in scores which we used to rank the guitars according to pickup configuration. 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
He's written about and researched music gear for many years, while also serving as a music director at his local church, in addition to teaching guitar, bass and mentoring young musicians.
Drawing from his experience in performing and recording, he teaches guitar and bass and mentors young artists to be better musicians. And when he is not busy playing or tinkering with musical gear, he puts on his entrepreneurial hat, which helps fund his passion for collecting guitars, mecha figures and Gunpla kits.
Contributors
Jason Horton: Supplemental writing, Editing and Illustrating.
Media
Main/Top Image: Compiled using photographs of the Squier Bullet Strat HT, Epiphone Les Paul SL, Ibanez GIO GRX70QA, Yamaha Pacifica PAC112J and Epiphone Les Paul Special VE.
All the videos above 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
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:
Post a Comment or Question