This guide to the 7 best acoustic guitars under $300 will help you find a quality acoustic guitar for not a lot of money. Guitars have come a long way in recent years, and there are some great budget models on the market. For $300 you’ll be able to get a good guitar.
Quick Answer: Best Acoustic Guitars Under $300
- 1. Best Acoustic Guitar Under $300 Overall: Yamaha FG820
- 2. Fender FA-125CE Acoustic Guitar
- 3. Dean AXA Exotic Cutaway Acoustic Guitar
- 4. Washburn EA15 Acoustic Guitar
- 5. Schecter 3716 Acoustic Guitar
- 6. Ibanez Alt20 Altstar Acoustic Guitar
- 7. Fender CD-60 Acoustic Guitar Bundle
I have a lot of experience with acoustic guitars as a teacher and player for over 30 years. I also spend time in a warehouse as a quality control technician for guitars, so I have a good idea of what you need in a guitar before you buy. Let’s look at our list of guitars.
About Acoustic Guitars Under $300
For under $300, you’re going to find plenty of good-sounding guitars. These instruments are ideal for both beginner and intermediate players. Most are made with decent wood, have a nice finish, and some even come with pickups for recording or playing live.
Don’t expect a concert-level tone here, as these guitars are still made with lesser-grade wood, but they still sound pretty good for the price you pay. I’ve picked out the best models in this price range, so you’re sure to find a nice guitar from this list.
My Experience with Acoustic Guitars Under $300
I’ve played acoustic guitar for over 30 years. I teach guitar to students, so I come across plenty of different guitar models. As a quality control technician, I check guitars for playability.
This list uses my experience with guitars to help you find one of the 7 best acoustic guitars under $300. I feel that all the guitars on this list would make great options. Let’s dig in and look at this list.
Things to Consider When Choosing Acoustic Guitars Under $300
Here are a few things to keep in mind before you order your new guitar. You need to have a general idea of what you want before you buy, so keep these points in mind.
Size
Almost all guitars under $300 are full-sized guitars. These tend to be either dreadnoughts or cutaway guitars. You want a guitar that’s comfortable to play, so you may need to experiment a bit to find the right guitar.
The Overall Tone & Sound
Guitars in this price range start to have a nice tone and easy playability when you compare them to lower-priced models. They’re perfect beginner guitars for those with a bit more to spend on a guitar. I recommend all players start in this range, as the sound is nice.
Price
In terms of price, $250-300 is a good entry point. This gives you plenty of options, and in this price range, the build quality starts to go up significantly from the lower-cost models.
Electronics
Some models at $300 have electronic systems installed. These are pretty decent and can allow the player to play live or record with their guitar. These systems are still pretty basic, and you may want to upgrade if recording a lot is your thing.
7 Best Acoustic Guitars Under $300
This guide will help you find a great guitar for under $300. I picked these models as I feel they’re all good options for today’s guitar player. There’s something here for everyone.
1. Yamaha FG820 Acoustic Guitar
- Type: Dreadnought
- What’s included: Guitar
- Pickups: No
- Material & finish: Mahogany, maple, spruce, rosewood, matte finish
- Best for: Those that want a solid moderately-priced guitar
The Yamaha FG820 is a well-built acoustic dreadnought for today’s player. The sitka spruce top produces clear notes when you’re playing chords or soloing. The rosewood fingerboard is smooth and responsive to the fingers as you play.
Die cast tuners keep this guitar in perfect tune, so it’s ready to go when you want to play. This guitar feels and plays like an expensive guitar, but without the huge price. The FG820 is ideal for beginners or intermediate players that need a quality acoustic.
✅ Solid wood
✅ Good neck
✅ Accessories
✅ Scalloped bracing
❌ No case
❌ No accessories
Why I Recommend It
I played a few FG820s at a local music store I worked for. These are exceptional guitars in this price range. You get that traditional dreadnought feel, and it’s got a pretty loud sound for the price. Chords, solos, and fingerpicking are a breeze on this model.
The guitar is well built and has a nice smooth finish. Yamaha has made a decent acoustic guitar here, and I’d recommend it to any player that doesn’t want to spend a lot on their acoustic. There’s not much wrong with this model.
2. Fender FA-12CE Acoustic Cutaway Guitar
- Type: Cutaway dreadnought
- What’s included: Guitar, accessories, case
- Pickups: Fishman
- Material & finish: Rosewood, laminate, basswood, nato, gloss finish
- Best for: Beginners that want a pickup
The Fender FA-12CE is a great guitar package for today’s player. You can play the guitar acoustically or plugged in with its Fishman pickup system. Players will love the smooth and responsive neck with easy access to the higher frets with its deep cutaway.
The guitar comes with a Fender Play lesson trial, so the player can get started with the guitar right away. Other accessories include a case, picks, a strap, and an extra set of strings. Start playing guitar now with the FA-12CE by Fender.
✅ Cutaway
✅ Pickup
✅ Easy playing
✅ Good tone
❌ May need setup
❌ Wood could be better
Why I Recommend It
I love this Fender package, as it’s a solid guitar for any beginner or intermediate player. A lot of other packages aren’t worth the money. I played one of these recently and was impressed with the tone of this guitar.
At under $300, you also get a nice Fishman side-mounted pickup, which is a great addition. I also like the attractive Viking-style bridge and its quality tuners. It might need a bit of action adjustment, but other than that the guitar is solid.
3. Dean AXS Exotic Cutaway Acoustic Guitar
- Type: Cutaway dreadnought
- What’s included: Guitar
- Pickups: DMT SL-3
- Material & finish: Mahogany, koa, rosewood
- Best for: Beginners that want a pickup and cutaway
The Dean AXS is a great-looking guitar that sounds amazing. You can use the DMT SL-3 pickup system to record or play live with this guitar. The rosewood fretboard is smooth and feels great when you play at all positions.
The koa top and mahogany body provide a huge tone for chords, solos, and other styles of playing. You can use the built-in tuner to keep your guitar in perfect tune every time. The dual-action truss rod keeps the neck straight, and the guitar plays great.
✅ Pickup
✅ Good tone
✅ Nice look
✅ Easy playing
❌ No case
❌ No accessories
Why I Recommend It
It’s not often you can find a guitar made with koa wood for under $300. The Dean AXS is a well-rounded guitar that sounds pretty good for its price range. I love the neck on this model, as it plays well at all positions. It’s easy to solo thanks to the nice cutaway.
The DMT SL-3 pickup is also a standout on this model. The guitar has an exceptional tone through an amplifier. It’s also got a bass, middle, and treble control for even more sound possibilities. This Dean has a lot to offer beginner or even intermediate players.
4. Washburn EA15 MiniJumbo Cutaway Acoustic Guitar
- Type: Jumbo cutaway
- What’s included: Guitar
- Pickups: Barcus Berry
- Material & finish: Maple, catalpa, sitka spruce, gloss
- Best for: Those that want a comfortable guitar to play
The Washburn EA15 MiniJumbo Cutaway is a smooth-playing guitar for today’s player. The mini jumbo body is smaller than a regular dreadnought, so it’s comfortable to play whether you’re sitting down or standing up.
The Barcus Berry pickup is a side-mounted unit with tons of controls for multiple sound options. The digital tuner keeps the guitar in perfect tune. The cutaway neck makes the guitar perfect for soloing. The Washburn EA15 is designed for today’s players.
✅ Good tone
✅ Pickup
✅ Easy playing
✅ Cutaway
❌ No case
❌ EQ may be confusing
Why I Recommend It
I love this Washburn guitar, as it gives you a lot for not a whole lot of money. The Barcus Berry pickup sounds great out of an amplifier, and it has a lot of controls like presence, middle, and tone, so you can sculpt your sound any way you want.
The neck is nice up and down the fretboard for chords, single notes, and fingerpicking. It tunes well and has solid tuning pegs. The body size is nice, as the smaller size makes it comfortable to hold. Overall, this guitar is a real bargain at this price.
5. Schecter 3716 Cutaway Acoustic Guitar
- Type: Dreadnought cutaway
- What’s included: Guitar
- Pickups: No
- Material & finish: Mahogany, rosewood, spruce
- Best for: Rock and metal players
The Schecter 3716 is a great-sounding acoustic guitar. The spruce top provides good resonance and tones no matter what you’re playing. The rosewood fretboard and die cast machine heads keep the guitar in perfect tune.
The dovetail set neck makes the guitar easy to play, and it’s comfortable in your hand up and down the fretboard. Players will find chording, playing notes, and solos an effortless experience on this guitar.
✅ Cutaway
✅ Nice neck
✅ Good tone
✅ Solid bridge
❌ Finish could be better
❌ No accessories
Why I Recommend It
I like this Schecter because it’s easy to play. I got my hands on one in a local music store and it’s got a nice responsive neck at all positions. The tone is big and loud for rock and metal guitar playing. If you want to rock, this is the guitar for you.
The finish is ok, but I’d prefer a deeper black, as the see-through finish isn’t the best. Despite this finish, the guitar is a great-sounding instrument at this price. It’s got a nice cutaway that’s perfect for rock solos, so shred away.
6. Ibanez ALT20 Altstar Acoustic-Electric Guitar
- Type: Cutaway dreadnought
- What’s included: Guitar
- Pickups: AEQ-2UT
- Material & finish: Maple, sapele, walnut
- Best for: Acoustic guitar shredders
The Ibanez ALT20 plays and feels like an electric guitar, so it’s suitable for those that play electric but want to try acoustic guitar. The neck is smooth and responsive, so the player can play fast up and down the neck.
The pickup has EQ controls to sculpt and shape your guitar tones when it’s plugged into an amplifier. The die cast tuners provide stable tuning. The maple top provides a solid tone every time you play this guitar.
✅ Big tone
✅ Good pickup
✅ Fast neck
✅ Deep cutaway
❌ No case
❌ No extras
Why I Recommend It
This guitar is a rock player’s dream. The flat neck on this guitar plays fast, so you’ll have effortless solos. I love the advantage of bridge pins, which make string changes easy on this model. The EQ is small and compact on the side of the guitar.
The body is thinner than a regular dreadnought, so it’s great when you’re standing up or sitting down. This body also provides less feedback when plugged into an amp. If you want to rock, this guitar has you covered.
7. Fender CD-60 Dreadnought Guitar Bundle
- Type: Standard dreadnought
- What’s included: Guitar, gig bag, accessories
- Pickups: None
- Material & finish: Mahogany, spruce, laminate, gloss
- Best for: Beginners that want a full package
The Fender CD-60 Dreadnought Guitar Bundle provides the beginning guitar player with everything that they need. The included Fender guitar sounds great, and it’s easy to play. The neck on the guitar is smooth at all positions.
Players get an included lesson book, so they can begin to learn how to play right away. Accessories include picks, strings, a guitar strap, and a tuner. Students also get a free trial of Fender Play, an online site for lessons, videos, and other content.
✅ Easy playing
✅ Lots of accessories
✅ Solid wood
✅ Gig bag
❌ No pickup
❌ Some accessories could be better
Why I Recommend It
I’ve played Fender guitars for years, and the CD-60 is an excellent starter guitar. I like this package since it gives the student or anyone looking to play guitar all they need to begin. The guitar is built well, and it’s worth the little extra you pay for this package deal.
The C-shape neck is comfortable, and it gives you a good tone with the laminate spruce top. The tuners are standard Fender die cast and keep the instrument in good tuning. This is one of the better package deals and is one of the 7 best acoustic guitars under $300.
Acoustic Guitars Under $300 Aesthetics & Build
Guitars under $300 tend to be built quite well, so you’re sure to find a decent guitar in this price range. They use quality wood and have a decent tone. You’ll also find a few of them with pickup systems for recording and playing live.
Material
Here’s what you need to know in terms of the wood used to build acoustic guitars for under $300.
- Spruce: This wood is common for guitar tops since it provides an excellent tone.
- Cedar: This is another common wood used to construct guitar tops.
- Mahogany: This wood is often used for guitar backs and sides because of its good tone and resonance.
- Maple: Used to construct guitar necks because it’s sturdy, although it’s not that common on acoustics
- Basswood: Used on less expensive guitars
- Laminate: A combination of the wood used on some guitars
Finish
There are several different finishes used on acoustic guitars. Here are the basics of each.
- Gloss: This finish is common on acoustics. It’s got a nice shine and good durability.
- Nitrocellulose lacquer: Not that common on acoustics
- Matte: This is a nice smooth finish with minimal shine often found on acoustic guitars.
- Polyester: An alternative to nitrocellulose with good durability and shine
Frequently Asked Questions:
Here are some questions that people often ask about guitars under $300.
Are Guitars Under $300 Worth It?
At the $300 price range, you start to get guitars that you can rely on night after night. These instruments tune well, have a great sound, and far exceed the simple guitar you get at a lower price. This is the preferred starting point for a beginner if you can afford it.
What Type of Sound Can I Expect?
You’ll get a guitar that sounds good right out of the box. There’s not a whole lot of tweaking that you need to do with this sort of instrument. The tone at $300 is far better than that of lower-cost models. Guitars with pickup systems are also suitable for recording.
What Size Should I Buy?
Guitars under $300 are typically full-sized and designed for adults and teenagers. There are also smaller body sizes such as concert and smaller-sized dreadnoughts if you find a regular acoustic to be a bit cumbersome.
Where to Buy Acoustic Guitars Under $300
There are a few locations where I like to buy my acoustic guitars. Here’s a breakdown of each location.
Amazon
Shopping on Amazon is recommended. They have a great selection of guitars and related products. They ship items fast and have excellent customer service. You can read the reviews of a guitar before ordering to see if the model is right for you.
Sweetwater/Guitar Center
Two alternatives to Amazon are Guitar Center and Sweetwater. I find both stores have an amazing product selection and good customer service, and they ship products fast. You’re sure to find a great guitar when shopping at these locations.
Your Local Music Store
Your local music store is another place to find a good guitar. Keep in mind that these stores have limited stock and may not have the guitar you want. In some cases, you may need to special order the instrument.
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Table of Contents
- Acoustic Guitars By Price
- About Acoustic Guitars Under $300
- My Experience with Acoustic Guitars Under $300
- Things to Consider When Choosing Acoustic Guitars Under $300
- 7 Best Acoustic Guitars Under $300
- Acoustic Guitars Under $300 Aesthetics & Build
- Frequently Asked Questions:
- Acoustic Guitar Brands
- In Conclusion
In Conclusion
Thanks for reading our guide to the 7 best acoustic guitars under $300. Guitars at this price level all sound great, and you’ll get a guitar you can grow with for years. This is a good starting point for beginners to get into the guitar.
Please comment, like, and share this article. We want to hear from you about your experiences with acoustic guitars. Now, go pick up your new acoustic guitar and pluck out some tunes.
