The best cheap electric guitars (under €300)
Under €300 there are cheap electric guitars that genuinely sound and play well. For most people we recommend a Squier Sonic (from €174). If you play rock or metal, go for the Ibanez GRG131DX; and if you do not want to spend more than €160, the Cort G110. Below are the 10 we would pick ourselves, side by side.
We have split them into two price bands: under €200 and €200 to €300. All of them are solid-body guitars and you can find them in our cheap electric guitars section. If your main concern is learning to play rather than price, have a look at our guide to the best electric guitars for beginners too.
Read moreShow lessWHICH CHEAP ELECTRIC GUITAR SHOULD YOU BUY?
| Model | From | Shape | Pickups | Scale | Bridge | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Squier Sonic Stratocaster / Telecaster | €174 | Strat / Tele | SSS or HSS / SS | 648 mm | Tremolo / fixed | Pop, rock, blues and funk |
| Cort G110 | €159 | Double cutaway | HSS | 648 mm | Tremolo | Spending as little as possible without falling short |
| Squier Mini Stratocaster | €162 | 3/4 Strat | SSS | 580 mm | Fixed | Kids, small hands and travel |
| Jackson JS11 | €185 | Superstrat (Dinky) | HH | 648 mm | Tremolo | Hard rock and metal |
| Ibanez GRG131DX | €222 | Superstrat | HH | 648 mm | Fixed | Metal and lower tunings |
| Yamaha Pacifica 012 | €228 | Strat | HSS | 648 mm | Tremolo | An all-rounder |
| Mooer MSC20 Pro | €249 | Strat | HSS with coil split | 648 mm | Tremolo | Versatility, gig bag included |
| Ibanez AZES40 | €282 | Modern Strat | HSS (Dyna-MIX8) | 635 mm | Tremolo | Comfort and lots of tones |
| Gretsch Streamliner Jet Club | €299 | Single-cut | H | 629 mm | Fixed (wraparound) | Rock and roll, punk and riffs |
| Squier Affinity Telecaster left-handed | €265 | Left-handed Tele | SS | 648 mm | Fixed | Left-handers who want the Tele sound |
Prices are a guide and may change. The current price is always on each guitar's product page.
Read moreShow lessWHAT ARE THE BEST ELECTRIC GUITARS UNDER €200?
Squier Sonic Stratocaster and Telecaster
Who it is for: Almost everyone: it is the series we are asked for most under €300. The Stratocaster, with three single coils, is great for pop, funk and blues; the Telecaster, with two, has the drier, punchier sound of country and classic rock.
Best thing: 648 mm neck with a C profile and a 9.5" fingerboard radius, comfortable for chords; 42 mm nut and 9-gauge strings, among the easiest to fret.
Worth knowing: It has 21 frets, one fewer than most. If you want more gain for rock, look at the HSS version, with a humbucker in the bridge.
Guide price: from €174, in several colours (for example black or black Telecaster).
Cort G110
Who it is for: Anyone who wants to spend as little as possible without giving up a versatile guitar.
Best thing: HSS configuration (humbucker in the bridge plus two single coils): clean tones as well as full-bodied distortion. It has 22 frets and a tremolo.
Worth knowing: One volume and one tone control: fewer knobs, but enough to get started. The open-pore finish feels matte.
Guide price: from €159.
Squier Mini Stratocaster
Who it is for: Kids, small hands or as a travel guitar. This is the short-scale option.
Best thing: 580 mm (3/4) scale and a 40.6 mm nut: the frets are closer together and chords take less effort. The bridge is fixed, so it stays in tune better.
Worth knowing: An adult with average hands will find it small. It has 20 frets.
Guide price: from €162.
Jackson JS11
Who it is for: Hard rock and metal: it is the cheapest superstrat in this selection.
Best thing: Two high-output ceramic humbuckers, 22 jumbo frets, a 12" fingerboard radius and a graphite-reinforced maple neck that moves less with changes in temperature.
Worth knowing: It is built for gain; for a very bright clean tone, a Strat is a better bet. It has a tremolo.
Guide price: from €185, in metallic red, black and white.
Our pick under €200: if you are not sure about the style, the Squier Sonic Stratocaster. It is the most balanced guitar in this band. If metal is your thing, go straight for the Jackson JS11. And if the guitar is for a child under about 10, the Squier Mini will be much more comfortable.
Read moreShow lessWHICH ELECTRIC GUITAR SHOULD YOU BUY BETWEEN €200 AND €300?
Ibanez GRG131DX
Who it is for: Metal and modern rock, and anyone who plays in lower tunings.
Best thing: Two Infinity humbuckers, 24 jumbo frets and an almost flat fingerboard (16" radius) that makes fast solos easier. The fixed bridge keeps it in tune even when you tune down.
Worth knowing: No tremolo: if you like vibrato with a bar, look at the Jackson JS11. It is one of our best sellers at this price.
Guide price: from €222.
Yamaha Pacifica 012
Who it is for: Anyone who wants a guitar that covers everything, from a clean pop tone to distorted rock.
Best thing: HSS configuration in which, in the fourth selector position, the humbucker works as a single coil and combines with the middle pickup: you get the sound of two single coils without changing guitars.
Worth knowing: It comes with one free month of Fretello, a guitar-learning app.
Guide price: from €228.
Mooer MSC20 Pro
Who it is for: Anyone after a versatile, well-finished Strat who does not want to buy a gig bag separately.
Best thing: Poplar body with an ash top, roasted maple neck and HSS pickups with coil split: the humbucker can also sound like a single coil. Gig bag included.
Worth knowing: Mooer is better known for its pedals and the MSC series is recent: it has less of a track record than Squier or Yamaha.
Guide price: from €249.
Ibanez AZES40
Who it is for: Anyone who wants comfort and lots of different tones in a single guitar.
Best thing: 635 mm scale, slightly shorter than usual: less string tension and easier bends. The Dyna-MIX8 switch gives 8 pickup combinations.
Worth knowing: Its shape is modern rather than a classic Strat. The frets are medium, not jumbo.
Guide price: from €282.
Gretsch Streamliner Jet Club
Who it is for: Rock and roll, punk and garage: straightforward riffs, no fuss. It is the only single-cut in this guide.
Best thing: Mahogany body and neck, a single high-output HotWire humbucker and a wraparound bridge. 629 mm scale, shorter than a Strat's, and a Graph Tech NuBone nut.
Worth knowing: One humbucker, one volume, one tone: do not expect a wide range of sounds, expect punch.
Guide price: from €299.
Squier Affinity Telecaster left-handed
Who it is for: Left-handers who want a big-name guitar with the classic Telecaster sound. It is the left-handed option in this guide.
Best thing: Two single coils and a fixed bridge, a 648 mm maple neck and fingerboard with a C profile and 9.5" radius, 21 medium jumbo frets and a 42 mm nut: the same comfort as the right-handed version.
Worth knowing: There are fewer left-handed models and colours; this one is Butterscotch Blonde, the classic Tele finish. Left-handed guitars sell more slowly: if it is not shown as available, ask us about delivery times.
Guide price: from €265.
Our pick between €200 and €300: the Yamaha Pacifica 012 if you want a guitar for everything, and the Ibanez GRG131DX if you play metal. If you play for hours and comfort matters, you will notice the shorter scale of the Ibanez AZES40. And if you are left-handed, the left-handed Squier Affinity Telecaster.
Read moreShow lessHOW DO YOU CHOOSE A CHEAP ELECTRIC GUITAR?
Single coils or humbuckers?
Single coils sound bright and defined: pop, funk, blues. Humbuckers give more body, more output and less noise with distortion: hard rock and metal.
- SSS: Squier Sonic Stratocaster, Squier Mini.
- HSS: the most versatile mix (Cort G110, Pacifica 012, Mooer, AZES40).
- HH and H: Jackson JS11, Ibanez GRG131DX, Gretsch Jet.
Which neck and frets are most comfortable?
The scale sets the distance between frets: 648 mm is standard, 635 and 629 mm feel more comfortable and 580 mm is 3/4 size. A 9.5" radius is more curved and comfortable for chords; 12" to 16" is flatter, for solos.
More frets (24) give you more high notes, but 21 or 22 are plenty for almost everything.
Fixed bridge or tremolo?
A tremolo lets you add vibrato with the bar, but on affordable guitars it tends to go out of tune if used a lot. A fixed bridge (Ibanez GRG131DX, Squier Mini, Gretsch Jet, Squier Sonic Telecaster, left-handed Squier Affinity Telecaster) holds its tuning better and makes changing tunings or strings easier.
Why does the set-up matter?
A well-set-up cheap guitar plays better than a badly set-up expensive one. Check three things: the string height (if it is high, fretting is hard work), the nut (if it is high, the first frets fight back) and the intonation at the 12th fret, which should match the open string. If it feels hard to play when it arrives, do not get discouraged: it is usually a set-up issue, not a practice one.
Which amp and accessories do you need?
An electric guitar needs amplification. At home a small practice amp is enough, ideally with a headphone output; our guide to best value-for-money guitar amplifiers has some options. You will also need:
- A 3 m jack cable
- A tuner (clip-on or built into the amp)
- A few picks of different thicknesses
- A strap, if you play standing up
- A gig bag, if you will be carrying it around (the Mooer comes with one)
If you would rather get everything at once, have a look at our electric guitar packs, which bundle guitar, amp and accessories.
Read moreShow lessLOOKING FOR YOUR FIRST GUITAR?
This guide is about price. If learning matters most to you, our selection of the best electric guitars for beginners focuses above all on comfort and how easy they are to play. If you are still torn between types of guitar, start with classical, acoustic or electric guitar?. And if you want to compare brands before deciding, here are the best electric guitar brands.
Read moreShow lessFREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is an electric guitar under €200 worth it?
Yes, if it comes from a serious brand and is properly set up. Models such as the Squier Sonic, the Cort G110 or the Jackson JS11 stay in tune and will do for learning and playing for years. Under €200, the set-up usually makes more difference than the wood.
Is it better to buy a pack or the guitar and amp separately?
A pack is the most convenient option and usually works out a little cheaper. Buying separately lets you choose a better guitar and amp for your style. If you have nothing yet, a pack is a good starting point; if you already have an amp, just buy the guitar.
Squier, Yamaha or Ibanez?
Squier for the classic Strat and Tele sound; Yamaha (Pacifica) if you want an all-rounder; Ibanez for modern rock and metal, with thin, fast necks. All three are reliable at this price: choose by style.
Are there cheap electric guitars for left-handers?
Yes, although there are fewer models. In this guide, the left-handed Squier Affinity Telecaster, from €265. If you are after a different one, get in touch and we will tell you what we can get.
Which electric guitar is best for a child?
For children up to about 10, a short-scale guitar like the Squier Mini (580 mm). Beyond that, or if they have big hands, a full-size one; the Ibanez AZES40 (635 mm) is one of the most comfortable.
How much do you need to spend on an electric guitar so it does not fall short?
Between €175 and €300 you already get a guitar you can play in a band. Above that, pickups, finishes and hardware improve, but you do not need more to learn and play with ease.
Torn between two? The best thing is to try them: at the MAT Guitars shop you can pick them up and hear the difference between pickups through the same amp. And if you cannot come in, we can advise you by phone or WhatsApp.
Read moreShow lessStill have questions?
If you are still not sure which electric guitar to choose, our team will be happy to help through any of these channels:
- Phone
- +34 954 902 550
- info@matguitars.com
- +34 647 639 532
- Contact
- Contact form
Meet the expert behind this article
Gonzalo Cosín
Guitars, sound and studio gear specialistA sound engineer and guitarist, he combines musical judgement with a practical view of gear. He'll help you with questions about guitars, sound and setups for playing, recording or amplifying yourself properly.
