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Ask MusicRadar: what's the best electric guitar under £300?
The MusicRadar community helps you choose
The MusicRadar Team, Tue 23 Jun 2009, 4:44 pm UTC
Whether you're buying your first axe, or you're a nervous parent trying to choose a guitar-shaped birthday present that A) won't break the bank, and B) doesn't sound like a bag of spanners… you've come to right place.
We, the MusicRadar community, like to think we know a thing or two about buying gear, so we're pooling our combined knowledge, experience and past purchases (the good and the avoidable) to bring you a definitive list of the best (and fail-safe) all-rounder electrics under £300.
What to do now...
If you have a suggestion: check the street price (new guitars only please – second hand is a whole new ball park), log in, and leave a comment below. If you need inspiration: scroll through the comments – we'll highlight those guitars with the most votes just for you.
This is a brand new feature so if you can't find what you're looking for, check back tomorrow. It's also the first of many so stay tuned for mid-priced and high-end gear options coming soon.
Come on! Help a fellow guitarist out…
User comments (57)
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I went out determined to buy any budget guitar but Squier - I thought I'd be paying for the Fender name on the back. After trudging round town I picked up a Squier Telecaster Custom in desperation, and it was love at first touch! We've been together for 3 happy years now :)
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The Epiphone ES335 Dot - blows the Studio away in terms of tone. You get so much guitar for your money.
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Squier Standard Jagmaster - The tone alone makes this guitar a steal at just over £200. And you can pretend you're in Nirvana while you're playing it.
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any telecaster will do it. Infact if you want a really top of the line one you can stretch up to £800. No need to spend anymore than that :)
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Apart from getting what feels right, I have been amazingly happy with my Danelectro Pro, that I got for £139. As a start for chords and basic riff structures, you can't go far wrong!
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In my opinion, you really can't go wrong with a Yamaha Pacifica 112, still at less than £200
http://www.thomann.de/gb/yamaha_pacifica_112_yns.htm
I still recommend this to any beginner electric player, and would seriously consider picking up one of these myself. Highly mod ready and great all round quality considering the price. -
The best guitar for £300 - or any price point - is the guitar that feels best, sounds best, and connects best with you. Any brand and any model can have both good and bad examples, even when they come off the same production line and through the same QC checks.
I've gone out before, to buy the acknowledged "best" guitar at a price point, only to pick it up, play it, and feel nothing ... and then I went and bought something very different.
The point ... try before you buy. Try what you think you want, and try lots of alternatives that you don't think you want ... you might be surprised! -
Have to say my Epiphone LP Standard, Honeyburst which I got for £269 and also my Vintage V6 left-handed standard strat in white/RW neck which is being relic'd into a Hendrix strat as we speak -
If you dont want to break the bank but you dont want to compromise on quality then look no further than the Mexican made FENDER range.
I own a mexican made telecaster and have played guitar for 12 years and not yet have i found a guitar under 300 pounds with this much quality. The playability is best to none as is the tone, feel, ability to stay in tune and durability. I Wouldnt suggest FENDER'S Squire range though they seem to be made with absolutely no care or compassion where-as the mexican range seems more solid. Weather its for a begginer or an established guitarist the mexican Fender range will give excellent results!!!! -
Yamaha AES620, and Yamaha AES 620 HB (Hollow Body)
http://www.imuso.co.uk/ProductDetail.asp?StockCode=EG01238
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grozbat
21 weeks ago.