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Best Acoustic Electric Guitar Under $300 Reviews
When choosing the right guitar, budget doesn’t have to prevent you from owning a guitar that has a beautiful design, quality construction and rich sound. The challenge lies in finding a quality budget acoustic-electric guitar among all the dregs, which can actually be quite difficult.
Today’s market is saturated with plenty of cheap guitars that are flimsy and poorly constructed.There are lots of cheap guitars on the market that are poor quality, with bodies made of sub-standard wood, and thin sound. Most of these cheap options are contain sub-standard wood, and thin sound, resulting in a sound that is more egregious than that of a cheap car stereos. So what do you do when you want to find budget option guitar, that is made with high quality materials, great design and rich sound?
Our team here at Solo Music Lab has put together the ultimate list of the best acoustic electric guitars under $300 to help you sort them out.
By weighing up the quality of construction against the price, you can find an acoustic-electric guitar for beginners that will be easy to play and perfect to learn on, and even sound great through your first-among-many live performances.
A budget-friendly guitar is great place to start if you’re looking for an acoustic-electric guitar for beginners. For new players, a cheaper option is a wise investment, as you can begin to get an idea of the sort of guitar you might like best without having to spend a fortune. It also means you haven’t lost much money if you change your mind about learning to play.
A budget guitar also has a place in the collection of the more experienced guitar player. Many players like to take their guitar to parties or might be playing gigs in pubs and clubs where they would worry about an expensive guitar being lost, stolen or damaged. A budget option means that you can do this without worrying too much, and by using this guide to buy one, you can feel confident that you’ll still get great sound out of your instrument.
Top Acoustic Electric Guitar Features To Consider
An acoustic-electric guitar is an acoustic guitar that has been fitted with a magnetic pickup, or an internal piezoelectric pickup which should be located directly under the bridge. They are sometimes called plug-in acoustic guitars, as they can be plugged in to an amplifier or soundboard without the need for a microphone. They’re ideal for music genres where the sound of an acoustic is wanted, but more volume is needed, such as during live performances.
As with any guitar purchase, it’s wise to buy the best acoustic electric guitar you can afford to a guitar that will last you, but that doesn’t have to mean breaking the bank. Once you have your new guitar, you will need to take good care of it to make sure it will last. Budget guitars often don’t come with cases, or come with soft travel cases. Buy a solid case to protect it, especially if you’re going to be taking the guitar out and about with you. Spend the time having the guitar set-up properly by someone who knows what they’re doing, and consider investing in better quality strings. This investment can make even a very budget guitar sound very professional and make it an option for even an experienced player.
It doesn’t matter if your just picking up guitar playing, or if your a seasoned musician in search of an acoustic-electric guitar for your live shows, these budget options will go the distance and be a great addition to your arsenal. All of these guitars are easy on the wallet, without compromising on playability, sound and construction. We trust that you will choose the right budget guitar, and it will last you as long as an expensive one.
Top Acoustic Electric Guitar Comparison Chart
Best Acoustic Electric Guitar Under $300
1. Yamaha FGX800C Solid Top Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Yamaha FGX800C Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Right at the top of our list is a great acoustic model from the Yamaha FG series of guitars. The FGX800C is a wonderful choice for an acoustic-electric guitar for beginners, thanks to its reasonable price and easy playability.
The FG series was designed to have great musical tone and high build quality, and has been known since the since the 1960’s as a classic first guitar that will remain enjoyable even as your skills advance. Yamaha are known for building quality, so you can start learning to play the guitar on something you know will last without having to spend a fortune.
This guitar is quite light, making it a good choice for young players, and the design makes it comfortable to play sitting or standing. The instrument has a great sound too, so will continue to captivate your ear even as you become more experienced. The sound is loud and robust, which is amazing for projecting those low to midrange tones throughout the room.
As an electric acoustic model, this guitar is aptly designed to easily run through an amplifier or sound system. Fender also designed this guitar with on-board sound shaping capability via the features within the System 66 electronics. The pickup sound is rich due to it’s optimal location under the bridge. With a 3-band EQ, mid-range frequency adjustments, and integral tuner, sculpting the amplified sound from stage is straight forward.
For a budget option, this guitar is top of the line. It has solid construction with excellent features and a sound balance that you can use for folk or other soft genres. It’s a wonderful investment piece for new players or those new to playing live gigs. It has rich sounds, making this an ideal entry-level guitar.
Here is an excellent video analysis of the sound quality from the Yamaha FGX800C:
- Solid Sitka Spruce Top
- Nato Back & Sides
- Rosewood Fingerboard & Bridge
- Diecast Tuners
- System 66 feature an under-saddle piezo pickup with a 3-band EQ, an adjustable mid-range frequency control, and a precision chromatic tuner for optimum sound tailoring.
2. Epiphone AJ-100CE Acoustic Electric Guitar
Epiphone AJ-100CE Acoustic Electric
This guitar has a beautiful mahogany body and a select spruce top. If you’re looking for a budget acoustic-electric guitar which still looks good and sounds better, this could be the one. The sound is very clean, despite the low price. As a beginner guitar, this is a good choice, as it has a good sound, a beautiful wood grain finish, an attractive finish and great tuners.
The size of this guitar could be off-putting for beginners, and larger guitars can be more difficult to handle. However, the Epiphone has several features to make it easier to manage, such as a cutaway to make it easier to reach the frets, and a slim taper neck.
The quality construction gives this guitar a deep, woody tone and amazing intonation. The size of the guitar gives it great projection when played, but the guitar might benefit from new strings to make the sound a little crisper.
As with any guitar bought over the internet, expect this one to need some setup work when it arrives. Once you have invested this time though, you’ll be left with a great guitar to get you started learning.
This is a great guitar for beginners. It’s comfortable to play and is great for practice and even on stage.
- Mahogany body
- Select Spruce top
- 25.5 scale
- Country of Origin: China
3. Ibanez AW54CEOPN Artwood Dreadnought Acoustic/Electric Guitar
Ibanez AW54CEOPN Acoustic/Electric
The Artwood series of guitars was designed to combine their rich tradition of acoustic guitars while adding the modern additions needed by the modern guitarist. This guitar is a beautiful one, with a solid mahogany top and an open pore natural finish that shows off the wood grain. The cutaway makes it easier to access the entire fingerboard.
The acoustic sound is warm, but when plugged in, the Fishman Sonicore pickup and the preamp makes adjusting the sound very easy. This would be a good choice for an upgraded guitar for someone looking for something to replace their first guitar.
The solid top, quality hardware, simple-to-use electronics and rich tone would please even the most experienced guitar player. Plugged or unplugged, the guitar has great projection for performances by intermediate guitarists.
This guitar is also very beautiful to look at, with a striking dark finish. The Japanese manufacturer has made this guitar to be robust, but maintain an aesthetic charm. The excellent hardware and easy-to-use electronics make this a guitar that looks professional but is still easy to play. The affordable price makes this a good pick for beginners or more advanced players.
- Dreadnought body with cutaway
- Solid mahogany top
- Mahogany back and sides
- Rosewood bridge and fretboard
- Ibanez AEQ210TF preamp with onboard tuner
4. Fender FA-125CE Dreadnought Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Fender FA-125CE Dreadnought Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Fender is the first name most people think of when buying guitars and for good reason. They make great quality guitars, and this budget acoustic-electric guitar is of the high quality you would expect. You can spend less but still get great tone and a beautiful look. It is built with a Fender 3×3 headstock, an all-laminate construction and sturdy die-cast tuners. It also has all Fishman electronics that allow you to plug in and tune up wherever you are.
The low price of this guitar doesn’t give away the quality of the parts used to make it, making this a great option for more experienced players on a budget. It’s a sturdy guitar, making it a good pick for those who want a cheaper guitar to play at parties or round the campfire without compromising on great sound.
This guitar is a good choice for beginners learning to play, or for singer-songwriters beginning to play live. For live performance, you can enjoy the perfect tone. The on-board electronics has three separate controls, allowing you to individually adjust the volume, bass and treble.
- Highly affordable dreadnought acoustic-electric cutaway that is great for beginners
- Laminate spruce top and basswood back and sides produce great tone
- Nato, C-shaped neck with walnut fingerboard offers great playability
- Visually stunning Viking bridge provides great tonal support
- Fishman electronics provide solid amplified bright Fender acoustic tone
5. Glen Burton GA204BCO-BK Acoustic Electric Cutaway Guitar
Glen Burton GA204BCO-BK Acoustic Electric Cutaway
This guitar has a flame top, basswood back and sides, and a rosewood fingerboard. The tone of the guitar is warm, and projects well with no rattle or vibration. For a budget acoustic-electric guitar, this is a great choice for beginners or the more advanced players, and will sound great when plugged into a good quality amp. Once tuned, it will hold its tune well, and has great intonation.
For a beginner, the included strings are suitable, but the more experienced player might wish to upgrade to something higher quality. For a budget option, this is a very playable guitar, with a smart finish. The action makes it very easy on the fingers, making it easier to concentrate on learning chords, making this a good pick for new players.
The hardware of this guitar is quite basic, but will do the job for a beginner. The sound produced is warm and pleasant, with balanced tone and no buzzing. When bought as a bundle, this is a great choice for the beginner for a good quality guitar at a pocket friendly price.
- Flame Top; Basswood Back And Sides
- Catalpa Neck And Bridge; Rosewood Fingerboard
- Steel String; Sealed Gear Tuners. Number Of Strings: 6
- Country Of Origin : China