Best Cheap & Affordable Electric Guitars
It is not out of place to be able to obtain a good quality electric guitar even when on a tight budget. Although top quality guitars will definitely cost a fortune, there are still a few others that are obtainable at reasonable prices.
However, there are many brands offering super cheap axes out there. So, finding the ones that offer the best value for the money can be very tasking. That is why we have come up with a list of electric guitars that we suggest will provide quality playability and sound despite being affordable.
Best Rated Affordable Electric Guitars Reviewed.
Best of the Best  | Best of the Best | Epiphone Les Paul Special-II Electric Guitar |
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 | Squier by Fender Affinity Telecaster |
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Best Affordable  | Best Affordable | C-1 SGR by Schecter Beginner Electric |
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 | Oscar Schmidt OE20B-A-U Solid Body Electric |
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 | Dean Vendetta XM Electric Guitar |
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There are many electric guitars available today on the market. But for budget-conscious buyers, the possibility of owning a quality guitar at an affordable price seems elusive. However, our list here contains awesome electric guitars at pocket-friendly prices.
Epiphone Les Paul Special-II Electric Guitar, Vintage Sunburst
The Epiphone Les Paul Electric Guitar has got great features that are typical of Les Paul. It comes in a mahogany body with a bolt-on mahogany neck. It sports a smooth rosewood fingerboard that carries 22 frets. Also, what sets this instrument apart as the best are the 700T/650R open-coil humbucking pickups.
Furthermore, the awesome pickups help to produce tones that are true and singing sustain. In addition, it features a LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge. They also combine well to make changing string a lot easier as well as adding more sustain when you play. Overall, this will make an awesome instrument because of its ease-of-play and affordability.
Pros:
- An outstanding choice for budget conscious players
- The action is clean and easy to pick notes on
- The product comes well packaged and protected
- An attractive guitar that plays right out of the box
Cons:
- Some mishandling of package in transit
- Some customers complained about the high E string
Squier by Fender Affinity Telecaster Beginner Electric Guitar
The Squier Affinity Telecaster Beginner Electric Guitar is fashioned to be a great choice for the aspiring musician. It comes in a body made of alder with a C-shape neck. Moreover, this instrument features two single-coil telecaster pickups that produce a great tone similar to the classical guitar.
In addition, it has a top-load telecaster bridge which works great to stabilize tuning. It also makes changing strings a breeze.
Pros:
- Stunning appearance, sound, and feel
- It has a great action
- Excellent beginner guitar
- An amazing instrument for the price
Cons:
- The fret ends are a bit rough
- Poor delivery packaging
C-1 SGR by Schecter Beginner Electric Guitar Accessories Bundle
The Schecter Beginner Electric Guitar is designed in a Schecter’s elegant style with sturdy electronics and great playability. Moreover, it comes in a double-cutaway body made of basswood. It also features an arched top with an overall midnight satin black finish and beautiful contours.
In addition, this guitar sports two SGR humbuckers both at the neck and bridge positions. Furthermore, other great features are a fixed tune-o-matic bridge, a tailpiece, and a set of sealed tuners.
Pros:
- The head is absolutely beautiful with a matte black finish
- Sounds and plays great
- Offers a great value for money
- A fantastic starter guitar
Cons:
- Has a slight buzz
- There are some loose ends here and there
Oscar Schmidt OE20B-A-U Solid Body Electric
The Oscar Schmidt OE20B-A-U Solid Body Electric offers an excellent style, great sound, and workmanship. It also features a fantastic mahogany body, a maple neck, and dual humbuckers. Moreover, these all combine well to offer versatile tone options.
Pros:
- Good looks and awesome performance
- Impressive guitar at a great price
- The sound is cool
- Excellent product at an affordable price
Cons:
- A few people say there are some cosmetics issues
- It will need some fixing before perfect use
Dean Vendetta XM Electric Guitar
The Dean Vendetta XM Electric Guitar is designed to be a perfect choice for players on a budget. It comes in a paulownia body with a natural finish. Moreover, other features include a 24-fret maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, and dual Dean humbuckers. Also, it features an overall lightweight body and sleek neck made for your comfort.
Pros:
- Very good construction
- Frets are perfect without any rough edges
- Fantastic for players on a budget
- Holds tune and intonation very well
Cons:
- Some cases of manhandling of package on delivery
- A few people say it seems the knobs are flimsy
Yamaha Pacifica Series PAC12 Electric Guitar
The Yamaha Pacifica Series PAC12 Electric Guitar is designed for a great tone and playability. It comes in an Agathis body with a maple bolt-on neck. This guitar sports a 25.5” scale length that has a semblance of a Strat-style guitar. Also, it features a sonokeling fretboard that houses its 22 frets.
Furthermore, the vintage tremolo bridge holds the humbucker that works well with the single-coils at both the center and neck. This Yamaha electric guitar is very affordable and overall has a great tone with clear sound.
Pros:
- Great quality at an affordable price
- It chords easily with not much pressure on the strings
- Offers plenty of adjustments for different sounds
- Easy to play and pleasant to hold
Cons:
- Strings may need to be changed
- Its amp is not that cool and can only be used in a room
Jackson JS22 Dinky-Metallic Blue
The Jackson JS22 Dinky-Metallic Blue is designed to be a great instrument for a very serious metal guitarist. It comes with a double cutaway solid body made with basswood finish. Moreover, it features a maple neck, tremolo tailpiece and hot humbuckers to offer you sustain for some weeks. Also, the super-fast rosewood fingerboard with jumbo frets will give a comfortable chording.
Pros:
- Comes set up right out of the box
- It is super fast
- Action is smooth and low
- Great value and playability
Cons:
- Some fret buzz that needs adjustments
- Doesn’t offer much of a metal sound
Ibanez GRX20ZBKN Electric Guitar
The Ibanez GRX20ZBKN Electric Guitar is designed as a beginner electric guitar with a pitch-perfect setup. It comes with a deep double-cutaway body made of basswood with a maple neck. Moreover, it features a rosewood fretboard that contains 22 medium frets.
Also, this instrument sports two proprietary infinity humbuckers at the bridge and neck positions. Overall, Ibanez GRX20ZBKN will be a great choice at a ridiculously low price.
Pros:
- Very easy to tune
- Notes are easy to play without strumming
- Comes with a carefully crafted body and impressive paint
- Strings are good enough for starting
Cons:
- It does not stay in tune often
- A few people say that the pick guard seems sloppily installed
Epiphone DOT ES Style Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitar
The Epiphone DOT ES Style Electric Guitar offers loads of features for your money. It has a body made with laminate maple and a maple top. Also, it sports rosewood fretboard that has 22 frets as well as Alnico classic humbucker pickups. Overall, the craftsmanship and sound have got a lot to offer for the price.
Pros:
- Good look and sound
- It is very crisp and clean
- Nice highs and chunky lows
- Set up ready to play right out of the box
Cons:
- There seems to be some quality inconsistency
- Needs some adjustments before play
Squier by Fender Affinity Stratocaster Beginner Guitar
The Squier by Fender Affinity Stratocaster Beginner Guitar offers solid sound and style. It comes in a double-cutaway Strat shape with a sturdy alder body. Also, it features a vintage-style synchronized tremolo bridge to offer a classic Strat shimmer. Moreover, some other notable features include a modern “C” shaped neck and two single-coil Strat pickups.
Pros:
- The tuners have a good feeling to them
- It plays fantastic and stays in tune
- The fretboard is well finished and smooth
- It is a great bang for the buck
Cons:
- The nuts are not perfectly straight
- Seems the frets are too sharp
Key Considerations When Looking for a Cheap Electric Guitar
It is not always easy when looking for a decently made electric guitar at an affordable price. However, there are some factors you need to consider in order to make an informed decision.
- Level of Play – It is important to know that affordability is relative. For instance, electric guitars that are below $1000 are still considered affordable as well as those under 200. What actually makes the difference will be quality, cosmetics, tone, and sound. So a novice will want to stay within the lowest rung of affordability because he is just starting out. We will only need something made for play within the class or house. While an advanced beginner will want to upgrade to something nicer and probably still usable on stage for a performance.
- Budget – Of course, you will agree that what determines your final choice despite your level of play, is budget. As noted earlier, affordability is relative. What is affordable to you may not be for others. Therefore, it is important to consider your financial ability before making your decision on the type to buy. It is what determines where you stand on the ladder of affordability. No matter what, do not sacrifice quality on the altar of affordability.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, we do have in our selection several affordable electric guitars that come in different styles, shapes, and colors. And they are able to meet different tastes. This means if you are a budget-conscious aspiring musician, you can still own a relatively top-notch backup ax at a price that won’t break the bank. Our recommended products in this list are considered the best you can find on the market. Any of this will make the perfect choice for you, depending on your style of play.
