The electric guitar is easily one of the instruments that everyone wants to play. This is mostly due to so many different things that you can do with it. Just plug it into your amp, or add some effects, or even make a full elaborate rig. The possibilities are almost endless and you have all the freedom to express yourself.
That’s the magic of this great instrument. However, the biggest problems come when you go out there looking for the perfect guitar for your needs. The moment you find a good instrument, you realize that it’s way out of your budget. Well, this is something that every guitar player faces one time or another.
But if you’re looking for a good guitar, don’t worry – there are still some great instruments to find even in the affordable price range. Of course, you won’t find all of the fanciest features – all the bells and whistles. Nonetheless, these instruments not only do the job right. And when paired with a good amp and a set of pedals, they’ll be able to fit any setting that you need.
Yes, these guitars aren’t always easy to find. However, we’re here to help you out and bring you the list of the best cheap electric guitars that you can find on the market today. Just get one of these that suits your style, and you’re ready to rock!
Squier by Fender Affinity Stratocaster SSS
With the list of cheap but great guitars, you can’t expect to avoid anything by Squier, which is Fender’s subsidiary company. They’re pretty popular among the beginners, but even some experienced players are happy to have one of these in their arsenal. For instance, their classic Affinity Stratocaster SSS is a good example of how reliable these guitars are. Bearing some of the basic features that we can see on Fender’s Stratocaster, it has three single-coil pickups, standard tremolo bridge, and even the classic maple neck and alder body. This is the same combination of materials that we can see with Fender guitars.
Jackson JS1X Dinky Minion
If you’re really into hard rock and heavy metal music, then Jackson has a lot of great stuff to offer, in pretty much all of the price ranges. For this particular list, we’re looking into their JS1X, also known as Dinky Minion. It’s somewhat similar to their already great JS22 Dinky, but it’s even cheaper. We have a simple yet ergonomic super-Strat body made of poplar. The bolt-on neck also features graphite reinforcement, which makes this instrument well-worth the price. And although it doesn’t have a tremolo bridge, this nice instrument features 24 frets and has two great humbucker pickups. Overall, this is one great guitar intended for heavier music. However, after trying it out, we’re certain you’ll like it no matter the genre that you’re playing.
Dean Vendetta XM
Now, Dean is not exactly one of the brands that you’ll see on every corner. Nonetheless, they make some of the best guitars in the budget and mid-price categories. A great example comes with Dean’s Vendetta XM. Once again, we have somewhat of a super-Strat shape, but with a more modern twist. And although fairly cheap, this guitar actually feels pretty great in your hands. The neck is great and it features 24 frets, making this one mean soloing machine. The body is made of paulownia wood, while the neck is a maple one. But this guitar’s most interesting feature is the string-through-body design. This adds a very different feel and impacts the tone. It’s also pretty surprising to see this at this particular price level.
Yamaha Pacifica PAC012
Even to this day, we still wonder how it’s possible that some guitars in Yamaha’s legendary Pacifica series are cheap. Knowing their build quality, tone, and playability, it’s somewhat of a mystery how they pull it off. Take the PAC012 for example. This is a Stratocaster-style guitar with one humbucker in the bridge position, along with two single-coils in the middle and neck positions. Whatever genre comes to mind, this guitar can pull it off. It features an Agathis body and a maple neck with a rosewood fretboard. We can continue talking about the materials and components, but this guitar simply plays so well. Whatever genre you’re into, this is an ultimate cheap but great guitar.
Ibanez GRX 70
Of course, with a list like this one, Ibanez is an unavoidable brand. Their cheaper and mid-priced guitars simply outperform almost every other guitar manufacturer out there. Looking through their stuff, we couldn’t help but single out GRX 70. What makes it stand out for this price level is its finish. Yes, this is also a great instrument, but the design and finish give out the vibes of some more expensive instruments. What’s more, it has a humbucker-single-humbucker combination of pickups. Not that common, it provides players with a lot of flexibility in tone-shaping. This guitar has a body made of poplar, while we also have a maple neck fitted with a rosewood fingerboard. What’s more, it has a great tremolo bridge, which makes it a good choice for lead players.
Squier by Fender Bullet Mustang HH
We’re once again mentioning Squier on this list, but with a good reason. Their cheap guitars are simply way above their price level. If you’re a fan of those “alternative” or “offset” guitars, then Mustang is a piece for you. We’d single out Squier’s Mustang from the Bullet series. This guitar has two humbucker pickups, which is a great combo for rock, hard rock, grunge, and some metal subgenres. Although cheap, Bullet Mustang is capable of delivering some great tones. What’s more, it has a great maple neck with a “C” profile. But playing this guitar, you’ll definitely stand out with its vintage-inspired design. Everything from its body shape and up to the simplest features like the potentiometer caps makes it look like it just came out of the 1960s. By all means, a guitar worth checking out.
