Best budget acoustic guitars: get strumming without spending big

Are you someone who dreams of picking up an acoustic guitar, but the cost has you terrified of going into the red? Well, allow Headliner to blow your guitar-loving mind. It may have once been true that budget acoustic guitars were all a pile of rubbish, that you wouldn’t want to be seen playing or even holding in public. But let’s fondly wave those days goodbye, as this list of the best cheap acoustic guitars proves that you can get excellent beginner and even intermediate instruments that sound fantastic and provide a great playing experience. Some of which are only just breaking the £/$100 mark.

The script has been flipped to the extent where it’s fairly tough to choose a budget acoustic guitar, as there are loads of options. But, Headliner resplendently arrives to whittle it down to the six best cheap acoustic guitars you should consider, including from bigwigs such as Fender, Martin, Ibanez, and more, and to swerve the sub-par guitars. Stick around to the end for our FAQ that addresses the amount you ideally should look to spend. But we won’t string you along: let’s pick the best cheap acoustic guitar for you as we strum through this list, starting with the cheapest and working up to the most premium budget option.

Fender CD-60 V3

Pro: Lowest price point from a world-famous, trusted brand.

Con: Fully laminated construction limits its long-term tonal development.

Here is a dreadnought acoustic guitar with a price tag that won’t fill you with dread. While it’s almost a shock to the system that a budget acoustic guitar can be this good while being available for less than £/$150, going with the guitar hero Fender is a fantastic choice if your budget is low. You can choose between a black, natural, or sunburst gloss finish, a lovely walnut fingerboard and bridge, and even at this price point, it has a lovely Fender sound and balanced tone that you’ll love to play.

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Ibanez PC12MH

Pro: Smaller Grand Concert body shape is ideal for new players seeking comfort.

Con: The dark all-mahogany tone can sound less bright than spruce-topped rivals.

Ibanez is essentially always a good choice for anything involving guitar, and the PC12MH is one of the best acoustic guitar choices in particular for those who find dreadnought guitars too large and heavy. It sidesteps this with its comfy Grand Concert body shape, which is much easier on the arms and shoulders. It features an all-mahogany construction, which results in a rich, warm, and mid-heavy sound that is fantastic for fingerpicking or bluesy strumming. For the price, this is a brilliant and beautifully built little guitar that makes the first steps of learning much less of a burden.

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Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy

Pro: Unique parlor size and retro aesthetic with brilliant note clarity.

Con: Lacks the powerful volume and low-end thump of a full-sized guitar.

Who said the best cheap acoustic guitars can’t also be absolute stunners? If you want your budget acoustic guitar to also sport that classic, vintage look, then here is a dandy option for you. This Jim Dandy from Gretsch is lovingly based on some of the wonderful instruments from the 1930s. It’s not a huge guitar, but it has a great, substantial sound — both chords and individual notes will ring out very nicely.

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Yamaha FG800

Pro: Features a solid Spruce top, offering superior tone and resonance for the price.

Con: The standard model lacks built-in electronics (not ready for plugging into an amp).

Yamaha is a very clever company indeed when it comes to producing musical instruments that are affordable but still pack in quality. Hence, the FG800 comfortably slots them into the best budget acoustic guitars. You can count on a solid top, which is a rarer find on acoustics costing less than £/$300. It’s a great feature as it means the instrument has a warm and full tone, with great resonance. The other fantastic innovation is Yamaha’s new scalloped bracing, which provides lots of power and volume.

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Martin LX1 Little Martin

Pro: Includes Fishman electronics and features the legendary Martin heritage.

Con: Premium price for a very small instrument; the tone is not as "wide" as larger guitars.

Beyond the fact that Little Martin is the cutest name on this list, this is a serious yet smaller guitar. The LX1 made the guitar world take notice when a certain Ed Sheeran began using it. It’s one of the best cheap acoustic guitars, even though it isn’t promoted too heavily as a beginner’s instrument — it sounds professional, but the smaller size means it's perfect for travelling with you to lessons and open mics, while being ideal for those who struggle with a large dreadnought acoustic guitar. The tradeoff to consider is a slight reduction in bass response and volume, but otherwise, this is a great budget acoustic guitar.

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Cort Core-OC Mahogany

Pro: All-mahogany construction delivers a warm, mid-focused, and unique sound.

Con: Highest cost point on this budget list.

Admittedly, this and our previous budget acoustic guitar entry might be stretching the notion of budget for many people, as we straddle the £/$300-400 price range. But if you do have some extra cash to splash, we conclude with the Cort’s Core-OC Mahogany. It’s a great note to finish on, not least because of the gorgeous mahogany finish on this one. Cort may not share the fame of Fender and Ibanez, and is better known for its electric and bass guitars, but this instrument proves they mean business in the acoustic space, too. Said mahogany gives the guitar a lovely focussed and warm tone, and the included electronic pickup is lovely to see on a more moderately-priced guitar. It’s an award-winning acoustic, and for good reason.

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Choosing the right guitar size, shape, and sound for your budget acoustic guitar

To make your decision easier, honing down the size, shape, and sound you’re after will make life much easier as you seek out the best cheap acoustic guitar for your needs. Smaller guitars are easier to play and easier to carry around with you. The tradeoff is reduced volume and smaller tone potential. This is why the dreadnought style of acoustic guitar is the most widely used, thanks to its versatility and a size that makes it playable while still producing great sound.

If you think you can handle a larger instrument, then there is the aptly named jumbo acoustic. With it comes jumbo volume. Below the dreadnought in size is the parlour guitar, its smaller body meaning a more subtle and softer sound. There are even mini or baby acoustics if you need an even smaller acoustic guitar.