How tough is it to find the right acoustic guitar you want to pick up? I mean there are so many to choose from you don’t know where to start. This isn’t a process you need to rush either. You want the best value for money and one that resonates with the type of person you are. You may be a beginner looking for a decent pickup or you looking to replace your old worn-out guitar with your new pride and joy. In this post we’ll do a deep dive into the best acoustic guitar under $300.
After hours of testing and researching, we finally got the cream of the crop.
Before we dive in though, what exactly do we need to look out for when choosing an acoustic guitar?
The Body Style
Guitars come in a variety of sizes. This influences the sound projection of the guitar. Some acoustic guitars come in a single or double-cutaway design. These designs give easier access to the upper frets.
The Neck
The size of your hand is an important factor when choosing your guitar. This is because you need to choose a guitar that is comfortable to hold around the neck. Usually, an acoustic guitar comes in a 12-fret or 14-fret.
Electronics
A lot of acoustic guitars come with pickups and preamps built-in for larger venues. Some guitars have preamps mounted in a hole cut in the side, while others mount directly inside the soundhole itself.
Intonation
This refers to whether the notes play in tune when you move up the neck. If the distance between the frets is off, then this usually causes an out-of-tune sound, making it incapable of using it for performance.
Tonewood
The choice of wood determines the sound of the guitar. The top part of the wood is considered the most important part when it comes to tonal quality.
Tuning Machines
Type of tuning machine is very important. This will allow you to fine-tune and hold a pitch.
Bridge and Fingerboard
The materials used for the bridge and fingerboard have a minimal effect on the overall sound.
Finish
The type of finish can affect how the wood vibrates when you playing.
Here are 4 options we highly recommend:
This is perfect for those starting.
Whenever you at the beginning of your music career, you looking for a guitar you love picking up. I mean you only starting so you don’t want to break the bank yet. It features a spruce top body with a mahogany back. The neck is made of mahogany as well, making it very durable. The fingerboard features a rosewood finish.
Built by one of the world’s guitars leading brands, this is an entry-level acoustic guitar. Expect nice solid tones, reliability, and an instrument you would love playing all day long.
Pros
- Great sound
- Quality is a steal for the price
- The neck is a joy to play
Cons
- Not much more you can do for the price
2. Yamaha FG800
You can never go wrong with Yamaha. The brand has a reputation for producing pristine quality regardless of the price they put on the tag. The neck is made of mahogany and finished with a walnut fingerboard.
This acoustic guitar is a steal. The sound alone that the guitar produces is worth the money. Scalloped bracing boosts low-end sound. The solid spruce top is usually found on higher-end instruments. All this adds up to a no-brainer for anyone looking around for a guitar in this price range.
Pros
- A best-seller
- Superbly constructed in every way
- Sounds superb
Cons
- No electronics
3. Fender FA-115 Acoustic Guitar
Fender is a world-renown brand in guitars popular for their excellent tonal quality and construction. It has a classic dreadnought style with all laminate construction. It is surrounded by mahogany back and side and a maple fingerboard. This is topped off with a Lindenwood top.
Like a lot of other steel-string guitars, this guitar has x bracing that contributes to stability and a balanced voice. It produces a warm and rich tone capable of playing all kinds of styles. Whether you want to hard strum it or soothe your significant other with delicate fingerpicking.
Pros
- Great value
- Solid for beginners
- It has a solid spruce top which makes the tone good for that all-rounder capability
Cons
- There are none. This is a beginner level guitar so we can’t expect too much
Once again, what more can we say about Yamaha. They keep producing quality guitars of all ranges, and this one is no exception. It features a lightweight thin line body with solid wood construction to enhance the sound quality. It has a 25” scale length with narrow string spacing. There is a single-cutaway design giving way for higher frets.
The thin design makes it very comfortable to hold and use. A spruce solid top with eastern mahogany back is finished off with a rosewood fretboard delivering that rich tone.
As an acoustic-electro guitar, it comes with a 66 pickup system from Yamaha. This system has an under-saddle piezo pickup and a simplistic preamp. The controls are not too complicated, making it even suitable for a beginner. Professional can also enjoy the fast action style this guitar produces.
Pros
- It is comfortable and easy to play
- Has a clean and well-balanced sound
- Cutaway design for easy access to higher frets
- Affordable making it worth the value
- The neck is ideal for younger and smaller handed players
Cons
- A good sound but doesn’t sound like a dreadnought
- Too much to end when amplified
- Not the best choice for players with larger hands
Best Acoustic Guitar Under $300 – Final Thoughts
There are a lot of different acoustic guitars you can go for, but if we had to choose one, then we’d say the Fender FA-115 is our pick. For the price alone, this is the best value-driven buy you can make. Granted, it may not be as extravagant as some of our other picks, but for the price alone we can’t pass on this option. If you don’t know what kind of acoustic guitarist you want to be, then this is the one for you.
We really hope that this best acoustic guitar under $300 post was helpful. At the least we hope you feel more confident about being able to pick up a great acoustic guitar after reading this! We’ve also got you covered if you’re looking for an electric guitar under $300.
