Top 5 Best Acoustic Guitars Under $300 – Ultimate Buying Guide And Reviews

Many people say that on most items you buy, what you pay is what you get. But top-brand manufacturers are creating acoustic guitars at affordable prices in the world of guitars.

Today, $300 is enough for a durable guitar with excellent sound quality.

Top 5 Best Acoustic Guitars Under $300

When top brands like Yamaha, Taylor, Fender, and other well-known manufacturers create a guitar, you can expect that the detail of their construction is attended to even on their affordable products. That is why today’s market is flooded with competition, with brands doing their best to catch your attention.

Looking for your first-ever guitar can be confusing, especially for beginners. So, how do you choose the right one among all the best acoustic guitars under $300?

First of all, please make sure you choose a guitar from a well-known brand. Understandably, you would like to buy a cheap guitar, but I recommend that you buy a quality guitar that’s stamped to motivate you even further or make it easier for you to sell it if playing the guitar is not your thing.

Second, it’s not only the brand you should consider but also the type of wood used, the guitar’s different features, and its overall sound quality. All these things will be explained later in the article. The last factor you should consider when looking for a guitar is affordability.

This article will show you the criteria for choosing an acoustic guitar and the best acoustic guitars under $300. Amongst all the guitars on the market today, I’ve summed it up to at least five guitars to make it easier for you to choose.

Criteria For Evaluating The Top 5 Best Acoustic Guitars Under $300

I used the criteria to pick the five best acoustic guitars under $300. These criteria will help you understand how much you like the guitars’ overall appearance, build, and sound quality.

Body style

Acoustic guitars come in many different shapes and sizes. The size of the guitar determines the tonal emphasis and the sound projection it has. I chose these five guitars because they have traditional or dreadnought body styles.

A dreadnought body style has a driving sound that’s powerful and loud enough to be heard across a room.

Neck size

One of the criteria that I chose for these guitars is the comfort they can bring to the player. You’ll know you’re comfortable with the guitar if your hand perfectly fits the neck. The neck is usually based on the size of the guitar and the number of frets it has.

All these five guitars you’ll see later in this article have average neck sizes that are perfect for beginners.

Intonation

This is where you determine whether your guitar is in tune or not. An acoustic guitar that doesn’t have proper tuning is useless when being played or recorded. Because of the tuners and buttons that the manufacturers used, the guitars that were chosen for this article can stay in tune for long periods, even if you play them for a couple of hours a day.

Fingerboard and Bridge

The materials used for the fingerboard and bridge are not minimal to the guitar’s sound but are also important. The fingerboards of the guitars chosen for this article are sure to have clean fingerboards.

It means you don’t have to go to a luthier (someone who builds or works on guitars) to sand the wood.

Action

Any beginner must choose a guitar with good action (the distance of the strings from the frets). Non-branded guitars that are cheap usually have nasty action, leaving the player with painful and numb hands just after 2- 3 hours of playing.

The guitars chosen below ensure that the action is pretty decent and can leave any player satisfied after long hours of playing.

Weight

Other criteria I looked for to choosing these five guitars are their weights. Although almost all guitars have the exact measurements, you must choose a guitar that won’t hold you down. The picked guitars are both within your budget and light in weight, which will help you carry them around when you’re traveling.

Plus, it’ll be more comfortable when you start playing while standing.

Top 5 Best Acoustic Guitars Under 300

As I mentioned earlier, looking for a guitar can be confusing, so I’ve already gathered the top 5 best acoustic guitars under $300. These guitars are considered the best-selling of their brands and will exceed your expectations.

1. Best Acoustic Guitars Under 300 #1: Taylor BT2 Baby Taylor Acoustic Guitar

The Taylor BT2 Baby Taylor is considered one of the most famous guitars regarding building and sound quality. It has a nut width of 1 11/16” and a scale length of 22 ¾”, a little smaller than full guitars.

What makes the Taylor BT2 unique compared to its competitor is that the manufacturers used tropical mahogany for the top wood and neck, which helps the guitar to create rich, little notes that are almost the same as big guitars.

The fingerboard and the bridge of this guitar are made from genuine African ebony, a signature wood that Taylor always uses. The back and sides are made from laminated Sapele, that’s known to be durable and affordable at the same time.

All the woods of the Taylor BT2 have a Matte varnish that gives the guitar a classic old-school vintage look. Plus, it adds more character to the guitar, giving it more power and projection.

It’s also equipped with the signature Taylor Standard Baby X Bracing, Chrome Baby Tuners, Button, and Tusq for the nut and saddle. What also adds to the richness of the tone is the dreadnought 3/4th-Scale.

As for the sound of the Taylor BT2 Baby Taylor, even though it’s small, it has powerful and loud sounds that can be heard across the room. Its bold tone can project every note with accuracy and precision, which is surprising for its size. The Matter finish resonates with the notes longer and adds a little more bass, making the chords more powerful and prosperous.

What people like about this guitar is it has a good feel even for its small size. It’s fun to play with because of its excellent sound quality and look. Plus, because of the chrome tuners and buttons, it stays in tune and consistent for an extended period.

Some people find the Taylor BT2 uncomfortable to play because they are already used to playing full-sized guitars. Overall, the Taylor BT2 Baby Taylor Acoustic Guitar is small but giant in sound, which is excellent for its price.

2. Best Acoustic Guitars Under 300 #2: Fender CD-60 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar With Hard Case – All Mahogany

If you’re a fan of guitars, then you are familiar with the Fender Company. They’re known for their Stratocaster and Telecaster. Although they are known to produce expensive guitars, their affordable ones also have the same quality regarding construction and sound.

The Fender CD-60 has a nut width of 1.69” and a scale length is 25.3”, considered a full-sized guitar. The guitar’s top, neck, back, and sides are made from laminated mahogany, producing rich, mellow notes.

The fingerboard and bridge of the CD-60 are made from rosewood with synthetic bone and compensated saddle. All the woods have a gloss finish, which adds crispness to the ones that are perfect for fingerstyle players because of their dullness.

The Fender CD-60 is equipped with Scalloped X Bracing, Die-cast tuners, Fender Dura-Tone Coated 80/20 Bronze (.012-.052 Gauge), Dual Action Truss Rod, Black Pickguard, 3mm Dot Position Inlays and Mother-of-Pearl Acrylic Rosette Design. Lastly, it has a dreadnought body shape, creating its rich, mellow tone. All these features help the guitar to be unique and improve its overall quality.

For the price of $229, it can be surprising that this guitar can produce a deep, rich tone wildly when strumming on mid-range. The action is comfortable and perfect for beginners because it will help you learn guitar without hurting your finger.

There are a lot of people who love this guitar. Because of the dreadnought design, the guitar has a good feel and is fun to play, especially for those with average body size. The sound quality is excellent even for its price and is almost comparable to guitars in the $500 price range. The die-cast tuners help this guitar stay in tune for a long extended rod, giving consistency to its tone.

With all the good things that this guitar has, there are also some faults that people found. First, it needs more clarity when fingerpicked, which can disappoint some people. Second, it needs a good setup job before you can use it. And last, some people suggest that you change the strings to more quality ones to achieve greater efficiency.

3. Best Acoustic Guitars Under $300 #3: Yamaha FG700S Solid Top Acoustic Guitar, Natural

Yamaha is known as one of the top brands to manufacture musical instruments. From the most expensive to the most affordable ones, Yamaha ensures that the build quality is top-notch and the sound quality is incomparable.

The Yamaha FG700S has a nut width of 1 11/16” and a scale length of 25 9/16”. This guitar’s body size is smaller than full-sized guitars, but this is to give a guitar to those who always like to travel.

This guitar uses solid Sitka spruce wood with an excellent grain feel and, as I mentioned earlier, is one of the best woods for the top part of the guitar. The neck, back, and side of the FG700S are made from Nato, durable, and more affordable than the expensive ones.

The fingerboard and bridge use rosewood, which contributes to the guitar’s sound quality because of its high response rate. All the woods are finished with a gloss that gives a great look to the guitar and adds to its durability.

What gives the FG700S the most characteristics are the features installed on it. First, it uses die-cast tuners known to stay in tune for an extended period. Right out of the box, the guitar is equipped with D’Addario acoustic guitar strings, considered high-quality strings.

The guitar itself has a Tortoise pickguard for added attraction and to give it a traditional look. It has a dreadnought body shape typical for acoustic guitars because of its ability to produce mellow and rich tones on any game you play.

A lot of people love this guitar because of the sound quality it produces. It’s very versatile, so that you can play almost any genre. The notes are clear to the ear, and the chords resonate very well. Plus, there’s a certain crispness to the strings if fingerpicked.

For its affordable price, the guitar is a significant investment which is why it’s included in our best acoustic guitars under $300. The FG700S is durable and can certainly withstand years of use. Plus, it stays in tune for extended periods and is versatile to play. People are only disappointed with this guitar about r because of its overly traditional look.

4. Best Acoustic Guitars Under $300 #4: Yamaha FG830 Acoustic Guitar, Natural

Once again, another Yamaha guitar is included in this list because of its supreme building quality and sound. One of the upgrade versions of the FG700S is the FG830.

The FG830 is like other full-sized guitars with a nut width of 1 11/16” and a scale length of 25 9/16”. It has a traditional western body shape, which is unique because it’s pretty comfortable to play with.

The top wood uses one of the best kinds: solid spruce with a nice grain feel. The fingerboard, bridge, back, and side use rosewood has a rich tone and adds to the overall sound quality of the guitar. The neck uses Nato wood which is affordable in Asian countries but significantly contributes to the music.

The FG830 has excellent features that add to the guitar’s overall quality. It has Scalloped Bracing, die-cast tuners for tuning consistency, D’Addario acoustic guitar strings of excellent quality, Urea for the nuts and saddle, and a Tortoise pickguard for added looks.

The Yamaha FG830 has no doubt better sounds compared to the FG700S. It has rich overtones and great mellow notes with bright highs and deep lows that are perfect for jamming, campfires, and even recording. The excellent playability is smooth, allowing any beginner to learn fast and efficiently.

People consider the Yamaha FG830 better than the FG700S, but what differentiates them the most is the $100 difference. If you liked the sound quality of the FG700S, then you would love the FG830.

Some people find that the neck is relatively small. That is why it can be uncomfortable for people with big hands to play the guitar. Check out the guitar at your local store before buying the product.

Best Acoustic Guitars Under $300 #5: Takamine GD20-NS Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar, Natural

Known as one of the top brands to manufacture guitars in Japan and worldwide, Takamine is undoubtedly one of the most awaited manufacturers in the world of guitars, especially acoustic-electric guitars.

When you talk about Takamine, it goes parallel with big brands like Yamaha, Fender, Taylor, and many others. One of their best-selling guitars is the GD20-NS. It has a nut width of 1 11/16” and a scale length of 25.3”, which is pretty regular when talking about acoustic guitars.

This guitar’s neck, back, and side use mahogany wood that contributes to its rich, mellow sounds. The top is made from solid cedar, the best wood for fingerstyle playing. The fingerboard and bridge are made from rosewood, enhancing the overall sound quality.

All the materials used help complement each other to create a durable guitar that gives certain warmth to the notes. The guitar’s finish is satin, which is also perfect for fingerpicking players because it adds crispness to the strings.

Other features that the GD20-NS has been the following: Quartersawn X-Bracing, die-cast chrome for the tuners to help it stay in tune, D’Addario, EXP 16 Coated Phosphor Bronze (.012-.053), and Synthetic Bone for the nuts and saddle.

The sound quality of the Takamine GD20-NS is superb at its $299.99 price. If you’re a fan of fingerpicking and have the proper budget, this guitar is definitely for you. You’ll hear every string loud and clear and the particular crisp any player is looking for.

The action is ideal for this guitar, which many beginners would love, and the level of playability is also great. It resonates with every note very well and is already suitable for recording.

Conclusion

If you’re willing to spend a couple more bucks on your entry-level guitar, you should check out the Taylor BT2 Baby Taylor. It has better sound quality than the other guitars mentioned above. Plus, the features are top-notch.

When choosing among these five best acoustic guitars under $300, I wholeheartedly recommend the Yamaha FG700S. Not only is it within the budget, but you would be surprised by its sound quality. It’s durable, versatile, and an excellent all-around guitar for any occasion.

Top 10 best acoustic guitars under $300

When buying an acoustic guitar, you will get what you pay. The less you’re willing to pay, the less likely your new guitar sounds good; it is easy to play and has a long life. Fortunately, even if your maximum budget is only $300, some surprising gems are worth buying.

Seagull S6

Seagull is a Canadian company known for its affordable guitars. The Seagull S6 is its entry-level model, but the sound quality and comfort make you feel like you’re driving a high-end model. The only drawback of this model is that because the finish is clear, you will have to handle the guitar with care to prevent premature aging of the finish.

Takamine G332

Takamine is a Japanese brand of guitar that produces many high-end models, but the company is perhaps most famous for its inexpensive basic models. The G332 has a spruce top, and like other guitars, the G300 series is very close to producing the same high-quality sound as the more expensive models Takamine.

Baby Taylor – My First Choice For Best Acoustic Guitar Under 300

The Baby Taylors are 3/4 scale guitars, but it sounds more than they are. You will realize that they lack sound body other models Taylor, however, does not sacrifice the sweet tone Taylor. The only thing that could stop you from buying this model is the discomfort of playing smaller guitars.

LX1 Little Martin

Many consider the Martin guitars as the best of the best. Little Martin is a 3/4 scale model with high-quality artistry that makes the famous Martin guitars and approaches retain the heat of the high-end Martin guitars.

Yamaha FG730

With back and sides of rosewood, spruce, and rapper tortoise, the Yamaha FG730 is another pleasant surprise from the line of Yamaha acoustic guitars if you’re looking for volume and high-end, worth trying the FG730.

Yamaha FG301b

FG301b Yamaha is a guitar with a spruce top box. This model is easy to play with and has a V-shaped neck, which is beneficial if you are a beginner.

Alvarez RD410

Alvarez RD410 is an integral part of the line of guitars Alvarez region. It is a classical guitar for beginners and worth considering if your main concerns are ease of play and volume.

Epiphone AJ200S

Epiphone mainly manufactures basic models of economics and guitars. Like many models of guitars range of high quality, AJ200S has a solid top, a sonority to compete with high-end models, and is easily handled.

Martin Backpacker

Try the Martin Backpacker model if you want an acoustic guitar that you can easily travel or store. Because of its small and compact, this model is sharper than serious but retains aspects of the famous sound and resonance Martin.

• See Also: Martin 000-X1AE Acoustic Electric Guitar Ultimate Review

Second-Hand Guitars For Sale

Another way to buy the best acoustic guitar under 300 is to use acoustic guitar. Buying a used acoustic guitar for under $300 is often a better option than buying a new guitar for the same price. Good guitars improve with age, so buying a second-hand guitar can be wise. If you’re lucky, you can find Martins, Gibsons, or Taylors within your budget.