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the best electric guitar for beginners under $200 2023

Evan Whitaker
  Sep 24, 2023 7:59 PM

You don't have to spend a fortune on your first electric guitar. Of course, if you already have a favorite brand or model in mind, go ahead and stick with it – there's nothing wrong with that. But, for those of you who have yet to purchase an instrument and are unsure, we examined each of the available options and created this shopping guide to help you select the best electric guitar for beginners under $200.

To begin with, the guitar should be well-made, finished to a decent degree, and sound fantastic. When searching for guitars in this price range, it's important to look for the frequent flaws that entry-level guitars have.


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buying guide

Fret

Frets have the power to make or destroy your new low-cost electric guitar. Most guitar makers, thankfully, will not send a guitar out of the factory with a terrible fret job, but it's always worth double-checking. Are the edges a little jagged? Do they protrude over the fingerboard's edge? If that's the case, we'd pay a visit to a guitar technician to get them fixed. Sharp frets will discourage you from playing the guitar, which is precisely what we don't want to happen.

Hardware

Hardware is another important aspect of what makes a decent cheap electric guitar. All of the guitars in this book have robust, long-lasting hardware that, if properly cared for and maintained, will last you for the majority, if not all, of your guitar-playing career. If your hardware isn't up to par, you'll have issues with tuning and intonation, and your guitar's playability will suffer - so we think it's worth investing in a well-made instrument with solid hardware.

Neck

The neck of a guitar, which you hold in your hand while playing, should feel comfortable in your hands. Going to a guitar store is the ideal option here because you can hold a few in your hands and feel what feels right for you, but there are a few things to keep in mind if you're buying online. Most online guitar companies will specify whether the neck is thin, flat, wide, narrow, gloss-finished, or satin-finished in their product descriptions, but if that isn't the case, most guitar stores will gladly take your call to double-check.

Electronics and pickups

Pickups and electronics are crucial, but not nearly as much as how a guitar feels when you play it. Of course, having everything on your guitar great from the start is preferable, but if you love a guitar but despise the pickups, you can always replace them. If that's the case, our guide to the finest electric guitar pickups can be useful.

Guitars can have a variety of qualities that varies from model to model. Then there's the issue of holding a guitar for long periods. Do you want the sonic muscle of something hefty or do you prefer something less stressful on the spine? In the end, go with whatever feels the most natural under your fingers. Experiment with as many models as you can. Try to recall what made the guitars you loved different from the ones you didn't, keeping in mind that action and string gauges may always be modified to suit each player.

So that was all there was to it when it came to the best electric guitars under $200. Now it's up to you to pick the best one for you. Make a list of your requirements and go through the process of trial and error, which will make your buying experience much easier.


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