Beginner Guitar reviews from Reddit
Summary
We analyzed 267 Reddit reviews across 17 subreddits and 55 posts to rank the best Beginner Guitar brands recommended by redditors, including communities like r/electricguitar, r/AcousticGuitar, r/Guitar, r/guitarlessons, r/guitars. Top-rated brands include Yamaha (4.6/5), Ibanez (4.4/5), Squier (4.1/5).
Stats
Reviews267
Subreddits17
Posts55
Brands41
Products79
267 reviews from
and
By Brand
/By Product
#1
Yamaha
4.6
(76)
"They are simply the best sounding, best playing guitars in this price range."
"FS800 is $230 new; comes with a solid spruce top; fantastic guitar for anyone really."
"Probably Yamaha if you’re in the beginner price range."
"Yamaha, also Harley Benton."
"Yamaha or Alvarez are the best bang for your buck."
"If acoustic, Yamaha or Alvarez."
"I have never had a poor Yamaha product of any type."
"If I was buying a beginner guitar now I’d go for the fs800 ($230) which is a bit smaller, easier to play, and solid wood top."
"I agree with Yamaha as well but also kinda a fan of Washburn and Ibanez for beaters."
"My second was Yamaha FG830 for $380 or something."
#2
Ibanez
4.4
(42)
"Ibanez Gia - $200, just got one for my wife and she loves it."
"I would say go with an Ibanez Rg series and a Boss Katana MkII. Pretty much set up to play anything you want with that duo."
"I love Ibanez if you only have a few hundred dollars to spend on an instrument."
"I’ve owned a few Ibanez’s over the years and currently have an RG421 that I got for $350 and it is an amazing guitar for the price and punches well above its weight."
"I bought my son the Ibanez rg6003fm. It was 349.99 at Guitar Center. He's been playing it for around 3 months now and is in love with it."
"I just bought my son the Ibanez rg6003fm for his first guitar. It was 349.99 at Guitar Center. He's played it for 3 months now and is in love with it."
"The Ibanez Gio line will give you what you’re looking for, no need to look further."
"Great guitar. Ibanez really puts out a quality product in their GIO lineup."
"Imo Ibanez RGA42FMs are really solid guitars for ~450."
"Some Ibanez S or SA model, are lightweight, great quality control, sound good, are super comfortable, also look hotter than their price range."
#3
Squier
4.1
(43)
"I recently bought this thing and it absolutely slaps."
"For the money, I’d recommend the classic vibe squier line."
"Classic Vibe Squier in whichever shape inspires you to play."
"Something from the Squier Classic Vibe series"
"I always think about a squiere strat with a Humbucker."
"For that money something like a Squier Bullet Telecaster is what I would recommend."
"You can get used Squier strats or yamaha pacificas for that price but you will also need an amp."
"Personally, I recommend Ibanez, Yamaha, or Squire for beginners. They all offer a lot of bang for the buck."
"For electrics, at the low end I always recommend Squier."
"If electric, Yamaha, Squier, Epiphone."
#4
Harley Benton
4.1
(17)
"The Harley Benton Travel Mini Mahogany is a great buy. I enjoy mine more than the ultra low price suggests I should."
"Harley Bentons from Thomann are a good choice with a small budget."
"Harley Benton or Luna yet... but those are solid budget brands."
"I loved all and any Harley Benton’s I have played. Cheap and fine instruments."
"Harley Benton cost less and got at least the same quality."
"The recommendation for a Harley Benton is a good one, but you will have to pay for a setup."
"New Harley Bentons are great. Not just “for the money”, simply good guitars with few to no real playability issues."
"Have you checked out Harley Benton or S by Solar?"
"Harley Benton makes some nice stuff for a really decent price."
"If you HAVE to get a new one, get a Harley Benton."
#5
Epiphone
4.0
(16)
"I 2nd the Epiphone SG."
"Epiphone also makes a version of this guitar that is very good."
"Stick to a name brands. Squier/epiphone/ibanez gio etc."
"Squier ibanez epiphone...most can be good guitars."
"Squiers and Epiphones are good brands to look out for and they usually go for around $100~$300"
"Fender Squires or Epiphones are a good bet."
"Epiphone or squire by fender. You pick the body style"
"Buy an Epi Les Paul Special II and then buy a good headphone amp."
"I’d get an Epiphone Les Paul."
"Epiphone Les Paul."
#6
Fender
4.3
(13)
"Search fb marketplace for a used fender mim strat. Buy it for as close to $350 as possible. Get it setup by a luthier. Enjoy your new ax."
"I feel like the Mustang gets slept on so hard these days and it's even historically "the beginner guitar". They're so incredibly playable."
"I have one of the single pickup 510v models and it holds its own against any of my expensive guitars."
"Pink Floyd? No question about it you need a Strat."
"Telecaster"
"Fender CD60-SCE!"
"Fender CC-60s(ce) could be in range.."
"Used maybe a older Mexican Fender Strat / tele"
"For a 10 year old an electric guitar is going to be easier to handle than an acoustic."
"Get a nice Fender Squier Strat in yellow."
#7
Seagull
4.3
(6)
"I loved my Seagull S6. Canadian made, cost me approx 550 USD for the mahogany with pickup electronics, which I’ll periodically use."
"Seagull S6 acoustic. Great tone, cheap, well made."
"Seagull, Yamaha, Art & Luthrie, Godin, Simon & Patrick."
"Seagull S6"
"Acoustic: Seagull S6, Electric: Strat/Tele."
"Seagull makes some really nice smaller, very playable, great sounding guitars."
#8
Schecter
4.2
(5)
"Look into a Schecter, or even an ESP MH."
"The cheap ones by Schecter"
"I really like schecters. Looking back id wish i got one as my first instead of my second and third lol."
"Schecter makes great guitars in the $500 range."
"They have been putting higher specs into their stuff than competitors in the same price range."
#9
Jackson
4.2
(5)
"Jackson Dinky Minion are also sick AF."
"Jackson Dinky. JS22 is only 200 bucks and it’s a great playing guitar for the money."
"If new then a Jackson JS series or a Gio Ibanez"
"Anything from the Jackson Dinky series."
"Jackson Dinky and a Spark 40 will do"
#10
Alvarez
3.8
(5)
"If you can go up to $600-800, I prefer Alvarez to Yamaha."
"I suggest a vintage guitar, Sigma or Alvarez."
"Alvarez also makes great bang-for-buck guitars."
"I also recommend an alvarez parlor, a ap66."
"Get a new Alvarez. Dont get a used Yamaha"
#11
Orangewood
4.0
(4)
"Orangewoods come up for sale by me on fbmp for crazy low prices every 3 or 4 months. Talking $120 or less."
"Orangewood are great beginner guitars very well priced."
"I got an orangewood rey for $145+tax and it’s absolutely good enough to not be an impediment to getting practice in every day."
"Depends on your budget but orangewood seems to have some nice beginner guitars with a solid top at a good price."
#12
Taylor
5.0
(2)
"Just find you a used Taylor GS mini. Do yourself the favor. You'll find it easy to play and probably keep it for life."
"I am very happy with my taylor gs mini."
#13
Cort
4.5
(2)
"You can also grab a cort g250se for 350 right now. really great instruments for very reasonable prices."
"Cort"
#14
ESP Ltd
4.0
(2)
"ESP LTD have some nice looking stuff around the 400 mark."
"The band uses ESP guitars ever since and there are a few beginner models, which aren't too expensive."
#15
Clifton
4.0
(2)
"Browse sa mga medjo budget friendly tulad ng mga clifton jcraft etc para malaman mo kung goods sayo."
"Try mo sa JCraft na store and RJ Guitar Center. Best to try the guitar muna."
#16
PRS
4.0
(2)
"PRS SE 245 Standard is a pricier but solid beginner pick."
"Check out the Paul Reed Smith SE line. The Standard 24 is $499 new, but you could pick up a nice used one under $400."
#17
Martin
5.0
(1)
"If you get a used one add a Tusqu nut and saddle and have the set up done and you'll have a guitar that will last forever."
#18
Sire
5.0
(1)
"I don't think anything can beat Sire for value. Get a used V5 and get it professionally set up and you have a great bass for little money"
#19
Michael Haworth
5.0
(1)
"Bitesize Guitar by Michael Haworth"
#20
Alfred's
5.0
(1)
"The Berklee one called *A Modern Method for Guitar - Complete Method* is what I bought."
#21
Ultimate Guitar
5.0
(1)
"It’s a website that has chords and tabs for millions of songs."
#22
Justin Guitar
5.0
(1)
"Justin guitar on YouTube. Great resource."
#23
ESP
5.0
(1)
"Go with an ESP EC 1000, or you can look into a Schecter."
#24
Ltd
5.0
(1)
"Ltd over everything"
#25
JustinGuitar
5.0
(1)
"JustinGuitar has got a left handed series as well in his beginner course called Nitjust."
#26
BC Rich
4.0
(1)
"Get a cheap Yamaha pacifica or BC Rich warlock if you’re feeling adventurous"
#27
Guild
4.0
(1)
"Guild Surfliner seems to be a popular guitar for 275ish"
#28
Gretsch
4.0
(1)
"Also look at the Gretsch Jim Dandy series"
#29
Takamine
4.0
(1)
"Jasmine by Takamine is a good starter guitar around $100 new"
#30
Recording King
4.0
(1)
"I recommend the Yamaha FG-830 or Recording King G6 Dreadnaught."
#31
Denver
4.0
(1)
"I bought a Denver 12 string new here in Canada for $220. Surprisingly good."
#32
Stagg
4.0
(1)
"Aside from Jcraft na okay rin for beginners, check mo rin yung Stagg and Aria."
#33
Aria
4.0
(1)
"Aside from Jcraft na okay rin for beginners, check mo rin yung Stagg and Aria."
#34
Donner
4.0
(1)
"I bought a Donner, put some slinkys and lock in tuners in it. Pretty fucking good deal and quality for under 200 bucks."
#35
G&L
4.0
(1)
"G&L are also nice"
#36
Loog
4.0
(1)
"Loog makes a great assortment of guitars for 'reformed' bassists."
#37
Costco
4.0
(1)
"Have seen some beginner guitars at Costco and Sam’s in the past."
#38
Monoprice
4.0
(1)
"The Monoprice guitars are shockingly good for ~$110."
#39
Schecter, LTD, Ibanez
4.0
(1)
"Schecter, LTD, Ibanez... All good brands to look into."
#40
Glarry
3.0
(1)
"As a beginner I simply paid $50 for a new Glarry Acoustic. With it I’m not afraid to learn how to modify it."
#41
Rogue
2.0
(1)
"If you’re gonna go that route, the Rogue brand from GC is serviceable."
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