You do not need to spend a fortune to get a genuinely good electric guitar. The under-£300 bracket is where most beginners and many intermediate players should look, and the three guitars below are the best of it. Here is what you get for the money, and where the limits are.
| Model | Price | Body wood | Neck / fingerboard | Pickups | Rating | Link | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ★ Top pick Yamaha Pacifica 112V Electric Guitar | £269.99 | Solid alder | Bolt-on maple / rosewood | H/S/S (Alnico V humbucker + 2 single-coils) | ★ 4.7 | View → |
 | Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster Electric Guitar | £199.99 | Poplar | Bolt-on maple / maple or laurel | 3 ceramic single-coils (S/S/S) | ★ 4.5 | View → |
 | Ibanez GRG170DX Electric Guitar | £179.99 | Poplar | Bolt-on maple (GRG) / purpleheart | HH (Infinity R ceramic humbuckers) | ★ 4.4 | View → |
£269.99
Solid alder · Bolt-on maple / rosewood · H/S/S (Alnico V humbucker + 2 single-coils)
£199.99
Poplar · Bolt-on maple / maple or laurel · 3 ceramic single-coils (S/S/S)
£179.99
Poplar · Bolt-on maple (GRG) / purpleheart · HH (Infinity R ceramic humbuckers)
The under-£300 bracket has improved enormously, and the three guitars above are all genuinely good instruments rather than compromises. For this money you get a solid build, tuners that hold pitch, pickups that sound right for their intended style and, after a small setup, an action low enough to play comfortably. The Yamaha Pacifica 112V even gives you a solid alder body and a coil-split humbucker at £269, features that used to cost twice as much. The one thing to remember is that an electric needs an amp, so budget another £80 to £150 for a small practice amp on top of the guitar.
It is also fair to be clear about what you do not get under £300. The pickups are good but not premium (ceramic rather than Alnico on the budget guitars), the hardware is functional rather than fancy, and the factory action usually needs a £25 to £35 setup to reach its best. None of that stops these guitars being excellent value; it simply means the money goes into being a solid, full-featured instrument rather than into refinements a beginner cannot yet use. For a first guitar, that is exactly the right priority.
Choose by the music you play and your exact budget. For the most versatile single buy, the Yamaha Pacifica 112V at around £269 is our overall pick: a solid alder body, the lowest 1.8 mm action on test and a coil-split humbucker that does both bright cleans and rock crunch. For the classic Stratocaster sound on a tighter budget, the Squier Affinity Stratocaster at £199 is the best value, with three single-coils and a light, comfortable body. And for rock and metal, the Ibanez GRG170DX at £179 is the cheapest full-feature guitar we trust, with two humbuckers, 24 frets and a fast neck. All three benefit from a quick setup, which is money well spent on any budget guitar.
Only step above £300 if you can use what the extra money buys. From £450 to £900 you get Alnico pickups, nicer woods, better hardware and a more refined factory setup, as on the Epiphone Les Paul Standard 60s (£469), the Fender Player II Stratocaster (£749) and the PRS SE Custom 24 (£899). An intermediate player will hear the warmer pickups and feel the better setup, and these guitars hold their value better. A complete beginner usually will not yet appreciate the difference, so for a first guitar the under-£300 picks are the rational choice, and you can always upgrade later once you know what you want.
Yes, and the under-£300 bracket is where most beginners and many intermediate players should look. For that money you can buy a genuinely good guitar such as the Yamaha Pacifica 112V (around £269), the Squier Affinity Stratocaster (£199) or the Ibanez GRG170DX (£179). All three are well built, hold tuning and, after a small setup, play easily. You do not need to spend more than this to get a guitar you can enjoy for years.
Under £200 our pick is the Squier Affinity Stratocaster at around £199, which gives you a genuine three-single-coil Strat sound and a light, comfortable body. If you play rock or metal, the £179 Ibanez GRG170DX is the better choice in this bracket, with two humbuckers and a fast neck. Both benefit from a £25 to £35 professional setup, which is money well spent on any budget guitar.
Only if you can use what the extra money buys. Stepping up to £450 to £900 gets you Alnico pickups, nicer woods, better hardware and a more refined setup, as on the Epiphone Les Paul Standard 60s, the Fender Player II Stratocaster or the PRS SE Custom 24. An intermediate player will hear and feel the difference. A complete beginner usually will not yet, so for a first guitar the under-£300 picks are the rational choice.
Under £300, the Yamaha Pacifica 112V is the best electric guitar you can buy: a solid alder body, a coil-split humbucker and the lowest action on test, all for around £269. If you want the classic Strat sound for less, the Squier Affinity Stratocaster at £199 is the value choice, and for rock and metal the £179 Ibanez GRG170DX is the obvious pick. Budget another £30 for a setup and £80 to £150 for a practice amp, and any of these will serve you for years. For more on choosing your first guitar, read our best electric guitar for beginners page and our full buying guide.