Best beginner electric guitar under €300: our 2026 comparison
Our picks at a glance
- Versatile HSS layout: blues to rock without changing guitar
- Consistent build and finish, a reputation proven over 30 years
- Ceramic pickups are fine, but there's no push-pull like the 112V
- Genuine Telecaster twang, simple and immediate
- Thin, light body, comfortable over long sessions
- Two single-coils: extreme high-gain is out of scope
- Thin, fast neck, typical Ibanez
- Two humbuckers plus a single-coil: built for gain
- The FAT-6 vibrato holds tuning only moderately well if you lean on it
- Unbeatable at the price: a full HSS layout for €111
- Ideal for checking the urge to play sticks before investing
- Fret finishing and hardware fall behind; a setup is often needed
If you want the short answer: to start out under €300, get the Yamaha Pacifica 112J. Its HSS layout covers every style, its build consistency is something few rivals match, and it will not hold you back for several years. The rest of this comparison spells out why — and, more importantly, who the three alternatives suit better.
One important note: unlike our reviews, this comparison is a documented round-up drawn from spec sheets and user feedback, not a hands-on session — with the exception of the Squier Affinity Telecaster, which we have reviewed in full.
Comparison table
| Guitar | Guide price | Pickups | Vibrato | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yamaha Pacifica 112J | ≈ €229 | HSS | Yes | The versatile, long-haul choice |
| Squier Affinity Telecaster | ≈ €257 | SS | No | Pop, indie, country, blues |
| Ibanez GRX70QA | ≈ €217 | HSH | Yes | Rock, metal, fast playing |
| Harley Benton ST-20HSS | ≈ €111 | HSS | Yes | The tightest budget |
Prices seen at Thomann at the time of publication; they can move.
How we chose
Three criteria, in this order. Out-of-the-box playability first: a first guitar should make you want to come back, not fight you. We ruled out models whose user feedback regularly flags poorly finished frets or unstable tuning. Versatility next: at this stage you probably do not yet know what style you will be playing in two years, and an open pickup layout keeps every door open. And finally the complete price: all four models leave room, under €400 all in, to add a decent amp.
Yamaha Pacifica 112J: our pick
The Pacifica has been the most recommended first guitar in the world for three decades, and that is no accident. On paper the 112J ticks everything: an alder body (a wood usually found on guitars twice the price), a comfortable bolt-on maple neck and, above all, an HSS layout (bridge humbucker for rock, two single-coils for clean and funky tones) with a five-way selector.
Going by user feedback, build consistency is Yamaha’s real strength: where other entry-level brands are a lottery, a Pacifica almost always turns up well set up, with clean fret ends. That is exactly what you want from a first guitar.
At around €229 it leaves headroom for the amp. If your budget stretches, the 112V adds alnico pickups and a push-pull to split the humbucker — but it goes past our €300 ceiling.
Who it’s for: anyone who wants a single purchase with no possible mistake, and a guitar that will keep up as they improve.
Squier Affinity Telecaster: the vintage tone
This is the only guitar here we have had in our hands. In short: the Telecaster twang is present and correct, the poplar body is thin and light, and the instrument’s simplicity (two pickups, a three-way selector, no vibrato) is a virtue for a beginner — nothing to knock out of adjustment, nothing to work out. Plug in and play.
Its limits are those of its formula. Two ceramic single-coils are plenty for pop, indie, country, blues and classic rock, but if you dream of thick high-gain tones, this is the wrong pick.
Who it’s for: the player who already loves the Fender sound, clean arpeggios and rhythm parts that snap.
Ibanez GRX70QA: for rock and metal
The GIO is the entry point to the Ibanez catalogue, and it keeps the family DNA: a thin, flat neck that favours fast playing, a good-looking quilted maple top, and an HSH layout (two humbuckers flanking a single-coil) built for gain. At around €217, it is the guitar here that handles distortion best, while keeping a usable clean tone in the middle position.
The point to watch, according to user feedback: the FAT-6 vibrato holds tuning acceptably in moderate use, but anyone fond of dramatic whammy work will find its limits quickly. A set of locking tuners solves it, but that is extra budget.
Who it’s for: the future metal player, the solo fan, anyone who wants a fast neck from day one.
Harley Benton ST-20HSS: best budget
At €111, the ST-20HSS costs half what the other three do, and that is its central argument. Thomann’s house brand puts together an honest HSS Stratocaster copy here: poplar body, maple neck, 22 frets. According to the many user reports, the value is real, with the reservations you would expect at this price: uneven fret finishing, basic electronics, hardware that will age faster.
Our position is simple: if you are still unsure about taking up guitar, the ST-20HSS is the least risky ticket on the market. If you are sure, the roughly €120 gap to the Pacifica is the best investment on this page.
Who it’s for: the player who wants to try without spending much, or to put together a travel guitar or second instrument cheaply.
Don’t forget the rest of the budget
An electric on its own makes no sound: budget for an amp, plus a cable, a strap and a tuner. And a well-maintained instrument plays better and lasts longer — worth getting into good habits from day one.
Verdict
The Yamaha Pacifica 112J is our default recommendation: versatile, well built, no nasty surprises. Choose the Squier Affinity Telecaster if the Fender sound already moves you, the Ibanez GRX70QA if your horizon is saturated, and the Harley Benton ST-20HSS if the budget dictates. In all four cases, keep €20 to €50 aside for a careful setup: that is what separates a guitar you give up on from a guitar you wear out.
Prices are indicative, seen at Thomann on 19 August 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What budget should I plan for a first electric guitar?
Between €110 and €300 for the guitar alone. Below that, the compromises (frets, unstable tuning) put people off fast. Also budget for an amp, a cable, a tuner and a strap: reckon on another €100 to €150 for a serious starter setup.
Single-coils or humbuckers for a beginner?
An HSS layout (two single-coils plus a humbucker) is the safest choice: it covers clean tones, blues, rock and gain. If you already know you are heading for metal, favour humbuckers; for pop and indie, single-coils are plenty.
Is a cheap guitar harder to play?
Not necessarily, but a rough factory setup (high action, sharp fret ends) can make it feel that way. A visit to a tech, or a careful setup at home, turns most entry-level guitars into perfectly playable instruments.
Can you start straight on an electric guitar?
Yes, and it is often easier: lighter strings, a thinner neck and lower action than most entry-level acoustics. What matters is choosing a well-set-up instrument and an amp that makes you want to play.