If I were to state the facts, music is free and open to all, regardless of age. The art of playing instruments is a hobby for all, bearing no such age restrictions at all.
Letting your child learn to play an instrument at an early age can improve your child’s overall being.
Fortunately, companies still strive to make music-making accessible to all with their budget guitar packs which are widely available for purchase.
In this list, I’ll be talking about 7 of the best budget electric guitars available to the regular consumer.
Here are our top picks for the best electric guitars under $100
- Davison Full-Size Electric Guitar
- Glarry Full Size Electric Guitar
- ZENY Electric Guitar Beginner Starter Package
- Smartxchoices Kids Electric Guitar
- DirectlyCheap Beginner Electric Guitar
- Rise by Sawtooth Electric Guitar
- Jameson Guitars 6-String Electric Guitar
Runner Up | Editor's Choice | Also Great |
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Davison Full-Size Electric Guitar
Davison joins the party with yet another starter guitar package. The full-size basswood guitar sounds great, is compatible with Rocksmith, and comes in astonishing colors, and it comes with a 10W amplifier that runs on both batteries and plug-ins, and repetitive accessories. Possibly a great investment for beginner guitarists looking to learn.
Pros
- Guitar sounds nice
- The guitar is compatible with Rocksmith
- The guitar comes in a variety of colors
- Bad amplifier quality
Glarry Full Size Electric Guitar
Presenting Glarry’s Full Size Electric Guitar for Beginners. It features a full-size Maple-Basswood electric guitar that comes in a variety of great colors, a 10W amplifier to play on, a cable, some tools, a strap, and guitar picks. It’s a great choice for beginners and pros alike.
Pros
- Colors are great Value for your money
- Durable
Cons
- Low amplifier quality
- Questionable string quality
ZENY Electric Guitar Beginner Starter Package
Next one on our list is another bundle from ZENY. The contents of this package are very similar to the latter item on our list, only that there are no color variations for this guitar. But let me tell you, they aren’t kidding with their guitars. This pack is definitely worth checking out.
Pros
- Guitar quality on point
- The amplifier can run on batteries as well
- Value for your money
- Low amplifier qualityNo other colors available
- Bad amplifier quality
Smartxchoices Kids Electric Guitar
And yet another starter pack. Smartxchoices offers you a small 30” Rosewood-Hardwood guitar with a 5W amplifier that runs on batteries and can plug in, with the same old knick-knacks as with the latter items on this list. I’d recommend this for kid guitar players, because of its size.
Pros
- Value for your money
- Guitar sounds nice
- Durable
Cons
- Guitar scaling is confusing
- Amplifier quality is bad
DirectlyCheap Beginner Electric Guitar
The next budget pack list is from DirectlyCheap. One of the more expensive choices on the list, this pack features a Maple-Basswood electric guitar, a 3W amplifier that runs on both batteries and plug-ins, the accessories, and DVDs for new guitar players that want to learn. The DVDs contain guitar lessons taught by a veteran guitarist. This pack is great for the newbie still learning the ropes.
Pros
- Has guitar lesson DVDs
- Decent guitar quality
Cons
- Guitar scaling is confusing Bad amplifier quality
- Guitar setup takes a while
Rise by Sawtooth Electric Guitar
Rise is in the list with their Sawtooth ST-RISE-ST-SB-KIT-1, a great budget guitar for players of all levels. It features a great Basswood-Mahogany guitar, finished in Sunburst which makes it look so good, the standard accessories for your guitar, and a 5W amplifier to play with (yes, it can run on batteries.). This is surely your choice if you want to play the guitar at home in your bedroom.
Pros
- Great guitar quality
- Accessories are cool
Cons
- Bad amplifier quality
Jameson Guitars 6-String Electric Guitar
The last budget guitar on our list is from Jameson, the RWGT280 BK GCP. It’s an all-black hardwood guitar that oddly mimics a Stratocaster. Though most would deem this unforgivable, the guitar is actually pretty decent, for its price. This would be great for beginners looking for a guitar to play on for a while, or the pros when looking for parts.
Pros
- Looks great
- Good strings
Cons
- Fretboard sucks
- Headstock is ugly
Tips on Picking the Best Electric Guitar Under $100
Honestly, 100$ will never get you a perfect guitar, trust me. The cheapest entry-level guitars that I know of are either from Epiphone or Squier, and they cost way over 100 bucks.
But you’re getting the best out of your 100$, and there are a ton of guitars out there, so here are some tips for when you start looking for your budget instrument.
Quality > Quantity
Always remember that quality costs and that rule also applies when looking for the cheapest alternative to an entry-level guitar. Most of the time, these guitars will be part of a bundle with accessories that you may use such as amplifiers, picks, and straps.
Rather than looking for a product with a lot of low-quality accessories, look for the best and sturdiest guitar that’ll last for a long time. Buying a crappy guitar bundle is like buying a loaf of bread that’s about to expire. Never settle for less.
Used vs. Brand New?
When you’re looking for guitars online, you may find people selling used models for less. On paper, it seems like a great idea since you get a better guitar for the same price, but most of the time it backfires. Some guitars may have been oddly modified or damaged beyond repair.
But if you insist on getting a used guitar, make sure to test the guitar in person and to properly inspect the instrument for anything out of the blue before purchasing it to get the best out of your money.
Overall, making sure that you’re getting the best quality will always be the priority. Follow these tips, and you’ll be steps closer to finding the best guitar for you.
Also Read: 10 best electric guitars in 2023
What is the best electric guitar under $100?
Quick Answer: The best electric guitar under $100 is Davison’s Electric Guitar Starter Package. At this price point, this guitar surprisingly has great quality and sound. The accessories included (amp, strap, cable, pitchpipe, and picks) also make it a great value-for-money guitar for budget-seekers.
If you’re looking for a guitar bundle for someone who wants to learn, or if you’re buying it for yourself, I’d definitely recommend checking this one out.
And that concludes our list. The items on the list are great and all, and they’ll be a sure hit for whoever you’re giving it to. Just always remember that quality does indeed cost. Thanks for reading, and happy strumming!