Want to strum in the budget? Learn about these 7 best acoustic guitars under 100 dollars recommended by industry enthusiasts with a complete buying guide.
Are you planning to start your musical journey but don’t know where to start? You have come to the right place. Whether you’re a beginner or a professional who’s looking for a spare, we have got you covered. We have picked up the best acoustic guitars under 100 to give you a jump start in your guitar learning journey.
Acoustic Guitar Buying Guides
You may worry that you’ll not be able to get a decent guitar on this budget. However, manufacturers are making guitars with incredible sound quality and playability at a budget-friendly price tag. Even the big guns like Fender, Ibanez, Yamaha, and many other prominent guitar manufacturers are coming up with budget buys.
Our Top 3 Picks (At A Glance)
- Incredible sound, impressive tone, standout projection, and incredible sonics.
- Fine hardwood construction: X-braced, A-grade Spruce wood, known for resiliency and versatility.
- Thinline cutaway design full-size (41") guitar for better access and more comfortable playing.
- Includes the Ashthorpe guitar, a soft nylon "gig bag" guitar case, 3 celluloid picks, onboard 4-band pickup EQ, cable, a shoulder strap, an extra set of strings, and an owner's manual.
- Classic acoustic guitar design
- Electric-acoustic versatility
- Perfect for students and all levels
- Designed for comfort
- Sold as a complete kit
- 6-string
- Dreadnought design
- Whitewood body
- 25-3/8" scale length
- Nato neck
What Are The Best Acoustic Guitars Under 100 Dollars?
First, let us know what are actually the best acoustic guitars under 100 dollars in 2023. Also, we will know which guitar is best for what purposes with some of the specific specifications. Let’s proceed.
1. Best For All-around: Ashthorpe Thinline Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Thinline cutaway design, Constructed with X-braced, A-graded wood, 4-band EQ, Accessories included.
2. Best For Beginners: Jameson Acoustic-Electric Cutaway Guitar
Full-size Thinline cutaway body style, Die-cast tuners, Built-in EQ, Volume and tone controls, gig bag, and picks.
3. Best For Balanced Tone and Durability: Rogue RA-090
Dreadnought shape whitewood body, painted maple fingerboard and bridge, Nato C-shape neck profile.
4. Best For A Jump Start: ARTALL 39-Inch Handmade Acoustic
Unique handcrafted solid basswood cutaway style body with glossy finish, gig bag, strings, picks, and strap.
5. Best For Left-Handed: Rogue RG-624
Left-hand orientation full-size dreadnought body style, Spruce top, Die-cast tuners, Inlaid body binding.
6. Best For Starters: Arcadia DL41 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar Pack
Spruce top dreadnought, Hand-sanded meranti Mahogany neck, superior internal bracing, accessories.
7. Best For Value: Rogue RD80
Mahogany stained back and sides with bound basswood top, Sonokelin/Rosewood fingerboard, and bridge.
Comparison Table (Best Acoustic Guitars Under 100)
Ashthorpe Thinline Guitar Package
- Incredible sound, impressive tone, standout projection, and incredible sonics. Perfect for musicians-in-the-making or advanced players.
- The guitar is made from X-braced, A-grade Spruce wood, known for its resiliency and versatility, and Basswood for warmth. Whether playing soft or loud, strumming or Flatpicking, the guitar remains responsive and retains its tonal integrity.
- Thinline cutaway design and is lightweight for burdenless travel and playing.
- Loaded with upgrades: phosphor bronze strings, and an ultra-glossy, tough-as-nails finish with chrome tuning pegs.
- Complete kit.
Jameson Thinline Acoustic Electric Guitar
- This full-size 41" acoustic-electric guitar from R.W. Jameson features a beautiful design and exquisite sound that shapes like a classic acoustic guitar.
- Electric-acoustic versatility.
- Produces a customizable electric tone with its onboard 4-band pickup/EQ.
- Perfect for students and all levels.
- Designed for comfort.
- Sold as a complete kit.
- 6-string
- Dreadnought design
- Whitewood body
- 25-3/8" scale length
- Nato neck
ARTALL 39 Inch Handmade Acoustic
- The unique cutaway design integrates with a luxuriant glossy finish exterior give the guitar a peculiar visual perception and promoting players' artistry.
- Superb handcrafted solid basswood body and brass fret, appropriate timbers invest the guitar high-quality properties and graceful sound.
- Comes with a Gigbag, strings, picks, strap that free the players from feeling confused due to lack of spare parts.
- Easy to Be Carried.
- Popular Size (39"): Suitable for the guitarist over 12 years old, especially the starters or teenagers.
Rogue RG-624 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar
- Left-handed acoustic model
- Spruce top
- Die-cast tuning machines
- Inlaid body binding
- Case sold separately
Arcadia DL41 Dreadnaught Acoustic Guitar Pack
- Spruce top for balanced tone and projection
- Superior internal bracing
- Hand sanded meranti Mahogany neck
- Deluxe black-back die-cast tuners
- Limited Lifetime guarantee
- Clip-on digital Tuner
- Gig Bag
- Extra set of steel strings
- Guitar Strap
- Full size dreadnought guitar
- Bound blonde basswood top
- Mahogany stained back and sides.
- Nato neck
- Bound sonokelin fingerboard
Top 7 Best Acoustic Guitars Under $100 (In-Depth Guide)
1. Best For All-Around: Ashthorpe Thinline Acoustic-Electric Guitar
- Lightweight and reliable construction (Hardy Manufacturing)
- Attractive design with the best A-grade spruce wood
- A lightweight body that's easy and comfortable to use (Best Travel Guitar)
- High-quality sound with 100% tonal integrity with a smooth and deep tone
- A huge number of positive customer feedback (Above 96%)
- Complete accessories kit included (without AMP)
- Considering its versatility, this guitar comes at an affordable price
- Top-notch playability and available in six high gloss finishes
- Made in the USA
- Amp isn't included with the bundle
- Although the sound isn't bad, feel cheap when you play
- The finish might not be the greatest
- You might need to tune it often
- The strings are problematic sometimes
It’s not a simple task to choose a quality guitar in today's saturated market. Not only beginners but also seasonal users find it a hassle to pick a gentle guitar out of stock. Ashthorpe Thinline Acoustic-Electric Guitar can be the right choice for both beginners and semi-pros at the same time.
Key Features
- Constructed with X-braced, A-grade Spruce wood
- Remains responsive in every situation
- Full-size (41 inches) Thinline cutaway design
- The lightweight feature enables burdenless travel and playing
- Equipped with 4-band pickup/EQ
- Comes with a gig bag, cable, picks, guitar strap, extra set of strings, and much more
The sound quality is incredible with an impressive tone, incredible sonic, and standout projection. This guitar has a fine hardwood construction with a body size of 41”. It has A-grade spruce wood that is well known for its resiliency and versatility. The body ensures tonal integrity while playing. Ashthorpe has a Thinline cutting design that allows you comfortable playing off-the-top frets. The product will provide a complete kit including the guitar itself, a guitar case, picks, guitar cables, shoulder strap, and owner’s manual. For its lightweight, it is easy to carry and play with.
Verdict: Overall, Ashthorpe Thinline Acoustic-Electric Guitar is a top pick in the market with all the latest features and accessories. This Thinline is our Editor's Pick as well for the best acoustic guitars under 100 as an all-around for healthy reasons behind it including its tonal experience, comfort, and versatility. Besides, having a good reputation from high-value customers positive feedback is just the icing on the cake.
2. Best For Beginners: Jameson Acoustic-Electric Cutaway Guitar
- Decent electronics, stock pickup
- Built-in superior quality EQ and durable materials
- Die-cast enclosed tuners
- Portable, excellent sound and playability
- The guitar case is included
- The kit consists of free picks
- Comes with an original high gloss dark blue burst finish
- Also available in seven other finishes
- Budget and Beginner-friendly
- A great number of positive feedback
- Amazon's Choice
- Some material problem arises after using it for a few months
- Some electrical features are not available
- You might have to buy a strap button
- Needs frequent tuning
- You have to buy the amp separately
Talking about icing on the cake, here's another top pick from Jameson Guitars. If you are looking for a budget-friendly guitar in the market, Jameson acoustic-electric guitar should be your top pick.
Key Features
- Full-size Thinline cutaway acoustic-electric guitar
- Can be played acoustically or plugged in
- Die-cast tuners with built-in EQ
- Comes with a gig bag guitar case and picks
- High gloss finish
Jameson acoustic-electric guitar has a stunning look with a mixture of dark blue and fading black edges. This is ideal for both beginners and intermediate players. You can play it both acoustically or plugin. The package will provide you with a free guitar case to make your travel with the guitar easier. The kit also includes free picks that sometimes lessen the hassle of beginners who don’t know the importance of preferences and forget to buy separately. This guitar also promises you a top-notch sound experience with improved strings and a well-built body.
Verdict: Jameson Acoustic Guitar has been a top-seller for years for not just being attractive. The included features, beautiful guitar outlook, as well as gentle price, makes it a customer favorite. The lightweight body makes it easier to take the guitar anywhere, anytime. Overall, Jameson Acoustic-Electric Guitar is the perfect embodiment of a low-budget top notch-guitar and it is our premium pick for the list.
3. Best For Balanced Tone And Durability: Rogue RA-090
- Spruce top with Nato neck
- Slightly Curved Fretboard with durable strings
- Balanced tonal quality and produces rich and solid sound
- Tuners are well-functioned and build quality is also reasonable
- Light-weight, easy to hold, and good for travel
- Available in 3 nice finishes that look good to beginners and experienced players
- The laminated whitewood construction gives a smooth touch
- Super affordable and great for an introductory guitar
- Not Suitable For Kids
- Quality control issues
- Requires constant tuning
- Action will need to be adjusted
When we pick up a budget, we generally don't have much expectation from it. Behold, the sound quality of the Rogue RA-090 will surely catch you by surprise.
Key Features
- Enhanced body depth and width generate a balanced tone
- It also brings out plenty of projection across the room
- The whitewood body generates a serious amount of mid-range punch
- Without losing any strength, the nato neck adds more sustain in tone
This guitar has a dreadnought design, and it's constructed with laminated whitewood. The laminated whitewood is known for its impeccable durability; however, it's not the best choice in terms of sound quality.
The guitar has a Maplewood fingerboard and bridge that provide clarity to each note. It delivers a loud and clear sound with a mid-range punch. Thanks to the Nato neck design, it makes it easier to hold and balance for beginners. There are 20 frets in total so that you can jazz up the higher notes, and the neck joins the body at the 14th fret.
Verdict: If you're a beginner who's looking for a top-quality guitar with plenty of projection and a balanced tone, then this one is a great option for you. It’s quite lightweight so that you can practice for hours without getting fatigued making it number 3 on the list.
4. Best For A Jump Start: ARTALL 39-Inch Handmade Acoustic
- Handcrafted basswood body well suited to the smaller player
- Lightweight, compact, and durable cutaway design
- Simple tuning with excellent woody and warm tone
- The combination of Linden and Maple offers a rich resonance
- Comes with a full starter kit
- Very much affordable
- Not suitable for children under 12
- Tuning does not last long and doesn't feature Spruce top
- Ordinary Strings that can be damaged easily
- The fretboard’s maple (not Rosewood). This might suit those who like a brighter tone, though!
You don’t need to spend a bucket load to get your hands on a handmade guitar. Artall has come up with handmade solid wood guitar, and that too is under 100 which makes it one of the best amongst cheap guitars!
Key Features
- Elegant cutaway design appearance with luxury glossy finish
- Unique handcrafted solid basswood body with brass frets
- Produce superb graceful and melodic sound
- Comes with a gig bag, strings, picks, and a strap
- Easy to carry with its black nylon gigbag
It comes in a few different mesmerizing colors as you can see in the upper left which will surely brighten up your musical journey. The guitar has a standard 39-inch size that’s suitable for children above 12 and adults.
The body of the Artall Acoustic Guitar is made from handcrafted solid brass wood. The brass fret combines excellently with the solid body that delivers a woody melodious sound. It has an amazing cutaway finish that gives it a luxurious matte texture that gives out a premium feel. The guitar comes with several essential accessories like the gig bag, strings, picks, and straps so that you can play the guitar right after purchasing it.
Verdict: Overall, it's an excellent choice for beginners in terms of ease of use and sound quality. Just a strum on the strings, and you'll know that you have made the correct choice considering the affordability of this kit.
5. Best For Left-Handed: Rogue RG-624
- Light-weight solid long-lasting construction
- The low price makes it ideal for beginners
- Spruce top and Mahogany back and sides deliver a lovely sound
- This guitar is very well finished
- Natural color results enrich aesthetics
- One of the best for left-handed players in this price tag
- You may need to adjust the action for easier play
- Inconsistent sound
If you’re left-handed and confused about whether you should pursue your guitar lessons or not, then the RG-624 Left-Handed Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar is the best acoustic guitar under 100 out there. It's an affordable beginner's guitar for left-handers.
Key Features
- Left-handed full-size dreadnought body style
- The spruce top is able to produce great sound
- Die-cast tuning machines
- Inlaid body binding
The type of wood is one of the important elements to look after because each wood or combination of woods delivers a different sound and tone. It's made with a laminate spruce top, inlaid body binding, and bound rosewood fretboard. Rosewood is the most common one used in guitars. They're extremely bright and also heavy.
This guitar not only offers high-quality sound but also comes with long-lasting construction. You don't have to worry about this guitar getting out of tune as it features Martin strings and diecast tuners. The most amazing thing about this guitar is its price. There are so many things that play into the price of a guitar. You'll be glad to know that it only costs about (+/-) 100 dollars.
Verdict: Overall, with this price tag, you'll get a sound that is better compared to the other more expensive left-handed acoustic guitar. That's why this one is number 5 on our list (something good for left-handers).
6. Best For Starters: Arcadia DL41 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar Pack
- Well-balanced sound and tone with nice craftsmanship
- Attractive look with great value for the money
- Easy to play with nice quality fit and finish
- You can't really complain about the materials
- Limited lifetime warranty, no flaws, no defects
- No sharp frets and awesome low action
- Comes with a full accessories kit (always a bonus)!
- Great guitar for kids and beginners (as it has 36 and 38 versions as well)
- Available in 3 different styles and 3 different colors
- Strings may feel loose and tuning might not last long
- You may have to change the strings in the first place
- You might find glue on the fingerboard
- The quality of the gig bag isn't so good (very thin with no padding)
The Arcadia DL41 is a beautifully made full-size acoustic guitar that comes equipped with everything you need to start playing right away. It’s a dreadnought-style budget acoustic that is very popular because of its big balanced sound and tone.
Key Features
- Dreadnought body with Spruce top
- Capable of producing balanced tone and projection
- Hand-sanded meranti Mahogany neck profile
- Superior internal bracing
- Deluxe black-back die-cast tuners
- Gigbag, digital tuner, strings, picks, shoulder strap, and more
The guitar pack includes a gig bag, a guitar strap, picks, an extra set of strings, a chord chart, and a guitar guide with tuning and adjustment instructions. This pack also includes a clip-on digital tuner. This full-size guitar is 41 inches long with a scale length of 25 and a half inches. The headstock is finished in black with the Arcadia logo and graphic. This is complemented by the diecast black-back tuners.
It has an attractive finally grain spruce top with mahogany back and sides. It's all tied together by the cream binding and the rosette around the soundhole. The back of the neck is made of straight grain mahogany that's hand sanded. So, it's really comfortable and easy to play with.
Verdict: Overall, the DL41 is a great-sounding guitar that musicians at any level can play with ease, and it’s backed by a limited lifetime warranty.
7. Best For Value: Rogue RD80
- Excellent looks with good durability
- Fun to play and stays in tune
- Great for beginners and starters
- Very long-lasting guitar
- Great value for the money
- Available in three colors
- A good number of positive reviews
- Doesn't come with a case or kit
- You may find a lifting bridge issue
And, finally, at number 7, we have the Rogue RD80. Rogue guitars are known for their impeccable sound quality, and this baby is no different. It has a charming design with decent sound quality. It comes in a standard dreadnaught shape that beginners generally prefer. The dreadnaught body helps to deliver a fuller and deeper tone.
Key Features
- Full-size dreadnought body style delivers full tone
- Bound basswood top with Mahogany stained back and sides
- Nato neck with bound Sonokelin/Rosewood fingerboard and bridge
- Chrome hardware
- Case sold separately
It comes in three color options: regular, sunburst, and black—all with a bright, shiny, and flawless finish to give it a smoother look. The guitar has a lightweight design that makes it suitable for both children and adults. It has a Mahogany stained back and sides with a bound blonde basswood top. The RD80 also features a Nato neck, chrome hardware, and bound Sonokelin/rosewood fingerboard and bridge. The non-cutaway design ensures better volume with a fuller sound.
Verdict: To sum up, this guitar has quality craftsmanship, and it does justice to its price. In fact, it's an epic bargain. You'll get a rich sound with great durability that’s highly found in entry-level guitars. You can give this one a go if you’re looking for an affordable guitar with great value and excellent playability.
Best Acoustic Guitar Under $100 (Buying Guide)
What To Look For In A $100 Acoustic Guitar To Get The Most Output
Body Style
The body style of an acoustic guitar determines the sound output and tonal quality. Acoustic guitars are made in dreadnought, jumbo, concert, auditorium, and cutaway styles. Most guitars that we reviewed here are in dreadnought or cutaway style.
Dreadnought guitars are highly popular due to their bold and bright sound quality. Cutaway-style guitars offer better grip, and they’re easier to hold as well. They’re quite popular among entry-level guitarists due to their accessibility as it’s easier to reach the upper frets.
Neck Profile
Most acoustic guitars come with a set neck which means the neck of the guitar is glued to the body. The acoustic guitar’s neck is joined to the body with a heel that provides extra support at the back of the neck.
The neck consists of a metal truss rod that refrains it from twisting or bowing due to string tension or any other factors. Make sure that the neck size is compatible with your hand size. The neck of the guitar is generally made with maple and rosewood or ebony fret on top.
Headstock
The headstock is located at the farthest end of the guitar’s neck, and it holds all six tuning knobs. The nuts made of plastic or bone separate the headstock from the neck.
Basic Tonewood Overview
The sound profile of the guitar depends heavily on the type of wood used in making the guitar. Acoustic guitars are usually constructed using two different types of wood. One type of wood is used for the top and soundboard, and a different one is used for the body and the sides. The top wood has the most influence on the overall quality of the sound that the guitar generates.
A solid top means that the top portion is made with a real piece of solid wood. They have a more detailed and complex sound profile compared to laminate woods, and they also tend to mature with time, adding more richness and depth to the sound.
On the other hand, a laminated top means several layers of inexpensive wood are together to make it. A laminated top is used on affordable models due to the cheaper manufacturing cost. Laminate tops are visually attractive, but they’re not as good as solid tops in terms of sound quality.
Fingerboard and Bridge
The bridge is placed right behind the sound hole, and it works as an anchor for the strings.
The role of the bridge is to support the string and transfer its vibration to the soundboard. The strings themselves don’t produce a loud sound. Therefore, they’re conducted on a bigger and more resonant surface.
Overall Build Quality
When we’re purchasing something, we want it to last a long time so that we can make the best use of it. The guitar’s build quality is extremely important as it depicts how much value you can get out of your investment. Make sure that you get a guitar made with quality material and build it so that you can use it for a long time without any hassle.
Sound Quality
All the guitars that we reviewed here offer decent sound quality considering their price. You may not get extremely smooth bright sounds from these, but they’re good enough to give your musical journey a jump start.
Playability
Acoustic guitars are available in different shapes and sizes. Make sure that you pick the one that compliments your playing style. No matter how expensive the guitar is, you shouldn’t opt for that model if you’re not comfortable playing it.
Which Cheap Acoustic Guitar Is Best for Beginners? (Under $100)
Both Ashthorpe Thinline and Jameson acoustic-electric are excellent choices for beginners under $100.
Best Alternative to A $100 Acoustic Guitar (Under $200)
If you can increase the budget slightly more, then you can opt for Yamaha FG800. It has a solid top construction with a built-in tuner that will come in super handy for beginners. The Fender SA-150 is another excellent option. However, you can go through our complete list of acoustic guitars under 200.
Have A Bigger Budget? (Under$300)
There are many great acoustic guitars under $300, but the Fender CD-60S stands out among them all. Yamaha is one of the most prominent acoustic guitar manufacturers. The sound quality and the playability of the CD-60S will surely blow up your mind.
Have A Even Bigger Budget? (Under $400)
Martin is known for its impeccable range of quality musical instruments. You can go for the Martin LXK2 as it’s one of the finest acoustic guitars for under $400.
Must-Have Accessories That You Need with Your Acoustic Guitar
Now that you have bought the guitar, it’s time to get some necessary accessories.
Picks
Such a tiny accessory, but it can give you a tough time if not found at the right time. The pick is one of the most widely used accessories by all guitarists. You need to find the right thickness of the pick and the right material that works for your playing style. If the pick is made with low-quality material, then you’ll not receive the perfect tone or sound from the guitar.
Stand
A guitar stand is not a must-have for beginners, but having one will save your guitar from falls and unfortunate accidents. Guitar stands are made with different types of materials. Make sure that you get one that stands firmly and shields the guitar from the falls.
Strap
The guitar strap will help you have better accessibility and maneuverability. The strap length should comply with your height. So, get a strap that matches well with your height and body size.
Strings
Having a spare set of strings can save you a lot of trouble at times. Imagine the string being broken right in the middle of the jam, sounds like real trouble, right? Keep a set of spare strings to tackle these unfortunate events.
Pro Tips
- Practice! Practice as much as you can
- Use a metronome to enhance your skills
- Don’t run away from playing the difficult chords or songs
- Maintain a disciplined routine schedule for your playing time
- Do regular finger exercise
FAQ
Q. Are cheap acoustic guitars good?
Ans: Give a 20-dollar guitar to Joe Satriani; he’ll rock it anyways. Cheap acoustic guitars are good enough if you’re planning to enhance your skills as long as you practice properly. However, if you’re planning to perform in concerts and gigs, then you should opt for a high-end version if possible.
Q. Which acoustic guitar material is the best?
Ans: Mahogany is one of the finest materials used for making the guitar. They produce highly resonant crisp sound output. Rosewood is an excellent material for the back and the side of the guitar. They add great aesthetics and deliver a rich, vibrant sound as well.
Q. Are all cheap acoustic guitars the same size?
Ans: No, the acoustic guitars are available in different shapes and sizes.
Q. When do I need to change the strings of an acoustic guitar?
Ans: A dis-tuned instrument is very unpleasant to hear, and you’ll also not be to catch the right notes with it. Advanced-level players can rely on the ear for the tuning process. However, it’s not that easy for beginners. Get a tuner as that will save you the set-up time and also help you tune with perfection.
Final Thoughts
This article is catered towards those who’re not planning to spend a bucketload on the guitar. Finding the best acoustic guitar under 100 isn’t easy, especially if you’re an entry-level player. You may find yourself struggling to pick the best acoustic guitar among the myriad choices out there.
To help you out in this quest, we have carefully picked out the best guitars in the market, which too under 100. You may not get a concert-quality sound out of these instruments, but they’ll surely help you improve your skills and learn better.
All of these guitars are excellent choices for those who want to follow their dreams of being a guitarist without breaking the bank. Do give one of these guitars a try, and rest assured that you’ll not be disappointed at all.
Keep strumming and keep rocking!