Top 10 Best Acoustic Guitars Under 300 in 2023 (Complete Buying Guide With In-Depth Reviews)

Starting with the Editor's Choice, the Yamaha FG820 is equipped with a fantastic blend of playability, musical tone, and an outstanding build. It retains the traditional design, as well as improved features that make it an ideal instrument and one of the best quality guitars available in the market.

Key Features

• From the best selling acoustic guitar series in the world
• Solid spruce top for the well-rounded and articulate sound
• Scalloped bracing increases projection and accentuates low frequencies
• Mahogany back and sides maintain top-end clarity while enhancing mid-range frequencies
• Can be used as a quality first instrument, or as a top-notch backup

You’ll be amazed at how classy and traditional it looks. It comes with darker tones, which enhances its overall attractiveness. It features a traditional design that makes it excellent to play for those preferring the classic style while onstage. It’s covered in a glossy body finish and natural colors.

One of the best things about this guitar is its versatility in designs and colors. It’s available in five different colors and two sizes. Whether it’s dreadnought or concert or for left-handed people, you’ll find it in the perfect color and size that can meet your needs. Once you start playing this guitar, you'll be provided with an authentic sound that makes it ideal for the country and blues. It includes a newly-developed scalloped bracing design. This design gives off an authentic sound with well-balanced tones. These tones will never sacrifice the sound's strength.

Moreover, as a beginner guitar, it’s capable of producing rich tones and excellent projection. They can be heard easily throughout the entire room. So, whether you play it alone or use it for a gig, you’ll be able to enjoy it without worrying about it getting drowned out.

Verdict: From design to looks, sounds to tone, materials to build quality Yamaha FG820 is just bang-on. If you're a bit more to spend 9something under 400), you can also look for the FG830 though. Anyways, there are certainly too many features not to make the FG820 to our Editor's Choice list and you can't go wrong with the FG820 from one of the world's leading brands Yamaha.

With a classic combination of the dreadnought and mahogany back and sides, the Fender CD-60S can offer superior sound at a reasonable price. It's suitable for both beginners and aspiring players, as it'll let them enjoy a fantastic playing experience.

Key Features

• Dreadnought body style with solid spruce top
• All-mahogany body with nato back and sides for great tone
• Neck constructed with nato wood
• Rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays
• Also comes in a bundle

The Fender CD-60S is excellent when it’s in action. It will never make your fingers uncomfortable. Therefore, you won’t face any problems doing finger tricks or other playing styles without applying too much effort. It's a popular guitar, too, with a bright tone. It comes with detailed dynamics. Thanks to these dynamics, you’ll be able to use it without feeling discomfort or pain. In terms of looks and appearance, it incorporates a very stylish, attractive, yet simple design. It’s equipped with a solid mahogany top, along with mahogany back and sides.

It's also equipped with many other features, including 20 frets, a 25.3-inch scale neck, rosewood fingerboard, dual-action truss rod, sealed die-cast tuners, and scalloped X-bracing. So, it can be said without any doubt that it comes packed with many beneficial features, that too at an affordable price with a lot of positive feedback making it our premium pick for the list.

Verdict: Overall, the Fender CD-60S has a clear attachment and warmth that helps produce better sounds. They can ever work with any kind of playing style you prefer. Additionally, it includes tuning machines. They're not weak or stiff, and they can work perfectly at maintaining the tune of the guitar. Intermediate players can surely get a lot out of it.

At number 3, we have our budget pick - the best seller - the Fender FA 115 guitar package. Fender is known as one of the most popular guitar manufacturers in the world. The FA-115 is an entry-level acoustic guitar and one of the best guitars for beginners with a tight budget.

Key Features

• Full-size dreadnought style body
• Produce big, full, and vibrant tone
• Suitable for all styles of music
• Laminated spruce top with "X" bracing
• 20-fret fingerboard with white dot inlays
• Chrome hardware

It's the newest member of the legendary Fender family. The difference between the previous model and this model is that instead of a laminated top, it has a solid spruce top with X bracing. This acoustic guitar has a 20-fret fingerboard that compliments a wide range of playing styles and makes your playing smoother. It has a laminated hardwood fretboard and nato neck, along with sports laminated basswood back and sides.

One thing that really stands out is the splendid design. It's not only designed to look beautiful but also delivers excellent sound quality. When it comes to sound quality, the Fender never disappoints. Thanks to the spruce top, the acoustic guitar is able to produce a bright sound.

Verdict: The Fender FA 115 is a full-size, 6-string budget acoustic guitar designed for the right-hander. You won't have to worry about the quality of this guitar as every piece and part of the guitar is made of the highest quality with quality craftsmanship. You'll surely get great performance and high playability.

The Yamaha GigMaker series of guitar packages make it easy to start playing the guitar quickly and affordably. This deluxe acoustic guitar is a high-quality instrument for this price range making it number 4 on our list of best acoustic guitars under 300.

Key Features

• Dreadnought style spruce top for superior tone and projection
• Nato back and sides with rosewood fingerboard
• Magnetic double-coil pickup configuration
• Includes protective gig bag, strap, picks, and more
• Chromatic tuner

The laminate spruce top resonates clearly, and the Meranti back and sides offer plenty of support. The rosewood fingerboard comes standard on guitars in much higher price ranges. These are some of the easiest playing acoustic guitars. The gig maker package contains multiple essential tools to get you started with your music journey. It includes guitar picks, and a guitar strap means you're ready to play right out of the box. There's an extra string in a chromatic tuner that will keep your guitar in top playing condition.

Sometimes acoustic guitar can be difficult for newbies due to the amount of finger strength required. However, this guitar responds very clearly with little pressure on the strings. Moreover, this deluxe acoustic guitar pack even comes with an instructional DVD to get you playing right away.

Verdict: With more than 1200 reviews with a rating of 4 stars plus, you can't go wrong with the Yamaha GigMaker Acoustic Guitar Package. Apart from superior sound, tone, and projection, you will have all the necessary accessories you need to get started. If you are a complete beginner and don't know how to get started with your guitar, the manufacturers even put a DVD with the package to keep your learning beginning easier. Overall, you will absolutely have the best possible value for your money with no doubt whatsoever!

Fender is refining their acoustic guitar range, and the CC-60S is part of their classic series, which is basically a classic acoustic guitar. Rather than a dreadnought, it has a contra shape or triple O shape from Fender.

Key Features

• The concert body style makes it more convenient to hold while playing
• Solid spruce top with scalloped "X" bracing
• Easy-to-play gloss-finish neck with rolled fingerboard edges
• Rosewood bridge with compensated saddle
• White bridge pins with black dots
• Fender Dura-Tone coated with 80/20 bronze (0.012-0.52 gauge)

The most exciting part about this guitar is that it features a solid top; that's what the 'S' stands for. It's not scrumptious or splendiferous. It's a solid spruce top and also comes with a mahogany top version. So, that's the biggest upgrade of this series. The other thing is they've given a scalloped bracing, thanks to Fender for doing so. Scalloped bracing, if you're not familiar with is basically where they go through and remove some of the material in the X brace. This allows the top to be more resonant to move and gives us more volume and a better tone.

This guitar has a nice comfortable neck, and the edges of the fretboard have been rolled. So, it'll feel comfortable in your hand. Moreover, the guitar has plastic nut saddle bridge pins, rosewood fingerboard and bridge die-cast tuners, and the famous Fender logo on the headstock with an awesome-looking sunburst finish. With all these features, the Fender CC-60S is our number fortune 5.

Verdict: Although most experienced players will go for the Fender CD-60S (our premium pick mentioned above) over the CC-60S, which is fair enough, the debate still continues amongst the enthusiasts. As the CD-60S is a bit to the pricier end, and if you are on a budget and don't want to go for our premium pick, here's the good news for you as you still can have nearly the same feelings from the same Fender series with this CC-60S sunburst.

The Ibanez ALT30 is built for electric players who’re seeking to transition to electro-acoustic. It has the neck and headstock of an electric guitar, as well as the body of an acoustic guitar. It can allow you to transition between electric and acoustic.

Key Features

• Spruce top with Sapele back and sides
• Maple neck with 25.5 inches scale length
• Constructed with Laurel fretboard consists of 21 frets
• Fishman Sonicore/Ibanez Undersaddle with Ibanez AEQ-SP1/2UT preamp
• Die-cast chrome tuner with half-moon knobs and onboard tuner

The body of this guitar is accustomed to its size. You'll find it thin when you compare it with other acoustic guitars. The size and shape of the body are essentially similar to a dreadnought. Since it's thin, it'll generate lower volume projection, and the body shape can help you switch between your electric guitar and acoustic with ease. It's also equipped with cutaways. Thanks to the makers, you'll have no problem shredding on this as well.

The neck is specially designed for electric guitar players. Like the body, it's also thin. It's constructed from maple and has a speed of 15.7" fingerboard radius. It has a scale set at 25.5" and 21 frets. You can easily access all of these frets, as they're all over the neck. The space between the strings is tighter. Therefore, you'll be able to experience the same feelings you did with an acoustic guitar. The tuners are made of die-cast chrome. They can hold the tune very efficiently. As a result, you won't have to tune them up a lot when you're using them.

Verdict: Overall, the build quality of this product is very good for its price. The sound quality is not bad either. The transparent charcoal burst high gloss finish puts a piece of ice on the cake in terms of uniqueness many guitarists are looking for. If you are an electric player and need an acoustic for your sound and playing variations, you can opt for the Ibanez Altstar ALT30. It won't let you down.

The Alvarez AD30 is a musical instrument that is significant at providing a high-class sound output and is one of the best affordable guitars for its quality at this price bracket. It’s capable of complementing your love for music in the best way.

Key Features

• Dreadnought body shape with solid Sitka spruce top
• Hand sanded scalloped bracing with laminated mahogany back and sides
• Alvarez bi-level rosewood bridge with rosewood fingerboard
• Dovetail neck joint with real bone nut and saddle
• Premium semi-gloss finish enhance aestheticism

The hardware, as well as the back and sides, are made using mahogany. It includes a rosewood fingerboard. It consists of 20 frets and a fitting nut. The body gets its glaze from a glossy polish which is a signature mark of mahogany. The AD30 comes with D’addario EXP strings. It also features die-cast chrome tuners. They can embellish the headstock of this guitar. So, it's safe to say that it's a remarkable combination of styling with quality. Since it incorporates D’addario strings, you’ll be able to produce a swirling sound.

The guitar’s top is cut thinly so that the vibrations are able to touch the classical heights. In fact, the bass and treble sides are adjusted in such a way that they can provide you with a transparent clear sound. The guitars included hand-sanded, scalloped bracing for better tone and sound projection with a dovetail neck joint for better playability.

Verdict: The new award-winning "Artist Series" guitars from Alvarez are getting rave reviews from all over! These solid top instruments sound sweet, not only for their quality but also in comparison to other brands on the market today. And the AD30 dreadnought is no exception. With its advanced bracing system and quality, handcrafted construction makes the Alvarez AD30 a well-deserved place in our list of best acoustic guitars under 300.

At number 8, we have another acoustic from the Alvarez Artist Series and it's called the Alvarez AF30. The Alvarez AF30 is perfect for anyone, especially those who just want an affordable yet solid guitar. It has great sound, durability, and playability, which is why it's often considered to be one of the best substitutes for the AD30.

Key Features

• Solid Sitka Spruce top with hand-sanded, scalloped bracing
• Mahogany back and sides with rosewood fingerboard
• Alvarez bi-level rosewood bridge with real bone nut and saddle
• Dovetail neck joint and natural satin body finish
• Chrome die-cast tuners and ABS binding

The Alvarez AF30 is a folk guitar, which means that it's small in size. The scale length of this guitar measures only 24 13/16 inches. It has deeper curves that will make you feel like it's one of your body parts. So, once you place it on your knees, you won't feel any discomfort. Instead of feeling discomfort, you'll immediately get the urge to practice it interminably.

The major reason why most people appreciate this model is the body build. The spruce top is made of solid Sitka, while the back and sides are constructed from mahogany. Both of these parts blend well with each other and thereby create a crisp, balanced, clear, and dimensional sound.

The main feature that distinguishes it from the rest of the guitars from other manufacturers is its inclusion of the FST2 scalloped X bracing system. Due to this system, you’ll be to create a louder sound with more powerful and lively vibrations. It's covered with a thin layer of a satin finish that enhances its overall look and protects it from damage and environmental impact.

Verdict: Overall, the AF30 from Alvarez's most renowned line "Artist Series" can be a wonderful pick for anyone. Especially, if you're thinking about practicing more often, we assure you that It can be a great practice guitar. The body shape and construction make it even more perfect for playing the folk genre or in an orchestra. So if your usage is falling into any of these two types, then no need to look further, the AF30 is the one for you.

As a resource, our goal is to serve all. From this perspective, at number 9, we have a wonderful inclusion for the left-handed acoustic players called the Oscar Schmidt OG1.

Key Features

• 3/4-sized spruce wood top acoustic guitar
• Perfect for smaller hands, children, and students
• Catalpa wood back and sides produce good resonance
• Chrome die-cast tuners with fully adjustable truss rod
• Natural high-gloss finish
• Backed up by a lifetime warranty

Left-handed guitarists have a hard time finding the perfect budget acoustic guitar under 300. Well, you can have a sigh of relief as the Oscar Schmidt OG1 is here to your rescue. The OG1 is a dreadnought-style guitar, and it's an excellent choice for beginners. The top of the guitar is made with spruce, while the sides and back are constructed with Catalpa. This baby is an absolute gem in terms of durability. It has a high gloss finish on top that not only enhances the outlook but also gives it protection against weather elements.

The neck of the guitar is made of Mahogany. The neck has quite an ergonomic construction, making it easier to reach the top frets, even for entry-level players. The hardware of the guitar is also impressive despite being a guitar. It features chrome hardware and a die-cast tuner as well.

Verdict: The brand Oscar Schmidt's instruments are intended in such a way that they are relatively easy to play for starters. So, if you're a beginner and a lefty, someone with smaller hands, or looking for an acoustic for your lefty kid who is still a learner, then the Oscar Schmidt OG1 is a great fit for you.

And, finally, at number 10, we have the Luna Art Vintage. It can give you a lot of benefits just for a few bucks. You’ll be amazed at how great it works and maybe as an alternative to an expensive guitar.

Key Features

• Art Vintage dreadnought body style with solid spruce top
• Mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard
• Built for acoustic use that delivers full resonant sound
• Simple ring pattern rosette around the soundhole
• Beautiful cream body binding with chrome hardware

The overall appearance of this acoustic guitar is very beautiful. In fact, it’s so beautiful that even non-guitar players can use it as a nice decoration. It’s available in numerous finishes, from the distressed brown burst finish to the brushed open nickel tuners. No matter what kind of finish you opt for, it’ll still maintain that same cool look.

One of the best features of this guitar is the dual-action truss rod. Thanks to this feature, you'll be able to fix its neck very easily, in case it ever bows towards the strings. It's equipped with a Graph Tech Nubone nut. It's 1 11/16" (43mm) wide. It helps the guitar in sustaining longer, produce more volume, and stay in tune better.

It incorporates one of the most popular neck profiles: the C-shaped neck profile. It can give you easy access to comfort and playability for most styles of music. Therefore, the neck will feel fine in your hands.

Verdict: Overall, the Luna Vintage is one of the most affordable acoustic guitars whose performance is satisfactory enough to be impressed with and can be an ideal guitar for an acoustic player although it's not that much of popular yet making it well-deserved in our today's list.