15 Best Acoustic Guitars Under $200 Review

Are you on a hunt for an acoustic guitar with a minimum budget of two hundred dollars that you can already learn well with. A guitar that you can appreciate the way it sounds and has the playability that points you towards the right direction even for its price. Well if that is the case, these guitars are just the right one’s for you.

Buying your first guitar should be a good experience and making the right choice at the beginning will carry through the way you practice, progress and take care of your instrument. You always have the option to buy an expensive model later on or to start out with a decent sounding guitar by buying a much cheaper model.

For wood, most of these guitars for its price may use a combination of solid top wood with laminated wood back and sides, or an all laminated tonewood. The reason why is, laminate wood is a much cheaper wood to use on making acoustic guitars than solid wood, so as expected. You won’t find legit all solid wood used on these guitars even if the manufacturer say so in the specifications to get that out of the conversation quickly, and to immediately set your sights on other things to consider when buying a guitar at this price range.

Although tonewood is an essential characteristic when buying a guitar whether it is an electric guitar, acoustic or bass because it resonates the sound. At this level, the focus should be more on the overall construction and built quality to get the moneys worth and have a gem of a find.

The guitar should have a properly set straight neck and evenly placed frets from headstock going to the body. No single fret should be higher than the other frets to prevent buzzing noise. As well to have the proper intonation and tuning all the way as you move up the neck playing. This also coincides with the string action of the guitar. The correct height of the string means effortlessly pressing on the strings to make contact with the frets when playing chords or ringing a single note on the guitar. While for frets edges, sharp fret corners are easily fixed with a fine sand paper and not to worry about.

Buying a guitar by going to an actual store even it is your first time is the best practice. You can access it more by playing some chords if it is comfortable and never hesitate or be shy to rundown the frets playing single notes to hear if there is buzzing, check the sting action or a crackling noise when you strum the strings all together due to lose bracing.

However if you don’t have the time to visit a nearby guitar shop. We have here some recommendation and mostly likely the kind of guitar at the said price that you would find on the stores today. They are coming form reputable brands and offers the kind of guitars with a good value to have you started playing in no time.


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Oscar Schmidt OF2SM Folk Guitar

Oscar Schmidt OF2SM Folk Guitar
  • Folk guitar
  • Spalted maple soundboard
  • Mahogany back and sides in gloss finish
  • Comfortable C-shape mahogany neck
  • 20 frets rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays
  • Set of chrome die-cast tuners
  • Rosewood bridge with synthetic compensated saddle and synthetic nut

The brand may not be as resounding or as well known as the other brands on this list, but the Oscar Schmidt brand for those who wants an introduction has a share of rich history in music and is back with 100 years of experience on making high quality folk and traditional instruments that started way back in 1871. Like any guitar makers, they have a full line of guitars to offer and many of the guitars they make are spot on this budget range.

The Oscar Schmidt OF2SM is a folk guitar made out of spalted maple for its soundboard with mahogany sides and back for more sustain in high gloss finish for aesthetics. It has a mahogany neck with fully adjustable truss-rod, 20 frets rosewood fingerboard, rosewood bride and has chrome die-cast tuners to go along with its beautiful body.

For a guitar that has everything a beginner guitar player would want. On a price range less than two hundred dollars. It is a guitar worth considering and a money well spent on a guitar.


Alvarez Regent RF26 Folk Guitar

Best Acoustic Guitars Under $200
  • Folk guitar
  • Spruce top with the standard scalloped X-bracing
  • Mahogany back and sides in satin finish
  • C-profile mahogany neck
  • 20 frets techwood fingerboard with dot inlays
  • Set of chrome die-cast machineheads
  • Techwood bridge with compensated PPS synthetic saddle and PPS synthetic bone nut

The Alvarez Reagent RF26 is a carefully handcrafted folk guitar and is designed to deliver a traditional sound. Play it at the comfort of home, bring it to school or the guitar of choice to accompany a player who loves to spend time in the outdoors.

This folk guitar is made of a spruce top with the standard scalloped bracing to provide a bright full range of sound and has a mahogany back and sides in satin finish. The slim mahogany neck with 20 frets techwood fingerboard, techwood bridge and chrome die-cast machineheads works all together for playability and to always keep the guitar in tune.

Bonfires and picnics with family is going to be more fun with some music using this folk guitar by Alvarez. It has the built quality and ruggedness for daily use. The price is a huge bargain for a practice guitar, or that second guitar for any situation.


Jasmine S35 Dreadnought

  • Dreadnought acoustic guitar
  • Spruce soundboard with X-bracing
  • Agathis back and sides
  • Comfortable C-profile nato neck
  • 20 frets rosewood fingerboard marked by dot inlays
  • Set of chrome die-cast tuners
  • Rosewood bridge with synthetic compensated saddle and synthetic nut

Cheap doesn’t necessarily mean bad sounding. This guitar offered by Jasmine has a good reputation across many reviews for the nice decent sound it can bring and has the playabilty to help beginners to start their journey on learning how to play the guitar without breaking the bank. The most affordable guitar on our list and a great guitar to start with on a budget of less than a hundred dollars.

The top tonewood of this Jasmine S35 dreadnought guitar is made of spruce with agathis sides and back reinforced by advance X-bracing. Nato wood for the neck up to the headstock with 20 frets rosewood fretboard marked by Perloid inlay dots. Bridge is also made of rosewood to match the fretboard and completing the guitar are chrome tuners.

This guitar gives you no reason not to start learning and playing the guitar today for its price. The Jasmine S35 is good sounding guitar for a beginner on very low price or even just simply to have a guitar around the house to pick it up every once in a while.


Jasmine JO36 Orchestra

  • Orchestra acoustic guitar
  • Select spruce soundboard with X-bracing
  • Sapele back and sides
  • C-shape neck is crafted using nato
  • 20 frets rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays
  • Set of chrome die-cast tuners
  • Rosewood bridge with synthetic compensated saddle and synthetic nut

Another good quality entry level guitar coming form Jasmine offered to players on a minimum budget for an acoustic guitar is the Jasmine JO36 orchestra style acoustic guitar. This guitar is well built for its price and easy to play that features a select spruce top with sapele back and sides. The guitar is presented in a shinny gloss finish to make it more attractive to play and has the advance X-bracing for exceptional value.

For the neck, the Jasmine JO36 has a short slim 24 3/4” inch scale length neck crafted in nato for a comfortable feel when holding and its construction promotes easy playability to level up as quickly as possible especially playing those bar chords. Other features included on the guitar are 20 frets rosewood fingerboard and bridge, chrome die-cast tuners for great tuning stability, and pearloid rossette.

Having this little investment for a first guitar, then combining it with a good amount of dedication on practicing. The only outcome a player will get, is they’ll be playing in no time.


Squier SA-150 Dreadnought

  • Dreadnought acoustic guitar
  • Linden wood top in natural finish protected by a black pickguard
  • Mahogany back and sides
  • C-shape mahogany neck
  • Maple stained 20 frets fingerboard complete with inlay dots
  • Set of chrome tuners
  • Compensated plastic saddle bridge and plastic nut

Squier by Fender is invested on making great quality affordable electric, bass and acoustic guitars. For this budget range, they introduce the Squier SA-150 dreadnought for all levels of guitar players and seemingly an acoustic guitar ready to compete with the heavyweights this category.

The Squier FA-150 dreadnought offers players a guitar with a linden top with mahogany back and sides. This guitar is available in natural finish with a mahogany neck top of by a 20 frets maple stained fingerboard and has a compensated saddle bridge for accurate intonation paired with a set of die-cast tuning machines.

This acoustic guitar is great for students on their way for a lesson and a guitar that offers a good fresh start to long time players who is looking for a new guitar and nice tones captured on a less expensive price.


Epiphone DR-100 Dreadnought

Epiphone DR-100 Dreadnought
  • Dreadnought acoustic guitar
  • Select spruce top offering a boomy and articulate sound
  • mahogany back and sides
  • Okoume with a slim tapering profile and 2-way adjustable truss-rod
  • 20 medium jumbo frets rosewood fingerboard complete with inlay dots
  • Set of premium die-cast tuning machine
  • Rosewood bridge with compensated plastic saddle and plastic nut

Epiphone is a subsidiary company of Gibson. The brand is also well-known for their Les Paul, SG models and making a huge name as well for their acoustic and acoustic electric guitar starting with the Epiphone DR-100 acoustic guitar and Epiphone PR-4E acoustic electric guitar which is available as part of a guitar package.

Going back to Epiphone DR-100. The tonewood top of this guitar is made of select spruce with mahogany sides and back offering players a boomy and articulate sound. Neck is okoume with a slim tapering profile overlaid by a 20 frets rosewood fingerboard complete with inlay dots. Complimenting features of the guitar are premium die-cast tuners to keep the guitar in perfect pitch and rosewood bridge.

The guitar is affordable and has name recognition for Epiphone’s long history of making good quality guitars. A guitar recommended for budding guitarist on a budget friendly price.


Washburn D7S Harvest Series Dreadnought

  • Dreadnought acoustic guitar
  • Solid spruce soundboard with quartersawn scalloped bracing
  • Mahogany back and sides in natural gloss finish
  • Mahogany neck with a 2-way truss-rod for adjustment
  • 20 frets ovangkol fingerboard with dot inlays
  • Set of chrome die-cast tuning machines
  • Ovangkol bridge with compensated ABS bridge and ABS nut

In 1912, Washburn introduced the Lakeside Jumbo guitar which some consider as maybe the the first or one of the earliest model of dreadnought sized guitar that has been ever made. As its popularity grows, it superseded the parlor guitars as the guitar of choice by many and has given the way for modern day dreadnoughts and jumbo style acoustic guitars.

The Washburn D7S dreadnought body top is made form solid spruce with mahogany back and sides in natural gloss finish without scratch plate. It has mahogany neck with a 2-way truss-rod for adjustment top of by 20 frets ovangkol fingerboard. For bridge, it has a Ovangkol bridge and the tuning heads are chrome die-cast.

As one would expect on a great brand is a great guitar. The price is awesomely low on such a good quality guitar. The look and feel together with the sound quality is all there, a top choice for an acoustic guitar at the entry level and more than a beginner could ask for.


Ibanez IJV50 JamPack

Ibanez IJV50 JamPack
  • Dreadnought acoustic guitar
  • Spruce soundboard in high gloss finish
  • Agathis back and sides
  • C-shape nyatoh neck
  • 20 frets nandu fingerboard with dot inlays
  • Set of die-cast closed-gear tuners
  • Nandu wood bridge with advantage pins, plastic compensated saddle and plastic nut.
  • Accessories included is a gig bag to travel the guitar, chromatic clip-on tuner, strap, accessory pouch and picks

Consider by many as one of the best makers of quality guitars for guitarist on their early stages as well for seasoned players alike, Ibanez offers their beginner entry level acoustic guitar on a budget friendly pack. The Ibanez IJV50 JamPack comes complete with the basic accessories needed like a clip-on tuner, soft gig bag, picks and a strap to start playing right out of the box.

The dreadnought style acoustic guitar on the pack is made with natural finish laminated spruce top, agathis wood for the sides and back and has a nyatoh neck with 20 frets nandu fingerboard. Completing features on the guitar are premium die-cast tuners to keep the guitar in tune and has a nandu bridge with advantage pins which are easier to pull out when replacing the strings.

The starter kit overall offers a good run for the money. A beginner will have a fun time learning using this decent sounding guitar and don’t have to pay more for accessories just to start a guitar playing hobby.


Ibanez PF Series PC12MH Grand Concert

Ibanez PF Series PC12MH Grand Concert
  • Grand concert acoustic guitar
  • Okoume soundboard with an open pore finish
  • Okoume back and sides
  • Comforttable PC nyatoh neck
  • 20 frets laurel fingerboard with dot inlays
  • Set of chrome open-geared die-cast machines
  • Laurel bridge with compensated plastic saddle and plastic but

The PF series of acoustic instruments by Ibanez was crafted to produce a traditional sounding acoustic guitar using fine materials and modern craftsmanship applied in all aspect of the guitar that can help open up a player potential and develop a better way of understanding guitar tones.

Ibanez PC12MH grand concert body has a okoume top, back, sides and a nyatoh neck with a 20 frets laurel fingerboard to deliver rich mid-range and a clear high-end sound. It also has a laurel bridge to match the fingerboard that uses advantage pins which are easier to remove than the traditional pins when it is time to change the strings. The guitar is presented with a chrome open-geared die-cast tuners to match its sleek looking open pore finish.

Ibanez PC12MH will let players experience the beauty of playing an acoustic guitar and more than ready to assist them develop their skills in a steady phase. It is great grand concert style guitar for home playing, studio or when on the road.


Fender FA-115 Dreadnought Package

Fender FA-115 Dreadnought Package
  • Dreadnought acoustic guitar
  • X-braced spruce top
  • Basswood back and sides in satin finish
  • C-profile nato neck
  • 20 frets laminated hardwood fingerboard
  • Chrome die-cast tuners
  • Laminated hardwood bridge with compensated plastic saddle and plastic nut
  • Comes ready with a strap, extra spare set of Fender strings, soft gig bag with Fender logo and Fender picks

No selection would be complete without a guitar or two coming from Fender. This brand needs no introduction and the name itself is already synonymous when it comes to great quality electric guitars, basses, amps and their line of acoustic guitars they have on the market throughout the years. The first offering of Fender for an acoustic guitar with a reasonable price on our list is the dreadnought style body Fender FA-115.

The Fender FA-115 is one of the very best affordable acoustic guitar that anyone can enjoy from Fender. The guitar body is made of laminated spruce top with basswood sides and back that can generate the sought after dreadnought boomy sound. Neck of the guitar is C-shape constructed using nato with a truss-rod to adjust when needed top of by a vintage style 20 frets hardwood fingerboard. Die-cast tuners and hardwood with compensated saddle bridge completes the guitar.

What can we say more about this guitar? The brand speaks for itself. Having a guitar with a Fender logo on the headstock only means you can rest assure that you are going to have a good playable and sounding guitar.


Fender CD-60S Dreadnought

Fender CD-60S Dreadnought
  • Dreadnought acoustic guitar
  • Solid spruce top with X-bracing in natural or other color finish
  • Mahogany back and sides
  • Neck is C-shape constructed using mahogany with truss-rod
  • 20 frets rosewood fingerboard marked by dot inlays
  • Set of chrome die-cast tuners
  • Rosewood bridge with compensated synthetic saddle and synthetic nut

The CD-60S acoustic guitar also by Fender has the same size dreadnought body of the FA-115, and comfortable neck profile to use for finger-style and has the amount of volume that is best describe as full bodied sounding when strummed.

The Fender CD-60S guitar body top is made of solid spruce with X-bracing in natural or other color finish and has mahogany back and sides. Neck of the guitar is C-shape constructed using mahogany wood with vintage style 20 frets rosewood fingerboard. Then completing the essential parts of this guitar are die-cast tuners, adjustable truss rod and the rosewood bridge.

The Fender CD-60S is a good size and comfortable guitar to play. It is a great solid top acoustic guitar without breaking the bank and the voicing is articulate to please a crowd.


Yamaha FG800 Dreadnought

Yamaha FG800 Dreadnought
  • Dreadnought acoustic guitar
  • Solid spruce tonewood with scalopped bracing in natural finish
  • Nato back and sides
  • Comfortable C-profile nato neck with truss-rod
  • 20 frets rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay markers
  • Set of chrome die-cast tuning machines
  • Rosewood bridge with compensated urea saddle and urea nut

First on our list for Yamaha is the Yamaha FG800 dreadnought style acoustic guitar. This acoustic guitar is a big part of Yamaha’s great line of good sounding guitars that also includes the Yamaha FX325 and Yamaha APXT2 3/4 size if wanting to settle for a small body acoustic electric guitar.

The FG800 series acoustic guitar is made of solid spruce for its top tonewood, nato back and sides for awesome volume and to achieve a rich clean sound. Rosewood 20 frets fingerboard, rosewood bridge and chrome die-cast tuners completes the whole guitar.

Quality of materials use is superb on this guitar. Craftsmanship and finish is immaculate. The sound is optimum for a guitar on its price range, not to forget to mention that it is guitar made by Yamaha, one of the top brands when talking about guitar instruments.


Yamaha GigMaker Deluxe Acoustic Guitar Package

Yamaha GigMaker Deluxe Acoustic Guitar Package
  • Dreadnought acoustic guitar
  • Solid spruce top in satin finish
  • Eastern mahogany wood for the back and sides
  • C-profile nato neck
  • 20 frets rosewood fingerboard
  • Chrome die-cast tuners
  • Rosewood bridge with urea saddle and urea nut
  • Includes a gig bag, spare set of strings, strap, picks, Allen wrench, chromatic tuner and an instructional DVD

If you want a bigger sound and tones to cover a venue or just simply enjoy playing an acoustic guitar for your past time, the Yamaha FD01S dreadnought acoustic guitar on a package makes all of that possible using its dreadnought body and essential accessories to already start playing.

Yamaha FD01S acoustic guitar has a top wood made of solid spruce with mahogany back and sides. Neck is nato overlaid by a 20 frets rosewood fingerboard complete with dot inlays. The guitar is also equipped with a set of chrome die-cast tuners and a rosewood bridge for tuning and intonation.

The Yamaha GigMaker is a well package solid top dreadnought style guitar a beginner will have remarkable time learning and playing some song in no time. Right out of the box, it is a complete set of acoustic guitar and gears on a very reasonable price.


Yamaha APXT2 3/4 Size Acoustic Electric Guitar

Yamaha APXT2 3/4 Size Acoustic Electric Guitar
  • APXT 3/4 size acoustic electric guitar with cutaway
  • Spruce for top tonewood in different color finishes
  • Meranti back and sides
  • Neck can either be made in mahogany or nato
  • 21 frets rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays
  • Set of chrome die-cast tuners
  • Rosewood bridge with compensated urea saddle and urea nut
  • Under saddle piezo pickup system controlled by a volume and 3-band EQ plus tuner

For kids who want to learn the guitar, adults and for those who shows interest but a full size dreadnought guitar is a little big for them to play, the Yamaha APXT2 3/4 size acoustic electric guitar is the ideal shape guitar for you.

This guitar also uses steel strings and is made out of spruce for top tonewood with meranti back and sides. Neck can either be made in mahogany or nato with 21 frets rosewood fingerboard. The Yamaha APXT2 is available in exciting colors namely natural, black, dark burst and more.

This guitar is fun to play with or without a guitar amplifier and will be more easy to handle especially for kids because of the smaller body and slimmer neck for playability and good sound quality which is essential in learning the guitar.


Yamaha JR1 3/4 Scale Acoustic Guitar

  • 3/4 size steel string acoustic guitar
  • Great size steel string acoustic guitar for kids 4 to 6 years old or a travel guitar
  • Spruce top
  • Meranti back and sides
  • Comfortable C-profiel nato neck
  • 20 frets rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays
  • Set of chrome die-cast tuners
  • Rosewood bridge with compensated urea saddle and urea nut
  • Includes a chromatic clip-on tuner, soft gig bag, picks, replacement strings cleaning cloth and beginner guide

Last but definitely not the least for an acoustic guitar under the two hundred dollar range on our list is the Yamaha JR1 3/4 scale acoustic guitar. Like the Yamaha APXT2, the JR1 is a best option when looking for a guitar with a smaller size that can deliver a range of tones in a mellow volume and very comfortable to play.

Yamaha FG junior 1 has a top wood made of spruce with meranti back and sides. The guitar also features a rosewood bridge and chrome die-cast tuners like the one’s found on a full scale acoustic model. Newer model of this 3/4 scale guitar is the Yamaha JR2, offered in natural and sunburst finish.

The Yamaha JR1 is not a toy, but a true introductory instrument to learn and play. It easy on the hands and can be carried without effort because of its small body, shape and weigh more less compared to bigger guitars. 

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