Best Beginner Guitar ($300-$399)

If you are looking for the best beginner guitar that will stand the test of time, then you may want to consider a good quality guitar priced between $300-$399. Designed for the discriminating beginner or the intermediate student who wants to upgrade to something more substantial, these guitars are some of the best to be had without having to sacrifice your firstborn in order to afford them.

RECOMMENDED MODEL

Seagull Original S6

The Seagull Original S6 is, without question, the best beginner guitar in this price range and an excellent model for beginners and advanced guitarists alike. While its price may seem a bit steep for a beginner guitar ($399) its warm sound and easy playability will win you over and its solid cedar top and wild cherry back and sides make this a guitar that you will never regret purchasing. There really is no comparison for this guitar at this price range, unless you were to compare it to the Seagull Coastline S6 which costs about $100 more. It is decidedly more rounded in tone than the Washburn WD 25S and when it comes to the Fender Hellcat its volume and sustain will blow you away.

Other Models Between $300-$399

Seagull Cedar Slim

The Seagull Cedar Slim is a dreadnought for those who prefer a slimmer nut width. The Seagull Cedar Slim Acoustic was designed for those guitarists who love the dreadnought sound but who prefer the slimmer nut width. At only $399, the Cedar Slim is a perfect choice for those who prefer a more manageable dreadnought style guitar. Its solid cedar top and wild cherry back and sides make this a decidedly beautiful instrument. It also has a sound and volume that will blow you away, especially if you compare it with other dreadnoughts in this price range, such as the Fender Hellcat or even the Washburn, though the Washburn WD35S manages to hold its own comparatively when it comes to tone. This is truly one a best beginner guitar available on the market.

Washburn WD25S

The Washburn WD 25S is a beautiful piece of work with a solid Alaskan Sitka spruce top and rosewood back and sides. At only $329 the Washburn is a dreadnought that is more affordable then the Seagull Cedar Slim and its tone is far better than the Fender Hellcat . The Washburn was designed to be heard and has a volume that exceeds even the Seagull, though the Seagull’s tone is fuller and richer.

Washburn WD35S

The Washburn WD35S is another home run from Washburn. With a solid Sitka Spruce Top and Tamo ash back and sides, the WD35S produces a tonal clarity that is hard to match and at $399 actually rivals the Seagull Cedar Slim for volume and projection. While the Washburn has the tone and volume to rival the Seagull dreadnought, its quality of craftsmanship while far better than the Fender, gets left behind when compared to the Seagull.

Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat

The Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat is a great bargain from a known name. With a solid mahogany top and laminated mahogany back and sides, the Hellcat has a bright tone that is great for rock ‘n roll. While it looks really cool, the Hellcat can’t compare for tone or projection with either the Washburn WD35S or the Seagull Cedar Slim, and when it comes to quality of craftsmanship, it comes in dead last even though it bears the Tim Armstrong name. But at $349 it is less expensive than either the WD 35S or Seagull, so if you’re looking to save a few dollars you can still get a good acoustic guitar even if it is not the top in its price range.

Conclusion

Whether you are looking to upgrade from a less expensive beginner’s guitar or whether you are looking to purchase the best beginner guitar that will not let you down, you can’t do wrong to purchase one of the models on this list. These are by no means the only acoustic guitars available in this price range. They are, however, some of the best acoustic guitars between $300-$399 that you will find and hopefully this will give you an idea of the kinds of guitars available in this price range and will at least point you in the direction of the kind of guitar that you are looking for.