Best Guitars Under £200
The best guitars under £200 — ranked by how many professional guitarists use them in their rigs. 12 options with artist matches and buying advice.
Buying Guide
At £200, prioritise build quality and playability over brand name. Squier, Epiphone, and Harley Benton produce genuinely good instruments at this price. The pickup upgrade path is always available later if needed.
What You DON'T Need at Under £200
Under £200, build quality and playability matter more than brand name — the biggest mistake is chasing logos or buying bundles.
- Off-brand import guitars with unknown quality control
Squier, Epiphone, and Harley Benton have consistent factory QC at this price. Unknown Chinese brands outside the Harley Benton line have variable fretwork and electronics that can require £50–80 in professional setup to fix — eliminating any price advantage.
- Starter pack guitars bundled with amp and accessories
The guitar body in a pack is often acceptable — everything else in the box rarely is. A standalone Squier Sonic or Harley Benton delivers a better instrument at the same price than the same guitar bundled with a 5W practice amp and a plastic strap.
- Seven and eight-string guitars as a first instrument
Extended range necks are wider and require correct fretting technique from day one. Technique mistakes embed faster on a wider neck. Learn on 6 strings, then switch — the transition takes days once the fundamentals are solid.
Mid-Range
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FAQ
Best Guitars Under £200 — Common Questions
The best guitar under £200 based on how many professional guitarists use it is the Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster. It appears in more artist rigs at this price point than any alternative and offers the best combination of tone, reliability, and value.
At £200, prioritise build quality and playability over brand name. Squier, Epiphone, and Harley Benton produce genuinely good instruments at this price. The pickup upgrade path is always available later if needed.
The most important thing to avoid at £200 is over-specifying — spending on features you don't need rather than fundamentals. Prioritise build quality and playability over brand recognition.