Comfort improves
The higher you move up the range, the more attention is generally paid to fretwork, neck profile, and upper-fret access are generally well taken care of.
Which electric guitar should you choose? The complete guide for every budget
Electric guitar buying guide
A more expensive guitar is not automatically a better fit. Between under €300, €300 to €800, and €800 to €1,200, the right choice depends mainly on your level, your style, and what you expect from the instrument.
What is your budget?
9 selected guitars
3 price ranges
Advice without pushing you toward the most expensive option
Before comparing
What really changes with the price?
Price does not only measure sound quality. It also reflects manufacturing precision, neck comfort, tuning stability, electronics, hardware, and level of finish.
The equipment becomes more specialized
Well-regarded pickups, locking tuners, a more precise bridge, stainless steel frets or advanced electronics gradually appear.
The best purchase is a personal choice
A versatile guitar under €300 may be more suitable than a highly specialized €1,000 model for a first purchase.
Key takeaway
Do not spend your entire budget on the guitar if you also need to buy an amp, a gig bag, a cable, a tuner, or headphones.
Overview
Which price range matches your situation?
First instrument or controlled budget
Under €300
For a serious start, exploring several styles, or getting a versatile guitar without overspending.
- A good choice for beginners
- Versatility comes first
- Budget available for an amp
€300 to €800
The heart of the market for a more precise, better-equipped instrument and able to support several years of playing.
- Superior comfort and finish
- More specialized equipment
- Excellent price-to-performance balance
€800 to €1,200
For a precise sonic identity and greater stability or professional-level features.
- Premium pickups and hardware
- Enhanced comfort
- More distinctive instruments
Budget 01
Which electric guitar should you choose for under €300?
At this price point, we prioritize playability and versatility and the ability to improve without immediately feeling the need to change instruments.
Top affordable choice
Cort
Cort G110
A well-rounded first guitar for discovering several styles. Its HSS configuration combines a bridge humbucker with two single-coil pickups, which allows it to cover both clean sounds and heavier rock.
- Who is it for?
- Beginner and versatile playing
- Key strength
- HSS configuration and satin-finished neck
- Good to know
- Simple equipment designed to remain accessible
All-in-one solution
Mooer
Mooer GTRS S800
A different option for musicians who want to quickly play with several sounds. The GTRS range combines an electric guitar with smart features, which can reduce the need to immediately buy several effects.
- Who is it for?
- Connected beginner and playing at home
- Key strength
- Versatile smart guitar concept
- Good to know
- Best suited to those who want to use its built-in features
Our versatile choice
Cort
Cort G250 SE
The most complete choice in this range for guitarists who want a guitar able to keep up with their progress. Roasted maple neck, two-point tremolo and coil-tap provide an especially versatile setup.
- Who is it for?
- Demanding beginner or versatile guitarist
- Key strength
- Roasted neck and coil-splittable pickups
- Good to know
- The most upgradeable model in this selection
Budget 02
Which electric guitar should you choose between €300 and €800?
This range lets you choose a guitar with a more distinctive identity: modern metal, a Floyd Rose tremolo, or a connected setup.
Modern metal
Cort
Cort KX500 Pale Moon
A modern guitar designed for precision and high gain. The Seymour Duncan Sentient and Nazgûl pickups, along with the 24 stainless steel jumbo frets, and the fixed bridge make it a serious option for stable tunings and precise riffs.
- Who is it for?
- Modern metal, riffs, and fast playing
- Key strength
- Seymour Duncan pickups and stainless steel frets
- Good to know
- Clearly modern and specialized design
Floyd Rose & performance
Cort
Cort X300 Flip Purple
A guitar made for modern techniques and vibrato effects. It combines 24 frets, a Floyd Rose Special, and EMG RetroActive Hot 70 pickups, in a decidedly rock- and metal-oriented format.
- Who is it for?
- Modern rock, metal, and vibrato playing
- Key strength
- Floyd Rose Special and EMG pickups
- Good to know
- A Floyd Rose requires more adjustment and maintenance
Premium smart guitar
Mooer
Mooer GTRS P800
A choice for musicians who appreciate the GTRS concept but seeks a more ambitious instrumental foundation. It is particularly well suited to playing at home and creating sounds and in its compact configuration.
- Who is it for?
- Connected, creative, and versatile musician
- Key strength
- GTRS ecosystem and a wide variety of sounds
- Good to know
- Its value also lies in using its smart features
Budget 03
Which electric guitar should you choose between €800 and €1,200?
Here, the choice becomes more personal. Each model caters to a specific approach: S-type vintage tones, modern metal with a fixed bridge, or expressive playing with Sustainiac.
Versatile vintage tones
PRS
PRS SE Silver Sky
A strong option for clean tones, blues, pop, funk, and rock. Its three-single-coil configuration and vintage-inspired approach prioritize dynamics, nuance, and touch response.
- Who is it for?
- Blues, pop, funk, rock, and expressive playing
- Key strength
- Three single-coil pickups and a distinctive sonic identity
- Good to know
- Less suitable if your priority is high output
Our premium metal pick
Cort
Cort KX600 Infinite
A neck-through guitar designed for sustain, precision, and modern sounds. The Fishman Fluence Modern pickups, stainless steel frets, and fixed bridge make it a stable machine for both the stage and the studio.
- Who is it for?
- Modern metal, studio, and stage
- Key strength
- Neck-through construction and Fishman Fluence pickups
- Good to know
- A guitar highly specialized in modern sounds
Creativity & Sustainiac
Schecter
Schecter Sun Valley SS Sustainiac
A guitar designed for spectacular sounds, vibrato effects, and sustained notes. The combination of Floyd Rose and Sustainiac aimed at guitarists who want to explore more expressive techniques.
- Who is it for?
- Lead, hard rock, metal, and creative effects
- Key strength
- Sustainiac and Floyd Rose
- Good to know
- A more technical configuration than a fixed bridge
Choosing differently
Which guitar should you choose for your musical style?
Blues, funk, pop, and clean tones
Choose a versatile guitar or one equipped with single-coil pickups: Cort G250 SE, Cort G110, or PRS SE Silver Sky.
Versatile rock
An HSS configuration or splittable pickups make it easier to switch from clean tones to distortion: Cort G110 and Cort G250 SE.
Modern metal
For precise riffs and heavy distortion: Cort KX500 Pale Moon, Cort KX600 Infinite, or Cort X300.
Creative playing and built-in effects
Mooer GTRS S800 and P800 prioritize the connected ecosystem, while the Schecter Sustainiac opens up different expressive possibilities.
Common mistakes
What to avoid before buying
Neck comfort, bridge type, and pickups will have a greater impact on your daily use.
It offers great possibilities, but changing strings and making adjustments require more method.
An excellent guitar plugged into an unsuitable amplifier can be more disappointing than a better-balanced setup.
A versatile guitar lets you explore several styles before precisely defining your preferences.
Frequently asked questions
Choosing the right electric guitar for your budget
How much should you budget for a first electric guitar?
A budget of less than €300 is already enough to get a solid guitar. However, remember to set aside part of your budget for the amp, cable, for the gig bag and essential accessories.
Is an €800 guitar much better than a €300 guitar?
It will generally be better finished and better equipped, but it will not necessarily be better suited to your playing. The neck profile, pickups, and bridge must match your needs.
Should you choose a versatile or specialized guitar?
For beginners, a versatile guitar is often preferable. A specialized guitar becomes worthwhile when you already know your style, tunings, and the type of sound you are looking for.
What type of pickups should you choose?
Single-coil pickups often favor clean, dynamic, and precise tones. Humbuckers provide more fullness and work well for high-gain sounds. An HSS configuration or coil-splittable pickups offer a good compromise.
Is a Floyd Rose recommended for beginners?
Not necessarily. It allows for significant vibrato effects, but makes changes of strings and some more technical adjustments. A fixed bridge or a classic tremolo is generally easier to live with.
Why not offer a price range above €1,200?
Above this budget, the choice generally becomes much more personal: brand, neck type, pickups, construction, aesthetics, or professional needs. Personalized advice then becomes more relevant than a general ranking.
