During your search for the best acoustic guitar under $200, you may have noticed that the under 200 dollar price range offers the tightest competition between manufacturers and even models within a series.
Most beginners and traveling musicians will spend in this price range for a good acoustic guitar that can do it all.
Travel. Play for friends and family. Occasionally perform for friends.
To make the shopping process easier on you, we’ve filtered through them all.
Here’s the best acoustics under 200 dollars that money can buy you.
Quick Answer: 6 Best Acoustic Guitars Under $200 In2024
- Fender FA-115 – Best Overall
- Jasmine JO-36 – Grand Orchestra
- Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy – Flat Top
- Ibanez AW54OPN Artwood
- Yamaha FG800
- Epiphone DR-100
The Best Acoustic Guitars Under $200 In2024
Our 6 Top Acoustic Guitars Less Than $200
It’s amazing how much an extra hundred dollars can make, and it can make all the difference in the world when it comes to buying acoustic guitars. That extra hundred can buy you a good accessories package, better hardware, and even a solid top guitar.
While the quality jump-up in price from an acoustic guitar under $100 to a good acoustic guitar under $200 is remarkably significant and cosmetically obvious, there will still be some quality compromise to look out for.
Laminate acoustics and plastic hardware will be the norm. However, we’ll point out all the perks and fancy trappings that makes our lineup of acoustic guitars under $200 a winning list of reviews.
Beginners, casual players, intermediate players, and traveling artists can all benefit from a good acoustic guitar in this price range. There’s more quality than you’d think for an extra hundred.
1. Fender FA 115 Acoustic Guitar – Best Overall
- Pack Includes everything you need to get started including an FA-115 acoustic guitar, picks, strap and spare strings
- Natural gloss finish Spruce top with "x"-bracing, Basswood back and sides
- 20-fret Laurel fingerboard
Fender ups the game when it comes to introducing beginner players to affordable acoustic guitars under $200. The FA 115 has made a name for itself in the industry, and not just because it’s new.
It has a solid spruce top that completely changes the way a guitar plays and sounds. With the solid top, you’re also landing a few accessories that adds even more value to the buy. It’s a full-size dreadnought with a gloss finish, and it has an X bracing to support intonation and resonance.
Fender is the first choice brand for many first-time buyers. You tell us if Fender does it again!
2. Jasmine JO36 NAT Acoustic Guitar – Grand Orchestra
- Spruce top with Jasmine Advanced "X" bracing
- Sapele back and sides, rosewood fingerboard and bridge
- Slim neck profile, 24 3/4" scale length
There’s a pattern with Jasmine – they make the lineups for the best affordable guitars across the board. They just know what they’re doing and how to offer it within the working man’s budget.
The JO36 acoustic guitar may not have a solid top, but it does have gorgeous sapele back and sides topped with a spruce soundboard. The full-size grand orchestra body has a 24.75″ scale, slim neck profile, and a classy natural finish.
This Jasmine also features their advanced, forward-shifted, and scalloped X bracing pattern made for better responsiveness and lighter overall weight.
Beginners will appreciate the top quality sound, value, and excellent price point – something that Jasmine knows about executing well.
3. Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy Flat Top Acoustic Guitar – Flat Top
- Basswood body with X-bracing
- 12th fret, 24”-scale nato set neck with synthetic bone nut
- Vintage-style 18 frets
Want to know what “that great Gretsch sound” sounds like for under $200? The Jim Dandy Flat Top acoustic guitar can deliver it.
The parlor body has their iconic “Rex” body shape that should remind you of the swingin’ times. It’s a completely laminated guitar with its agathis body including the top. Its deep and rich timbre is all thanks to its flat top – hence the name.
Rock, blues, and even country are specialty genres for this guitar. It’s quirky, old-school, and unique, and it sure has a finish that will catch will your eye and keep your attention.
4. Ibanez Artwood AW54OPN Acoustic Guitar
- Dreadnought body
- Solid mahogany top
- Mahogany back & sides
This acoustic guitar under 200 dollars is one of our personal favorites to date. Ibanez delivers top quality for low prices over and over again, and they never disappoint. The AW54 with an open pore finish stuns us all, and obviously, its buyers too.
It’s all all-mahogany guitar with a solid mahogany top. Combine solid tonewood and an open pore finish and you have resonance and projection like never before heard if you’re accustomed to high gloss guitars.
While the Artwood series is dedicated to maintaining traditional features, it also combines some modern elements to improve playability. Some upgraded Ibanez hardware and a slim, comfortable neck are just a few perks to expect.
How do you find a flaw in such a gorgeous-looking, well-built guitar? You don’t. It’s a top acoustic guitar and you just buy it and never look back.
5. Yamaha FG800 Acoustic Guitar
- Solid sitka spruce top
- Nato back & sides
- Rosewood fingerboard
You’re going to see a lot of this top acoustic guitar across the board. It’s a Yamaha that won’t disappoint. How can it with its solid spruce top and scalloped X bracing recently developed just for the FG series?
It’s loud and strong, especially in the low to mid ranges. You can be promised dynamic harmonic goodness while accentuating on natural, authentic, acoustic intonation.
It might not be all that fancy to look at, but the FG800 retains its traditional appeal with modern elements for the contemporary player. At a good price point under $200 that’s affordable to all, you can’t pass up on the ultimate beginner’s guitar. Entry-level now means a whole new world of quality for the curious player.
6. Epiphone DR100 Acoustic Guitar
- Additional Details: SlimTaper C-profile neck, Epiphone Sloped Dovewing headstock, and Premium Die Cast tuners
- Mahogany body
- Dreadnought body shape
Ah, one of the highest-selling models in the industry – it’s no wonder it made the lineup. It’s a guitar that is almost always the first choice for a first-time acoustic guitar buyer. Why?
Obviously, quality is right on par for its low price and it is one of the best guitars featured here. Its dreadnought body is a timeless classic for all music genres and playing styles. The Slim Taper neck makes it easy and a comfortable acoustic guitar for small handed players, and to make things even more attractive, it’s a Gibson family brand.
It mightn’t come with any accessories thrown in, but with such a low price to begin with, its a good guitar under 200 and you’ll have money left over to get the extras you need without splitting hairs.
What to Expect From Your Acoustic Guitar In The Under $200 Price Range
While the pickings are literally in the thousands for this price range of under $200, you’ll always be able to sift through the best and the junk. We’ve sloughed off the rest to reveal what’s worth your time and money, and what exceeds in value.
But, even though you have a couple hundred bucks at your disposal, you still need to critique your top choices. Here’s what to expect and what to look for.
- Tone woods: Most guitars will be laminate in this price range. However, some top-notch brands will offer solid tops. Solid top guitars may be the way to go as manufacturers are bringing them at even cheaper price points than ever before.
- Bracing: With solid tops on the rise in this price range, look out for the bracing pattern. New and redesigned bracings are getting better and closer to the soundhole.
- Quality: While the body quality may be the same as what you would see in the $100 price range, you may see upgrades in hardware, soundboards, and bracing patterns. It may cost you a little bit more than a cheaper model in the $200 budget class, but it will be worth it for longer-lasting integrity and better sound performance.
- Accessories: A variety of accessories and extras will be offered with multiple models of guitars. More expensive models may come without the extras since the cost will all go into the fundamental features of a guitar. Some guitars may come with an accessories bundle for an extra cost that may push you out of the price range. It’s always best to opt for a quality guitar and buy the accessories as you go.
- Value: Being brand-specific may offer the best value in a guitar. Real tonewoods and upgraded hardware is the best judge of value in this price range. Included accessories are a bonus, but it’s important not to judge guitar quality or performance by the extras that are included.
It’s About to Get Real
The under $200 price range may be the price range that motivates a rookie to strive to be a pro. You’re just getting started at hearing what “good” music sounds like and what a high-quality guitar should feel like.
It’s about to get real, and now it’s up to you to challenge yourself and stick to lessons. Practice, jam, and play some more. In this price range, your guitar can handle it all!
Further Reading:
- 5 Best Acoustic Guitar Strings For Beginners To Pro’s (Steel, Heavy & Classical Strings Included)
- 5 Best Acoustic Guitars for Under $150 In 2024
- 5 Best Acoustic Guitars Under $1000 In2024 (Top Quality)
- 5 Best Acoustic Guitars Under $2000: Top High-End Picks In2024
- 6 Best Acoustic Guitars Under $1500 (Chosen By Musician)
Trent is a music lover, musical instrument player and passionate audio afficionado.