Last Updated on April 29, 2023 by Teemu Suomala
In 2021, I bought 5 cheap electric guitars for my testing. I was excited to see how these budget guitars sound and play. But to be honest, I was not expecting much… After all, each of these guitars cost less than $200.
The results? The guitars sounded and played better than I thought. And even to this day, I own 2 of these cheap axes. In this article, I will reveal what I found out when it comes to the sound of these cheap guitars and also share a couple of cool sound demos with you.
You can check the full article about best electric guitars under $200 guitars here.
Let’s get started!
Author: Teemu Suomala
Do Cheap Electric Guitars Sound Bad? – Tones of 5 Cheap Electric Guitars Compared!
Watch the sound comparison of 5 cheap guitars:
To me, these cheap guitars sound good. Not perfect, but good. But how do these compare to more expensive ones? I recently shot a video where I play my under $200 Epiphone Les Paul Special VE with passive stock humbuckers and around $700 ESP LTD MH-400 with active EMGs (not available anymore, but this over $3k Jackson has the same EMG pickups!)
More expensive active pickups sounded tighter and more balanced, but to me, the difference is not that big. This is awesome news for people looking for cheap guitars!
But of course, some cheap guitars might sound bad. I recommend choosing guitars that already have reviews and sound demos available online so you can listen to how each specific guitar sounds before actually buying. And if possible, go to the music store and test different cheap guitars out!
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Verdict
I have tested dozens of different cheap guitars, and about 95% of them don’t sound bad. They sound worse than more expensive guitars, but don’t sound bad. Some budget guitars might be a bit limited with distorted tones, but the ones I tested were actually pretty good! And overall, the versatility was solid.
If you crave more budget guitar sound demos, check this video I made:
FAQ
Why Cheap Guitars Sound Worse Than Expensive Ones?
Pickups. That’s the #1 thing affecting the tone of the electric guitar. More expensive guitars usually have better pickups and this improves the sound quality. Do you think that electric guitar tonewoods affect the sound? This video will change your mind:
Is it Okay to Start With A Cheap Guitar?
Absolutely. Most of the guitar players and even guitar heroes of ours have started with cheap guitars. It’s way better to start with cheap guitar than not starting at all or waiting years to save money for a more expensive one. But it’s still a good idea to buy the best guitar you can afford.
Can Cheap Guitar Sound Good?
Yes, they can. If you are good enough, you can make any guitar sound good. Also, the amp and strings you are using have a huge impact on your tone. So if you replace stock strings with better ones and choose a solid amp, you can sound really good with a cheap guitar.
Is it Worth Getting A Cheap Electric Guitar?
Definitely. I wouldn’t save money when buying a guitar just for the sake of saving. But, if you have a tight budget, I would definitely consider getting a cheap guitar. It’s important to get you playing as fast as possible and you can upgrade parts of the cheap guitar to better ones later. If you have a really tight budget, this guide will help you to choose the right cheap (around $150) electric guitar.
If your guitar won’t stay in tune, check this Why Guitar Won’t Stay in Tune – guide we made for you.
Conclusion on Do Cheap Electric Guitars Sound Bad
It’s amazing that we can nowadays get great guitars for very little money. Back in the day, cheap guitars were terrible, but nowadays they are completely workable instruments. And yes, most of the time, cheap electric guitars sound really good. So if you have a tight budget, don’t worry. You can find a great sounding instrument for you!
I hope that this post helped you out, if you have any questions, just leave a comment. I wish you all the best and keep rocking!
Teemu
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