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After researching more than 20 of the best beginner acoustic guitar kits online, we purchased 8 to test out side-by-side. We consulted guitar teachers, advanced players, and professional musicians alike to ask what they look for in a new acoustic guitar. We then spent hours closely examining each instrument, testing each accessory, and finally playing the guitars to evaluate them for things like ease of use, quality of sound, and overall value. With all of the options to choose from, and without the ability to test them before buying, we want to help you determine what aspects of a beginner's first guitar and accessory kit will not only facilitate beautiful music, but also encourage you to keep playing. To find the best value for musicians on a budget, we kept our search under $200. Whether you are an adult looking to learn a new skill, or a parent looking for a great gift for your child, you can find something to fit your needs and budget.
Need somewhere to display your new guitar? Our guitar stand review can help you find the right one. We've also tested guitar tuners so you can keep your instrument sounding sharp.
Editor's Note: This beginner guitar review was edited for clarity on July 4, 2023.
The Fender FA-125 was the most fun to play and felt inspiring right out of the box. This beautiful and lightweight guitar has a full and balanced sound, providing the cleanest articulation out of the entire test fleet. This means you can hear every single string with great clarity as you strum chords or fingerpick. This guitar comes with a padded gig bag, a rarity amongst beginner kits, and it also includes a lot of great accessories. Although the production quality isn't the highest, the video on the instructional DVD was thorough, easy to follow, and full of really helpful information for anyone new to the guitar. This budget guitar will stand up to the test of time for your learning years.
Out of our test guitars, we like this budget one the best, but it does have a couple of potential drawbacks. Some minor “fret buzz” on the lower strings suggested it may need to go in for a setup at a guitar shop. The intonation was good but not perfect, meaning that not all the pitches on the fretboard would be perfectly accurate even when in tune. We liked it for its even balance between low and higher-pitched sounds, but it may lack character to someone with a more discerning ear. Even though we appreciated that the gig bag came padded, it doesn't include storage pockets for accessories. Additionally, this full-size instrument's steel strings may be challenging for small hands.
The Fender FA-125 had such an inspiring sound that we wrote a new song while testing it.
We tested out four child-size guitars for this review, and the Yamaha JR1 was our favorite by far. Featuring a classic spruce top and sturdy craftsmanship, it's attractive and is the perfect compact size for traveling or a young player. We were also pleasantly surprised by the fullness and clarity of the sound achieved by its smaller body. Steel strings will inevitably come with a bit of a learning curve for small hands, but the Yamaha's strings felt soft and pliable compared to the full-sized guitars we tested and will make for a great first guitar experience. Included with this petite guitar is a padded case and the most robust accessory kit of all, including all the standard tools, plus a capo, a pick holder, and a string winder-- all handy gadgets.
In our testing, we found that all the miniature guitars had pretty glaring intonation problems. The Yamaha JR1 was not an exception to this rule, but it was more accurate than the rest, and we found that when it was tuned to itself rather than to an e-tuner, the intonation sounded more spot-on. This may just be an inconsistency that comes along with the shortened neck and shrunken body of mini-guitars. This case also isn't as convenient to carry because it lacks backpack straps.
We were stoked on all of the accessories that came with the Yamaha JR1.
The Amazon Basics Beginner Full-Size 6-String Acoustic was a surprise winner. At this price, beginners won't be disappointed with the budget guitar they will receive. It's just as good-looking as our favorite choice, the Fender FA-125, and with its large dreadnought body, it's capable of a big, booming sound. The intonation, though not impeccable, was absolutely passable. It also seems to have a pretty solid structure to it. Picks like to disappear, but you won't have to worry about purchasing extra since this kit includes six good-quality ones. The included e-tuner was our favorite tuner we encountered, with a nice, bright display and a flexible head.
Although this guitar has a decent sound, when compared to the other full-sized guitars we tested, the tone was less balanced, more bass-heavy, and thinner and more metallic. This guitar did fall out of tune a little easier and had some accuracy issues with tuning, but once the strings were worn in and stretched, these problems seemed to resolve. Of all the full-sized guitars we tested, the strings on this one felt the cheapest; they were thicker and hard to depress, which can be discouraging to beginners. They sound fine, but for a better sense when playing, we recommend re-stringing this guitar with light-gauge strings of a higher quality.
Sure, it's nothing fancy, but at this price, we were pleasantly surprised by The AmazonBasics Beginner Acoustic's attractive look and full sound.
The Jasmine S35 Acoustic was a very close runner-up to the Fender for Best Overall Kit. Both of these instrument kits include a stellar bundle of accessories and instructional DVDs, while the Jasmine kit has the bonus of a music book as well. We liked the Jasmine for its softer strings that make for smooth playing and are easier on your hands (and thus more gratifying for new players). It's also a great-looking guitar that produced the loudest, boomiest sound of the bunch with a lovely, lasting resonance.
We found the pale wood, black trimmings, and matte finish on the Jasmine to be less aesthetically exciting than the wooden details and warmer, polished look of the Fender. We also found the sound to be slightly less balanced and a little more bass-heavy. However, it's worth keeping in mind that sound is very subjective, and this boomy tone might be what you like most about the Jasmine. This guitar's intonation across the fretboard was also not perfect, but it still sounded great for this price point.
All of the accessories that came with the Jasmine S35 were really useful and of solid quality.
Despite the miniature body, the Ibanez 3/4 Mini Dreadnought Acoustic guitar is made with an arched back, making it possible for this mini guitar to ring out with a fuller sound. With its all-maple construction and unique, dark color, it's a beautiful, eye-catching guitar. The size is perfect for a child or for a travel guitar. It also scored major points for good customer service.
This guitar has some glaring issues despite looking and sounding good. Most notably, the intonation is not great. Even when the guitar is freshly tuned, many open chords sound out of tune due to the inaccurately pitched fretboard. This construction issue and the thick steel strings (which are tougher to play) could be discouraging for a young beginner trying to achieve a beautiful sound. Similar to the Yamaha JR 1, when we tuned this guitar to itself rather than perfectly to a tuner, the intonation sounded more consistent, so we suspect this may be an inherent issue for all ¾ sized guitars, at least at this price point. Also worth noting is there are no included accessories besides a thin gig bag, meaning you'll have to drop more money on picks, a strap, a tuner, etc. We hoped the popular brand name and lack of accessories at this price would mean that this guitar was a higher quality instrument, but we found it to have a tinnier sound, worse intonation, and more visible defects than the Yamaha JR 1.
We liked the Ibanez' dark brown color and solid build, but it isn't the best deal.
The ADM Beginner Classical 30-Inch Kit is a top-selling guitar kit. Through testing, however, we found that this guitar is only a good choice for a very specific subset of shoppers: those shopping for a toy for a very young child. If your child just wants something to play with and isn't intent on actually learning, this is a fun, affordable choice that comes in bold colors like blue and pink. The sound is warm and pleasant in a plastic-y, ukulele-esque way. If you want to entertain rather than invest, this could make a fun present, but it might not last you very long.
We noticed several dings and scuffs around joints, some glue spots, surface scratches, gapping under the bridge, and wood chips inside the body of the guitar, all of which indicate careless construction. The fretboard lacks fret dots, which are important markers for beginners and should come standard on all guitars. There was an annoying and loud internal buzzing on the high E string when playing open chords. The fret action was too high, and despite soft nylon strings, it made it difficult to play. We also found several problems with the accessories, including picks that were far too large and too sharp, a strap that resembled a cheap duffel bag strap more than a guitar strap, and a thin gig bag with no pockets or backpack straps. The gig bag also only opens on the bottom and not the sides, which means using it feels like putting a foot into a long, skinny, awkward sock.
Kids may love the color, but the ADM Beginner Classical was cheap, and you could tell in the construction and sound quality.
The Pyle Beginner 30" Classical 6-String is another option if you're simply looking for a toy for young kids. It is cheap, with soft nylon strings that are easy on small hands, and a similar cute, ukulele-like sound to the ADM Beginner Classical. It could serve as a gift for a very young child who is not particularly interested in learning but just wants to play.
If you're hoping to play more seriously or frequently, we don't recommend the Pyle. It was frustratingly difficult to tune and showed major intonation issues across the fretboard, causing all open chords to sound out of tune. We also noticed plenty of scuffs, chipping, dried glue spots, gapping under the tuning hardware, and some internal rattling on certain open strings and short, uneven frets. The action was way too high, making it hard to play without accidentally muting some of the strings with your fingers. This guitar also came with cheap accessories. The picks were usable, but the gig bag's zipper lacked a zip tab and could not be opened.
The PYLE Beginner guitar is about ukulele-size and came with a lot of construction issues
The Best Choice Products 38-inch Starter Kit is a best-seller with a rock-bottom price, so we were curious to see if it offered real value to a beginner guitarist. After testing it out, we concluded that you get what you pay for with this kit. The guitar would only be useful as a toy or a prop. Because it is a full-size instrument, it would be too large for most young children.
This guitar is a full-size classical guitar. Classical guitars usually have a thicker neck and wider frets than acoustic guitars like the Fender FA-125 or the Jasmine 35S. This can challenge new players to stretch their fingers farther to make different chord shapes. These difficulties are usually counteracted by classical nylon strings, which are much softer and easier to press down than acoustic steel strings. However, the makers of this guitar have mistakenly strung a classical guitar with steel strings, combining the more challenging aspects of both guitars. In fact, these strings were the sharpest we tried, even feeling tough for experienced players with calloused fingers. This mistake might also cause the plastic bridge to eventually snap off the guitar's body due to the tension of steel strings. This is just one inconsistency we found among many, including a long list of physical defects and blemishes, action that is too high, and an annoying buzz on the low E string. The Best Choice Products guitar had the worst intonation problems of our test group and our least favorite sound quality with a thin, rattly, metallic tambour that was too bass-heavy. Not to mention, two of its accessories (the picks and the pitch pipe) were unusable and would likely go straight into the trash. Despite the low price, we don't think this kit provides any value.
The Best Choice Products 38" looks nice in a photo, but up close, it had a ton of issues and was our least favorite.
Credit: Carli Naff
Why Trust GearLab
After researching nearly two dozen beginner guitar kits, we purchased the eight models in this review for testing. We started by checking each guitar for defects, evaluating construction and craftsmanship, and looking to see whether the guitars had a proper setup. We then tested the tuning and intonation of each guitar using an electronic tuner. We strummed, fingerpicked, and arpeggiated our way through the same songs on each instrument to explore the full gamut of their sound capability in several different playing styles. We also evaluated each guitar individually and tested out every single accessory in its kit to see which ones truly added to the value of the purchase. We then compared similar guitars side-by-side to identify the subtle differences in tone and feel.
Carli Naff, a professional singer-songwriter and guitar player living in Brooklyn, NY, brings you this review. Carli has studied guitar rigorously for the last four years on top of a lifetime of musical training. Having studied music in different forms since age 9, she eventually received her BFA from the University of Arizona. She is currently recording and performing with her band, Carli & the Dark, where she plays acoustic and electric guitar and sings on stage and in recording studios. She has taken guitar lessons from several highly skilled teachers in NYC, and she also teaches voice and songwriting lessons. With a highly trained ear but only a few very dedicated years of guitar training, Carli brings the perfect balance of expertise and empathy for beginners. We consulted a few professional guitar teachers with years of training as well as some professional musicians in the Brooklyn Indie Rock scene, to ask what they look for when purchasing a new guitar and their methods for inspecting entry-level instruments.
Testing out the string winder
You'll want a layer of padding in your gig bag to protect your guitar on the go.
We loved these Fender picks that came with the Fender and with the Jasmine-- we already had some at home.
Analysis and Test Results
In our search for a great beginner's acoustic guitar kit, we chose to evaluate each set based on four primary metrics: Construction & Craftsmanship, Ease of Playing, Quality of Sound, and Quality of Accessories. Each guitar underwent a visual inspection followed by thorough tests of each accessory and then hours of playing the guitars individually and side-by-side to evaluate sound and playability.
Construction & Craftsmanship
The first step with each guitar was a thorough visual inspection to evaluate construction, craftsmanship, and whether the guitars had a proper setup. We checked for any obvious defects and conducted some standard tests to check for construction issues. We looked at the string action (how high or low the strings sit above the fingerboard). We tuned each guitar and moved chromatically up the fingerboard, meticulously checking each fret's pitch to see if the construction lent itself to accurate intonation.
The Best Choice-brand guitar was clearly strung with the wrong type of strings, which could eventually break the bridge or the neck.
Credit: Carli Naff
The three full-sized guitars — the Fender FA-125, the Jasmine S35, and the Amazon Basics Beginner Full-Size — all showed the best-looking construction and no defects that we could detect. They also had fairly accurate intonation, though we found that none of them had perfect pitch accuracy, which might be something that is only attainable at a higher price point. The Amazon Basics Beginner Full-Size created the most fret buzz on the lower strings and might need a proper setup at a guitar shop.
Ease of Playing
We wanted to rate these guitars based on their playability right out of the box. Were they easy to tune, and did they stay in tune after some playing? We played songs in several different styles on each guitar and assessed the effect of the string action and the softness or pliability of the strings.
We checked out the action of the strings to see if they were too high-- this makes it difficult to play.
Credit: Carli Naff
The Jasmine S35 and the Yamaha JR 1 FG had the softest steel strings by far. Some of the lowest-scoring models, like the ADM Beginner Classical and the PYLE Beginner 30" Classical, used nylon strings, which are much softer and easier for beginners to play. However, due to other problems like their tune-ability, action height, and construction, they seem trickier to play overall, or at least to play well. Better performing models like the Fender, the Amazon Basics, and the Ibanez sounded great but had tougher strings and some fret buzz on the low strings, indicating the action is too low for the weight of the strings. The lowest scorers in this category tend to fall out of tune easily and have action so high that it hinders hand positions and can cause strings to be muted.
Quality of Sound
To evaluate sound quality, we played and listened. We tried out the same songs in several playing styles on each instrument back-to-back to compare tone, volume, and resonance. The tone is related to the balance of wave frequencies supported by each instrument and is typically broken up into three regions: highs, mids, and lows. Resonance is how long the sound lingers (reverberating inside the guitar's body) before it disappears. Tone can be subjective, but we tried to keep the beginner in mind and looked for a beautiful sound that would motivate a new player to stick with the instrument. We understand that learning guitar is difficult enough and that an unpleasant or lifeless sound can make doing so even more challenging.
The Martin strings on the Jasmine S35 were soft and pliable, making playing more easy and the sound more clean
Credit: Carli Naff
We found that the highest scorers for quality of sound were the Fender FA-125, the Jasmine S35, and the Yamaha JR1 FG. The Fender FA-125 offered the most balance between highs, mids, and lows and a clean articulation that allowed each string to ring out without being overpowered by the others. This really lent itself to bright strumming and beautiful, even fingerstyle playing. We gave the Jasmine S35 an equal rating. Although it was more heavily weighted towards the “lows” or bass region, it surpassed the Fender in volume and resonance and was more fun for rock-and-roll styles and louder playing. The Yamaha JR1 FG supplied an impressive balance like the Fender but with less volume and resonance due to the smaller body size.
Accessories
Setting the guitars aside, we also wanted to determine the value and usefulness of the accessory kits that come with each instrument. Frequently online retailers try to persuade us that more is better, but we don't want you to be fooled by unnecessary add-ons. We thoroughly tested each individual tool, cross-checking them with our own premium accessories to see how they compared. We gave points for higher-quality accessories that will actually be used often and took points away for cheap add-ons that were sure to end up in the trash before long.
We tested each kit's tuner with our industry-standard tuner, to see if they were on the same page.
Credit: Carli Naff
Most guitars came with the following standard items: a gig bag, a strap, an extra set of strings, and some picks. So, any additional add-ons that were worth the trouble of shipping counted for some more points. The Yamaha JR1 FG took the cake for accessory bundles, including all of the standard items we mentioned, as well as some very important but overlooked accessories like a capo (incredibly useful), a string winder for changing strings, and a pick holder, which is great for keeping picks in one handy place or for performing onstage. Second place for best accessories goes to the Fender FA-125. All the standard items were Fender brand, like the strap and the picks, which is something you would have to pay extra for in the store. These brand-name versions were well-made and seemed more durable than their off-brand counterparts. On top of that, this kit includes an instructional DVD full of helpful tips for beginners. The Jasmine S35 tied for second place because it came with an identical bundle from Austin Bazaar, full of Fender-brand accessories. Though we preferred the included Martin strings as well as the addition of a music book for further learning, the gig bag for this guitar is cheaper and thinner than the Fender's.
We tested all of these miniature guitars side-by-side to see which one packed the biggest punch in sound
Credit: Carli Naff
Conclusion
We know firsthand that learning to play the guitar can be a long and frustrating process. Producing a pleasing sound takes a lot of patience and hard work. We think your guitar and all the gear you buy to use with it should inspire you, so this challenge is exciting enough to encourage more practice. Our testing was carried out by life-long musicians with highly trained ears and with your first experience in mind. We hope our research helps you make an informed purchase so you end up with a guitar you'll love.
