Best Electric Guitars for Beginners 2026: 7 Picks From €157

Your first electric guitar matters more than you might think. A guitar with a comfortable neck that stays in tune makes practice enjoyable; a cheap, badly set-up one makes every chord a fight, and that’s when most beginners give up. The good news is that entry-level guitars have never been better: brands like Squier, Yamaha, Epiphone and Ibanez now build instruments for €150–350 that experienced players happily use on stage.

Below are the beginner electric guitars most consistently recommended by guitar retailers’ expert guides and reviewers in 2026, with notes on the music each one suits best. Remember that you’ll also need an amplifier (or a headphone amp or audio interface) and a few accessories — we cover that in the buying advice below.

1. Yamaha Pacifica 112V — best overall

The Pacifica 112V has been the go-to beginner recommendation for decades, and expert guides still single it out for build quality that punches well above its price. Its HSS pickup layout — a humbucker at the bridge and two single-coils — covers clean funk, glassy pop chords and crunchy rock, so it won’t box you into one style while you’re still discovering your taste.

The vintage-style tremolo adds expressive vibrato but needs a little care to keep the guitar in tune if you use it heavily, and the stock pickups are good rather than great (they’re easy to upgrade later). Prices start around €317 on geizhals.at.

2. Squier Sonic Stratocaster — best budget

Squier’s Sonic series is the cheapest way into a Fender-designed Stratocaster, and it’s a genuinely playable instrument. Reviewers highlight the slim, easy neck and lightweight body — important for younger or smaller players — and the versatile pickup options (all single-coils, or HSS with a bridge humbucker). We saw it for around €157 on Amazon.de.

At this price, the hardware is basic, and the tone leans bright. A professional setup (adjusting string height and intonation) costs little and makes a big difference to any budget guitar.

3. Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster — best step-up

If your budget stretches further, the Classic Vibe series is widely regarded as one of the best-value guitar lines around — Sweetwater calls them among the best values and a great platform for modifications. Vintage-inspired necks and alnico pickups give it a feel and sound that’s a clear step above the Sonic, making this a guitar you won’t outgrow. The same series also includes Telecaster and Jaguar models if you prefer those shapes.

4. Epiphone Les Paul Studio E1 — best for rock

If your heroes play Les Pauls, Epiphone’s E1 series brings the classic shape and the warm, thick sound of twin humbuckers to an entry-level price. Humbuckers are also quieter than single-coils with distortion, which suits rock, blues and punk. The fixed bridge is simple to maintain and stays in tune well. Expect a heavier guitar than a Strat-style body, and fewer clean-tone variations.

5. Ibanez GIO GRX70QA — best for metal

Ibanez is famous for thin, fast necks, and the GIO GRX70QA brings that feel to beginners. Its HSH layout (humbuckers at both ends, a single-coil in the middle) handles high-gain metal riffs and cleaner sounds alike, and the quilted art-grain finish looks far more expensive than it is. Music Street notes the basswood body lacks some resonance and the pickups are worth upgrading eventually.

6. Squier Sonic Mustang — best for small hands

For children, teenagers and anyone with smaller hands, a short-scale guitar is much easier to play: frets are closer together and the strings need less tension. The Sonic Mustang offers this in a light, affordable package with HH or SS pickup options. Taller adult players may find it small.

7. PRS SE CE 24 Standard — best premium beginner

For a beginner who wants a guitar for life, the PRS SE CE 24 Standard offers excellent build quality, a comfortable neck and 85/15 “S” humbuckers with coil-tapping — giving you single-coil-style sounds too. It costs roughly twice as much as the others (around £499 in the UK), and its voice leans towards rock and blues.

Compare the key specs

How to choose your first electric guitar

Pick a guitar that matches the music you love

Motivation is everything for beginners. Single-coil guitars (Strat-style) sound bright and clear — great for pop, funk, indie and blues. Humbuckers (Les Paul style, Ibanez) sound thicker and handle distortion better for rock and metal. HSS guitars like the Pacifica 112V give you a bit of both.

Comfort and size

Weight and neck shape affect how long you’ll practise. Light Strat-style bodies and slim necks suit most beginners; short-scale guitars like the Mustang suit children and small hands.

Budget for the essentials

Plan for an amplifier or a headphone solution, a cable, a tuner (or tuner app), a strap, picks and a gig bag. If you want to practise silently or record, a small audio interface with an instrument input plus amp-simulation software and studio headphones is a flexible alternative to a physical amp. Many retailers also sell beginner packs with a small amp included.

Get it set up

A professional setup — adjusting string height, neck relief and intonation — makes a cheap guitar play like a much more expensive one. Many music shops offer it for a modest fee.

Buying in Europe

Specialist retailers often offer longer return periods for instruments and a check-up before shipping; Amazon is convenient for well-known models. Either way, EU consumers get a minimum two-year legal guarantee.

How we choose

We haven’t played every guitar on this list ourselves. Our picks are based on expert buying guides and reviews from guitar specialists — including Music Street and Sweetwater — combined with EU price checks. We always note each model’s weaknesses. Read more about how we research.

FAQ

Is electric or acoustic guitar easier for beginners?

Many teachers find electric guitars easier at first: lighter strings and lower action make chords less painful. Choose the one that plays the music you want to learn.

How much should I spend on a first electric guitar?

Around €150–350 buys a reliable, playable guitar such as the Squier Sonic or Yamaha Pacifica 112V. Spending more mainly buys better hardware and pickups.

Do I need an amplifier?

You need some way to hear the guitar: a practice amp, a headphone amp, or an audio interface with amp-simulation software on your computer.

What size guitar should a child play?

Children and smaller teens are usually more comfortable on a short-scale guitar such as the Squier Sonic Mustang.