Top 20 Budget 3/4 Acoustic Guitars Under $150, $200, $300, $400

It is always fun looking for a new guitar to buy. But if you are a beginner, the entire process might seem too challenging. And even if you have experience playing the guitar, you can’t always afford to buy the guitar of your dreams. 

This is why I will go through some of the best guitars you can find on a budget. But the twist here is that the focus will be only on 3/4 acoustic guitars. If you are unfamiliar with guitar sizes, the 3/4 model is slightly smaller compared to the standard acoustic guitar. 

In fact, the size is closer to 7/8 of the standard size, and they are usually around 36-inches. This is what makes them perfect for those that dislike bigger models like a dreadnought, or for younger guitar players. It will allow you to play the instrument comfortably, and be able to enjoy it to the fullest. 

Top 5 Budget 3/4 Acoustic Guitars Under $150

The first category on the list is reserved for budget instruments that cost under $150. As you can probably guess, these are the cheapest models available, and the quality will not be impressive.

But this doesn’t mean that cheap guitars are not worth the money. There are many great models you will be able to find, especially if you consider the price. 

Ibanez PF2MH

Pros	Cons
Excellent price	Some people might dislike the shape
Great quality	No pickup
Dreadnought shape
Comfortable

• Body: Sapele
• Neck: Nyatoh, with Nandu fingerboard
• Scale Length: 22.83 inches (58 centimeters)
• Fingerboard Radius: 9.84 inches (25 centimeters)
• Frets: 20
• Bridge: Nandu
• Tuners: chrome covered tuners

Ibanez is known to make exceptional guitars. The company has been around for quite a while, and it is one of the most popular brands. While the primary focus of Ibanez is electric guitars, there are still a couple of great acoustic models you can find. 

The PF2MH is a 3/4 version of the guitar, and it has a dreadnought shape. The first thing I should mention is that many people dislike the guitar this size, and they might feel the same way about this one as well. Of course, being smaller than the original dreadnought version will make it more comfortable, and it can be a nice addition to your collection. 

Donner DAG-1M 3/4

Pros	Cons
Excellent price	Some people might dislike the shape
Great quality	No pickup
Additional accessories
Comfortable

• Body: Spruce, mahogany
• Neck: Maple, with Ebony fingerboard
• Scale Length: 23.23 inches (59 centimeters)
• Fingerboard Radius: Not listed
• Frets: 20, brass
• Bridge: Mahogany
• Tuners: metal

Donner has been dominating the world of guitar equipment for several years. The approach this company has is incredible. You can find nearly anything for a fraction of the price. And this guitar is no different. You will get a 3/4 acoustic guitar with the well-known dreadnought shape. But you won’t need to spend a fortune on it.

One of the best things about Donner is that you will still get great quality even though the price is so low. In this package, you will also get additional accessories like a tuner, extra strings, guitar picks, strap, polishing cloth, gig bag, capo, and so on. 

Rosefinch Acoustic Guitar 3/4

Pros	Cons
Excellent price	The design could be better
Decent quality	No pickup
Additional accessories
Comfortable

• Body: basswood, rosewood
• Neck: Basswood fingerboard
• Scale Length: Not listed
• Fingerboard Radius: Not listed
• Frets: 18
• Bridge: Basswood
• Tuners: metal

The first thing I should mention is that Rosefinch is not a well-known brand. But what matters is that this guitar can be an excellent choice for you. While the quality is not the highest, the guitar is well worth the price. It is one of the cheapest models you’ll be able to find, and it arrives with additional accessories like a tuner, capo, strap, picks, and many others. 

If you are buying this for someone who is just learning to play, they will be delighted with the gift. Of course, they might need a replacement at some point, but that’s something to consider further on up the road. 

Vangoa 3/4

Pros	Cons
Excellent price	The design could be better
Piezo pickup
Additional accessories
Comfortable

• Body: Spruce
• Neck: Sapele
• Scale Length: Not listed
• Fingerboard Radius: 5.5 inches (14 centimeters)
• Frets: 20
• Bridge: Spruce
• Tuners: metal

Vangoa is another less-known brand, but the quality and design of the guitar will surprise you. The first thing to mention is that it arrives with additional accessories, so you won’t need to buy anything else. It also has a piezo pickup, allowing you to plug in your guitar and play it on a speaker. 

This isn’t something you will encounter often on such cheap instruments. While the quality is not exceptional, the price and all the things you will get in the package make it well worth the price. 

Aiersi

Pros	Cons
Excellent price
Cutaway
Beautiful design
Comfortable

• Body: Basswood
• Neck: Basswood
• Scale Length: Not listed
• Fingerboard Radius: Not listed
• Frets: 18
• Bridge: Basswood
• Tuners: metal

Aiersi offers a great model for beginners. Probably the first thing you will notice is that the guitar has a cutaway, which will allow easier access to higher frets. It is essential to have a comfortable guitar if you are just learning how to play, and this one will allow you easier progress. 

In terms of quality, the guitar is not the best available option, but if you consider the price, it’s more than decent. In addition, the model arrives with additional accessories, so you won’t need to buy everything else separately. It is also one of the cheapest guitars you’ll be able to find.

Top 5 Budget 3/4 Acoustic Guitars Under $200

As we up the price range, we will be able to see a couple of well-known brands. More importantly, there will be an increase in quality as well. The primary focus here is for instruments costing between $150 and $200. 

While the $50 increase in price might seem insignificant, you would be surprised to know how much difference it can make. 

Fender FA-15

Pros	Cons
Excellent price
Great quality
Beautiful design
Comfortable

• Body: Sapele with agathis top
• Neck: Nato with walnut fretboard
• Scale Length: 23.3 inches (59.2 centimeters)
• Fingerboard Radius: 11.81 inches (30 centimeters)
• Frets: 18
• Bridge: Walnut
• Tuners: Die-cast tuners

There is no reason to do an introduction for Fender. It is one of the most popular brands in the world of guitars, and the quality of its products is incredible. Here, we have a smaller model of the acoustic guitar, that looks amazing. 

Unlike regular electric guitars, you won’t need to spend a fortune to get one. These models are affordable, sound exceptional, and they are available in many different colors. Whether you are a beginner or someone with a lot of experience, Fender FA-15 can be a perfect choice for you.

Donner DAE-36M

Pros	Cons
Excellent price
Great quality
Additional accessories
Comfortable

• Body: Mahogany
• Neck: Mahogany fingerboard
• Scale Length: 23.23 inches (59 centimeters)
• Fingerboard Radius: Not listed
• Frets: 20, brass
• Bridge: Peltogyne
• Tuners: metal

While the DAE-36M is rather similar to the one I already mentioned, there are several key differences between these two models. Firstly, the material on this one is better, and the overall design is significantly improved. The entire guitar is made of mahogany, and it arrives with a pickup. 

This is one of the best acoustic guitars with a pickup you can find. The shape is comfortable, it’s compact, and it sounds amazing. Additionally, you will get a ton of different accessories you can use with your guitar, and it also arrives with a gig bag. 

Dean FLY BKS Flight Series 3/4

Pros	Cons
Excellent price
Great quality
Beautiful design
Comfortable

• Body: Mahogany
• Neck: Mahogany with walnut fretboard
• Scale Length: 22 inches (55.9 centimeters)
• Fingerboard Radius: 14 inches (35.6 centimeters)
• Frets: 19
• Bridge: Walnut
• Tuners: Sealed die-cast

Everyone knows that Dean is famous for metal guitars with unusual shapes. But here, we have something that might seem a bit different. Dean FLY BKS is a 3/4 acoustic guitar, and the design is gorgeous. The smaller size makes it comfortable for playing, the sound is beautiful, and the quality is excellent. 

The guitar is undoubtedly worth the price if you are looking for something different. And you won’t be able to find a similar instrument elsewhere. 

Yamaha JR1 FG Junior 3/4

Pros	Cons
Excellent price
Great quality
Beautiful design
Comfortable

• Body: Spruce and mahogany
• Neck: Nato with rosewood fretboard
• Scale Length: 21.25 inches (54 centimeters)
• Fingerboard Radius: 15.75 inches (40 centimeters)
• Frets: 20
• Bridge: Rosewood
• Tuners: Covered chrome

Yamaha is one of the best brands for acoustic guitars. They offer excellent products for a reasonable price. Many beginners will start with classical Yamaha, especially if they are going to music school. And even if they didn’t it is still a beautiful guitar to own. 

Fortunately, Yamaha offers acoustic guitars as well with steel strings, and one of these models is Yamaha JR1 Junior. It is a smaller version of the standard acoustic guitar, and the design is exceptional. 

Luna Aurora Borealis 3/4

Pros	Cons
Excellent price
Great quality
Beautiful design
Comfortable

• Body: Basswood
• Neck: Mahogany with black walnut fretboard
• Scale Length: 22.5 inches (57.15 centimeters)
• Fingerboard Radius: 12 inches (30.48 centimeters)
• Frets: 19
• Bridge: Black walnut
• Tuners: Covered chrome

Luna is another brand that still has to show its worth. The model here is Aurora Borealis, and it is a beautiful instrument. One of the first things to notice is that the shape of the guitar is similar to parlor models. Naturally, it is a bit smaller since it is a 3/4 model. 

The Aurora Borealis is available in several different colors, but they all have the same specs. As with other Luna guitars, there is a crescent moon on the soundhole, and the instrument looks stunning. It is a nice guitar for both beginners and those with experience. The comfortable shape is a huge difference compared to bigger guitars. 

Top 5 Budget 3/4 Acoustic Guitars Under $300

Now, it’s time to up the price range again. I will go through some of the options for guitars costing between $200 and $300. These models are great for beginners, but they are also suitable for those with more experience. 

We can notice an increase in quality, and there are many great models you can check out. While it might seem that the price is too high, it still falls in the budget category. 

Yamaha APXT2EW 

Pros	Cons
Excellent price
Great quality
Beautiful design
Preamp

• Body: Mango veneer over Meranti with tropical tonewoods
• Neck: Nato with rosewood fretboard
• Scale Length: 22.81 inches (57.94 centimeters)
• Fingerboard Radius: 15.75 inches (40 centimeters)
• Frets: 21
• Bridge: Rosewood
• Tuners: Covered chrome

Another Yamaha is on the list, but this time we have a model that’s a bit different. Firstly, the shape is similar to dreadnought guitars, but there are a few changes. The guitar has a cutaway, a preamp system that will allow you to plug it into an amp, and it’s rather thin. 

The thin-line model also looks incredible. The guitar has binding on the edges, gorgeous finish, and it’s quite comfortable to play. This is one of the best models you can find for a beginner since they will enjoy every single second with this guitar. 

Luna Safari Muse

Pros	Cons
Excellent price
Great quality
Gorgeous design
Great sound

• Body: Mahogany
• Neck: Mahogany with walnut fretboard
• Scale Length: 22.5 inches (57.15 centimeters)
• Fingerboard Radius: 15 inches (38 centimeters)
• Frets: 19
• Bridge: Walnut
• Tuners: Covered chrome

Luna Guitars offer many different products in different price categories. Here, we have a Safari Muse series, which is an incredible guitar. There is the traditional crescent moon on the soundhole, as well as moon-shaped inlays on frets. The guitar is comfortable, sounds good, and the price is quite nice. 

If you are looking for something a bit different, the Safari Muse series might be a perfect choice for you. The guitar is suitable for any skill level, but the size is something that might be interesting for younger musicians and beginners. 

 Oscar Schmidt OG1FYS 3/4 

Pros	Cons
Excellent price
Great quality
Gorgeous design
Great sound

• Body: Catalpa wood and spruce
• Neck: Catalpa wood
• Scale Length: 21.75 inches (55.2 centimeters)
• Fingerboard Radius: 12.6 inches (32 centimeters)
• Frets: 20
• Bridge: Technical wood
• Tuners: Chrome die-cast

Oscar Schmidt is another brand you need to check out. The first thing I will say is that the OG1 series looks expensive. The overall design is amazing, and this color is quite eye-catching. Over the past couple of years, the popularity of Oscar Schmidt kept growing. And while these models are not as popular as Fender or Yamaha, it is still something you should check out. 

Another thing I should mention is that the full name of the company is Oscar Schmidt by Washburn. And having such a huge brand on your side is always a good thing. 

Cort Earth Mini

Pros	Cons
Excellent price
Great quality
Gorgeous design
Great sound

• Body: Mahogany with solid Sitka spruce
• Neck: Mahogany 
• Scale Length: 22.8 inches (57.8 centimeters)
• Fingerboard Radius: 9.5 inches (24 centimeters)
• Frets: 20
• Bridge: Ovangkol
• Tuners: Chrome

Cort is one of the popular brands in the budget category, and it designs both acoustic and electric guitars. Cort Earth Mini is a great example of what this company has to offer. The design of the instrument is fairly simple, and it is a ¾ dreadnought model. 

Needless to say, if you are not a fan of the shape this guitar might not be the best possible option for you. When it comes to the sound, the guitar is quite nice, and the materials used are great. All things considered, it is a nice instrument that is well worth the price if you are looking for a smaller dreadnought guitar. 

Fender Sonoran Mini

Pros	Cons
Excellent price
Great quality
Gorgeous design
Great sound

• Body: Mahogany with solid Sitka spruce
• Neck: Nato with walnut fretboard
• Scale Length: 23.3 inches (59 centimeters)
• Fingerboard Radius: 15.75 inches (40 centimeters)
• Frets: 20
• Bridge: Walnut
• Tuners: Chrome

Fender Sonoran Mini is one of the newer models that arrived from this company. One of the first things to notice is that it has a standard Stratocaster headstock, which might be a real treat for all the Strat lovers out there. The body of the guitar is a 3/4 size, and the model is quite unique. 

If you are a fan of Fender guitars, this is one of the models you need to check out. The best thing about it is that the price is quite reasonable. Needless to say, the guitar is based on the original Fender Sonoran. Finally, you will get a gig bag if you decide to go for this guitar. 

Top 5 Budget 3/4 Acoustic Guitars Under $400

The final price increase leads us to guitars under $400. As always, I will only mention models that are between the price limit and the previous category. In this case, it is between $300 and $400. In this price range, we can expect incredible quality and sound from each of the guitars. 

Even though it is a budget range, many people would agree that it is not always affordable. As a result, you will want to be sure that the model you buy is exceptional. 

Taylor Guitars Baby Taylor BT1

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Pros	Cons
Excellent price
Great quality
Gorgeous design
Great sound

• Body: Spruce
• Neck: Sapele with ebony fretboard
• Scale Length: 22.75 inches (57.8 centimeters)
• Fingerboard Radius: 15 inches (38 centimeters)
• Frets: 19
• Bridge: Ebony
• Tuners: Chrome die-cast

Baby Taylor is one of the most iconic guitars you can find on the market. The brand has a long history of making incredible instruments, and BT1 is no different. As the name suggests, this is a smaller version of the guitar, and it is perfect for beginners and those with smaller hands. 

The sound and design of the guitar are rather good, and you won’t be sorry if you decide to go for this model. 

Martin LX1 Little Martin

Pros	Cons
Excellent price
Great quality
Gorgeous design
Great sound

• Body: Mahogany with spruce
• Neck: Stratabond with Indian rosewood fretboard
• Scale Length: 23 inches (58.42 centimeters)
• Fingerboard Radius: 16 inches (40.6 centimeters)
• Frets: 20
• Bridge: Richlite
• Tuners: Chrome with Small Buttons

Martin is a go-to guitar for many professional musicians. The company has a rich history of being one of the best in the field, and here, you can check out the LX1 model. It is a smaller version of the Martin guitar, and it is breathtaking. 

The guitar is everything you expect from a Martin guitar, and so much more. Many people consider it to be the best travel guitar on the market. The size is perfect, and let’s be honest, you can’t make a mistake if you go for a Martin guitar.

Takamine GX18CE Solid Spruce 3/4

Pros	Cons
EQ
Great quality
Gorgeous design
Cutaway

• Body: Mahogany with Sapele
• Neck: Mahogany with rosewood fretboard
• Scale Length: 22.44 inches (57 centimeters)
• Fingerboard Radius: 12 inches (30.5 centimeters)
• Frets: 21
• Bridge: Indian laurel
• Tuners: Chrome 

Takamine is another popular brand that designs great guitars. While you can find many different models from this company, the focus here is on GX18CE which is a 3/4 model also known as Taka-mini. 

The guitar has everything you would expect from a pricier model. This includes cutaway, EQ with a preamp, beautiful finish, and gorgeous sound. 

LUNA Safari Koa Supreme

Pros	Cons
Pickup
Great quality
Gorgeous design
Great sound

• Body: Solid Koa with laminated koa sides and back
• Neck: mahogany with Pau Ferro fretboard
• Scale Length: 22.5 inches (57.15 centimeters)
• Fingerboard Radius: 15 inches (38 centimeters)
• Frets: 19
• Bridge: Pau Ferro
• Tuners: Chrome

I already mentioned a few models designed by Luna Guitars, and this takes everything one step further. The most obvious upgrade compared to the cheaper models is the introduction of the Fishman Sonitone pickup. It allows you to easily plug your guitar into an amp or a speaker, and play it on stage. 

It also shows that this is an instrument that anyone can use and that it is not something designed solely for beginners. Other features include the standard crescent moon and moon phases on inlays. 

Oscar Schmidt OG1CEB 3/4

Pros	Cons
EQ
Great quality
Gorgeous design
Great sound

• Body: Mahogany 
• Neck: Mahogany with rosewood fretboard
• Scale Length: 21.75 inches (55.2 centimeters)
• Fingerboard Radius: 12.6 inches (32 centimeters)
• Frets: 20
• Bridge: Rosewood
• Tuners: Chrome die-cast

There are a lot of similarities between this model and the previous one I mentioned. Both are based on the same series, but this one offers a couple of improvements. The first one is a mahogany body, which gives the guitar an entirely different feel. 

The second one is the piezoelectric pickup along with an EQ you can use to further shape the sound. While the price is a bit higher, it is a great instrument to have if you plan on performing in front of the audience. 

Conclusion

Finding a perfect guitar is never easy. Especially if you are on a budget. But there are numerous models you can check out, and there is one for almost every single price range. If you want to go for the cheapest model, I would suggest going for a guitar for around $150. 

Needless to say, if you can afford to spend a bit more, there are excellent models between $200 and $300. It all comes down to what type of guitar you are looking for. 

Finally, the end of the budget category is around $400, and going above that is always great. But it isn’t something people can consider to be a budget option.

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Last update on 2024-11-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API