Top 25 Budget Blues Guitars Under $150, $200, $300, $500, $1000

Let’s talk about blues. If you are interested in playing blues, there are many different options for electric guitars. Needless to say, there are no rules, and you can play it on any type of guitar, but some models are more suitable for the role. 

In general, we are looking at guitars with single-coil pickups or humbuckers that are less aggressive. Of course, you can play blues on active EMGs, but this isn’t anyone’s first thought when thinking about the blues. 

Here, I will go through some of the best options for electric guitars you can find on the market, especially if you are working on a budget. You don’t always need to spend a fortune to get a decent model, and some of the entries on the list will be more than enough. 

Top 5 Budget Blues Guitars Under $150

The starting category is for guitars under $150. As you can probably guess, the majority of models will be near the price range, since it is quite challenging to find decent models for this amount of money. 

Naturally, these models are designed for beginners, and the quality is not impressive. If you are looking for something better, you will need to invest a bit more money. 

Squier Bullet

Pros	Cons
Affordable	Quality control is low
Great for beginners	Tremolo
Strat	Quality of pickups
Comfortable	Possible tuning instability

• Body: Basswood
• Neck: Maple with Indian laurel fretboard, bolt-on
• Scale Length: 25.51 inches (648 mm)
• Fingerboard Radius: 9.5 inches (241 mm)
• Frets: 21, medium
• Pickups: SSS
• Bridge: Standard synchronized tremolo

To start the list, we have a Squier Bullet Stratocaster. If your budget is under $150, this can be an excellent choice. However, Bullet Strats are the lowest series of Squier you can find, and the quality is not really good. 

However, it is still better than getting a no-name model or a cheap knockoff. Squier guitars can be incredible, especially those that are a bit more expensive. If you have an opportunity, try a couple of Squiers at your local store since there is a chance that one of them is significantly better. 

Harley Benton ST-20HSS 

Pros	Cons
Affordable	Quality control is low
Great for beginners	Tremolo
Strat	Quality of pickups
Comfortable	Possible tuning instability

• Body: Basswood
• Neck: Maple with roseacer fretboard, bolt-on
• Scale Length: 25.51 inches (648 mm)
• Fingerboard Radius: 13.78 inches (350 mm)
• Frets: 22
• Pickups: SSS
• Bridge: Synchronized tremolo

The next one on the list comes from Harley Benton. Now, Harley Benton is a part of Thomann, and the brand specializes in affordable gear. If you are looking for great models, there is a high chance that you’ll find them by Harley Benton. 

Since this is still the budget category, none of these models is exceptional, and you will have a hard time finding a great guitar for under $150. However, if you are looking for a great beginner instrument, this might be a good choice. Keep in mind that you might need an upgrade in a couple of years. 

Harley Benton SC-450

Pros	Cons
Affordable	Quality control is low
Great for beginners	Can be uncomfortable
Les Paul shape	Quality of pickups
Heavier sound	Possible tuning instability

• Body: Basswood
• Neck: Maple with roseacer fretboard, bolt-on
• Scale Length: 24.72 inches (628 mm)
• Fingerboard Radius: 13.78 inches (350 mm)
• Frets: 22
• Pickups: HH
• Bridge: Tune-O-Matic bridge

For those looking for a heavier sound, Harley Benton SC-450 might be it. The guitar is based on Les Paul, but the price is significantly lower. This also means that you will get two humbuckers, and a fixed bridge. 

The guitar itself looks quite good. It has binding on the body, trapezoid inlays, and everything else you’d expect from a Les Paul. Needless to say, the pickups aren’t that great, but this can be a great option for those looking for a budget version of Les Paul. There is also a version of the guitar with P90 pickups or rather a copy of it. 

Harley Benton TE-52

Pros	Cons
Affordable	Quality control is low
Great for beginners	Can be uncomfortable
Telecaster shape	Quality of pickups
Simple	Possible tuning instability

• Body: American ash
• Neck: Maple, bolt-on
• Scale Length: 25.51 inches (648 mm)
• Fingerboard Radius: 13.78 inches (350 mm)
• Frets: 21
• Pickups: SS
• Bridge: Deluxe chrome hardware

You can use almost any guitar in the world for blues, but the most popular models are Stratocaster, Les Paul, Telecaster, and Gibson ES-335. Here, we have a budget version of Telecaster, and it is another example of what you can find at Harley Benton. 

The guitar is well-made, everything is how it’s supposed to be, and it’s quite affordable. Naturally, the quality of it is tied to the price, and you shouldn’t expect a professional instrument for such a low price. 

Harley Benton DC-200

Pros	Cons
Affordable	Quality control is low
Great for beginners	Can be uncomfortable
SG shape	Quality of pickups
Simple	Possible tuning instability

• Body: Poplar
• Neck: Maple with roseacer fretboard, bolt-on
• Scale Length: 24.72 inches (628 mm)
• Fingerboard Radius: 13.78 inches (350 mm)
• Frets: 22
• Pickups: HH
• Bridge: Tune-O-Matic bridge

The final option for this category is to go for an SG version of the Harley Benton. The thing is that you don’t have many options for under $150, and you can go for either Squier Bullet, or choose one of the models by Harley Benton. 

If you are a fan of Cream, you probably know that Clapton used to play Gibson SG, and now you have a chance to recreate something similar. The guitar is great for beginners, and you will hardly find anything better than Harley Benton or Squier for this price. 

Top 5 Budget Blues Guitars Under $200

As we increase the price range, we can notice the difference in quality. Here, we will take a look at guitars between $150 and $200. Now, some of you might think that the increase is not significant, but you’d be wrong. 

Just investing $50 or even $100 will make a world of difference, and the increase in quality will be more than noticeable. Keep in mind that some guitars on the list might cost almost twice as much as ones in the previous category. 

Donner DLP-124S

Pros	Cons
Affordable	Quality control is low
Great for beginners	Possible tuning instability
Strat shape	Quality of pickups
Comes with a kit

• Body: Basswood
• Neck: Maple with ebony fretboard, bolt-on
• Scale Length: 25.5 inches (648 mm)
• Fingerboard Radius: 12 inches (305 mm)
• Frets: 22, medium
• Pickups: HSS, Classic with Power 203S humbucker
• Bridge: Six screw tremolo

Donner is the leader of budget equipment, and the company designs so many incredible products. Whether you are looking for pedals or guitars, you can be sure that Donner has something to offer.

Here, we have a copy of a Stratocaster, but with an HSS combination. The pickups are nothing special, of course, but the guitar comes with a full kit. You will get a gig bag, picks, cables, tuner, capo, and a small Donner amp. This is an excellent option for beginners since they will get all they need to start playing. 

Harley Benton HB-35

Pros	Cons
Affordable	Pickups could be better
Great for beginners
Semi-hollow
Beautiful design

• Body: Maple body with mahogany block
• Neck: Maple with amaranth fretboard, set-in
• Scale Length: 24.72 inches (628 mm)
• Fingerboard Radius: 13.78 inches (350 mm)
• Frets: 22
• Pickups: HH, vintage-style humbuckers
• Bridge: Tune-O-Matic bridge

For those that are fans of older blues and semi-hollow guitars, Harley Benton offers an HB-35 model. This guitar is inspired by Gibson ES-335, but there are a couple of differences between these two guitars. Of course, the first difference is the price, but the design is also not identical. 

The guitar looks great, especially if you consider the price, and it is significantly cheaper than the original ES-335 or even the Epiphone. Another thing I should mention is that Harley Benton offers a Plus version which is improved but also has a higher price.

Harley Benton DC-Junior

Pros	Cons
Affordable	Pickups could be better
Great for beginners	Single pickup
Simple
Decent sound

• Body: Mahogany
• Neck: Mahogany with amaranth fretboard, set-in
• Scale Length: 24.72 inches (628 mm)
• Fingerboard Radius: 12 inches (305 mm)
• Frets: 22, medium jumbo
• Pickups: S, Roswell P90D Alnico-5 Dog Ear single coil
• Bridge: Wrap Around bridge

There is no doubt that Harley Benton is dominating the first two categories, and there are many similar options you can find. The DC-Junior is another guitar you might want to check out. Firstly, DC stands for double cut, which makes this guitar similar to Yamaha models. 

The guitar is quite simple and it has a single pickup. While it looks bigger, it is inspired by the P90, and it sounds really decent. Of course, if you are looking for more variety, this one might not be the best choice. 

Harley Benton ST-57DG

Pros	Cons
Affordable	Pickups could be better
Great for beginners
Strat shape
Decent sound

• Body: Alder
• Neck: Canadian maple with maple fretboard, bolt-on
• Scale Length: 25.5 inches (648 mm)
• Fingerboard Radius: 13.78 inches (350 mm)
• Frets: 21
• Pickups: SSS, Roswell SK52 True Vintage Staggered Alnico 5 single coils
• Bridge: Synchronised tremolo system

This model is inspired by the Fender Stratocaster, specifically David Gilmour’s model. Needless to say, the guitar is nowhere near the quality of Gilmour’s signature model, but it is quite good for the price. 

It’s great for beginners, it has three Roswell pickups that can sound good on a decent amp, and it has a vintage-style tremolo. The neck is one-piece maple, which is quite impressive for such an affordable instrument. 

Jackson JS22 SC Monarkh

Pros	Cons
Affordable	Pickups could be better
Great for beginners	Two humbuckers
Les Paul shape	Not ideal for blues
Decent sound

• Body: Poplar
• Neck: Maple with amaranth fretboard, bolt-on
• Scale Length: 25.5 inches (648 mm)
• Fingerboard Radius: 12-16 inches (304.8-406.4 mm)
• Frets: 22, jumbo
• Pickups: HH, Jackson High Output humbuckers
• Bridge: Fixed, Jackson Compound Radius compensated saddle

The last entry in this category is for those looking for something a bit different. Now, I should mention that this model is not specifically for blues, but you can play blues on any guitar you can find. 

This one is more in line with heavier genres like metal, but those that want to play heavier blues and something tipping towards rock might enjoy what this Jackson has to offer. 

Top 5 Budget Blues Guitars Under $300

The next budget increase is slightly bigger, and we are going to take a look at guitars between $200 and $300. One of the first things you’ll notice is that there are a couple of models I mentioned before, but with improved versions. 

In this price range, we can find several great models that are suitable for both beginners and those with more experience. It is still not ideal, but if you are looking for a great first guitar, any of these models will be an excellent choice. 

Squier Stratocaster Affinity

Pros	Cons
Affordable	Pickups could be better
Great for beginners and intermediate players	Can go out of tune
Strat shape
Noticeable improvement

• Body: Poplar
• Neck: Maple with laurel fretboard, bolt-on
• Scale Length: 25.5 inches (648 mm)
• Fingerboard Radius: 9.5 inches (241.3 mm)
• Frets: 21
• Pickups: SSS, 
• Bridge: Standard tremolo

This is another Squier, but this time, we have a model from the Affinity series. Now, the difference between this one and the Bullet is huge. Each part of the guitar is upgraded, it is significantly more comfortable for playing, pickups are better, and the list goes on. 

The guitar has twenty-one fret and standard Squier pickups. Of course, these pickups are still not incredible, but it is a significant improvement compared to the cheaper models on the market. If you are looking to get yourself an affordable Strat, this is an excellent option. 

Squier Telecaster Affinity

Pros	Cons
Affordable	Pickups could be better
Great for beginners and intermediate players	Can go out of tune
Tele shape
Noticeable improvement

• Body: Alder
• Neck: Maple with maple fretboard, bolt-on
• Scale Length: 25.5 inches (648 mm)
• Fingerboard Radius: 9.5 inches (241.3 mm)
• Frets: 21
• Pickups: SS
• Bridge: Fixed bridge

Whether you are not a fan of Strats but still want to have that Fender tone, or you want to channel your inner Roy Buchanan, Telecaster is an excellent option. Here, we have a similar situation as with the previous guitar.

Every bit of guitar is upgraded compared to the cheaper versions, and if you are looking for a Telecaster, this might be the best possible option. At least in this price range. 

Ibanez AS53TF

Pros	Cons
Affordable	Pickups could be better
Great for beginners and intermediate players	Not as versatile as other models
Hollow body
Great design

• Body: Mahogany
• Neck: Mahogany with rosewood fretboard, set-in
• Scale Length: 24.7 inches (628 mm)
• Fingerboard Radius: 12 inches (305 mm)
• Frets: 22
• Pickups: HH, Infinity humbuckers
• Bridge: Gibraltar Performer bridge

Probably the first thing on your mind is that this is Ibanez. But this isn’t your everyday Ibanez, it is a guitar designed for blues and rock, and it is a hollow-body instrument. Considering the price, it is one of the best models you can find in this category, especially if you are interested in hollow or semi-hollow guitars. 

Ibanez AS53 has two Infinity humbuckers, a beautiful design, and it looks rather similar to ES-335. 

Epiphone Les Paul Special VE

Pros	Cons
Affordable	Pickups could be better
Great for beginners and intermediate players	Can be uncomfortable
Les Paul
Great design

• Body: Poplar
• Neck: Okoume with rosewood fretboard, bolt-on
• Scale Length: 24.75 inches (628 mm)
• Fingerboard Radius: 14 inches (355.6 mm)
• Frets: 22
• Pickups: HH, Epiphone Open Coil Humbuckers
• Bridge: Tune-O-Matic

It’s time for the real Les Paul. Well, as real as the budget allows. Epiphone offers budget versions of Gibson guitars, and it’s similar to Fender and Squier. The main downside of this guitar is that it is the cheapest version of Les Paul you can find, and it’s more than obvious.

The major tell is that the guitar has a bolt-on neck, which is not something Gibson does. Of course, it is a lot better than other Les Paul versions you can find in this category, and if you are a fan of this shape, it is a great option for the money. 

Yamaha Pacifica

Pros	Cons
Affordable	Pickups could be better
Great for beginners and intermediate players
Versatile
HSS

• Body: Alder
• Neck: Maple with rosewood fretboard, bolt-on
• Scale Length: 25.5 inches (648 mm)
• Fingerboard Radius: 13.78 inches (350 mm)
• Frets: 22
• Pickups: HSS, Alnico
• Bridge: Vintage tremolo

Yamaha Pacifica is one of the most popular guitars you can find. There are so many great things it offers. Firstly, the guitar is affordable, it’s versatile, it has an HSS combination with the push-pull knob, and it has a shape similar to a Stratocaster.

While the pickups are not that great, you can easily replace them in the future if you feel comfortable playing the guitar. All things considered, Yamaha Pacifica is an excellent option for blues, and it gives you the necessary versatility for different subgenres as well. 

Top 5 Budget Blues Guitars Under $500

Let’s take a look at the options for guitars between $300 and $500. The first thing I should mention is that these are no longer considered beginner instruments, and there are excellent models you can find in this category.

This means that guitars are suitable for beginners, but also for those with a lot more experience. Some of the guitars on the list are exceptional, and they are undoubtedly worth the money. 

Ibanez Artcore AS73

Pros	Cons
Affordable	Pickups could be better
Great for beginners and intermediate players	Not as versatile as other models
Hollow body
Great design

• Body: Basswood
• Neck: Mahogany with rosewood fretboard, set-in
• Scale Length: 24.7 inches (628 mm)
• Fingerboard Radius: 12 inches (305 mm)
• Frets: 22
• Pickups: HH, Classic Elite humbuckers
• Bridge: ART1 bridge

Here we have an improved model of the guitar I already mentioned. Ibanez Artcore AS73 looks like a Gibson ES-335, it is a hollow-body guitar, and it’s beautiful. This is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a hollow-body instrument, and it has a stunning finish. 

The entire body is made of maple, and it has a set-in neck. The humbuckers in the guitar are not as aggressive as other Ibanez models, and they sound great for blues and rock. 

Squier Stratocaster Classic Vibe ‘70s

Pros	Cons
Great price
Great for beginners and intermediate players
Stratocaster
Incredible quality

• Body: Poplar
• Neck: Maple with maple fretboard, bolt-on
• Scale Length: 25.5 inches (648 mm)
• Fingerboard Radius: 9.5 inches (241.3 mm)
• Frets: 21, narrow-tall
• Pickups: HSS, Fender Designed Alnico Humbucking (bridge) and 2 Fender Designed Alnico Single Coils (middle, neck)
• Bridge: 6-Saddle Vintage-style synchronized tremolo

The world of guitars was permanently changed when Squier released the Classic Vibe version. Squier released a couple of Classic Vibe models, following each decade. The design of guitars replicates what you could have found from Fender, and there are currently versions for the fifties, sixties, and seventies. 

The version here is inspired by the Fender Stratocaster from the seventies, and it has a large headstock. As for the pickups, you can find both SSS and HSS combinations, so there won’t be any problems for you. Furthermore, you can also check out the older models if that’s something you’d be comfortable with. 

Squier Telecaster Classic Vibe ‘50s

Pros	Cons
Great price
Great for beginners and intermediate players
Telecaster
Incredible quality

• Body: Pine
• Neck: Maple with maple fretboard, bolt-on
• Scale Length: 25.5 inches (648 mm)
• Fingerboard Radius: 9.5 inches (241.3 mm)
• Frets: 21, medium jumbo
• Pickups: SS, Fender-Designed alnico pickups
• Bridge: Vintage fixed bridge

To avoid mentioning a Telecaster from the seventies, you can see here what kind of difference and models you can find from the previous Classic Vibe lineup. This Telecaster is incredible, and you will hardly find a better model without going for a real Fender. 

The entire Classic Vibe series looks incredible, and regardless of the model, you pick you will be satisfied. Another important thing here is that the difference between guitars is not as significant as with cheaper models. You won’t need a huge amount of luck to find a great Classic Vibe Squier. 

Dean TBX QM TBB

Pros	Cons
Great price	Bolt-on
Great for beginners and intermediate players	Pickups
Modern Les Paul shape
Versatile

• Body: Mahogany
• Neck: Maple with rosewood fretboard, bolt-on
• Scale Length: 24.75 inches (639 mm)
• Fingerboard Radius: 12 inches (305 mm)
• Frets: 22, jumbo
• Pickups: HH, DMT Design Zebra
• Bridge: Tune-O-Matic

Usually, you would expect Dean to offer only pointy guitars with high output pickups, but this time, we have something a bit gentler. The guitar looks similar to Les Paul, and it’s quite versatile. While the pickups are not that impressive, they will work great on lower gain for blues and rock. 

Of course, the guitar might be too heavy for some players, but if you are interested in a heavier sound for blues, this might be a great choice. 

Yamaha Revstar

Pros	Cons
Great price
Great for beginners and intermediate players
Great design
Versatile

• Body: Nato
• Neck: Maple with rosewood fretboard, set-in
• Scale Length: 24.73 inches (628 mm)
• Fingerboard Radius: 13.75 inches (350 mm)
• Frets: 22, medium
• Pickups: HH, Alnico humbuckers
• Bridge: TOM bridge & stopbar tailpiece

The final model in this category is Yamaha Revstar. This model comes in several different options, and there are more expensive models on the market. Yamaha Revstar has a unique design, it sounds really good, and it’s one of the most popular models by this brand.

The humbuckers are not high-output ones and work great for blues and rock. This is an excellent choice for people who want to step away from Strats and Telecasters since Revstar offers something a bit different. 

Top 5 Budget Blues Guitars Under $1000

As we increase the budget, we have models between $500 and $1000. Now, these models are quite close to the professional category, and you can’t really go wrong if you buy a guitar for $1000. 

There are many exceptional models in each category, and you won’t need to worry about quality since it will be up to the highest standards. While guitars in this category can be played by beginners, they are mostly designed for those with a lot more experience. 

Fender Player Stratocaster

Pros	Cons
Great price
Great for intermediate and advanced players
Stratocaster
Incredible quality

• Body: Alder
• Neck: Maple with maple fretboard, bolt-on
• Scale Length: 25.5 inches (648 mm)
• Fingerboard Radius: 9.5 inches (241.3 mm)
• Frets: 22
• Pickups: SSS, Player Series single-coil Stratocaster pickups
• Bridge: 2-Point Tremolo Bridge with bent-steel saddles

Further increasing the price range allows you to buy a Fender. This time, we have a model from the Player Series, and they are incredible. The guitar is available in many different options when it comes to color, and you can even find ones with different fretboards. 

As you can probably expect, the guitar looks amazing. You can also find models with humbuckers, Floyd Rose, and other changes. This is probably the best Fender series made in Mexico. 

Gretsch G5220

Pros	Cons
Great price
Great for intermediate and advanced players
Beautiful design
Incredible quality

• Body: Chambered mahogany
• Neck: Mahogany with walnut fretboard, set-in
• Scale Length: 24.6 inches (624.8 mm)
• Fingerboard Radius: 12 inches (305 mm)
• Frets: 22, medium jumbo
• Pickups: HH, Black Top Broad’Tron humbuckers
• Bridge: Anchored Adjusto-Matic

For those that enjoy the heavier sound, Gretsch is something they should check. The guitar is incredible, and it’s as good as you could expect from this company. It is a single-cut guitar that bears a few similarities with Les Paul. 

Gretsch G5220 is versatile, beautiful, and it’s perfect for blues. The model is quite unique and it is worth the money. It is also worth mentioning that this guitar is in the lower part of the category, so it’s quite cheaper compared to other models in this range. 

Epiphone Sheraton-II Pro BK

Pros	Cons
Great price
Great for intermediate and advanced players
Beautiful design
Incredible quality

• Body: Maple 
• Neck: Maple with Pau Ferro fretboard, set-in
• Scale Length: 24.72 inches (628 mm)
• Fingerboard Radius: 12 inches (305 mm)
• Frets: 22
• Pickups: HH, Probucker humbuckers with coil-splitting
• Bridge: Gold-plated hardware

As I talked before, Epiphone designs guitars based on Gibson models, but for a more affordable price. Here, we have a version of ES-335, which is incredible. The guitar is a semi-hollow instrument with a maple body and well-known F-shaped holes. 

Needless to say, the model is perfect for blues. So many blues guitarists used ES-335 and similar models, and if you want to recreate that sound, Sheraton-II Pro is an excellent option. 

Epiphone SG Standard ‘61 Maestro

Pros	Cons
Great price
Great for intermediate and advanced players
Beautiful design
Incredible quality

• Body: Mahogany 
• Neck: Mahogany with Indian laurel fretboard, set-in
• Scale Length: 24.75 inches (629 mm)
• Fingerboard Radius: 12 inches (305 mm)
• Frets: 22
• Pickups: HH, ProBucker-2 (neck) and ProBucker-3 (bridge) humbuckers
• Bridge: Locktone ABR Tune-O-Matic bridge

As with the previous model, we have an Epiphone SG. This is one of the best models designed by Epiphone, and it even comes with a version of Bigsby. Unlike cheaper models of Epiphone, it has a set-in neck with trapezoid inlays, which is a nice detail that many Gibson lovers appreciate. 

All things considered, Epiphone SG is an excellent guitar, it’s comfortable, has great access to higher frets, and it sounds amazing. 

Fender Vintera 50s Strat Mod

Pros	Cons
Great price
Great for intermediate and advanced players
Stratocaster
Incredible quality

• Body: Alder
• Neck: Maple with maple fretboard, bolt-on
• Scale Length: 25.5 inches (648 mm)
• Fingerboard Radius: 9.5 inches (241.3 mm)
• Frets: 21, medium jumbo
• Pickups: SSS, Vintage-style 50s Hot Strat single coils
• Bridge: Synchronized 2-point tremolo

The final entry on the list is Fender Stratocaster from the Vintera series. Fender has been one of the most popular if not the most popular guitar for blues, and it made quite an impact when it was introduced in 1954.

You will get that well-known Strat tone, and while the price is at the edge of the range, it is worth every cent. Especially if you consider that you can’t buy an American Standard for the same amount of money. 

Conclusion

Finding a perfect guitar for blues is not easy. You need to know what kind of guitar you’re looking for, and of course, your budget will play a crucial role in the process. The cheapest versions are under $150, and they are not as good as they could be. 

Especially if you consider that increasing the budget for just $50 will make a world of difference. Needless to say, as you increase the price range you can find many great models, and if you are willing to spend up to $500, the choices are almost limitless. 

Finally, paying close to $1000 will give you plenty of different options and you can be sure that each model will be exceptional.

Last update on 2024-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API