It’s long-established that you don’t need to drop multiple thousands on a guitar to get a great instrument. If you’ve got a budget of $1,000, you’ve come to the right place: let’s explore some of the many great affordable acoustics and electrics you can buy right now.

The best guitars under $1000 in 2023, at a glance:

Electric

• Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster
• Fender Player Telecaster
• Epiphone Les Paul Standard
• PRS SE Standard 24 08
• Guild Surfliner Deluxe

Acoustic

• Gretsch Guitars G9520
• Guild F-240E
• Taylor Baby Taylor Koa
• Martin D-X1E
• Fender CD-60SCE

Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster

J Mascis’ signature Jazzmaster is a modern classic of Squier’s line, and for good reason. The tune-o-matic bridge paired with the offset vibrato also provides a little bit more stability, especially if you pick like the guitar owes you money. Doing this on a Jazzmaster with a rocking bridge can occasionally jiggle it out of alignment and ruin your intonation.

And the pickups, rather than the understated traditionally-spec’d ones you might find in a Classic Vibe, are closer to P90s, with screw pole pieces providing a thicker and more confident sound.

Grab today’s deals on the Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster:

• Check deal at Guitar Center

Fender Player Telecaster

Fender’s Made-in-Mexico Player series offers a great, affordable entry point into the brand’s main line of guitars. The clue’s in the name as to the design philosophy – the neck and fretboard have a comfortable profile and radius respectively, and there’s an easily-intonatable six-saddle bridge to make sure the guitar plays its best at every show.

Get today’s best deals on the Player Telecaster:

• Check deal at Guitar Center
• Check deal at zZounds
• Check deal at Thomann

Epiphone Les Paul Standard 60s

The Epiphone ‘inspired by gibson’ Les Paul Standard offers a great way to get your hands on an authentic Les Paul, without having to miss a month’s rent. With a bang-on recreation of the Les Paul body shape, vintage-voiced humbuckers, high-quality potentiometers and a AAA flamed maple top, the guitar both sounds and looks the part.

Get today’s best deals on the Les Paul Standard 60s

• Check deal at Guitar Center
• Check deal at zZounds
• Check deal at Thomann

PRS SE Standard 24 08

PRS’ SE line lets you get a taste of the brand’s character at an approachable price. Here, you’ve got the brand’s take on the vintage-styled vibrato bridge, as well as two PRS TCI “S” pickups for a unique, characterful tone. It’s a versatile instrument, too, thanks to the full 24-fret neck and the mini-toggles that allow each pickup to be split for some single-coil tones.

Get today’s best deals on the SE Standard 24 08

• Check deal at Guitar Center
• Check deal at zZounds
• Check deal at Thomann

Guild Surfliner Deluxe

Guild’s Surfliner Deluxe is an updated version of it’s new – and very cool – offset that’s sure to please the alt-rockers and indie players. Guild’s take on the offset vibrato can do everything from all-out wobble to subtle bends to Shieldsy glide guitar, while the HSS pickup layout will handle everything from Sonic Youth to the Beach Boys.

Get today’s best deals on the Surfliner Deluxe

• Check deal at Guitar Center
• Check deal at zZounds
• Check deal at Thomann

Gretsch Guitars G9520

This modern reimagining of the parlor guitars of the 1950s thankfully didn’t abandon the approachable price of those instruments. Its small, non-cutaway agathis body produces a warm, rounded sound with a lively playing response, in part thanks to the combination with the shorter scale length. Its diminutive proportions does make it great for beginners, but it’s by no means a beginners-only guitar!

Get today’s best deals on the G9520:

• Check deal at Guitar Center
• Check deal at zZounds
• Check deal at Thomann

Guild F-240E

Here we have an affordable example of Guild’s unique construction approach to flat-topped acoustics. A solid top is combined with laminated sides and arched backs also made from laminated wood. These arched backs are much stronger and stiffer than centre-joined solid-wood plates, meaning centre strips or back braces aren’t needed. This leads to a unique, characterful sound. Plus, the jumbo size and pickup system both mean there’s no risk of you getting lost in the mix!

Get today’s best deals on the Guild F-240E:

• Check deal at Guitar Center
• Check deal at Thomann

Taylor Baby Taylor Koa

With a shorter scale length and small body, it’s definitely a comfortable player for those just starting out – but don’t mistake this for a beginner’s guitar! Plenty of seasoned professionals swear by smaller-short scale instruments for their bright sound and responsive feel.

Get today’s best deals on the Baby Taylor Koa

• Check deal at Guitar Center
• Check deal at zZounds
• Check deal at Thomann

Martin D-X1E

Martin’s X-series line allows for a taste of the world’s oldest – and still running – guitar maker at an affordable price. The D-X1E is made from high-pressure laminated Koa for a gorgeous aesthetic and confident sound, and features a ‘performing artist’ neck profile for comfortable playing. There’s also a Fishman pickup and preamp for superb plugged-in sounds.

Get today’s best deals on the Martin D-X1E

• Check deal at Guitar Center
• Check deal at zZounds

Fender Paramount PD-220E

This vintage-inspired instrument bears a solid Sitka spruce or solid mahogany top depending on your choice of finish, paired with solid mahogany back and sides. The scalloped, offset X-bracing offers great protection, while the Sonitone Plus pickup gives you great full-sounding plugged-in sounds thanks to a unique sensing system. Signals from both a body-sensing pickup and an undersaddle pickup are blended, to offer both clarity and air.

Get today’s best deals on the Paramount PD-220E

• Check deal at Guitar Center
• Check deal at zZounds
• Check deal at Thomann