How to Find the Best Budget Nylon-Stringed Guitar For Less Than $150

Last Updated: May-04-2019 In our 2019 update of this wallet-friendly chart, we expanded our list up to include seven affordable nylon-stringed guitars. The newer Yamaha C40II replaces its precedessor and retains the top spot. We also included two newer models - the Washburn Classical Series C5CE for those looking for electronics, and the Yamaha CGS103A for new players starting out on a tight budget.

We can all dream of owning an American-made model from Cordoba’s prestigious Master Series… until we check our bank balances and realize we can’t even afford the strings for it! But fear not – if you are on a strict budget, there are still some excellent classical guitars worthy of your time and money. On this page, we have highlighted five of our favorite affordable guitars in the current market. There may be several reasons for wanting a cheap guitar. If you’re a beginner, you may not want to spend much more than $150 because you may not be sure whether or not you’ll stick with the instrument. If this is the case, don’t forget to check out our page dedicated to classical guitars for beginners. Maybe you’re a parent purchasing a guitar for your teenager to take to and from school? Or you may be an experienced classical guitarist looking for a budget model to leave around the house / in the car / travel with. If you drop, damage or lose a guitar that didn’t cost much, it’s not the end of the world. Rather that, than your $1,000 Kremona! Whatever your reason for wanting an affordable model, you don’t have to settle for ‘cheap and nasty’. We’ve sourced classical guitars that are ‘cheap and cheerful’. Here’s our top five.

Top 7 Cheap Classical Guitars (Under $150):

Whether you’ve skimmed the summaries or read each review in depth, you’ll now see that you don’t have to spend over the odds to find a classical guitar that marries affordability with a decent level of quality.

What to Look for in a Cheap Classical Guitar?

Unlike having, say, $300 in your pocket, you aren’t spoiled for choice when it comes to woods, components and tones in this budget bracket – but there are still some things to look out for. Whereas the steel-string acoustic and electric guitar markets are awash with a nearly endless stream of designs, the classical market is notably more traditional in appearance, and the budget end is usually no different. In fact, trying to tell a $1,000 model apart from a $100 guitar based on a photo is not always the easiest thing to do! In this budget market, you can find different colored guitars (black in particular), but nothing beats a classic natural finish. As for materials, you’ll usually find laminated woods on cheaper guitars, especially those under a hundred bucks, but in some cases, you can find a cheap guitar with a solid top. This allows for a much more robust sound, and adds to the value and longevity of the guitar. Where possible, avoid plastic components (and we’re talking basic, cheap plastic, not higher-tech plastics such as TUSQ, Corian or Micarta). It shouldn’t be a deal-breaker, but if you have the option to avoid it, do so. For example, aside from cheapening the look of your guitar, a plastic nut isn’t particularly durable and will usually hinder your tone. If the guitar does come with a plastic nut, consider upgrading it.

Setting Up

Before we go, we should point out that having your new guitar professionally set-up by your local guitar pro is worth considering – unless you are experienced enough to do it yourself. Ask them to change your strings, lower the action a little, and ensure it’s all playing and sounding as good as it can. This can make a cheap instrument feel a lot more expensive. Although make sure to have a quote from them first – if the set-up ends up costing more than the guitar it’ll all be a bit pointless!

The Final Word

This is the most volatile market, because for every good guitar under $150, there are 10 poor models. It’s worth sticking with a name you know (Yamaha, Ibanez, Cordoba and Epiphone tend to be good bets), and if possible try the guitar out before you buy. Otherwise read some reviews and look at a few videos, which will give you a sample of what they sound like. Keep checking back because we refresh our lists often and a more expensive model may eventually slip into this budget category. Good luck with your hunt!