AudioFu

Best ST Style Guitars Under $300 2026

Affordable st style guitars under $300 - great value without compromising quality

Last updated: January 21, 2026 • Next update: January 28, 2026

PRICE RANGES: Under $100 Under $200 Under $300 Under $500 Under $800 Under $1,000 Under $2,000 Under $5,000
SKILL LEVELS: For Beginner For Intermediate For Professional For Advanced
GENRES & STYLES: For Rock For Blues For Pop For Country For Funk For Indie
BRANDS: Fender Ibanez Harley Benton PRS Jackson Squier Kramer Guitars Suhr ESP Charvel Yamaha Larry Carlton Mooer Schecter Music Man Solar Guitars Cort Evh Sterling by Music Man Xotic Guitars Maybach Friedman
Harley Benton CST-24 BK - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#1

Harley Benton CST-24 BK

by Harley Benton
Funk Rock Pop
Key Feature:
• Comfortable body contours
✓ PROS
  • • Comfortable body contours
  • • Classic single-coil brightness
✗ CONS
  • • Single-coils can pick up interference
  • • Requires quality amplifier

Harley Benton CST-24 BKElectric GuitarDeluxe SeriesBody: MerantiTop: arched mapleNeck: glued-in merantiFretboard:...

⭐ 4.5/5 (36 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 349795
$285
Buy at Thomann View Details
Harley Benton ST-62 BK Vintage Series Bundle - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#2

Harley Benton ST-62 BK Vintage Series Bundle

by Harley Benton
Country Pop Rock
Key Feature:
• Comfortable body contours
✓ PROS
  • • Classic single-coil brightness
  • • Great for clean and overdriven tones
✗ CONS
  • • String bending can cause tuning issues
  • • Requires quality amplifier

Harley Benton ST-62 BK Vintage Series Bundle*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton ST-62 BK Vintage Series*Electric...

⭐ 4.8/5 (13 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 533580
$274
Buy at Thomann View Details
Harley Benton CST-24 Black Cherry Flame - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#3

Harley Benton CST-24 Black Cherry Flame

by Harley Benton
Rock Country Blues
Key Feature:
• Great for clean and overdriven tones
✓ PROS
  • • Great for clean and overdriven tones
  • • Versatile 5-way pickup switching
✗ CONS
  • • May be too bright for heavy metal
  • • String bending can cause tuning issues

Harley Benton CST-24 Black Cherry Flame DLXElectric GuitarDeluxe SeriesBody: MerantiArchtop: flamed mapleSet-in neck:...

⭐ 4.4/5 (49 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 376593
$296
Buy at Thomann View Details
Harley Benton ST-59HM Fiesta Red w/Bag - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#4

Harley Benton ST-59HM Fiesta Red w/Bag

by Harley Benton
Funk Rock Indie
Key Feature:
• Versatile 5-way pickup switching
✓ PROS
  • • Classic single-coil brightness
  • • Comfortable body contours
✗ CONS
  • • May be too bright for heavy metal
  • • Requires quality amplifier

Harley Benton ST-59HM Fiesta Red w/Bag*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton ST-59HM Fiesta Red*Electric Guitar*Alder...

⭐ 4.5/5 (42 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 543736
$230
Buy at Thomann View Details
Kramer Guitars Baretta Special EB - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#5

Kramer Guitars Baretta Special EB

by Kramer Guitars
Indie Country Pop
Key Feature:
• Versatile 5-way pickup switching
✓ PROS
  • • Comfortable body contours
  • • Great for clean and overdriven tones
✗ CONS
  • • May be too bright for heavy metal
  • • String bending can cause tuning issues

Kramer Guitars Baretta Special EBElectric GuitarMahogany bodyBolt-on maple neckMaple fingerboardDot fingerboard...

⭐ 4.4/5 (19 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 549204
$230
Buy at Thomann View Details
Harley Benton ST-59HM Fiesta Red w/Bag - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#6

Harley Benton ST-59HM Fiesta Red w/Bag

by Harley Benton
Funk Indie Pop
Key Feature:
• Versatile 5-way pickup switching
✓ PROS
  • • Comfortable body contours
  • • Classic single-coil brightness
✗ CONS
  • • Single-coils can pick up interference
  • • String bending can cause tuning issues

Harley Benton ST-59HM Fiesta Red w/Bag*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton ST-59HM Fiesta Red*Electric Guitar*Alder...

⭐ 4.5/5 (42 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 543740
$241
Buy at Thomann View Details
Harley Benton R-456FR BK Progressive Series - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#7

Harley Benton R-456FR BK Progressive Series

by Harley Benton
Indie Country Blues
Key Feature:
• Classic single-coil brightness
✓ PROS
  • • Comfortable body contours
  • • Great for clean and overdriven tones
✗ CONS
  • • Requires quality amplifier
  • • Single-coils can pick up interference

Harley Benton R-456FR BK Progressive SeriesElectric GuitarBody: PoplarBolt-on neck: MapleNeck profile: DFingerboard:...

⭐ 4.6/5 (41 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 374229
$219
Buy at Thomann View Details
Harley Benton ST-57DG Black Tribute - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#8

Harley Benton ST-57DG Black Tribute

by Harley Benton
Country Rock Pop
Key Feature:
• Classic single-coil brightness
✓ PROS
  • • Classic single-coil brightness
  • • Comfortable body contours
✗ CONS
  • • Electronics may need shielding
  • • May be too bright for heavy metal

Harley Benton ST-57DG BlackElectric GuitarBody: AlderSatin bolt-on neck: canadian maple with Stained Nyatoh Skunk...

⭐ 4.9/5 (3 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 391723
$208
Buy at Thomann View Details
Squier FSR Aff Strat H HT LRL BPG BLK - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#9

Squier FSR Aff Strat H HT LRL BPG BLK

by Squier
Rock Funk Country
Key Feature:
• Great for clean and overdriven tones
✓ PROS
  • • Versatile 5-way pickup switching
  • • Classic single-coil brightness
✗ CONS
  • • Requires quality amplifier
  • • String bending can cause tuning issues

Squier Affinity Strat FSR H HT BKElectric GuitarAffinity seriesBody: PoplarNeck: MapleNeck profile: Slim...

⭐ 4.9/5 (28 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 551316
$285
Buy at Thomann View Details
Ibanez GRG121DX-WNF Bundle - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#10

Ibanez GRG121DX-WNF Bundle

by Ibanez
Pop Funk Blues
Key Feature:
• Classic single-coil brightness
✓ PROS
  • • Great for clean and overdriven tones
  • • Excellent sustain and playability
✗ CONS
  • • Electronics may need shielding
  • • Single-coils can pick up interference

Ibanez GRG121DX-WNF Bundle*Bundle offer comprising*, Ibanez GRG121DX-WNF*Electric Guitar*Body: OkumeNeck:...

⭐ 4.8/5 (9 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 393254
$274
Buy at Thomann View Details
Ibanez GRG121SP-BMC - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#11

Ibanez GRG121SP-BMC

by Ibanez
Rock Country Indie
Key Feature:
• Classic single-coil brightness
✓ PROS
  • • Versatile 5-way pickup switching
  • • Classic single-coil brightness
✗ CONS
  • • May be too bright for heavy metal
  • • Electronics may need shielding

Ibanez GRG121SP-BMCElectric GuitarGIO SeriesBody: PoplarBolt-on neck: Roasted mapleFingerboard: JatobaNeck profile:...

⭐ 4.8/5 (34 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 541748
$294
Buy at Thomann View Details
Squier Affinity Strat FM HSSBB - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#12

Squier Affinity Strat FM HSSBB

by Squier
Rock Blues Funk
Key Feature:
• Great for clean and overdriven tones
✓ PROS
  • • Versatile 5-way pickup switching
  • • Classic single-coil brightness
✗ CONS
  • • String bending can cause tuning issues
  • • Single-coils can pick up interference

Squier Affinity Strat FM HSSBBElectric guitarBody: PoplarTop: Maple veneerNeck: MapleFretboard: MapleNeck profile:...

⭐ 4.9/5 (44 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 516433
$284
Buy at Thomann View Details
Harley Benton R-456FR BK Progressive Bundle - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#13

Harley Benton R-456FR BK Progressive Bundle

by Harley Benton
Funk Country Indie
Key Feature:
• Versatile 5-way pickup switching
✓ PROS
  • • Versatile 5-way pickup switching
  • • Great for clean and overdriven tones
✗ CONS
  • • May be too bright for heavy metal
  • • Single-coils can pick up interference

Harley Benton R-456FR BK Progressive Bundle*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton R-456FR BK Progressive...

⭐ 4.7/5 (42 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 539098
$240
Buy at Thomann View Details
Jackson JS22 Dinky DKA Na Oiled AH - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#14

Jackson JS22 Dinky DKA Na Oiled AH

by Jackson
Blues Funk Country
Key Feature:
• Great for clean and overdriven tones
✓ PROS
  • • Excellent sustain and playability
  • • Comfortable body contours
✗ CONS
  • • Requires quality amplifier
  • • Electronics may need shielding

Jackson JS22 Dinky DKA Na Oiled AHElectric guitarMahogany body with vaulted topOne-piece bolted maple neck with...

⭐ 4.9/5 (43 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 457818
$257
Buy at Thomann View Details
Harley Benton CST-24 Purple Burst - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#15

Harley Benton CST-24 Purple Burst

by Harley Benton
Pop Country Funk
Key Feature:
• Versatile 5-way pickup switching
✓ PROS
  • • Versatile 5-way pickup switching
  • • Great for clean and overdriven tones
✗ CONS
  • • Requires quality amplifier
  • • May be too bright for heavy metal

Harley Benton CST-24 Purple BurstElectric GuitarDeluxe SeriesBody: MerantiTop: flamed mapleGlued-in neck:...

⭐ 4.8/5 (35 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 527044
$296
Buy at Thomann View Details

How to Choose the Best ST Style Guitars

Budget Planning

  • • Under $200: Entry-level
  • • $200-$500: Intermediate
  • • $500-$1000: Advanced
  • • $1000+: Professional

Quality Check

  • • Sound clarity & tone
  • • Build materials & finish
  • • Hardware durability
  • • Overall craftsmanship

Key Features

  • • Your musical style
  • • Skill level match
  • • Intended use case
  • • Brand reputation

Frequently Asked Questions

Key factors include build quality, sound characteristics, playability, brand reputation, warranty coverage, and value for money. Consider your musical style, skill level, and intended use to find the best match.
Budget depends on your needs and experience level. Beginners can find quality options for $200-500, intermediate players should consider $500-1500 range, while professionals often invest $1500+ for premium features.
Higher-priced st style guitars typically offer better materials, craftsmanship, and performance. They're worth it if you're serious about music, perform regularly, or need professional-grade features.
Top brands combine quality, innovation, and reliability. We evaluate brands based on build quality, sound performance, durability, and customer satisfaction to recommend the best options for different budgets.
Both have advantages. Online offers better prices and selection, while stores allow hands-on testing. We recommend researching online first, then testing in stores if possible. Many online retailers offer excellent return policies.

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