Musical Instruments: the best budget picks
6 guides for instruments and recording & studio. Every guide below shows its top pick and its budget pick with typical prices, so you can see the gap before you click.
Instruments 4 guides
Best affordable acoustic guitar
Top pickYamaha FG800J~$260–$280
Budget pickFender FA-25 Dreadnought~$109–$110
Read guide: Best affordable acoustic guitar Best budget electric guitar
Top pickYamaha Pacifica PAC112V~$370–$380
Budget pickSquier Debut Stratocaster~$140–$150
Read guide: Best budget electric guitar Best budget bass
Top pickIbanez GSR200SM GIO~$300–$314
Budget pickGlarry Full-Size Four-String Electric Bass~$95–$97
Read guide: Best budget bass Best budget piano
Top pickYamaha P71~$440–$460
Budget pickDEP-20~$300–$320
Read guide: Best budget piano No guide in this category has a budget pick under that price.
Recording & Studio 2 guides
Best budget studio monitors
Top pickHS4~$245–$255
Budget pickMR4~$150–$160
Read guide: Best budget studio monitors Best cheap audio interface
Top pickBehringer U-Phoria UMC202HD~$87
Budget pickBehringer U-Phoria UM2~$28–$44
Read guide: Best cheap audio interface No guide in this category has a budget pick under that price.