The best budget guitar gear 2026 (from an actual musician)

As someone who's been playing in bands since 2016, I know the importance of high-quality, solid music equipment that won't break on you within a week. But when you're starting, it's tricky to know whether it's better to opt for bargains that are probably too good to be true, or to overspend on equipment that just gathers dust.

Luckily, I've made all the mistakes, so you don't have to. And now, I'm sharing my best tips when it comes to saving on your music gear. Today, we're talking guitars. Read on to find out which pieces of tech are worth your money in 2026 from an actual musician.

Guitars

If you're looking for your first guitar (or second, third, fourth, etc.), it can be easy to go with the most recognisable names. Your Gibsons and your Fenders are undeniably amazing guitars, but they're not the be-all end-all.

If you've got your heart set on a Stratocaster or a Les Paul, I would always recommend looking at Squiers or Epiphones. These brands are owned by Fender and Gibson and act as a cheaper way to get your dream guitar.

Don't rule out Squier or Epiphone guitars

Basically, on visuals alone, a Squier Stratocaster and a Fender Stratocaster look almost identical. The biggest difference comes from the cost of the parts being used and where the guitars are being made.

I was once the proud owner of an Epiphone Dot (ES-335). I loved that guitar and never once thought about getting the 'expensive' version - a Gibson ES-335. It was versatile and sounded great. Noel Gallagher used one for years during the early days of Oasis - even when they were massive.

What guitar amplifier is best for me?

Looking into guitar amps can be a slippery slope. Trust me, I've been there. I've previously watched YouTube videos on budget amps only to find myself looking at Vox AC30s and telling myself that's what I need. But it isn't always the case.

You don't need the biggest amp or the fanciest to get up on stage. You can usually get away with a smaller amp and use a mic to mic the amp up. In fact, world-famous guitarist Carlos Santana has this very setup. Small amp, mics it up.

Boss Katana Amp

For people starting out, I advise you to pick up a smaller amp. Let's say something like a Boss Katana 50w, which is around £250-£300, and then a condenser mic costs start from £30 - that's a huge saving over spending £1000+ on bigger, higher wattage amps.

What about bass amps and acoustic amps?

This is where it gets even better. If you are a bassist or an acoustic guitar player, I would argue you don't necessarily need an amplifier. This may sound like heresy to some, and I get it, but if you're looking to save on equipment and you're playing somewhere that has its own in-house sound system (most venues do), you can just plug straight into their mixing desk.

What guitar pedals should I get?

Guitar pedals are confusing. What's more, they can also be incredibly costly, with many pedals costing £100+. Nearly everything from big-name brands like Boss and Electro Harmonix to boutique brands like JHS pedals and Red Panda will easily cost a minimum of £100.

But there's one brand of pedals that is almost looked down upon by the elitists in the community. A brand that has been providing durable, cheap and good-sounding pedals for years: Behringer.

Behringer pedals

With Behringer, you can get most of your favourite effects, whether it be distortion or delay, for a fraction of the price when compared to the likes of Boss.

As an example, currently on Andertons, you can pick up a Behringer compressor pedal for £24.99, whereas a Boss compressor pedal will cost £99.99.

For anybody starting out, I would recommend picking up a tuner pedal (which costs £17.90 on Thomann), the overdrive/distortion pedal (£22.99 on Andertons) and the compressor/sustainer pedal (£24.99 on Andertons). That's a good little starter pedal setup, and it's only cost you around £65. You'll be lucky to pick up just one Boss pedal for that price.

I was once the proud owner of a Behringer Ultra Octaver to help me through acoustic gigs, as I didn't have a bassist with me. And it served me well through the few months I needed it. I've since sold it; it had nothing to do with the quality of the pedal and everything to do with finally finding a bass player.