Under $700 is where the most interesting guitar market lives. You’re well past beginner compromises, and the best instruments here compete with guitars at twice the price in tonal quality and playability.
The $600–$700 range sits in a sweet spot that most buying guides skip between “under $500” and “under $1,000.” It’s where several genuinely excellent instruments cluster — all-solid acoustic construction from Seagull, professional semi-hollow character from Gretsch and Epiphone, and mature electric quality from Squier’s best work.
Every guitar on this list is worth the investment. The choice between them is purely about genre and character.
Quick Picks
| Guitar | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Seagull S6 Original | $629 | All-solid acoustic, folk/fingerpicking |
| Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster | $629 | Indie, shoegaze, Jazzmaster character |
| Epiphone ES-335 | $599 | Blues, jazz, semi-hollow versatility |
| Gretsch G2622 Streamliner | $649 | Blues, country, Gretsch warmth |
| Epiphone Les Paul Standard ’50s | $699 | Rock, blues humbucker |
| Taylor 114ce | $799 | Acoustic-electric, performing |
| Córdoba C7 Classical | $649 | Advanced classical/flamenco |
The Best Guitars Under $700
Epiphone Inspired by Gibson ES-335 — $599
The ES-335 is one of the most versatile guitar shapes ever made — warm enough for jazz, defined enough for blues and rock. The Epiphone version delivers the thinline semi-hollow construction with Alnico Classic Pro humbuckers that coil-split for additional tonal range. B.B. King played an ES-335. Dave Grohl plays one. Chuck Berry defined early rock and roll on one. At $599, this guitar puts that tradition within reach of any serious player.
Best for: Blues, jazz, and classic rock players who want the ES-335 character; versatile players who span multiple genres
Not ideal for: Metal and high-gain players who need solid-body precision; players who want single-coil brightness
Specs:
- Laminated Maple Thinline Body / Center Block
- Alnico Classic Pro Humbuckers (Coil-Split)
- Rounded C Maple Neck / Laurel Fingerboard
🎸 Guitar Center · 🎵 Sweetwater
Seagull S6 Original Acoustic — $629
The most remarkable acoustic guitar value on this list — all-solid construction (solid cedar top, solid wild cherry back and sides), handcrafted in Quebec, at a price where most competitors are still using laminate back and sides. The cedar top responds immediately at lower playing volumes, producing warm, intimate tone that suits fingerpicking and singer-songwriter playing. The all-solid construction will improve with decades of playing. For acoustic players who want the best possible construction quality under $700, the S6 is the answer.
Best for: Acoustic fingerpickers and singer-songwriters making a serious investment, players who want all-solid construction at an accessible price
Not ideal for: Players who need built-in electronics; those who want spruce brightness over cedar warmth
Specs:
- Dreadnought / Solid Cedar Top / Solid Wild Cherry Back & Sides
- Handcrafted in Canada / Rosewood Fingerboard
🎸 Guitar Center · 🎵 Sweetwater
Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster — $629
The most genre-specific guitar on this list — but for indie, alternative, and shoegaze players, the most essential. J Mascis personally spec’d the hotter-wound pickups, the Adjusto-Matic bridge for proper intonation, and the floating tremolo. Through reverb and fuzz, the Jazzmaster’s distinctive single-coil character produces the atmospheric, textured tone that defines the post-90s indie guitar tradition. No Strat or Tele fully replicates it. For players who know this is their sound, the J Mascis Jazzmaster is exactly the right investment.
Best for: Indie, alternative, shoegaze, and post-rock players; J Mascis and MBV fans; players committed to the Jazzmaster format
Not ideal for: Players who haven’t confirmed Jazzmaster tone is what they want; beginners who might find the floating bridge complex
Specs:
- Basswood Body / Hot-Wound Jazzmaster Single-Coil Pickups
- Adjusto-Matic Bridge / Floating Tremolo / Gold Anodized Pickguard
🎸 Guitar Center · 🎵 Sweetwater
Gretsch G2622 Streamliner — $649
Gretsch’s Broad’Tron humbuckers, semi-hollow construction with center block, and Gretsch’s distinctive warm-meets-articulate tonal character — all at a price that would have seemed impossible a decade ago. For blues, country, and classic rock players who want the Gretsch sound without vintage prices, the G2622 is the practical answer. The center block makes it stage-reliable at performance volumes. The double-cutaway gives you access to the full neck.
Best for: Blues, country, and classic rock players who want Gretsch semi-hollow warmth; gigging musicians who need practical stage performance
Not ideal for: Metal or high-gain players; pure single-coil tone enthusiasts
Specs:
- Semi-Hollow / Center Block / Broad’Tron BT-2S Humbuckers
- Double Cutaway / Anchored Adjusto-Matic Bridge
🎸 Guitar Center · 🎵 Sweetwater
Córdoba C7 Classical — $649
The professional student classical guitar — the instrument that takes you from serious intermediate to the threshold of performance-level playing. Available with cedar top (warmer) or spruce top (brighter). Indian rosewood back and sides add harmonic complexity that the C5’s mahogany doesn’t match. For classical and flamenco players who perform regularly or study seriously, the C7 is the appropriate long-term instrument.
Best for: Advanced classical students, semi-professional classical players, serious flamenco students
Not ideal for: Beginners and early intermediate players — start with the C3M or C5 first
Specs:
- Classical / Cedar or Spruce Top / Indian Rosewood Back & Sides
- Gold-Plated Tuners / Rosewood Fingerboard
🎸 Guitar Center · 🎵 Sweetwater
Epiphone Les Paul Standard ’50s — $699
The most consistently recommended Les Paul for players who want the humbucker rock and blues character without Gibson prices. ProBucker pickups, mahogany body, maple top, set neck — all the structural DNA of a real Les Paul. In a band mix, this guitar sounds like a Les Paul. For rock and blues humbucker players at this price, the Standard ’50s is the direct answer.
Best for: Rock and blues players who want Les Paul character, rhythm and lead players who need humbucker warmth and sustain
Not ideal for: Players who want single-coil versatility; lighter players who find Les Paul weight (8–9 lbs) uncomfortable on stage
Specs:
- Mahogany Body / Maple Top / ProBucker Humbuckers
- Set Neck / Rosewood Fingerboard / LockTone Bridge
🎸 Guitar Center · 🎵 Sweetwater
Which One Should You Buy?
| If you want… | Buy this |
|---|---|
| All-solid acoustic under $700 | Seagull S6 Original ($629) |
| Semi-hollow blues/jazz | Epiphone ES-335 ($599) |
| Semi-hollow country/blues Gretsch | Gretsch G2622 ($649) |
| Indie/shoegaze Jazzmaster | Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster ($629) |
| Rock/blues humbucker | Epiphone Les Paul Standard ($699) |
| Advanced classical | Córdoba C7 ($649) |
Every guitar on this list is a serious instrument that a professional musician would be comfortable performing with. The choice is entirely about genre, body style, and tonal character — not about quality tiers.
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