The Best Chinese Guitars for Every Budget | Top Picks Reviewed

by Tim Howard

If you think great guitars only come with a big brand name and a thousand-dollar price tag, think again. The best Chinese guitars are proving that top-tier craftsmanship, stunning tone, and killer design don’t have to drain your wallet.

In fact, China has quietly become a powerhouse in the global guitar scene producing everything from rich-sounding acoustics to electrics that rival industry icons.

Whether you’re a casual strummer, a stage performer, or a collector looking for your next showpiece, these instruments deliver serious bang for your buck. The trick? Knowing which brands and models actually live up to the hype.

Best Chinese Guitars 2025

ModelPrice RangePlayable Style
Active 5-String Neck Through Electric Bass Guitar$165.60Electric Bass / Professional
Eddie Edward Van Halen Carbon Baked Maple Guitar$184.00Electric (Rock / Metal)
AeroBand Travel Electric Guitar$425.62Digital / Portable / Beginner
Round Back 12-String Electric Acoustic Guitar$108.00Acoustic-Electric (Folk / Studio)
Custom Handmade 6-String Electric Guitar$279.50Electric (All Genres / Custom)
7/8 Strings Tree Burl Top Electric Guitar$140.00Electric (Metal / Progressive)
Customized TL Electric Guitar$162.44Electric (Blues / Pop / Rock)
Electric Semi-Acoustic Guitar with Pickup$128.40Semi-Acoustic (Beginner / Jazz)
Headless Satin Finished Floyd Rose Guitar$201.59Electric (Speed / Performance)
Jimmy Page Custom Double Neck Guitar$435.93Electric (Collector / Stage)
Squier Affinity Stratocaster$200Electric (Beginner / Classic Strat)
Do-Re-Mi 23-inch Acoustic Guitar for Children$35 – $50Acoustic (Children / Beginners)
Smiger L-G1-ST Affinity Stratocaster$299Electric (Country / Rock)
Epiphone Les Paul Standard 1959$780.03Electric (Classic Rock / Blues)

Recommended Read: Wholesale Electric Guitars from China

Chinese Guitars - Are They Any Good

Top Selling Chinese Guitars

Active 5-String Neck Through Electric Bass Guitar – $165.60

The Active 5-String Neck Through Electric Bass Guitar is built for players who crave power and precision. Its solid Okoume body delivers a naturally warm tone with a rich bass response, while the neck-through design enhances sustain and resonance.

You get a Canada maple neck for added durability and a smooth playing experience across the 24-tone fretboard, ideal for both beginners and pros. Plus, it comes with a free gig bag, making it a complete deal for anyone looking to step up their bass game.

Pros:

  • Solid Okoume body with deep, rich tone
  • 24-tone fretboard for versatility
  • Durable Canada maple neck
  • Comes with a free bag

Eddie Edward Van Halen Carbon Baked Maple Guitar – $184.00

This Eddie Van Halen commemorative guitar is a fan favorite and one of the more premium Chinese guitars floating around AliExpress. The craftsmanship is shockingly good for the price, it’s got a mahogany body, ebony fingerboard, and a classic 22-fret setup.

It’s designed for rock players who love that iconic crunchy tone and fast response. With its adjustable bridge, clean hardware, and tone control system, it’s not just a collectible, it’s ready to melt faces.

Pros:

  • Mahogany body with smooth ebony fingerboard
  • Adjustable bridge and responsive tone system
  • Great for rock and metal
  • Fast shipping and solid quality

AeroBand Travel Electric Guitar — $425.62

This one’s a game-changer. The AeroBand Electric Guitar has been selling like crazy because it’s unlike anything else on the market. It’s lightweight, portable, and fully digital perfect for travel, small spaces, or late-night practice sessions.

It features auto chord mode for beginners, pain-free silicone strings (great if you’ve got hand fatigue), and built-in speakers and mic. Add the MIDI controller support and 9 tone styles, and you’ve basically got a studio in your hands.

Pros:

  • Ideal for beginners and tech lovers
  • Pain-free silicone strings
  • Built-in speaker, mic, and MIDI support
  • 9 tone styles and 25 pitch options

Round Back 12-String Electric Acoustic Guitar — $108.00

One of the most popular 12-string guitars on AliExpress, this Round Back Acoustic-Electric delivers that beautiful, rich, layered sound that’s perfect for folk and acoustic sets.

The 41-inch cutaway body makes it comfortable to play, and the Okoume neck feels solid and responsive. You can get it in a high-gloss or matte finish and both look amazing. It ships in reinforced foam packaging, which is great since AliExpress guitars sometimes get rough handling.

Pros:

  • Gorgeous 12-string sound
  • Adjustable truss rod and 22 frets
  • Solid Okoume neck and durable back
  • Safely packaged for shipping

Custom Handmade 6-String Electric Guitar — $279.50

Custom Handmade 6-String Electric Guitar — 279.50

This handmade sunburst electric guitar caught my eye for its aesthetics but it’s the tone that really impressed me. Built with an Alder wood body, maple sides, and a rosewood fingerboard, it gives off a beautifully balanced tone suitable for all genres.

See also  Top 8 Best Chinese Saxophones | Chinese Saxophone Review

It’s a best-seller among custom Chinese builds and includes tone and volume controls with an adjustable bridge. Each piece is made to order, and the finish looks straight out of a high-end store.

Pros:

  • Handmade with premium Alder and Maple
  • Smooth rosewood fingerboard
  • Adjustable bridge with tone/volume controls
  • Free shipping

7/8 Strings Tree Burl Top Electric Guitar — $140.00

7-8 Strings Tree Burl Top Electric Guitar — 140.00

If you’re into extended-range guitars, this one’s a monster. The 7/8-String Tree Burl Top Electric Guitar is one of the fastest-selling models this year among metal and progressive players.

With its solid Okoume body, maple neck, and 24-fret fingerboard, you’ll have all the sustain and tonal depth you could ever need. The burl wood top gives it that boutique-style look, while the passive closed pickup keeps the tone warm and organic.

Pros:

  • Extended 7/8-string design for complex play
  • Okoume body with maple neck
  • Burl top for unique aesthetics
  • Classic warm tone

Customized TL Electric Guitar — $162.44

A modern twist on the classic Telecaster look, this TL Electric Guitar has become a go-to for AliExpress buyers. It’s built with a mahogany body and rosewood neck, paired with silver accessories and a black protective plate for a sleek, professional appearance.

It’s equipped with passive closed pickups, fixed bridge, and easy tone/volume control. Whether you’re playing blues, rock, or pop, it delivers clean, articulate sound that’s surprisingly authentic.

Pros:

  • Stylish TL design with quality build
  • Mahogany and rosewood combo
  • Fixed bridge with passive pickups
  • Free shipping

Electric Semi-Acoustic Guitar with Pickup — $128.40

For those who love a warm, classic sound, this Semi-Acoustic Electric Guitar is one of the most affordable and best-rated guitars for beginners on AliExpress.

It features an F-hole body design, 21 frets, and inbuilt tuner, making it super easy to use and maintain. The plywood body keeps it lightweight, while the tone control lets you shape your sound however you like.

Pros:

  • Semi-acoustic design for fuller tone
  • Inbuilt tuner and simple controls
  • Lightweight and beginner-friendly
  • Great value for money

Headless Satin Finished Floyd Rose Guitar — $201.59

Sleek, modern, and built for speed, this Headless Satin Electric Guitar has been gaining serious traction with players who like minimalist setups. The Floyd Rose bridge keeps it perfectly in tune even after wild bends, and the mahogany body gives it a bold, balanced tone.

It’s compact, lightweight, and screams “pro gear.” This one’s perfect for guitarists who want performance without paying boutique prices.

Pros:

  • Headless design for ergonomic comfort
  • Floyd Rose bridge for precise tuning
  • Mahogany and rosewood build
  • Smooth satin finish

Jimmy Page Custom Double Neck Guitar — $435.93

Jimmy Page Custom Double Neck Guitar — 435.93

And the showstopper the Jimmy Page Double Neck Guitar. This one’s for the true collectors. With 6 and 12 strings, it’s a faithful recreation of the iconic model Page used on stage.

The mahogany body and rosewood fretboard deliver vintage tone and serious sustain. It’s one of the most sought-after custom guitars on AliExpress, and honestly, it’s worth every cent just for the presence it brings to a room (or stage).

Pros:

  • Double neck (6 + 12 string) configuration
  • Mahogany and rosewood construction
  • Passive pickups and solid build
  • Collector-grade instrument

Squier Affinity Stratocaster

chinese guitars cheap

The Squier Affinity Stratocaster is an amazing piece of Guitar. It’s a Chinese guitar for beginners. At $200, it’s not cheap, but it’s not too expensive either and it’ll give the best experience for an absolute beginner and for somebody who is picking up the skill of a guitar pretty quickly.

It’s got a 9.5-inch fingerboard radius, which is easy for a beginner and quite big. The strat design is pretty epic and it’s one of the most iconic looks.

It’s got a three single coil pickup for different variations of tone. The body material is Poplar & Ebony. It’s got a vintage style Tremolo bridge with 6 saddle hardtail.

Check it out here

Pros

  • Ideal for beginners
  • Has three single-coil pickups for tone variations
  • Made from Poplar and Ebony

Do-Re-Mi 23-inch Acoustic Guitar for Children

This is the perfect product to get your kid initiated with a musical instrument. Most guitars stretch up to 38 inches, while this guitar is cut short at 23 inches – which makes it ideal for very young children as well. 

See also  16 Best China Tube Amplifiers 2025 | Chinese Tube Amplifier Review

The six-string guitar is available in Black, Pink and Blue, with Basswood used to make all its parts. The instrument is a good buy for kids who are looking to get introduced to playing the guitar. The seller has 95% positive feedback and also sells other similar products.  

Pros:

  • Easy for young children to carry around

Cons:

  • The quality of sound is not exceptional

Smiger L-G1-ST Affinity Stratocaster – $299

Blending country and rock music to write your own country rock songs couldn’t be easier when you have a Stratocaster in hand. With the right tool—and paired with the right amp, you too could create your own slice of Nashville in your own room. The Smiger Affinity Strat is an affordable choice for beginner guitarists who want to play their favorite country rock tunes, because of its robust build and playing comfort.

While the Squire Strat may not be perfect, it gets points for making a great first impression on a budget, which counts for something as a new musician. This model is made from sycamore and has an overall vintage look and feel due to its gloss finish. The neck is made from maple wood and bolts on rather than glued like one might find in more expensive models.

Pros

  • Cheap and affordable
  • Made from sycamore, maple and technical wood
  • Ideal for country rock

Cons

  • Overall quality of the body is not as good as an authentic Fender

Epiphone Les Paul Standard 1959 – $780.03

Les Paul has left its legacy as the face of rock and roll with a mark in history that extends from Jimmy Page to Slash. It’s become the iconic guitar in all of rock music for decades since. Made by Epiphone, the Les Paul 1959 standard attempts to capture the essence of Gibson’s original instrument down to every last detail, from its full-bodied sound to its handsome looks.

The solid mahogany body gives you explosive resonance and sustain, the neck plays fast with a slim profile for easy playability and the rosewood fingerboard provides snappy response, all you’ll need to deliver some pretty sick riffs. 

You even get 2 Gibson BurstBucker humbuckers that produce a mellow tone which can be pushed under really high gain to produce some of the best sounding notes, and that too from a Chinese made guitar.

Pros

  • Value for money
  • Delivers the classic Les Paul tone
  • Includes ProBucker pickups
  • Solid mahogany body

Cons

  • Not the most ergonomic
  • Slight quality control issues

Top Chinese Guitar Store on AliExpress

There are a number of guitar sellers on AliExpress but these five take the mantle for being some of the most trustworthy vendors out there. Not only are they quite responsive when it comes to answering queries, their products are also made from some of the finest materials out there, so you know you’re getting your money’s worth.

  • Eart Guitar Store – Eart is one of the oldest Chinese guitar stores on AliExpress and they’ve been selling high quality guitars and musical instruments for a little over 18 years. The specialize in E-3S, Jazz and SSS Guitars but they also accept custom orders and prices here start at $100 and go up to $500 depending on the type of guitar you buy.
  • Music Center Store – Music Center is another Chinese supplier that deals in a wide range of acoustic, bass, jazz and electric guitars. Not only that, they also supply strings, pickups and other accessories you’d need. Here guitars are priced between $100 to $1000 and you can get even the Guild Brian May guitar for a fraction of the original price.
  • Cranberries Guitar Store – A new seller on AliExpress with some of the best selling acoustic guitars in the market. They deal in high quality OM and KOA acoustic guitars and if you’re someone who’s into electric then you got a wide selection of Mandolin and Eastwood Electric and Jazz guitars available for under $500.
  • Purple Guitar Store – Here’s another reliable seller on AliExpress with some really fantastic quality acoustic and electric guitars. They’re based in Guangzhou and currently have a satisfaction rating of 95.9% with a little over 3k followers. Guitars here are pretty affordable and right now their hottest products are the flower sound acoustic, jumbo bass jazz and the solid wood acoustic that cost hardly $650.
  • Rosefinch Music Store – Rosefinch is a pretty decent brand to buy from if you don’t mind Chinese guitars that are made in Russia. They ship super fast and they have one of the widest collections of guitars available. Not only are their instruments cheap, they also offer discounts and coupons to new comers who are looking to buy a new instrument.

How to Choose the Best Chinese Guitar?

The desire to play a musical instrument usually starts from a moment of inspiration. Learning how to play one requires a lot of effort and time, and this makes buying an instrument worth your money. Whether you are a complete beginner or have already been playing the guitar for years, you might wonder what you need to look for before buying one. Let’s take a look at some of them:

See also  Top 8 Best Chinese Saxophones | Chinese Saxophone Review

Price: This is the first thing on most people’s minds, so let’s get it out of the way. Often, guitar brands are valued high because of an artist’s connection with them. However, to get a good quality guitar you do not have to dish out too much. Decently built guitars that cost around $400 in the USA will only cost about a third of the price in China, due to low manpower and manufacturing costs.

Materials and Build Quality: The body and the fretboard are the two largest components of a guitar and their build quality speaks a lot about the guitar. Most guitars are made of premium wood, and Chinese guitars are no exception. Look for types of wood such as Mahogany, Rosewood, Cedarwood, etc. while picking out a guitar. Manufacturers use different wood for the body and the fret, and sometimes even for the neck. Cedar, Koa, Mahogany and Spruce are best suited for an acoustic guitar’s soundboard (body), as it plays a vital role in the sound quality.

Pickups: Mostly found in electric guitars, pickups are devices used to convert vibrations from the strings to electronic signals. Since they are electronic devices, it is better to check the origin and the type of pickup that the Chinese guitar uses before placing an order. Many Chinese guitar makers use pickups made in South Korea, which also supply the device to many countries around the world. Although an acoustic guitar doesn’t need a pickup, some are fitted with one so that you have an option to connect them directly to an amplifier.

Body Style: With acoustic models, guitars have been maintaining the same curved-edge design over the centuries. But this is not the case with electric guitars. From star-shaped ones to arrow-styled designs, there are no restrictions on their body styles. Depending on what suits your image or personality, you can choose a design. 

Playability: The shape and design of the body do not affect playability, especially for electric guitars; as you would use a shoulder strap while strumming. The fret, however, has to be gripped right while playing your chords. The back of the fretboard, referred to as necks, are curved and are terms as U Shape, Soft V, Oval C and Medium V. Apply some thought into what would be most comfortable for you. Strings on a guitar are made of tin-plated steel or sometimes nylon strings. While steel strings are more common and spares can be bought easily, nylon strings are a better option for beginners – as steel strings can cause callouses. If you are a lefty, make sure that you purchase a guitar intended for left-handed musicians.  

The genre of Music: Depending on the type of music that you play, you can select the guitar type. For Indie and Country music, acoustic guitars are more suitable while electric guitars are ideal for rock music. There is no lack of options on either in the Chinese guitar market. 

Are Chinese Guitars Good?

In my opinion, Chinese Guitars are definitely a must-buy for their quality and pricing. My musician friends swear by the craftsmanship and the build quality of these Chinese guitars. 

We must erase the thought about Chinese products being of low quality as not all products they manufacture are cheap and of inferior quality. As I mentioned earlier some of the greatest guitar makers Ibanez, Gibson, and even Fender get their guitars made in China. 

Chinese manufacturers are producing well designed and constructed instruments that have gained patrons across the globe.  

The best Chinese guitars include the best of both electric and acoustic guitars making them truly world-class. Many of these Chinese guitars have been lauded as they sound and feel better than most expensive brands. 

If you didn’t know, Chinese manufacturers were known for producing parts for American guitars from decades. The fact that you can custom make your guitar from China gives you an edge. The other famous brands may not let you do this unless you are a famous musician. 

This opens a lot of doors for budding professionals who want their guitar to sound and feel a certain way. If you’re one of them, and you haven’t checked out the best Chinese guitars yet.

Also Read :

Related Posts

You cannot copy content of this page

en_USEnglish