11 Best Guitar Starter Kits & Cheap Guitar Starter Packs

If you want to start playing guitar or you’re an old-hand who wants to rekindle their passion and you're on a budget, you need the best guitar starter kits and cheap guitar starter packs that don't suck.

Guitar starter packs offer incredible value for money as you have the opportunity to get hold of a quality acoustic or electric guitar as well as a host of accessories for a reduced price. But which guitar starter pack is right for you? We’ve put together our top 11 best guitar starter kits that don’t suck, proving you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get an incredible sound and playing experience.

We’ll include acoustic options and make our way through the best electric guitar starter kits as well as bass guitar starter packs.

No matter what style of music you want to play, the ultimate guitar bundles for beginners come from Antiquity.

Combining a choice of vintage-inspired instruments with an awesome practice amplifier and all of the assorted accessories you need to get going, there are guitars and basses here for new players of every kind.

Once you’ve picked out your favourite style from the iconic line-up, it’s as simple as plugging-in and playing. Antiquity creates instruments that sound just as good as they look, prioritising playability and versatility in order to make things as easy as possible for new musicians.

Instantly dial-in classic sounds and be inspired to learn every time you pick up an Antiquity instrument – you'll be playing your favourite licks in no time!

Check out the full range of Antiquity Guitar and Bass Bundles here:

Want to get started in the world of classical guitar? No problem. The Cordoba CP100 Nylon String Acoustic Guitar Starter Pack is one of the best acoustic guitar starter kits around as it’s under £100, and you not only get an incredible full-size nylon acoustic guitar but a range of extras to help you learn.

The combination of a Spruce wood top with Nato wood back and sides makes the guitar sing loud and clear, offering a sound much brighter and louder than guitars usually associated with this price bracket. And the inclusion of a Rosewood fingerboard on the easy-to-play neck is a premium appointment, too.

You also get a travel gig bag to protect the guitar, digital clip-on chromatic tuner, 2 plectrums, and a guitar chord and lesson book to help you on your road to guitar stardom.

If you need a hard-working guitar starter kit that you won't have to upgrade then the Ibanez V50NJP Acoustic Guitar Jampack in Vintage Sunburst is ideal.

You get everything you need to begin your musical journey in this Jampack including Ibanez V50 Dreadnought Acoustic guitar, Gig Bag, Chromatic Tuner, Guitar Strap, Accessory pouch and picks. At under £90 it's also a bargain and ideal gift.

We love the Ibanez VC50NJP-NT Acoustic Guitar Jam Pack here because it's easily one of the best affordable guitar starter packs that makes a great travel companion.

The Ibanez VC50NJP-NT Acoustic guitar is a Grand Concert shaped guitar, making it smaller in size, but not so small that it reduces the tone. This is perfect for people with smaller frames, or just those who need a smaller guitar for travelling with. Premium tonewoods such as the Spruce top and Agathis back and sides are usually found on higher-tier guitars whilst the reliable tuners and exotic Nandu tonewood on the bridge and fretboard increase overall sustain. 

A great guitar package that also includes a gig bag, guitar strap, tuner and set of plectrums - everything you need!

At just over £100 it's also an affordable starter pack.

The Epiphone Slash AFD Les Paul Special-II Guitar Outfit is ideal if you’re into the heavier side of music and want a chance to own a guitar designed in conjunction with one of the best guitarists of all time – Slash! This makes our best guitar starter kits blog with ease thanks to the awesome guitar and myriad of accessories including an amplifier.

Straight out of the box you get the Slash AFD Les Paul Special-II with Appetite Amber finish and AAA flame Maple Veneer top. The single-layer Ivory binding with the back, sides and neck finished in a lovely, dark Cherry makes the guitar look incredible, especially under stage lights!

This is based on Slash’s Appetite For Destruction Les Paul and derived from the classic 50’s Les Paul guitars but includes modern improvements like a built-in Shadow E-Tuner. It’s essentially a workhorse guitar for a very modest budget. You also get a guitar cable, Slash’s Snake Pit gig bag, cable, strap and plectrums making it an incredible electric guitar starter pack for fans of Guns n Roses as well as players who love all things Rock!

Next up we have the Epiphone Les Paul Player Pack II Vintage Sunburst. this is a perfect guitar starter pack for new players and old hands who want something high quality to either learn on or record at home. The fact it's a quality Les Paul Jr style guitar with two humbuckers makes it an incredible guitar for rock and blues players!

We think it's one of the best guitar starter kits as you get the high-quality Epiphone Les Paul Player II guitar as well as a 10 Watt Epiphone Electar amp that is quiet enough for practice but can be cranked for lessons and rehearsal. Another key feature is the headphones socket, so you can practice in silence while you get to grips with the guitar. You also get a padded gig bag, guitar strap, plectrums, tuner and a months worth of free online guitar lessons - basically everything you need to start making noise straight away.

The Squier Stratocaster is widely regarded as one of the best beginner guitars on the market today thanks to the fact they’re built extremely well. These guitars help players of all levels get hold of a Stratocaster style guitar at a budget-friendly price. So, it goes without saying that the Squier Stratocaster Electric Guitar Starter Pack should be included in this list.

This is one of the best guitar starter packs as you get the incredible Squier Strat complete with 3 x single-coil pickups and that iconic double-cutaway design, as well as an impressive Squier Frontman Amplifier. The amp itself is a great addition as you have two channels, so you can enjoy clean and dirty tones and figure out which style of music you like best.

You also get a Fender Padded Gig Bag, Fender Guitar Strap, Fender 10’ Instrument Cable, Fender Guitar Picks as well as a 3-Month Fender Play Subscription – everything you need to start playing! A comfortable guitar, great sounding amp and all the accessories you need – what more could you ask for in a guitar starter kit?

We’re now into the realms of professional level electric guitars at budget-friendly prices. The Yamaha Pacifica is renowned as a quality electric guitar that players of all levels can rely on thanks to incredible construction, tonewoods and the pickups used.

We think the Yamaha Pacifica 012 Guitar Starter Pack is one of the best guitar starter kits as not only includes a pro-level guitar, but also an incredible Line 6 V20 guitar practice amp full of amazing sounds, presets and effects. The guitar itself is a solid-bodied, dual cutaway guitar with 2 x single-coil pickups and a humbucker in the bridge – so all sounds are covered.

The amp provides 20 watts of power and is preloaded with 200+ amp sims, cab sims, and digital effects including presets from some of the world’s biggest bands. All styles and genres are covered. In this electric guitar starter pack, you also get a spare set of strings, strap, lead, string winder and plectrums – everything you need in one package!

Yamaha is well respected in the world of beginner guitars. The Yamaha F310 Acoustic Guitar Deluxe Beginners Pack goes one step ahead of a "beginner acoustic" by including premium level tonewoods that experienced guitarists will also enjoy. The combination of a spruce/meranti body with rosewood fingerboard and bridge ensures an incredibly resonant, sweet tone that really shines through. These tonewoods bring out the best in your playing making it ideal for guitarists who need to start playing again or want another guitar for around the home.

You also get a tuner, beginner tuition DVD, guitar strap, extra strings, plectrums and even a guitar stand! this guitar starter kit is a great Christmas gift too thanks to the affordable price tag!

Need a bass guitar starter pack instead? We’ve got you covered with the Squier Affinity Precision Bass PJ Starter Pack. Again, you have everything you need to get started straight out of the box.

In this bass guitar starter pack, you get an incredible Squier Affinity Precision Bass loaded with a Jazz Bass single-coil pickup and Precision Bass split-coil pickup which is ideal for all genres of music. You also get a Fender Rumble 15 Bass Amplifier which provides 15 watts of power. We love this amp as it’s small enough to carry to practice and jam sessions, features an 8" Fender Special Design speaker, 3-band EQ to sculpt your sound, AUX Input for attaching media devices, and even a headphone socket for quiet practice time.

The headphone socket, in particular, is great as you can practice anywhere you like without disturbing your neighbours! You also get a strap, set of picks should you want to play with a plectrum instead of your fingers and a lead to connect the bass guitar to the amp.

Shop all Bass Guitar Starter Packs HERE.

If you love the look and feel of a Fender Stratocaster, but need a bit more powerful that only a humbcker can provide, then the Squier Affinity Strat HSS Starter Pack Brown Sunburst is a great option. 

This budget-friendly guitar starter pack is just over £200 and includes a Squier Affinity Stratocaster loaded with two single coils and a humbucker, which offers a "heavier, thicker" sound - ideal for the metal fans and the players who prefer distortion! You also get a 15 watt Fender Frontman 15G amplifier featuring both clean and overdrive channels - so plenty of tonal versatility. 

This starter pack also includes a Fender padded gig bag, Fender guitar strap, some Fender picks, a cable, and even 3-months of free online guitar lessons courtesy of Fender Play. You're all set to embark on your guitar journey!

It also looks incredibly cool! 

All these guitar and bass starter packs make an ideal gift for musicians too, as they can also be a great practice, backup or main option that doesn’t cost the earth. Shop a full range of guitar starter packs over at PMT Online today or call into your local PMT store to speak to our experts about your needs.