Guitar bundle kits look like a good deal. Sometimes they are. Here's how to tell the difference.
What's Actually in a Bundle
Most beginner bundles are built around a guitar that's at the low end of the manufacturer's lineup, paired with a small practice amp and a collection of accessories that cost almost nothing to produce. The guitar is usually playable. The amp is usually adequate. The accessories — strap, cable, picks, tuner — are cheap to produce and cheap to replace.
The problem isn't that the components are bad. It's that you're paying a bundled price for components you may not need, may already have, or may want to choose yourself. A lot of the time, the accessories are there to make a weaker guitar look like a better deal.
The Real Reason People Buy Bundles
Most people asking about beginner guitar bundles aren't trying to cut corners — they're not sure the kid is going to stick with it, and they don't want to spend a few hundred dollars to find out. That's a reasonable position. The question is whether the bundle guitar is good enough to give it a fair shot. A guitar that's hard to play because the action is too high will kill interest faster than anything else — and that's fixable with a setup, but only if the guitar itself is worth setting up.
When a Bundle Makes Sense
- You're buying for a complete beginner who needs everything and wants the simplest possible starting point
- You're buying as a gift and don't want to make multiple decisions
- The bundle is from a reputable brand (Fender, Squier, Epiphone) and the guitar is the same model sold individually
- The price is close to what the guitar alone would cost — meaning the accessories are effectively free
When a Bundle Doesn't Make Sense
- You already have some of the accessories
- You want to choose your own amp — the amp in most bundles is the weakest component and the first thing players upgrade
- The bundle is from an unknown brand at a suspiciously low price — at under $100 for everything, something is being compromised
- You're buying for someone who already has opinions about gear — let them choose
The Setup Question
Bundle guitars ship from the factory like any other guitar — action is often higher than it needs to be. A setup before the first lesson makes a real difference, bundle or not. Don't assume the guitar is ready to play out of the box.
The Better Alternative
For most beginners, buying a good guitar separately and adding accessories as needed is a better approach than a bundle. You get a better guitar for the same money, and you're not paying for accessories you don't need yet.
If you're buying used, see our Used Guitar Buying Checklist first. Not sure where to start? See How to Choose Your First Guitar or Electric vs. Acoustic for Beginners. Or browse our beginner guitar inventory.
We carry Squier bundles at the shop — and we work with players from across the Capital Region, Glens Falls, Queensbury, and Saratoga Springs who want a straight answer on what's actually worth buying.
Paul's Guitar Hideout is located at The Shirt Factory in Glens Falls, NY. Use the Cooper Street entrance and take the stairs up. If you need assistance, give us a call and we'll come down.
The Shirt Factory
71 Lawrence St., Suite 201B, 2nd Floor
Glens Falls, NY 12801
Wednesday–Sunday, 12–5pm
(518) 217-8695 · info@paulsguitarhideout.com