I’m looking to buy a Stratocaster with a budget of 250 dollars. What’s the best budget Stratocaster out there?
I assume that you are a new player. If not, please let us know.
The best strat for you is one that excites you, feels good in your hands, with a good setup by a knowledgeable guitar tech.
This is probably not the answer you were expecting.
I would start your search in the used section at your local guitar store if possible.
Yes, I am a beginner. Thanks for the advice! Are there any brands or models you might suggest that have decent equipment for the price range?
Probably depends where in the world you are. But Squier and Yamaha are both pretty good at the low end. Hard to go wrong with them.
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Squier or Jet would be the most obvious ones for me.
I’m happy with my cherry burst from monoprice.com:
https://youtu.be/QiDxCNWv990?si=Xb33-HcPNHUQitzP
Welcome Stanley,
Squier or Jet would be a good start.
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Afaik, you can’t go wrong with a Yamaha Pacifica 112. Strat clone within your budget.
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Hi Stanley ,
Maybe this video is fun to watch and will help you in the right direction 
Welcome here to the forum and I hope you enjoy it 
Greetings,Rogier
Hi @stantheman4
Remember that you should also budget to buy an amp of some sort if you don’t have one. This can be as simple as cabling into a computer and using software, to a headphone amp, to a combo amp-in-cabinet. You will want some way to get the sound out of the electric guitar.
There are a lot of forum threads on amps as well. Look at “minimum” gear and “portable” gear in addition to “amp”. Here is one post I made that has ideas: Really need amp for beginner - #9 by sequences
Thanks everybody, I’ll check your suggestions out.
Watch out for steep rabbit holes and huge warrens. 