Artist AS30 Review
The best first electric guitar for most Australian beginners, and the one we point families to when they ask us what to buy.
After most first lessons, parents will ask me the same question: what guitar should I buy my kid? Or an adult student that has decided they want to give electric guitar a fair go asks what is the best electric guitar to get and does it need to be expensive to be good? My answer has been the Artist AS30 for a while now, and this review is the long version of that answer. A place I can point my students/parents to when they ask.
I have been continually impressed by the Artist range of guitars for years and currently their beginner level electric guitar, the AS30, is the best quality for value that they have offered to date. I have recommended them to many students, and Every single one that has come into our studios has consistently been top-notch quality control with all the bells and whistles that you'd expect from a much more high-end $800 to even a $1000 guitar from bigger name brands.
At $329 with a padded gig bag included (which is literally the best guitar case I've ever seen in my life, even better than the high end hard cases that you get from extremely expensive branded guitars (unless you are traveling on a plane or it lives in the tray of a ute that is)), the AS30 sits in the sweet spot: cheap enough that anyone can afford it, yet such a high quality instrument that it will never be the reason practice feels hard.
Specifications
| Body | Bound roasted poplar with flame maple veneer |
|---|---|
| Neck | Light-roasted maple, satin finish, C shape |
| Fretboard | Maple, 9.5 inch radius, 22 medium jumbo frets |
| Pickups | HSS with coil-split humbucker |
| Included | Padded gig bag |
| Price | $329 AUD |
What we like
- The HSS pickup layout with a coil split covers everything from clean pop songs to full distortion. One guitar, every style a beginner is likely to chase.
- The roasted maple neck feels smooth and settled, and it stays stable through season changes, which matters in North Queensland humidity.
- It looks like a much more expensive guitar. The flame maple veneer under stage lights or on a bedroom wall is a genuine motivator for kids to pick it up.
- The gig bag is included and is seriously beyond excellent design and build quality.
Honest limitations
- The single coils are voiced for beginners rather than more expensive boutique sparkle. If you already know you chase glassy vintage alnico tones, step up to the AS72 instead.
- Experienced players will eventually want to upgrade pickups. That is normal at this price, and the guitar is worth keeping when you do.
- Only you can decide between the four finishes, and that is a harder choice than any spec.
Buy it if
- Anyone looking for the best value for money and a cheaper entry point from kids to adults alike
- Beginners who want one guitar that covers pop, rock, indie and metal
- Families who want a safe, teacher-recommended answer without research fatigue
Skip it if
- Players who already know they want boutique-style alnico pickups (look at the AS72)
- Anyone needing a short-scale guitar for a very small child (get a 3/4 size first)
AS30: $329
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AS30 FAQ
Is the Artist AS30 a good first guitar?
Yes, and it is the guitar we recommend to most new students at Six Strings. The HSS pickups with coil split handle every style a beginner is likely to try, the roasted maple neck is comfortable for small and adult hands, and at $329 with a gig bag included it leaves budget room for a good amp.
Artist AS30 vs Yamaha Pacifica: which is better for a beginner?
Both are good first guitars. The Pacifica is the default recommendation on most Australian lists and it deserves its reputation. We lean towards the AS30 for 4 practical reasons: 1. the flame maple finish makes kids want to pick it up, 2. the coil-split humbucker gives more tonal range at this price, 3. Artist's Australian service and 100-day returns make the buying decision low risk for families, and 4. the AS30 is seriously a few notches above in terms of design and build quality compared to all other beginner guitars that you can get on the market today. If you already have a Yamaha Pacifica, then stick with that. It'll be fine. If you haven't got anything yet, definitely check out the AS30. Heck you have no risk because if you don't like it, you can send it back with your full money back guarantee for up to 100 days.
What age and size is the AS30 suitable for?
It is a full-size guitar, so it suits players from roughly 10 years and 150cm tall, and it works for adults too. For younger or smaller children, start with a 3/4 size electric and move up when their hands are ready. Ask us at a lesson and we will check the fit for free.
Does the Artist AS30 come with a gig bag?
Yes, every AS30 comes with a padded gig bag included in the $329 price, along with Artist's 100-day returns and 3 year warranty.
Still deciding?
See the full shortlist across all price tiers, or ask us at a lesson and we will match a guitar to your hands, height and taste in music.