I wish I could have started on this guitar. Luckily, you can. Save $150 — nearly 45% — on the Sterling by Music Man Cutlass CT30HSS during Sweetwater’s Black Friday Sale

Looking for the perfect starter guitar for someone in your life? Maybe even for yourself? With the holidays here, this is the perfect time to treat someone to a great student guitar they can play and grow with. The Sterling by Music Man Cutlass CT30HSS ticks all the boxes, from its woods to its electronics to its finish and looks. And best of all you can get it right now in a range of colors and at a savings of $150 — nearly 45 percent — during Sweetwater’s Black Friday sale.

Sterling by Music Man Cutlass CT30HSS: was US$349.99 now US$199.99 at Sweetwater Sound

Combining a timeless design with well-considered woods, electronics and hardware, the Cutlass CT30HSS from Sterling by Music Man is an excellent first guitar with tone and features that will please for years. From its acoustically balanced low and midrange resonance to its easy-playing neck and fretboard and combination of humbucking and single-coil pickups, this is a guitar you can learn and grow with. And at this price, it's never been better.

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Frankly, if I’d had access to a guitar like the Sterling by Music Man Cutlass CT30HSS when I was starting out, who knows what a difference it might have made. Beyond its features and budget-friendly price, this is a guitar with a Fender pedigree. Granted, Leo Fender didn’t spend much time at Music Man — just four years — before he took off to launch G&L. Even so, the Cutlass recalls his first post-Fender design, the StingRay, giving the Cutlass a curvy connection to Leo’s iconic design sensibilities.

At this price, it’s hard to make an argument against the Cutlass, but you’d be hard-pressed to do so even at its list price. Young players will love the full, balanced tone of its jabon body — known for its exceptional low and midrange presence — and the bright, articulate tone of its neck, which delivers tight, sustaining notes from top to bottom. A guitar that sounds this good is one you’ll play all the time, making this an ideal choice for beginners. Add in the fast laurel fingerboard and you have a student model that’s friendly on the fingers too.

To make things even sweeter… well, just look at that name and you’ll see what I mean: HSS. You get humbucker and single-coil tones combined with a five-position blade switch. The result is a tonally versatile instrument that will please any new guitarist and keep them enjoying their Cutlass even when they’ve become seasoned players. At this price, I’m tempted to get one for myself, just to make up for the junk I had to struggle with when I started out.

And with a range of color finishes available — Mint Green, Chopper Blue, Vintage Cream, Pueblo Pink, and Black, there’s something here to please every young player’s eye.

Get a great deal on the Sterling by Music Man Cutlass CT30HSS at Sweetwater.

And be sure to see more early offers on our dedicated Black Friday guitar deals page.