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Best Acoustic Guitar Under $1000
Submitted by Alexander on Fri, 02/10/2012 - 03:41.
We present to you GuitarSite's awarded best acoustic guitar under 1000 bucks, along with some equally impressive runner-ups!
There are a number of good acoustic guitars in the sub $1000 price range, which can make it difficult to choose. But don't worry, we've used our considerable experience to present you with the best acoustic guitars under $1000, along with some details to help you decide on what to buy. These guitars feature tone woods, durability, attention to detail, and sound that are comparable to many more expensive models.
The Best!
Martin D-1GT
It was a close call, but ultimately, the Martin D-1GT tops all the best acoustic guitars under 1000 dollars. Although the runner-ups did come close and can arguably beat it on some aspects, the well rounded 25.4" scale guitar still takes the cake and served as a good standard to measure the other guitars.
Getting a full featured Martin guitar at a retail price of less than $900 is a very sweet deal. The Martin D-1GT will not disappoint as it features craftsmanship and playability comparable to the more expensive Martin guitars, and sports impressive tonewoods - solid sitka spruce top, black richlite fretboard and solid sapele for the back and sides. The Martin brand ofcourse helped raise its status, as you can take pride that you are holding a dreadnought acoustic guitar that came from the same company that originally developed the popular guitar shape. And having been the ones that introduced the dreadnought, it is only natural to expect good things. The dreadnought shape is popular because of its flexible, rounded and balanced tone. If you look around, you will find mostly good reviews if not raves for this guitar. The Martin D-1GT is the guitar to aim for within this budget range. Manufacturer: C.F. Martin & Co. | Retail Price: $899.00 | The Left-Handed version is available at Amazon.com
Runner-ups - Close to the Best...
Taylor 214
Taylor is a relatively new comer in the acoustic guitar making industry but their popularity and status now rivals that of established brands when it comes to quality acoustic guitars. It may not have the same historical significance or traditional stylings, but the Taylor 214(G) is a strong contender for the top spot with its equally impressive tonewoods - solid sitka spruce top and Indian rosewood back and sides.
The Taylor 214(G) features the Grand Auditorium shape, which is an original Bob Taylor design unveiled in 1994. Its unique narrower waist is designed to add a treble zing to its acoustic tone. Combining that to its thinner braces, it allows the top to move faster and produces a bell type tone which s more suitable for finger picking and subtle articulations. The guitar's ebony fretboard, 25.5" scale and comfortable 15" radius add to its already respectable playability. Sitting at $100 cheaper than the Martin D1-GT, we won't be hating you if you choose this over our top choice. Manufacturer: Taylor Guitars | Retail Price: $799.00 | Get the latest price & reviews at Amazon.com
Yamaha LL16
The Yamaha LL16 is a great looking guitar with superb specs - it has a solid Engelmann spruce top, multilayered/padauk reinforced neck and an ebony fretboard. The materials alone make this guitar an excellent deal. Yamaha preferred the Engelmann spruce top over the usual Sitka because of its natural allowance for resonance, allowing it to vibrate more freely. It is a light wood that provides good tonal response and not to mention good to the eye.
Other features include solid rosewood for the back and sides which blends well with the Engelmann spruce top. This combination is known to produce a more balanced tone. All these materials combine to provide what many reviews describes as a "vibrant" tone. This 25.56" scale guitar is certainly an interesting choice for those that are looking for something other than sitka spruce top within that $1000 price range. Manufacturer: Yamaha | Retail Price: $749.99 | Get the latest price & reviews at Amazon.com - Yamaha also make a great Silent Guitar
Seagull Maritime SWS Folk High-Gloss
The Seagull Maritime SWS Folk High-Gloss acoustic guitar is an easy pick if you are looking for a reasonably priced traditional guitar. First thing that you'll notice is its classic aesthetics and its high-gloss finish. This finish protects the guitar and at the same time is light and elastic.
Thankfully its beauty is not just skin deep - the SWS Folk HG features an all solid wood construction with a solid spruce top and solid mahogany back and sides. The traditional, narrow shape of this guitar is designed to provide emphasis on the mid-range, which in turn makes it ideal for fingerstyle players. Other features include a scale length of 24.84", integrated set neck construction and it uses honduras mahogany for the neck. This guitar is easy on the eyes, easy to play and easy to carry, there is no doubt that the Maritime SWS Folk HG is a great catch at this price range. Manufacturer: Seagull Guitars | Retail Price: $699.00 | Get the latest price & reviews at Amazon.com
If you feel that we missed a great guitar that lies below the $1000 price range, or if you have your own list of the best acoustic guitars under 1000 bucks, you can let everyone know through the comments section.
Related News:
Cheap Acoustic Guitars Buyer's Guide
Best Acoustic Guitar Pickup Round-up
The Best Electric Guitars for Under $1,000
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God bless America
I agree about the Martin guitar supremacy in acoustics. However, Martin relies in his reputation to charge and profit beyond imagination.
Consider the pricing and quality wood used by Godin --Solid Wood Series-- Why Martin, using less appealing woods, such as sapele, laminate stratabond necks, etc., cannot do the same and sell their guitars with some kind or rationality, dignity and respect.
After all Martin has made billions of dollars selling guitars, they have had already their moment to make billions profit. They maybe, maybe not, using the same suppliers to buy woods; just like Godin and the others manufacturers and luthiers. Conversely, Martin culture and reputation --created by rich artist that can buy their guitars with the money earned from you and I, allows the company to behave just like the banks and the people who is managing the national economy.
Sounds like you are
Sounds like you are complaining about the rich. Don't buy a Martin dude...
Another Possible Guitar for the List
http://www.recordingking.com/guitars_ro126.html
The Recording King is a fairly unknown yet in my opinion very good guitar brand. My friends older brother sold his guitar to buy this one along with some other things and I must say it plays great with the price. Its an OOO style guitar which is thinner than the standard dreadnought body and after playing on dreads for about 6-7 years I thought it was a nice transition. I'm a teenage musician who came across a pretty well paying job and now I'm looking to upgrade my guitar. I'm willing to spend around 800 and although its not certain yet I believe that in the end I will purchase the recording king.
Recording King
Thanks for mentioning Recording King - not enough people know about this brand. We did consider them and we might have included them if the list above was a Top 10 rather than a Top 4.
Epiphone Masterbuilt AJ500R
I thought the Epiphone Masterbuilt AJ500R might have made the top 4. It has a sitka spruce top and solid rosewood back and sides. Like the Yamaha L series it is now made in China (except the higher end 26 and 36 which are still made in Japan) and I have read - for both makes - that there are quality control issues regarding construction of the neck and flaws in the finish. However, it appears to be a good enough instrument for Russ Barenberg who plays the mahogany version on the link below:
The shame is that Epiphone Masterbuilt series are not so readily available in the UK as in the US.
Acoustic Under 1000
I am actually looking for an all solid guitar for $1,000. And Im looking at Eastman E10D, Larrivee D-02, Martin D-1GT, Yamaha A3M and Cole Clark FL1. I have tried out all excelpt the Cole Clark FL1.
Here are my observatrions
-The Eastman appears to have the volume and balance tone I was lookin for.
-The Larrivee D-02 was warm and the action of the guitar I tried was low and easy to play.
-The Yamaha A3M almost sounded like a Taylor 110 but the low E string was a little too near the edge of the neck for me.
-The Martin was also good, but for my need the D-1GT is a low end for Martin, while the other brands I tested it was a mid-level in terms of the materials.
i did try also the Seagull Maritime (as I have an S6 original), its good for finger styles, however when strum its has a lot of mid-range.
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