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Best Acoustic Guitar Brands
Submitted by Jason on Wed, 11/17/2010 - 05:13.
Here is a collection of the some of best Acoustic Guitars.
I have researched these guitars not only from feedback here at GuitarSite.com, but also by communicating with retailers, and scouring the feedback and comments on a whole host of websites. These are all steel stringed acoustics - there is a separate page for our Nylon Stringed roundup.
There were a lot more I would have liked to include, but in the interests of keeping this simple, particularly for those of you who may be looking for your first Acoustic Guitar (maybe you're a beginner, or maybe you've been playing electric for years and would like to try something different), I had to make the cut somewhere.
I've chosen some from different price ranges so no matter whether you're a beginner looking for something good but cheap, or your an experienced guitarist looking for something more, hopefully this list will be of help to you. I have listed the MSRP (Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price) for each guitar, but you will generally be able to pick them up for quite a bit less if you shop around (Hint - hardly anyone ever pays the full list price).
Beginner Guitars
Firstly we'll look at a few of the best entry level guitars for beginners.
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Epiphone
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This is Epiphone's best selling acoustic and many a young musician has had this as their first ever guitar. It comes in 3 colors - Ebony, Natural, and Vintage Sunburst (same color as my first electric). This is definitely a great cheap acoustic. MSRP is 182.00 but most online guitar shops sell it for $99 |
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Ibanez AW50NT |
Inspired by the Ibanez acoustic guitars of old, the AW50NT is a great first guitar. Ibanez say it sets a new benchmark in entry-level guitars, and they're not exaggerating much. MSRP is $299.99 but you can get it online for as little as $199.99. |
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Fender
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This is a great acoustic for the price and comes in 3 colors - Black (as pictured), Natural, and Sunburst. It has a relatively low action which is a bonus for beginners because it makes it easier to press the strings down onto the frets. MSRP is $299.99, but you can get it for less than $199.99 online. |
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LX1 Little Martin Acoustic Guitar |
You wouldn't usually expect to see a cheap Martin, however they do make guitars for beginners, and this is certainly a great guitar to start with. It follows the Martin tradition of quality, is very well balanced, and also nice and light. MSRP is $419.00 - however I've seen it selling for $299 online. |
Intermediate Guitars
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Epiphone Hummingbird Pro |
Thanks to Epiphone, we can now have an elegant looking acoustic guitar based on the '60s era Gibson Hummingbird at a very affordable price. The guitar faithfully follows the design details of the original, including its pickguard and inlays, which give it a luxurious look. Your hands and ears will also feel at home because it comes with a conventional acoustic dreadnought body, featuring a solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides. This is a great quality guitar for something just under $300. |
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Taylor 110 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar |
I have read comments from a number of guitarists who have owned one of these for years and say it still plays as well as it did when they first bought it, but then you wouldn't expect much less from Taylor. MSRP is $798.00 but it's selling online for less than $600. |
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Ovation iDea |
Strictly speaking this is an Acoustic-Electric, but I really couldn't leave this one out of the list. It has both acoustic pickups and a built in microphone, and to top it all off it also has a built in MP3 recorder. And it has USB so you can upload/download your recordings. That really is a great idea! If you want the features of the iDea in your own guitar, then you can buy the Ovation iDea OPi-1 Preamp. |
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Yamaha LJ6 |
There was a time when Yamaha were thought of as just a guitar maker for students and beginners - but those days are long gone and Yamaha now produce quality acoustics that compete favorably with the best in this category, and the LJ6 with it's Jumbo body is a favorite of many. MSRP is $829.99. |
Top Acoustic Guitars
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Breedlove American Series |
Breedlove Guitars have a loyal fan base, and they've earned it with their American Series which have beautiful finishes and tones to match. The Dreadnought body has solid mahogany back and sides and a solid sitka spruce top, and of course they're lovingly made in Bend, Oregon, USA. MSRP is $2,669.00. |
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Takamine
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The Takamine brand is known for providing high-end specs and quality at a very reasonable price. They help stop big brand manufacturers from setting their prices to high - by showing them that great guitars can be produced at reasonable prices. The Takamine TAN15C is a perfect example, featuring specs and appointments that you usually have to pay top dollars for. Retail price is $1,649.99. Go to the Takamine TAN15C page for more. |
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Taylor 810ce |
You didn't think we were finished with Taylor in this list did you? The truth is that there isn't enough room to fit in all the deserving Taylor acoustics, and we couldn't leave this one out. The 810ce is a great looking guitar with elegant wood grains that we've come to expect from Taylor, and it sounds as great as it looks. The Taylor 810ce sells online for around $2,999. |
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Gibson Robert Johnson L-1 |
Gibson are one of the most famous guitar brands, and could easily be included in this list more times than I was able to fit them in, but the Robert Johnson L-1 had to be here because it's much loved by it's owners, just like the legend it was named after. MSRP is $2,793.00 but is sells online for less than $2,200. |
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Martin HD-28 |
This is one beautifully American made dreadnought body guitar. Sitka - Mahogany - Rosewood - Ebony. I don't have enough space here to give it the praise it fully deserves. MSRP is $3,449.00 but you can get it online for around $2,600. |
If Bill Gates offered to buy you an acoustic for Christmas...
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Martin 0028 1865 Conversion Retail price is $20,000. Go to the Martin 0028 1865 Conversion page now. |
Thank you to Sweetwater for their sponsorship and providing the full specifications for the guitars above where possible. You can see more acoustic guitars at www.sweetwater.com/shop/guitars/acoustic/
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Haha, I was like, wait why
Haha, I was like, wait why is there only one Taylor so far when I read the intermediate section. You're right, there are just too many Taylors...haha...
wow
great collection! :)
Where is Takamine?
Takamine 2010 Limited Edition Dreadnought should have been in the list
So what kind of wood is suitable for production of the guitar it
So what kind of wood is suitable for production of the guitar it? And what kind of wood in turn impact on the sound. For readers, how to select a sound of guitar or bass for their own is also an important issue. We now choose to discuss some common materials.
Wood types and sound
I produce dreadnought and dreadnought cutaways with sitka spruce tops and a choice of mahogany or East Indian Rosewood back and sides.
The mahogany produces a loud but mellow sound. The rosewood being a harder denser wood produces a sharper sound... it is not as mellow as the mahogany but still able to project the sound very loudly.
Anther thing that greatly effect the sound quality and allow for the projection of sound is the bracing. I always use the scalloped bracing. Removing a little wood from the bracing in the scalloped design allows the sound board to vibrate more producing a larger volume of sound.
www.rmolsonguitars.com
Guitars and guitar kits including a replica
of the Languedoc style Guitar
Washburn D46S
Washburns D46S should have made the cut. I've never had a better guitar ever! The ash back and sides compliments the rich tone produced by the spruce top and the action is beautiful. It cost me $329 when I bought it. Mine is left handed and very few stores will sell the leftys.
best american guitar?
Maybe it should be renamed best american acoustic guitar? I don't see 1 spanish guitar there. or perhaps ramirez or rodriquez guitars don't compare?
Maybe we should do a page on Nylon Stringed / Spanish Guitars
You make a good point - but this page was only intended to be about steel string guitars.
There are guitars on this page from outside America, so I guess you're referring to nylon stringed guitars.
I'll put a special page for nylon string guitars (which I play myself) on the list of things to do - but it will take a while because there's a lot of research that goes into producing a special page like this.
Gibson SJ-250 Monarch
That Gibson SJ-250 Monarch... nice looking box -
But will it sound better than my fifty year old, beaten up old Yamaha FG140?
Frankly I'm really not impressed by anything made by Gibson, and their prices are
ridiculous.
As for Taylors.
Nice looking boxes, but overpriced, pretentious crap.
Not even very well made, I played one recently with some of the roughest fret edges I'd ever seen.
Taylors
Man , I never heard a guy badmouth Gibson and Taylor in the same sitting. I ve owned a Taylor 314 and 814. Both are beautifully made and easier to play than Gibson or Martin. No fret drag at all. If you can only own one guitar, get one thats versatile like a Taylor 314. It strums and fingerpicks brightly. Not thumpy like some others.
Forgot one key brand
After reading all these reviews there is one important thing missing. Guilds are not on the list. I own a guild d55 and a GAD 50E and a couple gibsons and my guilds beat em hands down for sound, feel, price and quality. PRS make some smokin acoustics to, but you would need to sell your organs to pay for one.
Cheers
Yes, Guilds are good!
You make a good point about Guilds - they are deserving, and when we update this list they will stand a strong chance of being included.
However, I wouldn't sell a Hammond to buy a PRS - maybe an old Casio though :)
Guilds
Guilds is in fact one of the good acoustic guitar amongst the many branded brand.
where is Lakewood??
no lakewoods here?? really??? are they that crappy about guitars??? i thought they were one of the best. . .
CD-60 Dreadnaught
For the money, it is just hard to beat the CD-60 Dreadnaught. It is easier to learn on and for people like me, with small hands, it is just easier to play. Doesn't have the sound quality of some high enders, but, for the money, good guitar.
beginner guitar
Thank you for listing of Guitar..I am very interested like this musical instruments..
Wow,,Its amazing.!!It helps to the buyers who are really interested in bands and musics.
i want to start my guitar
i want to start my guitar lessons from next month onwards so i want to buy new acoustic guitar so whts the best beginner guitar below $100
An acoustic guitar for under
An acoustic guitar for under $100 is like buying a car for $300. Is there an engine in it? Probably not.
The lowest I'd tell you to go is $200. Seek out the WD10S from Washburn. It ranks in the top 5 for guitars in that price range on any list you'll find. It has a solid spruce top and is actually a good little guitar. You may be able to find a used one in about the $100 - $150 price range. Good luck!
TM
The best acoustic under $100
The best new acoustic guitar in that price range is the Epiphone DR-100 at the top of the list above.
TM has a good point - you could get a better one second hand - but there are many pitfalls when you don't know what to look out for in a second hand guitar.
The truth is that right now you have no way of knowing what you'll want in the long run, and any guitar you buy now with your budget is going to be one you outgrow in a year or so.
My opinion is that you should go with a brand new Epiphone DR-100 for now, and then once you understand the instrument better you'll be in a much better position to decide what you really want in the long term, and in a much better position to understand what you're getting when you buy second hand.
Cheap guitar
Dont buy too cheap. The cheaper the guitar, the harder to play and the less quality the sound. You want a rewarding feel and sound or you will get discouraged. Buy a better guitar used than a new one cheap. Are you going to learn chords or fingerpicking ? Some guitars are better sounding for one than the other. Some like Taylors are versatile and provide good sound for both. Be smart. Good luck.
Epiphone DR-100
I think gibson guitar brand is the best, his voice clear as Epiphone DR-100, but now I still do not have money to buy it.
If you haven't tried a
If you haven't tried a higher end Yairi then you have missed it. These are great hand crafted guitars with a very good neck and great sound. They are branded Alverez in the US but be sure it is one of the Yairi made. There are not lots of them made due the the complete hand crafted design. You don't find them in the music stores much but they should be there. I have owned one for many years and have yet to pick up any other guitar that can match it in my opinion
yari alvarez guitar
I agree I have a yari signature series and before I bought it I tried 4 or 5 Martins and still prefered the Yari
Beginners lefthand guitars
Hi
I am very much interested in learning guitar and basically left handed. Can u plz suggest left handed models for beginners.
m abt 2 strt learnin ma
m abt 2 strt learnin ma guitar. I am 17. N need a guitar upto 3000- 4000. Cn u plz recommnd me sum.
I would call it waistful or
I would call it waistful or just plain ignorant to buy a $3000 guitar if your learning. Unless your actually a musician, buy yourself a decent$200 fender or whatever it may be and learn on that. Theres not that much diferrence if any at all, at least to someoe who doesnt know how to play yet. If youve got it like that do yourself a favor, buy a $3000 dollar guitarand whn you give up on it like most do in two or three months, find someone who actually plays and can appreciate a guitar of that quality and make his day and give it to someone deserving.
guitar pricing needed
I got a pre 1970 Suzuki guitar with a no.12 printer inside on the man. logo i am trying to find out how much it is worth
Bill Gates
I'm now trying to send bill gates a email asking "Would you like to buy a guitar for me"
Acoustic Guitars Best
$500 Range Epiphone Masterbilt or Alvarez Masterworks (all solid woods)Used they go for $300 on Ebay. $100-$300 Hmm good luck. Try the Washburns, or anything you can get with a solid top.
how much is my Bravo Model No.BC-20N?
How much is it?
help
pls hw can i get this guitar model;AFS75T. FINISH;TOBACCO FLAT...i would be grate ful if u can help me with it
Great compiled list!!
This post was written in 2010. Any differences for this year?
Gibson SJ-250 Monarch for 25,ooo? Will Bill Gates ever want to buy this high end guitar?
Really nice list btw.. :)
We are working on an update
We are working on an update for 2012 - I can't yet tell you when it will be available, but stay tuned...
Seagull S6 is good. And
Seagull S6 is good. And inexpensive. A lot says its sound is comparable to Martins at a fraction of the price. Several websites list it as the best beginner guitar.
forget about the american
forget about the american guitars if you want a guitar that want break the bank but wouldnt be out of place in any company you cant go past australia guitars maton or if you really a blessed a cole clark fat lady or angel. Im not australian by the way, cant stand the auckers but they sure no how to make guitars ask jack johnson
2011 R M Olson Herringbone Dreadnought Cutaway
Your missing the solid wood guitars that look and sound like Martins but are in the $450.00 price range.
http://rmolsonguitars.com
Please put the Chords or
Please put the Chords or tablature out for Ry Cooder's "SOUTHERN COMFORT"
Rare and Vintage Washburn D-42-SW Acoustic Guitar with Hard Case
I have for sale a 1995(only production year) rare and vintage D-42-SW Harvest Washburn Guitar for $650.00 with hard case. If you are interested in purchasing this rare beauty, please email me at chaliemiddleton@gmail.com. This guitar is in excellent condition and rarely played.
Chuck Middleton
Lafayette, LA
337-315-2350(m) for call or text
about lovely collection of Guitar
Nice post and i really like the way you write this. As I also love to play Guitar specially Acoustic. I really like the Yamaha LL6 brand.
Ibanez Artwood Series
we were given an Ibanez acoustic guitar and was wondering if anyone knew the history of this guitar.
Ibanez
Artwood Series AW-60
It is hard to read but either 81120173D or B1120173D
It is signed, not a printed signature but an actual hand cursive signature of M Honda
It is made in Japan
It has original Ibanez smooth tuner II machine heads
Inside on the neck block is printed 130165 with an "X" stamped below the number.
Is there any where here I can post pictures of it and the label?
The best guitar bar none is
The best guitar bar none is the Garrison g50
I bought a Yamaha EC-10
I bought a Yamaha EC-10 classical at a garage sale for $5.00. It was still in the cardboard box and never played according to the seller. The guitar is full size and looks cool and has real good volume and good bass, but I'd still like to get more bass out of it. I'm thinking of making some modifications to my guitar so that I can fit it with actual bass guitar strings, nylon ones. A friend of mine said I'd wreck up my guitar if I did this. Would I wreck the guitar putting bass strings on it or could I make a bass out of it?
That would be a bad idea -
That would be a bad idea - even if you could fit the bass strings on (which I doubt) the tension would be too high and would warp the neck, or down an octave they'd be too loose and you'd have heaps of fret buzzing.
If you want more bass on the bottom strings, try different brands of strings and find ones which are less 'bright' on your guitar.
What about Collings guitars
What about Collings guitars are they no good
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