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 - also see our Nylon Stringed roundup.
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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 DR-100
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).
MSRP is 182.00 but most online guitar shops sell it for $99
Go to the Epiphone DR-100 page for more.
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Ibanez SAGE SGT120NT
Inspired by the Ibanez acoustic guitars of old, the SGT120NT is a great first guitar. Ibanez say it sets a new benchmark in entry-level guitars, and they're not exaggerating much.
MSRP is $228.56
Go to the Ibanez SAGE page for more.
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Fender CD-60 Dreadnaught
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. Go to the Fender site for more info and pictures.
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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 $299.99
Go to the LX1 Little Martin page for more.
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Intermediate Guitars
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Epiphone Hummingbird
It has the classic look of the Gibson Hummingbird, however being manufactured in South East Asia it comes without the classically high price tag. Reviews and comments on the Epiphone Hummingbird seem to universally agree that this is a very playable guitar with the kind of soft tone you'd expect from the original.
MSRP is $582.00 - Epiphone Hummingbird page
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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
Go to the Taylor 110 page for more.
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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!
MSRP is $829.00. Go to the Ovation iDea site for more info and pictures.
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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. Go to the Yamaha LJ6 page for more.
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Top Acoustic Guitars
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Breedlove American Series D20/SM
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 $1,339.00
Go to the D20/SM page for more.
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Bedell TB-28-G
You may not have heard of this brand - it was founded by Tom Bedell in the 1960s and originally imported from Japan. These days it's designed in the USA by "Two Old Hippies" and manufactured in China. The Bedell TB-28-G Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar has had some great reviews and it also has respectable sales figures, which is saying something because it's not the cheapest guitar on the block.
MSRP is $1,559.00. Go to the Bedell TB-28-G page for more.
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Taylor GA4
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, but I couldn't leave this one out. It has a traditionally styled Grand Auditorium body matched elegantly with ovangkol/Sitka spruce.
MSRP is 1,848.00. Go to GA4 for full specs and pictures.
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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.
Go to the Gibson Robert Johnson L-1 page for more pictures and detailed specifications.
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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.
Go to the Martin HD-28 page for complete specifications and more pictures.
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If Bill Gates offered to buy you an acoustic for Christmas...
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Gibson SJ-250 Monarch
This guitar continues a legacy that began at Gibson in 1937. While the rest of the world was rushing head-long into insanity, a master luthier was quietly and purposefully creating his magnum opus. It doesn't seem fair to write only a few lines about this guitar, so if Gibson would like to send me one I'll promise a detailed full page review :)
MSRP is $25,771
Just go to the Gibson SJ-250 Monarch page now.
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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.
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.
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 :)
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.
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
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.
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