Determining the “best” guitar for you can be tricky. Are you a beginner guitar player or a professional? Do you have a limited budget, or have you really saved up? What style of music do you play? All of these are important questions in determining which acoustic guitar will suit you, your child, or your student.

Often, budget is a big driver of what kind of instrument you select, so we’ve broken down this particular Ten Best Acoustic Guitars article into three sections: entry-level acoustic guitars under $500; intermediate acoustic guitars under $1,000; and premium acoustic guitars priced at $1,000+.

 

Entry-Level Acoustic Guitars Under $500

Yamaha FG830 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar

Yamaha FG830 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar

Yamaha is well-known for making quality instruments for beginners to professionals. The dreadnought size is larger than most acoustic guitars, which makes it ideal if you are looking for power, clarity and the ability to be heard over other instruments.

The FG830 is beginner-friendly and is one of the best-selling acoustic guitars on the market. This six-string guitar features a traditional Western body and is made of solid spruce and rosewood with an abalone inlay. The advanced scalloped bracing enriches the projection and resonance, allowing for a full-bodied tone with great bass response. This Yamaha guitar is versatile and can be used for any style of play.

 

Seagull S6 Original Q1 Acoustic-Electric GuitarSeagull S6 Original Q1 Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Seagull is known for hand-crafting acoustic guitars geared toward the working musician. One of the signature features of Seagull guitars is solid tops (instead of laminate tops), which offer better sound quality.

The Seagull S6 offers entry level players the chance to experience the great feel and outstanding sound of a premium guitar at a budget-friendly price. The solid top is cedar, the back and sides of this instrument are wild cherry and the fingerboard and bridge are rosewood. This is an award-winning guitar that is easy to play and will be cherished by a beginner guitarist.

 

Epiphone DR-100 Acoustic GuitarEpiphone DR-100 Acoustic Guitar

Epiphone is one of American's oldest instrument makers.  Since 1873, Epiphone has made guitars for every style of popular music. The DR-100 acoustic guitar is Epiphone's best-selling acoustic guitar, with the look, sound and quality that players expect to find when they select an Epiphone.

The DR-100 is a dreadnought, the classic, go-to shape for bluegrass, folk, rock and country. The sound is impressive, but it is balanced so that at any volume you can be heard and hear yourself well, too. It features a select spruce top, mahogany body and neck, and rosewood fingerboard. This is a fantastic instrument for a beginner, but any player would be happy with this budget-friendly guitar.

 

Breedlove Pursuit Concert Mahogany Acoustic-Electric GuitarBreedlove Pursuit Concert Mahogany Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Breedlove Guitars was founded in the early 1990’s in Bend, Oregon, by two luthiers who wanted to craft lightweight, responsive guitars using innovative designs, unique materials and distinctive aesthetics. While many Breedlove guitars may be out of the price range for a beginner player, the company offers the Pursuit Concert Mahogany guitar for those who want to experience this boutique brand at a lower price point.

Concert acoustic guitars date to the mid-1800s—their smaller size gives them a bright sound with a punchy mid-range. It also makes these guitars very playable for smaller musicians. This guitar has a solid mahogany top with sapele back and sides for consistent warmth and balance. The smaller size combined with the expert craftsmanship of Breedlove make this a wonderful guitar for beginners.

 

Intermediate Acoustic Guitars Under $1000

 

Martin Road Series DRS2 Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric GuitarMartin Road Series DRS2 Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Martin invented the dreadnought guitar in 1916 and it has become an incredibly popular body style, as it offers players a broad dynamic range with the right amount of bass, midrange and treble. The Martin DRS2 Dreadnought acoustic-electric guitar was designed to provide the deep, driving Martin tone at an affordable price.

This acoustic-electric guitar has a Sitka spruce top and solid sapele mahogany sides and back, with a slimmer profile and taper on the neck that makes playing easy. If you’re looking to own a classic Martin guitar without breaking the budget, the DRS2 is perfect for you.

 

Blueridge Historic Series BR-160-12 12-String Jumbo Acoustic GuitarBlueridge Historic Series BR-160-12 12-String Jumbo Acoustic Guitar

Jumbo acoustic guitars were introduced in the 1930s and have since been played by some of the most famous rock and country stars of the 20th century including Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, and George Harrison. Jumbos offer even more volume and power than the popular dreadnought guitar.

The Blueridge Historic Series BR-160-12 has a solid spruce top, the back and sides are solid East Indian rosewood and the pickguard is a Dalmatian imitation tortoise shell. The Blueridge mahogany series is noted for its power and clarity, making these guitars equally suited for lead and rhythm playing. The classic vintage style and impeccable construction of the Blueridge Historic Series guitars offer traditional features found on expensive vintage guitars at an affordable price for intermediate to professional players.

 

Fender Paramount Series PM-3 Standard All-Mahogany Triple-0 Acoustic GuitarFender Paramount Series PM-3 Standard All-Mahogany Triple-0 Acoustic Guitar

Everyone knows Fender is famous for making legendary electric guitars like the Telecaster and the Stratocaster, but the company also makes premium acoustic guitars such as the Paramount Series PM-3 Standard All-Mahogany Triple-0 Acoustic Guitar. The triple-0 body (also noted as 000), is a smaller, slimmer guitar that lets you hear all the strings at more of a balanced volume as you play. Finger style players love 000 guitars because of this balance.

This guitar features a solid mahogany top, back, and sides. The solid mahogany gives it a lively sound, with a lush and warm voice that resonates freely. Crafted for superior tone and high performance, this premium acoustic from Fender will satisfy any player searching for a smaller, beautiful step-up guitar.

 

Taylor 100 Series 2017 110ce Rosewood Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Guitar Taylor 100 Series 2017 110ce Rosewood Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Taylor prides itself on unmatched construction quality, stable and playable necks, an array of tonal options, and ethically-sourced tonewoods. The Taylor 100 Series 2017 110ce Rosewood Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Guitar keeps with these traditions and offers a great guitar-playing experience accessible to those looking for a moderately priced dreadnought from a premium acoustic guitar company.

With solid Sitka spruce top and layered rosewood backs and sides, the 110ce features new architecture for even more volume and dynamics. Taylor's famous neck profile makes it easy for developing players to form barre chords. The Taylor 100 Series 2017 110ce Rosewood Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric is a great guitar for people taking the first or next step in their musical journey.

 

Premium Acoustic Guitars $1000+

 

Gibson 2016 J-15 Acoustic-Electric GuitarGibson 2016 J-15 Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Handcrafted exclusively at Gibson's Bozeman, Montana facility, the J-15 has a Sitka spruce top which provides ample velocity and sustainable American walnut back and sides, which possesses some of the warmth of rosewood while adding a dash of mahogany's presence, without the extra weight.

An incredibly well-built guitar, the J-15 can easily become your new workhorse acoustic guitar as it can handle the demands of intimate settings and larger venues. The J-15 channels the acclaimed playability of its J-45 heritage and the scalloped spruce bracing provides power and projection. If you’ve been looking to step-up to a gorgeous, powerful acoustic guitar, the Gibson J-15 is certainly a model to consider.

 

Martin Standard Series D-28 Dreadnought Acoustic GuitarMartin Standard Series D-28 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar

Since its debut in 1931, the Martin D-28 has remained a standard by which large-bodied, steel-string guitars are measured. Made of solid East Indian rosewood back and sides, Sitka spruce top and mahogany neck, this guitar has been a favorite of artists like Hank Williams Sr. and Jimmy Page.

Perfect for the intermediate and advanced player, the D-28 has a rich, resonant warmth, and punchy volume. It is particularly well-suited to music styles requiring loud, powerful rhythm accompaniment. Massive bass response balanced with articulate highs makes this a benchmark acoustic guitar and a must-have for the discerning guitarist. The D-28 consistently receives excellent reviews and is a top-seller. Purchase worry-free with the Woodwind & Brasswind 45-day satisfaction guarantee.