The above video lets you see and hear it being played. If you want to hear it in action, this demo gives you a sense of what it can do. Breedlove is a company that isn't quite as well known as some of the larger brands on the list, but these guitars are nonetheless an excellent value for the money. However, just about every Seagull guitar has a top made of solid wood, and Seagull isn't afraid to venture from your typical spruce top--many of their instruments have pressure-tested cedar soundboards, which give their guitars a distinctive, warm sound. While most have laminated backs and sides, these laminates are often made of layers of hardwood (as opposed to the very cheap, plywood-style laminate used in most instruments). - Sherpa Land, Acoustic Guitar Nut – Functions, Materials & Impact of Action. There are a number of other acoustic brands (such as Guild, Washburn, Blueridge, Ibanez, Epiphone to name just a few) that didn’t make this list. The Best Picks: If I were recommending guitars based on finish alone, I think many of Ibanez's acoustic-electric guitar offerings are worth a look. If you’re looking for an acoustic guitar that’s consistent, more robust to differing weather conditions, and sounds even better plugged in that it does unplugged (a rarity in my experience), then Ovation is a brand worth looking at. Washburn also has many higher-end acoustic guitars, many of which are designed in the style of older instruments. But they are certainly a sonically very different brand to Martin. Their amazingly responsive dreadnoughts are often used as bluegrass instruments, and they sound great when being played fingerstyle, too. Like most of the company's acoustic guitars, Heritage Series instruments offer impressive sound at an affordable price. Copyright © 2015 - 2020 - SixStringAcoustic.com - Privacy Policy. They are a much younger company and brand but have fast become the largest manufacturer of acoustic guitars. These guys make some seriously good guitars but still keep their prices within a reasonable range. And as you likely already know, when you're shopping for an acoustic guitar on a budget, it's best to make sure you find one with a solid top. Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment. One thing you'll probably notice right away is the fact that Gretsch acoustics have a unique triangle-shaped soundhole. (This video offers a brief sound demo if you want to hear for yourself.) Baggs pickup systems, which gives them a warm, natural-sounding amplified tone. This does not mean that you should avoid Ibanez altogether, though--while the sound quality of an Ibanez acoustic isn't likely to stand up to some of the other brands on the list, Ibanez is one of the best when it comes to incorporating unique finishes and unusual tonewoods. And with Epiphone's expanding offerings, many guitarists are now realizing that an Epiphone acoustic can be a good guitar in its own right. Every guitar model in this series is made for performance, comfortable to play, all solid wood and has Yamaha's Studio Response Technology (SRT) pickup systems. These guitars are made of carefully-selected woods and hand-built for a vintage-inspired sound. For many, the best guitars acoustic offerings are those that offer impressive quality for a decently low price. The Best Picks: As someone who's partial to unusual guitars, I think the G5034TFT Rancher is a great choice--it's an acoustic that comes with a humbucker pickup and a Bigsby tremolo (check out a demo below). That said, I think the Masterworks series is excellent, and the MF60 OM, an orchestra-body folk acoustic guitar, has a highly playable neck and great all-solid construction. Even if you're on a budget, this brand is worth considering, as their guitars for every price point offer incredible value. Reliable is the first word that comes to mind when thinking about Yamaha. If you want to see this wood and hear how it sounds, this video shows you the Oregon Concert CE from the series. They are made by Godin guitars (which also make Art & Lutherie, Simon & Patrick, Norman and La Patrie). This video offers a demo of some of V-class Taylor guitars. This smaller guitar comes with a dreadnought body that has a gorgeous open-pore natural solid mahogany top, and its sound is beautifully balanced. Typically, you can pick up any Yamaha guitar and it will be reliable – in terms of sound, in terms of playability, in terms of intonation etc. The LV-09 is an especially exquisite guitar in this collection--this video lets you hear it and get a great look at it, too. Soon, his guitars were a favorite among Texas performers, and the brand grew from there. Though Fender are more known for their electric guitars (the iconic Telecaster and Stratocaster to name but two), Fender make a range of acoustic guitars also. But if you want quality and playability without breaking the bank, I think that the Road Series is a good choice. The Best Picks: The Godin Acoustic Series is a great place to look when you want a top-notch, all-solid guitar. These guitars come in dreadnought, concert, classical, jumbo, and orchestra models. The list takes into account different budget ranges – it’s not just the brands that make the best guitars but brands that also make some really decent guitars that are a little bit more friendly on the wallet. Plenty of acoustic guitar players prefer instruments that are carefully made in the United States. Most of their guitars also use quartersawn bracing, which often increases sustain and tonal quality because its grain is less distinctive and it also ages evenly. Here’s a quick overview of the top 10, their price range and the year that they started building acoustic  guitars. While Epiphone started out as a distinct company, it was acquired by Gibson many years ago in 1957. Your preference matters a lot when it comes to choosing a brand. Headquarters: Nazareth, Pennsylvania, USA, Factory(s) located: Nazareth, Pennsylvania | Navojoa, Mexico, Price Range: USD MSRP $429 – $11,299 (not incl limited editions/special editions). However, if you want a distinctively-voiced guitar that will sound great for years to come, this brand is worth a look. The guitars in this range are actually really good quality instruments (IMO) and perhaps one of the reasons for this is a trickle down effect from their more high-end range. The Best Picks: If you're looking for a playable instrument with some beautiful aesthetic touches, the Artist Series is a great pick.