It may sound bold, but we genuinely believe there's never been a better time to buy an acoustic guitar. The sheer volume of guitars on the market at the moment is exhilarating, with many companies producing the best acoustic guitars they have ever made. Now, with so many instruments from an incredibly diverse group of manufacturers, it's easy to get overwhelmed - we call it 'option paralysis' - but don't worry, we are here to help.
Whatever your budget - and playing style - we guarantee one of these top acoustic guitars will be perfect for you, and this guide is here to help you pick your favorite. With entry-level acoustics from the likes of Epiphone, Yamaha, Martin, and Taylor, through to high-end heavyweights from Gibson and Fender, we've got you covered.
Our choices are presented in price order so you can easily find the right one for your budget. Of course, we've also scoured the web to find the best prices, saving you any legwork in that department, too.
When it comes to the best acoustic guitar for beginners, we always recommend the Fender CD-60S. This affordable guitar has it all. It is well-made, easy to play and sounds superb!
Considering the size, this compact Martin guitar is loud, delivering a tone that larger guitars could only dream of. Better yet, the sound is warm and mellow.
The GS Mini is essentially a scaled-down version of the favored Taylor Grand Symphony-shaped acoustic. Like other Taylor guitars, the GS Mini has a bright, clear tone.
Featuring an all-solid-wood construction, quarter-sawn spruce bracing, and tapered dovetail neck joint, Epiphone has nailed every detail of this incredibly famous flat-top acoustic guitar.
Sitting in the bracket between first guitars and professional heavyweights, the 110e is the ultimate second guitar - delivering the signature tone and feel Taylor is known for.
26/06/24: We've assessed and streamlined our product choices to make it much easier to find the right guitar for your needs. We've also added more clarity and depth to our buying advice and testing methodology.
08/03/24: We have recently made a few changes to this guide. The Fender CD-60S is now our top choice for the best acoustic guitar for beginners.
31/10/23: As well as auditing the products to make sure the list is up to date with the very best acoustic guitars around, we've also given this page a fresh new look, tweaking the format to make it easier to navigate and find the right model for you.
When it comes to the best acoustic guitar for beginners, we always recommend the Fender CD-60S. This affordable guitar has it all. It is well-made, easy to play and sounds superb!
As you'd expect, the beginner acoustic space is rather competitive, but for our money, this humble Fender dreadnought offers the most bang for your buck. In our tests, we found the sound to be full, rounded, and with plenty of volume. The hardware is pretty reliable, too. The tuners feel fairly robust, and the bridge is solid.
So, if you're in the market for your first acoustic guitar, we highly recommend checking this one out.
Bobdy: Solid Spruce Top, Nato/Mahogany Back & Sides
Neck: Mahogany
Fingerboard: Walnut fingerboard
Electronics : None
Reasons to buy
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A best-seller, for good reason
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Superb construction and build quality
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Sounds incredible
Reasons to avoid
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No electronics
The Yamaha FG800 is probably one of the best budget acoustic guitars of all time. The FG series of guitars goes way back to 1966 when the first instrument was introduced and the fact they're still making 'best of' lists today says something about the quality of these guitars.
A solid spruce top at this price point is frankly astounding, we're more used to all-laminate guitars at this budget. It lends this guitar a powerful voice that combined with the dreadnought body shape gives it some serious volume with a rich, and warm tonality.
A smooth, well-finished neck with a nice round profile encourages many styles of play. It's hefty enough for experienced players to enjoy, whilst simultaneously being comfortable for the less-seasoned strummer to pick up their first chords on. A truly great acoustic guitar that over-delivers for the money.
Body: Sitka Spruce Top, High Pressure Laminate Back & Sides
Neck: Rust Birch Laminate
Fingerboard: Richlite
Electronics: Fishman Sonitone electronics
Reasons to buy
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Martin quality at an affordable price
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Superb for younger players
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Don't underestimate its tonal potential
Reasons to avoid
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Not for those with larger hands
The Martin LX1E is a small-sized dreadnought with bags of appeal. It's marketed as a travel acoustic guitar, which can be thrown in the (included) gig bag to accompany you anywhere. Spend a bit of time with one, however, and you'll see it has more to offer than as a mere travel companion.
It's a compact guitar but it's loud considering the size - certainly louder than other small-body acoustics we've reviewed. There's a smattering of low end but where it really cuts through is the mids and highs, responding really well to your playing dynamics too.
The onboard Fishman Sonitone electronics make it ideal for hooking up to an acoustic guitar amp, with the controls hidden away in the soundhole to keep the exterior of the guitar looking clean. It means this guitar can easily compete with larger acoustics tonally when plugged in, making it a great option for the gigging guitar player.
Next up is something approaching bona fide classic status in the acoustic guitar world. The Taylor GS Mini was launched in 2011 and bridged the gap between travel guitars and fully-fledged workhorse acoustics wonderfully.
The GS Mini is essentially a scaled-down version of the popular Taylor Grand Symphony-shaped acoustic. During testing, we loved its smaller size, as it makes it ideal for leaving around the house ready to pick up and play while you're waiting for the microwave to ping. Despite the shorter scale, the string spacing is still that of a regular-size guitar, so it feels great for fingerpicking.
It's got that very bright and clear tone that's a signature of most Taylor guitars. Whilst lacking slightly in the volume department unplugged, you can more than make up for it with the onboard ES-B acoustic guitar pickup, which allows this great guitar to compete with its full-sized siblings when playing live.
Body: Solid Sitka Spruce Top, Solid Mahogany Back & Sides
Neck: Mahogany
Fingerboard: Indian laurel with Mother of Pearl dot inlays
Electronics : Fishman Sonicore
Reasons to buy
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All solid-wood construction
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Aged finishes give them a worn-in feel
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Fantastic value
Reasons to avoid
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We would prefer a rosewood fingerboard
The J-45 has been spotted slung around the shoulders of many notable players new and old through the years, from Bob Dylan to Billie Joe Armstrong, Woody Guthrie, and Myles Kennedy. Favored for its understated looks and folksy charm, the guitar would go on to get the nickname “The Workhorse”, as it was seen as the working man’s flattop. The loud, attention-grabbing tone contrasts its subtle beauty, with a rich low-end and singing mid-range means it’s always heard, no matter the situation.
If you’ve been following the prices of the Gibson J-45 over the last few years, then you’ll have noticed a rather sizable increase - you won’t get much change back from $/£2500 right now - and it’s looking like the prices won’t be coming down anytime soon.
Luckily Epiphone has been busy meticulously recreating the iconic sloped shoulder dreadnought - and at a far more affordable price! Featuring an all solid-wood construction, quarter-sawn spruce bracing, and tapered dovetail neck joint, we feel that Epiphone really has gone out of its way to nail every detail and pay tribute to the famous acoustic.
Every element has been carefully considered, even down to the finish. Gone is the thick plastic-feeling lacquer, in favor of a soft and supple aged finish that we found a delight to play with during our testing. So if you are looking for those classic acoustic sounds of yesteryear, but don’t want to fork out a small fortune, it’s definitely worth considering this fantastic guitar.
So you've been playing a while and you're ready to spread your wings. Your playing proficiency has developed and you've nailed those techniques that caused you so much anguish at the start. Where to now? We'd say you deserve a new acoustic guitar that reflects your hard-earned progress.
The Taylor 110e might just be that guitar. Sitting in the bracket between first guitars and professional heavyweights, the 110e is a fine example of everything just done better. The slightly thinner width of the neck makes it super comfortable to play on without feeling too cramped for those with bigger hands, meaning it will suit players of all experience levels.
The sitka spruce top produced a gloriously welcoming sound during our testing, and the onboard Taylor Expression System 2 electronics make it ideal for live performance. And, being a Taylor, you can expect a certain degree of quality all around.
More options
So those are our top picks, but there are more great options to choose from that offer something a little different. We've selected a few more of our favorites below.
Body: Sitka Spruce Top, Mahogany and Koa Veneer Back & Sides
Neck: Select Hardwood
Fingerboard: Ebony
Electronics: Fishman MX-T w/Sonicore Pre-Amp
Reasons to buy
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Slinky performance
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Well-balanced acoustic tones
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Electronics are very impressive
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Ergonomics are well thought-out
Reasons to avoid
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Maybe too radical for some
It pays not to stand on ceremony when you are designing a guitar. Let fresh thinking follow its own logic. That’s how we end up with guitars such as Martin’s SC-13E – an electro-acoustic the likes of which we have never seen before.
Look at the body shape for a start, that squashed offset cutaway tears up the rulebook. That’s just for starters; flip it over and you’ll see the Sure Align neck system, with that deep carve allowing for full access to the top of the neck. The system allows for on-the-fly neck pitch and intonation tweaks.
The top is Sitka spruce, the back and sides mahogany with a thin koa veneer for some visual pazazz. Martin saves the last of the fireworks for the playability, with an action so low that might catch those used to wrestling chords out of their acoustic unawares. This is a daring guitar, playable with a stunning voice that sits so well in a mix.
Something of a curate's egg here. When you're looking for versatility in an acoustic, that usually means little more than it is at home being picked or strummed. With the Fender Acoustasonic, you get much more than that.
Marrying up the projection and woody sounds of an acoustic, with the unique form and function of a Telecaster, this guitar is sure to turn heads. But, hidden behind the unique visual stylings is a guitar which gives you plenty of room to experiment.
Some pretty advanced electronic trickery allowed us to choose between a plethora of acoustic or Tele tones, or even blend them up to create something completely new. It's crazy but we liked it.
Body: Solid Sitka Spruce Top, Solid East Indian Rosewood Back & Sides
Neck: Select Hardwood
Fingerboard: Ebony
Electronics: Optional
Reasons to buy
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A musical icon
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Excels in any application
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An investment that will last a lifetime
Reasons to avoid
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Upper fret access is limited
The Martin D-28 is to acoustic guitars what the Porsche 911 is to cars. When you first start learning, it's the guitar you dream of owning. As you get better, you begin to appreciate what makes it so special. And, if you ever get to try one, you'll understand what all the fuss is about.
Famed for its favor among some of music's best-known names, the D-28 has cemented its place in music history over eight decades. During our testing, we discovered that Its rich, warm tones can be employed across any number of musical genres, and the build quality is about as good as it gets.
It works equally well for strumming and fingerstyle and sits in the mix perfectly thanks to its balanced low end. Players of any standard, and of any style, should try the D-28 at least once in their lives. When you know, you know.
(Image credit: Gibson)
10. Gibson SJ-200 Deluxe
The best acoustic guitar for when money is no object
Our expert review:
Specifications
Body: Solid Sitka Spruce Top, Rosewood Back & Sides
Neck: Mahogany
Fingerboard: Richlite
Electronics: LR Baggs VTC Electronics
Reasons to buy
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Glorious, full-blooded sound
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Visually stunning
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A treat to play
Reasons to avoid
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Looks might put some players off
Rounding off the list we have something a bit special. Something from the extremes of acoustic guitar excellence. The Gibson SJ-200 Deluxe. Look at the ornamentation! Marvel at its pronounced curves! Recoil at that gargantuan price tag!
The neck on this guitar is joyous to play on straight out of the box, with a low action and smooth playing feel that responds superbly to any play style. Pluck gently with your fingers and it responds with open ease, stum hard with a pick and it responds with a huge attack - but no loss of definition.
In reality, what we have here is a guitar to savor. Everything from the tonewoods employed to extract tones that'll make your knees wobble, through to the advanced LR Baggs electronics. The SJ-200 is, in our experience, a tonal behemoth; a fine example of what can happen when Gibson really puts its mind to it.
A brief history of acoustic guitars
(Image credit: Martin)
Acoustic guitars have been around much longer than their electric counterparts, with very early incarnations dating back centuries. The steel-string acoustic guitar as we know it today can be traced back to the mid-1800s, and credit is largely given to CF Martin (of Martin Guitars).
Martin created the first dreadnought guitar, which is still one of the most popular body shapes today. Things have come on a lot since then in terms of shapes, woods, features, etc, so when looking for the best acoustic guitar, it’s important to consider a few key points before committing.
Think about the sound you want, and what sort of music you’re playing - are you a singer-songwriter looking to back up your vocals; are you playing mostly instrumental music, or playing in a full band? If you’re looking to play live, then a pickup will be useful.
Budget plays a part when seeking the best acoustic guitar too - do you want something to learn on, or are you looking to upgrade to something that will last for years to come, with a good resale value? Gibson and Martin make some incredibly desirable acoustics, but the likes of Epiphone and Yamaha can still give you great sound on a tighter budget.
FAQs
Which acoustic guitar body shape should I go for?
The shape of an acoustic guitar’s body affects the sound, and how comfortable it is for you to play. If you’re of smaller stature, then you might find something with a smaller body easier to play, though, of course, there are no set rules for this - it’s all subjective.
The body shape also affects tone and volume. If you think of the top of an acoustic guitar working a little like a speaker cone, then a bigger top can move more, thus making it louder when played hard. A guitar with a smaller top has less surface area to move, so it won’t project as much - even if you hit it with the same attack, you’ll reach its maximum headroom quicker. That’s not to say that bigger is always better - if you play with a lighter touch, then you’ll probably find that you get more response out of a smaller-bodied acoustic; it will react better to your playing.
Bigger-bodied guitars like the dreadnought and jumbos usually have a stronger bass response than smaller ones, as well as a tight top end. This leaves room for vocals to sit nicely in a mix. Smaller-bodied guitars like the concert are usually a little brighter and mid-focussed and grand concerts, which are the same shape but a little bigger, can provide a really nice balance.
Which wood is best for my acoustic guitar?
A lot of an acoustic guitar’s tonal character comes from the woods used in its construction. Solid wood is usually preferable, as it moves more than laminated wood, giving you a richer and more resonant sound. All solid wood construction (solid top, back, and sides) comes at a premium price, and a solid top with laminate back and sides is a nice halfway point if you’re on a tighter budget.
Spruce is one of the most popular wood types for the top as it provides a sweet, balanced tone - it’s warm, with a nice top end too. Other widely used top woods include mahogany, cedar, and maple.
The wood used for the back and sides tend to differ more. Mahogany is used a lot and has a nice mid-range sound that people sometimes describe as ‘woody’ or ‘earthy’. Rosewood is usually complex sounding, with strong highs and lows, as well as fairly pronounced mids - basically, it’s really present but is often expensive, and walnut usually sits between the two. There are however lots of different wood combinations out there, all of which yield different tones.
(Image credit: Future)
Do I need an acoustic guitar pickup?
Want to amplify your acoustic guitar? You’ll either need to stick a mic in front of it or get one with a built-in pickup (an electro-acoustic). If you’re playing gigs or open-mic nights then getting one of the best acoustic guitars with a pickup will be very useful. Alternatively, you can buy yourself one of the best acoustic guitar pickups if you've already got a killer acoustic guitar. The quality of sound you get from the pickups tends to go up alongside cost.
What should I pay for an acoustic guitar?
When buying an acoustic guitar, you get what you pay for. On more premium guitars, you’ll get better quality woods which yield a better sound. You’ll also get better hardware - this consists of things like the tuners and the bridge, which can affect tuning stability and how well the guitar resonates. You also pay more for better build construction which can help your guitar last longer and play better.
That said, there are great cheap acoustic guitars that balance all the above with cost. If you’re just starting out, you can pick up a good beginner-friendly acoustic for around $150-200. If you’re upgrading, then you’ll likely see some improvements in tone and playability around the $700-1,000 mark, and if you’re seeking a pro instrument, depending on what you want, you’ll likely be looking at around $1,500+.
How do I look after my acoustic guitar?
All guitars benefit from a regular restring with a set of the best acoustic guitar strings. Whilst you’re doing that, you can also clean the body and fingerboard to keep it looking and playing well. Acoustic guitars do absorb moisture and dry out too, which in bad cases can render your instrument unplayable. To avoid this keeping the guitar in a case can help, plus you can also buy acoustic guitar humidifiers that keep them from drying out.
Meet the experts
Guitar World boasts over 44 years of expertise and stands as the ultimate authority on all things related to guitars. The magazine and website feature expertly written gear round-ups and top-quality, authoritative reviews penned by a team of highly experienced industry professionals.
Guitar World's inaugural print issue hit the shelves in July 1980, and ever since, it has been captivating players and enthusiasts with engaging lessons, insightful interviews with the biggest guitar heroes, and priceless buying advice for newbie players.
Below you'll find more information on the expert authors of this guide.
Daryl Robertson
Daryl is a Senior Deals Writer at Guitar World, where he creates and maintains our 200+ buyer's guides, finds the best deals on guitar products, and tests the latest gear. His reviews have been featured in prominent publications like Total Guitar, Future Music magazine, and MusicRadar.com.
During his career, he has been lucky enough to talk to many of his musical heroes, having interviewed Slash and members of Sum 41, Foo Fighters, Feeder, Thrice, and more. In a past life, he worked in music retail. For a little under a decade, he advised everyone from absolute beginners to seasoned pros on the right gear for their needs.
Chris Corfield
Chris Corfield is a journalist with over 12 years of experience writing for some of the music world's biggest brands including Orange Amplification, MusicRadar, Guitar World, Total Guitar and Dawsons Music. Chris loves getting nerdy about all aspects of guitar gear from electric and acoustic guitars to pedals, amps and more.
Matt McCracken
Matt is a Junior Deals Writer here at Guitar World. He regularly tests and reviews music gear with a focus on guitars, amps, pedals, modelers, and pretty much anything else guitar-related. Responsible for over 60 buying guides, a large part of his role is helping guitarists find the best deals on gear. Matt worked in music retail for 5 years at Dawsons Music and Northwest Guitars and has written for various music sites including MusicRadar, Guitar Player, Guitar.com, Ultimate Guitar, and Thomann’s t.blog.
A regularly gigging guitarist with over 20 years of experience playing live and writing and recording in bands, he's performed everything from jazz to djent, gigging all over the country in more dingy venues than you can shake a drop-tuned guitar at. When he's not holed up in his home studio recording new songs or tweaking pedal settings, you’ll find him making a racket with Northern noise hounds JACKALS.
How we test acoustic guitars
(Image credit: Future)
When it comes to acoustic guitars, every player's unique personal preferences regarding the tone and feel are of utmost importance. This individuality is a key factor in the joy of playing and should be celebrated. However, there are a few key criteria that an acoustic guitar must meet, regardless of personal taste, before we'd feel comfortable recommending it.
When we receive a guitar for review, we start by asking ourselves the following questions:
How easy is the guitar to play?
Does the guitar sound good?
Is this model well-made and robust?
And does the guitar offer the player good value for money?
Below you'll find a breakdown of the tests we carry out to answer each of these questions.
Build quality: Like with all instruments, we first examine the overall build quality. We closely inspect every inch of the guitar, from the body and neck to the machine heads, bridge, and saddle, to ensure it feels robust and sturdy and ready to take you on your musical journey.
Playability: We'll next check the consistency of the fretwork to confirm there aren't any sharp frets or uneven frets that may result in buzzing. This ties into the guitar's playability. For us, the guitar should be comfortable for someone completely new to the instrument, and this means a reasonably forgiving neck and unobtrusive body.
Sound: Next, we turn our attention to the sound of the beginner acoustic guitar. To test the tone of the instrument, we will try a variety of different playing techniques and styles to see how the guitar handles them. For instance, we'll strum wide-open chords with a flat pick to test the guitar's projection and clarity, and then we'll do some soft fingerpicking to assess its warmth and resonance. We are carefully listening to the volume the guitar produces and the overall tonal balance of the sound.
Value: Lastly, we'll carefully combine our thoughts on all the above sections – from design and performance to sound – and weigh them against the acoustic guitar's price. We understand that finding the perfect balance between quality and affordability is key to choosing the right beginner acoustic guitar for your needs. We strive to ensure that you get the best value for your investment.
You can trust Guitar World
Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing guitar products so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
Daryl is a Senior Deals Writer at Guitar World, where he creates and maintains our 200+ buyer's guides, finds the best deals on guitar products, and tests the latest gear. His reviews have been featured in prominent publications like Total Guitar, Future Music magazine, and MusicRadar.com.
During his career, he has been lucky enough to talk to many of his musical heroes, having interviewed Slash and members of Sum 41, Foo Fighters, Feeder, Thrice, and more. In a past life, Daryl worked in music retail. For a little under a decade, he advised everyone from absolute beginners to seasoned pros on the right gear for their needs.
Daryl is also a fully qualified sound engineer, holding a first-class Bachelor's degree in Creative Sound Production from the University of Abertay.
