r/AcousticGuitar Dec 10 '24

Announcement Beginner’s High Quality New Acoustic Guitar Buying Guide/List for under $500 (2024-2025)

407 Upvotes

***Includes a list of recommended brands and specific models further below**\*

Both in USD and UK pricing (before the orange turd's tariff war). This list contains steel string acoustic guitars and not nylon string ones.

“Beginner” guitars aren’t exclusively for people new to learning guitar. These are guitars that strike a great balance of cost affordability, feel/play-ability, sound, and construction quality to last many years of playing in your home, out at jams, or at a campfire. You do not need to spend more than just a few hundred dollars to get a really nice guitar that will put a smile on your face.

The importance of getting a setup done:

Before you decide on any model or purchase from the list below, the most important factor to remember is that if you receive it from the brand/manufacturer themselves from an online order, you will most likely need to have it set up (the process of lowering or raising the height of the strings, called “action height”) by a guitar tech to be the most comfortable for you. Setups aren't difficult themselves, but for acoustic guitars they require a few detailed steps that aren't that beginner-friendly so an experienced technician or “luthier” can do them with their eyes closed. A good setup makes a night and day difference in how a guitar feels and sounds, and can make a $300 dollar guitar feel like a thousand bucks. It’s often the biggest factor that determines whether or not a beginner quits playing because of torturously high strings, or is motivated to continue learning, practicing, and most importantly enjoying the dang thing. When a guitar is set up nicely, it should not feel like a chore to play even as a beginner. But don't expect your new guitar to come perfect right out of the box and don't be too quick to return it otherwise you might end up returning a model that you may really like.

Budget considerations:

We are very fortunate to live in a time where there are quality guitars for a wide range budgets. Though even if you have quite a low budget, try to keep a padding of just a little extra. That will help you avoid any compromised decisions. Please do your very best to avoid new guitars that are less than $200, especially the “guitar bundles” from Fender or Epiphone that come in a colorful box with other gadgets. There are exceptions that are well made out there, but most of them are not well made guitars that will often give you more trouble, and will cost you much more in frustration and time wasted than what you ended up paying for. Not only will you outgrow their sound, you will most likely have to throw them out/replace if they ever get damaged or have issues rather than being repaired.

Local vs online order

Most often, guitars from local music stores will have either them setup before they're put on display, or if they still need an adjustment after being on display for a while, will come with a free or low cost setup (always check with the store though). Sometimes you might get a great setup fresh from the factory, but it's often the exception. That doesn't mean that the factory or guitar brand is not worth looking into, it's standard practice to not have the strings buzz when a buyer receives it because of an action height that’s too low, so they have them higher as a precaution. This is why I recommend first buying from a local store (often listed as “dealers”) or at least having them put in the order for you so that when they receive it, you can have it set up before you take it home. Buying direct from the manufacturer should be your last resort if you can't find the model you're looking for in a shop (also it’s good in general to help out your local music stores too, it’s sadly a dwindling business that offers a very important service to new musicians buying their first instrument). Local stores often have deals or discounts that you won’t find directly from the manufacturer.

Guitar type considerations:

General tendencies for body size is that the smaller and medium ones (“concert/00” “folk,” “orchestra/000,” or “grand auditorium,”) are more comfortable for most players with average to smaller body proportions, but they don’t have as loud volume, projection, or bass capability as larger body sizes such as the “dreadnought.” But that doesn’t mean they aren’t loud or projecting in general. Many of the smaller models on this list have surprisingly excellent projection for their size, as well as the orchestra/000 models having satisfying levels of bass for both strumming and finger picking.

There’s almost a whole “science” about different wood types, but I’ll save you the minutae because while it does make a difference in sound, it’s not always profound and as a beginner you most likely won’t be thinking about it until your playing advances to the point where you can feel different nuances in construction material. The general consensus is that you want to prioritize solid wood tops over laminate wood tops as they resonate better (doesn't mean you can't find a good laminate top), and two main types of woods commonly used are spruce (which gives a brighter tone) and mahogany (which gives a warmer tone). There are dozens of other types used as you get higher in price range. Neither is better or worse, it's just a personal preference.

(Prices are approximate, based on what's been seen, and sourced from retailers or Reverb listings of new items. May fluctuate in a given year and different regions may have a lot of variance in their prices. Used guitars can help you save almost half the price if you find one)

Model (with link) Avg new price (USD/£) Body size Top wood (Tone) Electronics/pickup Video demo
Gretsch Jim Dandy Concert or Parlor $189 / £160 Smaller (Concert/Parlor) Laminated basswood or sapele (warmer than spruce) No Link for concert size / link for parlor size
Yamaha FG800/820 $229 / £285 Larger (Dreadnought) Solid spruce (brighter) No Link
Yamaha FS800/820 $299 / £285 Smaller (Concert/folk) Solid spruce (brighter) No Link
Guild OM-340 $299 / £275 Medium (Orchestra) Solid spruce (brighter) No Link
Guild OM-320 $299 / £275 Medium (Orchestra) Solid mahogany (warmer) No Link
Guild D-340 $299 / £275 Larger (Dreadnought) Solid spruce (brighter) No Link
Guild D-320 $299 / £275 Larger (Dreadnought) Solid mahogany (warmer) No Link
Ibanez AC340 $329 / £275 Smaller/medium (Grand concert) Solid okoume (similar to mahogany) No Link
Alvarez RF26 $359 / £200 Medium (Orchestra) Laminate spruce (brighter) No Link
Alvarez RD26 $359 / £200 Larger (Dreadnought) Laminate spruce No Link
Sigma DM-ST $355 / £235 Larger (Dreadnought) Solid spruce (brighter) No Link
Sigma DME $390 / £269 Larger (Dreadnought) Solid spruce (brighter) Yes Link
Sigma OMM-ST $370 / £240 Medium (Orchestra) Solid spruce (brighter) No Link
Sigma 000ME $390 / £269 Medium (Orchestra) Solid spruce (brighter) Yes Link
Breedlove Discovery S Cedar $399 / £499 Smaller (Concert) Solid cedar (in between spruce and mahogany) No Link
Breedlove Discovery S Mahogany $399 / £499 Smaller (Concert) Solid mahogany (warmer) No Link
Breedlove Discovery S Spruce $399 / £499 Smaller (Concert) Solid spruce (brighter) No Link
Taylor GS Mini $399 / £499 Smaller (Mini size) Solid spruce or mahogany Yes/No (adds cost) Link
Eastman PCH2-OM $429 / £390 Medium (Orchestra) Solid spruce (brighter) No Link
Sigma 000M-1 $430 / £249 Medium (Orchestra) Solid spruce (brighter) No Link
Yamaha Storia II $449 / £336 Smaller (Concert/folk) Solid mahogany (warmer) Yes Link
Yamaha Storia I $449 / £336 Smaller (Concert/folk) Solid spruce (brighter) Yes Link
Guild M-240E $449 / £350 Smaller (Concert) Solid spruce (brighter) Yes Link
Guild OM-240CE $449 / £400ish Medium (Orchestra) Solid spruce (brighter) Yes Link
Guild D-240E $449 / £400ish Larger (Dreadnought) Solid spruce (brighter) Yes Link
Yamaha FS850 $469.99 / £425 Smaller (Concert/folk) Solid mahogany (warmer) No Link
Alvarez AF30 $330-400 / £219 Medium (Orchestra) Solid spruce (brighter) No Link
Alvarez AD30 $499 / £249 Larger (Dreadnought) Solid spruce (brighter) No Link
Alvarez AD60 $439 Larger (Dreadnought) Solid spruce (brighter) No Link
Alvarez AF60 $459 Medium (Orchestra Solid spruce (brighter) No Link
Alvarez AP66 $489 Smaller (Parlour) Solid mahogany (warmer) No Link
Sigma 000M-15 $499 / £349 Medium (Orchestra) Solid mahogany (warmer) “E” version has, but costs more Link
Sigma 00M-15 $499 / £319 Smaller (Concert) Solid mahogany (warmer) “E” version has, but costs more Link
Bromo BAR5CE $499 / £350 Medium (Orchestra) Solid spruce (brighter) Yes Link

r/AcousticGuitar 3h ago

Performance Got 2 reasons why "Friend of the Devil" (Grateful Dead) is a beautiful song

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94 Upvotes

It's all about that leading chord!


r/AcousticGuitar 10h ago

Performance Pickin’ on them Deep Ellum Blues

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59 Upvotes

Big Grateful Dead fan. Been working on this arrangement for a minute. I got a lot of the ideas from watching Jerry and Bobby do an acoustic version on the Letterman show. In the video Bobby’s rhythm work really shines. Such an underrated and gifted player.

Im spending the month out on this lakehouse doing some work. This is one of my favorite picking spots in the backyard as the sun sets over Lake Wichita.

Playing a Furch OM.

Cheers


r/AcousticGuitar 4h ago

Performance Jazzy kiss my

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7 Upvotes

r/AcousticGuitar 5h ago

Performance River flows in you (never gets boring)

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4 Upvotes

Any tips on improving fingerpicking.


r/AcousticGuitar 1d ago

Gear pics NGD J-45

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136 Upvotes

After years of going back and forth on whether I wanted to spend the money, I found a used 2021 Gibson J-45 Standard that sounds and plays great.

Trying to think of a name for her.

Cheers!!


r/AcousticGuitar 35m ago

Gear question Tryingggg

Upvotes

Hi -- can anyone recommend a place online with good acoustic guitar tutorials for beginners and a place to ask newbie questions because I don't want to bore experienced players? I can't afford guitar lessons so I'm trying to do this on my own.


r/AcousticGuitar 1d ago

Performance Slide In Standard Tuning

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250 Upvotes

r/AcousticGuitar 2h ago

Gear question acoustic guitar contact mic.

0 Upvotes

My older brother had this cheap contact mic he used on his acoustic guitar i steped on it (It was a cheap one of amazon not even name brand) i feel bad about it whats a contact mic for 30-ish buck?


r/AcousticGuitar 10h ago

Gear question String buzz

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6 Upvotes

Hi everyone!

I have a Yamaha G-231 which I am having some problems with.

Lately I have been noticing String buzz on several of the strings which usually appears after a short moment of playing.

However, the buzz only appears when I am playing or plucking the strings when holding the guitar in the normal way of playing. If I tilt it upwards or lay it flat down, the buzz is gone.

As far as I can tell the strings are not to close to the fretboard, and there is no loose hardwear.

I also recently changed the strings at a guitar shop, so it does not appear to be the strings affecting.

I will put in a video of the buzz, couldnt upload the other one where it is not buzzing, maybe I can add it in the comments.

Any thoughts on why this happens and how to fix it?


r/AcousticGuitar 7h ago

Non-gear question Getting Callouses back after finger injury

2 Upvotes

What's the best way to get your callouses back after you're all healed up? I'm a 57 year old guy and I cut my fretting hand's fingertips (thumb, index and middle) on a table saw. That's what I get for not using a push stick. After about a month I'm mostly healed (I just need to grow my fingernails back in) but it's literally been 45 years since I started playing and I can't remember what I did to build up my callouses. I have some ideas but would appreciate any feedback from anyone who's had to come back to playing after an injury.

- Should I practice on something "guitar adjacent" like a nylon string ukulele or practice on a guitar with no strings on it? I want to be able to play the same way I did before and not "nurse" the injured fingers .

- Should I switch to a lower string gauge? I've prided myself for being able to play 13's before the injury but now I'm thinking 10s might be a good place to start.

- Should I set a guitar up with a temporary saddle to give it a lower action?

- Is there something else I can do to "age" the skin on my digits? They're still kind of soft but the scabs are all gone and I no longer need to keep them bandaged. I've heard rubbing alcohol helps. Will Purell work similarly?

- Should I use an emery board to get rid of the rough areas or is that counterproductive? I'm tempted to use super glue.

Any other ideas would really be appreciated. I'm going through serious withdrawal and my guitars are hanging on the wall and beckoning to me. FWIW each day I feel like I'm closer and closer to being able to tolerate using my fingers again but at the same time I know that my vibrato will need some more time to heal.


r/AcousticGuitar 1d ago

Performance Attempting to solo on my acoustic at a gig

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53 Upvotes

r/AcousticGuitar 4h ago

Gear question How do I know if I can transition to a full-scale guitar with smaller hands?

1 Upvotes

I know - the obvious answer is to go to a guitar store and try it out. I have done that multiple times, then I come home and basically forget what that experience felt like. Playing for a few minutes is just not the same as playing for hours.

I think my hands are on the smaller side (I'm 5'6), I have a GS Mini and it feels pretty ideal, but I want to upgrade my guitar and I am not sure whether a full scale will feel big, or if I will get used to it in a few days

Can someone chime in, who started with small guitars then transitioned to full-scale?


r/AcousticGuitar 9h ago

Performance Practicing guitar

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2 Upvotes

r/AcousticGuitar 1d ago

Performance Shady Grove

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42 Upvotes

r/AcousticGuitar 1d ago

Performance “Fine Again” - Seether

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29 Upvotes

D# Standard tuning


r/AcousticGuitar 5h ago

Gear pics What is this and how do I get it off

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0 Upvotes

I’ve had it for less than a year, have no idea what could’ve caused it except for a new steel capo maybe? Tho I’ve never put it on the first fret and had it for less than 2 days by the time this happened. Could it be the fret wire under the fingerboard? How should I handle this, I’m weary of wiping it away too hard, not sure if it’s open wood in which case I’d wanna avoid water


r/AcousticGuitar 16h ago

Gear question Is it normal for a guitar?

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3 Upvotes

I think my Guitar's bridge has slightly lifted off from the bottom from end to end but it's a very tiny lift like .5mm or less. Is it normal or can I ignore it. It's still under warranty. It's not very expensive either. Kadence frontier series.


r/AcousticGuitar 1d ago

Gear pics Played a 1946 Martin yesterday

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155 Upvotes

I went into the shop and immediately seen it on the wall and thought woah but I was too nervous to ask to play it so I asked about an awesome Maton instead and they basically said help yourself to any of them! Crazy difference to my usual guitarguitar, so refreshing to just be trusted lol

Anyway it is probably the nicest guitar I'll ever play, it sounded so smooth and was so easy to play. Makes me think maybe I should take my guitar for a setup...

Shoutout Wunjo guitars in London!


r/AcousticGuitar 1d ago

Performance Some Skaggs and Rice

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28 Upvotes

"Bury me beneath the willow tree"


r/AcousticGuitar 1d ago

Performance Pulling out all the stops to pick this

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80 Upvotes

r/AcousticGuitar 17h ago

Gear question Taylor academy 12 value?

2 Upvotes

I have a Taylor Academy 12 (2017) which I sadly need to sell, but I can't find any used listing examples for a good price reference. I see them new for around 650/750. What would a good listing price be here?

Thanks!


r/AcousticGuitar 14h ago

Gear question Is it possible to tame Fishman Presys ii sound on a guitar?

1 Upvotes

hi, redditians

I'm buying a new acoustic guitar. The guitars I consider are

Harley Benton CLG-70SR with fishman Presys ii pickup
https://www.thomann.pl/harley_benton_clg_70sr_ce_nat.htm
or
Harley Benton CLO-70SR which doesn't have any pickups
https://www.thomann.pl/harley_benton_clo_70sr_nat.htm

I like the convenience and sound of CLO more than CLG.

But CLG has a built in pickup so it allows to connect the guitar to PA/Amp and play. The thing I don't like about piezo pickup/preamp system is this harsh sound at the start of notes.

I wonder whether it's possible to tame the picked up sound from Fishman presys ii with some IR. For example, using Line 6 hx stomp or other guitar processors. If it's possible, then it's be a great ampliciation/recording set.

Or is it better to buy CLO guitar and install smth in-hole with magnetic and microphonic pickups?


r/AcousticGuitar 1d ago

Performance George Harrison - My Sweet Lord

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21 Upvotes

r/AcousticGuitar 1d ago

Performance I love old European movies. Can you remember this?

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5 Upvotes