Best Acoustic Guitars in Every Price Point
Finding Your Perfect Guitar
See here for Even total beginners deserve to learn on a quality instrument. A guitar can outlast you if cared for.
Spend as Much As You Can
Yes, many people learn on a cheap guitar. But a better guitar gives you a better chance. Do not buy anything less than $300. If you can buy a guitar made in an advanced country, do that. If you can, get a solid wood one.
Buy Guitar, Not Extras
For your first instrument, you want a guitar—not a gimmick or special feature. Make sure it is properly set up.
Best Budget Pick (~$350): Breedlove Discovery Concert
Quick Take
Street price: ~$350. Breedlove's Discovery Concert is the minimum viable serious acoustic—and it already feels encouraging to play.
Why It Works
- Consistent factory setup and a slim neck help beginners fret cleanly on day one.
- Compact concert body keeps shoulders relaxed during long practice blocks.
- Spruce top with layered mahogany back and sides stays stable while it slowly opens up.
Reminder: Add a case humidifier the moment it arrives or the neck will drift.
Upgrade Outlook
Expect to crave something richer after a year of heavy study, but this remains a trustworthy backup once you do.
- ✓Consistent quality control—every guitar plays well
- ✓Excellent playability right out of the box
- ✓Ages better than most economy instruments
- ✓Beautiful aesthetics for the price
- ✓Comfortable concert body size
- ✓Long-lasting construction
- ✗Average tone compared to higher-priced instruments
- ✗You'll likely want to upgrade within a year of serious study
- ✗Entry-level materials limit sound development over time
📋 Disclosure
Dealer or business relationship; as an authorized dealer, we have access to this product.
Ideal Entry Point (~$550): Recording King RO-T16
Quick Take
Street price: ~$500. The RO-T16 stretches every dollar into all-solid wood tone and torrefied-top resonance without boutique markup.
Standout Features
- Torrefied Sitka spruce top and solid mahogany body deliver a broken-in, articulate voice.
- Bone nut and saddle with forward-shifted bracing maximize volume and sustain.
- 000/OM body feels comfortable whether you're hybrid picking or strumming.
Ownership Notes
Factory consistency wavers—book a pro setup and stay on top of humidity. Do that, and you're holding the best-sounding sub-$1k acoustic I still recommend.
- ✓All-solid wood construction at an incredible price
- ✓One of the best-sounding guitars under $1000
- ✓Quality materials including bone nut and saddle
- ✓Artificially aged wood improves stability and tone
- ✓Classic design and craftsmanship
- ✓Exceptional value for money
- ✓Will improve with age if properly cared for
- ✗Inconsistent quality control—may need setup out of the box
- ✗Sensitive to changes in heat and humidity
- ✗Requires more maintenance than some competitors
- ✗Quality can vary between individual instruments
📋 Disclosure
Dealer or business relationship; as an authorized dealer, we have access to this product.
Best Cost/Quality Balance (~$999): Seagull Maritime
Quick Take
Street price: ~$800. The Maritime SWS is the least expensive North-American, all-solid acoustic that still feels handcrafted.
Why Players Love It
- Canadian-built with pressure-tested spruce top and solid mahogany back and sides.
- Hand-carved 1.8" neck keeps fingerstyle phrases clean; a 1.72" option exists for players who insist on slimmer.
- Bare-bones cosmetics mean every dollar funds tonewood, setup, and fretwork.
Reminder: Skip built-in electronics unless you truly gig weekly—external pickups keep the acoustic tone intact.
Longevity
Keep it humidified and it will keep opening up for decades, easily trading punches with guitars twice the price.
- ✓Most affordable all-solid wood guitar made in North America
- ✓Exceptional value for the price point
- ✓Quality Canadian craftsmanship
- ✓Will last a lifetime with proper care
- ✓Solid wood construction improves with age
- ✓Focus on tone and quality over cosmetic features
- ✓Hand-finished neck for excellent playability
- ✗Minimal cosmetic features (no fancy binding or inlays)
- ✗No electronics included
- ✗Plain aesthetic may not appeal to everyone
📋 Disclosure
Dealer or business relationship; as an authorized dealer, we have access to this product.
Best High-End Guitar (~$1,999): Larrivée L-03
Quick Take
Street price: ~$1,250. The L-03 is Larrivée's sweet spot—understated look, heirloom build, and a balanced voice that records beautifully.
What You Get
- Hand-fit Canadian craftsmanship with all-solid Sitka spruce and mahogany tonewoods.
- Symmetrical X-bracing plus immaculate fretwork for even response across the neck.
- Lightweight satin finish that gets out of the way and lets the top breathe.
Reminder: Treat it like a lifetime instrument—case humidifier, annual checkup, zero excuses.
Who It Serves
Serious players needing one do-it-all acoustic, session guitarists chasing mix-ready clarity, and advancing students ready to stop upgrading every few years.
- ✓Excellent quality and craftsmanship throughout
- ✓Beautiful, carefully-selected tonewoods
- ✓Balanced, articulate tone with excellent projection
- ✓Will last a lifetime with proper care
- ✓Traditional design and lutherie techniques
- ✓Exceptional value—sounds like a much more expensive guitar
- ✓Made by a respected Canadian family business since 1968
- ✗Simple aesthetics—less decorative than some competitors
- ✗Higher price point may be prohibitive for some
📋 Disclosure
No commercial relationship; we bought and reviewed our own.
