Have you checked Amazon lately?
Specifically their acoustic guitar selection?
There are so many different brands!
However, most of them make pretty terrible guitars.
Some of the best acoustic guitar brands do sell on Amazon, but they tend not to sell their better models.
So what are the best brands for acoustic guitars? You’ve probably heard of most of them. At least some of them.
Keep reading for the top acoustic guitar brands available. Luckily, some of them have a good selection of entry-level instruments, too. That said, none of their guitars will ever be as cheap as some of the offerings on Amazon. For a good reason, of course.
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Best Acoustic Guitar Brands
The following acoustic guitar brands are generally considered the best. They all make excellent guitars. Some also make affordable guitars, while others will cost you quite a good chunk of change.
Fender
As one of the longest-running guitar makers, Fender boasts unparalleled experience in crafting premium quality acoustic (and electric) guitars, basses, and a variety of other instruments.
The brand was founded in 1946 by Leo Fender, who was a passionate guitarist as much as he was an avid luthier. Fender has well over 50+ unique acoustic guitar designs in its US shop, not to mention dozens of other models in its offshore stores.
From Parlors and Auditoriums to Orchestras and Dreadnoughts, its catalog features all shapes and sizes of top-tier acoustic guitars with classy aesthetics and superb specs.
What makes Fender acoustic guitars stand out is their instantly recognizable tone. Fender’s experts pay great attention to detail when building each model.
And unlike brands that leave most of the process to machines, real humans pick and assemble most of these guitars by hand.
I’d say the Monterey Standard represents Fender acoustic instruments well. As a mid-sized acoustic guitar with a slightly shorter scale length, quality Sapele construction, and a beautiful finish, it embodies what most Fender guitars stand for, while being slightly more affordable than the rest.
Fender also has several options for players looking for the acclaimed, authentic Fender sound encapsulated in the Vintage series. From the King and the Palomino Vintage to the Malibu Vintage, these guitars are a cut above the rest in terms of tonality, sound quality, and design.
Yamaha
Even though Yamaha was officially founded in 1887 (as Nippon Gakki Corporation), it only delved into the world of guitar making in the 1940s, around the time when Fender rose to prominence.
Yamaha is the leading Japanese brand with an eclectic catalog encompassing more than just acoustic guitars – it’s quite famous for making boutique pianos, harmonicas, guitars, and drums.
I’d like to highlight the diversity of different models Yamaha offers but also single out the F/FX Series as the most versatile one.
With a range of Dreadnought, Concert, and Traditional Western body shapes, most of which are made of Spruce and Rosewood, Yamaha F/FX guitars are uniquely positioned to cater to the needs of both newbies and more seasoned players.
Gigging acoustic guitar players prefer models from the CSF series, which are smaller, lighter, and have slightly reduced scale lengths to provide a sharper tone and improved playability.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the infamous LL Series and the top-end models like the LL56 and the LL36 ARE, both of which cost a small fortune, but deliver the cleanest tones and exemplary versatility.
Overall, Yamaha offers a broad range of vastly different acoustic guitar models at all price ranges. Regardless of what type of music you’re into or how experienced you may be, you’re bound to find something you’ll like at Yamaha’s acoustic guitar shop.
Martin
C.F. Martin and Company, more popularly known as simply Martin, has been around considerably longer than Fender. It was founded in 1833 by Christian Frederick Martin (after whom the company was named).
All Martin guitars are handmade, and each design is custom specced to ensure that a barrage of unique tones, different styles of playability, and different price tags are accessible to players across the globe.
One of the key advantages Martin has over contemporary alternatives is its outstanding production output. The company makes roughly 200 guitars daily in parallel to working on special projects and custom orders, without sacrificing a speck of the original quality.
Understandably, its premium products cost well over $10,000 with custom artist edition models eclipsing even $20,000 (e.g. OM-45 John Mayer Anniversary is currently priced at $18,499).
However, there are many Martin acoustic guitars for newcomers and semi-experienced players, such as its flagship SC-10E, the 000CJR-10E StreetMaster, or the Shawn Mendes 10E.
Taylor
One of the younger US guitar makers, Taylor was founded in 1974 and managed to climb to the top of the ladder by constantly investing in new technologies, expert luthiers, and overall growth.
The company currently has several factories, which is important because its Californian facilities specialize in top-notch models, while its Tecate (Mexico) factory focuses on building more affordable, but almost equally good instruments.
There are more than a few unique things that set Taylor apart from other modern guitar makers. Most notably, this was the first brand to use regular oakwood from typical shipping palettes in a guitar’s body, which led to an entire series of Palette guitars.
As a newer guitar-making brand, Taylor was quick to pick up on the semi-acoustic guitar trends, rather than sticking to traditional acoustics like older brands.
The brand designed a proprietary Expression Pickup System comprised of custom humbuckers that bring increased sonic precision and clearer tone.
Some of the most notable Taylor acoustic guitars include the all-rounder American Dream AD12E-SB, the affordable 114CE-SB, the mid-tier 512CE 12-Fret, and its boutique flagship PS14CE Honduran Rosewood from the Presentation Series.
Epiphone
Epiphone was officially launched in 1873 in Smyrna, a Greek city belonging to the old Ottoman Empire. But it wasn’t until 1928 that they switched from making fiddles, ouds, and lutes to acoustic guitars.
The brand was acquired by Gibson in 1957 and continues to operate under the Gibson name today, which is important for players who want to purchase Gibson products, but can’t afford them.
That’s because Epiphone makes Gibson guitars at significantly reduced prices, while the construction techniques and specs are almost identical to the originals.
For instance, the acclaimed J-45 Studio Rosewood acoustic guitar costs a whopping $2,499 at Gibson’s official shop, while the Epiphone version’s price tag is under $300.
These two models have almost exactly the same specifications. The only notable difference between them is that the Epiphone J-45 doesn’t have as high a collection value, because it is not an “original”.
Besides making Gibson guitars and retailing them at bargain prices, Epiphone also makes other types of acoustic guitars and has a few unique models in its store. The acclaimed Songmaker FT-100, the Lil’ Tex Travel, and the El Nino Travel acoustic guitars are good examples of authentic Epiphone quality, all kept at highly affordable prices.
Top Acoustic Guitar Manufacturers: Final Thoughts
This list is not exhaustive. There are many other brands that make excellent acoustic guitars. But the ones above are generally considered the best acoustic guitar brands.
Most of them might be a bit pricey if you are just starting out and on a strict budget. Some do offer entry level models, but even those will cost a few hundred dollars. And often, when we start out on an instrument, we prefer to buy the cheapest we can find.
That makes sense, since you are probably not yet sure you will continue on the instrument. IF you do, yes, you’ll have to buy another guitar soon. But if you don’t continue, you’re only out a small amount of money.
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