Acoustic Guitars - Directory w/ AI Reviews

Steel-string acoustic and acoustic-electric guitars

Acoustic guitars produce sound through the vibration of strings amplified by a hollow wooden body, requiring no external amplification. They are one of the most accessible and widely played instruments in the world. From campfire singalongs to concert stages, acoustic guitars are prized for their warm, natural tone.

History

The modern acoustic guitar evolved from earlier stringed instruments brought to Spain by the Moors in the Middle Ages. Antonio de Torres Jurado standardized the body shape and fan bracing pattern in the 1850s, creating the template for the classical guitar. C.F. Martin introduced X-bracing in the 1840s, which allowed steel strings and gave birth to the modern steel-string acoustic.

Characteristics

Acoustic guitars rely on a soundboard (top), back, sides, and an internal bracing pattern to project sound. Spruce and cedar are common top woods, while rosewood and mahogany are favored for backs and sides. Body shapes range from small parlor guitars to large dreadnoughts and jumbos, each producing distinct tonal qualities and volume levels.

Notable Players

Robert Johnson's Delta blues recordings in the 1930s established the acoustic guitar as a solo voice in American music. James Taylor's fingerpicking style became synonymous with the singer-songwriter movement of the 1970s. Tommy Emmanuel is widely regarded as one of the greatest fingerstyle acoustic guitarists alive today.

Buying Guide

Choose a body size that feels comfortable: dreadnoughts project well for strumming, while concert and parlor shapes suit fingerpicking. A solid wood top will sound better and improve with age compared to laminate. If you plan to perform live, consider an acoustic-electric model with a built-in pickup system.

Fun Facts

The word "guitar" derives from the Spanish "guitarra," which itself traces back to the ancient Greek "kithara." Martin's D-28 acoustic guitar has appeared on more hit recordings than any other single guitar model.

Martin D-18 1 4.9 New Martin D-18 Martin $2,999 Advanced USA 1 review A venerable Martin dreadnought pairing Sitka spruce with mahogany for warm, focused tone and strong midrange, with forward-shifted bracing and dovetail neck joint craftsmanship. Martin D-28 2 4.9 New Martin D-28 Martin $3,299 Professional USA 1 review One of the most iconic acoustic guitars ever produced, delivering the benchmark dreadnought sound with spruce and rosewood construction that has shaped folk, country, and bluegrass for nearly a century. Collings D2H 3 4.9 New Collings D2H Collings $5,950 Professional USA 2 reviews The Collings D2H is a handcrafted American dreadnought representing the pinnacle of modern acoustic guitar construction, with Adirondack bracing, hide glue, and meticulous hand-voicing producing extraordinary clarity, balance, and power. Gibson Hummingbird Standard 4 4.8 New Gibson Hummingbird Standard Gibson $3,199 Professional USA 1 review An iconic square-shouldered dreadnought with solid spruce top and mahogany back delivering bold, assertive strumming power, featuring the signature hummingbird pickguard and thermally-aged bracing. Guild D-55 5 4.8 New Guild D-55 Guild $3,299 Professional USA 1 review A legendary jumbo dreadnought with solid spruce and rosewood delivering massive, room-filling sound with thunderous bass, featuring Guild's arched back design and ornate abalone appointments. Seagull S6 Original 6 4.8 New Seagull S6 Original Seagull $499 Intermediate Canada 1 review Canadian-made acoustic with solid cedar top and wild cherry body, delivering warm, immediately responsive tone with handcrafted quality at a budget-friendly price. Taylor 814ce 7 4.8 New Taylor 814ce Taylor $3,799 Professional USA 1 review Flagship grand auditorium with solid rosewood and spruce, V-Class bracing, beveled armrest, and premium appointments for uncompromising professional performance. Taylor GS Mini 8 4.8 New Taylor GS Mini Taylor $549 All Levels Mexico 1 review Scaled-down grand symphony producing surprisingly full tone from a compact travel-friendly body with solid spruce top and 23.5-inch scale length. Yamaha FG800 9 4.8 New Yamaha FG800 Yamaha $219 Beginner China 1 review Budget dreadnought with a solid spruce top and scalloped bracing, widely regarded as one of the best starter acoustic guitars for its consistent quality and warm tone. Yamaha FS800 10 4.8 New Yamaha FS800 Yamaha $219 Beginner China 1 review Concert-sized acoustic guitar offering focused, balanced tone in a smaller body ideal for fingerstyle playing, younger players, and those who find dreadnoughts too large. Yamaha LL16 ARE 11 4.8 New Yamaha LL16 ARE Yamaha $799 Advanced China 1 review All-solid-wood jumbo acoustic with A.R.E.-treated spruce top and rosewood body, delivering mature, open tone from day one at an exceptional value for its construction. Gibson J-45 Standard 12 4.7 New Gibson J-45 Standard Gibson $2,699 Professional USA 1 review One of the most celebrated acoustic guitars in history with solid spruce and mahogany delivering warm, woody midrange focus that earned it the nickname 'The Workhorse' among singer-songwriters since the 1940s. Guild OM-250CE 13 4.7 New Guild OM-250CE Guild $999 Intermediate China 1 review A cutaway orchestra model with solid spruce and rosewood delivering balanced, articulate tone with clear note separation, featuring discreet Fishman Sonitone electronics for natural amplified sound. Martin 000-15M 14 4.7 New Martin 000-15M Martin $1,499 Advanced USA 1 review An all-mahogany auditorium guitar delivering warm, intimate tone with strong midrange, ideal for fingerstyle and singer-songwriters who prioritize recording-friendly warmth over projection. Taylor 314ce 15 4.7 New Taylor 314ce Taylor $1,899 Advanced USA 1 review All-solid grand auditorium with Sitka spruce top, solid sapele body, and V-Class bracing delivering professional-grade tone and improved intonation. Taylor Academy 12e 16 4.7 New Taylor Academy 12e Taylor $599 Beginner Mexico 1 review Beginner-focused grand concert with solid spruce top, armrest contour, narrower nut width, and ES-B electronics designed to make learning more comfortable. Yamaha FG830 17 4.7 New Yamaha FG830 Yamaha $329 Beginner China 1 review Step-up dreadnought with solid spruce top and solid rosewood back and sides, offering noticeably richer tonal depth and complexity over the entry-level FG800. Gibson L-00 Standard 18 4.6 New Gibson L-00 Standard Gibson $2,499 Advanced United States 1 review A small-body acoustic with solid spruce and mahogany delivering focused, warm tone with strong midrange presence that sits beautifully beneath the voice, ideal for fingerstyle and singer-songwriter applications. Orangewood Oliver Mahogany 19 4.6 New Orangewood Oliver Mahogany Orangewood $195 Beginner China 1 review A direct-to-consumer all-mahogany dreadnought with solid top and bone nut at a remarkably low price, delivering surprising warmth and quality for beginners and casual players. Takamine P3DC 20 4.6 New Takamine P3DC Takamine $1,499 Advanced Japan 1 review Pro Series dreadnought cutaway with solid cedar top, solid sapele body, and legendary CT4B II preamp delivering warm, reliable amplified acoustic tone. Taylor 214ce 21 4.6 New Taylor 214ce Taylor $1,199 Intermediate Mexico 1 review Grand auditorium acoustic-electric entering Taylor's solid-top lineup with Sitka spruce, layered rosewood, and ES2 electronics for versatile mid-range performance. Blueridge BR-160 22 4.5 New Blueridge BR-160 Blueridge $799 Intermediate China 2 reviews The Blueridge BR-160 is a dreadnought with all-solid tonewoods and hand-carved pre-war-style bracing delivering surprisingly powerful, authentic bluegrass tone and projection at a fraction of the cost of premium American-made dreadnoughts. Epiphone Hummingbird Studio 23 4.4 New Epiphone Hummingbird Studio Epiphone $349 Intermediate China 1 review An affordable version of Gibson's iconic Hummingbird with solid spruce top and Fishman pickup, capturing the distinctive square-shouldered dreadnought sound and famous floral pickguard at a fraction of the price. Takamine GN93CE 24 4.4 New Takamine GN93CE Takamine $599 Intermediate China 1 review Nylon-string acoustic-electric in NEX body shape with solid spruce top, quilted maple body, and road-proven Takamine electronics for gigging fingerstyle players. Fender CD-60S 25 4.3 New Fender CD-60S Fender $219 Beginner China 1 review A budget-friendly dreadnought with solid mahogany top and Easy-Play setup featuring rolled fingerboard edges, producing warm, mellow tones that complement vocals while remaining comfortable for beginners. Alvarez AD60 26 4.2 New Alvarez AD60 Alvarez $299 Beginner China 2 reviews The Alvarez AD60 is a solid-top dreadnought that hits the sweet spot between entry-level and mid-range, with forward-shifted scalloped bracing and a solid Sitka spruce top delivering responsive projection and warm tone at an accessible price. Fender Newporter Player 27 4.2 New Fender Newporter Player Fender $449 Beginner China 1 review A small-body acoustic-electric from the California Series with solid spruce top and Fishman pickup, featuring a 24.1-inch scale and electric-style neck that eases the transition for electric players. Martin D-X2E 28 4.2 New Martin D-X2E Martin $649 Beginner Mexico 1 review A budget-friendly Martin dreadnought with solid spruce top and HPL back, bringing the Martin name and scalloped bracing to an accessible price with climate-resistant construction. Yamaha APX600 29 4.2 New Yamaha APX600 Yamaha $299 Intermediate China 1 review Thin-body acoustic-electric built for stage performance, featuring a piezo pickup system, slim profile for comfort, and 22 frets for extended range during live gigs. Breedlove Pursuit Exotic S Concert 30 4.2 New Breedlove Pursuit Exotic S Concert Breedlove $649 Intermediate China 2 reviews The Breedlove Pursuit Exotic S Concert combines a solid cedar top with exotic myrtlewood for warm, responsive tone with pronounced midrange, paired with Breedlove's asymmetric bridge and a Fishman pickup for natural amplified sound.