Are you a beginner looking to get your first acoustic guitar? Not sure what you should be looking for or which ones are best? It’s hard to decide, as there are so many options available with different features and price points.
This post aims to simplify the process by examining some of the best models on the market today. Also included is a brief first-time buyer’s guide with key information to help you know what to look for.
1. Taylor Academy 12e
- Solid Sitka spruce top
- Grand concert body with a specially-designed armrest to reduce fatigue
- Taylor ES-B electronics
Taylor’s Academy Series of guitars are designed for beginners who want to enjoy all the benefits of an authentic Taylor guitar, at a more affordable price. The Taylor Academy 12e may well be the ultimate instrument for beginner guitarists who are looking for a high-quality model designed to help develop their skills – without having to look for an upgrade for years.
The 12e is a sleek 24.87-inch scale Grand Concert acoustic guitar, featuring Sapele laminate on the back and sides and a solid Sitka spruce top. It also has a specially-designed armrest that helps to reduce fatigue and makes the guitar more comfortable to hold.
As you should expect with a Taylor guitar, the 12e sounds great. The solid top creates a vibrant, balanced tone that is both warm and smooth. It projects well for a concert-body acoustic and performs well when plugged in. For a beginner, the Taylor 12e is a premium option.
2. Martin D-X2E
- Constructed with spruce and mahogany high-pressure laminate
- Features trademark Martin tone
- Martin gigbag included
There has been some controversy over the design of Martin’s X series, stemming from Martin’s use of artificial materials, namely high-pressure laminate (HPL) instead of solid (or laminate) wood. In this case, the back and sides are made from HPL, whereas the top is solid sitka spruce.
Despite the controversy, however, these entry-level guitars sound remarkably good and are clearly worthy of the Martin name. Not only are they far more affordable than the high-end Martin offerings, but also more durable and resistant to the elements due to the HPL material.
As such, the Martin D-X2E is well-suited as a premium acoustic guitar for beginners. It is also a worthwhile step up from the slightly cheaper D-X1E, which also features HPL instad of the spruce top. You also get a high-quality Fishman MX pickup system. Like Taylor, Martin now also includes a gigbag with every guitar, including the less expensive ones.
3. Fender CD-60S
- Solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides
- Comfortable walnut fingerboard (12″ radius)
- Lots of guitar for the money
Fender is one of the most recognizable names in guitar manufacturing and has for many years catered to beginners with high-quality gear in more affordable price ranges – not least with its Squier sub-brand .
If you are looking for an acoustic guitar that gets all the basics right at an affordable price – and can do without a pickup – the Fender CD-60S offer a great deal of value at around $200. Considering the pricing and features, there is no doubt that it belongs on the list of the best acoustic guitars for beginners.
In this case, you get a solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides, a nato neck with an easy-to-play profile, as well as a walnut fingerboard with rolled edges. It’s built with scalloped X-bracing for enhanced bass respons, which works well in concert with the large dreadnought body to deliver a loud, full-bodied sound.
4. Yamaha FG830
- Solid spruce top, rosewood back and sides
- Comfortable rosewood fingerboard with rounded edges
- High-quality workmanship and attractive design
Yamaha’s FG Series is one of the oldest and most popular lines of acoustic guitars ever made. Since releasing its first FG model in the mid-1960s, Yamaha has updated its manufacturing process to ensure even their entry-level acoustics are high-quality instruments.
As an upgrade to the best-selling FG700, the FG830 has much to live up to and it does so quite successfully. It features a solid Sitka spruce top with Rosewood back and sides and a classic dreadnought body with scalloped bracing. The result is a rich projection with a lot of overtones and a good amount of sustain. For an entry-level guitar, the FG830 sounds even better than expected.
Like most guitars in this price range, the Yamaha FG800 does not feature a pickup system.
5. Ibanez AW54CE
- Solid okume top, okoume back and sides
- Nyatoh neck and laurel fingerboard
- Pickup system with built-in tuner
Ibanez has an incredibly broad range of guitars in all price ranges, but the value-oriented Artwood series has been one of the most successful in recent years. The main reason is that it does indeed offer impressive value, with an attractive selection of tonewoods and great built quality at the price.
The AW54CE Series has an okoume body, which is a mahogany-like tonewood that offers similarly warm tonal characteristics. This is coupled with a nyatoh neck and a laurel fingerboard. It comes in a matte open pore finish, meaning a thin layer of lacquer that leaves the natural pores of the wood exposed.
Another positive of the AW54CE is the included Fishman Sonicore pickup, paired with the Ibanez AEQ-TP2 preamp. This also comes with an integrated tuner, which is a real time-saver for beginners in particular. However, if you can do without the integrated pickup system, you can save about $100 by opting for the AW54 (without the ‘CE’).
6. Epiphone J-45 EC Studio
- Epiphone version of Gibson J-45 Studio
- Jumbo body with solid sitka spruce top
- Fishman Presys electronics
The Epiphone J-45 EC Studio is the Epiphone version of the Gibson guitar with the same name. Unsurprisingly, it bears a lot of similarities to the original, but is sold at a small fraction of the Gibson’s $2,299.00 MSRP.
Similarities include a jumbo dreadnaught body with a solid sitka spruce top. However, the Epiphone comes with mahogany back and sides (as opposed to walnut) and an okoume neck (instead of mahogany). Obviously, the Epiphone J-45 Studio also features less sophisticated aesthetics, but is still one of the best-looking guitars you can find at this price point.
More importantly, however, is that it offers great, nuanced sound and excellent playability. The EC model is equipped with a high-quality Fishman pickup and Presys II preamp. If you don’t need a pickup, you also have the option to save around $70 by opting for the non-EC version.
7. Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy Flat Top
- Smaller, parlor-style body
- Basswood body with X-bracing
- Walnut fingerboard with pearloid dot inlays
Dreadnaughts are not for everyone, or for every occasion. For younger guitar players with limited reach – or anyone looking for a travel guitar – the parlor style is an interesting alternative. Gretsch’s bestselling G9500 Jim Dandy Flat Top perhaps embodies this style more than any other guitar.
In spite of its size constraints, the G9500 offers quite the full-bodied sound, with the all-basswood body adding warmth reminiscent of vintage pinewood guitars. This guitar is, in fact, part of Gretsch’s Roots Collection, and a revival of the very rare 12-fret Gretsch Rex from the 1930s.
Another big plus is that the G9500 Jim Dandy can be yours for $189, which is nothing short of a bargain. However, if you want a pickup system, you will not find it in the Jim Dandy, but the otherwise nearly identical G9520E does include electronics.
8. Takamine GD20-NS
- Solid cedar top, mahogany back and sides
- Quartersawn X-bracing
- Pinless bridge for easy string changes
Japanese guitar manufacturer Takamine is not particularly known for entry-level guitars aimed at beginners. Even the most affordable G-series guitars can be a bit pricey, but there are a couple of exceptions that offer great value at accessible prices.
One is the GD20-NS, which features a standard dreadnaught body and a decidedly more unconventional solid cedar top. In combination with mahogany back and sides, this produces a warm tone without becoming too mellow. It also comes with a slim mahogany neck with a comfortable satin finish, and 12″-radius ovangkol fingerboard.
Unfortunately, there is no acoustic-electric version of this guitar, but if you don’t need electronics it is definitely one to consider.
9. Washburn Festival EA15
- Smaller 'mini jumbo' body
- Great-looking flame maple top
- Built-in pickup and tuner
Washburn’s EA15 mini jumbo body is an attractive guitar for young learners and anyone who feels more comfortable with a slightly smaller (but by no means tiny) body than a full-size dreadnaught.
At under $400, it offers an impressive set of features for the price, including a flame maple top, back and sides in catalpa, and X-scalloped bracing that enhances tonal balance. It also comes with a cutaway that lets you access the upper frets with ease. The neck is mahogany with a composite-material fretboard.
Like other models in the Festival series (and unlike all models in the Apprentice seres), the EA15 is also equipped with a decent set of electronics that include pickup and preamp with EQ and onboard tuner – another advantage when you are just getting started.
10. Epiphone DR-100
- Genuine tonewoods at a very low cost
- Spruce top, mahogany back and sides
- SlimTaper neck shape is great for beginners
We are rounding off this list with another Epiphone that really shouldn’t be left out from any list focusing on the best acoustic guitars for beginners. It’s not without reason that Epiphone is an extremely popular brand in the value category, and the best-selling DR-100 is a case in point.
For less than $200, the Epiphone DR-100 a really attractive package for beginners on a tight budget. A details that stands out, other than the quality materials, is the DR-100’s neck that features Epiphone’s SlimTaper profile. This shape results in improved playability, as it is easier to move fast along the neck without losing grip.
In terms of tone, the DR-100 offers clarity in the mid and upper ranges, making it suitable for a wide range of playing styles. There are no electronics included, but this is to be expected in this price range.
What to look for in an acoustic guitar for beginners?
There are several factors to consider when purchasing your first acoustic guitar.
- Body style – How does the guitar feel when you play it? Does it feel too big or too small? Find a style that feels most comfortable to you.
- Sound (Resonation and projection) – Have someone else play the guitar and pay attention to the guitar’s projection. Is it clear when the guitar is played loudly? Does the guitar still project well when played softly? How do the high and low tones sound?
- Check intonation and action – To check the action of a guitar, get eye-level with the 12th fret. Generally, you want to make sure there isn’t a noticeable difference in the distance between the 5th and 12th fret. To check the intonation, play a chord, then play the same chord starting on the 14th fret. You want them to sound the same.
- Build quality and materials – Affordable acoustic guitars aimed at beginners come with some compromises in terms of what tonewoods and materials are used. This is normal and to be expected in the low-cost segment, but it must never affect the overall build quality. Check what others say about potential design flaws that may not be immediately noticeable.
How long will it take me to learn to play the guitar?
Several factors play into how long it takes someone to learn to play the guitar, but the main thing to remember is the more you practice, the better you will get. Generally, you can expect it to take a couple of years to reach an advanced playing level, but even then you will have to dedicate several hours each day to practice on your guitar.
Help! My fingers hurt from playing the guitar! What should I do?
It’s common for beginner guitarists to experience some discomfort in their fingers when first starting out. To get your fingers used to the instrument, build up to longer practice sessions by starting with short, 5-10 minute sessions until you become more comfortable. The more you practice, the more used to the strings your fingers will become, and the less discomfort you will experience.
