BUDGET OPTIONS
When it comes to budget options, I’d prefer to recommend brands rather than specific guitars. Two brands that have constantly impressed me in this range are Yamaha and Cort. Both these companies have a long history of making quality instruments and when you’re looking for a beginner guitar, I strongly recommend choosing a reputed brand (which I have already explained in detail in this post___________).
A student of mine recently picked up the Yamaha FS800 and I loved the sound quality and playability of the instrument. As a smaller body guitar, this can easily be recommended for children and/or adults who would prefer a smaller frame without compromising on tone and clarity. The guitar feels sturdy in the hand (which is not always the case with some beginner guitars) and I feel confident that it will last for many years to come.
I used to have a Cort AD810 back in India and I can say with confidence that this is a solid beginner guitar. As this is a standard sized guitar, I feel it would be more suited to adults. As with the Yamaha, the sound quality and playability on the AD810 guitar is good. One thing to keep in mind is that all guitars have their own unique tone and whether one guitar sounds “better” than the other usually comes down to personal preference.
MID RANGE GUITARS
A mid range guitar should be a workhorse. It should sound great and last a lifetime without emptying your pocket. I believe that the Epiphone AJ220SCE ticks all these boxes. Not only have I recommended this guitar to two very happy owners, I myself use one daily at the music school I teach at. This guitar is quality! It sounds lovely and plays like a dream.
Apart from Epiphone, other brands I’d encourage you to check out in this price range (400-1000$) are Washburn & Seagull.
PREMIUM GUITARS
When it comes to premium guitars (1000$ and above), most buyers know exactly what they are looking for and don’t really need my recommendation. Nonetheless, I’d like to take this opportunity to rave about my tiny little beauty, the Taylor GS Mini-e Rosewood. I bought the GS Mini as I was new to Canada and needed a quality instrument which would be able to get the job done! My rationale was that in a few years, I would be better placed to choose the perfect full size acoustic for me and also, since my beautiful wife is tiny, the GS Mini would be perfect for her, forever!
The GS Mini is a no-brainer to recommend. All you have to do is walk into any guitar shop which has one, try it out and you will be sold. It’s that simple. It’s small size makes it travel friendly. The case it comes with is fantastic! It also comes in different wood choices based on the tonal characteristics you are looking for (I chose the spruce top and rosewood back and sides for it’s brighter tone). Everything about the guitar looks, feels and sounds premium. I guess for those who’ve been playing guitar for a while, it’ll make more sense when I say that “it just does everything I tell it to do!”
In my opinion, the three brands which own the premium acoustic guitar market are Taylor, Martin & Gibson. All of them have their own signature sound and if you have the opportunity to try them out, you will be able to see, hear and feel what “premium” is.
CONCLUSION
I could have easily added more guitars to fill up this post but my sole aim here is to recommend instruments and brands that I have personally tried and enjoy playing. You may end up loving or hating these guitars and that’s just another thing that makes guitar playing so interesting. All our hands are different and all guitars will feel different to each player. At the end of the day, the only way to be certain that you’re going to love it is by trying it out for yourself before buying.
I hope my recommendations have pointed you in the right direction. Feel free to leave your comments below and I’d be happy to discuss them with you! Have a lovely day ahead!
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