THE BEST CHEAP Acoustic Guitars with the Best Quality – Price Ratio: Most Popular Brands (Buying Guide).
On this occasion I will show you different models of acoustic guitar from different brands with the best quality-price ratio. From models for beginners to guitars for advanced players.
This way you will be able to learn about some of the most popular manufacturers and their different types and categories. This guide will help you to adapt the model to your needs and personal taste, taking into account the money you want to invest.
Best North American Acoustic Guitar Brands
Guild Guitars
Acoustic guitars as we know them today were developed by the American manufacturer C.F. Martin and Company. So I’ll start by showing the American brands with the best quality-price ratio, such as the Guild brand. One of the American manufacturers, which is an institution as a manufacturer of acoustic guitars.
In this brand we can find high-end models manufactured in the United States, but also more economical series such as the Guild A-20 Bob Marley in classic Dreadnought style, for a very controlled price of around $370.
This guitar has a slightly wider nut width of 44.5mm, instead of the classic 43mm nut width. Something to keep in mind, as this may benefit some guitarists, but may be detrimental to others.
This brand can also offer us a Jumbo model like the spectacular Guild F-240E for around $430, with a Fishman GT-1 pickup system with volume and tone control, and this one with a standard nut width of 43mm.
Also in a 12-string Jumbo version we have the Guild F-2512E for a price of around $500.
Sire Guitars Larry Carlton
Another American brand, but this one much more modern, is the manufacturer Sire Guitars. A brand with an unstoppable trajectory thanks to its excellent models, with very tight profit margins.
For example, the Larry Carlton A3-D model features classic acoustic guitar woods such as spruce, mahogany or rosewood for the bridge and fingerboard, but its price is a surprising $320. In addition, this model has an integrated preamplifier system.
The Larry Carlton A3-G is priced at around $340, has a cutaway, and is a Grand Auditorium size. We could say that it is a slightly smaller Jumbo model, or in other words, it would be a Dreadnought size but with a different shape.
The top range is the one referred to as A4, also with two models and prices around 500 dollars. At the moment the brand is not developing more models given its short history, but we already know that the best-selling acoustic guitar model is the Dreadnought, as in the case of the Larry Carlton A3-D.
Walden
The Walden brand is another company founded in the United States, so to speak, of recent creation, in which we can find, for example, the most economical Dreadnought model at only $240 in price (Walden WAD350W Standard 300).
In the 400 series we have the same model with a superior quality standard for $320 (Walden WAD450W Standard 400). And in the 500 range the prices are around $450 for the 6-string models, and $500 for the 12-string model (Walden WAD552E 12C Natura 500).
These would be the most affordable series, but we can continue to invest more money in our purchase progressively in the 600, 700 and 800 models. This last series costs around $900. We would only have two more series left. The 2000 series with a cost of more than $1000 (Walden WAG2070RCEH Supranatura), and the 3000 series with prices that exceed $1200.
Cheap Fender Acoustic Guitars
You might think that any guitar with this name engraved on the headstock would be expensive. But that is not the case with some of their acoustic guitar series, such as the incredible FA models like the Fender FA-125 for $140. And the electro-acoustic version (Fender FA-125CE) for around $190.
Or the CD series like the Fender CD-60 for a surprising $140. We can also get the electro-acoustic model with cutaway for around $270 (Fender CD-60SCE).
Epiphone Acoustic Guitars
If we needed a Jumbo model, one of the most interesting options is the Epiphone J-200 EC Studio for around $540. A very reasonable price for an instrument of this size, with a cutaway, superb finishes, and also electroacoustic.
On the other hand, if we need a smaller folk-style guitar, we can opt for the Epiphone L-00 Studio. This model also has a Fishman Sonitone preamp, for a price of less than $400.
In the Epiphone brand we can also find standard models such as the Epiphone J-45 EC Studio with a Fishman Presys pickup system. A model with cutaway, and other distinguished finishes such as double binding on the soundboard and on the sides of the fingerboard, for a controlled cost of $370.
BEST Acoustic Guitars: Tanglewood
The Tanglewood brand was founded in England at the end of the 20th century. This manufacturer develops products from high-end to very economical series such as the Crossroads, with many models priced under $200 (Tanglewood Crossroads TWCRD).
The Blackbird and Roadster II series raise the bar a little higher with models between 200 and 300 dollars. But there are numerous ranges in which we can find different finishes at progressive prices, which adapt perfectly to our budget, such as the more than interesting Tanglewood DBT D HR Discovery for around 320 dollars.
Cheap Acoustic Guitars: Cort
The South Korean brand Cort is another of the most outstanding options for purchasing an acoustic guitar, with very reasonable prices for the quality of its products. Like the Cort AD810 for an affordable $130.
Or the Earth series like the Cort Earth 70 OP for around $280. And also in a 12-string version like the Cort AD810 12 for less than $200.
Or the MR series with its electroacoustic models like the Cort MR600F with cutaway for around $320.
Best Japanese Acoustic Guitar Brands
Yamaha Best Cheap Acoustic Guitars
Obviously, Japanese brands also have a lot to say in this regard when it comes to acoustic guitars. One of these highly-rated brands, with a long history and a well-known reputation in the manufacture of musical instruments is the Yamaha corporation.
This brand has the F series in which we can find some of its models aimed mainly at beginners, such as the Yamaha F310 ($140). One of its most popular models due to its unbeatable quality-price ratio, as is the Yamaha F370 ($190).
The FX series would be similar to the previous one but in an electroacoustic version, like the Yamaha FX310 for around $260. The models with cutaway are detailed with a final C in the product name, like the FX370C ($320). And with a reduced-size concert-type body for greater comfort like the FSX315C ($280).
We raise the bar a little higher and we find the FG series, like the FG800. One of the most legendary series from Yamaha, since this model has been in production since 1966. In addition, it has a very interesting price ($330). In this series, the same thing would happen as in the previous one in terms of reference C for the models with cutaway, and the X review for the electroacoustic models.
Obviously the price would increase progressively, as we add these improvements, or if we move on to higher models such as the FG820 or FG830.
Yamaha 12 String
In this series we can also find 12-string models such as the FG820 12 at a fairly controlled price ($470) for an instrument of this style and category.
And for the youngest members of the family or for use as a travel guitar, we have the ¾ JR models with a scale of just over 21 inches (Yamaha JR2 $180).
Ibanez Best Cheap Acoustic Guitars
We continue with Japanese manufacturers, such as the historic brand Ibanez. The PF series is among its most affordable models, such as the Ibanez PF15 for around $190.
And the Ibanez PF15ECE in electroacoustic version with cutaway for around $270.
If you are wondering why the same guitar with cutaway is a bit more expensive, it is because manufacturing the instrument with this feature is a bit more complicated.
This same model can be found without a cutaway in a 12-string version (Ibanez PF15 12 – $230) even cheaper than the previous one. A model that could be among the best possible purchases that we can find in this guitar format.
If we require a little more quality, we have the AV series, but without having to make an exorbitant investment (Ibanez AVD15PFR – $390).
Takamine
We move on to one of the most prestigious Japanese brands in terms of acoustic guitar construction: Takamine. One of their most affordable series would be the G10 models with a Dreadnought body shape like the Takamine GD10-N for around $240.
Or the GN series (GN11 or GN10) with the original NEX body shape and characteristic of the Takamine brand for a modest $330. A modest price for this manufacturer, since their models usually cost over $600.
Both the GD10 (GD10CE) and the GN10 (GN10CE) can also be found in an electroacoustic version for around $350.