Top Ten Acoustic Guitar Brands
I've done that enough times that finally it occurred to me: if I'm so sure I know what the best brands aren't...why haven't I made my own list to tell the world which ones they are? Maybe because it's not quite as easy as I'd like to imagine it is?
Okay. On the surface, it's dead simple. But when you look at the reasons for disagreeing with everyone else's lists, you quickly realize you're probably going to fall into the same traps. Most notably, you're likely going to weight your list heavily based on your own preferences. There is, perhaps, no such thing as an entirely objective list of the best brands.
Add to that the fact that many brands include a range of guitars from absolutely awful, to excellent, and it complicates things even further. I could pick on a brand -- let's say Epiphone -- because a lot of their acoustics are just not good, in my opinion and that of a lot of other guitarists. But there will always be that person out there who owns several of Epiphone's Masterbilt acoustics, and loves them -- rightfully so, as they're great guitars!
So the question is, how do I come up with a fair list? The best I can do is set some rules and force myself to adhere to them. So, in no particular order, here are the guidelines I'll be following:
- Consider the overall lineup of each brand. Are the majority of their models good? Bad? Average? Only include brands whose overall lineup is above average, and whose quality is consistent enough to merit a spot.
- If I don't have any personal experience with a brand, I can't include it.
- For each brand, I have to provide an explanation, including any specific likes/dislikes that are inherent with the brand.
- I'm only including widely-produced and widely-available manufacturers, nothing that's a little more specialized or limited in availability.
Now, enough explaining; it's time to make a list!
10. Yamaha
I'm going to get a lot of hate for this one! Yamaha makes excellent guitars, and some people would rank them much higher. However, for me, it's their lower-end or "beginner" guitars that make the brand so great! It's hard to argue with the value and tone you get out of a 700- or 800-series Yamaha acoustic. For new guitarists, it's difficult to get anything better for the same price. With a slightly higher budget, of course, there are better quality acoustics to be had, some of which will be featured later on this list.
Of course, this is not to say Yamaha's high-end guitars are bad! In fact, they're superb instruments! But in between their beginner guitars and high-end models, there just isn't a lot that wows or excites me.
9. Takamine
This is a tough one for me. Takamine produces some excellent, well-made guitars. Many guitarists around the world love them. But their tone just doesn't quite do it for me. That said, as long as you buy a solid-topped guitar, you're going to get something that sounds and plays the way a Takamine should. So if that's the sound and feel you enjoy, it's hard to leave them off a list such as this.
8. Alvarez
I think Alvarez guitars are often underrated. Sure, some of their lower-end models have left me underwhelmed. The thing is, you don't have to go all the way up to the top of their range before the tone and features start to feel like good value for your money. Alvarez may fly under the radar a bit, but they're worth a play when considering a mid-range instrument. They also happen to make some awesome baritones, which is something not all brands have a reputation for.
7. Larivee
Larivee, for me, is a lot like Takamine, if I liked Takamine's sound better. What I mean by that, is they're consistently good guitars that consistently deliver the playing experience you'd expect, if you're familiar with the brand's tonal characteristics. The tone is generally pretty even, and they're well-made. Not my favorite tonal profile, but one I do enjoy. It just doesn't quite excite me like some others do.
6. Guild
This brand may be polarizing, and for completely understandable reasons! Guild acoustics are known for being "overbuilt." In other words, they're extremely rigid in their construction. This makes for an instrument that should easily outlive you! But, it also means it will take longer for the guitar to really unlock its full potential. An acoustic guitar that has been "broken in" and has "opened up" is always going to sound better than it did brand-new. And with the stiff rigidity of a Guild, that's going to take longer.
So I'm sure there are owners of old Guilds ready to give me a piece of their minds, as well as people who've only played a brand new Guild in a store and think I'm crazy to even include them on this list! As with most debated issues, I think the truth is somewhere in between those extremes.
5. Breedlove
If it weren't for their "beginner" level guitars, Breedlove would have a higher place on this list. They make some relatively inexpensive models in the middle of their range that are phenomenal in terms of value for money. In both tone and features/build philosophy, they seem to fall somewhere near the middle of the very traditional nature of Martin, and the always-innovative style of Taylor.
Breedlove acoustics, in my opinion, are one of the best options if you want an all solid-wood acoustic at a budget price. It's where they really shine, as their lower-end stuff -- while pretty good in its own right -- can be beat for the same money, and their highest-end models don't offer anything that, in my opinion, uniquely stands out from the pack against the Martins and Taylors of the world.
4. Gibson
A lot of traditional guitarists who prize the long-standing history of a brand like Gibson are going to disagree with me for not at least putting them in my top three. Decades ago, I would have agreed. But the fact is, Gibson's quality when it comes to their new guitars just isn't what it used to be.
That said, there's still something so iconic about a J-200, J-45, or even a Hummingbird, that it's hard not to make them a top-five brand. Full disclosure; for me, their signature tone is a bit dark and muffled, so I could easily have flip-flopped Gibson with Breedlove; the historicity of Gibson is what won out in the end.
3. Seagull
I know what some of you are thinking: Seagull is so known for their S6, and some similarly inexpensive models, that it's really tough to justify them in such a high spot on this list! However, being inexpensive doesn't mean they're of lesser quality than any other brand. In fact, a little research shows just how high their quality is -- as well as explaining why and how they're able to keep the costs lower than other brands.
Let's consider a few factors:
- The S6, and similarly, the Entourage Rustic series, are often praised for sounding and playing as great as guitars costing much, much more. They're among extremely few guitars within some beginners' price range, that will still be prized instruments once that beginner has become a lot more experienced.
- While these lower-end models are what put them on the map, so to speak, they do make a range of other guitars that are even higher in quality. Their top-of-the-line Artist models fetch only about $1,500 (USD), and in terms of price:performance ratio, provide more than almost any other acoustic guitar at the same price.
- Two of the key features nobody matches at that price:
- An instrument hand-made to exacting quality standards, in North America
- Top-tier tonewoods; most of the top manufacturers, if they're selling an all solid-wood guitar at this price, are using "alternative" materials like ovangkol and sapele
- Also worth noting: even their lowest-end models are still handmade in Canada to exacting quality standards, and it shows
This isn't a Seagull review, ad, or promotion. They're also not my personal favorite manufacturer. It's just that this brand is hard to beat, dollar-for-dollar.
2. Taylor
You knew this was either going to be number one or number two. And I'm sure you can guess number one now. I genuinely feel that both Taylor and Martin deserve the top spots, and honestly the order in which they're listed is a matter of preference.
Taylor is an incredibly innovative guitar manufacturer. Their innovations have even lit a fire under Martin, being at least partially responsible for the introduction of some new body styles that the traditional Nazareth, PA juggernaut never produced before.
But if there's one thing that, for me, solidly entrenches Taylor in the number two spot, it's their consistency. I've played several of their guitars, and what I've found to be the case is that I know what to expect before I pick one up. A 714 is always going to sound like a 714. A 410 will always sound like a 410. And so on. When you're building with wood, a natural material, that's a tough thing to accomplish! And I'm not sure if anyone has ever done it as well as Taylor.
However, the consistent, predictable, signature tone of a Taylor is not to my preference. While they do manage an impressive level of clarity and balance, the midrange is emphasized a bit too much for my liking. It's the reason that I've never played a bad Taylor, but also never played a Taylor that absolutely knocked my socks off. Their consistent excellence is the one thing that holds them back from producing something that surprises and wows me.
1. Martin
No surprise here, after seeing that Taylor took the number two spot. I enjoy a warm tone, and Martin is well-known for that. What really puts them over the top, though, is that they've been able to build a legacy on the foundation of that signature tone, dating all the way back to 1833, and still retain that all these years later.
On top of that, they've managed to add some serious innovation into the mix in recent years -- as mentioned, in no small part thanks to Taylor -- without losing the tone that makes a Martin, a Martin. Their updating of iconic models in the 18 and 28 Series, as well as the new SC-13E, show that tradition and technology can indeed coexist, and keep a company with such a long and rich history, as relevant as ever.
Innovation shouldn't be a surprise from Martin, historically speaking. They invented some of the guitar shapes and sizes we all know and love, that have made their way into all manufacturers' lineups. There would be no dreadnaughts were it not for Martin!
One more factor that sets Martin apart from Taylor for me, not necessarily for everyone: much like I said about Taylors, I've never played a bad Martin. I must admit, I've played some that were just "good" and not "excellent" as well. But I've also played some that were simply unbelievable. I even owned a DM -- an entry-level model from the '90s and early 2000s that had a laminate body -- and it was one of the most mind-blowing acoustics my fingers have ever played. It easily rivaled the solid-wood D-18s and D-28s that some of my friends had, and even beat some of them (not just in my biased opinion!).
The potential for a guitar, regardless of how high or low it sits within Martin's product range, to surprise and wow you...that's part of the magic! And it's part of the reason I had to make them my number one pick.
But in the end, it always has to come back to that Martin tone. Even their lower-end guitars made of HPL -- which, truth be told, I'm not a fan of -- do actually have an identifiable Martin tone. It's not quite the same as on models made of wood; you could call it a "Martin-lite" tone; but it is undeniable and familiar to anyone who knows that iconic sound.
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