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Buying An Acoustic Guitar
Buying an acoustic guitar can be challenging. Many acoustic guitars are similar in appearance and sound. Why do some cost hundreds of dollars, while others cost thousands? In this article we’ll take a look at the different types of acoustic guitars available, what you should get for your money, and what you should look out for when buying.
Types of Acoustics
There are basically two types of acoustic guitars: steel string and nylon string. Steel string guitars have numerous variations (twelve string models, cutaways, built-in electronics, fiberglass bodies, etc.), while nylon strings guitars usually have very little variation (besides construction) from brand to brand. Let’s start by looking at nylon string guitars.
Nylon String Guitars
While nylon string guitar shows up occasionally on pop recordings, they are used almost exclusively in classical, latin, and flamenco style music. They are typically played fingerstyle — using your fingers instead of a pick. To accomodate this style of playing, they feature wider necks than typical steel string guitars. The nylon strings give these guitars a quieter and mellower tone than steel string guitars. These guitars are capable of creating very beautiful, quiet music or flashy flamenco flurries. If your interest lies in classical, latin, or flamenco. You will want to check out nylon string guitars.
Steel String Guitars
Steel string guitars come in infinite variations, but they basically boil down to three types:
Six String Guitars — These are the guitars that began it all. There many sizes and shapes available. In 1966 Charlie Kaman introduced the roundback guitar featuring a bowl-shaped composite back. Recent years have brought body cutaways — like those on electric guitars — allowing access to higher frets.
Twelve Strings Guitars — The twelve string guitar uses six pairs of guitars strings, tuned in octaves and unison to give the player a fuller sound. These guitars can be very effective on certain songs but are of limited use for single string work.
Acoustic/Electric Guitars — Recently guitar manufacturers have started including built-in preamps, equalizers, and pickups in some of their models. These guitars give players the option of being able to play with a live electric band without the problems associated with micing an acoustic.
What You Can Expect For Your Money
Before you head out shopping, it’s a good idea to know what you can expect for your money. Don’t automatically assume that an inexpensive guitar won’t sound as good as an expensive one. Often the difference in cost is due largely to cosmetic features, grades of wood, and type of finish used on the guitar. It is possible to get a good sounding guitar for a reasonable price, but it takes patience. Of course, if you have the money, you can get yourself a premium instrument with beautiful tone. One that is is a joy to play, a beauty to behold, and will last you a lifetime.
Under $500
These instruments are considered “economy” or “beginner” models. Sacrifices will be made in the quality of the hardware, woods, and the construction of the instrument (no fret bindings, cheaper finishes, lower grade woods, laminated tops.) Tone will often be lacking due to the materials used. But if you are patient you can find a good sounding instrument in this range.
$500 to $1000
This is the midrange for guitars. You can get a good quality guitar for this price. It won’t be a “deluxe” or “signature” model, but it will do the job quite nicely. In this price range you will get better woods and satin finishes. Tones will improve and you will see many acoustic/electric models.
Over $1000
Once you break a thousand bucks, you looking at some excellent guitars with abundant features. Gold hardware, Ebony fretboards, fretboard binding, intricate fretboard inlays, high gloss finishes, “signature” models, the choicest woods, and other pleasures await you here. These luxuries don’t necessarily mean a guitar will sound better, but they certainly help. A guitar in this price range should last you a lifetime.
How To Shop
O.K. You’ve done your homework. Now comes the fun part — shopping. The best way to shop for acoustic guitars is to get to a music store and try some out. Don’t even think about money at first, just try out as many different guitars as you can. Dont limit yourself to guitars in your price range, either. Play the “top of the line” models to get a feel for what a good guitar’ feels, plays, and sounds like. If your local music store is one of those old-fashioned stores that make you ask permission to play a guitar, then ask. If they don’t want you to play the good stuff, go elsewhere. If you are new to guitars, ask a lot of questions. Also, if you are just starting out, have the salesman play several guitars for you so you can hear how different ones sound. A good guitar store will have helpful salesmen who can answer your questions and help you get the best guitar for your money.
Use Your Eyes Too
It’s very important that a guitar sounds good. But it should be well made also. Things to look out for are: rough fret edges, gaps in the neck/body joint, and twisted or uneven necks. Looking at the neck from the side, a very slight bow is normal and necessary to keep the strings from buzzing on the frets, but it shouldn’t be extreme. Looking straight up the neck from the bottom of the body, the neck should not twist to the right or left or have any bumps or dips. If you are serious about a guitar, finger every fret position on each string to make sure there are no dead notes or buzzes.
Final Advice
If you really like the way a guitar looks, feels, and sounds, you’re probably looking at the right guitar for you. Happy hunting.
recommended
Under $500
Seagull The Original S6
- Gorgeous domestic wild cherry back and sides provide a unique tone blending the warmth of mahogany with the crisp definition of maple. Silverleaf maple neck on a shorter 24.84" scale with a rosewood fretboard is easy on the fingers while specially aligned machine heads make for quick, stable tuning.
Available At Guitar Center
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Seagull The Original S6 Acoustic Guitar Natural
Ibanez AW30ECENT Artwood Series
- f you've played or even just listened to many acoustic guitars, you know the amazing difference a solid top makes. The Ibanez AW30ECENT ARTWOOD SERIES Acoustic-Electric Guitar features a solid top made of Englemann spruce. You'll hear warm lows and ringing highs in crisp detail, the way an acoustic is supposed to sound. For faithful reproduction of acoustic tone, a Fishman Sonicore pickup is paired with the Ibanez AEQ-SST Shape Shifter preamp with an onboard tuner. The AW30ECENT has balanced 1/4" and XLR outputs.
Available At Guitar Center
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Ibanez AW30ECENT ARTWOOD SERIES Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural
Epiphone Masterbilt AJ-500M
- Amazingly low price for a genuine solid Sitka spruce top and luxurious appointments. Expert luthiery to rival Epiphone's classic 1930s guitars is evident in the Masterbilt AJ-500M's precision top, back, and fretboard binding. A light jumbo acoustic guitar with great volume, projection, and natural warmth enhanced by solid mahogany back and sides. Nickel hardware, stickpin inlay, and offset notch headstock add visual elegance.
Available At Guitar Center
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Epiphone Masterbilt AJ-500M Advanced Jumbo Acoustic Guitar Natural Satin Nickel
$500 - $1000
Epiphone Masterbilt EF-500M
- The EF-500M features all solid wood construction with Mahogany back and sides and a Sitka Spruce top. The guitar features a tapered dovetail neck joint, hand-scalloped bracing, and full-body abalone binding. A thin headstock with open-gear Grover tuners helps continue the “vintage” vibe of the guitar. A deluxe, embroidered hard-sided gig bag with built-in hygrometer (an instrument used to measure humidity) is included to round out the package. The EF Masterbilt models are fingerstyle guitars and feature a slightly wider neck than typical Dreadnaught models. Read the Better Guitar review
Available At Guitar Center
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Epiphone Masterbilt EF-500M Fingerstyle Acoustic Guitar Natural Satin Nickel
Parkwood PW310M Dreadnought
- The Parkwood PW310M Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar has a solid spruce top, and solid Mahogany back and sides. Braces are hand scalloped and cosmetic appointments are elegant. The PM310M is finished in an ultra thin "open pore" finish that lets the sound come through loud and clear.
Available At Guitar Center
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Parkwood PW310M Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar Natural
Martin DSM Solid Top Dreadnought
- To find a guitar with this much solid tonewood that costs so little is incredible in its own right but, add the fact that it's a Martin, and we're talking big news! This front-page instrument is the Martin DSM Solid Top Dreadnought Mahogany/Spruce Acoustic Guitar. It features a solid spruce top, solid mahogany back and sides, mahogany neck and morado fretboard and bridge, which combine to produce beautiful, warm tones. The DSM pairs this with X bracing, which generates a bright, open sound. You get balanced tones that fill a room with ease.
Available At Guitar center
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Martin DSM Solid Top Dreadnought Mahogany/Spruce Acoustic Guitar Natural