If you were wondering how to choose the best acoustic guitar to fit your needs, we can tell you that the process can be quite intricate and complex, since there are many products to choose from and if happen to be a beginner player, you typically don’t yet have a trained ear to spot all the seemingly minute differences between various products offered on the market.
Best acoustic guitar reviews can serve as a helpful tool to get the player acquainted with what to search in the desired six-string, but it’s not bad to narrow the choice down from the get-go either. Therefore, we’ll provide you with an elaborate list of Top 10 Best Acoustic Guitars in 2016, taking into consideration just about any instrument listed online today.
How to choose the best acoustic guitar to fit your needs
When choosing the best acoustic guitar to match your personal preferences and style, there are several factors to take into consideration. First and foremost, you should seek the instruments that match your style and fit the vibe you’re aiming to deliver. Music is about expression, so get acquainted with yourself before proceeding any further.
Secondly, there are three standard points to take into consideration and find the instrument that mixes them up in the best way possible: features, sound, and price. Features encompass the mentioned vibe and style we discussed and consist of specific elements packed within the given six string. Sound focuses purely on the sonic domain, whereas price is the amount of money required to cough up to get your hands on the given guitar, commonly known as the tricky bit even for seasoned musicians.
Top 10 acoustic guitars on the market
So to make your choice a tad easier, we’ll present you with the rundown of 10 best acoustic guitars on the market in 2016. Details and meaty specs await below.
10. Epiphone Hummingbird
Features
Consisting of a full mahogany body and a rosewood fingerboard, the Epiphone Hummingbird has Keef written all over it. That would be The Rolling Stones legend Keith Richards, a true master of rock and blues and author of some of the genre’s most iconic riffs. The guitar has some mean looks and offers an equally killer sound.
This fine acoustic guitar can be applied to a broad range of styles, although rock, blues, and country are where it’s really at. The item features a synthetic bone saddle and does not include a case in the mix, hence you’ll have to purchase one separately.
If you want the sound of a high-end Gibson acoustic guitar worth several thousand dollars summed up into an affordable, budget-friendly package, the Epiphone Hummingbird is the product you’ve been looking for. Additional notable players of the Hummingbird design include the legendary country pioneer Gram Parsons, as well as multi-platinum US singer songwriter Sheryl Crow.
Sound
This guitar packs some attitude with it and always delivers at least a pinch of gritty raw rock attitude. The sonic output is sharp and always packs an extra dose of brightness. As noted, rock, blues and country are the domains where the Hummingbird is most commonly used, and probably the styles in which you should utilize it as well. But after all, we’re talking about music, so feel free to push the envelope and deliver a jazz lick or two on this baby as well.
Price
To put it as simple as possible, this one’s quite a bargain. Very affordable as far as acoustic guitars are considered, with a rich and recognizable quality sound, quite sturdy and capable of withstanding almost any amount of standard damage, the Epiphone Hummingbird easily ranks among the top picks of acoustic guitar beginners around the globe.
9. Yamaha FG700S
Features
The Yamaha FG700S is an affordable acoustic guitar perfect for beginner players, as well as for intermediate six-string wielders. It consists of a solid sitka spruce top, along with nato back and neck, as well as a rosewood fingerboard to get those fingers up and running down some nifty scales and licks.
Also included in the mix is a set of die-cast tuners to keep the axe in tune at all time, and specifically adjusted action for beginner guitarists. This affordable acoustic guitar is also praised for its tone projection, quality fit and good intonation.
One of the points raised by many guitarists who have tested the FG700S is that this is a highly versatile instrument, so if you want to cover a vast specter of styles, ranging from pop, jazz, and blues, all to way to country and rock, this Yamaha model should be among your top picks.
Sound
As noted, this guitar covers many musical styles with ease. The sound is warm, rich, packing just the right amount of mild punch and a fairly prominent low end. This allows you to play just about any musical style on the guitar and switch between the genres without almost any hassle. To sum it up, versatility is the word of the day with Yamaha FG700S
Price
Highly affordable would be a fitting description. This guitar offers everything a young guitarist might need and the price is within the range of the finest beginner acoustic guitars out there, making it a shoo-in for our little list here.
8. Fender Sonoran SCE
Features
This Fender six-string found its spot on the rundown as a top choice for any electric guitar player looking to switch to an acoustic edition of the instrument. It comes with a solid spruce body top and laminated mahogany back and sides, a durable maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard consisting of 20 frets, as well as a scalloped X bracing.
As you might have already noticed, the Sonoran SCE utilizes the legendary Fender Stratocaster headstock, offering a rocking vibe to go along with the tone. The guitar can also be plugged in to enhance your output, only further establishing this six-sting as a piece of rock equipment.
Sound
This thing rock, plain and simple. Everything about this bad boy was made to rock in style of such iconic titans as Bruce Springsteen. However, it implements some quality gear, making it quite versatile and easy to adjust to different musical styles and genres such as blues, country, jazz, and even light pop
Price
As far as this list goes, the Sonoran SCE is a tad more expensive than some other contestants, but still very affordable in the overall price range. After all, this is an electric acoustic guitar, meaning that it offers a set of electronics as well, allowing you to plug in. Also, it’s somewhat aimed at players who already have experience with electric guitars and are looking to switch to the acoustic realm. A fine purchase by all means.
7. Recording King RPH-05
Features
This one is a little something for all the fans of parlor acoustic guitars. The parlor body is smaller than a standard acoustic body, but in this case, offers an equal amount of punch and tone quality. The Recording King RPH-05 comes with a solid spruce top, white wood back and sides, a rosewood bridge and fretboard, as well as forward X bracing.
The little fella is quite a looker and offers a surprisingly strong and top-notch sound output. And not only is the sound beautifully bright and well rounded, but it’s also lean and mean, putting the RPH-05 right on scale with the big boys, at a highly affordable price if we might add.
Essentially, this guitar is a representative of smaller guitars that can compete with the big boys. If compact size and the vibe of parlor guitars is what you’re after, this is where you should seal the deal. Is this the best acoustic guitar of the parlor domain? It just might be.
Sound
Bright, warm, well-rounded, we already noted that this affordable guitar offers much more that the low price suggests. Quite fitting for country music, it can also be easily implemented within the realms of blues, rock and pop music. It is worth noting that the guitar can be used equally efficient for finger picking or standard pick strumming.
Price
A bargain, a steal, a deal, these are just some of the words the customers have used to describe this Recording King six-string. We try to provide the lowest prices throughout the list, but this one just might take the cake. If you find it at a discount price, you’re in for a truly fine deal. Use it without hesitation.
6. Yamaha F-310
Features
If you’re a beginner guitarist looking to delve into the world of folk, country and blues, this Yamaha steel guitar just might be your perfect fit. It features a spruce Top, an Indonesian mahogany back and sides, as well as a smooth nato neck. Along with some sleek chrome hardware, the guitar consists of a total of 20 frets.
This is also a fitting guitar for younger guitarists, regardless of skill level, as the neck is significantly slimmer than other similarly priced six-strings, allowing smaller fingers to run smoothly up and down the fingerboard.
Sound
The clunky sound is fitting for a folk-ish vibe, although the low-end hardly trails behind in any way, and the overall brightness and clarity remain prominent enough for solo parts and a well-rounded playing experience.
Several notable musicians have pointed out that this guitar is a living proof that budget-friendly instruments can deliver sound quality on par with their high-end peers. We’ll just say that this thing truly delivers and leave it to you to check it out. The list is already packed with quite a few top-notch guitars and we’re guessing that the choice is quite a difficult one even at this moment.
Price
It depends on where you catch the deal, but this is one fairly affordable instrument. It’s not the cheapest contestant on the list, but it’s not the most expensive one either. You could say that it falls somewhere in between, although it is slightly above average. It’s all minute details, the final verdict clearly says budget-friendly. An obvious thumbs up from everyone here.
5. Guild GAD D-125
Features
Cracking the list in half, we bring you the priciest model on our list, but still a surprisingly affordable model considering what it has to offer. If we were to single out the best acoustic guitar in 2016 with an affordable price, this might be it.
The Guild GAD D-125 comes with a dreadnought body with a solid mahogany top, back and sides, a rosewood bridge and fingerboard attached to a fast, thin mahogany neck. The sound on this instrument is crystal clear and packed with just about any positive sonic aspect a guitarist can imagine. To make a sweet deal even sweeter, this gorgeous natural-colored six-string guitar comes with an included hard case, something that became a rarity on today’s market as far as budged equipment goes.
Sound
Top-notch and nothing short of it. This Guild guitar will impress you with its pro sound and features typically associated with far more expensive high-end products. The output covers all the sonic ranges and widths, delivering a rich sound with loads of groove. The guitar is highly versatile and has the ability to cover almost any musical style from light pop to full-on rock ‘n’ roll.
Price
As noted, this is probably the most expensive instrument on the list, but it offers an amazing sound quality for the price, hence we had to include it either for the pros or fall all you folks willing to invest a few extra dollars in your beginner six-string for the sake of outstanding sound. This guitar should most definitely find a spot on your list of considered purchases, if not now, then maybe in the near future. Take our word for it, this is an investment you won’t regret.
4. Martin LX1 Little Martin
Features
Up next is a travel sized little beast called the Little Martin. Coming from Martin manufacturer, this smaller-body six-string packs a mean punch in a convenient package. It features a spruce topped body with Martin high-pressure laminate (aka HPL) back and sides, as well as a Stratabond neck with a thin, extremely playable Indian rosewood fretboard with 20 frets.
The guitar is able to cover a vast array of styles and is perfect for you if your top priorities are a compact size ideal for airplane flights and a slim, easy to play neck. The bright look is quite stylish and elegant, offering the player a healthy dose of classic acoustic guitar charm to draw attention of the crowd.
Sound
In the sound department, the Martin LX1 stands out as one of the best-sounding instruments on our lists. Warm and rich, the sonic output of this six-string is strong, rich with bass and punch, but also clean enough to be distinguished in the mix. It is well worth noting that quite a few pro guitar players have opted to stick with their Little Martin guitars simply because the sound quality was still enough to cover all their needs even as advanced musicians.
Price
The customers tend to share quite a few words of praise for this little guy, considering the quality similarly-priced items have to offer. To make a sweet deal even sweeter, a quality, sturdy gig bag is included in the package to help you protect your guitar at all time, especially during transport.
3. LAG T100D Stage Series Dreadnought
Features
Now this is one handsome devil! And it comes from a very underrated guitar manufacturer called LAG. Featuring a high-gloss finish, the LAG T100D consists of a red cedar top with dark mahogany back and sides, along with an Occitan Cross rosette pattern, a high-quality French satin-finished honey mahogany neck, and a Indonesian rosewood fingerboard to get your fingers running some scales.
This guitar is actually one of the models that garnered the company a fair amount of recognition within the guitar realm, and that means something these days. The built quality is at high level, the sound is very rich and the price is affordable – what more can a guitarist ask for?
Sound
The sound of the LAG T100D is warm, packed with a rounded low-end, punchy, and clear of muddy tones. Experts agree, this guitar offers a sound similar to high-end acoustic guitars worth thousands of dollars. The price might be a tad higher than your average beginner guitar, but is certainly worth it.
Price
Considering all the qualities, this guitar should most definitely be on your list if you’re interested in purchasing a strong guitar from the get-go. It might cost you a few extra bucks at the start, but this is the type of instrument that you can continue using well into the intermediate stage.
2. Washburn WD7S Harvest Series
Features
As a representative of Washburn, we bring you the WD7S, a surprisingly high-quality guitar available at an even more surprisingly low price. Featuring a classic dreadnought body with a solid spruce top, mahogany sides and back packed in an eye-catching gloss or matte color finish, this item also consists of a mahogany neck and a thin, playable rosewood neck.
The majority of musicians that have tested the WD7S agree that the instrument’s construction is top-notch and that not only is this one of the best acoustic guitars for beginners, but a fine choice for any guitar player out there, regardless of style, age and skill level.
When it comes to genres, the six-string can be applied to a vast array of styles with ease, although a solid portion of users has pointed out rock music as their style of choice.
Sound
The sound easily stands out as the WD7S’s strongest point. Even the seasoned reviewers are caught scratching their heads about how good this guitar can sound. The output is crystal clear, strong on the low end, a tad punchy in the mid range just like everyone likes and, and bright on the high notes without sounding even a tad dry. It’s truly one of the best vibes we ever got to hear from any guitar from the budget-friendly domain, as well as from the realm of mid-range price tags.
Price
The past few paragraphs easily draw a conclusion that the Washburn WS7S is a steal when it comes to pricing. An extremely good sound quality for the price, pretty looks, strong durability and an ability to withstand any amount of standard damage from live shows and transport, this six-string has it all. It’s one of our top recommendations for any guitar player, buying it can hardly be a mistake.
1. Fender CD-60 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar
Features
The guitar features a laminated mahogany top with scalloped X-bracing, as well as laminated mahogany sides and back. With a 20-fret rosewood fingerboard and a rosewood bridge, the guitar comes in a hard case, which is not a common case with budget guitars these days.
Needless to say, this item or gorgeous and one of the most beautiful guitars on our list. But it’s also important to stress that mahogany isn’t all about beauty, not by a long shot, as it is in fact on of the top-quality materials for building guitars.
Fender is one of the most renowned names in the guitar business, and it goes to show without saying that their products are something you can’t really go wrong with. And although their electric guitars cater to somewhat niche crowds, Fender’s acoustic six-string are applicable across a broad range of styles and genres.
Sound
Warm and crystal clear, the sound of this six-string is packed with loads of bass, as well as a significant amount of brightness, making the CD-60 suitable both for musicians who use their fingers to strum and pick players. The tone is resonant and works very well in open tunings. So if open-string tunings happen to be an approach or style preference you’re aiming for, by all means do consider the Fender CD-60 acoustic guitar. Fender still has it, and this guitar proves it.
Price
This guitar is typically described by users as a steal, a bargain, and even “the deal of the century.” Quite affordable, the guitar will satisfy the tastes of intermediate players as well. Much like any product on our list, the price-quality ratio is extremely well balanced.
What Is the Best Acoustic Guitar for a Beginners ?
When all factors are taken into consideration, we’d like to single out the Fender CD-60 as the best beginner guitar on today’s market. The folks at Fender still got it and are still capable of delivering the magic.
The CD-60 is a great-sounding guitar with gorgeous, yet sturdy built, top-notch features and an affordable price tag. It suits the needs of the majority of popular guitar genres and can easily be adapted by both finger pickers and players who use the pick to strum.
Conclusion
And now we’ll answer the big question – “What is the best acoustic guitar in 2016?”.
The answer would of course vary quite a bit based on your personal preferences. We’ve given you the gates to the kingdom, it is now up to you to determine what kind of music would you like to deliver and carve your very own signature sound with one of these models.
But in a nutshell, these are all great guitars that offer a lot for a neat value. If you’re considering buying a new guitar, regardless of your skill and experience, this are the models you cannot go wrong with.
That Washburn is a gem alright! I played it for two years and then made the mistake of selling it, got a more expensive guitar that actually sounded WORSE that my beloved WD7S. I’ll never get over it, I’m thinking of buying a new one now
Agreed about the little martin, that’s just a classic sixstring.. i’m always amazed by how that guitar pierces through the mix it’s like a sonic freight train. the ultimate acoustic in my book..
A good list, but c’mon, a CD60 at no. 1?! I’d barely put that thing in the top 5! That LAG on the other hand, is more than worthy of a spot in the Top 3, it’s a really good guitar and I’m so glad it got some recognition. My brother jams on one and it’s like I can recognize the punchy sound of that thing from a mile away.
A good list, but c’mon, a CD60 at no. 1?! I’d barely put that thing in the top 5! That LAG on the other hand, is more than worthy of a spot in the Top 3, it’s a really good guitar and I’m so glad it got some recognition. My brother jams on one and it’s like I can recognize the punchy sound of that thing from a mile away.
Little Martin alll the way!!
I played three from these guitars, I’ll have to work on getting my hands on more stuff! 🙂 Each of the those three are definitely worthy of being in the Top 10 though, all of my friends told me they sound great, and I was really happy with them.
Blues is my thing, and the hummingbird is the guitar i started on. i moved on to a martin since, but that little epiphone still holds a very special place in my heart. when i think of all the hours i spent jamming in my room as a kid, it just makes my arm hair stand up! it’s a fine guitar, everything a beginner needs and then some. would recommend..
I have to say that i’ve had bad experience with yamaha guitars. i ordered one of their guitars (not the one on this list), and it came with a damaged headstock. it took them a long time to send the new one back and i wouldn’t really recommend them based on that experience. but i got a little martin a year ago, and it’s the best thing i played in my life!.
no, just no. a fender no. 1? u jokin?! fuk them, if u want a real acoustic guitar you’ll get a takamine or something not as commercial as fender. they are money grubbing whores and deserve to die. they support sucks too!
FINALLY RECORDING KING GETS SOME RECOGNITION!!
Yup, you can’t beat the trusty Fender alright! I’ve been playing that fella for two years now, and I use it for gigs regularly. Me and my mate have these acoustic duo thing, I strum the rhythm and sing lead vocals while he plays solo parts and backs me up with the singing parts. The CD60 has been doing an awesome job for me and the people always seem happy with the sound. I carry it around all over the place, it got hit more than a few times (I know, careless…) yet it still delivers the goods. A fine six-string!
LAG fan here, gotta agree with everything that’s written. I had this guitar for 6 months and my experiences are nothing but positive. I was a bit reluctant about making the purchase (I wanted a Fender lol), but the “risk” paid off. I just liked something about this guitar’s sound from the moment it fell into my hands. The sound is different, the structure and feel are also different, and in a good way too!
I played that Washburn and I’d never put it that high. I played a Little Martin too and it shreds that Washburn to bits. Not that it’s a bad guitar, I just can’t see it placed that higher above the Martin. Also gotta say you intrigued me about that Guild guitar, will have to look into it.
I work in a guitar shop in Ohio and I have to say that these are really good guitars, we have them all in the store and they sell really well. Whoever did the research here did a good job (Y)
i like these guitars
While I don’t agree about my favorite guitar of all time being only No. 8, it’s great to see Sonoran get some recognition. It has a very strong sound and I’ve been in love with this thing since I bought it years ago. All that’s said is true, it rocks like a hurricane and it’s perfect for you if you’re a Boss fan. I know I am:))
My brother started out with a Yamaha and I started with a Fender, and we both stuck to our guns with first three of our guitars lol I’m sending him this list right away, I always gloat when I see a Fender above Yamaha anywhere on the web lol
I discovered Guild D-125 thanks to this article and I just want to say THANKS GUYS! I played many expensive guitars over the years, but this company never really got to me. I heard some online reviews and all and though what the heck, I’m buying this (couldn’t find it in my town). And WOW, what a sound! I played a Custom Shop Fender Kingman and thought it was the best thing I ever laid my hands on. It still is, but the Guild is the only guitar that ever came close, and that is no mean feat. So once again, thanks!
Cool guide, I actually agree about many guitars being here – I played both Fenders, the Epiphone, that Washburn and Little Martin, and they are all fine choice for the price they carry. My personal favorite would be the Martin; if you have the money, don’t hesitate to buy it, you really can’t regret that purchase if you are a guitar lover;)
I agree about Guild, and I really recommend it to everyone to check this guitar out. I bought it for the price listed here and I agree with everything the author had to say. This is indeed a very resonant and punchy instrument and I say this as an active musician on 20+ years. For that money, you will hardly get a better deal anywhere else. Sure, Martins, Fenders and Takamines are all great, but this guy is what high end guitars are all about. I understand why it’s not higher on the list, due to the price probably, but still if you really want the best sound from any of the stuff listed here, you should choose Guild!
My first guitar was cd-60, my second guitar was little martin, what are the odds?!
cd-60 is a best Guitars for me. I want buy another