10 Best Acoustic Guitars Under 1000 (With Buying Guide)

“Guitars are products.”

You’ve probably heard this statement from one or more music experts. They give you a good reason not to buy premium products because they believe that low-end and high-end guitars are almost similar in characteristic and sound ability.

But that statement is only valid if you are not serious about your music career.

Yes, if you want to play for fun, and nothing else, then buying an affordable guitar will suit you best.

However, if you are the kind of person that wants to stay competitive in the music industry, buying premium guitars is the best way forward.

Why?

Manufacturers typically ensure that the premium guitars are supreme in terms of construction and sound quality. In terms of structure, you will notice that premium guitars will have a resilient build. They have a high probability of lasting longer.

When it comes to sound quality, premium instruments sound different. That’s why you’ll find musicians breaking the box because they want to sound unique and professional in their performance.

Today, our article focuses on acoustic guitars that are a bit costly for beginners. We are looking at acoustic guitars that are under 1000 dollars.

As with other guitars in other price ranges, finding the best one in this category can be difficult, especially if you want to have the best of the best. Therefore, to ease the burden, we came up with a list of the ten best acoustic guitars under 1000.

Let’s jump right into it.

Best Acoustic Guitar Under 1000 Dollars Summary:

Top 10 Best Acoustic Guitar Under 1000 Dollars Reviews

1. Seagull Artist Mosaic Acoustic Guitar – Best For The Money

At the top spot is the Seagull Artist Mosaic Acoustic guitar. We loved this guitar, and we think it would be an excellent investment for the money.

Primarily, the guitar has a resilient construction even by looking at it. It features a satin finish on the spruce top, mahogany back, sides and neck, rosewood fingerboard with 14 frets, and a headstock with gold hardware and button tuning pegs. The neck also has a smooth finish; hence, you will have an easy time running up and down the frets.

We also noted that the headstock is thinner like any other Seagull model.

Apart from being resilient on the construction, you have to give this brand credit on the work they did in coming up with this guitar. The acoustic guitar, even though it is not an acoustic-electric, comes with scalloped bracing to ensure that it produces natural acoustic sounds.

It is also loud, yet it offers balanced sound on each string and fret. You can hear every frequency from the lows, mids, and the highs.

Seasoned players will enjoy playing this guitar. You can be sure that this guitar is ready to play out of the box, and you’ll be playing it for days to come even after advancing your skills. Besides that, the guitar adapts to different playing styles, which is why it is the best guitar for the money in this category.

2. Yamaha A3R – Best Buy

If you are a Yamaha fan, we have an instrument within this price range that you will love. The Yamaha A3R is one of the most elegant guitar models your arsenal will have.

When we first saw this guitar, we could not ignore the fact that it looked sturdy and appealing. It features a spruce top sunburst finish on it. The back, sides, and neck feature mahogany, and we cannot ignore the fact that the neck has a slim taper design to ensure that you are comfortable while playing.

Also, the fingerboard is rosewood and comes with small dot inlays. The guitar also comes with a headstock with chrome hardware in a 3+3 arrangement.

The Yamaha A3R is the best buy for a good reason. On the body, it features advanced scalloped bracing, which ensures that the sound produced is pure acoustic even when you connect it to an amp. And yes, it comes with the SRT2 system to help you tweak the guitar’s tone to your liking when performing live.

We tested this guitar and found out that the sound was fantastic. It thrives on the low-mid ranges, and it’s loud. You can hear every sound vibrate from the lows to the high notes.

There’s no other way to describe the Yamaha A3R. It is the best gift a professional would love to get. With its inbuilt electronics and the bright sound it produces, this guitar will lighten any stage and jam session. And since it has a sturdy construction, this guitar will stay for long.

3. Martin Road Series D-10E – Best Budget Buy

For people who would like to spend a little bit less, the Martin D-10E acoustic-electric guitar would be the best option for you.

Amongst all the guitars that we will list in this article, you can be sure that the D-10E has a different build. It comes with a Sapele top, back, and sides. And according to the manufacturer, this material gives the body a fat, warm sound (if that’s what you desire in a guitar).

The multilaminate Stratabond neck is super stable and offers the right comfort you need while playing. Other attributes on this guitar include a Black Richlite Bridge and fingerboard with dot inlays, a headstock with closed type tuning pegs, and Fishman Sonitone Electronics. You also receive a hardshell case to store the guitar and for traveling.

Every musician has a specific taste when it comes to sound. Hence, if you are the type that loves guitars that are not that loud, this guitar offers that.

The Martin D-10E is a mid-action guitar, which offers balanced and rich sound, whether you are using the sonitone electronics or not. Its electronics lie inside the body, next to the soundhole, but I think the company would have put it on the top for easy accessibility.

The guitar has a small body. Hence, the reason it’s an excellent acoustic guitar for people who travel a lot. Also, this guitar does an excellent job on stage. With this, your songwriting adventures are never going to be the same again.

Read More:

• 10 Best Electric Guitars To Buy Under $500
• 10 Best Classical Guitars Reviews
• 10 Best Jasmine Guitars Reviews
• 10 Best Guitar Stands Reviews

4. Washburn WCG55CE-O

Every musician’s dream is to have an acoustic-electric guitar that is comfortable to play within different settings. We sought for one, and found the Washburn WCG55CE-O Acoustic-Electric Guitar.

First, the guitar comes with a Koa Body, top, back, and sides. It also has a gloss finish, which adds to its appeal. On it too, there’s an in-built fisherman electronic that has all the excellent effects and tonal tweaks most guitars lack.

The body, neck, headstock, and bridge consists of mahogany material, which adds to its strength. Its fingerboard features Ovangkol material, and it’s good to note that the guitar does not have inlays.

We also noted that the body comes with other added features, including a mahogany and rosewood rosette, a cutaway feature to help you reach the furthest frets, and a comfortable edge technology to add to the comfort.

Other than the solidity that comes with this guitar, we can attest that the sound is excellent. The WCG55CE-O is gig-ready out of the box.

It is a high action guitar and offers sonic personality even without the inbuilt pickup. When playing on stage, you can shape your tone using the electronics to your liking. The pickup features a tuner, volume, bass, treble, mid-notch, brilliance, and phase controls.

With inbuilt electronics, you can be sure that this guitar will fill the room with bright sounds. Also, this guitar is ideal for different playing styles; therefore, the player can use it to play a myriad of genres.

5. Epiphone DR-500MCE

In our quest to finding good guitars for you, we found the Epiphone DR-500MCE acoustic-electric guitar and its thrilling features.

Unlike most guitars in its price range, the Epiphone DR-500MCE features a guitar with a sturdy build. It comes with a classic Sitka spruce body with a cutaway shape, mahogany back, sides, and a one-piece neck. Both the fingerboard (with diamond inlays) and the bridge consist of rosewood material.

The guitar comes with installed electronics, which are quite sophisticated. It has two pickups that sit at the neck (soundhole) and bridge positions; hence, you should expect quality sound when you connect to an amp.

Also, note that the headstock is large and comes with an open tuning system.

The Epiphone DR-500MCE is a guitar that is gig-ready out of the box. It is a mid-action guitar, though it’s loud. Therefore, the mid and highs are more emphasized on this guitar. Nonetheless, you can still hear the lows, especially when you are fingerpicking.

Its electronics feature a chromatic tuner, blend option for when you want to mix the sound coming from both pickups, phase button, and each pickup’s gain controls. We also loved the sound the guitar produced when connected to an amp or mix.

With this guitar, you can use it in different settings. Its natural acoustic sounds are quite superb; hence, the guitar is usable in the stage, and for playing different genres. The guitar can also be an excellent gift for a beginner willing to invest in a quality guitar that lasts long.

6. Taylor 214ce ES2

Before we could list the Taylor 214CE guitar, we had to put it through the test first. We loved everything about this guitar, and we thought that it would be an ideal gift for all players.

The Taylor 214CE is an acoustic-electric guitar that comes with a simple design but very sturdy and reliable. Its cutaway body features a Koa material with a solid spruce top, a layered Koa back and sides, and an ebony neck with a satin finish.

Also, this guitar comes with closed gear tuning pegs at the headstock, ebony fingerboard with up to 20 frets, dot inlays, and a simple design electronics with bass, treble, and volume. You also receive a hardshell guitar case for transporting your guitar with ease.

When testing this guitar, we could stop playing the guitar because of the sound this guitar produced. I mean, it’s impressive.

The guitar is a high action guitar, and even without the electronics on, you will enjoy the natural acoustic sounds. We checked the inside and found that this was because of a forward shifted scalloped bracing.

Its electronics are easy to use, and with the three controls, you can tweak the sound to whichever tone shape you’d like.

With the fantastic guitar sounds and resilient construction, this guitar can stand any pressure. It will last longer, and since it’s comfortable to play with, you can use it for live performances. We would also recommend this guitar to beginners who would love an investment that will last a lifetime.

7. Yamaha A3M

For Yamaha lovers, here is another guitar model, which belongs to the A series. The Yamaha A3M offers competitive sound qualities than most guitars within its price range.

Instead of the laminated top, this guitar comes with a solid Sitka spruce top with a deep gloss finish, a hardtail bridge, an SRT2 system, a cutaway body shape, and mahogany back and sides.

The neck is a straight slim tapered mahogany, which offers a smooth and comfortable feel for the player. It also comes with a satin finish, which adds to its comfort.

Its fingerboard features rosewood material and comes with dot inlays. And at the headstock, you get closed tuning pegs.

Many musicians appreciate the A3M since it comes with a solid Sitka top, which is a massive contributor to the overall sound.

The guitar also has scalloped bracing inside the body to shape you tone to your desire.

Generally, the guitar is a high action guitar, but each is rich and balanced in its unique. And with the SR2 preamp system, you can shape the tone to your liking.

The Yamaha A3M comes with a soft casing for easy transportation and storage. With its loud personality, this guitar is an excellent gift for professionals who love lightweight and loud guitars on stage. You can also use it to play different styles.

8. Fender Paramount PM-3

Fender has been at the forefront of producing quality acoustic guitars for years now. The Fender Paramount PM-3 is an impressive guitar in all ways. And that’s why we listed it.

The guitar is a member of the PM- series. In fact, it is an improvement of the PM-1. It consists of a Sitka grade “A” spruce top with a cutaway design, mahogany back and sides, mahogany neck, and a rosewood fingerboard, which comes with 14 frets and dot inlays.

It also features a rosewood bridge with a compensated saddle, Fishman-designed preamp, and a headstock with closed-tuning pegs.

We couldn’t help to notice the rosette on the soundhole.

For players who are looking for an instrument with superb tonal capabilities, the Fender Paramount PM-3 is the instrument to purchase.

Primarily, the acoustic guitar is a high action guitar, which means it’s loud. It’s also rich in tone, and even without the preamp; this guitar is loud by itself.

When you connect it to the preamp, the guitar’s sound is superb, and with little tweaks on the bass, mids, and volume, you can shape your tone to your desire.

With all the qualities this guitar brings, the Fender PM-3 is one that you’ll use for years. It comes with a hardshell case with a humidifier to keep your guitar safe during transport and storage. 

Also, you can save money on buying accessories such as guitar cases, tuners, and external pickups since this guitar bundle provides that.

9. Martin DRS2

The Martin DRS2 acoustic-electric guitar is an improved version of the DRS1 and costs a bit more than its counterpart. We wanted to know what qualities it offers to the guitarist, and this is what we found.

Unlike the DRS1, the dreadnought guitar features a solid Sitka spruce top with a natural gloss finish, black Richlite bridge, compensated saddle, and X-1 bracing. It also comes with Fishman Sonitone electronic, which site on the inner, upper side of the soundhole, and has Sapele back and sides, which contribute to its overall sound output.

Other notable attributes include a headstock with closed tuning pegs, a black richlite fingerboard, and an oval select hardwood neck with an oily finish. You also get a hardshell case to transport and store the acoustic-electric guitar.

The DRS2 is a guitar that sounds good, whether plugged or unplugged. It is a high action guitar with balanced intonation from the first fret to the last one.

When plugged into a mix, we loved the sound. It amplified the natural acoustic sound. And the good part is that you can tweak the shape of the tone to fit your needs.

If you are looking for a guitar that is strong in structure but also comfortable to use on and off the stage, then you should consider buying the DRS2. We loved all its qualities since you can use it in different music styles and genres.

10. Blueridge BR-140

Although not a common household name, Blueridge guitars have become popular among musicians. The Blueridge BR-140 is also one of the best acoustic guitars under 1000. Here’s why.

The BR-140 comes with a solid Sitka spruce top with an X scalloped bracing inside it, mahogany back, sides, a rosewood hardtail bridge, and a compensated saddle.

Its neck also comprises of mahogany, and it’s slim. The fingerboard comes with 14 frets, dot inlays, and the thin profile enhance movements on it.

The guitar’s headstock has open-gear tuning pegs. You also receive a padded bag, which has a Blueridge logo.

Besides the stylish design this guitar comes with, we couldn’t help to notice the fresh and bright tone that is guitar provides to the player. It’s loud and can work on its own without needing any form of amplification.

Note also, this guitar does not have any electronics on it.

With its loud personality, this guitar can adapt to any environment. You can use it at home or even for live performances without amplification, especially if the venue is small. Nevertheless, we have to appreciate the work that the manufacturer did in ensuring that its acoustic attributes stay accurate and professional.

Best Acoustic Guitar Under 1000 – Buying Guide

If you are looking for the best acoustic guitar under 1000, at least, you have one thing figured out, the price. But when you start searching for the best acoustic guitar, you find a plethora of options from different brands.

For beginners, choosing the best guitar can be confusing, especially since all these guitars look almost the same. You won’t be able to recognize the difference.

That’s why in this article, we will answer some of the questions people normally have when buying a guitar that is within this price range.

Let’s jump right into it.

Benefits of buying an acoustic guitar of this price range

Having to spend $1000 for an acoustic guitar is quite an investment. But it’s worth it. We took time to compare acoustic guitars that are below this price range. Our findings were that lower priced are best suited for beginners. If you are an intermediate player, these cheap guitars might not suit you, especially because you’ve overgrown the construction used and the sound qualities the guitar provides.

Most of the guitars that come from reputable brands within the $1000 price range come with exceptional construction. The materials used have a huge contribution to how the guitar sounds and looks. So buying such a guitar, even if you are a beginner, guarantees that you will have a guitar that you can use for many years and across different skill levels.

Pure acoustic vs. acoustic electric guitars

Most of the guitars in this price range come with an inbuilt pickup system. It enables you to connect the acoustic guitar to an amplifier, especially when performing on stage.

Whether you should go for the electric option or the one without will depend on two things: Your budget and your purpose. If you don’t think that you’ll be using the acoustic guitar on stage or for recording purposes, then it doesn’t matter whether it has a pickup or not.

What should a good pickup have?

Different brands manufacture their pickup system differently to suit a variety of needs. Nonetheless, a basic pickup should have a volume control, and an EQ panel to balance the highs, lows, and mid frequency when using an amplifier.

Some pickups also come with a tuner and added effects such as phase.

Consider the brand

Most people will ignore this part because you may feel like all guitars look or sound the same. However, if you don’t want your acoustic guitar to frustrate you, think about the best brand to suit your needs.

Guitar brands manufacture guitars with different musical needs in mind. For instance, Yamaha offer numerous models that suits different playing styles. Additionally, most Fender acoustic guitars are high action guitars, which are ideal for people who love loud guitars.

It’s also crucial that you buy a guitar from a reputable brand. If you know little about a brand, you had better press the ‘skip’ button, given that you want to spend more money for a guitar.

Go for premium construction

As you shop, it’s important to check the acoustic guitar’s design. Consider things like size, appeal, and the materials used to manufacture each component of the guitar.

In terms of size, pick a smaller sized guitar body if you have small hands. It should be comfortable to play. The neck should also be thin and comfortable to wrap your hands around.

For the appeal, consider a guitar with a durable and stylish finish on areas such as the body, the neck, fretboard, and the headstock. If you didn’t know, the guitar’s finish contributes to comfort while playing and the sound.

Test the sound

The best acoustic guitars will provide excellent sound qualities. When testing out the guitar, you shouldn’t hear any buzzing on the strings.

Additionally, extra designs such as scalloped bracing on the internal parts of the guitar’s body can also contribute on the overall sound. The guitar should also stay in-tune. You can check out different reviews on the internet to see what other users say about the acoustic guitar you are about to buy.

If you want a guitar that’s loud, go for a high action guitar. For ‘not-so-loud’ guitars, a mid-action guitar will do. Nonetheless, you can change the action of the guitar by adjusting the truss rod if it’s adjustable.

Your acoustic guitar should be easy to play

When you buy the guitar, it should be ready to use right out of the box. If you experience problems with the set up, you can ask for help from a reputable guitar repairer.

You can also change the strings if the ones available are heavy or uncomfortable to use. When it comes to tuning, it should also be easy to do. And if you have any problems, change the strings or take it to a guitar repairer so that they can find out where the problem lies. However, most guitars in this price range don’t have this problem.

Extra factors to consider:

Apart from the points highlighted above, other points to have in mind include:

• Check out different reviews on the best acoustic guitars under 1000. You’ll know what other people think about your prospective guitars and whether or not you should buy it or not.
• Find out whether the guitar you want to buy comes with accessories such as a tuner, gig bag, extra pair of strings, or a guitar pick. These accessories can save you some money.
• The guitar’s design should also be appealing, especially if you’ll be using it for concerts and recordings.
• $1000 is a significant amount. So take your time while choosing the best acoustic guitar in this price range.

Final Words

Guitars under 1000 dollars may not be the most expensive guitars in the market. Nonetheless, the guitars we listed in this article seem to possess quality characteristics in terms of their construction and the sound. Meaning, professionals can enjoy guitars under this price range comfortably.

On the other hand, note that, as you look forward to buying the best guitar for your live performances and jamming sessions, it’s always important to note each of their attributes, pros, and cons like the way we do in this article to avoid returning the guitar. It can be frustrating, especially after waiting patiently for the guitar to arrive.

Finally, the Yamaha A3R Acoustic-Electric Guitar is our top pick for the best acoustic guitars under 1000. We loved everything from its price, the stability it exhibits, and its versatility in terms of tone on and off the stage.