Beginner's Guide to Buy Acoustic Guitar: Price and Top Picks

Are you ready to take the plunge and buy your first acoustic guitar? Whether you’re a beginner looking to learn your first chords or an experienced musician looking to add to your collection, buying an acoustic guitar can be a daunting task. With so many options available, it can be difficult to know where to start. That’s why we’ve created this guide – to help you navigate the process of buying an acoustic guitar with ease. From understanding the different types of guitars and their features, to learning about the best brands and models for beginners, we’ve got you covered. So, whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly option or a top-of-the-line instrument, read on to learn everything you need to know to make an informed decision when buying your new acoustic guitar.

Not all acoustic guitars are the same. There are a lot of differences and characteristics that set each and every guitar apart from the other. Some of these characteristics are really obvious, but some are more nuanced and require a bit more attention.

Identifying Your Budget & Goals

When you’re looking to buy an acoustic guitar, it’s really easy to get lost in all the options. As we move forward, you want to consider these few questions:

How much do I have available to spend?
How much would I be willing to save?
What will I be using my acoustic guitar for? (e.g. just for fun, live performances, recording, etc.)
What’s my style of playing? (e.g. heavy strummer, light strummer, fingerpicker, bluesy, folksy, etc.)

Start running these questions through your head. As you begin to answer these questions, you’ll be able to narrow down your options. We’ll look more in depth into these things as we move along.

Some Factors If you buy physically from store:

When looking to buy an acoustic guitar, you should consider several factors:

Cracks, Dents, & Bridge Separation: Look for cracks, dents, and bridge separation. Check for wear on the finish and make sure the bridge is sitting flush with the top of the guitar.
Straight neck: Check for a straight neck.
Fretboard: Check for any frets that stick out or rub your hand in an uncomfortable way.
Action: Check the action (the space between the strings and the fretboard) and make sure it is not too high or too low.
Neck size: Consider the neck size and choose one that is comfortable for you.
Does the guitar stay in tune: Check if the guitar stays in tune and listen for any buzzing sounds.
Intonation: Check the intonation by playing the harmonic on the sixth string, twelfth fret and comparing it to the fretted note on the same string and fret. If these two notes are not the same, the intonation is out.

If you are a beginner and do not have an experienced guitarist friend to help you, it may be difficult to understand all of these considerations. In this case, it would be better to buy a guitar online and check reviews from other buyers to make a decision based on your budget and the opinions of others.

When considering the body style of an acoustic guitar, there are three main options: classic, dreadnought, and jumbo.

Classic body style offers a medium sound projection with a balance between high, mid and low frequencies, and is popular among fingerpickers due to its clarity. It is also a suitable for strumming. It is recommended to use light gauge strings for this body style.
Dreadnought body style is known for its rich bass response and bigger sound. It is suitable for heavy strummers. Medium gauge strings are recommended, but light strings can also be used.
Jumbo body style offers a big sound similar to the dreadnought, with a shape similar to the classic body style. It is popular among performing artists and usually used with medium gauge strings. It may be uncomfortable to play while sitting due to its large size.

All these body styles may include a cutaway which allows for access to higher frets on the fretboard, but it does not affect the overall sound of the guitar.

Fender FA-15 Beginner Acoustic Guitar

The Fender FA-15 Beginner Acoustic Guitar is a great option for those just starting out on their guitar journey. It has a classic dreadnought body style that provides a rich and full sound, making it suitable for both strumming and fingerpicking. The guitar has a laminated spruce top and laminated basswood back and sides, which gives it a good balance of warmth and brightness. The neck is made of nato wood, which is comfortable to hold and easy to play. The fingerboard is made of rosewood and has 20 frets.

The guitar comes with die-cast tuners that do a good job of keeping the guitar in tune. The bridge of the guitar is constructed from rosewood and is firmly fixed to the guitar. The overall craftsmanship of the guitar is good and it looks beautiful.

Guide to buy Acoustic Guitar – Our Top Picks

Check reviews, Specifications and more details on amazon:

Yamaha F325D Acoustic Guitar

The Yamaha F325D is a great beginner guitar that offers a good balance of quality and affordability. It has a spruce top and meranti back and sides, which provide a nice tone that is suitable for a variety of musical styles. The guitar has a dreadnought body shape and a natural finish, which gives it a classic look. The F325D also features a rosewood fingerboard and bridge, as well as chrome-plated tuners, which all contribute to its overall playability and durability. Many customers have praised its build quality, sound and being easy to play, making it a great choice for those who are just starting to learn the guitar.

Check reviews, Specifications and more details on amazon:

Jasmine S35 Acoustic Guitar, Natural

Jasmine is a well-known brand for producing affordable and high-quality guitars. The S35 model is an entry-level option that is popular among beginner and intermediate players. It features a spruce top and nato back and sides, which provide a balanced tone.

Squier by Fender SA-150

Fender designs the SA-150 as an entry-level classical guitar for beginner and intermediate players. They manufacture this guitar under their sub-brand, Squier, which is a subsidiary of Fender.

The SA-150 features a traditional classical guitar shape with a laminated spruce top and laminated nato back and sides. The neck is made of nato wood and features a rosewood fingerboard with 19 frets. The guitar also has a rosewood bridge, chrome open-gear tuning machines, and a natural satin finish.

Epiphone FT-100 Acoustic Guitar

Epiphone designs the FT-100 as a budget-friendly acoustic guitar for beginner and intermediate players. They manufacture this guitar under their sub-brand, Epiphone, which is a subsidiary of Gibson.

The FT-100 features a dreadnought body shape with a spruce top and mahogany back and sides. The guitar’s neck is constructed from mahogany and is equipped with a rosewood fingerboard that includes 20 frets for precise playing. The guitar also has a rosewood bridge, chrome tuning machines, and a natural satin finish.

Ibanez AEWC32FM AE Acoustic Guitar

The Ibanez AEWC32FM AE Acoustic Guitar is a great choice for both beginners and experienced players. It has a sleek and modern design with a solid spruce top and flamed maple back and sides, which give it a rich, full-bodied tone. The cutaway design allows for easy access to the higher frets, and the Fishman Sonicore pickup and Ibanez AEQ-SP1 preamp provide excellent amplified sound.

Yamaha APXT2 3/4-Size Acoustic-Electric Guitar

The APXT2 features a 3/4 size (travel guitar) dreadnought body shape with a spruce top and meranti back and sidesThe guitar features a nato wood neck with a rosewood fingerboard that has 20 frets. The guitar also has a rosewood bridge, chrome die-cast tuning machines, and a natural finish. It also comes with a built-in tuner and preamp, which allows players to plug the guitar into an amplifier or PA system.

lotmusic 41 Inch Acoustic Guitar

lotmusic 41 Inch Acoustic Guitar Full-size Dreadnought Professional Cutaway Folk Guitarra Bundle Comes with Extra String, Strap, Cleaning Cloth, Picks, Tuner and few other accessories. A Great Package for beginners. One of my student recently bought it and by checking his guitar i would say its a great value for price.