Best acoustic guitars under $1,000 in 2024: get great tone for less

With $1,000 to spend on a new acoustic guitar, you can get a lot for your money. Moving firmly past the beginner instrument level you're well into the zone of solid tops, better bracing, and nicer tonewoods. The best acoustic guitars under $1,000 will deliver sumptuous sounds, and offer the perfect stepping stone for the next part of your guitar-playing journey.

We've tested a boatload of acoustic guitars over the years, and this real-world experience has formed our selection here. We've listed the guitars by use case, so whether you need a big-body dreadnought with a loud voice, or an excellent acoustic-electric for gigging. Many of the guitars here have been personally tested by our team, so you can rely on getting an unbiased recommendation backed by decades of playing experience.

In this price bracket, there's a lot of competition, so we'd always recommend testing a guitar before you buy where possible. If you're unable to do this, you can always send a guitar bought online back if you don't feel completely comfortable with it. Most retailers will have some detail on their website regarding their return period, so it's definitely worth knowing this if you're buying 'blind'. If you're still unsure about anything, have a look at our FAQ section, which features loads of common questions answered by our expert team of guitar gurus.

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Our top picks

Best overall

The Academy aesthetic is simple. The notably light hue of the solid Sitka spruce here won’t be to some traditionalist tastes, but it gives the guitars a clean, defined look that, as we’ll find out, is reflective of performance. Nevertheless, despite the simple acrylic dot fret markers, it’s not completely utilitarian; the laminated birch and fiber rope braid design rosette is understated but stylish. 

This guitar isn’t lacking Taylor’s spruce top hallmarks - bright and resonant trebles with assured projection. The low action is extremely welcoming across the ebony ’board, too, and will help break boundaries for aspiring players. Combined with the response of this instrument, it creates an immediately enjoyable playing experience. 

The 10e offers lower mid presence alongside the deeper bass response in comparison to its smaller-bodied sibling, the 12e’s, higher range energy. It will come down to personal preference for players between those two models, with shape and tonal balance, but both guitars fare very well as all-rounders at either end of the spectrum for delicate picking, and their projection doesn’t lose its clear definition under heavy strummed playing, either. 

Plugged in, the ES-B represents the qualities of this guitar well. Indeed this model it sounds and feels superior acoustically and plugged in than most models we’ve played in its class. The Academy Series represents a very clear vision, and in many ways, a dream beginner guitar, as well as a potential trade-up for some existing players – one that can inspire and go the distance with a guitarist from bedroom to stage. 

Read our full Taylor Academy Series 10E review

Best big body

The Hummingbird doesn’t need much of an introduction. It has been a firm favorite of the biggest rock stars of all time, from Tom Petty to Bob Dylan, Keith Richards to Chris Cornell. It’s fair to say that the Hummingbird has left a lasting mark on the world of music. 

Unfortunately, we don’t all have the money to drop on the Gibson version, so the next best thing has to be the Epiphone Inspired By Gibson Hummingbird - and we must say this is a fantastic option for a guitar player of any ability. It's a large body, so probably not best for younger or smaller players, but if you're a fan of volume then this guitar will deliver.

It's got a beefy voice when played with no hint of any boxyness in the sound. Chords resonate beautifully and everything is underpinned by a lovely low end that gives it a fantastic backbone. From its all-solid construction, incredibly comfortable neck, and drop-dead gorgeous looks, this guitar is easily one of the best acoustic guitars under $1000.

Read our full Epiphone Hummingbird review

Best concert

Every now and then, an instrument comes along that turns the entire guitar industry on its head. That guitar was the Yamaha TransAcoustic. Not only is this a beautiful guitar to look at and to play, but it has a rather clever surprise under the hood - the ability to generate its own reverb and chorus, with no need for an amp, no seriously, no need for an amplifier! 

Even without the cool effects engaged, the FS-TA is still a brilliant acoustic in its own right. Scalloped bracing delivers plenty of volume for its smaller size, and gives it control in the low end. Yamaha's excellent build quality is present all across the construction too, with everything neatly put together in a way that reassures you it will stand the test of time.

You would be forgiven for thinking that this concept is just a gimmick, but we can assure you from trying it ourselves that Yamaha has delivered a genuinely inspiring guitar that, quite frankly, is a joy to play. It is genuinely perplexing how Yamaha can produce a guitar of this quality at such a low price.  

Read our full Yamaha FS-TA TransAcoustic review

Best Mahogany

When Fender launched the Paramount series in 2016, it represented a new commitment to winning over players from a company that’s arguably not traditionally a go-to for acoustics. And this guitar delivers on the quality we’d hope for from the iconic brand.

The mahogany tops have an indented texture to the grain that looks and feels vintage; a thin ‘open-pore’ satin finish leaves their organic looks unhindered. While we’re encountering more guitars in this price territory that aim for vintage Americana-style heritage, these models set a new standard for their price range. And the checkerboard purfling for the top, rosette and back strip takes on influence from further back in time and recalls the old Weissenborn Style 4 rope binding. It really gives these models a premium vintage touch.

In many respects, the PM-1 is a textbook example of an all-mahogany dreadnought boasting a lot of the character that attracts players to this wood choice, but it feels notably livelier than some we’ve encountered. This guitar’s relatively light weight for a solid build seems to aid an airer tonality without losing muscular projection. 

That mahogany mid voice is there in abundance with a thumpy and defined low-end, rather than the boom that we’d hope to find from mahogany. Sustaining notes shine in the upper-mids with a pleasing, rounded bluegrass quality playing with a pick. For flatpickers and those pursuing a woodier tonality, rather than steely chime, look no further. 

Best for gigging

The Mexican-made Martin Road Series D-10E is an amazing mid-priced acoustic guitar. Featuring all the excellent playability and build quality of Martin’s more expensive offerings, this stripped-back gigging machine is all acoustic and no frills.

It’s got an unplugged tone that’s warm and full of character, the signature of any Martin dreadnought guitar. It lives to be played hard, and strummed chords project incredibly well without ever sounding muddy. The balance of tone on offer here really is quite lovely.

The high-performance taper neck will have you coming back again and again, it’s a phenomenally well-playing instrument. Onboard Fishman MX-T electronics translate the unplugged tone really well, it has none of that plasticky sound you sometimes get with cheaper electronics.

Best parlor

Art & Lutherie may not be a brand that is on everyone’s radar, but for familiarity’s sake, the company is a division of the more well-known Godin Guitars. That doesn’t change the fact that, with the Roadhouse, you get what appears to be a boutique instrument at a budget price. 

For starters, there’s a solid spruce top and rich, crimson laminated wild cherry back and sides, covered with a pearloid pickguard, off-white binding and a semi-gloss finish that allows a bit of grain to show through – a nice touch. Coupled with the parlor-size body, the Roadhouse exudes a classic old-timey feel right out of the box.

And it plays and sounds great to boot. The middle and upper ranges of the guitar are very strong, with plenty of clarity, definition and warmth. What’s more, the instrument rings out in a way that belies its small size, making it perfect to cut through the mix in an ensemble setup. The fretboard is clean and the strings are nicely spaced, making the Roadhouse a pleasure to pick. A perfect companion to playing some country, blues, or – why not? – some country blues.

More options...

The return of Yamaha’s CSF series marks its most determined move yet into the compact acoustic market. While it doesn’t have the slimmest of necks, compared to some of its rivals in the compact acoustic market, but we think that’s a strength - and the 406mm (16-inch) fretboard radius will be welcome news for anyone alienated by the more cramped playing experience of some so-called travel guitars.

Like many of Yamaha’s current builds, the CSF3M features scalloped bracing with the aim of producing a “louder, richer acoustic sound” but that’s not the only spec feature that could be to its advantage on paper; the 105mm body depth is deeper than most of the compact competition, but strikes a comfortable balance with the neck dimensions in play. And, as we soon discover, that equilibrium is well reflected in the tonal character of the guitar, too. 

Its voice is strong with a rich bottom end that’s immediately rewarding for fingerstyle bass notes. The sinewy high end makes for a great definition in choppy folk rhythm work with surprisingly powerful projection on single notes, while the satisfying neck dimensions also help to mask the sense this is a scaled-down instrument in terms of its playability. 

The CSF3M walks the line between a standard parlour and a lightweight compact traveler in both specification and feel, and it does so confidently. The performance and build rise above any niche concept and it could be an instrument you keep returning to both at home and away, albeit something you may treasure too much to risk denting at that campfire sing-along.

With a market as crowded as this, it’s crucial to stand out - and the D’Angelico Excel Bowery does just that. This guitar definitely delivers from the art deco stylings to the fantastic amplified sound of the Fishman Sonitone preamp. 

Featuring a very playable slim C neck profile and large cut-away, the Bowery is perfect for beginners or electric players looking to enter the world of acoustic guitar. The all-solid construction delivers a bright attack and shimmering high-end, which makes this guitar great for strumming. 

If you are looking for a guitar that is effortless to play and has a unique look, then it’s worth seeking this one out.  

If Seagull guitars are known for one thing, it’s their impeccable build quality - or perhaps the rather unique headstock shape. If you were wondering, the tapered headstock is designed to ensure straight string pull through the nut and ultimately aid in tuning stability. 

The use of wood on this acoustic guitar is absolutely stunning. Pairing a solid cedar top and wild cherry back and sides, the Entourage delivers a robust and punchy sound perfect for strumming or fingerpicking. If you are looking for a guitar that will stand the test of time, then the Seagull Entourage Autumn Burst is well worth considering. 

Gretsch is best known for its truly iconic drums and snazzy electric guitars, but it also makes a fine line of acoustics, most of which are remarkably inexpensive. The snappily named G5022CWFE Rancher Falcon Jumbo is obviously from the more-is-more school of aesthetics, an appearance that clearly owes a lot to Gretsch’s electric Falcon range. 

It’s available in brightest white or darkest black, colors that pop against the dazzling gold-sparkle bindings on the top, back, sound hole, fingerboard and headstock. Not enough bling? Well, just to liven things up a little more, Gretsch has slapped a huge gold-sparkle winged logo on the headstock and bolted on some gold-plated tuners. It’s all jolly good fun, but possibly not for players lacking a sense of humor. 

However, it's not all show and no go. Like all good jumbos it’s built with a solid spruce top and maple sides, which provide that characteristically forthright yet balanced tone, with clarity aplenty in the well-tamed low end. It’s also stage ready, with a Fishman Presys III Pickup System with preamp and tuner already built in.

There’s an awful lot on offer here for the money.

The OM-140CE is a model that sits within Guild’s Westerly Collection, a heritage-inspired line that pays homage to the factory occupied by the brand in Westerly, Rhode Island during the mid-‘60s. These days, Guild’s top-end production is centered on California, with the rest of its range built in the Far East, yet the OM-140CE makes a decent stab at evoking the spirit of the brand’s halcyon days.

It’s a mid-sized acoustic that features solid wood throughout. Sitka spruce for the top, and African mahogany for the back and sides. As such, it has a beautifully balanced voice that’s equally suitable for energetic strumming as it is delicate fingerstyle.

Scalloped X-bracing, a rosewood bridge and a real bone nut and saddle are appealing premium features to have, as is the fine mother-of-pearl rosette. Neatly concealed within the cutaway body is a Fishman Sonitone preamp and piezo pup system for solid amplified tone. 

Period-correct features include the Chesterfield headstock emblem, vintage open gear tuners and a tortoiseshell pickguard, plus there’s a comfortable C-shape vintage-style neck to wrap your fingers around.

Strictly speaking, the RRP is just over $1,000, but street prices are well within our limit.

You’ve spotted it, the SLG200S isn’t an acoustic guitar. It doesn’t look like an acoustic guitar, it doesn’t resonate against your body like a good acoustic guitar – heck, it doesn’t even have that gorgeous, woody fragrance. So, what’s it doing in this guide?

Well, the SLG200S is a state-of-the-art modeling guitar that can do many things a ‘proper’ acoustic just can’t. First, it sounds incredible. Its tone is modeled on one of Yamaha’s finest acoustics, the mid-sized LS26, but you can also blend in the SLG200S’ own piezo pickups and dial in some reverb and chorus to taste.

You can play it with headphones for near-silent practice sessions, or plug it into an amp for a massive sound with zero risk of feedback. It’s also a remarkably convenient recording guitar that never needs to be miked up.

The SLG200S is made of solid mahogany with a rosewood frame, so it’s much more durable than an acoustic guitar as well as being resistant to changes in temperature and humidity. It can also be stripped down to fit into a smart gigbag that’s small enough to fit in an aircraft overhead locker.

Frankly, the SLG200S doesn’t offer the authentic playing experience of a real acoustic guitar, but it will suit many guitarists who frequently record, gig or want to practice without annoying family and neighbors.

FAQs

How we test

Every player has their own personal preferences regarding the tone and feel. However, regardless of taste, there are a few key areas that an acoustic guitar must meet before we'd feel comfortable recommending it in a guide like this.

Like with any instrument, we begin by looking at the overall quality of the build. We closely inspect every inch of the guitar, from the body and neck to the machine heads, bridge, and saddle, to ensure they feel robust, sturdy and up for taking you on your musical journey.

Next we'll check the consistency of the fretwork to confirm there aren't any sharp fret ends or uneven heights that may result in buzzing. This ties into the playability of the guitar. For us, the guitar should be comfortable to someone new to the instrument, and this means a reasonably forgiving neck and comfortable body when playing both sitting and standing up.

Lastly, we move our attention to the overall sound of the acoustic guitar. To test the tone of the instrument, we will try a variety of different playing techniques and styles to see how the guitar handles them, from strumming wide-open chords with a flat pick to soft fingerpicking and everything in between. We are carefully listening to the volume the guitar produces and the overall tonal balance of the sound. 

Using our years of experience with instruments and music in general, we'll be able to characterise where in the frequency spectrum a particular instrument sits, and thus be able to judge whether it merits the price, or is fit for its intended purpose.

Find out more about how we make our recommendations and how we test each of the products in our buyer's guides.  

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