Guitars are probably the world’s most popular instrument. Other instruments, like piano, are certainly very popular, but the expense of their purchase and the high maintenance they require makes them somewhat inaccessible to most groups of people.
However, the guitar is an instrument that is designed to travel and can be played anywhere, not only that, but it is affordable and can even be played long after you thought it broke.
Top 10 Acoustic Guitars That Won't Break the Bank
REVIEWS
Yamaha have been making musical instruments for more than 130 years, ever since the founder Torakusu Yamaha built his first reed organ in Japan.
From that time, Yamaha has continued to expand and grow, making all kinds of musical instruments and other pieces of equipment. With such experience and expertise at the helm, making a quality guitar would be easy.
The top material of a guitar can affect how the instrument sounds and with the top material being spruce on the FG800, the sound is soft and mellow, making for a soothing experience.
With the machines heads – the pegs that control the tuning of the guitar – being of quality design and material, the tuning is likely to hold for a long time as well, creating a relaxing and easy environment to learn without worry of sudden changes in your play.
The guitar also has a lovely classical design, sporting a rosewood neck and fretboard, and while the guitar’s shape is of the dreadnaught style, it has a smaller back than most dreadnaughts making it easier for anyone to pick up and play this guitar.
Pros:
- Soft, mellow sound.
- Well-made guitar and smaller parts.
- Great, accessible design.
REVIEWS
Moving across the sea to America now, and we have a legendary music company: Fender. Started in 1946 in California by Leo Fender, this brand has become synonymous with guitar music, having touched almost any musical genre that uses guitars.
The guitars from Fender have been used by some of the most defining artists in history: from Bob Dylan to Jimi Hendrix, there are few who haven’t been touched by the music coming from a Fender guitar.
Most of the guitar is made from mahogany with the top material being maple, which both produce heavier sounds with the mahogany being punchier. This makes the overall sound of the guitar quite loud, but not without beauty.
This fits perfectly with the steel strings used, which have a crisp tone, making for a guitar that creates a strong bright sound when played.
With the wood used being quite strong and durable, it is easy to see this guitar was made to stand up to everyday use and will last a long time.
It uses a dreadnaught design and, with the steel strings, you would think this would be quite a difficult guitar to play, however, as before, the dreadnaught style has been slimed down to accommodate all players and the neck has been slimed down to make playing a little easier as well.
The guitar also comes with accessories, such as a pick and spare strings, which makes for easy playing and repairs.
Pros:
- Strong, bright sound.
- Designed to last and materials to match.
- Slimmed down for broader appeal.
- Accessories.
REVIEWS
With their second entrant to this article, it's not surprising they are a well-known and well-respected brand. Being able to create two instruments that are still considered very good quality and are also affordable is no mean feat.
Using mostly basswood on the body and spruce on the top material means that this instrument produces a strong but high tone when played. Combined with the steel strings on the guitar, this sound crisp, clear, and powerful for any who hear it.
However, the problem with this guitar lies in the basswood itself, as, being a soft wood, it cannot handle a lot of punishment. While the guitar has been laminated to address this, it will not be as durable or as long lasting as others might be.
As before, Fender have chosen a slim dreadnaught design with a slim neck, which grants accessibility to most without losing the iconic look that you gain with the guitar.
Its color, although less traditional, appeals to people who may not be inclined towards the traditional or inhabit a subset of music, like heavy metal. This combined with the slim design makes a stylish, easy to play instrument at your fingertips.
Pros:
- Powerful and clear sound.
- Well-designed and niche appeal.
Cons:
- Not as durable as it could be.
REVIEWS
Another entry by Yamaha with what is considered their most popular and high selling models: The F325D. This guitar has been a starter instrument for many and continues to be a part of their guitar collection long after they have bought more.
Part of the reason it has been such a popular instrument is the sound. The body is made of meranti, which is like mahogany in sound but gives a softer sound, while the back is sapele, which has a consistent and balanced tone.
Together, with the spruce top, the tone is soft and has a consistent sound when plucked, making for a guitar perfect for almost any playing style. The maple neck and the chrome machine heads show that this guitar is incredibly well made with almost every aspect accounted for.
For this guitar, Yamaha have chosen a natural coloring and a slim dreadnaught style, allowing players to pick up the guitar with ease and employing a neutral look that could fit with anyone’s taste.
This universal appeal is probably the reason this guitar has become so popular with new and experienced musicians alike.
Pros:
- Balanced and consistent sound.
- Variety of good quality materials used.
- Universal appeal.
REVIEWS
A relative newcomer to the musical instrument industry, Donner has been making instruments since 2012 after a lot of research into the field. From that moment, they have been an established force in the field and come along leaps and bounds, not only economically but in their manufacturing as well.
The Donner acoustic uses a mix of mahogany on the body and back and spruce on the top, producing a solid and clear tone that, combined with the full dreadnaught body, creates a very loud, clear sound.
The wood used, as well as the brass frets and high carbon steel strings, means that this instrument was built to last and should hold its tuning for a considerably long time.
The body of the guitar is a full dreadnaught design, which allows for a loud sound to be produced from the guitar itself. However, the problem with the full dreadnaught is that it is quite a big intrusive design and everything about it is big from the frets to the back panel.
Although great for sound, it does make the guitar difficult or even impossible to play for some, which is a bit of a drawback for such a good guitar.
Pros:
- Solid, clear sound with design making it louder.
- Each piece has been picked and made with care.
Cons:
- Design makes for good sound, but a bit inaccessible for some.
REVIEWS
Carlo Robelli is a brand of guitar that is made for Sam Ash music stores and, with the Sam Ash brand established in 1923, has carefully and patiently worked their craft for many years. Now, with the advent of the internet, the brand has exploded in popularity and gone global.
With the G600CE, most of the wood used is spruce; the body, neck, and top material are all made from spruce; however, the back material is made from Agathis and here’s where some problems may lie.
Agathis behaves much the same way as mahogany – a tone wood - however, its tonal qualities will depend on how it is dried. If this is done poorly, then the sound produced will be bad, if done correctly, it’ll sound good.
This means that the guitar may sound bad before you even get it, leaving you with an unnecessary problem.
However, the design of the G600CE has the customer in mind with it being made for ease of use. Thanks to its slim dreadnaught design, it can be picked up by anyone while retaining a reasonable sound.
The guitar even comes with a built-in tuner, allowing most people to pick it up and play whatever song they choose.
Pros:
- Good sound.
- Good design.
Cons:
- Not made with the best materials.
REVIEWS
Sonart are a brand that sell exclusively on Amazon and, while it’s hard to imagine their guitars doing well, Sonart have gathered a popular and eclectic following. Yet, that is why they are in this article today, with their take on the beginner’s guitar we thought we’d look and see if it is up to standard
The first thing about this guitar is that it is almost all basswood, with only the neck and fretboard being birch and maple respectively. While basswood is not a bad wood to create sound with, it produces very soft sounds and with a guitar almost entirely made from it, this causes a bit of problem in reaching particularly high or low notes.
However, the strings are made from high quality steel, meaning they are less likely to break or move out of tune.
Thanks to the basswood, the guitar itself is also less durable than others, as it is a softer wood making bumping or dropping the guitar more dangerous. But with the glossy, polished paint added, it should provide some protection from these accidents, though not entirely.
The overall design of the Sonart means that it is accessible to everyone, which is precisely what you’d expect from a child friendly company.
Pros:
- High quality accessories.
- Accessible for everyone, even children.
Cons:
- Doesn’t have the full range of sound.
- Not very durable.
REVIEWS
Being an e-commerce retailer primarily supplying home and kitchen products, it's hard to imagine Best Choice Products crafting and selling a popular guitar. But with the popularity of the beginner acoustic, they needed a spot on the list.
Although they made the list, Best Choice has already a significant problem compared to the other guitars. Most of the materials in its making are unidentified, which is crucial to knowing the sound of a guitar.
For the fretboard, they have rosewood, but the rest of the body is unidentified hardwood.
The most common of these used in guitars is mahogany and while this wood would be good for a guitar, but without further information it doesn’t make the guitar look well-made or give hope for a good sound.
While the quality may be a little disappointing, the accessibility is the real deal. Designed for children to play, it is light with soft strings and a gloss paint job to keep it protected. Not only that, but the guitar comes with a bag, a capo, strings, and a tuner, making it the perfect starter pack for any new beginner.
Pros:
- Very accessible.
- Lots of accessories.
Cons:
- Unknown sound.
- Unknown quality.
REVIEWS
Back for their final entry on this list, Yamaha has a guitar that is designed more for intermediate and professional players, but that can be enjoyed by beginners just as easily. The FD01S is supposed to grow with the player over long years together.
Yamaha makes use of a mahogany body and spruce top combo to give this guitar a clear bright sound with a deep tone that resonates with any who hear it.
Combining quality woods and excellent craftsmanship, this guitar should last you years however, in case it doesn’t, Yamaha includes a lifetime warranty with every purchase.
As has been favored by Yamaha before, the design is a natural color with a slim style dreadnaught body and slim neck, so all may be able to play this fine instrument. With that being said, one problem with the instrument is that it may need a professional to set it up before playing.
For intermediate or professional players, this isn’t a problem, but for beginners this is an unnecessary undertaking.
Pros:
- Quality sound.
- Well made and built to last.
Cons:
- Favors experienced players over beginners.
REVIEWS
Being an e-commerce retailer primarily supplying home and kitchen products, it's hard to imagine Best Choice Products crafting and selling a popular guitar. But with the popularity of the beginner acoustic, they needed a spot on the list.
Although they made the list, Best Choice has already a significant problem compared to the other guitars. Most of the materials in its making are unidentified, which is crucial to knowing the sound of a guitar.
For the fretboard, they have rosewood, but the rest of the body is unidentified hardwood.
The most common of these used in guitars is mahogany and while this wood would be good for a guitar, but without further information it doesn’t make the guitar look well-made or give hope for a good sound.
While the quality may be a little disappointing, the accessibility is the real deal. Designed for children to play, it is light with soft strings and a gloss paint job to keep it protected. Not only that, but the guitar comes with a bag, a capo, strings, and a tuner, making it the perfect starter pack for any new beginner.
Pros:
- Very accessible.
- Lots of accessories.
Cons:
- Unknown sound.
- Unknown quality.
Buyer’s Guide
The problem with buying a guitar, especially your first, is that it is hard to know what you are looking for.
For instance, with boots most people would say they need to be durable or waterproof or soft, but with instruments it's hard to know what you want from them, with most people’s only measures being that the instrument is not broken or that it plays a nice sound.
In this article, I’ve tried to provide some descriptors of what I look for in an instrument and why we look for those things in particular.
Sound
The first of these things is sound and not just does it sound nice. Different materials used in construction of an instrument affect its sound, for a guitar this means wood.
Some woods make the guitar’s notes sound sharp and clear, while others make them soft and subtle. It is important to know what these woods will make your instrument sound like before buying.
Quality
The quality of the materials used will affect sound, tuning, and will mean that you will need to replace parts less often. If your strings constantly move out of tune, then you will be frustrated, and your time will be wasted returning.
To avoid this, quality materials and well-made instruments are required.
Design
The design of instruments needs to not only appeal to our taste, but our ability to play. If a guitar is too big for your arms to go round, then you can’t play. As such, it is necessary to have an instrument that is designed for yours and every else’s comfort when playing.
Conclusion
Buying a guitar is the perfect way to begin a new hobby or is a perfect gift for someone you love, but with so many good affordable guitars available, it seems foolish to buy the really cheap, flimsy ones. With the budget guitars in this list, it should be no problem buying someone the perfect instrument.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Should I Look For In A Guitar?
You should look for sound quality, quality of the materials and manufacture, and whether the design fits with your style and your frame. These are very important; they will dictate whether you get a good instrument or a dud.
What Woods Are Acoustic Guitars Made From?
Acoustic guitars are made from a selection of woods called tonewoods, these range from hard mahoganies to soft alders, and each provides the guitar with a unique sound. The harder the wood the more it resonates, the softer the wood, the more the sound softens.
What Is The Best Cheap Acoustic Guitar On The Market?
For the answer, please consult the article and look through what would make the best acoustic guitar for you. Some may consider the Fender Squier the best, whereas others (myself included) may prefer the Yamaha FG800. It all depends on your personal preference.
Through this blog I hope to help and encourage others who have just started, or are on their own guitar playing journey. This blog is the ultimate guide to playing guitar, from the best guitars to purchase, to the easiest rock songs to play.
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