Best acoustic guitars 2024: Super steel and nylon string acoustics for all players and budgets

When choosing the best acoustic guitar you’ll be subjecting yourself to a huge amount of choice, and because of that, a really tough decision. There’s never been a better time to pick an acoustic guitar thanks to the huge variety and excellent quality of instruments that are available in 2024, so we’re here to help you pick the right one for you and your playing style.

Here at MusicRadar, we’ve reviewed a myriad of acoustic guitars in putting this guide together, so we can back up our recommendations with real-world experience using the instruments. Our writing team are all musicians first and foremost, so we’ll test acoustic guitars by putting them through their paces at home, in our rehearsal spaces, in the recording studio, and performing on stage. This allows us to assess the sonic qualities, playability, and build quality in the same way you’ll use your acoustic from day to day.

If you’re buying for the first time we’d highly recommend checking out our exhaustive buying advice section which has loads of common questions answered by the guitar gurus here at MusicRadar. If you already know your V-bracing from your X-bracing, then just keep scrolling to see our top picks. 

The quick list

Best overall

Best acoustic guitars: Martin D-35

(Image credit: Future)

1. Martin D-35

A premium dreadnought guitar that delivers superb sounds

Specifications

Type: Dreadnought
Top: Spruce
Back & sides: East Indian Rosewood
Neck: Select Hardwood
Scale: 25.4"
Fingerboard: Ebony
Frets: 20
Tuners: Chrome Enclosed Gear
Left-handed: Yes
Finish: Gloss

Reasons to buy

+
Balanced yet big sound
+
Plek’d fretboard
+
Ultra versatile

Reasons to avoid

-
Eye-watering price point
At a Glance

Buy if you want the best of the best: This sumptuous acoustic guitar isn’t cheap, but its inspiring tones, incredible playability, and quality craftsmanship will win over any acoustic guitar player.
Avoid if you want a guitar to gig regularly: With no built-in electronics, the Martin D-28 could cause you some problems if your chosen venue isn’t set up with decent acoustic guitar mics. 

If you want one of the best dreadnought guitars in the world, for us the Martin D-35 takes some beating. It’s a top-of-the-range Martin acoustic guitar that’s purposefully designed to be different from the much-loved Martin D-28.

Although it’s great for fingerpicking, the D-35 will handle any picking style with aplomb. The tonal balance is absolutely sumptuous with a three-piece back and ¼ inch bracing that gives it a better bass response. It’s a vibrant and lively dreadnought that responds brilliantly no matter what you throw at it.

As you’d expect from an acoustic guitar in this price range, it’s suitably appointed with an Ebony fretboard, East Indian Rosewood back and sides, and a solid Spruce top. Everything is finished superbly and a set of Grover tuners adorn the headstock, giving you reliable performance when you want to use open tunings.

Best for beginners

Best acoustic guitars: Fender CD-60

(Image credit: Future)
One of the best acoustic guitars under $200 right now

Specifications

Type: Dreadnought
Top: Spruce
Back & sides: Laminated Mahogany
Neck: Mahogany
Scale: 25.3"
Fingerboard: Walnut
Frets: 20
Tuners: Chrome Die-Cast
Left-handed: Yes
Finish: Gloss

Reasons to buy

+
Superb value for money
+
Nice low action out the box
+
Excellent tonal balance

Reasons to avoid

-
Glossy finish may put some players off
At a Glance

Buy if you want a big brand, beginner acoustic: Being backed by one of the biggest brands in the world is a comforting feeling when buying your first acoustic guitar.
Avoid if you're a very young beginner: This is a full-size dreadnought instrument, so will likely be too big for younger children to start learning on.

The Fender CD-60 is a good reminder of just how much guitar you can get for your money at the more affordable end of the market. We've come far since the days of high-action, poor tuning stability, and shoddy construction that used to mark out lower-priced models. Instead, we're offered a spruce top, laminated mahogany back/sides, and a playable Walnut fretboard. 

The CD-60's action is great out of the box, too, though not too low to make us wary of alternate tunings. The punchy character of Spruce is certainly here, bringing the brightness usually associated with these tops.

The result is something that’s genuinely inspiring to play and chimes in chord work, and one of the best acoustic guitars for beginners or those looking for a second acoustic. After all, why should new players settle for just okay when they need to be comfortable and inspired? And there’s no reason why this dreadnought wouldn’t be a good addition for anyone else, too.

Read our full Fender CD-60 review

Best under $1,000

Best acoustic guitars: Seagull S6 Original

(Image credit: Future)
The ultimate value for money acoustic guitar

Specifications

Type: Dreadnought
Top: Solid Cedar
Back & sides: Laminated Wild Cherry
Neck: Silver Leaf Maple
Scale: 25.5"
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Frets: 21
Tuners: Closed Gear
Left-handed: Yes
Finish: Semi-gloss

Reasons to buy

+
Amazing value for money
+
Balanced tonal voice
+
Rugged build quality

Reasons to avoid

-
Neck will be too wide for some
At a Glance

✅ Buy if you want an excellent value acoustic guitar: The S6 gives you a lot of bang for your buck, great for beginners or those looking for a hard-wearing acoustic to add to their collection.
❌ Avoid if you like the sound of Sitka spruce: The Cedar top gives this guitar an unusual timbre, which may feel a little jarring to those used to Spruce topped instruments. 

The Seagull S6 Standard has been one of the go-to beginner acoustic guitars for a long time now. A sub-brand of Godin, it’s an excellent choice for the beginner guitar player or someone who’s looking for an additional guitar but doesn’t want to spend loads of cash.

It’s super balanced when played unplugged, with a nice even tone across the lows, mids, and highs. The Cedar top means it will sound a little different if you’re used to a more traditional Sitka-topped acoustic, but it can get pretty loud when strummed hard and we found it sounds great with fingerstyle.

The neck will be a little wide, particularly if you’re coming from an electric guitar background, but once you get used to it we still found it to be nice and playable. It’s ruggedly built too, and will definitely put up with the rigours of being chucked into a van and taken across the country. 

Read the full Seagull S6 Original review 

Best under $500

Best acoustic guitars: Epiphone J-200

(Image credit: Future)

4. Epiphone J-200 EC Studio

The best acoustic guitar on a budget for plugged-in performance

Specifications

Type: Jumbo
Top: Solid spruce
Back & sides: Select maple
Neck: Hard maple
Scale: 25-1/2"
Fingerboard: Pau ferro
Frets: 20
Tuners: Grover Rotomatic 18:1
Left-handed: Yes
Finish: Black, Natural, Vintage Sunburst, Vintage Natural

Reasons to buy

+
Good price for a solid top
+
Massive jumbo tones
+
Eye-catching J-200 styling

Reasons to avoid

-
The large size isn't for everyone 
At a Glance

Buy if you want a huge sound unplugged: This Epiphone is absolutely massive, and so is its natural sound, perfect for those who like to play loud and brash.
Avoid if you prefer smaller guitars: With a jumbo body size, the J-200 will be very unfriendly to younger guitarists and those of a more diminutive stature.

The Epiphone J200 EC Studio pays homage to its Gibson counterpart, with stunning vintage correct stylings. The mustache bridge, decorative tortoiseshell-style pickguard, and pearloid crown inlays add a level of class to this instrument and we must say, it sounds as good as it looks, as well. 

We found the sound to be balanced rather than boomy, giving strummed chords the fullness that made the J-200's reputation. Expect articulate highs and a warm foundation in the bottom end. The slim 60s 'D' profile neck suits a wide variety of playing styles, but there's a definite lean toward rhythm guitar work here.

If you want to hear what this guitar can really do, then plug it into an acoustic amp. The onboard Fishman Sonicore pickup delivers a sound fitting of one of the best cheap acoustic guitars. Throw in a solid top as well and this is, without a doubt, one of the best electro-acoustics around today.

Read the full Epiphone J-200 SCE review

Best under $300

Best acoustic guitars: Yamaha FG-800

(Image credit: Future)
A brilliant acoustic guitar with a solid top for a bargain price

Specifications

Type: Dreadnought
Top: Spruce
Back & sides: Nato
Neck: Nato
Scale: 25"
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Frets: 20
Tuners: Chrome Die-cast Buttons
Left-handed: No
Finish: Gloss

Reasons to buy

+
Exceptional value for money
+
Solid Spruce top
+
Rugged build quality

Reasons to avoid

-
Aimed at beginners
At a Glance

✅ Buy if you want value for money: Seeing a solid top at this price point is pretty unusual, which means you get a lot for your money with the FG800.
❌ Avoid if you're not a beginner: The FG800 is primarily aimed at beginners, which means its lacking in the bells and whistles other, more expensive models will have.

If your budget for a new acoustic guitar is quite tight, the Yamaha FG800 gives you a lot for your money. It packs a solid top, a comfortable smaller body shape, and excellent build quality all in a guitar that’s well under the $300 mark.

It’s very much a barebones acoustic, so you won’t find any extra flourishes or frills here. That said, everything is really nicely put together with no hint of sharp fret ends or any blemishes that we could discern on our review model.

In terms of tone, it is lively and open-sounding, projecting really well thanks to that solid top. The lows are nice and roomy, with plenty of thump in the lower mids and crisp top end. The playability is great out of the box too and at this price point you’ll be hard-pressed to find anything better.

Read our full Yamaha FG800 review

Best under $200

Best acoustic guitars: Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy

(Image credit: Future)
A brilliant, low-cost guitar for sofa strumming

Specifications

Type: Parlor
Top: Basswood
Back & sides: Basswood
Neck: Nato
Scale: 24"
Fingerboard: Walnut
Frets: 18
Tuners: Open Gear Die-cast
Left-handed: No
Finish: Vintage Semi-gloss

Reasons to buy

+
Superb value for money
+
Comfortable playability
+
Great for beginners

Reasons to avoid

-
Fretboard can feel cramped
-
Not the loudest
At a Glance

✅ Buy if you want a guitar to noodle on the sofa: The tiny size and low cost of the Jim Dandy make it a perfect living room guitar that anyone can pick up.
❌ Avoid if you have big hands: It's a small guitar so the fretboard might feel cramped for those who have bigger hands, and can make fretting certain chords difficult.

With more and more players looking to both save costs and space, we’ve seen a huge resurgence in travel and parlor-sized acoustic over the last few years. The Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy ticks all these boxes, providing a brilliantly playable instrument that costs comparatively little money.

Of course, due to the size, it won’t compete with a boomy dreadnought, but the sound has an endearing character all of its own. It’s bright but never harsh with bags of articulation and a strong attack. It really punches above its weight and price tag when it comes to note clarity, excelling at flatpicking and fingerpicking.

You’d expect at this price point that the hardware might not be the best, but we were surprised at how good the tuners are. They don’t feel cheap and hold their tuning particularly well. We also love the vintage style finish and the small body size which makes it perfect for strumming and songwriting at home.

Read our full Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy review

Best for intermediate players

Best acoustic guitars: Martin 000-15M

(Image credit: Future)
A superb all-rounder that plays and sounds amazing

Specifications

Type: 000-14 Fret
Top: Solid Mahogany
Back & sides: Solid Mahogany
Neck: Solid Mahogany
Scale: 25.4"
Fingerboard: Solid East Indian Rosewood
Frets: 20
Tuners: Nickel Open-Geared with Butterbean Knobs
Left-handed: Yes
Finish: Nitrocellulose Satin

Reasons to buy

+
Personable acoustic tone
+
Awesome playability
+
Excellent value for money

Reasons to avoid

-
Not the loudest
At a Glance

✅ Buy if you want a no-frills acoustic that sounds incredible: Some may judge its looks as plain, but the Martin 000-15M has a beautiful voice and outstanding playability.
❌ Avoid if you want booming lows and sparkly highs: Both the size and tonewoods used mean that this guitar isn’t quite as full range as a dreadnought or spruce-topped acoustic.

The Martin 000-15M is one of our all-time favourite acoustic guitars thanks to its unbelievable unplugged tone, solid tonewoods, and outstanding playability, all at a fantastic price point. It’s a no-frills look and purposeful design come together to make a sensational acoustic that’s well worth the money.

Despite it’s all mahogany construction, the 000-15M is super balanced across the tonal spectrum, with none of that ‘honk’ you usually find in acoustics of a similar spec. It’s super responsive and plays just as great with open tunings and slide guitar as it does with open chords accompanying a vocalist.

Due to the size and construction, it’s not quite got as much bass and treble as a dreadnought or Sitka spruce-topped instrument, but we’d wager that this makes it fit better when playing with ensembles. It’s a simply superb acoustic guitar that is sure to bring a smile to your face.

Read the full Martin 000-15M review 

Best for small hands

Best acoustic guitars: Taylor GS Mini

(Image credit: Future)
The best acoustic guitar for travelling

Specifications

Type: Mini Grand Symphony
Top: Sitka Spruce
Back & sides: Laminated sapele
Neck: Sapele
Scale: 23.5"
Fingerboard: West African Ebony
Frets: 20
Tuners: Die-Cast Chrome
Left-handed: Yes
Finish: Varnish

Reasons to buy

+
Amazing playability
+
Incredible build quality 
+
Full sounding despite the size

Reasons to avoid

-
Cedar-topped and nylon-stringed versions would be nice
At a Glance

Buy If you want a compact guitar that sounds great: The GS-Mini is incredibly popular thanks to its combination of small body size yet remarkably full acoustic voice.
Avoid if you need unplugged volume: Despite its fantastic voice, it still won't compete with a dreadnought or jumbo-sized guitar if you need volume playing unplugged.

The Mexican-made Mini is equally functional as both a travel-sized acoustic and "modern-day parlour guitar". Despite its small footprint, the GS Mini is no toy instrument: there's a solid Sitka spruce top, a faultless build quality and the setup is immaculate.

The slight, soft 'V' profile of the neck combined with narrow nut width makes this acoustic feel much more like an electric guitar, in spite of the standard 56mm string spacing. It gives the GS Mini a really comfortable playing feel, particularly when you're strumming chords, though fingerstyle players might prefer a little more room.

Rather like a good parlour-size guitar, the GS Mini outputs a sound that belies its compactness. We'd lay a considerable sum to suggest it'd be a fine recording guitar, that tight low end giving space to a bass guitar (or bassier six-string) while the mids aren't overly honky, as some parlours can be, and the silky, sparkly highs are pure Taylor fidelity. Far from a gimmick, this is a guitar with its own vibe and voice – and both are very appealing.

Read our full Taylor GS Mini review

Best acoustic electric

Best acoustic guitars: Yamaha A5R ARE

(Image credit: Future)
The acoustic guitar that sounds fantastic plugged-in

Specifications

Type: Dreadnought Cutaway
Top: Solid Sitka Spruce with A.R.E. treatment
Back & sides: Solid Rosewood
Neck: African Mahogany
Scale: 25.6"
Fingerboard: Ebony, rolled edges
Frets: 20
Tuners: Gotoh chrome open gear
Left-handed: No
Finish: Gloss

Reasons to buy

+
Unplugged experience is wonderful
+
SRT2 preamp is a dream
+
Hand-rolled fretboard is super comfortable

Reasons to avoid

-
We’d like a non-cutaway option too
At a Glance

Buy if you want a brilliant gigging guitar: The SRT2 preamp onboard the Yamaha A5R ARE are some of the best we've ever heard, making it a proper gigging machine.
Avoid if you prefer traditional guitars: You can only get a cutaway version of this guitar, so if you prefer a traditional-looking acoustic guitar then steer clear.

There is traditionally a gap between how we enjoy the sound of our guitars and the way they’re represented plugged in. Enter Yamaha, a leader in stage-ready acoustic technology for decades – and in the A5R ARE, it may have just offered us a very desirable solution. 

The A5R's rounded fretboard edges offer an enjoyable playing experience that mimics the feeling of guitars that have been played in to a degree and it has an ethereal quality in the high ranges, even though some treble resonance is traded with the lower action. 

The A5R’s resonance and bright balance are a fine showcase for the clever SRT2 preamp – we actually couldn’t dial in a ‘bad’ sound on it because the treble and bass controls mirror the natural subtlety of the pickup/mic dynamic design. 

An electro experience that captures the sound of an unplugged acoustic? The SRT2 is one of the closest acoustic-electric guitars to get there yet. This is an update that marks the A Series out as an essential consideration for players who rely on a consistent and controllable stage sound.

Read our full Yamaha A5R ARE review

Best for fingerstyle

Best acoustic guitars: Martin 000-28 Modern Deluxe

(Image credit: Future)
A premium acoustic guitar perfect for fingerstyle

Specifications

Type: 000
Top: Spruce
Back & sides: East Indian Rosewood
Neck: Mahogany
Scale: 24.9"
Fingerboard: Ebony
Frets: 20
Tuners: Gold Open Gear
Left-handed: Yes
Finish: Gloss

Reasons to buy

+
Fantastic for fingerstyle
+
Rich, natural tone
+
Asymmetrical neck shape

Reasons to avoid

-
Eye-watering price point
At a Glance

Buy if you want a fingerstyle guitar: The ultra-comfortable neck makes this a perfect guitar for lovers of fingerstyle acoustic.
Avoid if you're on a budget: This is a premium-level acoustic, so not one for those who are looking to maximize a smaller budget.

The Martin 000-28 Modern Deluxe is a premium acoustic guitar that will suit those who want to play fingerstyle. Packed with modern appointments and tech, it delivers a phenomenal unplugged tone and playability befitting of the stature implied by its lofty price point.

Featuring some of the most outstanding build quality we’ve seen, the 000-28 features a titanium truss rod, composite carbon fiber bridge plate, and Liquidmetal red dot bridge pins, the latter of which contribute to a 3-4dB volume increase. The asymmetrical neck shape gives it a unique, yet super comfortable playing feel in the hand.

The super thin nature of the neck and slightly shorter than usual scale length is what makes it feel so comfortable when playing fingerstyle, and those classical-style large chord stretches are an absolute breeze. The sound is detailed, resonating powerfully in the low end with a lovely chime and overall warm tone. A spectacular instrument that’s well worth the investment.

Read our full Martin 000-28 Modern Deluxe review 

Best for blues

Best acoustic guitars: Gibson J-45 Standard

(Image credit: Future/Daryl Robertson)
A proper workhorse acoustic that can do everything well

Specifications

Type: Round Shoulder Dreadnought
Top: Sitka Spruce
Back & sides: Mahogany
Neck: Mahogany
Scale: 24.75"
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Frets: 20
Tuners: Grover Rotomatics with Kidney Buttons
Left-handed: No
Finish: Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer

Reasons to buy

+
Supremely versatile
+
Impeccable build quality
+
Lovely playability

Reasons to avoid

-
It’s pricey
At a Glance

Buy if you want a super versatile instrument: The J-45 is an incredibly versatile acoustic guitar that's at home playing slide blues, big open chords, or fingerstyle.
Avoid if you don't like big guitars: This is a dreadnought-sized guitar so won't be comfortable for younger players or those of a smaller stature.

If you’re after an acoustic guitar that can handle any playstyle and genre of music you throw at it, then you need a Gibson J-45 Standard. It’s Gibson’s classic workhorse guitar, one that has the tonal versatility and build quality to ensure it performs time after time on stage and in the studio.

We found the J-45 to be an absolute tone monster, easily handling blues, fingerstyle, chords, arpeggios, and pretty much anything else we could throw at it. The clarity and note separation is particularly apparent on this guitar, and it’s super dynamic too, responding just as well to gentle fingerstyle as it does hard strumming.

With Grover Rotomatics tuners and an LR Baggs preamp system, you’ve also got some fantastic quality hardware to lean on. The amplified tone represents the unplugged sound really well, sounding fantastic through an acoustic guitar amplifier or a PA system.

Read our full Gibson J-45 Standard review

Best for worship

12. Taylor 214ce Plus

Another ultra-playable acoustic guitar from Taylor

Specifications

Type: Grand Auditorium
Top: Solid sitka spruce
Back & sides: Laminated rosewood
Neck: Mahogany
Scale: 25.5”
Fingerboard: Ebony
Frets: 20
Tuners: Taylor nickel
Left-handed: Yes
Finish: Natural

Reasons to buy

+
Venetian cutaway aids playability
+
Clean, clear and precise tone 
+
ES-2 pickup system sounds fantastic 

Reasons to avoid

-
Solid back & sides expected for over $/£1,000  
At a Glance

✅ Buy if you value playability above all: The 214ce Plus delivers spectacular playability thanks to its Venetian cutaway and slim profile neck.
❌ Avoid if you want all-solid tonewoods: This guitar has laminated back & side woods, which may put off those who prefer a totally solid wood construction.

Taylor can always be relied on to create clean and fresh-looking - and sounding - acoustic guitars. This 214ce Plus is no exception to that rule.

For us, the 214ce Plus is a highly comfortable, super playable grand auditorium acoustic guitar. Taylor is a manufacturer that constantly works to improve the ergonomics and feel of their instruments, and this is obvious - thanks to the slim profile of the mahogany neck and tasteful Venetian cutaway. 

Like many other acoustic guitars in this price bracket, a solid Sitka spruce top makes an appearance, adding bags of power and brightness to the tone of this guitar. The back and sides are of laminated rosewood construction, and although a slightly curious option for a guitar north of a grand, the tonal influence is a positive one - more brightness, more clarity, and less woolly-sounding low-end.

Also tested

As far as we're concerned the above acoustic guitars are where you should place your hard-earned cash, but we're also aware that they might not cover every use case for acoustic players. If you didn't find what you were looking for in our top picks, then here's a selection of acoustic guitars we've reviewed and rate highly.

Image

<a href="https://hawk.ly/m/prs-se-p20e/i/mrbag01" data-link-merchant="hawk.ly"" target="_blank">PRS SE P20E Tonare Parlor | Mahogany Top | Mahogany Back & Sides | Mahogany Neck | Ebony Fretboard
Parlour acoustics are all the rage right now and when you look at the PRS SE P20E Tonare Parlor, it’s no surprise really. Packing a whole load of tone into an easily transportable package, it’s an excellent value acoustic for playing at home and songwriting.
MusicRadar Score: 4.5/5

Read our full <a href="https://www.musicradar.com/reviews/prs-se-p20e-tonare-parlour-guitar-review" data-link-merchant="musicradar.com"" data-link-merchant="hawk.ly"" target="_blank">PRS SE P20E Tonare Parlor review

Image

<a href="https://hawk.ly/m/fender-american-acoustasonic-telecaster/i/mrbag02" data-link-merchant="hawk.ly"" target="_blank">Fender American Acoustasonic Telecaster | Spruce Top | Mahogany Back & Sides | Mahogany Neck | Ebony Fretboard
Fender’s 'is it or isn’t it' Acoustasonic range has been an absolute smash hit. Whether you think it’s a true acoustic guitar or not, there’s no denying the Fender American Acoustasonic Telecaster is a brilliant instrument, and certainly worthy of a place on this list.
MusicRadar Score: 4.5/5

Read our full <a href="https://www.musicradar.com/reviews/fender-american-acoustasonic-telecaster" data-link-merchant="musicradar.com"" data-link-merchant="hawk.ly"" target="_blank">Fender American Acoustasonic Telecaster review

Image

<a href="https://hawk.ly/m/gibson-montana-hummingbird-vintage-cherry-sunburst/i/mrbag03" data-link-merchant="hawk.ly"" target="_blank">Gibson Montana Hummingbird | Spruce Top | Mahogany Back & Sides | Mahogany Neck | Rosewood Fretboard
From top to bottom, this Hummingbird creates a buzz. It’s such a simple guitar to play that it’s rare to ever feel like you’re incapable of striking the right chord – especially on a neck that’s just 12” in radius. A versatile instrument that can cover a lot of ground.
MusicRadar Score: 4.5/5

Read our full <a href="https://www.musicradar.com/reviews/gibson-montana-hummingbird-vintage-cherry-sunburst" data-link-merchant="musicradar.com"" data-link-merchant="hawk.ly"" target="_blank">Gibson Montana Hummingbird review

Image

<a href="https://hawk.ly/m/taylor-builder-s-edition-v-class-k14ce/i/mrbag04" data-link-merchant="hawk.ly"" target="_blank">Taylor Builder’s Edition V-Class K14ce | Spruce Top | Koa Back & Sides | Mahogany Neck | Ebony Fretboard
The Builder’s Edition V-Class K14ce is a bold statement of intent by Taylor, combining V bracing with a notably different, more comfortable, Grand Auditorium style. Of course, its build quality is nothing short of exceptional as we’d expect – not least at this price.
MusicRadar Score: 4.5/5

Read our full <a href="https://www.musicradar.com/reviews/taylor-builders-edition-v-class-k14ce" data-link-merchant="musicradar.com"" data-link-merchant="hawk.ly"" target="_blank">Taylor Builder's Edition V-Class K14ce review

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<a href="https://hawk.ly/m/fender-highway-series-parlor/i/mrbag05" data-link-merchant="hawk.ly"" target="_blank">Fender Highway Series Parlor | Mahogany/Sitka Top | Mahogany Back & Sides | Mahogany Neck | Rosewood Fretboard
If you want something more advanced than a traditional acoustic guitar, the Fender Highway Series Parlor will bridge the gap between classic and modern. Packed with forward-thinking features, this playable instrument straddles a fine line admirably.
MusicRadar Score: 4/5

Read our full <a href="https://www.musicradar.com/reviews/fender-highway-series-parlor-review" data-link-merchant="musicradar.com"" data-link-merchant="hawk.ly"" target="_blank">Fender Highway Series Parlor review

Buying advice

Best acoustic guitars: Three guitars together in a dark room

(Image credit: Future)

The acoustic guitar has gone through many iterations and revisions to get to where it is today. The origins of the acoustic guitar are often argued, but it most likely was influenced and inspired by the gittern - which originated in Western Europe during the 13th century. The vihuela - which came to be in 15th century Spain, and was more ‘traditionally’ guitar-shaped - took two routes, the most important to us being the vihuela de Penola. This was played with a plectrum or by hand.

Around the late 1700s and early 1800s, six-stringed versions of the vihuela became popular. In approximately 1850, a luthier named Antonio Torres Jurado made improvements to the tone and strength of these instruments - increasing the body size, altering the proportions, and using a ‘fan’ bracing pattern. Torres’ design has remained fairly unchanged, and most credit the form and structure of the modern acoustic guitar to him.

Which acoustic guitar body size is best for me?

Acoustic guitars come in many different shapes and sizes, the most popular being Dreadnought, Grand Auditorium, and Parlor, among others. Each of these styles brings its own characteristics to the table, so consider them carefully when choosing the best acoustic guitar for you.

Generally speaking, the bigger the guitar, the bigger the sound. The smaller the guitar, the tighter, and more focused the sound. Perhaps that's obvious, but you'll want to consider the effect on tone too.

Dreadnought and Jumbo guitars generally deliver a deeper sound and increased bottom end due to their cavernous body sizes. These are a favorite of legendary solo singer-songwriters such as Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, and Sheryl Crow, as the increased volume and tone can make up for the lack of full-band accompaniment. This massive sound can get lost in a band situation though, as the extra bass and low mid frequencies interfere with a bass guitar or kick drum. 

If you’re looking to perform with a band, a smaller-bodied guitar - like a Grand Auditorium, ‘000’ or Parlor may be more suitable. Acoustic guitars of these sizes will cut through a mix better as they generally produce more high-mid and treble frequencies - or at least fewer low frequencies - to ensure you're heard over the rest of the band. With players such as John Mayer, Eric Clapton, and Myles Kennedy opting for a smaller-bodied acoustic guitar, it's worth checking them out. 

Bear in mind that the size not only affects the tone but also how comfortable the guitar is to play. So if you feel better playing a smaller guitar, then go for it. You have to be comfortable with your instrument.

What is the best wood for an acoustic guitar?

Well, that’s a good question. There is technically no ‘best’ wood to make an acoustic guitar out of, as the tones we like are entirely subjective. That being said, there are definitely certain woods that resonate more than others, and certain combinations that work well together - and those tend to be the favorites when it comes to building an acoustic guitar.

The classic combination of a spruce top and mahogany back and sides is a definite favorite among luthiers. The way that spruce and mahogany interact with each other creates a really well-rounded tone, with the spruce generating plenty of punchy brightness that makes your tone pop and cut through the mix. Mahogany adds a tasteful dash of low-end resonance to this brightness, and that’s where the balance comes into play. You’ll notice that most acoustic guitar tops are made from pale woods, such as spruce - but not always. 

During the Great Depression of the late ‘20s and ‘30s, Martin decided that in order to stay afloat they needed to make guitars that were cheaper, both to produce and to buy. In order to do this, they introduced the ‘15’ series, which features tops, backs, and sides all made of solid mahogany. This move not only helped to save Martin as a company but also created a guitar that had a killer tone. As you can expect, it doesn’t create the super bright punchiness that spruce does, but instead a really cool, woody mid-range tone that has become really popular in more recent years.

Teenage girl smiling while she plays acoustic guitar on an orange couch

(Image credit: Getty/Richard Bailey)

Does hardware make a difference on acoustic?

Acoustic guitars don’t have a lot of hardware, but the effect it can have on the tone of your guitar is surprising. If you think about it, an acoustic guitar creates its tone through vibrating - so a great bridge or set of tuners will allow your guitar to freely vibrate or resonate.

Take a bridge, for example. The bridge is the only point of contact between your strings and the top of your guitar, so guitar manufacturers will make sure that it doesn’t inhibit your guitar’s natural resonance any more than it needs to. The material that your bridge is made from will also affect the tone of your guitar, with mahogany or rosewood bridges sounding a little warmer. That being said, this is definitely one for the nerds out there - with the difference being pretty minimal.

Like most guitar-related items, the quality of hardware on your guitar will improve as you creep up the price brackets. Whether it’s the quality of the materials, the stability of the tuners, or just a more solid construction, if you spend more on your instrument, you’ll probably get more out of it.

Do I need an acoustic guitar pickup?

Once you have chosen the right body size and woods for you, you'll need to think about pickups. 

An acoustic guitar pickup can work in a few different ways, with the most popular pickups being under-saddle piezo pickups. As you’ve probably worked out, the pickup collects the string vibrations through the saddle and then sends that tone to the output jack. Unfortunately, a cheap one can sound quite brittle and spiky, as the pickup detects vibrations where the string tension is at its tightest.

Another pickup type is the magnetic soundhole pickup. They work exactly the same as an electric guitar pickup, in the way that they create a magnetic field that captures the vibrations of the strings, and then passes those through to the output jack and into your amp. They’re pretty easy to install - most just clip on either side of your soundhole - and they’re available in single-coil and humbucker configurations. Some are active, too - meaning the output is higher and your tone will pop even more.

You can also use a soundboard transducer pickup if that’s more your thing. If you use percussive techniques in your playing, then these pickups can be a great choice - as they can be fixed anywhere on or inside the body of your acoustic guitar, picking up more vibrations than other types of pickups. They often need a bit more EQ tweaking on your amp or PA speakers to get them to sound perfect, but it’s worth the effort if your playing style requires one.

You may not know if you'll ever want to plug into an acoustic amp or even PA speakers, and, of course, you could always have a pickup installed at a later date. Still, we recommend opting for a steel string with an onboard pickup/preamp if it's within budget. As they say, it's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it! 

Woman sat on a couch, fretting the third fret of her Fender acoustic guitar

(Image credit: Future)

How much should I spend on an acoustic guitar?

We’ve got good news when it comes to how much you need to spend. If you want to, you can spend tens of thousands on one of the best acoustic guitars - but that is in no way necessary. Between the guitar players on the MusicRadar team, we’ve bought, sold, and played thousands of acoustic guitars, so here’s what we’d expect to spend on some great beginner, intermediate, and pro acoustic guitars: 

As a beginner, you’ll get everything you need for under $/£500. You’ll need something comfortable, nice to look at, and easy to play. You’ll get all of these qualities from manufacturers like Fender, Epiphone, and Washburn, among many others. These manufacturers are our favorites for the best cheap acoustics as they’re well-respected brands that won’t put their names on sub-par instruments. 

For intermediate players, you’ll be best off spending a bit more and getting something special. You’ll be able to find guitars of all shapes, sizes, build qualities, and brands - the world starts to become your oyster. For $/£1,500, you’ll even start creeping up into the world of higher-end Far-Eastern and lower-end USA-made guitars, from the likes of Martin, Gibson, Taylor, Yamaha, and Guild. The quality of the build, materials, and tone will be noticeably better than that of a cheaper, sub-£/$500 acoustic guitar - so if you can afford it, then we’d recommend going for an intermediate spec acoustic.

Once you enter the realms of ‘professional’ acoustic guitars, you can really spend as much as you want. You can spend some serious money on high-end acoustic guitars, with Martin’s £7,000 ‘Authentic’ range and Taylor’s indulgent Builder’s Edition acoustics being prime examples. These guitars feature endangered woods, incredible build quality, and gargantuan tones, among other things. For over $/£1,500 though, a pro will get everything they need to play, sound, and look great. Expect to see those aforementioned manufacturers’ names pop up a lot in this price bracket, along with companies like Larivee, Furch, Eastman, and many more. 

Should I choose an acoustic electric guitar?

The vast majority of modern acoustic guitars now come with electronics installed, so more often than not you'll find yourself with an acoustic electric. The benefit of having electronics means you can easily plug into a PA system or an acoustic guitar amplifier, further increasing the versatility of your instrument.

Acoustic electrics often come with tone-shaping features like EQs and phase switches, which further adds to the variety of sounds available when plugging in. Some even come with onboard tuners which allow you to do away with a clip-on pedal tuner, keeping your instrument sounding great everywhere.

What electronics won't do, is accurately capture the sound of your instrument unplugged. Acoustic electrics use either piezo pickups under the bridge, transducers mounted to the underside of the body top, microphones within the guitar body, or some combination of the three to create their sound. This means you're only potentially capturing one aspect of the acoustic guitar's complex natural sound, so it's not likely to sound the same plugged-in as it does unplugged.

If you're planning on playing your acoustic guitar live, then going for an acoustic-electric is a no-brainer. It will make your life that much easier, allowing you to plug into a variety of sources and amplify your sound quickly. If you're just playing at home, you can get away with an acoustic that doesn't have electronics.

Should I buy an acoustic guitar online?

Concerned about buying an acoustic guitar online without trying it first? You needn’t worry. Online music instrument retailers like Sweetwater, Thomann, Guitar Center and Musician’s Friend offer hassle-free returns as standard, so you can purchase a guitar, play it in the comfort and privacy of your home and, if it’s not right, send it back with ease. Check the specific returns policy for your chosen retailer before you purchase, but most offer between 30-45 days to return an item, as long as it’s in original condition.

How we test acoustic guitars

Acoustic guitars are some of the most subjective instruments out there. Every player has their own set of preferences - but there are a few key criteria every acoustic guitar should meet before we recommend it to our readers.

The first thing we look at is the overall build quality of the instrument. Does it feel strong, solid and can it withstand hard playing? We need to make sure any acoustic guitar we recommend is sturdy and reliable, and won't let you down. How well does it all fit together? How good is the hardware? Is the level of finish up to scratch? These are all questions we seek the answers to during testing.

We then check the setup, and the level of finish of the guitar. We look at the action (the vertical distance between the strings and the fingerboard), and also the fretwork - to make sure there are no dead spots or sharp fret ends.

This leads on to a playability test. We check how comfortable the neck and body are, how the neck profile feels in our hand and how the fingerboard radius feels when playing. We'll also play sat down and stood up to see if there's any neck dive.

We've also got to test the sound of the guitar. For this, we play a variety of different styles including country style chicken-pickin', strumming with a plectrum and everything in between. We play throughout the whole dynamic range of the guitar, and listen to the tone and projection to make sure it's all as we'd expect.

Read more about how we test music making gear and services at MusicRadar.

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Chris Bird

Chris has been the Editor of Total Guitar magazine since 2020. Prior to that, he was at the helm of Total Guitar's world-class tab and tuition section for 12 years. He's a former guitar teacher with 35 years playing experience and he holds a degree in Philosophy & Popular Music. Chris has interviewed Brian May three times, Jimmy Page once, and Mark Knopfler zero times – something he desperately hopes to rectify as soon as possible.

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