Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Black Friday
  • Artist news
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
Don't miss these
The new Gibson Murphy Lab Light Aged Acoustics released on 9 September 2025, all lined up in a wood-panneled show room with round windows and a rural landscape outside.
Guitars Gibson expands acoustic Murphy Lab collection with five Light Aged classics – including a Nick Lucas 1929 reissue
Close up of a Taylor GS Mini acoustic guitar lying on a wooden floor
Acoustic Guitars Best acoustic guitars 2025: Super steel string acoustics for all players and budgets
Close up of a Yamaha FG800 acoustic guitar
Acoustic Guitars Best cheap acoustic guitars 2025: Top picks for strummers on a budget
Gibson Custom SJ-200 Monarch #100: this stunning one-of-one jumbo is replete with all kinds of rococo flourishes, from the diamond and gold crown inlay on the headstock, to the 14k gold rope binding, Gibson calls it the "ultimate custom" acoustic and not without some justification.
Guitars Gibson gives the “King of the Flat-Tops” a whole new meaning with the $99,999 SJ-200 Monarch #100
A PRS McCarty 594 on a hard case
Electric Guitars Best electric guitars 2025: Our pick of guitars to suit all budgets
Mikael Åkerfeldt with his Martin OM Signature model, playing a few notes with trees in the background.
Artists Mikael Åkerfeldt has played Cobain’s D-18 and holy grail acoustics from the Martin museum but says his new OM beats the lot
Jason Isbell with his two new signature acoustics from Martin, the 0-17, a high-end replica of his 1940 model, and the 0-10E Retro, a more affordable version.
Artists Jason Isbell shares unorthodox tone tip for new acoustics as he reveals not one but two signature Martins – and a set of strings
Harley Benton Custom Line King-12CE NT: the cutaway jumbo 12-string features an all-maple build, gold hardware and Fishman electronics
Guitars Harley Benton unveils Custom Line jumbo 12-string with a $350 price tag that’s for the Byrds
The Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom Hummingbird photographed in all its glory, in close-up and against a wheat-coloured rug.
Acoustic Guitars “One of the handsomest guitars around, it plays great, and punches well above its weight in the tone stakes”: Epiphone Inspired By Gibson Custom Hummingbird Deluxe EC review
Two Taylor beginner acoustic guitars lying on a purple floor
Acoustic Guitars Best acoustic guitar for beginners 2025: Strum your first chords with our choice of beginner acoustic guitars
Fender's American Professional Classic series photographed against the side of a chrome tour bus [L-R]: Jaguar in faded Sherwood Green Metallic, HSS Stratocaster in Faded Lake Placid Blue, Stratocaster in Faded Firemist Gold, Telecaster in Faded Butterscotch Blonde, Precision Bass in Faded 3-Color Sunburst.
Guitars Fender gives its US lineup a retro-modern makeover with the American Professional Classic range
Close up of LR Baggs Anthem pickup in an acoustic guitar
Guitar Pickups Best acoustic guitar pickups 2025: electrify your acoustic for stage, studio and sound fx – our top picks for all budgets
Taylor Jacob Collier GS Mini: featuring a brightly-coloured rosette graphic designed with the musical polymath, this beginner friendly acoustic has a bold five-string design for his signature DAEAD tuning.
Artists Taylor teams up with Jacob Collier for signature acoustics that declare standard tuning DAEAD – and they’re accessibly priced
Harley Benton CLF-50E Parlor Metallic: the compact-bodied acoustic has been launched with a range of metallic finishes.
Guitars Harley Benton’s new acoustic is a compact parlour with a solid top and metallic colour finish – and it is just $250
Harley Benton ST-80 FR MN
Electric Guitars “Some might say a guitar at this kind of price point has no business resonating so well”: Harley Benton ST-80 FR MN review
More
  • Black Friday plugin deals
  • JoBo x Fuchs
  • "The most expensive bit of drumming in history”
  • Radiohead Daydreaming
  • Vanilla Fudge
  • 95k+ free music samples
  1. Guitars
  2. Acoustic Guitars

Six Of The Best: high-end acoustic guitars

News
By Guitarist ( Guitarist ) published 1 November 2012

The best wallet-busters out there

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Pete Turner Marrakech

Pete Turner Marrakech

TYPE: Single-cone, wooden-bodied acoustic resonator

TOP: Old stock Madagascar rosewood

BACK/SIDES: Indian rosewood

WE SAID: “An interesting and alluring take on the spider-style resonator, beautifully made with a unique tonality. We’re hooked”

www.peteturnerguitars.com

Page 1 of 6
Page 1 of 6
Patrick James Eggle Parlour Cuban

Patrick James Eggle Parlour Cuban

TYPE: 12-fret parlour acoustic

TOP: Cuban mahogany

BACK/SIDES: Solid Cuban mahogany

WE SAID: “A little beauty that’s hugely adept at handling a varied repertoire many parlours would struggle with”

www.eggle.co.uk

Page 2 of 6
Page 2 of 6
Atkin AA AM Special

Atkin AA AM Special

TYPE: Auditorium-size acoustic

TOP: Solid mahogany

BACK/SIDES: Solid mahogany

REVIEWED: 355

WE SAID: “There’s a timeless, vintage-like demeanour to this AM Special that greatly impresses and attracts. It’s not flash, but it shines where it needs to”

www.atkinguitars.com

Page 3 of 6
Page 3 of 6
Takamine LTD 2012 'Michi'

Takamine LTD 2012 'Michi'

TYPE: Dreadnought cutaway

TOP: Solid spruce

BACK/SIDES: Solid rosewood/ laminated rosewood

WE SAID: “Stunning sonic timbre, resonance and uniqueness, with stealthy looks to match. A work of art with practical uses... Cherish it”

www.takamine.com

Page 4 of 6
Page 4 of 6
Martin D-18

Martin D-18

TYPE: Dreadnought

TOP: Solid Sitka spruce

BACK/SIDES: Solid mahogany

WE SAID: “It oozes style and a sense of royalty, and Martin has managed to improve and refine what was an already great guitar. Truly fantastic”

www.martinguitar.com

BUY: Martin D-18 currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater

Page 5 of 6
Page 5 of 6
Taylor 712ce

Taylor 712ce

TYPE: 14-fret grand concert cutaway electro-acoustic

TOP: Solid Engelmann spruce

BACK/SIDES: Solid Indian rosewood

WE SAID: “A dream all-rounder, and a guitar that will accompany you from the sofa to the biggest stages, effortlessly”

www.taylorguitars.com

BUY: Taylor 712ce currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater

Page 6 of 6
Page 6 of 6
Guitarist
Guitarist
Social Links Navigation

Guitarist is the longest established UK guitar magazine, offering gear reviews, artist interviews, techniques lessons and loads more, in print, on tablet and on smartphones
Digital: http://bit.ly/GuitaristiOS
If you love guitars, you'll love Guitarist. Find us in print, on Newsstand for iPad, iPhone and other digital readers

The magazine for serious players image
The magazine for serious players
Subscribe and save today!
More Info
Deals not to miss
The new Gibson Murphy Lab Light Aged Acoustics released on 9 September 2025, all lined up in a wood-panneled show room with round windows and a rural landscape outside.
Gibson expands acoustic Murphy Lab collection with five Light Aged classics – including a Nick Lucas 1929 reissue
 
 
Close up of a Taylor GS Mini acoustic guitar lying on a wooden floor
Best acoustic guitars 2025: Super steel string acoustics for all players and budgets
 
 
Close up of a Yamaha FG800 acoustic guitar
Best cheap acoustic guitars 2025: Top picks for strummers on a budget
 
 
Gibson Custom SJ-200 Monarch #100: this stunning one-of-one jumbo is replete with all kinds of rococo flourishes, from the diamond and gold crown inlay on the headstock, to the 14k gold rope binding, Gibson calls it the "ultimate custom" acoustic and not without some justification.
Gibson gives the “King of the Flat-Tops” a whole new meaning with the $99,999 SJ-200 Monarch #100
 
 
A PRS McCarty 594 on a hard case
Best electric guitars 2025: Our pick of guitars to suit all budgets
 
 
Mikael Åkerfeldt with his Martin OM Signature model, playing a few notes with trees in the background.
Mikael Åkerfeldt has played Cobain’s D-18 and holy grail acoustics from the Martin museum but says his new OM beats the lot
 
 
Latest in Acoustic Guitars
Harley Benton Custom Line King-12CE NT: the cutaway jumbo 12-string features an all-maple build, gold hardware and Fishman electronics
Harley Benton unveils Custom Line jumbo 12-string with a $350 price tag that’s for the Byrds
 
 
 (L-R): Fher Olvera (Mana), Cesar Gueikian (Gibson CEO) playing the Gibson Flying V Custom CEO#8, and Sergio Vallin (Mana), performing onstage with Mana at Bridgestone Arena.
Cesar Gueikian on building the SG Kirk Hammett played to honour Black Sabbath and how his designs might shape future Gibson releases
 
 
Taylor Jacob Collier GS Mini: featuring a brightly-coloured rosette graphic designed with the musical polymath, this beginner friendly acoustic has a bold five-string design for his signature DAEAD tuning.
Taylor teams up with Jacob Collier for signature acoustics that declare standard tuning DAEAD – and they’re accessibly priced
 
 
Fender California Standard Redondo
“If my first acoustic guitar were as easy to play as this, I’d have been insanely happy”: Fender California Standard Redondo review
 
 
Jason Isbell with his two new signature acoustics from Martin, the 0-17, a high-end replica of his 1940 model, and the 0-10E Retro, a more affordable version.
Jason Isbell shares unorthodox tone tip for new acoustics as he reveals not one but two signature Martins – and a set of strings
 
 
Gibson Custom Kirk Hammett Raven: the Metallica lead guitarist's new signature acoustic is a Halloween-friendly take on the Hummingbird that's limited to 100 units worldwide.
Enter, the Raven: Kirk Hammett’s Custom Shop Gibson acoustic dresses up the Hummingbird for Halloween
 
 
Latest in News
Positive Grid Mini on a shelf
Positive Grid just set the tone for Black Friday with up to 30% off their range of top-rated smart amps and software - including the Spark 2, Spark Mini & Bias X
 
 
Brand New Heavies and Prince
"I thought, 'I can’t play now'": The Brand New Heavies say that Prince came to watch them three times
 
 
Simon Cowell and Bob Dylan
“I would’ve gone, ‘Forget it’": Bob Dylan would fail American Idol audition, according to Simon Cowell
 
 
Warner Music Group logo on a phone
"Artists and songwriters will have full control”: Warners and Suno link up to create new legal AI platforms
 
 
A Macbook running Universal Audio plugins on a studio desk
Universal Audio just dropped a genuine Black Friday freebie - take your pick from an 1176, LA-2A, Pultec EQ, and more completely free of charge
 
 
Queen perform live in 1986, with Freddie Mercury wearing a yellow basketball vest over a blue T-shirt, Brian May wearing an open collared white shirt, and John Deacon playing a prototype Warwick Buzzard bass, which was designed by John Entwistle and is up for auction in December 2025.
How the “fingerprint” wood grain of this Warwick bass revealed a connection to not one but two British rock legends (and tripled its value)
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...