Finding the best acoustic guitar under $1,000 that has the exact sound you are looking for can be a challenge. There are a number of acoustic guitars in the $1,000 price range that have excellent tone and amazing looks, but they probably don’t all fit your playing style.
That’s why we’ve reviewed the most popular acoustic guitars that won’t break your $1,000 acoustic guitar budget. We compare the tonewoods, body styles, features, pros, and cons of each, so you can easily figure which one is right for you. It doesn’t matter if you are a fingerstyle player, chord strummer, or just want something nice to jam on, we have something here for you. These are all great guitars. 🙂
Now let’s look at the top-rated acoustic guitars under $1000 that you should consider adding to your collection.
Compare the Top Acoustic Guitars Below $1,000 in 2021
Contents
- 1 Compare the Top Acoustic Guitars Below $1,000 in 2021
- 1.1 Taylor 214ce Acoustic Guitar
- 1.2 Martin DRS1 Acoustic-Electric Guitar
- 1.3 Martin DX1AE Acoustic-Electric Guitar
- 1.4 Blueridge BR-140A Acoustic Guitar
- 1.5 Yamaha A Series A3M Acoustic-Electric Guitar
- 1.6 Takamine GN93CE-NAT Acoustic-Electric Guitar
- 1.7 Seagull Artist Mosaic Acoustic Guitar
- 1.8 Fender Newporter Classic Acoustic Guitar
- 1.9 Breedlove Solo Concert Acoustic-Electric Guitar
- 1.10 Fender Paramount PM-3 Standard Acoustic-Electric Guitar
- 1.11 Washburn WCG55CE Acoustic-Electric Guitar
- 1.12 Ovation 2778 AX Standard Elite Acoustic-Electric Guitar
- 2 What we Recommend and Why
Here’s a list of the best $1,000 acoustic guitars that are made of quality tonewoods and sound amazing.
- Taylor 214ce
- Martin DRS1
- Martin DX1AE
- Blueridge BR-140A
- Yamaha A Series A3M
- Takamine GN93CE-NAT
- Seagull Artist Mosaic
- Fender Newporter
- Breedlove Solo Concert
- Fender Paramount PM-3
- Washburn WCG55CE
- Ovation 2778 AX
Taylor 214ce Acoustic Guitar
Specs, features, and benefits
As far as acoustic and semi-acoustic guitars go, Taylor stands among the leading manufacturers in America. The Taylor brand is widely associated with top end guitars.
With the 214ce, the brand has created a guitar that will deliver all the qualities that it is known for but without costing an arm and a leg.
This guitar features a deluxe grand auditorium body design with a single cutaway. The top is made of solid Sitka spruce while the sides and back are made of layered Kao. The neck is made of mahogany with an ebony fretboard.
These tonewoods combine to deliver a tone that is rich, detailed and balanced. The entire construction also enhances playability.
That’s not all..
It also comes with the ES-2 pickup system which offers the player more performance options.
In keeping with the Taylor tradition, this guitar is beautifully constructed to offer good aesthetic value, great playability and tone. You should know that you can hardly go wrong with a Taylor. Get it and you won’t be sorry.
Pros and Highlights
- Construction – This is well-made and looks it.
- Tone – It offers a detailed, rich and balanced tone.
- Playability – It offers good playability.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Setup – It may not play right straight out of the box and may therefore require some setup.
Bottom Line
Knowing the quality of the Taylor brand and how expensive they usually are, this is an affordable acoustic guitar offering from the brand, giving you the opportunity to enjoy the Taylor quality without breaking the bank.
Martin DRS1 Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Specs, features, and benefits
The Martin brand owned by C.F. Martin & Company requires no introduction. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious guitar brands in America and some of the best guitars currently and previously available can be traced to them.
Better known for making high-end, expensive guitars, the brand decided to introduce the Road Series so as to be able to provide more affordable guitars. The DRS1 is one of the guitars from this series.
Different from previous guitars in the Road Series, this has an all solid wood body construction with the exception of the neck which is made of Stratabond, a laminate from dyed white birch and the Richlite fretboard.
The rest of the body – top, back and sides – is made of solid sapele.
The entire construction gives off a stunning visual effect that guitarists will love. Aside from the visuals, the tone it delivers is lively with a clear top end and a tight low end.
To take it a step further, it adds the Fishman Sonitone preamp system which makes acoustic amplification easier. The soundhole-mounted preamp comes with just a volume and tone control.
Pros and Highlights
- Tone –Bright with clear highs and tight lows.
- Build – Well-built and visually attractive.
- Case – It comes with a hardshell case.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Neck – The material used may put some purists off.
Bottom Line
If you want a Martin guitar of reasonable quality but do not want to spend so much, this is the guitar to consider.
Martin DX1AE Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Specs, features, and benefits
This is another guitar from Martin and yet another attempt by the brand to offer affordable guitars that will be accessible to more players. This guitar may actually be considered by some as a step down from the DRS1 which we looked at above.
Let’s take a look at this.
It features a dreadnought body design with no cutaways. Only the top is made of solid wood – solid spruce. The back and sides are made of mahogany-patterned high pressure laminates while the neck is the same as the DRS1 (stratabond neck with a richlite fretboard).
Despite this apparent lowering of the quality of materials used (obviously to save cost), Martin has still managed to present a guitar that delivers in the tone department. The tone nicely balances between warm lows and clear highs.
For the electronic section, it features the same Sonitone preamp system from Fishtone as we saw in the DSR1.
Overall, this guitar doesn’t offer as much quality as the DSR1. However, this can be put down to the fact that it is cheaper than the DSR1 and obviously made for those who need something a lot more affordable.
Pros and Highlights
- Tone – Has a balanced tone.
- Build – Well-built for durability.
- Playability – The flatter neck is great for fingerpicking.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- The HPL may feel like plastic to some.
Bottom Line
If you want a Martin but cannot afford the DSR1, you can consider this. It has a good tone but may not look as great.
Blueridge BR-140A Acoustic Guitar
Specs, features, and benefits
Sometimes you need to look at where you are coming from to chart your course forward. This is exactly what Saga Musical Instruments has done with Blueridge guitars.
Building on the massive success of the BR-140, the brand decided to re-introduce an upgraded version of it. This upgrade comes in the form of an Adirondack spruce top. Despite this upgrade though, the price still remains the same.
This guitar now features a Solid Adirondack spruce top and supported with a scalloped bracing pattern. These alone contribute amazing clarity and volume to the guitar’s tone while the back and sides made of solid mahogany adds some warmth.
The slim neck is also made of mahogany while the fretboard is made of Santos rosewood. This offers a fast and easy play.
Other distinctive features include the vintage tortoise style pickguard and 14:1 Nickel-plated tuning machines. To complete the package, it comes with a padded gig bag.
This guitar offers good value. It looks great and sounds great too.
Pros and Highlights
- Tone – It has a clear and loud tone.
- Playability – The slim neck and smooth fretboard enhances playability.
- Gig bag – It comes with a padded gig bag stamped with the Blueridge logo.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Setup – It’s shipped from China and so may arrive in need of setup.
Bottom Line
If you loved the Blueridge BR-140, then this is an opportunity to own the improved BR-140A without a price increase. You are sure to enjoy the upgraded tone and playability.
Yamaha A Series A3M Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Specs, features, and benefits
One of the things that has stood Yamaha apart from a lot of the other brands is their ability to play in all the leagues – small, mid and high-end. Yamaha provides guitars for all classes of users, tastes and proficiency levels.
The A3M electric-acoustic guitar is a mid to high-end offering from the brand’s A Series. The A Series represents guitars that were designed for performance.
This is a regular dreadnought body guitar with a single cutaway. It sure does look lovely but nothing about its design really stands out. It features a solid Sitka spruce top and solid mahogany back and sides. All these were put through Yamaha’s A.R.E (Acoustic Resonance Enhancement) treatment which ages new wood, giving it that tone you can only get from aged wood right from the first day.
The neck is made of mahogany and is very comfortable while the fretboard is made of rosewood. This neck is fast and highly playable.
For the electronics, it features the Studio Response Technology system from Yamaha. This combines a microphone, pickup and preamp. You control all of these with a master volume and a 3-band EQ.
Pros and Highlights
- Tone – It has a lovely tone plugged and unplugged.
- Playability – The neck is fast and highly playable.
- Hardware – Comes with good quality electronics and hardware.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Case – May not come with one.
Bottom Line
Do you need a guitar that was built for performance but cannot afford anywhere close to $1000 dollars? Check this one out.
Takamine GN93CE-NAT Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Specs, features, and benefits
Takamine is a brand that has been offering guitars of surprising tonal qualities for far less than some other established brands. A good example is the GN93CE-NAT which is not only great tonally but also exquisite in design and construction. That’s always a good combination.
This guitar features a solid spruce top, rosewood sides and a lovely three-piece quilt maple/rosewood back. This tonewood combination results in a really lovely tone.
The neck is slim and made of mahogany with a bound rosewood fretboard. This is a very comfortable and playable neck.
Elegantly finished in natural gloss, this guitar is an embodiment of class.
For the electronics, it comes with the TK-40D preamp system from Takamine. This includes a 3-band EQ and an EQ by-pass switch, a notch filter, mid contour switch and an in-built tuner.
Aside from these, all other hardware included in this guitar are of good quality, adding good value to the entire build.
This is one guitar that will amaze you with the quality it offers at its price point.
Pros and Highlights
- Build – It is beautiful and very well-built.
- Tone – Offers a lovely tone, plugged and unplugged.
- Playability – It is very playable.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Case – It does not come with one.
Bottom Line
If you’ve always dreamed of owning a really high-end guitar but found their prices scary, this guitar will offer you the same value as some that cost double its price. Hurry and get it now.
Seagull Artist Mosaic Acoustic Guitar
Specs, features, and benefits
Godin Guitars, owners of the Seagull brand have always pointed out that every aspect of their guitars is done in North America. This includes sourcing of materials to actual production. This is a reference to the quality of product achieved as a result of the quality of the process.
The Seagull Artist Mosaic Acoustic Guitar is one of the guitars in the Seagull Series aimed at offering high performing mid-level guitars. It’s a dreadnought body guitar without any cutaways. The top is made of solid cedar while the back and sides are made of solid mahogany. The body looks simply lovely in its polished semi-gloss finish.
The neck is also made of mahogany and features a rosewood fretboard, completing the careful and elegant craftsmanship.
Complimenting this constriction are good quality hardware. These include: the tuning machines with their cream tuning pegs designed by Seagull, the GraphTech Tusq nut and also the compensated saddle mounted on a rosewood bridge.
This guitar is not just lovely but also delivers a tone that is both warm and sweet, thanks to the tonewood combination.
Pros and Highlights
- Tone – Offers a warm, sweet tone.
- Build – Well-built and lovely.
- Case – Comes with a hardshell case.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Anyone who loves more pronounced lows may not love this.
Bottom Line
For any musician who doesn’t have loads of cash to spend but still wants a top performing guitar, if you are not too concerned with popular names, then just get this and enjoy amazing value.
Fender Newporter Classic Acoustic Guitar
Specs, features, and benefits
It’s not every day you get to see an acoustic guitar designed to look like a stratocaster. Well, it’s a Fender so we really shouldn’t be overly surprised by this.
The most visually outstanding things about it are the body and headstock design, as well as the unusual colors, but we will look beyond those to the core of the guitar.
This guitar has an all-solid wood construction. The top is made of solid Sitka spruce while the back and sides are made of solid mahogany. This solid wood construction is already an indication of the tonal quality that it will be capable of.
The neck which is also made of mahogany has a slim-taper shape that is not just comfortable but combines with the pau ferro fretboard to deliver increased playability.
For the electronic section, the preamp system which was designed by Fender and Fishman specifically for this guitar’s body shape offers a clear and undistorted amplified sound of the guitar. The system includes a 3-band EQ, a phase controller and a built-in tuner.
This guitar delivers a tone that is both balanced and powerful even with its mid-sized body.
Pros and Highlights
- Tone – Balanced and powerful tone.
- Playability – Comfortable and easy to play.
- Case – Comes with a padded gig bag.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Re-stringing it requires some technique.
Bottom Line
If you love instruments that not only play really well but are also uniquely designed such that they stand you out, then you will love this guitar. It’s perfect for learning how to play acoustic guitar, impressing your friends, and looking unique at the same time.
Breedlove Solo Concert Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Specs, features, and benefits
Known for building handmade, custom guitars that deliver good quality, Breedlove is offering this guitar aimed at keeping costs down while keeping performance as high as possible.
This is a small-sized concert body acoustic guitar with a solid cedar top. The back and sides that are made of rosewood laminate while the neck is made of mahogany with a rosewood fretboard.
An interesting feature in this guitar is a second soundhole one the side looking up at the player while playing. This is an innovative design meant to provide a form of personal monitoring system for the performer. This feature is especially useful when playing in a noisy environment.
It’s interesting that the additional soundhole doesn’t reduce the intensity of the sound projection from the primary soundhole.
A look at the featured electronics reveals an L.R. Baggs undersaddle pickup and preamp. This comes with a 3-band EQ control and a notch and phase switch for managing feedbacks. It also comes with a built-in tuner.
Despite its largely dark, warm tone, it still manages to nicely balance between the lows and highs.
Pros and Highlights
- Tone – Warm but balanced.
- Build – Feels sturdy and well-built.
- Case – Comes with a gig bag.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- The rosewood laminate back and sides may be a minus for some.
Bottom Line
This is an ideal guitar for that pro musician who doesn’t have $1000 to spend on a guitar. With its good tone, innovative secondary soundhole and option for amplification, it’s perfect for performance.
Fender Paramount PM-3 Standard Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Specs, features, and benefits
Though Fender is not best known for its acoustic guitars, it wants to make a point with its Paramount Series which offer some good quality high-end acoustic guitars.
This particular member of this series, the PM-3, is a “Triple 0” or small-sized body guitar with a 25.3” scale length that features an all solid wood body.
The top is made from grade-A solid Sitka spruce while the sides and back are made of solid mahogany. The neck is also made of mahogany with an ebony fretboard that makes playing quite easy.
These high quality tonewoods are covered in a high-gloss finish which also extends to the neck. This combined with other details like the checkerboard rosette and binding, gives you a guitar that is really lovely looking.
Further emphasizing the status of this guitar as a good quality product is the included electronics. Fender and Fishman designed this PM preamp specifically for this guitar. It includes a master volume control, a 2-band EQ, a phase control and an in-built tuner.
The tone of this guitar is well-balanced and mellow. The fact that it is slightly quieter because of its size is rendered mute with the addition of the amplification system.
Pros and Highlights
- Tone – Has a warm, balanced tone.
- Build – Lovely and well-built.
- Electronics – Good quality.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Volume – A bit low acoustic sound.
Bottom Line
Despite Fender’s reputation or a lack of it, this guitar warrants a trial. At the price, it’s worth checking out. It’s a good value.
Washburn WCG55CE Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Specs, features, and benefits
When Washburn launched the Comfort Series, it was clear what the brand was aiming for. Guitars in this series are designed to offer maximum comfort as well as great aesthetics and of course tone.
The most innovative aspect of this guitar is the beveled lower bout which provides a very comfortable resting place for your forearm as you play. It is made of laminated koa all through – top, sides and back. This is one of the things that many musicians will not love about it.
It however looks really lovely especially with the subtle adorning touches of the rosette and binding.
The neck is made of mahogany and a rosewood fretboard. The smooth satin finish on the neck feels really nice and enhances playability.
The brand ups the notch some in the electronic section with the Fishman Presys+ 501T. This is a preamp system that offers good functionalities that include a built-in tuner, 3-band EQ, volume control and others that help you sculpt your sound.
Despite the fact that it is made of laminates, the tone it offers is balanced and quite warm.
Pros and Highlights
- Comfort – Has a very comfortable design.
- Tone – Has a balanced, warm tone.
- Craftsmanship – Looks lovely and really well-made.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Materials – No solid wood was used.
Bottom Line
This is one guitar that lays a whole lot of emphasis on comfort. If the comfort of your instrument is at the top of your list, then you may love this guitar.
Ovation 2778 AX Standard Elite Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Specs, features, and benefits
Ovation has always gone for the spectacular look in the design of its acoustic guitars. The 2778 AX is one of the guitars from its Elite Series and in keeping with the brand’s ideology, its design is unique. The body shape is deeply contoured and you have a number of soundholes of different sizes placed on either sides of the neck area of the soundboard. These are tasteful inlaid with exotic hardwoods, further enhancing its looks.
This guitar has a solid AA grade spruce top while the back and sides which is actually designed like a bowl of mid-depth is made of Lyrachord. The neck is made of five-piece mahogany with rosewood fretboard. This neck sports a satin finish which makes it smooth and highly playable.
To further stamp its presence on the acoustic-electric market, Ovation equips this guitar with the OP-Pro preamp and an OCP-1K pickup, a top quality product. These come with impressive features and functions that add versatility to your play.
Overall, this guitar sounds great plugged and unplugged. The multiple soundholes and the Lyrachord bowl back gives resonance volume to the smooth, warm tone of the solid spruce soundboard.
Pros and Highlights
- Build – Looks wonderful and well-made.
- Tone – Has a smooth, warm tone that resonates well.
- Electronics – Top quality.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Material – Traditionalists will not like the use of composite material.
Bottom Line
If you’re not a purist who believes acoustic guitars MUST be made of wood, then you will surely love this guitar.
What we Recommend and Why
Choosing one guitar from a long list is always very difficult because no one guitar is ideal for everyone. We have different preferences that inform our choices. That said, after reviewing the 12 guitars on our list here, we chose the Taylor 214ce Acoustic- Electric Guitar as our Top Acoustic Guitar Under $1000. This choice was based on construction and aesthetics, tone and value.