Picking the best acoustic guitar under $2,500 with incredible tone and amazing looks isn’t easy. All acoustic guitars in the $2,500 price range are build from high quality tonewoods and play incredible, so how are you supposed to decide on one?
You need to compare all the different acoustic guitar body styles, scale lengths, tonewoods, and features to get the one that matches the sound and feel you are looking for. Warmer tonewoods like koa and cedar are great for fingerstyle players who want their melodies to breathe. Brighter woods like maple are great for players who want to be heard. All of the guitars in this price range are nice. The important thing is that you find the right one for you.
Let’s review the top-rated acoustic guitars under $2500, so you can compare their pros and cons to find the perfect guitar for your collection.
Compare the Tope Acoustic Guitars Below $2,500 in 2021
Contents
- 1 Compare the Tope Acoustic Guitars Below $2,500 in 2021
- 1.1 Martin D-18 Acoustic Guitar
- 1.2 Martin D-16RGT Acoustic Guitar
- 1.3 Takamine EF360S TT Acoustic-Electric Guitar
- 1.4 Breedlove Oregon Series Concert CE Acoustic-Electric Guitar
- 1.5 Taylor 314ce Acoustic-Electric Guitar
- 1.6 Taylor 224ce Acoustic-Electric Guitar
- 1.7 RainSong H-WS1000N2 Acoustic-Electric
- 1.8 Guild D-40 Acoustic Guitar
- 1.9 Gibson J-15 Acoustic-Electric Guitar
- 1.10 Ovation American Acoustic-Electric Guitar
- 2 What We Recommend and Why
Here is a list of the best $2,500 acoustic guitars built from amazing tonewoods that will bring your playing to life.
- Martin D-18
- Martin D-16RGT
- Takamine EF360S TT
- Breedlove Oregon Series Concert CE
- Taylor 314ce
- Taylor 224ce
- RainSong H-WS1000N2
- Guild D-40
- Gibson J-15
- Ovation American Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Martin D-18 Acoustic Guitar
Specs, features, and benefits
C.F. Martin & Company, owners of the Martin Guitar brand has been in the business of making high-end guitars for almost 200 years. It is therefore safe to assume that they know a thing or two about making good quality guitars.
This improved D-18 is something of a benchmark. Ask any experienced acoustic guitar player and they will tell you that the original Martin D-18 was (and is still is) a great guitar. Somehow, the brand has managed to improve on this already great guitar in this new version of it.
One of the main differences between the two is the bracing method employed. While the original D-18 had a standard “X”bracing, this has an ‘X’ scalloping bracing.
Other differences include the pickguard which was changed to a polished and beveled Delmar tortoiseshell from its previous black. Fingerboard changed from Rosewood to Ebony and tuning machines changed from chrome enclosed to butterbean open-geared.
This guitar features a solid Sitka spruce top, solid mahogany sides and back and a one-piece mahogany neck. These tonewoods deliver a very balanced, precise and highly responsive tone.
Pros and Highlights
- Tone – Offer balance, depth and clarity.
- Craftsmanship – Shows the best of craftsmanship.
- Playability – Very easy to play.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Cost – Given the quality of this guitar, its cost is actually understandable.
Bottom Line
This is a guitar that any performer will love. It is highly responsive, precisely reproducing dynamic changes regardless of how subtle it is. This is indeed an improved Martin D-18.
Martin D-16RGT Acoustic Guitar
Specs, features, and benefits
This is one of the guitars from Martin’s 16 series. In this series, the brand seeks to offer features of its high-end Standard Series at a more affordable price.
The D-16RGT is a dreadnought body acoustic guitar which is crafted entirely with solid wood. The top is made of solid Sitka spruce while the back and sides are made of East Indian rosewood.
Adding simple elegance to this guitar are the faux tortoiseshell pickguard, lovely herringbone soundhole rosette, white binding and the overall gloss finish.
The neck on the other hand is made of Spanish cedar with a Richlite fretboard. Unlike the body, it spots a satin finish.
The hardware that comes with it is also of good quality. It has sealed chrome tuners made by Martin, a White Corian nut, a Richlite bridge and compensated white Tusq saddle. It also comes setup with Martin SP strings.
All of the above combine to deliver incredible playability and a rich, huge sound.
Pros and Highlights
- Sound – It delivers a rich, sweet and balanced tone.
- Playability – It is comfortable and highly playable.
- Case – It comes with a hard shell case.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Fretboard – Though it plays really nice, the fact that it is not made of wood will not appeal to purists.
Bottom Line
This here is an opportunity to enjoy a high-end guitar for the price of a mid-range one. Sure there are higher-end Martin guitars but this here is what some other brands will tag as their high-end guitar.
Takamine EF360S TT Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Specs, features, and benefits
Takamine is a Japanese company known for offering high-end guitars at relatively low prices. The EF360S TT is one of the guitars from this brand that promises so much for less than similar guitars will cost.
The main thing about Takamine’s TT Series is the promise of that aged wood sound today. This is courtesy of its “TT” Thermal Top technology.
The top of this guitar features a solid spruce top that has been exposed to thermal treatment for a while. The result is a richer, fuller tone. The back and sides on the other hand are made of natural Indian rosewood while the neck is made of mahogany with ebony frets.
The general presentation of this guitar is simple but classy.
The addition of an electronic section offers added versatility. The electronics consist of a Palathetic pickup and TLD-2 line driver preamp. This preamp is almost invisible.
This guitar delivers a tone that is rich and balanced. Plugged in, the natural tone is transparently amplified, offering a louder replica of the naturally rich sound.
Pros and Highlights
- Tone – Delivers that lovely aged wood tone.
- Electronics – Offers transparent acoustic amplification.
- Case – Comes with a hard case.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Action – the neck and action may require some getting used to.
Bottom Line
As promised, this Takamine offers that lovely aged wood tone from the very first day you get it. This and other top class features place this guitar in the league of high-end instruments that fit comfortably on any stage.
Breedlove Oregon Series Concert CE Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Specs, features, and benefits
Breedlove Guitars is not exactly one of the more popular guitar brands. However, this American company that focuses on custom, handmade string instruments has made this list and with good reason too.
The first thing to note is that this is an American handmade guitar and so a minimum quality requirement is expected.
The body features an interesting combination of tonewoods. The top features the common solid Sitka spruce while the sides and back feature solid myrtlewood (not quite common). Completing the body is a lovely semi-gloss finish accented by the elegant black binding and herringbone purfling.
The neck is made of maple, the eastern hard rock variation and the fretboard is made of real African ebony. Despite the fact that this is a full body guitar, the slim profile of the neck makes it easy for players with smaller hands to play with ease.
Its electronic section features an L.R. Baggs Element Active System VTC under-saddle transducer pickup. This is powered by a simple acoustic preamp.
This guitar offers a bright and precise tone and is great for fingerstyle playing.
Pros and Highlights
- Tone – The sound is bright and precise.
- Playability – It’s comfortable and the neck is easy to play.
- Build – It is made in America to top quality standards.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Controls – It offers very little control for the electronics.
Bottom Line
If you love fingerstyle playing then you will love this guitar. It’s not just beautifully made, it also makes beautiful sounds both plugged and unplugged.
Taylor 314ce Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Specs, features, and benefits
Taylor Guitars is one of America’s leading manufacturers of acoustic and semi-hollow electric guitars. Interestingly, this guitar is regarded as Taylor’s high-end entry level guitar. Don’t let that fool you though.
Let’s take a closer look at it..
It sports the grand auditorium body design introduced by Bob Taylor in 1994. It’s a 25.5” scale length guitar with a Venetian cutaway that allows easier access to the highest frets.
The body is made of a solid Sitka spruce top and solid sapele sides and back. While the top has a gloss finish, the sides and back have a smooth satin finish. The neck on the other hand is made of mahogany and the fretboard of original African ebony.
The electronics section features Taylor’s Expression System 2. This of course includes the proprietary behind-the-saddle pickup renowned for its transparent amplification. This is controlled via the very simple control panel which consists of a bass, treble and volume controls.
This guitar responds well to a wide dynamic range. Its tone is bold, resonant and offers good sustain.
Pros and Highlights
- Tone – It has a bold and resonant sound.
- Build – It shows good craftsmanship.
- Case – It includes a hard shell case.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Controls – Pretty sparse.
Bottom Line
This is a guitar that can be regarded as a workhorse or an all-rounder. If you need something you can rely on onstage or at a coffee shop or anywhere else, this guitar will serve just fine. It’s great for different acoustic guitar playing styles.
Taylor 224ce Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Specs, features, and benefits
Our current focus is taken from Taylor’s 200 Series, regarded as one of its better known and best performing series.
The 224ce is an acoustic-electric guitar with a body made from koa all through. The top is made of solid koa while the sides and back are made of laminate Hawaiian koa. Koa as a tonewood is known to mature in tone the longer it stays. The neck is however made of solid sapele with an African ebony fretboard.
With the koa’s dark and gorgeous coloring, the gloss body finish and satin finish on the neck, the overall look of the guitar is lovely.
For its electronics, it comes with the Expression System 2, Taylor’s patented behind-the-saddle pickup as well as a pro audio grade preamp custom also designed by the brand. Controlling these are: a treble, bass and volume knobs as well as a phase filter.
This guitar is both sonically and visually pleasing.
Pros and Highlights
- Tone – Has a bright tone that warms up over time.
- Playability – Has a highly playable body.
- Build – A lovely looking guitar.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- The tone may be too bright for some at first. It however gets richer with time.
Bottom Line
If you believe that a guitar has to both look and sound great, then this guitar will be right up your alley. With an amazingly gorgeous look and a tone that’s bright with a promise to get even better with age, you can’t go wrong with this guitar.
RainSong H-WS1000N2 Acoustic-Electric
Specs, features, and benefits
Rainsong Guitars is a brand founded by John Decker with the singular purpose of designing guitars that will play wonderfully while also withstanding the wrath of any weather condition. Thus was born the world’s first all-graphite guitar.
The H-WS1000N2 is from the brand’s Hybrid Series, which is a series of guitars made with a combination of carbon fiber and glass fiber.
Retaining the traditionally accepted guitar shape, the body is made of carbon fiber and glass fibers but without any bracing. Despite this, it does not bow, warp or succumb to the malaise that guitars made of wood seem to suffer from.
The neck is all-graphite with a fretboard made of composite material.
The electronics that come with it is the Fishman Prefix and T preamp system. This comes with an elaborate control section that also includes a built-in tuner.
Surprisingly, this guitar offers a bright and well defined tone. Thanks to the electronics, you can further sculpt your tone to suit you.
Pros and Highlights
- Tone – It surprisingly offers a bright and well balanced tone.
- Electronics – It comes with extensive controls that allow you do a lot of tweaking.
- Build – It’s impervious to the weather and can be played anywhere, anytime.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Diehard traditionalists will not love the fact that it’s not wood.
Bottom Line
If you love being at the fore of new innovations, you will love this guitar. It’s everything guitar purists will not want but it certainly delivers on a lot of levels.
Guild D-40 Acoustic Guitar
Specs, features, and benefits
Guild Guitars was founded by guitarists and guitar lovers who believe that the focus of guitar design and production should be its playability. It puts it very simply – guitars are made to be played.
The D-40 was among the brand’s first dreadnought body guitars. It was first issued in 1963 and known as the Bluegrass Jubilee. After an initial successful run and two other reissues, the D-40 is back under the brand’s Standard Series.
It features a solid Sitka spruce top, solid mahogany sides and back and a mahogany neck with an Indian rosewood fretboard. The hardware that comes with it is all of good quality. These include 20:1 open-gear tuning machines and hand-cut bone nut and saddle.
This is a guitar that is quite comfortable to hold and really easy to play. Being a dreadnought, there is a power you expect from its tone and it does indeed deliver.
Pros and Highlights
- Sound – It offers a big sound with good clarity and sustain.
- Playability – It is very playable.
- Case – It comes with a wood case with a built-in humidification system.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Strap button – It has only one.
Bottom Line
If you are looking for a good quality guitar that can deliver a full dreadnought sound, then this is a good one to consider. Aside from having a loud and clear tone, it also looks great and cost way below what some other guitars will cost for such quality.
Gibson J-15 Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Specs, features, and benefits
Gibson is a top rated name in the guitar world and the brand is always delivering high-end guitars, some of which cost way beyond the reach of many.
The J-15 is a high-end guitar that somehow does not cost as much as some products from the brand. This does not in any way mean that it is an inferior product. To the contrary, it exhibits the same level of craftsmanship we’ve all come to expect from high-end Gibson guitars.
It sports a solid Sitka spruce top while the sides and back are made of American walnut. The neck is made of maple and has a walnut fingerboard.
With the guitar’s domed top and scalloped bracing, it delivers a tone that is balanced and is well represented in the mid-range.
This guitar does not just sound good, it also looks good. The craftsmanship and antique natural finish gives it that understated elegance that only top quality guitars possess.
For the electronics, it comes with the LR Bags Element VTC pickup system. This offers more tonal options as well as performance versatility.
Pros and Highlights
- Tone – Offers a balanced, mid-range rich tone.
- Build – Shows great craftsmanship.
- Case – Comes with a Gibson hard shell case.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Style – May not be best for fingerstyle playing.
Bottom Line
Everyone knows how expensive high-end Gibson guitars can be. If you’ve always wanted to own a Gibson but have not been able to because of budget issues, this may just be your opportunity.
Ovation American Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Specs, features, and benefits
The Ovation Guitar Company is focused on manufacturing acoustic guitars. Its guitars are split into three broad groups; Applause which offers guitars for beginner guitarists and those on a budget, Ovation which is its largest group, offering mid to high-end guitars and finally Adamas which offers high-end guitars made for professional use.
The C1869LX-5X is part of the Custom Legend series of the Ovation model. Its main feature is the single cutaway Lyrachord super shallow body, with AAA solid spruce top which is supported by a scalloped X-bracing pattern. This combination delivers a louder volume and more dynamic range than you will expect.
The neck is made of 5-piece mahogany/maple and finished in satin for a smooth feel while the fingerboard is made of ebony. All of these further enhance its playability.
For the electronics, it sports the OCP1K pickup and OP Pro Studio preamp, both from Ovation and these combine to deliver a clean and natural sound.
To ensure the protection of this lovely guitar, it is sold with a hard shell case. This is one guitar that anyone will be proud to own.
Pros and Highlights
- Sound – Loud with a good range.
- Build – It’s lovely and well-built.
- Case – Comes with a hard case.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Purists will not like the body made of composite material.
Bottom Line
This is guitar that is well built. It effectively combines great aesthetics with good tonal quality. At its price point, it offers great value and will be a great buy.
What We Recommend and Why
Looking at acoustic guitars under $2500 sure includes some good quality offerings. This particular fact makes it more difficult to choose one as the top of the list. However since we must, we carefully reviewed the 10 guitars listed here and compared them based on tonal qualities, playability, aesthetics and cost. Based on these, we chose the Taylor 224ce Acoustic-Electric Guitar as the Top Acoustic Guitar Under $2500 on this list.