Purchasing the Right Guitar

Buying A Guitar - Take Your Time!

Correct me if I'm wrong, but my guess is that 95% of us don't have the funds to run out and buy a $3000 acoustic guitar right about now. You should be able to get a decent guitar that will serve you well for between $300 and $600. One that you can learn on without getting frustrated. Below you will find 10 different acoustic guitars of various makes to get you started on your search for the perfect guitar. I’ve purposefully left the prices off because costs keep changing. It’s easy enough when you find one you like to simple do a search on the internet and find your best price. When you're shopping for an acoustic guitar, there are a few things you should be keeping in mind.

Make sure that the guitar has a straight neck. This is important for sound quality and comfort. You can judge this by bringing the neck to eye level and looking for any obvious bows. This takes a relatively trained eye, so you might want to bring along someone with experience to assist you. If the neck needs to be straightened, the shop should do it for you free of charge or for a small fee. Insure that the guitar has good action. Action is the string height above the fretboard. If it's too low it buzzes but if it's too high you'll have a very hard time playing the guitar and you may become frustrated.

Make sure it has a solid top. This will give you a much nicer tone. Spruce is the most common but go for what you like the best. If your guitar has electronics, test them out. Make sure you like the amplified sound before you buy the guitar.

With these simple tips in mind, remember the most important element when shopping for an acoustic guitar. Make sure you like the way it sounds. All acoustic guitars sound differently, even guitars of the same model. So make sure the sound is pleasing to your ear. You will probably be hearing it for a long time.

OVATION CU247 Solid Top Acoustic/Electric
AA Grade Solid Sitka Spruce Top
Two Piece Mahogany neck
Dark Rosewood Fingerboard
Abalone Dot Inlays
Gold Tuners With Pearl Buttons
Thinline Under Saddle Pickup
OP-30 Preamp
Editors Comment: This is a very interesting guitar that isn't for everyone. Ovation uses a composite material for the body and wood for the top. It’s actually the same material helicopter blades are made of. They have a unique tone when played unamplified, which you may or may not like. But when played through a sound system they sound quite good and very natural. If you haven't played one before, try it first before buying.

TAKAMINE EG124SC Classical Solid Top Acoustic/Electric
Top: Solid Spruce
Back & Sides: Natural
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Tuners: Gold
Preamp: N4B
Limited Lifetime Warranty
Editors Comment: Great guitar! Truly unique and a great value. It's made by a name that you can trust for quality and tone. In my opinion, it's a must have for any classical guitar enthusiast.

FENDER DG-22S Dao Back & Sides Natural Finish
Body Style 6-String Dreadnought steel string
Top Solid Spruce
Back and Sides DAO
Gloss Finish
Neck Maple
Tuners Gold Diecast
Markers Dot
Fingerboard Rosewood
Editors Comment: Affordable and a nice sound for the money you pay. Perfect for those who are on a budget.

TAKAMINE TF341DLX Cool Tube Black Solid Top w/Case
Top: Solid Spruce
Back and Sides: Mahogany with solid back
Rosette: Abalone
Preamp: CTP-1
Editors Comment: Very nice guitar. It's built to last a lifetime and has all of the characteristics of a great acoustic. On the higher end of the price scale but it's worth it when you hear the end result. Great electronics and beautiful looks. What more could you ask for?

Martin LXM Little Martin Acoustic Guitar One of the most highly esteemed guitar makers has provided this 3/4 size guitar, designed for guitarists with small hands and small pocketbooks. The LXI features a solid spruce top, back and sides.

Taylor (Baby) This is a 3/4 size dreadnought guitar, making it a good choice for younger guitarists with smaller hands. Taylor has a reputation for being one of America's greatest guitar makers, and although they've cut a few corners here to meet a low-price point, this is still a solid instrument.


Seagull The Original S6 Acoustic Guitar (Natural) These Canadian-made instruments are terrific guitars - very highly regarded, both for their beautiful sound, and their excellent value. The S6 features a solid cedar top, and mahogany back and sides. Although the price may be slightly above what some might be willing to pay for a first guitar, it should be considered an investment.

Epiphone DR-100 Acoustic Guitar The DR-100 features a spruce top, with mahogany back and sides. This guitar can usually be found at a rather cheap price, which makes it attractive to beginners. Most consider this a strictly beginner instrument, however, so it may not be long before you'll want to trade up.

Washburn D10S Acoustic Guitar This low-priced acoustic guitar is one of the best selling guitars in the world. Acoustic Guitar magazine even went so far as to name this their top guitar under $500. I can't fully agree, but the D10S certainly is a bargain!

Blueridge BR-40 Contemporary Series Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar This is a low-priced acoustic guitar with a focus on fine craftmanship. The top of the guitar is solid spruce, with mahogany back and sides. The BR-40 even includes mother-of-pearl inlay. A particularly impressively constructed guitar for an instrument in this price range.

Good Luck in your search for your first guitar. Please take your time and purchase a quality instrument. In the long run you will be so glad you did.

Author’s note: Any of the above guitars will serve you well on your road to learning the instrument. If money is really tight and even these are out of your range I suggest you purchase an inexpensive electric guitar even if you cannot afford an amplifier. The reason is that an electric guitar will be easier to start on than a cheap poorly made acoustic guitar. The really low end acoustics will leave you frustrated and ready to give up as you struggle to press the strings down on the fretboard and try and tune it. Acoustic guitars cost more to make because of things like bracing, good woods, fretboards and pickup systems. So if you cannot afford a decent acoustic then please go electric!