I Tested the Top Three $200 Guitars (ONE stole the show)

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I think we found the best beginner acoustic guitar. I'd confidently recommend the winner to anyone who's new to learning guitar!

IMPORTANT: This video is NOT sponsored and contains ZERO affiliate links. I hate searching for things like guitar reviews only to find that there's an agenda to earn Amazon affiliate commissions or the reviewer was paid to do the review.

Here are the links to the guitars (NOT affiliate links)

[tacguitar]

Hey guitar friends! As guitar players, we constantly get asked "hey, so and so wants to learn guitar, can you recommend a good beginner guitar?" So I made this video for you to share the next time you get this question! Let me know which one sounded best to you. Cheers! - Tony

[kjjmusic]

My pick in the blind test was the Yamaha. It has a nice clarity to it. Overall i can see the orangewood is a great buy, but a little too boomy for my taste.

[azcharlie]

The Yamaha was the clear sound winner. But, owning an Orangewood (Echo Live), I can't believe they can make a guitar like that for what I paid. $325 at that time! Whoever makes Orangewood guitars does a great job for the money. That being said, I thought the mahogany Orangewood didn't quite have the punch, or volume, either of the other guitars had. But, that is the nature of the wood, and the size.

[caustofoppi]

The best recommendation for a beginner guitarist is, NOT to order your guitar online! At the lokal shop you can touch the guitar, notice the string height, feel whether the body size is comfortable or not. You have the chance to compare many guitars, the shop employes are helping to make a decision. If you are a beginner and have no experiences, only the shop can make a setup to your guitar or can change the strings. By the way, the top of the guitar defines its tone. If you can choose between two models with the same specs except, one has a solid top, always choose the solid top guitar.

[MashaT]

Great call! My only “beef” with open pore finish is that people don’t know how to take care of it and end up accidentally wrecking the guitar. People end up putting satin safe product to clean it, which will then lead to the finish eating away and/or sinking into the pores, leaving thousands of dots in its place. If you have any open pore finish, be sure to sure an extremely damp (as in barely wet), super soft microfiber cloth and gently wipe in large circular motions. IMMEDIATELY wipe the surface dry using the same large circular motion with a second super soft microfiber cloth.

When you see a satin finish and don’t know if the pores were filled, assume they weren’t and use the same process above. Satin safe cleaners are only safe when the pores have been filled.

Nobody explains this on products and many guitar specs fail to mention this. My friend’s Fender Dhani Harrison uke (the most expensive uke they sell) got ruined because nothing in the literature said the finish was open pore. I had borrowed it and thought I was being a good friend by cleaning it with my satin safe Music Nomad product. Twelve hours later, the next morning, I was shocked to see thousands of tiny dots all over the uke where the finish sank into the pores. After speaking to Music Nomad, Fender, and Sweetwater, we eventually solved the mystery and learned the finish was open pore. Thankfully Sweetwater very kindly covered it under their warranty and replaced the uke because it wasn’t explained on their own website or the Fender spec sheet. Very surprised Fender’s most expensive ukulele would not have had the pores filled when less expensive instruments have filled pores.

Point is, if you don’t know, please don’t use a cleaning product. Ask the guitar manufacturer first if it doesn’t specify on their website. If you don’t get a response, just use the above method. Hopefully this info will help save a beginner out there from accidentally ruining the satin finish on their first guitar! Learn to take care of your instruments properly, and they will take care of you for life — even the low cost ones!

[casualemt]

Bought a Yamaha fg340 for $150 51 years ago, it lived on a boat for 10 years, been on many Mexico camping trips, played for hours and hours at a time…2 years ago I thought about buying a martin d35, brought my Yamaha into the shop to compare, to me the Yamaha played much better, had every bit as good sound, I even the sales guy compare them, he admitted the Yamaha played better, and the sound was comparable, his comment was that the Martin will get better with age..I passed on the $3000+ guitar..yesterday I took the Yamaha out of the case for probably almost 6-8 months (yes, I have other guitars) no lie, it was still in tune!! But all my Yamaha guitars are the same..they stay in tune! Highly recommend the brand!!!

[garylehrer]

I like the Orangewood best also. It sounder deeper, mellower, warmer and much more pleasing overall. I totally agree with you.

[BobDorfman]

Re Tony’s Acoustic Challenge (aka TAC): I’ve been playing for 60 years but found myself playing the same stuff over and over again without much actual improvement to my technique or flexibility. I started TAC 6 months ago and love it. There are some weeks when the technique for the week is easy for me, but more often, the lessons have really challenged me, increasing my guitar skills significantly.

[markiacomini]

I have 3 Orangewood guitars; Dana, Rey, & Oliver live + a Milo uke. Enjoy playing them all. All set up perfectly on arrival. Been playing guitar for 45yrs and still have my 1st acoustic, a Goya G210. I have several others but all spruce tops. I'm really loving the tone of Mahogany, even the 2 which are layered. Orangewood hits well above their weight class. They're trying to build a name while other's are resting on theirs.

[rakentrail]

Back in the late 80's & early 90's I was "the repair guy" at a large independent guitar store. Our owner paid me to setup every new guitar we got before it ever hit the sales floor. Why? Because well setup guitars will sell themselves! Every beginner should get a pro setup on their guitar. It will play easier and sound better. Two things that can drive a beginner to practice MORE!

[BobDorfman]

Guitar #2 sounded best to me initially, but by the end of the comparison, the Orangewood had my vote.

[dalesearcy]

I agree that the Orangewood was the overall winner.
However for $229.99 you can get a great sounding Yamaha FS800.
It has a solid top! It has a smaller body. The ones that I have played were set up very well.

[rockydaleo]

At this moment the orangewood Oliver and Morgan are both on sale for 200 or less. Both have solid mahogany top and the Morgan is acoustic/electric. Awesome guitars

[gordonbezanson]

Yamaha never fails . Best for the money in my experience.

[jackflash]

The Yamaha sounded the best to my ears.

[cugir]

My favorite cheap guitar is an FS800 went through a mess but found one with almost a perfect neck. It's better then most I've seen in 30 years....plays tuned down a whole step without adjusting. Sound is can add stuff to make it a functional gigger....It's super easy to play. Been using it to play out with a magnetic pick up that has chorus, delay, reverb. Light delay gives it a big sound. My LL16 sounds alot better but not an easy play even with a fairly low action. That 25" scale length makes a huge difference for a new player. The scalloped braces do make the bass harder to control plugged in....the magnetic pick up takes care of that with the three eq settings on it. Other pickups were harder to control bass. You can thicken it up with a touch of delay. I may try a TC mimiq with it....the doubling can make a cheap guitar sound bigger and better. Has a solid top!!!! I paid 200.00 out the door. You can always get 10% off at GC by just asking. If not leave them!

[texhaines]

Thanks, Tony. 41K students, over how many years? I am one of them. The comparison is good, and I would agree with your pick out of this group. I have had good and not so good experience with Orangewood guitars, but they do have their place. See you later on Tony's Acoustic Challenge (TAC).

[JustOutHereTinkering]

In the blind sound test I liked the clarity and brightness of the Yamaha. The other 2 sounded muted and comparitively like you cranked the treble down on them

[DerFeindmarkierer]

It's been years since I watched your last video, awesome that you're still around. I think I prefer the Yamaha out of these three, the Fender is okay and the Orangewood to me is a distant third.

[hotlov]

Very warm sound to the Orangewood, best value out of all 3 too!