5 Best Gig-Ready Acoustic Guitars Under $1000

It's a huge category with tons of options, but we think we've narrowed it down to the 5 Best Acoustics Under $1,000! Do you agree with the list? Make sure to listen for both unplugged and amplified demos at the end of the video too!

JUMP AROUND:
- Eastman AC222ce: 3:37 - unplugged: 15:29 - amplified: 15:55
- Martin D-10e: 4:27 - unplugged: 14:48 - amplified: 15:11
- Taylor 114ce: 5:46 - unplugged: 13:29 - amplified: 13:48
- Guild D-260ce Deluxe: 7:09 - unplugged: 14:07 - amplified: 14:28
- Gibson G-45 Studio: 8:16 - unplugged: 13:00 - amplified: 13:12

MORE INFO:

GET THE LETTER:

[ia]

I love Martins once you get into all real wood construction and good bracing, but that Gibson wins the day in this category by a mile.

[roytube]

Unplugged first pass it is Martin imo. That gibson is fabulous and the mid range rips thru. Love how you guys did the amp too. You can tell taylor and gibson pay more attention to that stuff. Not as drastic shift. Game changer when you plug those acoustics in, all bets off. Great review.

[jag]

I have to go with that Gibson G45. I think it's the total package! Full disclosure - I own one. And I love it.

[Mike-twtk]

I’ve got the G45 STD and have zero problems with it, was nervous about richlite as I’ve never had it before but nothing but positive opinions on this model. Hard shell case it comes with is great too.

[tystroud]

video starts at 3:35, you're welcome ;)

[gingeoram]

Interesting and informative. The playing and your discussions are valuable and enjoyable. Very helpful to someone trying to decide on a specific model.

[lmfrimond]

I can't help myself, I'm a loyal fan of Eastman - I own an AC422 (spruce/rosewood) also under $1K - so my vote is for the Eastman AC222 ce. I want to own a Martin and a Gibson one day - liked them both for different reasons - but don't want a dreadnaught to get the sound. I was sorry that the Guild (another dread) didn't make my cut and the Taylor 114 is out of its depth in imho. Great review, as always - thanks Quinton and Paul.

[warmonger]

The new Gibson, sounds great and has a slightly more pleasing sound. I am looking forward to, your next video on it.

[JurBols]

Thanks for the great side-by-side comparison of these nice 'middle class' guitars! Do you have Seagull from Canada in your store? I would love to hear it played by Quinton.

[TheThinker]

Great comparison demo! Very interesting! Thanks.

[rmzzz]

Those new G series Gibson's and the Eastman played at the very beginning do it for me

[dmar]

Holy Smokes that Eastman sounds Amazing plugged in!
I’m a Martin owner, but I’ve always hated the sound of low end Fishman pickups.
But damn that Eastman sounds Bliss!

[hapshan]

When you get the new GPC- 16E or D-16E I will be waiting to see your video! Cheers

[DJWRailroad]

And Taylor, made right on the other side of the "border", 50 miles from Taylor's main factory. A reminder referring to Taylor's use of wood: layered, NOT laminates. Laminates are typically wood veneer over a synthetic substrate or mixed WITH a synthetic substrate. Taylor's "layered" wood is all wood, made from all the same kind or type of wood. Obviously, although "layered" wood (all wood) will not offer the same quality tonality that "solid" wood will offer, it is still far better than "laminates" using synthetics or combinations of different woods, many times inexpensive wood under the outside veneer.


On the other hand, Gibson, Boseman manufacture, hide-glue, solid walnut back, etc., under a grand? Yeah, amazing (and out of stock! 12-26-2019).

[rtgray]

Wow I've always owned and usually preferred either Martin or Taylor but I have to give it up for that Gibson on this one. To my ear the Gibson was best, the Guild was the poorest and the others were a coin flip. Good video.

[garycorde]

Great review for a great category of instruments. I have similar guitars to some of these; an AC422ce and an older DCPA4. I find that the Eastman sounds fantastic acoustically and the Martin is superior through a PA. In the end, these are gigging guitars and its the performance through the PA that counts. Also, the Eastman is so alive and resonates so well (lending to the great acoustic performance) that it tends to be a feedback machine on stage. In the review the Taylor sounded the same to me whether acoustic or plugged in.

[EveningCrow]

The Guild was the only one to let me down. Then again, it's about half the price as the Gibson. Hmmm...

Overall, a pretty well done video to try and keep pushing the new Gibson guitars. All the other guitars were well below a matching price point (why a 114CE when the 214CE is the exact same price as the G-45?). Seems a bit unfair to me.

I tried a G-45 this weekend. It's not a bad guitar, but compared to my 214CE (rosewood) and J-15 (only about $300 more when they first came out)... meh

I say this video is rigged.

[EricRyanSound]

Five best: Guild, Larrivee OM01-02, Fender Paramount Series, Eastman AC22, Martin 10 Series (there are NO taylors in this list as 1, 2 and 2 deluxe are all none solid wood guitars) The G45 might be good but lets be fair: in tye last few years they have been really dropping the ball on quality control.
List bests? Larrivee and Fender Paramount

[anthonyroach]

Martin and Gibson for me ..beautiful tones ..easily use them professionally ..Guild sound like plastic toy guitar .. Taylor and Eastman gorgeous sounding to ..not my style of guitar ..Eastman is totally handmade ..Amazing

[Vishangro]

To my ears the Gibson unplugged and the Taylor plugged. I would probably choose the Taylor so I could noodle up the neck.😎