5 Acoustic Guitars Under $1000 We Would Buy Right Now

Guitars Featured in this video:

Here are some of our favorite tools around our shop!

[markashworth]

Hey, great video, guys! A little over a year ago I was looking for a new guitar, and after much looking, comparing, and prayer I decided on the Yamaha LL16. Beautiful guitar! My dealer was out of stock, so I had to special order with them. After nearly a year of anxious waiting--and reevaluating--I decided instead to buy a burst Yamaha LS16 folk body guitar that they had in stock. Wow, for 899.00, it is incredible! I couldn't believe the sound and playability the first time I played it! I seriously couldn't recommend it more.

[Photomac]

Those Taylor GS Mini guitars are incredible value for the sound and look you get from them. Being a travel guitar it makes it pretty versatile as well. I do agree that the Sitka spruce and Rosewood combo is great but I bought a used Koa deluxe model with burst design and Expression system that had a solid top. Gorgeous guitar and sounds amazing to me. Just wanted something different to pair with my Taylor 814ce Builder Edition that came with Adirondack spruce top and Indian Rosewood back and sides.

As for Alvarez guitars… I am a huge fan and so glad someone else appreciates them and that made the list. Alvarez will be the next guitar I would buy. Wish I could find them locally where I live. You really can’t go wrong with an Alvarez. Quality, craftsmanship, value, and sound for an incredible price! One of my favorite guitars I ever owned was an Alvarez!

[yourtubisfilled]

Great video, thank you guys. Hoping you will do more of these. There's a couple of interesting price ranges above 1000 too which I'd love to get your gist on. You could even differentiate in videos between body types or scale length because many people (like myself) are shopping a specific bracket like that.

[practicerepo]

Great advice and choices I think. Somebody mentioned they wanted to see the 1-2 grand range or similar videos I would check out too for sure

[gilbertstevenson]

I have the older MD70CE.
It is a stellar guitar.
I mostly buy used. But my best new guitar purchase was from a store that was going out of business, unfortunately. He sold me a brand new Takamine P3DC for under $1k.
I love that guitar.

[monday]

Guys, a nice job on the video. I enjoyed listening to the rational for each choice.

[HayesTech]

Recording King also has some very nice, all solid wood, guitars for under $1, 000.00 too. I've got the RD-328 and love it. It's designed after the 40's Martin guitar with Adirondacks spruce tops and your choice of either mahogany or rosewood for the back and sides (again, all solid wood). And it has scalloped bracing that's done well. I've made a couple videos on this guitar myself. The deep V shape of the neck took me a bit to get used to but I'm loving it now. It will do just fine until I can afford a Martin HD-28.

[bmac]

I have a Yamaha AC3M like a dark sunburst colour.
Changed the nut and saddle to bone and got it set up.
This thing literally belts the sound out, with loads of midrange .
Around £750 here roughly 1000 usd with a solid wood body. Absolutely love it.

[charlesbranch]

Wow! I was thing about the Yamaha FS-820/830 when I was looking for my first guitar as pandemic pause 2020 began, and I no longer was driving to school (K-5)in the mornings as volunteer crossing guard and Friday ALP Math help. Instead my first guitar came from a GC used but excellent (advertised as a 12e, so the managers first back to work packed several extras in the box) Taylor Academy 12 (produced on Dad's 90th birthday) for the then-new price of $500. Shortly after, a 12e appeared from a music store clearing out inventory at $360, then a Breedlove Pursuit Exotic Concert E- Sitka/Koa $500 (added a Gator Cases 000 hard case). My first all-solid wood guitar (and last to leave me) was a Cole Clark Angel 2 Redwood/Blackwood ($1834 in summer 2022 from AMS in NJ). I gave a B-stock Breedlove European spruce/mahogany all-solid guitar to my son-in-law, which has a thinner than semi-gloss finish and some small patches where the finish didn't bond to the plastic binding, which sounds incredibly warm and open for $350 via Reverb. A daughter is taking care of the similar B-stock Jeff Bridges signature concert (Reverb and Sweetwater had these at the same price, so I ordered from my Sales Engineer's Associate) at $425, the embroidered gig bag likely accounting for the additional cost. Gloss finish needs to open up to add the warmth of the non-sig version, but they're all good and appreciated. We bought that daughter a Yamaha FG-730S a couple decades ago, but that felt too big for my learning experience, and guitar collecting (ROFL). My SIL asked me last year, "Did you buy any new guitars?" I truthfully replied, "No, I bought a new banjo." (Gold Tone B-stock AC-5 with bag, to which I added an armrest and a set of better tuners for a future install. Better than the low-end Rogue that I was given by 'Johnny Guitar' of KCHU before I retired from Alaska...)

[jrich]

Fantastic info gentlemen! I would love to see your breakdown of electric guitars under $1, 000. There are so many choices out there.

[FilmFlam]

Very informative. Thank you. Liked and subscribed.

[ChrisOttoMusic]

I picked up an M-120 Guild a couple years ago, and I love it. I went in to the store to look at some Alvarez models, but the Guild blew me away. It's also one of the few instruments I've bought that impressed my wife (she's a tough customer).

[paulventura]

Good choices. I happen to own two Taylor’s: the first GS Mini on the market, with Spruce top. It’s better for strumming than my 1980s era Taylor 412ce, which is better for finger style and writing. And I have a Yamaha FG 720S, with a cherry burst top. All are great guitars. Thanks for your reviews.

[moshealex]

I own two Alvarez six and twelve string guitars and absolutely love them. Thank you, guys, for honest reviews.

[charlesmichels]

Great, informative video! I also think the Taylor Academy 20e (walnut) really should be considered at this price point.

[billrea]

I saw your breakdown of the Taylor Academy 12e and put it on my list to track, it's a very nice guitar for the money. I was leaning to the Yamaha's you mention here but when the Taylor showed up locally used I pounced, I am very happy with the Taylor.

[alancampbell]

I've owned the Yamaha FSX830C natural for several years now. Over time I've done a few upgrades: ditched the undersaddle piezo pickup for a K&K pure mini (K&K tech support explained how to connect it to the existing onboard preamp), installed a Graphtech nut, bone saddle, Stewmac ivoroid bridge pins, and gold Grover tuners. The guitar responds very well to upgrades - they made a huge difference in tone and looks, very happy with this guitar.

[josephvarner]

This is a fantastic video. Definitely appreciate the insights. One thing I'll say though is that playability often gets overlooked when people are sizing up guitar options. The best way to find your guitar is to go to a shop, hold the instrument in your hands, and play it. There is nothing more valuable than having the experience of actually playing a guitar to know if it is the one for you. If you can find the guitar that allows you to play your best, it will beat out any $5000 dollar instrument that isn't comfortable or enjoyable to play, even at sub $1000 price points. Definitely consider purchasing any one of these great guitars, but go out and play them all. Your experience with each one will tell you which one was made for you.

[nespstudio]

Love my Alvarez. Had another one that I bought ten years ago and the top started lifting behind the bridge. Sent it back for repair but they couldn’t fix it so they called me back and said pick out another guitar on us. I forgot they had a lifetime warranty. Good company, great polite people, too. Highly recommend them.

[connorangwin]

I found you guys after you appeared on Rhett's channel. Love your work. Fuunny you mention the Yamaha Red Label, my first guitar is 1968 Yamaha FG-300 that I inherited from my dad. It was his main and only guitar for 20 years before he passed. When you say "cannon" you aren't kidding, it kills it in the low end and though it is fully laminate it is a great guitar. I have a video of an acoustic gig where my buddy is playing a Martin OM, and it completely takes over the mix. It is the only guitar I will never part with. Recently had some maintenance done by a local tech (one fallen brace, bridge plate re-build, full setup and unfreezing the truss rod) and it has new life.