Best acoustic under £1000 ??? (updated price limit)

tony99 · March 2023

As per the (now updated) title, what's good?

I dont have one at the moment, just a little classical. I fancy something bigger and louder, steel strung. Preferably just acoustic rather than electro-acoustic but I don't suppose that matters.

I prefer strumming to finger picking but wouldn't be averse to learning more technicky acoustical pickerings!

Budget not set but I wouldn't want to go over about £500, second hand suggestions more than welcome too....

Kittyfrisk · March 2023

The one that you like best that costs least. Not very helpful, but not hard

Grampa · March 2023

Not particularly big, but very impressive sounding with excellent build quality....Used Taylor GS-Mini?

BlueStrat · March 2023

I’d recommend the PRS Angelus I have listed for sale - but then I’m a little biased

You’re more than welcome to try it out

tony99 · March 2023

Just realised this might need to be in acoustics sub forum, thought that was just classifieds but it's not. Oops.

Mods will help in a bit I'm sure

Kittyfrisk · March 2023

Click on the Edit Cog/button & select Acoustics from the category options

Modellista · March 2023

Yamaha LL6.

/thread

SlopeSoarer · March 2023

A used Faith, I'd have thought there should be plenty to choose from with £500. I've had 3 (still have 2) and they've all been good.

skippy76 · March 2023

Alvarez are a lot of guitar for the money imo. I paid just over £500 for my dreadnought all solid construction

Matt4887 · March 2023

Good deals to be had on some of the Fender Paramount range at the moment.

All solid wood construction and a hard case for less that £500.

I tried one of the orchestra models a few weeks ago and was pretty impressed. Worth checking out.

Devil#20 · March 2023

There is not straight-forward answer to the question. Are you a chord strummer or a finger picker or a bit of both. I play Electrics mostly and Acoustic is secondary for me but there is lot more variation in acoustics. I think @tannin or @bertie amongst others are predominantly acoustic players, so you should ask them. However, for my 2p worth I think best bang for your buck is an Eastman or a second hand Yamaha. They are as good as Taylors or Martins but much better value although not particularly cheap guitars. I have a Martin, Taylor and Eastman. The made in China Eastman is the better guitar in every way. It doesn't matter and don't be put off that it's made in China. It's handmade and it's well made. They started off making violins I think. They come from a good pedigree. I sure others on here will agree.

rossi · March 2023

I like my PRS SE P20 parlor .Its nice and bluesy jazzy,folky even on light strings .

ditchboy · March 2023

Find a used Furch. Brilliant quality.

Adamski · March 2023

Eastman? Can get all solid for £550

tony99 · March 2023

Modellista said:

Yamaha LL6.

/thread

Had a look over some of these on Peach. Seems like some variations in price but I can't see much difference in spec.

bertie · March 2023

tony99 said:

Just realised this might need to be in acoustics sub forum, thought that was just classifieds but it's not. Oops.

Mods will help in a bit I'm sure

you can do it yourself - just edit and change location

BRISTOL86 · March 2023

@tony99 this and £100 in your pocket?

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/243393/fs-taylor-gs-mini-rosewood-400-price-drop

I could include postage at £400 to avoid having to deal with the utter clusterfuck that is eBay!

bertie · March 2023

for every recommendation, there'll be 20 alternatives Im sure..............

SIZE
if you don't already "know" first of all Id say find a store or a mate and try a few different sizes/types - get an inkling if a dreadnaughts for you or you fancy something smaller or more comfortable to play......................or you want to go all out jumbo

- good you've identified that on-boards are not important.......so they can be discounted from further suggestions.

Dumodal · March 2023

Used Seagull S6 amazing guitars, sounds great, feels great or save a little bit more and get an used Blueridge which are great too.

Winny_Pooh · March 2023

Modellista said:

Yamaha LL6.

/thread

Never played one even remotely as good as a Martin or Gibson but they can be good value for money.

Winny_Pooh · March 2023

Reliable brands in the budget range

Eastman - Martin like
Blueridge - Martiny
Taylor - not a particular M or G tone but nice
Recording king - Martiny
Seagull - they have a sound of their own esp the cedar models

SimonC · March 2023

These are a bargain at that price:

https://www.peachguitars.com/yamaha-ll6-are-acoustic-natural-with-hard-gigbag.htm

Tannin · March 2023

You are in a difficult part of the market @tony99 (and in the wrong section - this is where you post stuff about electric guitars).

Essentially, you have these choices:

(1) Competent but overpriced and deeply uninspiring products made in Mexico by the US majors. You could do worse, but you could do a lot better.

(2) Guitars of varying quality made in a place which is responsible for far more illegal, unsustainable logging and environmental destruction than any other (China) or in Indonesia which has a record no better. (Just say no.)

(3) Guitars which are both ethically manufactured and of high quality. For the most part, these are well out of budget.

(4) Odd-ball choices like Dowina and Seagull. (These are certainly worth exploring.)

(5) Guitars made in Chinas by companies which nevertheless seem to have decent environmental qualifications (no names here but their initials are Yamaha). I'm not entirely convinced - it is horribly difficult to know where timber came from once it has been milled. But maybe.

(6) Used guitars.

You don't want (1) or (2), and you can't afford (3). I'd start with (6) - there are some fantastic second-hand guitars around at very reasonable prices - and also look at (4) and possibly (5).

BigPaulie · March 2023

You can pick up a used Yamaha LL/LS/LJ16 ARE within that budget.

tony99 · March 2023

tempted:

https://www.thomann.de/gb/martin_guitars_d_200_deluxe.htm?glp=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjww4-hBhCtARIsAC9gR3YpvxAFXhmoTlwsmqQeuxzhKjkCLkgdAcN3Pw2gThIqEPzDz587wWoaAlCHEALw_wcB

Tannin · March 2023

If you like that sort of thing, then Luna is the perfect brand for you.

https://www.lunaguitars.com/product?id=flomooncust

KrisGee · March 2023

Yamaha, Taylor, Faith would be on my radar, hard to go wrong with any of these. I'd avoid PRS. They're probably the nicest looking and the comfiest to play but also the most generic sounding. Took one in part exchange with an intent to sell on but it later suffered a damage thanks to my 5 year old and would now sell with a huge loss so it's going to stay with me.

impmann · March 2023

If its of any interest I'm going to be offloading an Alvarez slope shoulder Dread (spruce and rosewood body) soon - solid woods, really nice condition etc and will be less than half the £500 budget. These Alvarez guitars punch wayyyy above their price tag.

Modellista · March 2023

SimonC said:

These are a bargain at that price:

https://www.peachguitars.com/yamaha-ll6-are-acoustic-natural-with-hard-gigbag.htm

^ 100% this. Apart from a link to a mini guitar in the classifieds, this is the only practical retail suggestion on the thread.

Or if you want a smaller bodied version, here you go:

https://www.peachguitars.com/yamaha-ls6-are-dark-tinted-electro-acoustic-with-hard-bag.htm?opt=39591

Looks, playability and sound for the price are impossible to match with any other guitar IMHO.

tony99 · March 2023

These Yams look superb I must say.

guitarjack66 · March 2023

Winny_Pooh said:

Reliable brands in the budget range

Eastman - Martin like
Blueridge - Martiny
Taylor - not a particular M or G tone but nice
Recording king - Martiny
Seagull - they have a sound of their own esp the cedar models

Add Sigma to that list.

Howdy, Stranger!

Categories

In this Discussion

Become a Subscriber!

Best acoustic under £1000 ??? (updated price limit)

Comments