Who else wants to find the best acoustic guitars under $1000?
Are you ever confused when deciding on a new guitar? Do you want to find the best ones to fit your budget?
Well here is a list of the Best Acoustic Guitars Under $1000 to help you out.
The Best Acoustic Guitars Under $1000: Best Overall
Yamaha AC3R ARE
According to Yamaha, the AC3R ARE is, “Designed to be the ideal performance acoustic guitar…crafted from the ground up, perfectly suited for life on the road.”
It has a concert body shape with a cutaway, giving you easy access to the higher frets.
The top is solid sitka spruce that has been treated with Yamaha’s A.R.E. wood torrefication technology, giving you a more stable wood, and a fuller dynamic range.
The back and sides are rosewood which gives the guitar a well balanced tone.
It has scalloped bracing for louder, richer acoustic sound, and the SRT2
pickup system will give you a natural, dynamic, plugged-in tone.
The high-comfort neck profile has a very playable radius of 15.75″ and has been designed for easier playing.
The 3-piece African mahogany neck has an ebony fretboard with 20 frets and simple, small dot inlays that add to the vintage look of this guitar.
Pros
- Available in 2 Finishes
- Includes Hard Bag
- Available in Mahogany
Cons
- Plastic Nut/Saddle
The Yamaha AC3R has a bright, crisp tone, with gentle highs, and a warm bass sound. Its tone is very clear when strumming, with plenty of volume, especially given its smaller, thinner size.
If you’re looking for a vintage looking and sounding guitar, with modern features, definitely check this one out.
The Best Acoustic Guitars Under $1000: Best Budget
D’Angelico Excel Tammany
D’Angelico’s Excel Tammany is part of their wide range of acoustic and electric Excel guitar series.
The body is a bit smaller than a standard dreadnought, and has a solid sitka spruce top, and laminated macassar ebony back and sides giving it a really rich tone, as well as a unique look.
The mahogany neck is in a “C” shape and is constructed with a scarf joint for stability as well as comfortable playing.
The ebony fretboard has cream binding, split-block acrylic pearl inlays, and 20 frets as well as a bone nut, so it looks as good as it sounds.
The ebony bridge in a stairstep shape, and has a bone saddle as well as ebony and abalone dot bridge pins.
Finally, a Fishman Presys+ Preamp/EQ and tuner will allow you to plug in and really home in on your sound.
Pros
- Available in 3 Finishes
- Includes Hardshell Case
- Bone Nut/Saddle
Cons
- Only Available in Right Hand Model
With a Mother of pearl excel shield logo on the headstock, gold stairstep wave tuners, and a gold skyscraper shape truss rod cover (made of Aluminum) on the headstock, the D’Angelico Excel Tammany really stands out from other acoustic guitars.
The thinner, and smaller body shape makes it sound softer than a full sized dreadnought, and its tone is bright, lively, and full.
The Best Acoustic Guitars Under $1000: Best Runner-Up
Blueridge Guitars BR-70 Contemporary
According to the manufacturer, the Blueridge BR-70 Contemporary, “Faithfully delivers solid prewar tone with a sharp modern look.” After hearing it, you may or may not feel it’s got a prewar tone, but it definitely delivers a great one.
The solid sitka spruce top will give you clean articulation, and a crisp sound, while the Santos rosewood back and sides will add a rich sound, and lots of projection.
The slim mahogany neck provides fast, easy action and the Santos rosewood fretboard has abalone inlays so it looks great, as well as giving you more warmth.
The gold-plated tuners are vintage style 14:1 ratio open backs, with butterbean style buttons, continuing the vintage look.
A bone nut and saddle, as well as rosewood bridge will enhance your sound.
Pros
- Bone nut and saddle
Cons
- A Bit Ornate for Some
The Blueridge BR-70 Contemporary has that full dreadnought sound that’s sharp, with bright highs, and full mids. The bass isn’t overwhelming, like in some dreadnoughts, and still has a lot of power to it. The guitar really rings out when plucked, and has a really nice warmth. You may agree that it sound like a vintage Martin guitar. Expect plenty of volume, and projection when strumming.
The Best Acoustic Guitars Under $1000: Best Travel Size
Are you living the nomad lifestyle? Or maybe you just want the convenience of a smaller, more portable guitar? Fear not, here are the Best Acoustic Guitars Under $1000: Travel Size Edition.
Journey Instruments FC522
According to the manufacturer, the FC522 is, “An amazing collapsible performance-ready classical travel guitar.”
It’s composed of a solid cedar top and solid pau ferro back with engineered pau ferro sides, for a full, traditional sound.
The body is ergonomic with a Manzer wedge, and traditional Torres sized body, so you’ll get a lot of volume and bass out of this guitar.
The carbon fiber reinforced solid African mahogany neck has an ebony fretoard with 17 medium frets and a bone nut. Also, the ebony bridge has a compenstated bone saddle giving you an improved tone.
A JourneyTek under-bridge pickup will give you accurate and clear amplification, while the Grover tuners will keep you in tune.
Pros
- Detachable Neck Makes it Portable
- Roller Carry Case Included
Cons
- Knob on Back Unsightly
The Journey Instruments FC522 First Classical has been designed to be a travel ready acoustic electric guitar that still has a great sound, and is comfortable to play.
It sounds great, like a full size, classical guitar, and the carrying case it comes with is easy to use, with extra compartments for all of your stuff.
Tips and Tricks
You’ve got your new guitar! Congratulations! Now what?
Change the Strings on Your New Guitar for Better Sound
The strings on your new guitar may be a year old, which means your guitar won’t sound its best. Changing the strings will improve your sound.
Only Adjust the Truss Rod After Letting the Guitar Acclimate
After receiving your guitar, give it at least 24 hours for the wood to fully reach the temperature of your home. Oftentimes, a guitar that has fret buzz, or dead spots hasn’t fully warmed/cooled from travel, and will “self adjust” once the wood has a chance to fully expand/contract.
JT currently resides in Southern California and has been playing the guitar since he was 13. He enjoys baking French pastries, drinking loose-leaf tea, and running Slackware Linux.
