Acoustic Guitars – Quality vs. Price
by Kathy Unruh
What type of Acoustic Guitar should you buy?
First of all, you need to realize that a well made “quality” acoustic guitar will almost always have a solid top, back and sides, whereas less expensive models will usually have a laminated top. The problem with having a laminated top is that it will be more prone to cracking or splitting under certain conditions than a solid top would be.
How well a guitar is made will also affect how good it sounds and plays. Therefore, before you buy a new guitar you should consider which of these priorites are most important to you, the quality or the price? Most of us would probably agree that both of these things are important, but when it comes to making the final decision, the pocketbook often wins.
The good news is…
If you are a beginner who is out looking to buy your very first guitar, you should be able to find a decent brand-name
with a solid-top for under $500. Here’s one that I found online the other day that fits the bill for both quality and price…
The Yamaha FG700S Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar features a solid sitka spruce top and a rosewood fingerboard.
Yamaha FG700S
Features:
– Solid Sitka Spruce Top
– Nato Back and Sides
– Rosewood Fingerboard
– Rosewood Bridge
– Black / White Body Binding
– Tortoise Pickguard
– Diecast Tuners
– Natural Finish
– Limited Lifetime Warranty
The Yamaha FG700S guitar usually retails around $300, but I have seen it on sale for under $200. Those who own the Yamaha #FG700S say the guitar sounds very beautiful and rich compared to others in this price range. Customers have stated that they like the way the tortoise shell pickguard looks against the natural wood finish. And as I said before, it has a solid sitka spruce top, whereas other inexpensive guitars will often have a laminated top. This is a real bonus in my opinion.
Now if you have a little more money to spend and want to get a really nice acoustic, then I recommend looking at quality brand names such as the Martin D28. This is a classic dreadnaught and a long time favorite among many guitarists.
Martin D28
Features:
– Classic Martin dreadnought shape
– Gorgeous rosewood back (two piece) and sides
– Solid spruce top
– Elegant rosette and white binding
– Traditional Martin bracing style for excellent focus of sound
– Handcrafted by Martin master luthiers in Nazareth, Pennsylvania
– Included hardshell case
– Martin limited lifetime warranty
Other brands to consider are Gibson, Martin, Guild and Taylor.
Many beginners make the mistake of buying a really cheap guitar on ebay thinking that they are getting a deal. Unfortunately, they end up with someting that’s very difficult to play and can’t be tuned. I’ve seen this happen over and over again.
Tip: Always be sure to ask the seller if there is a customer satisfaction money-back guarantee.
A money-back guarantee will give you time to try out the guitar after your order is delivered. Then, if you are not completely satisfied you can simply return it and receive a full refund.
Please take my advice and don’t waste your time and money on a bargain basement instrument! Believe me, you will actually be saving money in the long run if you buy a better quality guitar to begin with.
However, even if you’ve found a decent acoustic guitar, there is still the possibility that it will need a little tweaking. This will be especially true if the instrument was subjected to changes in temperature during the shipping process. Not every guitar needs to be setup, but even many brand new guitars sound and play better after they have been set-up correctly.
Most companies set up their guitars to be comfortable for the average player, but that may not suit your particular playing style. Visit your local music store to see if they have a professional luthier who can set it up for you if you are interested in doing this.
Be sure to check your warranty agreement before you have your guitar set-up. You’ll want to know if there are any restrictions about doing this (such as using a qualified luthier) first. Then if there are any problems found with the guitar you can simply return it.
In conclusion, I’d say the Yamaha #FG700S looks like a great entry level guitar. The nice appearance , good tone and low price make it even more appealing. On top of that, the guitar comes with a limited lifetime manufacturer’s warranty. So, if you’ve been looking for a decent guitar at an affordable price, I don’t think you’ll have much to worry about with this acoustic.
Learn More:
The acoustic guitar – why is it so popular?
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