Over 45 Great Guitars for Under $600
Budget guitars once had a bad reputation: inferior instruments made from laminated woods, with poor playability and even worse tone. But things have changed.
Adam Perlmutter
Adam Perlmutter holds a bachelor of music degree from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro and a master's degree in Contemporary Improvisation from the New England Conservatory. He is the editor of Acoustic Guitar.
Review: Takamine GD20-NS T is a Dream Come True For the Newbie Guitarist
With a cedar soundboard and limited lifetime warranty it's almost inconceivable that this is a $250 guitar.
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Review: Collings 01 12-Fret is a Winning Parlor Guitar with Balanced Sound
A lovely little songbird, the 01 12-Fret is easy to play, responding to the lightest touch with a voice that’s sweet and complex
Review: Taylor 150E is an Incredibly Playable—and Affordable—12-String Guitar
Taylor's 150e is the 12-string guitar for players whose primary instrument is a six-string.
Review: Gretsch G9550 New Yorker is ‘Big Apple’ to the Core
Like the original article this retro New Yorker’s got the simplest appointments, but plays beautifully right out of the box.
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Review: Fender Acoustasonic 90 Amp is Light but Powerful
It's the perfect little amp for the guitarist on the go.
Review: Ovation Celebrity Standard CS24P-FKOA is a High-Tech Treehugger
The earthy koa soundboard on Ovation's Celebrity Standard Plus is a perfect match for the guitar's patented synthetic bowl-shaped body.
Review: Don’t Be Fooled By the Larrivée OM-40R’s Understated Looks, It’s Got an Uncommonly Good Sound
It might not dazzle with its looks, but this guitar’s excellent sound and playability make it a serious contender among much more expensive instruments.
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Review: Ibanez AEG10II is Designed for Playability and Comfort
The slim body and moderately thin neck, combined with gig-ready electronics, make this a player's guitar.
Review: Martin’s DRS1 is a Solid Dreadnought Designed For the Working Musician
Luckily for those unable to afford a D-28, Martin recently unveiled the DRS1—a guitar with many similarities to the American-made D-15, but built in Martin’s Mexican facility.
Review: Takamine’s TF77-PT Features Tube-Driven Electronics
This brand-new, all-solid-wood guitar is based on a 14-fret OM with a superb electronics package
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Review: Cort MR710F is a Lot of Guitar for Under $400
Cort’s MR710F is a cutaway dreadnought with built-in electronics, genuine bone nut and saddle, and scalloped X-bracing.
Review: Fender’s Acoustasonic 150 Combo Amp Has a Smorgasbord of Features in a Small Package
Fender had long been a revered name in electric guitar amplification when the company introduced its Acoustasonic line of acoustic guitar amplifiers in the mid-1990s. These excellent-sounding, smartly priced models finally granted acoustic guitarists access to what electric players enjoyed about…
Review: Simon and Patrick Woodland Pro Folk Guitar Incorporates Vintage Features
The instrument is made with great craftsmanship and boasts a versatile sound.