Choby, I think the term "beginner" speaks about the quality of the guitar, not the skill of the player. He's not saying a "beginner's" guitar... He's saying, "beginner guitar." The adjective "beginner" is referring to the guitar... I've played guitar for decades now... Not great, but I'm not a beginner... BUT I am broke... I wore out my first guitar, a Takamine, and I'm currently playing my wife's first guitar, another Takemine. Even though " I " am not a beginner, I am playing a beginner guitar because currently, I can't afford the guitar I want..... A beginner guitar SHOULD be cheap because, in truth, a beginner doesn't know with absolute certainty whether or not they will stick with playing the guitar. They may decide to give it up... Also, being a beginner, they might not treat it right or know how to treat it right... You wouldn't want to buy your 10 year old child a $3000 guitar only to find out that they really have no interest... And a child could easily damage the guitar. Children break things... It's what they do... So, you want something that has a decent sound, but is also affordable. Hence, a beginner guitar...
I see what you mean. I don't like it when 10 year old kids have thousands of dollars worth fenders when they don't even need it. But there are cheap and quality guitars out there, suitable for everyone. Therefore i don't believe that a guitar for a beginner or a beginner guitar differs that much. People can just call them "Underbudget Guitars". Also i'd like to point out that i strongly believe that a cheap, underbudget, beginner or whatever you call it guitar that has a meaning to the player and has been played for years, is more valuable than a pricey brand new guitar :)
Too true! I've seen it. Some can barely play but they want BOTH an acoustic and electric because (and I'm not making this up), "They want to learn to play BOTH." They honestly think you can't play an electric guitar unless you first learn on an electric (and vice versa). and before they've even learned bar chords they're talking about buying other guitars because, "This one looks kewl!" or "This one has a cutaway!" or "This one has JUST the right sound for blues..." and on and on and on.... And there I am with a 30 year old starter guitar.... But such is life. I do still love playing that 30 year old starter guitar.
I bought my s6 burnt umber about two years ago and I love it... You can really hammer down on it. The only weird thing is that I have to set it up and adjust the truss rod once a year pretty susceptible to temp changes but over has a really big sound.
I fell in love with the GS Mini Mahogany about 3 years ago in-store (tried various other full and travel size guitars - including a Little Martin, all left me feeling uninspired and...meh). Tried the Spruce as well, but far preferred the Mahogany. Bought one on eBay about 18 months ago, and this summer, sitting outdoors in a local park, wrote my first song with her. She's an absolute gem, I take her everywhere with me in warm weather, local countryside, harbour, beach, parks...and she's powerful and got great sound for playing at folk clubs, open-mics etc too. I play mostly fingerstyle, or strumming without a pick, and usually got short nails (I'm a reflexologist) so having a guitar that produces decent volume even with fleshy picking is important for me - my girl does beautifully. I highly recommend them, well deserved #1 spot.
I LOVE my Seagull Original s6 - so far everyone who has seen my Seagull, held it , played it raves about the tone and they can't believe I only paid $400 for it.
Go to your local music store and play it. Hold it. Feel it. Hear it play. Buy what feels and sounds right. Buy what fits. We're losing so many local stores around the country. Most any local businesses will match the internet price. If they're a dealer they can order exactly what you want, straight from the manufacturer. Stop ordering instruments from Amazon or they'll all go out of business. Support your local music store and spend your money local. Most are great business owners that live and love music and want to help. I've only been in one music store with my daughter where I took a relatively inexpensive ($500) guitar down and was finger picking. The owner comes over, makes a little small talk about the guitar, says "I'll put that up for you," takes the guitar out of my hands and hangs it back on the wall. I will never go there again. But most are GREAT to do business with.
The local store here in Germany has an online store and they have quiet a good options and much mote trustworthy than some random seller on Amazon. I think if the local stores can some time to open up an online store of their own, they can effectively stop people going to Amazon.
These local shops aren't your friends, they are middle manning and raising the cost on to the consumer at a significant mark up, a good musician with your best interest will show you the most affordable option to get into playing especially for entry level users.
The Seagull is a phenomenal guitar. You definitely do not need to spend over $500 for great tone on an acoustic. I own the GS Mini and can't say enough about that either. Great list!
I personally think we should call these guitars "budget" guitars rather than "beginner". A professional player can still play anything they want with these guitars because they are a good value for the money. Past $500, the price of the guitar has more to do with the materials, craftsmanship, sound quality, and brand than it's practical utility.
That's super easy (for under $1500), play a Taylor 214ce-DLX at the store. Ignore any replies to this post about "overpriced" and "that Taylor sound" and blah blah blah. Just simply try it and see. Even the owner of Shoreline Music admits he plays the 214 at home more than any other instrument, and he has access to everything. Anyway, here's Tony's review, and make sure you play the Deluxe, the regular 214's aren't made of Rosewook anymore as of this year due to the new regulations that kicked in Jan 1: th-cam.com/video/FxCQ61j4sI0/w-d-xo.html
Epiphone Masterbilt on sale should be on the list of contenders (Takamine & Breedlove too). I'd put the Seagull S6 at the top of your list of 5 (I've played all of them too). I'd also buy USED because 90% of Beginners GIVE UP GUITAR in Year 1 (Fender study). Buying a new guitar and then giving up is a HUGE LOSS when it comes to selling it again...at least 50% depreciation when it's out of the guitar store.
At the Blue Ridge BR 43 has doubled in price 10 since 2017! You mentioned a good thing in here regarding Dreadnaught guitars... I can't tell you how many times I've had female students absolutely dislike that body shape.
I watched this video and others like it before buying my first guitar, and pretty much every one of them had the GS Mini in the top 2. So out of stubbornness I was thinking to myself "I'm not gonna get the GS Mini because it's too basic and everyone won't shut up about it"... Then I went to the store and played one. I ended up buying the floor model because I just fell in love with the guitar
I second the segul recommendation. I own a simon and Patrick woodland pro parlor guitar ( also made by godin ). Any of the guitars made by godin are fantastic in both build quality ( useing canadain wood ) and sound. For there price they really are great. Go out and give any one of the godins family line a try. :)
Good review, thanks. When I started playing again, about 8 years ago, I bought an S6 which I traded in a couple of years ago. Although I now play more expensive guitars, much more expensive, I do miss that S6!
Thanks, Tony, good list. If you are looking at 000 the Yamaha FS800 is a great option. Exact same specs as the FG800 but in 000 size. I bought my son one last year when he just started playing. Just the right size and a great beginner guitar for kids
Mike Adams: ya Yamaha is a great guitar to start out with. i see alot of people trolling on different TH-cam channels about Yamaha and other budget guitar companies, and i think people sometimes forget that Yamaha started out making acoustic guitars in the mid 50's, long before they started making electric guitars in the late 70's. im not saying American guitar brands are not good, but i think some people overrate the name on the headstock because of all the famous acoustic and electric guitar players over the years, and because it has so much history in music that your buying a piece of history. so i know that there are some well made american brand guitars, but i've also played some guitars that were expensive and i was not impressed with the sound, and some guitars are just too expensive for the price to justify buying. im 32 years old born 1985 and i know that cheap budget guitars back in the 80's and 90's were not well made, but over the last 5 to 10 years companies like Squier, Epiphone, and Yamaha are much better build quality and for a fraction of the cost of a name brand guitar. i have a Taylor guitar at home, but i remember paying almost $950 dollars back in 2010 and that Taylor guitar was one of there entry level guitars. it's a good guitar, but my god the price was high. i have a 2014 Gibson Les Paul Tribute at home that i paid less for. $699 is not cheap, but it's reasonable for a name brand guitar that plays really well. it's not my first Gibson Les Paul, my first was in 2006. it was a Les Paul Studio. i paid $899 for that one, and i have a 2010 Les Paul Standard. that one was about $1200, that's my most expensive guitar i ever bought. i started on a Epiphone SG. i got that guitar in 2000, i was 15 at the time. but hopefully your son is enjoying his Yamaha acoustic guitar.
Excellent! This is exactly what my experience has been! I️ think that the Taylor Academy series needs to make the list! Fabulous construction, hard bag, light strings, short scale, arm rest, satin finish, AND the dread is 15/16 body shape to make it a touch easier to play. They’re designed for beginners, but stores couldn’t barely keep them in stock this year. Check them out!
As a long time purveyor of inexpensive dreadnaughts, I appreciate the love for sub 4 figure guitars. If you (or a friend who plays helping a beginner shop) look around there are some $150-$500 specimens that work as well as some fancier models costing 5 times as much. These are the ones I and many other players look for. They're also good for having something playable where you would never take your one-off hand built beauty, or learning about set up and maintenance..
After months of researching I bought an S6. It's a lovely guitar. Very happy. I also have a Yamaha FG700S bought in the early 80's. It looks nothing like the entry-level FG700S or 800. It looks like the Gibson Hummingbird with the block inlays and similar pick guard and bound neck and body. I paid $420 back then.
The Alvarez AD30 is amazing for the price...that FST2 forward shifted bracing makes a huge difference...more volume and richer tone than the Yamaha FG800 in my humble opinion !
The instrument shopping world has gotten me stuck in analysis paralysis limbo many times spending even months trying to find just that right one. This kind of thing narrows it all down enough to be manageable and is comforting knowing that none of these guitars are of outright bad quality and anyone of them is a fine choice.
great list, i don't know how Cort Acoustic guitar availability in US. but with 500$ you can get Cort acoustic with solid Adiondack Top and solid mahogany back. check Cort L300V
Ibanez AE245JR. Beautifully built. It's a "junior" sized guitar, so easier for beginners to handle. (About the same size as the Baby Taylor). Wonderful detail on its fingerboard. Sounds great, plays easy, and its an acoustic/electric. $399. Get one!
Make an updated version of best guitar under 1000 but have like 3 guitars in each body size So like 3 concert/00. 3 OM/000/auditorium and 3 Dreads/jumbos
Where i live, i can only DREAM of getting a Taylor GS mini. The used ones here are around $700. And the new ones start at $750. I now leave with 'In dreams' by Roy Orbinson As the Outro.
Hey, Tony. Just subbed. Love what I've seen so far. My personal recommendation for a beginner is a Fender DG-60. I've had one for a few years now and I love it. Super good quality for the price. Keep up the content!
I have a Yamaha FG 720 S...i added bone nut & saddle and wood pins. I think it's a great beginner guitar. In my opinion you have to have at least a solid wood top. Back & sides not that important for the extra money it will cost.
I decided to buy one just to check it out. I got the Rey Spruce, very, very, very affordable guitar. It was worth every penny. I can recommend it. I've been playing guitar for 40 years, had many. I even have a Taylor 912. The Taylor is better, but, it ain't 50 times better. Yes, you could buy around 50 of the Rey's for what that one guitar costs. I may order another one now that I've seen the quality of the inexpensive one. Oh, and the Orangewoods come with a darn nice gig bag. It is included in the price. Also, let me mention another very good beginner guitar you might consider - the Jasmine S-34C. Another good bang for the buck guitar in my opinion.
I went in to pick up a Taylor 114ce for 1150 CAD but picked up a seagul s6 original slim for $400 CAD Instead and I must say it is an absolutely amazing guitar, I also own the mahogany gs mini which I think has a little better playability but the s6 just has such a great tone to it, absolutely love it and saved 750 dollars lol
Last year I needed an electric-acoustic and a Sigma was the only one that made a click on me! The DMC-15E model. I tried every guitar available in my city between 300-500€ and it was the best. If you wanted something better you needed to reach 800 for a Martin.
1994savvas Thing is sigma guitars are constructed better than cheap martins. They have rosewood fingerboards and bridges while martin uses some kind of artificial material, and sigma uses bone nuts and saddles, while martin uses plastic. Sigma are in every way better in contruction and quality than a cheap martin, and they feel better as well
I remember when I got my Seagull s6 original i got it online for $503.18 I noticed a couple years later they went up to $800. I personally don't really consider it as a beginner guitar. It's a absolute gem. Considering the price hike I think seagull thinks more of the model. even at $800 it's worth the investment
I was considering the FG800, but I found the reviews on the Ephiphone DR-100 to be on par with the FG800 at a lower price. Picked up the DR-100 for $179 off Amazon, had it setup locally with Elixr strings, and absolutely love it. Great beginner guitar
Everything I paid $179 Canadian. At current exchange rates, that’s around $139 US. I also live in Newfoundland, and the DR-100 is priced at $199 pretty much everywhere. Wish there was a guitar Center here. Closest we have is Long and McQuade, and it’s $199 there too
Everything A solid wood guitar might sound better to someone who plays well and can tell the difference. But for a beginner clobbering the notes like myself, the difference in sound isn’t worth the extra $100.
Here’s what the DR-100 sounds like with me playing. Besides my crappy playing, I’m happy with the sound of the guitar. th-cam.com/video/84KotB13TCU/w-d-xo.html
Absolutely loved to see the GS Mini on your list, although mine came in right around 600 for the mahogany top and sides, I absolutely fell in love with it on a trip to AZ. Paired with the elixir strings it emits an incredibly warm tone and is super comfortable to play. Granted I still jump back to my Fender T-Bucket occasionally, the GS Mini is definitely my baby.
I was wondering if the Seagull S6 was going to make this list, because it should and I'm happy to see that it did. I bought a cheap guitar when I was 16 to see if I liked learning and playing and when I found that I did, I bought a Seagull S6 a year later after going to a mom and pop guitar place and being told all about these guitars. I fell in love with my S6 then and over 15 years later, it sounds so much more incredible than when I bought it new. It does have more dings than I can count at this point (lol), but I wouldn't sell it for 5x it's original price. It's amazing value and quite frankly, Seagull could sell these guitars for 700-800 dollars based on look and especially sound.
Been playing for about 50 years.....always liked Seagull guitars......just bought one.....playability is great.....looks good.....sounds really good...worth every penny.....I have a bunch of guitars....some pretty expensive....Seagull holds its own....
Great, Tony. My first guitar was a Seagull M6 Spruce purchased at the Different Strummer. I think they guy who sold it to me was Ed (?). Older guy and super nice (like everyone at the store).
I sold my gs mini mahogany and a recording king parlor guitar and bought a Martin 0015m for $950. Best decision. I’ve also owned a $500 guild gad dread. Not nearly the tone and feel of my Martin. Save your pennies and drop $1k. You won’t regret it.
Jamie Marshall I started with a used Martin DRS1. Then I bought a Yamaha fsx700sc, fell in love with the size and sound. Sold my DRS1 for $150 more than I paid, and bought a used Martin 000-18. I agree with you, save your pennies, go big! I'm probably done for a decade now, but I've got the guitar I wood have ended up with eventually just without the 5-10 in betweeners. Now if only I knew how to play the guitar. . . 🤦♂️🤣
Great list. I'd have put the Martin D Jr. on it though - a solid wood Martin you can get for $450 is incredible bang for the buck. You mentioned that the Seagull is a guitar that'll last well into your guitar journey (and it is - I love my low-end Entourage Rustic even after I've been playing for decades), but an all-solid Martin fits that description even more!
Thanks for finally getting to this. Too late though, I've already bought a Dean that I'm happy with. I am looking for a smaller travel size now, and that Taylor looks great!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hmmm... Orangewood didn't make your list? I've played for more than 30 years and have found their entire line to be exceptional for the price... also each is less than $400.
My beginner guitar cost 38 dollars, lol! The Yamaha FGX800C at 299 is a great guitar. Got one for my wife and it plays better than my 1985 Alvarez DY74C.
Got the GM mini Spruce about 2 years ago, play it some but never really worked at getting better on the guitar, guess I need to start somewhere. I am surprised to see the GM mini as #1. I have a couple of Guitars, including 2 Bass guitars. I think I will be getting rid of some of my guitars and spending the money on lessons and more time playing. LOL go figure. I am ADD and can't seem to stick to one instrument. I guess I just need to focus on just one, just like golf it's not the clubs it's the practice.
Hey Tony I was gonna sign up for your free workshop until I seen the date and time. 12 o clock on a workday is not gonna a guy like me w a blue collar job. How bout weekend workshop for people who have real jobs. Thanks bro.
Regarding the GS Mini, Mahogany over Koa or even spruce? Of the ones I tried in the store, the mahogany sounded dull in comparison. Maybe the strings?...
Hi Tony. I was a bit confused when you showed a BR43 with a cutaway from the rear, does this mean that the BR43 is either? I also noticed that no cutaway guitars are featured, is there any reasoning behind that?
Ian, Sorry no confusion meant there, it was the best picture we found during the editing. The standard BR43 is a non-cutaway instrument. Most of these instruments with the exception of the GS-mini are available in cutaway form for an additional cost (they usually come with pre-installed electronics as well :-)). I chose the non-cutaway versions to keep the list nice and tidy. Thank you for watching!!!
I’m a beginner looking for an easy guitar to manoeuvre. What’s the difference between Travel, concert and 3/4? Also, should I get Nylon or Stee strings. I’m 5’11 and would like to play music by Mumford and Sons, The Lumkneers, Sean Mendez, Lauryn Hill, Ed Sheerin etc
Ho Tony! I'm little late for this video but I have a request. For a shy player there is a little sized body guitar with small voice but great tone? Thank you very much!
I have GS mini as a beginner,I am enjoying it I have been trying to get a bigger guitar All the ones I tried F370,FS 800,FG820 appear so inferior to GS mini Dont know which one to buy next? Any suggestions to upgrade from GS mini please?
I'm not really a beginner but I'm also not advanced... I used to play and I'm picking it up again so I'm kind of relearning which is a bit faster than learning for the first time so I don't want to buy a strictly beginner guitar since I'm advancing a bit quickly but I don't want to spend all my money (my first guitar actually belonged to my brother and he's moving out of town so he's taking it with him and I need my own!) any recommendations?
Yeah that's what I was thinking. A lot of videos say "Beginner guitars for £500" and my acoustic when I started was £60. Also it confuses me because it makes me think I can't buy that guitar cos it's a "beginner guitar" so I think that it's not aimed at intermediates.
It’s so you commit to owning a guitar if it’s super cheap you’re more willing to give up and say oh well 60 bucks down the drain but if it’s 400 bucks down the drain it’s different
Where and Lefty Frizzell died the only guitar he had was an old Yamaha with a hole in it and a decal Over the Hole. That Yamaha that Lefty had sitting down in Tennessee mind yes about a 40 year old Yamaha but she aged real nice is he got one hell of a sound to her
Tony, where can one get a copy of the Martin to English, English to Martin nomenclature dictionary? They create just an overwhelming array of cryptic model designations. How does on learn to speak the language?
Great video as always, could you do another one same price point but for intermediate guitars please. I hear of lots of guitars that are classed as beginner guitars but play and feel great, the fact that it’s classed as beginner makes me wonder if it will be outgrown pretty quickly for someone who has already been playing a while. Thanks
Lol And I'm sitting over here with a Fender DG-60 that I bought on sale for $115-ish roughly 4 years ago. I ultimately want a beautiful Taylor one day. Preferably a cutaway that'll allow me to get to the upper frets.
Would anyone in the comments know about left handed VS. right handed acoustics? Are there certain brands that offer one and not the other? I can use both hands, but prefer my left, so I don’t know what I would do about that purchasing my fist guitar🙃
Yamaha cracking the Top 5 with their FG800 (Made In China green label) series was a no-brainer. Almost ashamed to call them "beginner" guitars because they're constructed far better than the respective prices they're listed at. Glad that Alvarez made the list as well with their highly underrated AD line. Almost bit on an AD60L before finally settling for the Yamaha FG820L due to the online seller offering a free in-depth setup for the latter as part of the package. One quality guitar under $500 that I felt should've gotten Top 5 consideration is the Ibanez AW54. Heard some really nice things about that one especially... ;-)
Alejandro Mosqueira Excellent guitars. I also have a Epiphone AJ 220S VS and i absolutely love it. I played every acoustic guitar under 300 at Guitar Center and I had to take tis one home with me. Make sure you get one made in Indonesia if you go for it.
there are $500 guitars that sound as good as 1k-2k guitars. take 600 bucks and visit 5-6 guitar stores and play every guitar in each store. you will eventually be surprised one of em will punch above their weight class. you’ll be happy when you get a 400-600 guitar that sounds as good as a 2k taylor or 4k martin. biggest tip take someone with you who can play.
I don't understand why cheap guitars are considered as "beginner" guitars. Can't i be an intermediate player but poor at the same time?
Choby same😅
Choby, I think the term "beginner" speaks about the quality of the guitar, not the skill of the player. He's not saying a "beginner's" guitar... He's saying, "beginner guitar." The adjective "beginner" is referring to the guitar... I've played guitar for decades now... Not great, but I'm not a beginner... BUT I am broke... I wore out my first guitar, a Takamine, and I'm currently playing my wife's first guitar, another Takemine. Even though " I " am not a beginner, I am playing a beginner guitar because currently, I can't afford the guitar I want..... A beginner guitar SHOULD be cheap because, in truth, a beginner doesn't know with absolute certainty whether or not they will stick with playing the guitar. They may decide to give it up... Also, being a beginner, they might not treat it right or know how to treat it right... You wouldn't want to buy your 10 year old child a $3000 guitar only to find out that they really have no interest... And a child could easily damage the guitar. Children break things... It's what they do... So, you want something that has a decent sound, but is also affordable. Hence, a beginner guitar...
I see what you mean. I don't like it when 10 year old kids have thousands of dollars worth fenders when they don't even need it. But there are cheap and quality guitars out there, suitable for everyone. Therefore i don't believe that a guitar for a beginner or a beginner guitar differs that much. People can just call them "Underbudget Guitars". Also i'd like to point out that i strongly believe that a cheap, underbudget, beginner or whatever you call it guitar that has a meaning to the player and has been played for years, is more valuable than a pricey brand new guitar :)
Too true! I've seen it. Some can barely play but they want BOTH an acoustic and electric because (and I'm not making this up), "They want to learn to play BOTH." They honestly think you can't play an electric guitar unless you first learn on an electric (and vice versa). and before they've even learned bar chords they're talking about buying other guitars because, "This one looks kewl!" or "This one has a cutaway!" or "This one has JUST the right sound for blues..." and on and on and on.... And there I am with a 30 year old starter guitar.... But such is life. I do still love playing that 30 year old starter guitar.
Lucille just rocks IMHO, a Yamaha FS or FG830s sounds as good as a Taylor.
So glad to see a Seagull on the list. Seagull offer excellent guitars across their entire line. They’re very well built, and they sound amazing.
I'm thinking to trade my Taylor GS Mini for new Seagull S6, I have a hard time on the strings on the GS
@@elieleli_luli6558 how hard, cause i have a seagull and i want to have a gs mini...(koa one)
@@mvh2834 Don't do that the S6 is superior in every way.
Got to agree, love the S6. Maybe I will do it justice on my channel one day
I bought my s6 burnt umber about two years ago and I love it... You can really hammer down on it. The only weird thing is that I have to set it up and adjust the truss rod once a year pretty susceptible to temp changes but over has a really big sound.
I fell in love with the GS Mini Mahogany about 3 years ago in-store (tried various other full and travel size guitars - including a Little Martin, all left me feeling uninspired and...meh). Tried the Spruce as well, but far preferred the Mahogany. Bought one on eBay about 18 months ago, and this summer, sitting outdoors in a local park, wrote my first song with her. She's an absolute gem, I take her everywhere with me in warm weather, local countryside, harbour, beach, parks...and she's powerful and got great sound for playing at folk clubs, open-mics etc too.
I play mostly fingerstyle, or strumming without a pick, and usually got short nails (I'm a reflexologist) so having a guitar that produces decent volume even with fleshy picking is important for me - my girl does beautifully. I highly recommend them, well deserved #1 spot.
I LOVE my Seagull Original s6 - so far everyone who has seen my Seagull, held it , played it raves about the tone and they can't believe I only paid $400 for it.
Yay, I have number five, Yamaha FG800. I love the sound so far
Yasmine Cowan Great choice! I have the smaller fsx700sc and love it. Yamaha's the way to go, beginner or not.
Go to your local music store and play it. Hold it. Feel it. Hear it play. Buy what feels and sounds right. Buy what fits. We're losing so many local stores around the country. Most any local businesses will match the internet price. If they're a dealer they can order exactly what you want, straight from the manufacturer. Stop ordering instruments from Amazon or they'll all go out of business. Support your local music store and spend your money local. Most are great business owners that live and love music and want to help. I've only been in one music store with my daughter where I took a relatively inexpensive ($500) guitar down and was finger picking. The owner comes over, makes a little small talk about the guitar, says "I'll put that up for you," takes the guitar out of my hands and hangs it back on the wall. I will never go there again. But most are GREAT to do business with.
The local store here in Germany has an online store and they have quiet a good options and much mote trustworthy than some random seller on Amazon. I think if the local stores can some time to open up an online store of their own, they can effectively stop people going to Amazon.
These local shops aren't your friends, they are middle manning and raising the cost on to the consumer at a significant mark up, a good musician with your best interest will show you the most affordable option to get into playing especially for entry level users.
The Seagull is a phenomenal guitar. You definitely do not need to spend over $500 for great tone on an acoustic. I own the GS Mini and can't say enough about that either. Great list!
between the two, what would you recommend?
dukieforlife id just like to re ask savages question ^ which do you prefer out of the two
@@1997Ghost seagull everytime, they have a great range of guitars not just the s6
Yup. Had a feeling the GS-Mini would make the cut. I have one and it's incredible for the size/cost..
I bought a used Taylor GS Mini because of your advice, and it was one of the best decisions ever. Thank you so much, I truly love it!
I personally think we should call these guitars "budget" guitars rather than "beginner". A professional player can still play anything they want with these guitars because they are a good value for the money. Past $500, the price of the guitar has more to do with the materials, craftsmanship, sound quality, and brand than it's practical utility.
Please do best under $ 1000 and $ 1500. Love these lists of guitars to go try at the local store .
That's super easy (for under $1500), play a Taylor 214ce-DLX at the store. Ignore any replies to this post about "overpriced" and "that Taylor sound" and blah blah blah. Just simply try it and see. Even the owner of Shoreline Music admits he plays the 214 at home more than any other instrument, and he has access to everything. Anyway, here's Tony's review, and make sure you play the Deluxe, the regular 214's aren't made of Rosewook anymore as of this year due to the new regulations that kicked in Jan 1: th-cam.com/video/FxCQ61j4sI0/w-d-xo.html
? He just did
Everything yeah true. He sounds like any one of the Democratic 2020 candidates for POTUS. Run very very far away!
Epiphone Masterbilt on sale should be on the list of contenders (Takamine & Breedlove too). I'd put the Seagull S6 at the top of your list of 5 (I've played all of them too). I'd also buy USED because 90% of Beginners GIVE UP GUITAR in Year 1 (Fender study). Buying a new guitar and then giving up is a HUGE LOSS when it comes to selling it again...at least 50% depreciation when it's out of the guitar store.
At the Blue Ridge BR 43 has doubled in price 10 since 2017! You mentioned a good thing in here regarding Dreadnaught guitars... I can't tell you how many times I've had female students absolutely dislike that body shape.
Me too. I tried the Martin Dreadnaught Jr. . Very nice sound! But the shape of it killed me. I’m 5 feet tall. Even the Jr. was too big.
I watched this video and others like it before buying my first guitar, and pretty much every one of them had the GS Mini in the top 2. So out of stubbornness I was thinking to myself "I'm not gonna get the GS Mini because it's too basic and everyone won't shut up about it"... Then I went to the store and played one. I ended up buying the floor model because I just fell in love with the guitar
EM P yeah I bought mine on a payment plan 😂 but it was a lot of money but I’m so happy I did it. It’s such a great guitar and it’s worth every penny
I second the segul recommendation. I own a simon and Patrick woodland pro parlor guitar ( also made by godin ). Any of the guitars made by godin are fantastic in both build quality ( useing canadain wood ) and sound. For there price they really are great. Go out and give any one of the godins family line a try. :)
Good review, thanks. When I started playing again, about 8 years ago, I bought an S6 which I traded in a couple of years ago. Although I now play more expensive guitars, much more expensive, I do miss that S6!
Thanks for letting us know an average price that really helps
He says while wearing a Martin Co. T-shirt. Lol.
Ive owned a few and played all these. Fully agree with this video Tony
Thanks, Tony, good list. If you are looking at 000 the Yamaha FS800 is a great option. Exact same specs as the FG800 but in 000 size.
I bought my son one last year when he just started playing. Just the right size and a great beginner guitar for kids
Mike Adams put a tusq nut and saddle in it . Get a set up done and it's even better .
Mike Adams: ya Yamaha is a great guitar to start out with. i see alot of people trolling on different TH-cam channels about Yamaha and other budget guitar companies, and i think people sometimes forget that Yamaha started out making acoustic guitars in the mid 50's, long before they started making electric guitars in the late 70's. im not saying American guitar brands are not good, but i think some people overrate the name on the headstock because of all the famous acoustic and electric guitar players over the years, and because it has so much history in music that your buying a piece of history. so i know that there are some well made american brand guitars, but i've also played some guitars that were expensive and i was not impressed with the sound, and some guitars are just too expensive for the price to justify buying. im 32 years old born 1985 and i know that cheap budget guitars back in the 80's and 90's were not well made, but over the last 5 to 10 years companies like Squier, Epiphone, and Yamaha are much better build quality and for a fraction of the cost of a name brand guitar. i have a Taylor guitar at home, but i remember paying almost $950 dollars back in 2010 and that Taylor guitar was one of there entry level guitars. it's a good guitar, but my god the price was high. i have a 2014 Gibson Les Paul Tribute at home that i paid less for. $699 is not cheap, but it's reasonable for a name brand guitar that plays really well. it's not my first Gibson Les Paul, my first was in 2006. it was a Les Paul Studio. i paid $899 for that one, and i have a 2010 Les Paul Standard. that one was about $1200, that's my most expensive guitar i ever bought. i started on a Epiphone SG. i got that guitar in 2000, i was 15 at the time. but hopefully your son is enjoying his Yamaha acoustic guitar.
Taylor GS mini are now almost $800 in Canada. I got mine for $500 a few years ago .
ya they have gone up in price
Excellent! This is exactly what my experience has been! I️ think that the Taylor Academy series needs to make the list! Fabulous construction, hard bag, light strings, short scale, arm rest, satin finish, AND the dread is 15/16 body shape to make it a touch easier to play. They’re designed for beginners, but stores couldn’t barely keep them in stock this year. Check them out!
As a long time purveyor of inexpensive dreadnaughts, I appreciate the love for sub 4 figure guitars. If you (or a friend who plays helping a beginner shop) look around there are some $150-$500 specimens that work as well as some fancier models costing 5 times as much. These are the ones I and many other players look for. They're also good for having something playable where you would never take your one-off hand built beauty, or learning about set up and maintenance..
Agree on the Seagull S6. Loved it from the first few strums.
Whoa you put a GS Mini over an S6! I want, nay, need to play one of these now.
After months of researching I bought an S6. It's a lovely guitar. Very happy. I also have a Yamaha FG700S bought in the early 80's. It looks nothing like the entry-level FG700S or 800. It looks like the Gibson Hummingbird with the block inlays and similar pick guard and bound neck and body. I paid $420 back then.
The Alvarez AD30 is amazing for the price...that FST2 forward shifted bracing makes a huge difference...more volume and richer tone than the Yamaha FG800 in my humble opinion !
The instrument shopping world has gotten me stuck in analysis paralysis limbo many times spending even months trying to find just that right one. This kind of thing narrows it all down enough to be manageable and is comforting knowing that none of these guitars are of outright bad quality and anyone of them is a fine choice.
I have 4 Taylor’s in my my family. Two Taylor gs mini koa. I couldn’t agree more. If I only had one guitar it would probably be a gs mini.
I love your choice. I totally agree with you for GS and S6 choice. Thank you for make me know the others. Benoit from France
So glad Yamaha bumped up the displacement on the FG700S. All it really needed was just that little bit more torque.
great list, i don't know how Cort Acoustic guitar availability in US. but with 500$ you can get Cort acoustic with solid Adiondack Top and solid mahogany back. check Cort L300V
Ibanez AE245JR. Beautifully built. It's a "junior" sized guitar, so easier for beginners to handle. (About the same size as the Baby Taylor). Wonderful detail on its fingerboard. Sounds great, plays easy, and its an acoustic/electric. $399. Get one!
Before starting the video, I thought surely a Seagull would be there!
Glad Alvarez made it on a list. I love my Alvarez AD70. Sounds big and has knocked out some Martin's as well.
I have one too, and I agree - it sounds just as good as some Martins, and like you say, probaby better than a few.
Make an updated version of best guitar under 1000 but have like 3 guitars in each body size
So like 3 concert/00.
3 OM/000/auditorium
and 3 Dreads/jumbos
Where i live, i can only DREAM of getting a Taylor GS mini.
The used ones here are around $700.
And the new ones start at $750.
I now leave with 'In dreams' by Roy Orbinson
As the Outro.
Same here, I don't know why but in my country all American made guitar's prices are raised like 200$ more.
Tony, you should check out Tanglewood Guitars in the UK. Outstanding guitars in their price bracket.
Hey, Tony. Just subbed. Love what I've seen so far. My personal recommendation for a beginner is a Fender DG-60. I've had one for a few years now and I love it. Super good quality for the price. Keep up the content!
I have a Yamaha FG 720 S...i added bone nut & saddle and wood pins. I think it's a great beginner guitar. In my opinion you have to have at least a solid wood top. Back & sides not that important for the extra money it will cost.
Taylor GS Mini, yay! Just won it during TAC livestream, hopefully it's already on its way! Can't wait!
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE review some of the Orangewood guitars. Would LOVE a comparison of the GS Mini to the Orangewood Oliver Jr
I'm hearing good things about Orangewood guitars.
I decided to buy one just to check it out. I got the Rey Spruce, very, very, very affordable guitar. It was worth every penny. I can recommend it. I've been playing guitar for 40 years, had many. I even have a Taylor 912. The Taylor is better, but, it ain't 50 times better. Yes, you could buy around 50 of the Rey's for what that one guitar costs. I may order another one now that I've seen the quality of the inexpensive one. Oh, and the Orangewoods come with a darn nice gig bag. It is included in the price. Also, let me mention another very good beginner guitar you might consider - the Jasmine S-34C. Another good bang for the buck guitar in my opinion.
I went in to pick up a Taylor 114ce for 1150 CAD but picked up a seagul s6 original slim for $400 CAD Instead and I must say it is an absolutely amazing guitar, I also own the mahogany gs mini which I think has a little better playability but the s6 just has such a great tone to it, absolutely love it and saved 750 dollars lol
Why have y'all avoided the orange woods
Surprised that sigma didnt make the list. Their guitars are phenomenal
They're not really available in the US currently.
David McKean Serious? In Italy they are everywhere
Yeah i have 4 Sigma guitars. Just love em, but as already mention they're not available in the US.
Last year I needed an electric-acoustic and a Sigma was the only one that made a click on me! The DMC-15E model. I tried every guitar available in my city between 300-500€ and it was the best. If you wanted something better you needed to reach 800 for a Martin.
1994savvas Thing is sigma guitars are constructed better than cheap martins. They have rosewood fingerboards and bridges while martin uses some kind of artificial material, and sigma uses bone nuts and saddles, while martin uses plastic. Sigma are in every way better in contruction and quality than a cheap martin, and they feel better as well
If anyone's looking for a some GREAT capo options, check out this post!:
jelift.com/guitars/kava-legend-pro-capo/
I know you can't include everybody but Harley Benton guitars from Thomann in Germany are pretty good in this range, and they run from 100-400
I remember when I got my Seagull s6 original i got it online for $503.18
I noticed a couple years later they went up to $800. I personally don't really consider it as a beginner guitar. It's a absolute gem.
Considering the price hike I think seagull thinks more of the model. even at $800 it's worth the investment
I was considering the FG800, but I found the reviews on the Ephiphone DR-100 to be on par with the FG800 at a lower price. Picked up the DR-100 for $179 off Amazon, had it setup locally with Elixr strings, and absolutely love it. Great beginner guitar
Everything I paid $179 Canadian. At current exchange rates, that’s around $139 US. I also live in Newfoundland, and the DR-100 is priced at $199 pretty much everywhere. Wish there was a guitar Center here. Closest we have is Long and McQuade, and it’s $199 there too
Everything I checked Guitar Center website, and the DR-100 is listed as $188 Canadian.
Everything On Sam Ash the DR-100 is listed at $139 US. Based on those prices, I don’t think I overpaid
Everything A solid wood guitar might sound better to someone who plays well and can tell the difference. But for a beginner clobbering the notes like myself, the difference in sound isn’t worth the extra $100.
Here’s what the DR-100 sounds like with me playing. Besides my crappy playing, I’m happy with the sound of the guitar. th-cam.com/video/84KotB13TCU/w-d-xo.html
Absolutely loved to see the GS Mini on your list, although mine came in right around 600 for the mahogany top and sides, I absolutely fell in love with it on a trip to AZ. Paired with the elixir strings it emits an incredibly warm tone and is super comfortable to play. Granted I still jump back to my Fender T-Bucket occasionally, the GS Mini is definitely my baby.
I was wondering if the Seagull S6 was going to make this list, because it should and I'm happy to see that it did. I bought a cheap guitar when I was 16 to see if I liked learning and playing and when I found that I did, I bought a Seagull S6 a year later after going to a mom and pop guitar place and being told all about these guitars. I fell in love with my S6 then and over 15 years later, it sounds so much more incredible than when I bought it new. It does have more dings than I can count at this point (lol), but I wouldn't sell it for 5x it's original price. It's amazing value and quite frankly, Seagull could sell these guitars for 700-800 dollars based on look and especially sound.
Been playing for about 50 years.....always liked Seagull guitars......just bought one.....playability is great.....looks good.....sounds really good...worth every penny.....I have a bunch of guitars....some pretty expensive....Seagull holds its own....
Orangewood
Great, Tony. My first guitar was a Seagull M6 Spruce purchased at the Different Strummer. I think they guy who sold it to me was Ed (?). Older guy and super nice (like everyone at the store).
I sold my gs mini mahogany and a recording king parlor guitar and bought a Martin 0015m for $950. Best decision. I’ve also owned a $500 guild gad dread. Not nearly the tone and feel of my Martin. Save your pennies and drop $1k. You won’t regret it.
Jamie Marshall I started with a used Martin DRS1. Then I bought a Yamaha fsx700sc, fell in love with the size and sound. Sold my DRS1 for $150 more than I paid, and bought a used Martin 000-18. I agree with you, save your pennies, go big! I'm probably done for a decade now, but I've got the guitar I wood have ended up with eventually just without the 5-10 in betweeners.
Now if only I knew how to play the guitar. . . 🤦♂️🤣
Great list. I'd have put the Martin D Jr. on it though - a solid wood Martin you can get for $450 is incredible bang for the buck. You mentioned that the Seagull is a guitar that'll last well into your guitar journey (and it is - I love my low-end Entourage Rustic even after I've been playing for decades), but an all-solid Martin fits that description even more!
What about fender cd60s??
Breedlove Discovery series is amazing as well!
Thanks for finally getting to this. Too late though, I've already bought a Dean that I'm happy with. I am looking for a smaller travel size now, and that Taylor looks great!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hmmm... Orangewood didn't make your list?
I've played for more than 30 years and have found their entire line to be exceptional for the price... also each is less than $400.
I have the Seagull S6! Made by Godin....awesome Tone. Found it in a flea market for $40!
My beginner guitar cost 38 dollars, lol! The Yamaha FGX800C at 299 is a great guitar. Got one for my wife and it plays better than my 1985 Alvarez DY74C.
Harley Benton, housebrand of Thomann. Great guitar for the money. Solid cedar top and solid mahogany back and sides for 299 euro.
I own an Alvarez AD70. Alvarez is a wonderful brand
A word about those plastic shell guitars that were popular back in the 70s, and were advertized by Esteban?
Got the GM mini Spruce about 2 years ago, play it some but never really worked at getting better on the guitar, guess I need to start somewhere. I am surprised to see the GM mini as #1. I have a couple of Guitars, including 2 Bass guitars. I think I will be getting rid of some of my guitars and spending the money on lessons and more time playing. LOL go figure. I am ADD and can't seem to stick to one instrument. I guess I just need to focus on just one, just like golf it's not the clubs it's the practice.
A little bit over $500 but Martin X series is the best for beginners, intermediate, or professional players for its price range
Hey Tony I was gonna sign up for your free workshop until I seen the date and time. 12 o clock on a workday is not gonna a guy like me w a blue collar job. How bout weekend workshop for people who have real jobs. Thanks bro.
Joe, You are welcome to pick an on demand time that works for you so you can still get all the info :-)
The alvarez ad30 really sounds vetter than the yamaha fg800?
Regarding the GS Mini, Mahogany over Koa or even spruce? Of the ones I tried in the store, the mahogany sounded dull in comparison. Maybe the strings?...
The KOA is $800.
Hi Tony. I was a bit confused when you showed a BR43 with a cutaway from the rear, does this mean that the BR43 is either?
I also noticed that no cutaway guitars are featured, is there any reasoning behind that?
Ian, Sorry no confusion meant there, it was the best picture we found during the editing. The standard BR43 is a non-cutaway instrument. Most of these instruments with the exception of the GS-mini are available in cutaway form for an additional cost (they usually come with pre-installed electronics as well :-)). I chose the non-cutaway versions to keep the list nice and tidy. Thank you for watching!!!
thanks for that! .. now to continue with the battle of the barre chords day 1!
I’m a beginner looking for an easy guitar to manoeuvre. What’s the difference between Travel, concert and 3/4? Also, should I get Nylon or Stee strings. I’m 5’11 and would like to play music by Mumford and Sons, The Lumkneers, Sean Mendez, Lauryn Hill, Ed Sheerin etc
Awesome . I’ve kept my 72 Martin d28S . A 5 electrics
Ho Tony! I'm little late for this video but I have a request. For a shy player there is a little sized body guitar with small voice but great tone? Thank you very much!
u forgot the takamine gd20 with solid cedar top. And also Guild D240E. Both within that price bracket.
Epiphone Pro-1 Ultra. Love that one.
I really love seagull thanks for the tip and nice video
I would love to see a review of the Taylor 224ce-K DLX and 220ce-K DLX. For $1500, I don’t think I’ve owned a better guitar.
I have GS mini as a beginner,I am enjoying it
I have been trying to get a bigger guitar
All the ones I tried F370,FS 800,FG820 appear so inferior to GS mini
Dont know which one to buy next?
Any suggestions to upgrade from GS mini please?
Do you know where I can get that T-Shirt?
I'm not really a beginner but I'm also not advanced... I used to play and I'm picking it up again so I'm kind of relearning which is a bit faster than learning for the first time so I don't want to buy a strictly beginner guitar since I'm advancing a bit quickly but I don't want to spend all my money (my first guitar actually belonged to my brother and he's moving out of town so he's taking it with him and I need my own!) any recommendations?
....forr you... 500$ is a... Begginer guitar, WHATT?
Yeah that's what I was thinking. A lot of videos say "Beginner guitars for £500" and my acoustic when I started was £60. Also it confuses me because it makes me think I can't buy that guitar cos it's a "beginner guitar" so I think that it's not aimed at intermediates.
Right. Totally agree.
It’s so you commit to owning a guitar if it’s super cheap you’re more willing to give up and say oh well 60 bucks down the drain but if it’s 400 bucks down the drain it’s different
Where and Lefty Frizzell died the only guitar he had was an old Yamaha with a hole in it and a decal Over the Hole. That Yamaha that Lefty had sitting down in Tennessee mind yes about a 40 year old Yamaha but she aged real nice is he got one hell of a sound to her
Have you tried a Yamaha f325d? It's a cheap Guitar for 220$ and it sounds amazing and feels really nice. It's also my first and only aucostic Guitar
What about a Jasmine S34C Acoustic Guitar? Is it a good guitar to start with?
Out of these guitars, what one has a better tone for classic rock like zeppelin and punk rock like sublime, RHCP?
Tony, where can one get a copy of the Martin to English, English to Martin nomenclature dictionary? They create just an overwhelming array of cryptic model designations. How does on learn to speak the language?
can any give me a idea what guitar should i buy. i like smaller guitar at the same time good sound and not to expensive.
Great video as always, could you do another one same price point but for intermediate guitars please. I hear of lots of guitars that are classed as beginner guitars but play and feel great, the fact that it’s classed as beginner makes me wonder if it will be outgrown pretty quickly for someone who has already been playing a while. Thanks
Lol And I'm sitting over here with a Fender DG-60 that I bought on sale for $115-ish roughly 4 years ago. I ultimately want a beautiful Taylor one day. Preferably a cutaway that'll allow me to get to the upper frets.
Alvarez AD30 is the top guitar from this list.
Would anyone in the comments know about left handed VS. right handed acoustics? Are there certain brands that offer one and not the other? I can use both hands, but prefer my left, so I don’t know what I would do about that purchasing my fist guitar🙃
Personally I would go with Seagull Entourage Mini Jumbo($320ish) instead of S6.
I love my Seagull Entourage Mini Jumbo, got it used for $189 incredible tone and playability, looks cool too...vintage western vibe.
Yamaha cracking the Top 5 with their FG800 (Made In China green label) series was a no-brainer. Almost ashamed to call them "beginner" guitars because they're constructed far better than the respective prices they're listed at. Glad that Alvarez made the list as well with their highly underrated AD line. Almost bit on an AD60L before finally settling for the Yamaha FG820L due to the online seller offering a free in-depth setup for the latter as part of the package. One quality guitar under $500 that I felt should've gotten Top 5 consideration is the Ibanez AW54. Heard some really nice things about that one especially...
;-)
Hey Tony, have you ever tried the masterbilt series from epiphone?
Alejandro Mosqueira Excellent guitars. I also have a Epiphone AJ 220S VS and i absolutely love it. I played every acoustic guitar under 300 at Guitar Center and I had to take tis one home with me. Make sure you get one made in Indonesia if you go for it.
I am a beginner and have the epiphone dr 100.Looking to get another guitar to step up.Any suggestions.
Hi Tony i want know what your opinion about Japanese 70's Epiphone Acoustic guitars, iam interesed in buy one,thnx!!!
there are $500 guitars that sound as good as 1k-2k guitars. take 600 bucks and visit 5-6 guitar stores and play every guitar in each store. you will eventually be surprised one of em will punch above their weight class. you’ll be happy when you get a 400-600 guitar that sounds as good as a 2k taylor or 4k martin. biggest tip take someone with you who can play.
The br43 is going for @$650 currently. :P I got an orange wood Oliver with Martin strings sounds peachy.