Tony's Top 3 Guitars Under $1000 (Live Q&A)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.พ. 2025
- I get this question all the time "what's the best guitar under $1000" so in this live hangout I'm going to share my top recommendation for each type of player. Bring your questions because I'm here to help you find the best guitar for your unique style and situation.
7:34 Yamaha AC1M
9:26 Taylor 114A
11:21 Martin DRSGT
18:22 Gibson J-15
Skip to the three guitars:
Yamaha AC1M 8:26
Taylor 114E 9:30
Martin DRSGT 11:21
***** thanks
+James Haire Thank you!
+James Haire THANK YOU!
James Haire Thanks!!! I was going nuts!
Thanks chatty fellow,,lol
Thanks so much Tony for taking the time to share this with us. I love informal stuff like this where folks share their knowledge & experience. Always love watching your vids. To add to this, my fave sub $1000 guitars are: Guild GAD 50 dread (solid spruce top, solid rosewood back & sides), Seagull Entourage Mini-jumbo, Seagull Natural Elements dread, Ibanez Artwood AC300 grand concert, Durango B-46 dread, & Fender DG22-S dread...all incredible for the price! Thanks again! Janine
I'm just under a year late on this video ( may 2016) but I enjoy your shows and find them helpful and informative. Thanks for your efforts!
Seagull S6 Original, $500. Cedar top, Canadian wild cherry back and sides. Beautiful contender for under $1000. I'm so happy with my purchase. I would highly recommend it for anyone looking for under a grand. cheers! great video!
I agree that the Seagulls are good. I also like the less expensive Larrivees are good (D-03, OM-03, etc.). They're creeping up in price, but good used one can be had for well under $1000.
David Ploss s6 is the best guitar under $ 1000
David Ploss I made my purchase more recently and found my S6 by mistake. These guys never talk about Seagull but I would put it against any one of these other guitars.
Mike PJ10 I think the seagull s6 is better than any of these. I have one
Eastman e1om better than s6
Thanks for these EXTREMELY useful videos!! I "dabbled" as a teen with playing, now 30 years later, I was inspired to pick it back up. I started up 6 months ago and have literally not put it down!!! From not knowing there was even a different way of tuning the guitar, to where this journey has led me to today...well...night and day. With the plethora of information out there, some fact, some opinion, I find you spot on!! You have helped me weed through so much....Thank You!!!
I bought a DRSGT a year ago, totally love this guitar, well worth every penny I spent on it. Highly recommend to everyone.
Tony. Not to undermine your choice of guitars for under a thousand bucks, but I just purchased an Alvarez MD75S (Masterworks series) all 'solid' wood guitar, which was a manufacturer's refurbished for $600 US dollars + $60 for a HSC shipped to 'Canada'!
I have to say in all honesty, that it easily compares to my Martin DCPA4 and my Larrivee D-40 in every way of sound and build! I am very particular about my guitars and I can, without a doubt, highly recommend this guitar to anyone interested in buying a stellar guitar for under a grand. No B.S.! Even my neighbour who is a long time guitarist was absolutely blown away by the exceptional tone and construction.
Do yourself a favour before you pull the trigger on purchasing a guitar, give this make a serious look. You will not regret it. I believe there is a video here on TH-cam with a guy promoting an Alvarez PD91S, which is similar in a way to the MD series guitars. Give it a listen and be the judge yourself. Just saying...
Thanks, Tony. You're very patient and informative. I've learned a lot from your TH-cam posts.
I had a Blueridge dread that I played on tour in the early 90's that was fabulous. Comparable to a $1500 Martin dread.
Here you loud and clear,Tony! Great work!
I say a big thank you , for beginners picking a guitar is a minefield, after watching this I bought a Yamaha ac 1 m and absolutely impressed and have no regrets Here in Australia they cost a few hundred dollars more than in us, I'm happy with my decision
i just picked up a yamaha fg700s at a pawn shop almost new for $110. i remember watching this guide and i thought that model was the one you mentioned. i came back here and it was. thanks alot for the info
Between you and Greg Koch, I could listen to guitar talk all freakin' day! Thanks!
After listening to several different brands walked out with a Yamaha fgx830c didn't look back
The PRS Angelus SE is a great Guitar too ! I Would recommend it to anyone . (the gloss neck might be a problem for some but for me it's just fine)
***** Very dissapointed that the PRS was not included in this. I believe the Angelus SE sounds better than most of these guitars, is only $599, and includes a hardshell case.
***** Very fine sand paper will cure the neck, or pay a luthier to do it for you !! Problem solved ;) www.premierguitar.com/articles/Sanding_Your_Guitar_Neck_for_a_Smoother_Feel
I didn't know about this... just got in around 12:45EST. Can't wait to watch from the start.
Thanks! I appreciate your demonstrations and commentary
I've been watching your videos most of this evening. I believe I'm leaning towards a Hummingbird. The head to head comparisons really helped me out. Thanks!!
So far so good...and well, I love your hair...Also, your guitar analysis over the years are extremely helpful and packed with great info. I am however, at this venue interested in the inspiration for your tattoos....Cheers Tony.
Awesome live show. I was fooled thinking it was still live when I sent my question- THEN noticed the date. Great round up and q&a.
Thanks for answering my question so quickly.
I'm looking at a whole slew of manufacturers. I'm interested in larravee and Eastman 00 guitars with inch and a half nut widths. Thanks for you help and generosity.
Good guitars! My favourite under $1000 guitar, is a Seagull Maritime Mini-Jumbo SWS. Not fancy...but the (Canadian) build-quality is excellent!
I guess I'll just sit here quietly...for 12 days...I'm so lonely.
brandon switzer So...many...days...
Thanks, You are an Inspiration to all musicians, I myself have been playing guitar for 37 years, and I have to say I really didn't listen to the sounds of woods and tones until I was going to buy high Dollar Guitar. you have shown me what to look for. Thank you for your acoustic Letter. Sincerely, Eddie from
Pocahontas, Arkansas
Hello AL channel! I have never seen on Acoustic Letter any evaluation about Seagull guitars, like S6 or Artist Mosaic QII. I think it would be very interesting... Thank you!
No question but Chad is a friend of mine and also a great mando player as well. You are fortunate to have him!!
What a GREAT hangout! A LOT of interesting questions. This may have been the best one yet (although I know it's not a TAC hangout). Could this be because there were more people at this one or was it because the topic was a bit more focused than TAC hangouts and prompted people to ask questions around the topic? MORE please! AND THANKS!
I love your youtube specials you are so funny and entertainning.
I really love your work, and reviews
Nice work!
Recently paid $598 for an immaculate AC3M...Sunburst... Awesome guitar... Need to put a bone nut and saddle but... Wow! Solid top, solid sides and back!
They are up to 800 now, but actually I found the AC1M to be really good. Much better than their FG830
I bought a DRS-2 three years ago. This is my final update. The down side of this guitar that I noticed right away was that it wasn't balanced across all the strings - the bass string were louder than the treble strings. The basic tone of the guitar was fine - actually sounds like a Martin. I'm not crazy about the "modified low oval" Martin neck, or the usual 16" fretboard radius - but, you will find those on most Martins of any price. After I decided that the guitar was a keeper - took me a couple years, I'm slow with decisions - I decided to remove the pickup and all the electronic stuff inside the guitar. That I did yesterday. I found that because of there having been an under-saddle pickup, the slot in the bridge was deeper than usual. A drop-in Martin type Tusq saddle (13/32" in height) therefore gave me action slightly too low. But I seemed to hear better response from the high E and B strings than I was hearing with the PU under the saddle. I decided to shim the saddle with a 0.8 mm strip of Delrin 150 (plastic sheet I had for making my own picks). This material produced what to me were bright sounding picks, a bit too bright, so I figured it could possibly improve the balance string to string by bringing up the treble strings. Perhaps it did - (something did). Anyway, the guitar is now balanced string to string, and the action is just right. I don't like pickups in acoustic guitars, so that one is in a parts drawer.
I have 3 Bedell acoustics, pre 2010 models. American company, but made in their own factory in China. All solid woods, solid Sitka over Indian Rosewood, Adirondack Spruce over figured mahogany, and Canadian red cedar over African Sapele, all dovetail necks. the build quality is fantastic and they sound-
TOTALLY AWESOME! Bedell blew them out a few years back because they merged with Breedlove. I got mine for under $400 thru Sam Ash. street price was well over $1500. you can still find used ones for around $600, and are totally worth the money. all solid woods!
I bought a Martin D15M at Guitar City on sale for $985. Nice deep tone. I love it.
you rock ! keep it up , excellent job
My guitars are relatively pricey, but the challenge is finding a good entry level acoustic that stays in tune with good intonation for my students. Also, many students are not old enough to hold (yet alone play) a dreadnaught guitar. I have found that the Yamaha FS-series small body guitars work pretty well. Also, a good luthier can set these up to play even better.
Hey you sound great I love your videos Happy holidays
Like your reviews. Didn't know you are a Blackhawks fan. Very cool.
Hi, Based on your review and a past love of Martins, I have purchased a Martin DRSGT. Thank you! I am happy with this guitar. It has that rich bass sound that seems unique to Martin and yet the mid and treble comes out too. . Having the onboard electronics is a nice added feature. Chad
I know that this is an old topic, but I have a strong opinion, so here goes... First of all, I don't know why anyone would buy a new guitar, then have to wait 10 years or so for it to open up nicely. Maybe that's another topic for TAC?
I just saw a 2006 Martin SWOMGT for sale on Ebay, for $700.00. (They are now selling new for about $1700.00.) This is a GREAT deal on a much-better-than-the-price-would-suggest guitar. Solid cherry back and sides, Sitka top, scalloped X-bracing, etc., etc. It has a beautiful, "buttery" sound that falls somewhere between mahogany and rosewood to my ears. Definitely worth a lesson!! (Or see Tony's positive review).
Would it be possible to put the guitars played in this hangout (and future hangouts) in the description. (I was just going to try and watch their reviews).
Teton makes a great line of guitars. The STS205NT is solid cedar top, solid mahogany backs and sides, and plays like an absolute dream.
Hi Tony,
I am a relatively new player. Age is 73. I love my Martin OMCPA4 and know a few songs by heart. Frankly, I watch your reviews and can't tell the difference between my guitar and the much more expensive Martin D18. My hands are small and so am I, so the size of a guitar matters. What others would you suggest for someone like me that don't cost a fortune?
C. Martin R GS mini Taylor Mahagony or Koa
I would second that, if you don't mind that it is quiet. I found them too quiet. But if you don't mind that, I would say they are the best guitar sound for the money period. I don't know how they do it.
I really like your stuff, keep dm coming
My first guitar was a Fender San Miguel left handed acoustic. I got it for 150 including a case, strap and some tools to intonate it.
I recommend old 90s fender acoustics they are easy to find and pop up frequently on eBay for less than $400.
I'm listening to you webcast in the middle of the desert in Saudi Arabia. Thanks
Do you get to check out any Dowina guitars over there in the states? These are absolutely superb guitars made in a small boutique in the Czech Republic.
I just tried out and bought an Ashton D20 because it sounded so good and played so well - I think it's under $100 if you look around!!! Now most of my instruments are from the other end of the cost spectrum i.e. Martin D28, Gibson J 45, Guild D50 and so on and I still cannot quite believe I HAD to buy it. But I did!!
Hi Tony, i Learn a lot whit your acoustic letters............Excelent Comments regards from Guadalajara, Jalisco Mexico
really like that riff you always play - got it tabbed out anywhere by chance??
good video, Im thinking of buying a new acoustic. The epiphone EJ-200CE i've heard is a real bang for your buck. My budget is probably going to be around 500 dollars (give or take since i live in europe.) It would be really nice to hear any thoughts on the EJ or any suggestions on better options from you guys.
Keep the good videos comming :)
Hey loved the video, Is it possible to record these live Q&As with another set of cameras and audio so you upload the video with higher video and sound quality? I'm not a video guys just throwing a random suggestion :)
I have been playing my Walden G630CE for almost 5 years now and I highly recommend it, if your budget for acoustic guitar is under 1000$. There's many more models also by Walden under 1000$ that I recommend, like 1000 series dreadnought D1030, whitch comes with solid western red cedar top and solid indian rosewood back/sides or 2000 series dreadnought D2040 which has solid sitka spruce top, solid african mahogany back/sides. Of course there are grand auditorium models in those series I mentioned, which are also under 1000$.
fantastic review ! really appreciate it !
epiphone masterbilt dr500mce is it worth?
thanks for all your videos tony! I watched most of them. I totally agree with you on your selections for under $1,000.00 - I smiled when you brought out the Yamaha fg700, i think thats the best sounding guitar in its price range hand down! I play it every time i go to guitar center!
What is the alike OM model to the Dread HD35 that he said is very good for different styles in one guitar?
Great video people!
Like the live session, you should do them more. Also, the DRSGT has solid sapele back and sides, not laminate as you referred to them here. Glad you included that guitar, I think it's one of the better 1000 options out there, but gets ignored by most.
I live in England and travelling to the US at the end of the month before Australia. What are your tips for travelling with my Gibson Keb Mo? So scared they are going to try and make me put it in the hold.
Thanks for doing these comparisons, these are the most accurate match-ups, apples to apples. The video quality is a bit flaky. The visual and the audio do not seem to be perfectly in sync. The acoustic quality of the room seems not to be optimal. Maybe the room is too small, the bass response on the guitars sounds a bit overwhelming and crunching at loud volumes.
We should make note of the fact that technology & accuracy have advanced to the point where if you are willing to spend $500 or above for a new guitar, your chances of getting a guitar that is "in range" are better than ever before. This is due mainly to competition from many luthiers. Any of us stands a better chance for "out of the box" acceptability based on a guitars intended purpose.
I can personally vouch for taylor 114e. I bought the 114e grand auditorium and im in love with it. Its loudness and brightness is perfect for my finger picking ways. Also, highly recommend sticking to the elixir light phosph. strings (.12-.53)
Don't you also loose a little resonance with the bracing on the solid wood back and sides? Whereas with the laminate, there is no bracing and there is a curved back (at least as far as the Taylors are concerned) allowing maybe for a little more movement, volume, and sound projection. I think that maybe the problem with the laminate may only be due to the fact that Taylor is using a poplar wood core and then coating it with a nicer tone wood for appearance and probably some sound coloration. If Taylor would use a better tone wood core for the laminate, I think that you might get an even better sound than the solid wood guitars with bracing -- this of course would raise the cost. It's just a theory, but I think that it would make for an interesting experiment -- I don't know if Taylor would be up for making a prototype like this.
Exactly what I needed - thanks!
Been VERY happy with my Seagull M6-bought new in 2005, $500+/- with TRIC case, added an LR Baggs i-beam($140), -and it's made in Canada!
We are all familiar with how Gibson and Martin guitars mature with age. I am curious about how a Taylor guitar would age considering that they are so bright when new. Does the top end mellow with age? Does the mid and lower end develop. I love the feel and sound of a Gibson songwriter unplugged however I love the sound of the Taylor guitars plugged in.
hi tony! i'm been thinking that the taylor 114e should have the honor of being my second guitar (or my uppgradeguitar). I was a bit surprised when you said that it was a smaller body! i didn't notice that i all when i played it in the local music store. Or is it just a tiny bit smaller?
ps. im not really into the technicalities of guitar as much as the playing hehe, in case this was a dumb question :)
Coming in loud & clear !
awesome video!
Great to hear you
Thoughts on FMI vs. Bone vs. Ivory for an OMJM saddle. Want something warm cause flat picking and strumming with picks brighten the tone up a lot.
the epiphone masterbuilt aj45me is all solid woods, all of the epiphone masterbilt line r worth looking at, also the epiphone inspired by Texan is solid top and back, with laminate sides.
I would appreciate your review of the Morgan Monroe MV-EC-45/C Creekside. It's under a $1000. I recently inherited this guitar and it's quickly becoming my favorite. I don't think I'll ever like it more than my Martin DCPA4, but the Morgan sounds and plays great in my opinion. BTW, I love your videos. Keep'em coming please.
Curious that you chose all laminate back and sides guitars when there are many good all-solid wood options from companies like Blueridge, Recording King, Eastman and others. I have nothing against laminates -- one of my favorites is an Alvarez Yairi that I've been playing since 1986. I have found that guitar less affected by weather, humidity, etc., and has never needed a setup, whereas my solid wood guitars have needed more maintenance and luthier set-up work over the years. Seems more reliable and worry-free, and it sounds great. But my solid wood guitars have a bit punchier, fuller sound, and a bit more volume.
I have been playing guitar for the last 62 years and have some of the most sought after guitars and a few years ago I discovered the Epiphone guitars. For under $400 one can get a Dove or a Hummingbird w/electronics that sound great. What are your thoughts on the Epiphones?
+Jim Price Decent guitars but not nearly as well made as the Gibson stuff, or the Taylor, Martin, Larivee, etc.
faith guitars are tremendous value for the money, superb build and tone and all models are solid woods throughout
Hi Tony I can hear you look forward to your reviews Dianne
i just realized his tattoos on his arms are the same but they are opposite of each other and ive watched the acoustic letter since i started playing guitar a few years ago, actually helped me get my first guitar, Taylor 114ce, i did play for almost a year on my brothers old alverez, which was a nice guitar for the price.
have you tried the Norman ST68 and if so how does it rate against the Taylor and Martins you have just talked about?
Hey, how are you doing? Just caught this video for the first time. Very much enjoyed your thoughts and views in this video. Take care.
John
Temiskaming Shores, Ontario
Canada
Hi Tony, I saw that Cordoba has their first steel string Acero D9, built on Spanish heel instead of Dove Tail. Have you tried the guitar and what's your thought on it?
best guitar type and size for fingerstyle guitar? I'm a sixty year old blues guitarist making a switch. and it's amazing how little I know about acoustic guitars
Probably a 000 or 00 size with a wider fingerboard..... it's best to try different guitars to get an idea of what works best for you....
I only play short scale acoustic guitars, other than Taylor GS-Mini or Baby which I already have, what others would you recommend? I'd love to hear an independent review of Zager 4/5 parlor guitar?
Tony, what is your opinion of the Martin M-38? I heard one the other day and it sounded awesome. Wondering what your thoughts are?
Thanks
I would like to purchase a guitar with a narrower neck for easier playing specially when you have arthritis in your fingers and hands . So I find a slender neck is easier for me to play. I like a country bass full body sound. Which guitar do you think would be better choice
Thanks for the video, it is amazing. I like the Taylor personally but the Taylor is much more expensive than the Yamaha here in Japan. I am wondering if I should buy a Yamaha AC3M (the higher version of AC1M) other than Taylor 214ce cauce it is cheaper. What do you say?
I came across the acoustic letter after I ordered ....but I'm waiting on a zager zad20e, I wanted the 50 but I'm a lefty and they didn't stock many lefties. Do you have any opinion on zagers in general ? I just want to know if I just fell for the hype cause I was looking at some road series martins,(the one you showed in a lefty)first . But I didn't like , or I should say want the small nut width of 1.6875 " I think it was. Being a long term beginner I've had a hard time cleanly chording progressions . Being a lefty I can't try many or really any guitars ahead of time that I'd be interested in. So I'm sorta collecting guitars still searching lol
You should do a video about "beater" acoustic guitars. What are the best ones? How do you find them?
Yard Sales-a few years ago, my neighbor invited me over the night before his moving sale- his brother had left an acoustic which had literally never been out of the gig bag-it was a 'Marlboro Gear'-Chinese-made Martin copy-He sold it to me for$10, and threw in a lava lamp. I see those same guitars on ebay starting at $250....
When you're looking at the gs mini is it worth going the little extra for a koa or with rosewood? And is the gs mini good for pretty much everything?
What do you think of the new Paramount series from Fender ? I would like to buy an acoustic guitar and i have to choose between martin drs2 and the new Fender pM-1 deluxe .
Tony you are a star! Is that a fly in your beard...?
Any thoughts on Recording Kings? Made in China but all solid hand made guitars and under $1000. Eastman are great too but technically they are over $1000 when purchased new. What are your thoughts Tony?
I've got an RK parlor and I love it!
pshengcbr I played a dirty 30s parlor in guitar center and I loved it
pshengcbr I just recently bought a Recording King RNJ-26 Greenwich Village and I LOVE it. It's a small body, but with a deep body, and I think it's meant for fingerpicking mostly but it strums wonderfully too. It's basically a cheaper remake of the old Gibson Nick Lucas Specials from the 1920s and/or 30s. There's also a cheaper version called the RNJ-17 (It's cheaper because it's not all solid wood like thd 26 I think).
As for the Dirty Thirties series, I've played a few, and they're okay. But they are pretty low in price, and I think it shows in the sound, which is a little boxy, even in the OOO and dreadnought models. I'd save my money for a better one than the Dirty Thirties series, but I definitely recommend Recording King guitars.
I just bought a Martin DX1AE for $390.00 no tax at a pawn shop. It also came with a Martin Hardshell case which is not standard. Any opinion on the price and quality of this particular guitar?
cool...i got question.
i have budget for a T5 standard. shall i go for it or maybe get a just normal taylor accoustic and a gibson studio?..
T5 is really costly do not know if it is worthwhile.
Taylor 210 . Change the pins to bone. Best sound for the money. What you think?
Nick Masta Yes, Bone pins can add resonance & tone to the guitar. Good upgrade!
what is your thoughts on the Yamaha AC3R? I am thinking of buying it.😎
I had an AC1m and didnt like it at all. Just ordered a Blueridge br-160 , cant wait to get it.
Is saddle/bridge pin material that important to tone of the guitar? Which do you prefer and why?
Can't BELIEVE you haven't put in the blueridge BR-160A.....I've played all of those it it kills them all.
I've got a question I'm looking to buy a Martin (lower end) but I'm short 5'8 and I'm into old Merle Haggard all the way to Pearl Jam. What would you suggest for a short person to play the variety of music? Thanks
Recording King worth a look as well. A bit surprised you didn't mention the Yamaha AC3R. Well under 1K and a great guitar.
What is the significant difference between the Yamaha 750S and the AC1M? I'm on a budget (PhD student with 2 kids) -- note that I will, in all likelihood, not care about the pickup since I'm not going to do gigs probably ever.