Best Acoustic Guitar Under 1000 – The Complete Buyer’s Guide & Expert’s Picks
Acoustic guitars are excellent, period. Are you choosing the right one for you? That can be frustrating. With so many models on the market, this is not surprising. Since every guitar player should have an instrument they enjoy playing, we have decided to make this guide.
All the information you need to find a great acoustic guitar is on these pages. We’re talking tonewood, shapes, and more.
On top of that, we also chose five models tied for the title of best acoustic guitar under 1000. Without further ado, let’s get to it.
Best Acoustic Guitar Under 1000$ – Analysis & Award Winners
#1: Seagull Artist Mosaic
There’s a lot to be said about Seagulls. They are rare North American guitar manufacturers still producing guitars domestically. Best part? Their instruments are reasonably priced. Seagull Artist Mosaic is a truly incredible guitar.
Body & Neck
There are several reasons why this model deserves special attention. We’ll start by saying it’s a handmade instrument crafted by some of Canada’s best luthiers. It’s a dreadnought design that looks awesome. The choice of materials is also impressive.
We are discussing selecting cedar for the solid top and mahogany. The neck is mahogany as well and comes with a rosewood fretboard. Build quality is impressive and shows what handcrafted instruments are all about. With the new bracing design, you can count on getting a wholesome, solid tone.
Hardware
In terms of hardware, this guitar is pretty standard. You have a rosewood bridge combined with a Tusq nut and saddle. Tusq is a high-quality material made by Graph Tech and is the best substitute for bone. Tuners are Seagull’s design, but they work flawlessly.
Performance
Seagull Artist Mosaic gives you a beautiful tone. There’s a delicate balance between the lows and highs, with wholesome mids to complete the package. Volume is excellent, with lots of projection, allowing you to cut through a mix easily.
Pros
- Handmade in North America by skilled luthiers
- Best value for the money
Cons
- Strings are set low from the box, which some users might dislike
Editor’s Rating
- Neck – 9.8
- Hardware – 9.7
- Performance – 9.9
#2: Yamaha FSX730SC
Yamaha may not be as present in the guitar world as other brands; that’s no secret. However, when it comes to acoustic guitars, they are an authority. You will find many professionals and enthusiasts who only play Yamaha acoustic guitars. There’s a good reason for that.
Neck
The body of the FSX730SC features a solid Sitka spruce top combined with rosewood sides. The neck is a Nato piece with a standard rosewood fretboard on top. Overall, the whole package looks clean and feels solid. In terms of finishes, you are looking at Natural, Black, and Brown Sunburst options.
Hardware
Hardware is pretty standard on Yamaha FSX730SC. We mean a rosewood bridge, quality nut and saddle, and a set of great die-cast tuners. These components do a great job of retaining your tuning and intonation.
Yamaha FSX730SC comes packing a lot of heat thanks to its System56CB pickup and a preamp. This system belongs to the A.R.T series and is one of the better versions. With a three-band EQ, you will have many choices regarding tone shaping.
Performance
What Yamaha FSX730SC has to offer in the sound department is pure excellence. There is a lot of depth at the lower end, especially for a small body design such as this one. On the other hand, highs are crisp and well-defined. This way, you get the best of both worlds.
Once you plug it into an amp, the electronics kick in. The tone is almost authentic to the acoustic one you get. You can count on retaining the definition and the color of Yamaha FSX730SC’s natural sound.
Yamaha FSX730SC is a working man’s guitar. It has great build quality, excellent tone, and equally impressive electronics. While it does stand out due to its more petite body, we can only say that the tradeoff is worth it. That additional playing comfort is something many will appreciate.
Pros
- Great build quality
- Onboard electronics offering good performance
- Increased playing comfort
Cons
- Might need a setup job straight from the factory
Editor’s Rating Card:
- Body & Neck – 9.7
- Hardware – 9.7
- Performance – 9.8
Acoustic Guitar Under 1000 – #3: Martin DRS2
If there is one company that has impacted the acoustic guitar industry, it’s Martin. After all, they are the ones who invented the dreadnought body style. With that in mind, we bring you one of Martin’s best models in this market segment. Martin DRS2 represents everything Martin is known for and then some.
Body & Neck
Standard dreadnought style featuring a solid Sitka spruce top and a solid Sapele back and sides. The level of craftsmanship you expect from Martin is visible at every corner. The neck is a hardwood design with a black Richlite fretboard. Overall, this thing is built like a tank.
Hardware
There are few brands out there that pay attention to hardware, and Martin is one of them. Martin DRS2 sports a nut made of white Corian. On the other end of the business, we see a white Tusq saddle sitting on top of a black Richlite bridge. Tuning and intonation retention is on point.
The electronics you get is a set of Fishman Sonitone. This brand is up there regarding quality, and this model proves to be a real contender.
Performance
When dealing with Martin guitars, the sound is rarely an issue. DRS2 brings an outstanding balance of tone, which dreadnought is known for. When people talk about that ‘Martin sound,’ this is what they mean. You get excellent projection, lots of presence in all portions of the frequency range, and impressive definition.
Plug this bad boy into an amp or PA system, and Fishman takes over. The sound rendering is on point. The accuracy you get is good enough for any stage or live show. With a capable EQ, Fishman Sonitone gives you much maneuvering space.
Martin will always be a name you can trust to deliver quality in tone and construction. DRS2 is currently at the very top of mid-range dreadnought acoustics, and rightfully so.
Pros
- Great build quality and construction
- Great choice of materials
- Impressive tone, both acoustic and plugged-in.
Cons
- Only fundamental critique we can give this guitar is the choice of materials for the neck. Any wood could have been a better idea.
Editor’s Rating Card:
- Body & Neck – 9.8
- Hardware – 9.8
- Performance – 9.7
#4: Taylor 114ce
Taylor is the other elite brand in the world of acoustic guitars. They have been, and still are, making some of the best acoustic instruments you can find on the market. Taylor 114ce is among their more popular models and features everything you want to see in a quality guitar.
Body & Neck
Taylor 114ce features a Grand Auditorium shape. The tonewood for the solid top is Sitka spruce, while the back and sides are made of laminate Sapele. The neck is also a staple piece with a standard rosewood fretboard. This guitar’s cutaway is perfect, considering its larger size and extended lower bout.
Hardware
In the hardware department, Taylor took a no-nonsense approach. They’ve installed a quality nut and saddle made of artificial materials, which get the job done. The bridge is also a decent-quality piece that performs as expected. The electronics come in the form of a system that is very much like Taylor Pure Expression.
For the most part, it’s up there with the mentioned electronics. The only real difference is the range. However, it’s marginal.
Performance
If there is one thing Taylor guitars deliver every time, it’s the sound. Taylor 114ce packs a lot of thunder, which is not surprising considering it’s a Grand Auditorium. Lows are rich, deep, and warm, while the highs are crisp. Once you plug it in, the electronics amplify the already impressive tone. This is a perfect guitar for gigging and use with a band.
Pros
- Great projection and volume
- Thundering lows and well-defined trebles
- Capable on-board electronics
- Great build quality.
Cons
- The only real con is the laminate back and sides. You would expect all solid timber to be used for this money.
Editor’s Rating Card:
- Body & Neck – 9.6
- Hardware – 9.7
- Performance – 9.8
#5: Martin Performing Artist GPCPA5
The last model we want to show you is another Martin, this time a GPCPA5. It’s different from the one we discussed earlier in several ways, but they both have one thing in common. That is quality. Let’s take a quick look at this guitar.
Body & Neck
Martin GPCPA5 features a Grand Performance body shape with a cutaway. The choice of tonewood they went with includes a solid Sitka spruce top. The back and sides are made from mahogany patterned HPL, an artificial material. Even though Martin could have used natural wood, HPL keeps up in terms of performance.
The neck is a rust birch laminate design that sports the Performing Artist profile. It’s pretty smooth and fast while also being comfortable.
Hardware
Martin used a lovely White Corian and Tusq combination for the saddle and nut. The bridge is made of Richlite, and the package looks pretty good. Performance is there as well. You can count on excellent intonation and tuning retention.
Martin GPCPA5 comes with a set of Fishman F1 onboard electronics. This is a passive system, so there is no EQ or anything similar. However, that is not a flaw at all.
Performance
Sound GPCPA5 is capable of delivering can only be described as wealthy. This guitar packs a punch in every portion of the frequency range. Clinically accurate, GPCPA5 brings the definition necessary for professional use. Even though it’s not active, Fishman F1 does a great job of naturally rendering the guitar’s sound. You can do some tone shaping with the amp, so it’s still a flexible setup.
Pros
- Impressive sound and definition
- Great build quality
- Good electronics
Cons
- HPL is a good material, but it can’t replace a good solid tonewood.
Editor’s Rating Card:
- Body & Neck – 9.6
- Hardware – 9.7
- Performance – 9.7
Acoustic Guitar Under 1000 – Final Thoughts
The models we have shown you are among the best you can get. We tried to include a variety of body shapes, sizes, and guitar types. This way, you can almost certainly find something that fits your preferred acoustic guitar style.
We stuck with proven brands. That’s just the best way to ensure quality. Seagull is our personal favorite simply because it’s a fantastic value for the money. Plus, it’s one of the few guitars in this price range hand-made in North America. That means a lot when it comes to quality acoustic guitars.
If there is one tip we can give you when choosing the model for you, it’s to go with the best your money can get you. Chances are you won’t change guitars that often, so it’s better to get the best you can. Have you enjoyed this guide, “best acoustic guitar under 1000?” If so, share it and let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
