In this expert buyers guide, we help you find the Best Acoustic Guitar Under $1,000 that combines great sound, feel, and looks in a premium instrument.
The 5 Best Acoustic Guitars Under $1,000 Worth Every Cent
Top 5 Acoustics Under $1,000 Reviewed
1. Takamine GN93CE-NAT Nex Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar
2. Seagull Artist Mosaic Acoustic Guitar
3. La Patrie Collection Guitar
4. Blueridge BR-160 Historic Series Dreadnought Guitar
5. Seagull Maritime SWS SG Guitar
What Are the Benefits of Buying A Better Guitar?
Sound and design
Affordability
Visual Appeal
Compare These Featured Acoustic Guitars
Final Verdict: What’s the Best Acoustic Under $1000?
Editor’s Pick
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The 5 Best Acoustic Guitars Under $1,000 Worth Every Cent
Great Acoustic Guitars Comparison Chart:
Product | Best Feature | Rating | Relative Price |
#1 Overall Best ChoiceTakamine GN93CE-NAT Nex Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar | (4.7) | $$$ | |
#2 Best ValueSeagull Artist Mosaic Acoustic Guitar | (4.5) | $$$$ | |
#3 Spectacular ToneLa Patrie Guitar, Collection | (4.2) | $$$$ | |
#4 Price Increase :(Blueridge BR-160 Historic Series Dreadnought Guitar | (4.4) | $$$$$ | |
#5 All Solid ConstructionSeagull Maritime SWS SG Guitar | (4.2) | $$$ |
If you’re looking for the great acoustic guitars under $1,000, you’ll be thrilled to know you can find a reasonably priced premium instrument matching your expectations with great sound, feel, and looks.
Fine Acoustics Guitars Under $1,000 in Review
1. Takamine GN93CE-NAT Nex Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Includes famous Takamine electronics technology.
Takamine GN93CE-NAT Nex Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Takamine GN93CE Features
The Takamine GN93CE-NAT Nex Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar comes with a variety of features to meet your musical instrument needs including:
- Top is made of solid spruce
- Sides are rosewood
- Back is a three-piece, made out of rosewood/quilt maple
- Neck is slim, made out of mahogany has a 12″ radius
- Fingerboard is made out of rosewood; provides you with the ability to play and perform solos
- Comes with the TK-40D preamp system, which provides a built-in tuner, EQ for three instruments and gain controls, switch the mid contour, filter your sound and bypass the EQ
- Glossy natural finish
- Right handed guitar
- Measures 44” x 6” x 20”
Check Takamine GN93CE-NAT Nex Availability >>
GN93CE Summary
The Takamine GN93CE-NAT Nex Acoustic comes highly recommended for both beginners and more advanced players. Primarily because of how incredibly affordable it is. It’s one of the less expensive buys on our list, but also sounds just as good as any of the more expensive examples listed.
Being no slouch in quality acoustic guitar manufacturing, this exceptional Takamine model provides you with ultimate versatile playability both acoustically and electronically, the TK-40D EQ system built into the guitar is fantastic, and has a top-notch precision and is up to a high standard.
The only downside is that the Takamine GN93CE-NAT Acoustic-Electric does not come with a case, (but you can find one that fits here) and will be an additional cost on top of the guitar itself.
Takamine Nex Cutaway Acoustic-Electric in Review
What We Like
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- An Incredible look/feel (very rustic/wooden)
- Reasonably priced/affordable
- High quality
- Well-made
- Fantastic sound
- Electronics on board sound terrific
- Slim neck
- Easy to move fingers around the guitar
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What We Don’t Like
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- There really are no cons, it’s a great buy
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What Do Takamine Nex Acoustic-Electric Guitar Owners Think? >>
2. Seagull Artist Mosaic Acoustic Guitar
Simply a great combination of build quality, sound, and price.
Seagull Artist Mosaic Acoustic Guitar
Seagull Artist Mosaic Features
- Delivered as a six-string guitar with dimensions of 45” x 8.5” x 19”
- Weighs just 8 lbs.
- Made in North America
- Designed with a new rosewood bridge and fretboard
- Made of selected mahogany back and sides
- Comes with a hand-picked and pressure-tested solid top
- Has a new-style scalloped Adirondack spruce bracing
- Designed with premium gold-finished machine pegs
- Comes with a nice storage case
Check Seagull Mosaic Acoustic Guitar Availability >>
Artist Mosaic Acoustic Summary
Even though the Seagull Artist Mosaic Acoustic Guitar is less expensive than some of these higher-priced brands, it comes finished with beautiful appointments like its glossy top, tortoise-shell pick guard, and Indian rosewood headstock overlay, and truss-rod cover.
If you’ve played a high-end guitar that costs around $3,000 or so, then it’s time to check out this Seagull acoustic guitar for similar feel and sound. It is definitely among the best guitars in its price range.
You could possibly spend hours going through 100+ guitar reviews, and you’ll probably include the Artist Mosiac as one of the premium guitars on your checklist.
This is one guitar even the most demanding of professional players will find to their liking, and it’s only a matter of time before you’ll find some of your favorite players recommending this guitar. It is destined to become a bestseller for its excellent tone and sound.
If you’re looking for the best acoustic guitar under $1,000 dollars, this Seagull acoustic guitar is a great choice.
Seagull Artist Mosaic Acoustic in Review
What We Like
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- Looks beautiful and provides great value for your money
- Comes with black TUSQ nut, saddle, and bridge pins that look just like bone
- Has very rich and balanced sound all along the neck
- Warm and full sound without drowning out high notes
- Designed with wide-string spacing to satisfy finger-picking guitarists
- Comes with string height and neck relief adjustments to the lowest possible setting
- Allows great control over the guitar
- Counted among the best high-end guitar models
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What We Don’t Like
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- Some may prefer the shorter scale that arrived with older models
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What Are Seagull Artist Mosaic Acoustic Owners Saying? >>
3. La Patrie Collection Guitar
Spectacular tone in a classical package.
La Patrie Collection Guitar from Godin
La Patrie Collection Features
- Has standard dimensions of 42” x 14.8” x 5.5”
- Weighs a low 5.8 lbs.
- Delivered as a North American-made six-string guitar
- Comes with a pressure-tested solid top made of cedar
- Has rosewood sides and back
- Finished with the high-gloss custom polish
- Comes with a standard rosewood fretboard and bridge
- Offered with a mahogany neck
- Has a fingerboard with radius to increase comfort and ease of play
- Delivered with a double-function truss rod
- Designed with a compensated saddle over a TUSQ nut
Check La Patrie Guitar Collection Availability >>
Collection Guitar Summary
This smart-looking La Patrie Guitar, Collection comes with a spruced top made of wood acquired from aged wood. The sides and back, made of solid Indian rosewood, complement the semi-glossy lacquered finish.
Free vibrations are allowed along this adequately-thick guitar. Its neck is made of Honduras mahogany with a satin finish, and its medium-size frets are nicely edged.
This La Patrie, Collection guitar is unlike other traditional guitars in that it comes with a dual-action truss rod that may disappoint guitar players wanting the traditional look.
Also, if you’re a professional looking for the best acoustic guitar under $1,000, and with a tone that resonates freely, you may not like its slightly muffled sound.
La Patrie Pros and Cons
La Patrie Collection in Review
What We Like
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- Sold at an unbeatable price range without compromising on quality
- Can be played with and without electronics
- Has improved volume and tone as compared to other medium-range classical guitars
- Arrives in impeccable condition and on time
- Makes barre chords easier with its radius fretboard
- Comes with a truss rod in the neck yielding a ready out-of-the-box guitar
- Delivered with silky-smooth tuners without play or any kind or slip
- Produces beautiful, brighter, and cleaner high notes
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What We Don’t Like
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- Comes with a slightly muffled sound with the top unable to resonate freely
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Are La Patrie Collection Guitar Owners Happy? >>
4. Blueridge BR-160 Historic Series Dreadnought Guitar
Structure and tonewoods found in instruments three times the price.
Blueridge BR-160 Historic Series Dreadnought Guitar
Blueridge BR-160 Historic Series Features
- Dimensions are 40” x 16” x 5”
- Has scalloped braces offering a crisp tone and clean articulation
- Made of the choicest Indian rosewood fingerboard that increases playing smoothness
- Designed with a slim neck for long-lasting stability, and quick, easy action.
- Offers a vintage look with its distinctive tortoise-style pick guard
- Has a rosewood bridge with rosewood bridge plate
- Delivered in a natural, high-gloss finished six-string guitar
- Designed with bone-finish saddle and nut
- Comes with a delicate herringbone inlay around the top
- Offers highly accurate 14:1 ratio open-back tuners with nickel plating
Check Blueridge BR-160 Historic Series Guitar Availability >>
BR-160 Historic Series Summary
Experienced guitar players have found the Blueridge BR-160 Historic Series Dreadnought Guitar the best acoustic guitar under $1,000, much for its vintage styling that reminded them of yesteryear acoustic guitars.
It comes with a mahogany neck fitted with an adjustable truss rod. High-performance quality is sustained with this carefully crafted guitar. Its exclusive Dalmatian-style pick guard and high-gloss finish look very striking.
The Blueridge BR-160 comes in two variations of spruce tops: Adirondack and Sitka. Depending on which model you choose, you will see a swing in base price of around $300 for the premium Adirondack version.
Read the full review on the BR-160 Sitka version here.
There is an attractive wide-body binding around the top, which is made of top-quality tone-wood, and highly durable back and sides made of Indian rosewood. Its traditional forward-shifting X-brace pattern at the top adds great authenticity to this vintage-class guitar.
Carefully crafted at the Blueridge factory under the Saga Music umbrella, its intricate inlays, fretwork, and hand-carved parabolic top braces will get your immediate attention and take you back to the 1930s—a time when guitars were handmade and set to match the highest quality standards.
Blueridge BR-160 Historic Series Guitar in Review
What We Like
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- Produces deep bass, open, and crisp sound
- Offers a tightly grained top with heavy silking
- Has great styling with dark ebony-like bridge and fretboard
- Rated as one of the finest medium-range acoustic guitars by professionals
- Designed with perfect string height for playing finger style and chords
- Looks like an expensive guitar with great fit and finish
- Has a spot-on setup with plenty of harmonics
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What We Don’t Like
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- Delivered in guitar-sized cardboard packaging that can cause damage on impact
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What are Blueridge BR-160 Historic Series Owners Saying? >>
5. Seagull Maritime SWS SG Guitar
Solid wood construction throughout.
Seagull Maritime SWS SG Acoustic Guitar
Seagull Maritime SWS Features
- Comes with dimensions of 49” x 20” x 9”
- Designed with a solid wood construction including back and sides
- Made of selected pressure-tested spruce top
- Delivered in a strong mellow tone with semi-gloss finish
- Delivers better intonation with its TUSQ nut and compensated saddle
- Made in North America
- Comes with a double-action truss rod
- Comes with a matched body and neck to enable high-precision setting
- Designed with a compound-curved top for additional stability
Check Seagull Maritime SWS SG Guitar Customer Availability >>
Maritime SWS SG Summary
This solid wood Seagull Maritime SWS SG Guitar has all the premium features to last for a very long time, including its select pressure-tested solid spruce top and custom-polished finish.
This elastic and extremely light guitar from the Godin family of instruments ages very well, and is made available to more people with its attractive price range. It delivers full sound and can be used as an accompaniment to other instruments.
Its thin, resilient sheen offers ideal protection but also maximizes total projection and improves the sound quality.
The slightly wider-than-normal neck needs some adjustment. However, this is the best acoustic guitar under $1,000 for casual players looking to upgrade their playing skills to the professional level.
Seagull Maritime SWS SG Acoustic in Review
What We Like
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- Priced at the ideal point to deliver a high-quality guitar
- Comes as a perfect upgrade to standard guitars used by recreational strummers
- Filled with a great tonal quality and excellent bright sound across the board
- Has a tapered headstock to deliver stable and precise tuning
- Easily compares with higher priced guitars with excellent workmanship
- Reproduces great music for guitar players with mellow voices
- Looks great with its clear paint on straight grains
- Delivers well-defined sound, ideal for indoor use and in studios
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What We Don’t Like
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- Has slightly lower sound that turns harsh and dry on increased or hard strumming
- Need some experience to adapt to its bulky and wide neck
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What Do Seagull Maritime SWS SG Guitar Customer Think? >>
What Are the Benefits of Buying A Better Guitar?
Compared to just a couple of decades ago, we now have a perfect storm of quality and price due to improved manufacturing processes and market competition.
Of course you can get a great guitar from established manufacturers such as Yamaha, a Martin and Taylor, or any one of the famous brands for $1,000 — this is big money for a guitar, and you have plenty of choices.
But our focus here is to find great value instruments under a set dollar value.
Sound and design
These are two areas you will not want to compromise on, irrespective of the brand you choose.
For example, great sound is a must for this price. You’d think this is a given for a $1,000 guitar. You may be on the right track; however, good sound can turn into great sound, especially if the guitar has a good setup. The guitar you choose should be backed by at least 1,000 or more satisfied customers.
Again, the design you specifically need to suit your style of play is available without compromising in sound.
Affordability
Since you’ve already decided on the cost, your target must be to get the best option within that range. You can follow a definite process to arrive at a quality guitar that costs approximately $700 to $800, go higher to $800 to $900, then cap it up at $1000 to arrive at a reasonable number of options meeting your demands.
There’s no doubt the guitar industry as a whole is experiencing a renaissance. Brian Majeski of The Music Trades, continuously published since 1890, has written about this phenomenon and it’s implications more than a few times over the last few years.
Visual Appeal
This is a highly subjective element, and very dependant on individual taste. Personally, I’ve turned away absolutely incredible playing instruments simply on the basis that I though they were butt ugly – fugly! Point is, to each his own, there’s no accounting for taste.
If the instrument strikes a chord with you visually, that’s a big plus for long term enjoyment. But be warned, cosmetic elements come at a price: if a new guitar has a lot of bells and whistles visually, it’s a safe bet that’s where your money’s going.
Would you rather have a shoebox with rubber bands that looks great, or a plain jane that plays and sounds incredible? The choice is yours. Gratefully, we have a guide that finds the perfect balance of both.
Compare These Featured Acoustic Guitars:
Final Verdict: What’s the Best Acoustic Under $1000?
If you’re looking for the best acoustic guitar under $1,000 dollars, this is a great buy. The La Patrie Collection, the Blueridge Historic Series, and the Seagull Maritime SWS SG are among the best currently available at less than $1,000.
However, if you were to make a choice based on referrals, the Takamine Nex Acoustic-Electric offers the best balance of build, sound and overall value. With it’s super comfortable neck, big tone and superior built-in electronics, you can’t go wrong with this quality made instrument.
If our recommended choice doesn’t quite resonate with your preferences, consider reading our individual reviews on two other very fine instruments offered by exceptional brands: the Martin DRS2, and the Taylor 114CE respectively.
EDITOR’S PICK
Takamine Nex Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar
What Do Takamine Nex Acoustic Guitar Owners Think? >>
- Build Quality
- Sound Quality
- Value Factor
Summary
Overall Score:
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