Last Updated on November 29, 2023 by Teemu Suomala
Author: DL Shepherd
Editing & Research: Teemu Suomala
Best Overall – Taylor 110e
Summary
Pros:
-Durable construction will last for years
-Superb tonal balance is great for all playing styles & styles of music
-Comfortable to play no matter what size hands you have
-Electronics are noiseless and natural-sounding
-Impressive build quality
Cons:
-Built-in tuner would be nice
-TUSQ saddle and nut should be bone instead
Who is this guitar for?
The Taylor 110e is for a guitarist looking for a guitar that plays and sounds professional without the high price tag of a more high-end acoustic.
How Taylor 110e sounds:
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The Next Best:
Best Flatpicking – Martin D-10E
Price
Summary
Pros:
- Tough construction stands up to abuse
- Fishman MX-T electronics are great for stage use
- Playability is comparable to higher priced Martins
- Quality tonewoods produce incredible volume and tone
- Balanced sound
Cons:
- Real bone nut and saddle would improve guitar’s tone and volume even more
Who is this guitar for?
The Martin D-10E is for guitarists who are looking to get an acoustic for flatpicking that has just as much to offer as some of the higher-end Martins.
Best Fingerstyle – Breedlove ECO Pursuit Exotic S Concert CE
Price
Summary
Pros:
- Slim “C” neck is extremely comfortable for barre chords
- Myrtlewood body provides perfectly balanced sound for fingerpicking
- Fishman electronics are easy to use and sound great
- Pinless bridge makes string changes easy
- Mahogany neck feels smooth
Cons:
- Real bone should be used in place of TUSQ for a bolder tone
Who is this guitar for?
The Breedlove ECO Pursuit Exotic S Concert CE is for the fingerstyle guitarist looking for a beautiful guitar with plenty of clarity, projection, and balance.
Best Parlor – PRS SE P50 Parlor
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Summary
Pros:
- Incredibly comfortable & playable neck for such a small guitar
- Bright projection allows for surprising volume
- Fishman electronics allow it to be played on stage
- Bone nut and saddle allow you to “feel” the tone
- Works well as a travel guitar
- Works especially well with light fingerpicking
Cons:
- Can sound a bit harsh on the high end when played hard with a pick
Who is this guitar for?
This guitar is for the player who is looking for a great travel guitar or a small guitar for songwriting sessions.
Best Value – Seagull S6 Original
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Summary
Pros:
- Cedar top is very sensitive to even the most intricate picking
- Modified dreadnought body projects without being boomy
- Neck profile is comfortable and plays well all the way to the 20th fret
Cons:
- A gloss finish would have been better than the thin satin finish
Who is this guitar for?
The Seagull S6 Cedar Original is for a novice player looking to upgrade to a nicer instrument. It is also for players looking for a recording without breaking the bank.
Best For Electric Players – Alvarez AF66CESHB Artist 66 Folk
Price
Summary
Pros:
- Small body for those who don’t like bulky dreadnoughts
- All mahogany construction for great midrange tone and sustain
- Solid mahogany top offers deep and balanced tone
- Neck is great for those who are used to electric necks
- Onboard electronics offer endless tone-shaping abilities
Cons:
- Tuners feel a bit cheap
Who is this guitar for?
The Alvarez AF66CESHB Artist 66 Folk is for an electric guitarist who is looking to add an acoustic to his/her arsenal.
Compare The Key Specs:
Compare The Tonewoods:
Body Top: Solid Sitka Spruce
Sides: Layered Walnut
Back: Layered Walnut
Neck: Maple
Fretboard: West African Ebony
Body Top: Solid Spruce
Sides: Solid Sapele
Back: Solid Sapele
Neck: Select Hardwood
Fretboard: Richlite
Body Top: Solid Myrtlewood – occupies a space somewhere between the warmth of rosewood, the mid-range of mahogany, and the brilliant brightness of maple.
Sides: Laminated Myrtlewood
Back: Laminated Myrtlewood
Neck: African Mahogany
Fretboard: Ovangkol
Body Top: Solid Sitka Spruce
Sides: Laminated Maple
Back: Laminated Maple
Neck: Mahogany
Fretboard: Ebony
Body Top: Solid Cedar
Sides: Laminated Wild Cherry
Back: Laminated Wild Cherry
Neck: Silver Leaf Maple
Fretboard: Rosewood
Body Top: Solid African Mahogany
Sides: Laminated African Mahogany
Back: Laminated African Mahogany
Neck: Mahogany
Fretboard: Indian Laurel
You can learn more about tonewoods here and more about acoustic guitar history here.
Fun fact: Eddie Van Halen’s famous “Stratocaster” was self-built from spare parts. Another fun fact: Prince’s favorite guitar was a cheap Japanese Telecaster copy.
I know, this is an article about acoustics. However, I wanted to show you that just because a guitar is inexpensive that doesn’t mean they always sound “cheap” and posses other cheap guitar “features”.
The same thing applies to acoustics in many ways. I proved this theory several times over the years by winning awards with my “cheap” $120 Alvarez RD8 acoustic in bluegrass guitar competitions. I beat out guitar players who were using guitars costing over 30 times what I paid for my guitar!
While you may not want a guitar as economical as my trusty Alvarez RD8 (it was all I had at the time), you can certainly find good acoustic tone while you’re on a budget. We’ve scoured music shops from the United States to Finland (literally) to bring you our list of the cream of the crop acoustic guitars under $1000. I’ll quit typing and get right to it!
For even more affordable tone-machines, check our favorite acoustics under $500.
Our Top 5 Picks
Know what you can afford and then buy the best guitar you can afford.
I learned this rule of thumb from The Guitar Handbook written by Ralph Denyer.
What kind of sound are you after?
- Warm and full?
- Bright and clear?
- Soft and balanced?
Know what you are after and you are on your way to choosing the right guitar for you!
Learn more about acoustic guitar tonewoods here.
Choose a guitar that enables you to play the music you love.
Best Overall – Taylor 110e
Specs
| Body Style | Dreadnought |
| Top | Solid Sitka Spruce |
| Back & Sides | Layered Walnut |
| Neck | Maple |
| Fretboard | 20 frets, West African Ebony fingerboard, 15″ radius. |
| Nut material | NuBone |
| Nut Width | 1.6875″ |
| Electronics | ES-2 |
| Saddle | Micarta |
| Scale-Length | 25.5″ |
If you’re looking for the cream of the crop pick for under $1000, the Taylor 110e will blow you away. It is a dreadnought guitar that can handle anything that you throw at it and not miss a beat.
So what does that mean? It means that it might just be the only acoustic that you need.
The Taylor 110e is crafted from quality tonewoods with Taylor’s world-class construction. The top is solid Sitka spruce while the body is layered walnut. It provides a wonderful tonal palette that fits with just about every type of music that you’d ever want to play.
The lows are very pronounced thanks to the walnut, and the highs are crisp. It projects wonderfully unplugged with enough volume to cut through a mix without sounding muddy or harsh. This guitar really possesses the true Taylor acoustic guitar sound.
It has a well-balanced midrange that lends itself well to bluegrass flatpicking, but it can also carve a jangly rhythm that fits perfectly with acoustic rock and blues.
So how does it play?
The neck is perhaps one of the best that we have played. It is solid maple with a great, smooth taper that fits your hand – even if you have small hands like our editor Teemu! You don’t find yourself trying to move around to find a comfortable spot – it’s just there. The ebony fretboard also looks and feels great.
The string spacing is just right. It isn’t too tight to where it inhibits picking single notes and it isn’t too wide to where it feels like you’re trying to strum a harp or something. Your chording hand doesn’t feel cramped up either. It is as if your fingers fall into place naturally which is how it should be.
When it comes time to plug in, the Taylor Expression System 2 (ES2) electronics system is there to provide you with plenty of noise-free plugged in tone. It is one of the more natural sounding systems that we have heard and gives you plenty of control of the tone no matter what type of acoustic amplifier you may be using.
If you don’t do anything else before you finish this article, do yourself a favor and get this guitar for yourself. We’ll be waiting on your “thank you” emails. This Taylor is easily one of the best acoustics on the market.
Find more great acoustics for blues here.
Another solid sound demo:
Pros:
- Durable construction will last for years
- Superb tonal balance is great for all playing styles & styles of music
- Comfortable to play no matter what size hands you have
- Electronics are noiseless and natural-sounding
- Impressive build quality
Cons:
- Built-in tuner would be nice
- TUSQ saddle and nut should be bone instead
Find our picks for best Taylor guitars overall here.
Our Ratings:
| Feature | Rating from 1-5 |
| Sound | 4.9 |
| Playability | 4.9 |
| Overall Quality | 5 |
| Value For Money | 4.5 |
| Fingerpicking feel | 5 |
What others are saying:
“The Taylor neck is phenomenal. Even my band mates were stunned by the tone and everyone loved the feel. This guitar is a keeper!” – Joe, Sweetwater customer
Who is this guitar for?
The Taylor 110e is for a guitarist looking for a guitar that plays and sounds professional without the high price tag of a more high-end acoustic.
Who is this guitar NOT for?
The Taylor 110e is not for someone looking for an all-solid-wood guitar. The sides and back are layered walnut.
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Best Flatpicking – Martin D-10E
Specs
| Body Shape | Dreadnought |
| Top | Solid Spruce Top |
| Back & Sides | Solid Sapele |
| Neck | Select Hardwood |
| Neck Shape | Performing Artist |
| Fretboard | 20 frets, Richlite fingerboard, 16″ radius. |
| Nut | White Corian |
| Nut Width | 1.75″ |
| Electronics | Fishman MX-T |
| Saddle | White Tusq |
| Scale-Length | 25.4″ |
| Case Included | Softshell Case |
If bluegrass flatpicking is your thing, you really need to check out the Martin D-10E. For the money, you will be hard-pressed to find a guitar that offers this much to flatpickers.
The Martin D-10E is part of Martin’s “Road Series”. These guitars were designed and built with the touring musician in mind, so they have to be constructed tough as well as sound good (really natural sound).
Martin nailed it with both!
The Martin D-10E is constructed with a solid Sitka spruce top and solid sapele back and sides. Sapele is very similar in tone to mahogany but is much more durable. The neck is “select hardwood”, which according to Martin is either mahogany, Spanish cedar, or sipo. That information came directly from a Martin customer service representative when I called and asked about it. The fretboard and bridge are Richlite which is a durable paper and resin composite that has surprisingly good tonal characteristics.
One of the most impressive things about the Martin D-10E is the projection. Just like its bigger brothers, the Martin D-10E has enough volume to cut through the thickest of mixes. While it doesn’t sound quite as thick as a D-28, it holds its own when it comes to playing intricate fiddle tunes or fast bluegrass licks with clarity. The solid spruce top is one factor that contributes to this.
The Martin D-10E has plenty of punchy midrange and high-end brilliance that bluegrass players need. It has plenty of bass with a crisp, plucky brightness that really lays down the foundation of a mix.
Roll off of it with your picking hand and see just how much this guitar really projects. You don’t need to play it hard to coax a good tone from it!
Overall, the neck taper and string spacing feel pretty typical of higher-end Martin guitars. The neck isn’t chunky and is reasonably easy to play. The action is very close to D-28 models I have played and doesn’t buzz when played with some force.
If you’re wanting to plug in, the Martin D-10E has you covered there as well with the Fishman MX-T system. This system offers crystal clear and articulate sound reproduction and has a built-in, automatically muting soundhole tuner for tuning on the fly.
The Martin D-10E is a flatpicker’s dream. Try one and you’ll see what I mean. Martin makes one of the best guitars in the world, and Martin D-10E is one of them in its own class.
How this one sounds:
Pros:
- Tough construction stands up to abuse
- Fishman MX-T electronics are great for stage use
- Playability is comparable to higher-priced Martins
- Quality tonewoods produce incredible volume and tone
- Balanced sound
Cons:
- Real bone nut and saddle would improve tone and volume even more and provide richer acoustic sound
Find our picks for best Martin guitars overall here.
Our Ratings:
| Feature | Rating from 1-5 |
| Sound | 4.9 |
| Playability | 4.6 |
| Overall Quality | 5 |
| Value For Money | 4.5 |
| Fingerpicking feel | 4.8 |
What others are saying:
“I really think this guitar punches way above it’s price point. No regrets buying it all. The best thing I can say is that it sounds like a Martin dreadnaught. The fit and finish are great…” – Philip, Sweetwater customer
Who is this guitar for?
The Martin D-10E is for guitarists who are looking to get a guitar for flatpicking that has just as much to offer as some of the higher-end Martins.
Who is this guitar NOT for?
The Martin D-10E is not for players who are wanting to duplicate the tone of a D-28. It sounds a bit thinner due to the sapele construction.
Best Fingerstyle – Breedlove ECO Pursuit Exotic S Concert CE
Specs
| Body Shape | Concert with Deep Cutaway |
| Top | Solid Myrtlewood |
| Back & Sides | Laminated Myrtlewood |
| Neck | African Mahogany |
| Neck Shape | Slim C |
| Fretboard | 20 frets, Ovangkol fingerboard, 16″ radius |
| Nut | TUSQ |
| Nut Width | 1.69″ |
| Electronics | Fishman Presys |
| Saddle | TUSQ |
| Scale-Length | 25.5″ |
Fingerpickers have different needs than flatpickers. The clarity and balance of notes being plucked simultaneously needs to be on-point and exact. Thanks to Breedlove, fingerpickers everywhere are able to find their tone in an easy-to-play acoustic-electric guitar.
Breedlove seems to love to do things their own way, and it works. They have seemingly introduced the world to the tonal brilliance of Myrtlewood – a lesser known tonewood native to the West Coast of the United States. It fits somewhere between the brightness of maple and the warm midrange of mahogany on the tonal spectrum, and is absolutely gorgeous to boot.
The Breedlove ECO Pursuit Exotic S Concert CE seems to be built for fingerpicking. The all-solid wood Myrtlewood top, back and sides provide plenty of projection and clarity. The notes seem to come alive while strumming and individual notes flow along smoothly. Even when I put my thumb to work, I could not get it to sound muddy or dirty in any way. This is most likely due to the body style which is in between a grand concert and auditorium size. No bulky dreadnoughts here!
Learn more about Breedlove:
I really want to say that the Myrtlewood body reminds me of an all-mahogany guitar, but it is much crispier with a bright punch that just sounds right when played with bare fingers. Recording with this guitar would be extremely easy since the tone is so well-behaved.
The neck is made of mahogany and topped with an ovangkol fingerboard that allows barre chords to be performed with minimal effort all the way up the neck. No complaints there, and no hand cramps!
When plugged into an acoustic guitar amplifier, the Fishman Presys electronics provide crystal clear sound reproduction. The volume and tone controls are easy to operate, and the built-in tuner is a real plus.
Plus, the Myrtlewood has some interesting grain patterns that stand out while performing onstage. It is a gorgeous guitar that will get a lot of love!
If you are looking to take your fingerpicking to the next level, you owe it to yourself to get a Breedlove ECO Pursuit Exotic S Concert CE. When choosing the right guitar that suit fingerstyle playing, this Breedlove is absolutely one of the best picks!
How this one sounds:
Pros:
- Slim “C” neck is extremely comfortable for barre chords
- Myrtlewood body provides perfectly balanced acoustic tone for fingerpicking
- Fishman electronics are easy to use and sound great
- Pinless bridge makes string changes easy
- Mahogany neck feels smooth
Cons:
- Real bone should be used in place of TUSQ for a bolder tone
Our Ratings:
| Feature | Rating from 1-5 |
| Sound | 4.5 |
| Playability | 4.9 |
| Overall Quality | 4.8 |
| Value For Money | 4.7 |
| Fingerpicking feel | 5 |
What others are saying:
“This guitar blew me away. It makes me actually want to play acoustic guitar more often now. The action on it is amazing. The tone is balanced and it projects sound wayyyyy better than my old guitar. Also I love the string thru bridge on this guitar. I don’t necessarily like pinned bridges so that’s an added plus.” – Joshua, Sweetwater customer
Find more great fingerstyle acoustics here.
Who is this guitar for?
The Breedlove ECO Pursuit Exotic S Concert CE is for the fingerstyle guitarist looking for a beautiful guitar with plenty of clarity, projection, and balance.
Who is this guitar NOT for?
The Breedlove ECO Pursuit Exotic S Concert CE is not for forceful flatpickers who need to project through a thick mix of other instruments without an amplifier.
Best Parlor – PRS SE P50 Parlor
Specs
| Body Shape | Parlor |
| Top | Solid Sitka Spruce |
| Back & Sides | Laminated Maple |
| Neck | Mahogany |
| Neck Shape | Wide Fat |
| Fretboard | 20 frets, Ebony fingerboard, 11.8″ radius |
| Nut | Bone |
| Nut Width | 1.6875″ |
| Electronics | PRS Voiced Fishman Sonitone |
| Saddle | Bone |
| Scale-Length | 24.72″ |
Parlor guitars are fun! I mean, who can resist a small-bodied acoustic that you can take anywhere?
I can’t. I love them for being so darn fun to play, especially on tightly-packed stages or rehearsal rooms.
Leave it to PRS to create the best little parlor guitar that you can find for under $1000. The PRS SE P50 Parlor is built with high-quality tonewoods that players have came to expect from PRS.
Built with a solid maple body and a Sitka spruce top, this little guitar produces a lot of snappy volume for such a small guitar. It is bright and bold with sparkling highs and a punchy midrange that is honestly surprising. We’ve played other parlor guitars, but they seem to lack tonal complexity. This one doesn’t.
One of the even more surprising aspects of this guitar is the way that it plays. PRS truly engineered a masterpiece that was meant to transcend the idea that parlor guitars were just for casual strumming. The “Pattern Wide Fat” neck profile gives you something to grab onto without being too chunky or too thin. This is a huge plus for a guitar body size that is often plagued with tiny, skinny necks that just aren’t comfortable.
You can play this bad boy up and down just like you would a full-sized acoustic and still be comfortable. It does not feel like you have to cram your fingers behind the frets when strumming chords. Even playing scales is comfortable without feeling like you have to adjust to the guitar’s size.
To make this guitar more versatile, PRS added Fishman Sonitone electronics to it so you can plug it in to your amplifier of choice. This opens this small guitar up to being played on stage instead of boxing it in as a “travel guitar”.
Plus, let’s not forget the looks. The bird inlays and abalone body binding only add to the gorgeous flamed pattern of the back and sides. PRS did more than just slap together a bunch of wood; they put together a masterpiece. Just look at it!
If you’re wanting a little guitar with a big voice, the PRS SE P50 Parlor should be at the top of your list. It’s one of the top acoustics that fit the Parlor standards.
How this one sounds:
Pros:
- Incredibly comfortable neck for such a small guitar
- Bright sound & projection allows for surprising volume
- Fishman electronics allow it to be played on stage
- Bone nut and saddle allow you to “feel” the tone
- Works well as a travel guitar
- Works especially well with light fingerpicking
Cons:
- Can sound a bit harsh on the high end when played hard with a pick
Our Ratings:
| Feature | Rating from 1-5 |
| Sound | 4.3 |
| Playability | 4.9 |
| Overall Quality | 4.2 |
| Value For Money | 4.5 |
| Fingerpicking feel | 4.9 |
What others are saying:
“I’ve become a bit obsessed with trying to find my favorite guitars. 12+ acoustics in the house. This is one of my favorites…” – Sweetwater customer
Find more great Parlor guitars here.
Who is this guitar for?
This guitar is for the player who is looking for great travel guitars or a small guitar for songwriting sessions.
Who is this guitar NOT for?
The PRS SE P50 Parlor is not for someone looking for a thin-necked guitar in particular. The neck is surprisingly big for a guitar of this size.
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Best Value – Seagull S6 Original
Specs
| Body Shape | Dreadnought |
| Top | Solid Cedar |
| Back & Sides | Laminated Wild Cherry |
| Neck | Silver Leaf Maple |
| Fretboard | 21 frets, Rosewood fingerboard |
| Nut | Tusq |
| Nut Width | 1.8″ |
| Electronics | No |
| Saddle | Tusq, Compensated |
| Scale-Length | 25.5″ |
Looking for a departure from the regular mahogany/maple/rosewood/Sitka spruce combination while sticking to more traditional looks and tone than exotic woods offer? Here it is: the Seagull S6 Cedar Original. This guitar hits way above its price mark in terms of playability and tone to give players one of the best deals in the industry.
The Seagull S6 Cedar Original is Canadian-made guitar, handcrafted in Quebec, Canada by skilled luthiers. The company is committed to bringing players amazing instruments with new designs while incorporating the latest in guitar-making technology. The results definitely speak for themselves.
The Seagull S6 Cedar Original is crafted with a pressure-tested cedar top instead of a Sitka spruce. Cedar is lighter and softer than Sitka spruce, and therefore it doesn’t take as much vibration to move it. This means that even the lightest, most intricate notes resonate and sustain. For recording, you couldn’t ask for a better guitar because of this characteristic alone.
The body is crafted from laminated wild cherry. Wild cherry has very well-balanced tonal characteristics; it is not too bright or too bassy. Instead, it sits right in the middle of the tonal spectrum and produces fantastic overtones.
The slightly modified dreadnought body style helps to eliminate excessive boominess that often plagues other big-bodied acoustics. Once again, this makes it a jewel to have while recording with a mic.
The maple neck of the Seagull S6 Cedar Original is wider than usual (1.8” nut), but it still works well for nearly all hand sizes. Most likely the folks that know from experience, that wide nut guitars are not for them should give the normal version Seagull S6 Origianl a pass. But small-handed guitarists, don’t worry, there is the Seagull S6 Original Slim version available. It has more narrow 1.72″ nut width. Yes, it’s still a bit wider than usually, but as our own small-handed guitarist Teemu can testify, it works amazingly well for his small hands.
It plays beautifully right out of the box with little to no tweaking necessary. This is due to the fact that it is an integrated set neck that is just as functional for tone as it is for structural integrity.
The fretboard is flat, smooth, and allows for barre chords and scales to be played painlessly and without effort. It doesn’t feel as if you have to adjust your playing to the guitar. Instead, it feels like it is already adjusted to you!
While a simple onboard electronics system would make it more versatile guitar, we’re not complaining since it dishes out loads of sweet acoustic tone and playability.
If you’re looking for one of the best values in the acoustic guitar world today, look no further than the Seagull S6 Cedar Original.
How this one sounds:
Pros:
- Cedar top is very sensitive to even the most intricate picking
- Modified dreadnought body style projects without being boomy
- Neck profile is comfortable and plays well all the way to the 20th fret
Cons:
- A gloss finish would have been better than the thin satin finish
Our Ratings:
| Feature | Rating from 1-5 |
| Sound | 4.8 |
| Playability | 4.5 |
| Overall Quality | 5 |
| Value For Money | 5 |
| Fingerpicking feel | 4.7 |
What others are saying:
“I love this guitar! Easy to play, and when you plug it in, beautiful! It’s so crisp and clean sounding!” – Marijane, Sweetwater customer
Who is this guitar for?
The Seagull S6 Cedar Original is for a novice/intermediate guitar player looking to upgrade to a nicer instrument. It is also for players looking for a recording without breaking the bank.
Find more great acoustics for intermediate players here.
Who is this guitar NOT for?
This guitar is not for someone who expects a lot of complexity in tone. It just doesn’t provide that with its laminated cherry back and sides. It is also not made for those with small hands.
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Best For Electric Players – Alvarez AF66CESHB Artist 66 Folk
Specs
| Body Shape | Orchestra Cutaway |
| Top | Solid African Mahogany |
| Back & Sides | Laminated African Mahogany |
| Neck | Mahogany |
| Neck Shape | Soft V to C |
| Fretboard | 21 frets, Indian Laurel fingerboard, 14.96″ radius. |
| Nut | Bone |
| Nut Width | 1.75″ |
| Electronics | LR Baggs StagePro EQ with Element Pickup |
| Saddle | Bone |
| Scale-Length | 24.8″ |
For those of you who prefer to plug in and turn up, the Alvarez AF66CESHB Artist 66 Folk will fit in perfectly with your collection of electric guitars. It is a head-turning guitar that offers a lot to players who primarily play electrics.
First of all, electric guitarists require a few things; they need a guitar with a close action, they need a smaller body, and many prefer having a good cutaway that allows them to access the upper frets with ease. They also appreciate a great electronics system that allows them to plug into their favorite acoustic amplifier.
This is it. The Alvarez Artist 66 Folk is your guitar.
Let’s look at the construction. It’s made entirely of mahogany (well, except the Indian Laurel fretboard). That’s right. All mahogany. Mahogany top, mahogany back & sides, and mahogany neck. No dissecting the tonal qualities here. You get bold sustain, creamy mids, and plenty of punch right up front. The small folk-sized body projects loudly when played unplugged as well.
The small body also makes electric players feel a little more at home in contrast to the big, bulky dreadnoughts that are so common these days. Instead, it is thinner and gives players an overall more comfortable feel especially if they are used to hugging an electric guitar all the time.
The neck is a slim-taper “V” and “C” combination that feels natural in your hand. I would even recommend this guitar for smaller hands since the profile feels familiar to an electric guitar neck. It plays close too and gives you plenty of room for string bends – even at the top of the fretboard.
Now, let’s talk about the electronics. Alvarez equipped the Artist 66 Folk with an LR Baggs StagePro Element preamp system that absolutely rocks! It is by far one of the most intuitive and useful acoustic electric guitar preamps on the market! The reason is that it gives you the ability to dial in your precise tone with the usual features (notch, contour, volume) as well as adding the versatility of a 3-band EQ.
That’s right, you can trim up that excessive bass and boost those mids on the fly – even in the middle of a song!
Of course, Alvarez threw in an onboard tuner for good measure. You’ve got everything you need to shape your amplified tone right at your fingertips.
If that didn’t sell it, the looks certainly will. Its a gorgeous guitar from top to bottom. The lack of fretboard markers (with the exception of the 12th fret) makes it look like a truly professional instrument costing three or four times its price.
Leave it to Alvarez to make a guitar that is both stunning to look at as well as sounds amazing! It’s also much smoother to play than most other acoustics and does a great job of offering an electric guitar feel.
Check our picks for the best Alvarez guitars overall.
How this guitar sounds:
Pros:
- Small body for those who don’t like bulky dreadnoughts
- All mahogany construction for great midrange tone and sustain
- Solid mahogany top offers a deep and balanced tone
- The neck is great for those who are used to electric necks
- Onboard electronics offer endless tone-shaping abilities
Cons:
- Tuners feel a bit cheap
Our Ratings:
| Feature | Rating from 1-5 |
| Sound | 4.5 |
| Playability | 5 |
| Overall Quality | 4.7 |
| Value For Money | 4.8 |
| Fingerpicking feel | 4.7 |
What others are saying:
“Like a good wine, this guitar has opened up nicely since I got it and have played it quite a bit. Looks, feels and sounds wonderful! Very pleased.” – Jimmy, Sweetwater customer
Who is this guitar for?
The Alvarez AF66CESHB Artist 66 Folk is for an electric guitarist who is looking to add an acoustic to his/her arsenal.
Who is this guitar NOT for?
This guitar is not for someone looking for a big, loud unplugged acoustic sound.
Runner-Ups That Just Missed The Top 5
- Best for Small Hands – Taylor Academy 12eStarling
- Runner-Up Best for Fingerstyle – Martin 000 10e
- Best for Blues – Epiphone Hummingbird
- Runner-Up Best for Electric Players/Best Takamine – Takamine GN93CE
- Runner-Up Best Parlor – Fender PS-220E Parlor
- Best Yamaha/Best for Strumming – Yamaha Red Label FG3
How We Chose These Acoustic Guitars
- We decided which acoustic guitars to recommend by using our own experience, doing extensive research, visiting music stores, and asking help from our musician friends
- After we had chosen the guitars to recommend we looked for a good way to test the gear. This means either renting it, buying it, testing it in a music store, or visiting a friend who owns it. This time, our main testing methods were playing these axes at music stores and relying on our past experience playing these guitars.
- Even after this, we’ll still do another round of extensive research to make sure that this specific product is in fact, a real cream-of-the-crop candidate.
- Then we wrote these in-depth but easily digestible reviews of these instruments. We kept in mind who will be playing them (most likely) such as intermediate players, fingerstyle players, players who want to plug in, flatpickers, advanced players, etc.
Most acoustic guitars we recommend are run through tests like these:
- We go carefully through the finish and build quality of the guitar.
- We inspect the fretwork and edges of the fretboard to make sure there are no sharp edges.
- We play the guitar unplugged and plugged in.
- We use different playing techniques, such as fingerpicking, flatpicking, strumming, tapping, and even percussive playing.
- We measure and weight the guitar.
- We try licks and riffs from different genres.
Learn more about GND’s testing and reviewing processes here.
Great picks, but which Fender acoustic guitar you would recommend for under $1000?
Hi Robert! In my opinion Fender Newporter Classic is the best Fender Acoustic Guitar Under $1000 in general. And the Fender PS-220E Parlor is the best Fender Acoustic Guitar Under $1000 for fingerstyle. You can learn more about these Fender acoustic guitars here.
What is the guitar in the photo at the beginning of the article? Directly under the title of the article.
That image is decorative only, but great that you asked. I zoomed into the original photo, but couldn’t recognize the brand. My guess is that it’s a custom-made acoustic or one made by a smaller boutique brand. Thank you for commenting Gerard!