Last Updated on June 3, 2023 by Teemu Suomala
Author: DL Shepherd
Darren has been playing guitar for over 23 years. He fronted the metal band Suddenly Silence in the early 2000’s, and also achieved recognition as an award-winning bluegrass guitarist.
A native of southwestern Virginia, and has shared the stage with many big-name acts from various genres. When he is not playing one of his many guitars, he can be found riding his Harley through the mountains of Virginia.
Editing & Research: Teemu Suomala
Playing guitar since 2009. Mainly focused on electric guitars, although jamming with acoustics too. Has played dozens and dozens of different guitars through different amps and pedals over the years. That’s why he started this blog in January 2020 and started sharing his experience. Has produced content for several large guitar websites, such as Songsterr, Musicnotes, GuitarGuitar, and Ultimate Guitar.
Best Overall Acoustic Guitar Under $1000 – 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. The best acoustic guitar under $1000.
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 guitar 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 acoustic guitar 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 acoustic guitar tonewoods here and more about acoustic guitar history here.
About Acoustic Guitars Costing Under $1000
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 acoustic guitars 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. Manufacturers realize that many guitar players cannot afford to spend thousands on a good guitar, and they’re answering the call by providing high-quality, great-sounding instruments at an affordable price.
We’ve scoured music shops from the United States to Finland (literally) to bring you our list of the 6 Best Acoustic Guitars Under $1000. I’ll quit typing and get right to it!
For even more affordable tone-machines, check our favorite acoustic guitars under $500.
5 Best Acoustic Guitars Under $1000
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 best acoustic guitar 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 acoustic guitars on the market.
Find more great acoustic guitars 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. The best acoustic guitar under $1000.
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 acoustic 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 acoustic guitars in the world, and Martin D-10E is one of them in its own class.
How this acoustic guitar 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 an acoustic 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!
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 best acoustic guitars that suit fingerstyle playing, this Breedlove is absolutely one of the best picks!
How this acoustic guitar 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 acoustic guitars 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 guitar 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 acoustic 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 acoustic guitar 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 best acoustic guitars that fit the Parlor standards.
How this acoustic guitar 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 acoustic 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 acoustic guitars. 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 acoustic 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! It’s one of the best acoustic guitars on the market when it comes to offering amazing bang for the buck.
How this acoustic guitar 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 acoustic guitar without breaking the bank.
Find more great acoustic guitars 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 guitar 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 acoustic guitar 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. For an acoustic guitar, 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 acoustic guitars and surely one of the best acoustic guitars costing under 1000 dollars that also offers an electric guitar feel.
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.
Verdict
The best acoustic guitar for under $1000 is the Taylor 110e. It simply provides players with amazing tone, world-class construction, and a price that won’t leave you broke and alone. It just wins in every category and you can’t go wrong choosing it as your next guitar. This acoustic guitar delivers.
Flatpickers will appreciate the roadworthy construction and midrange punch that the Martin D-10E provides. It is built by the same guitar makers that make the highly-regarded D-28 so you know its a solid performer. A real Martin guitar at an affordable price and easily one of the best acoustic guitars under $1000.
Fingerstyle players can rejoice now that the Breedlove ECO Pursuit Exotic S Concert CE is here! Its Myrtlewood construction provides welcomed volume and responsive playing characteristics. What a great guitar.
For fans of smaller-bodied acoustic guitars, the PRS SE P50 Parlor should be at the top of your list. Its comfortable neck is wider than most other parlor-sized guitars which feel too thin in comparison. PRS has been creating great quality instruments for years, and this Parlor acoustic guitar is one of them.
The Seagull S6 Cedar Original provides guitarists with one of the best values in the industry thanks to its durable construction and soaring tonal qualities. It gives you a lot of guitar for the money and would sound great on your next recording. A guitar that offers really natural acoustic tone for the player (and listeners).
The Alvarez Artist 66 Folk is a great choice for players who primarily play electric guitars. This is a great way to add an acoustic-electric guitar to your guitar rack while giving you complete control over your plugged-in tone.
Check our favorite Martin and Taylor guitars under $1000:
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
Buyer’s Guide – FAQ
What Features Do Great Acoustic Guitars Under $1000 Have?
When shopping for best acoustic guitars, keep these things in mind:
- Premium tonewoods such as mahogany, rosewood, Sitka spruce, myrtlewood, cedar, maple, and wild cherry
- Minimal to no setup necessary right out of the box
- High-grade tuning keys, tuners, and electronics (if applicable)
- Available in a wide range of body styles and neck shapes
- Full solid wood construction can be a bit hard to find for a budget under $1000 (don’t worry too much about this)
Remember to pay attention to strings too since they play a huge role in your guitar’s overall tone. Check our full acoustic guitar string guide here.
What Should You Know Before Buying?
You should know several things before buying your first (or next) acoustic guitar under $1000.
Ask yourself:
- Do I want a loud, bold-sounding guitar or something lighter-sounding?
- Do I have big hands or small hands?
- Do I want a guitar with a big body or small body?
- Do I prefer to play fingerstyle or with a pick?
- Do I plan one plugging it into an acoustic guitar amplifier or not?
- Do I want a guitar for jamming with friends or just for songwriting and recording?
The answer to these questions will point you in a good general direction. If you’re wanting a guitar that will have a loud, bold sound, then you should look at a dreadnought or a jumbo body style. If playing alone or recording is your thing, then you may want an acoustic guitar with a smaller body style since they are easier to carry around and sound a little less bold.
If you plan on fingerpicking, many players find smaller body styles more suitable because they are thinner than dreadnoughts, and therefore a bit easier to play.
If you have small hands, you’ll want to look at the neck size of the guitar and pick one that is a bit smaller. Acoustic guitars with a ¾ scale typically have necks that are suitable for smaller hands. If you have larger hands, you’ll want something with a little more room. Again, pay attention to the neck sizes!
Check some small hands friendly acoustic guitars out here.
A lot of modern players prefer to plug their acoustic guitars into amplifiers for performances. This can allow you to play in front of large audiences without the hassle of having to use a microphone. A lot of acoustic guitars have electronics in them to allow you to plug them into an amplifier (also called acoustic-electric guitars).
If you can answer these questions, then you are ready to start looking for your next guitar!
How to Choose The Best Acoustic Guitar Under $1000 for You
Check our full acoustic guitar buying guide here.
Sizes and Body Shapes
There are several distinct body shapes that you will see when choosing your next acoustic guitar. Each of these has strengths and weaknesses that need to be considered.
Smaller guitar sizes include body styles such as parlor, 0, or 00. These acoustic guitars are the most comfortable to play due to their size and scale length. Their convenient size comes with a trade off, however. They tend to have a narrower dynamic range (volume) and a weaker presence. They offer more midrange tones and are great for recording because of their precision and articulation. An excellent option for fingerpicking.
Medium-bodied acoustic guitars include the 000, OM, and Grand Concert sizes. These have a bigger “box” than that of smaller guitars but are still comfortable to play. Fingerstyle guitarists find them particularly comfortable. The tone is balanced, and they offer more presence than smaller acoustic guitars. They tend to be more focused and articulate than those with bigger bodies. Scale lengths vary a lot within these body styles so you have to pay attention to how long they are. They perhaps offer the most versatility as well.
Large-bodied acoustic guitars include body styles such as the dreadnought, jumbo, and Grand Auditorium sizes. These are typically full-scale length guitars in terms of overall size. They are perhaps the least comfortable guitars to play, but they offer a wide dynamic range and the most presence of any guitar shape. Typically, the deeper the “box”, the more bass response and “boom” it produces.
Dreadnought style guitar usually produces rich tone, deeper bass response, and natural acoustic sound. Dreadnought guitar does have a larger body, so it might be harder to handle for some players. They also take a little more effort from the player to play it as the wider surface area requires more force to make the wood resonate.
Grand Auditorium body style is usually a bit smaller than Dreadnought body. The Jumbo body style is the curvy alternative which also offers full tones with solid bass response. But it’s wise to test a jumbo body-styled guitar before buying.
Tonewoods
The type of wood from which the guitar is made shapes acoustic guitar’s tone a lot. They can be made of just one type of tonewood or a combination of many types. Each type of wood possesses its own tonal characteristics. Here are some common types:
Mahogany
Mahogany produces a warm, well-rounded tone. It can make a guitar heavier though because of its density. Mainly used for backs and sides, but some guitars have mahogany tops. Mahogany necks are also really common. Solid mahogany can work really well as a fingerstyle or blues tonewood.
Rosewood
Rosewood is perhaps the most popular tonewood for acoustics. Not as a top, but as a back & sides. It has a warm, well-balanced tone. It is lighter in weight than mahogany and tends to resonate more freely. Mainly used for backs and sides.
Sapele
Sapele wood is used in place of mahogany. It is a tough wood that is incredibly durable. The tone is very similar to mahogany with a bit more pronounced treble and a more mellow tone. It also tends to be more focused than mahogany since it is more dense, therefore it does not resonate as freely. Mainly used for backs, sides, and necks.
Koa
This tropical tonewood fits in between the crisp sound of rosewood and the warm sound of mahogany. It is typically used for backs and sides, but a few Koa topped models are out there. In general acoustic guitars with koa tonewood sound fantastic to me.
Maple
This tonewood offers very crips and bright tone. It has a very clear tone without a lot of sustain or overtones due to its density. While it can be used as a stunning top, it is more commonly used for backs, sides, and necks.
Sitka spruce (also referred to as spruce)
This is used almost exclusively for guitar tops. It is a softer tonewood with a lot of volume and presence. It also has a very well-balanced and articulate sound that pairs well with the tonal bandwidth of a guitar. You can’t go wrong with a Sitka spruce top!
Cedar
Cedar is softer than Sitka spruce and therefore resonates more freely. While the sound is not as focused, it is warm and vibrant. This is a good choice for fingerstyle guitar players since it doesn’t take much force to make this wood sound great. It is used as a wood for guitar tops.
While this isn’t a comprehensive list by any means, this covers some of the more commonly used tonewoods. Be sure to do your research on any exotic species to find out where they sit tonally when compared to the “standards” listed above.
Electronics
There are three main types of electronics/pickup systems found in acoustic guitars. These can be used with or without a preamp.
An acoustic guitar preamp helps shape the signal going out to the acoustic guitar amplifier allowing the user to control the volume and tonal characteristics of the guitar. The three main types of electronics you will find in an acoustic guitar are a microphone, piezo pickup, and magnetic pickup.
- Microphone – a microphone is mounted inside the guitar’s body to capture the reverberation of the guitar. Microphones are great for capturing the true sound of the guitar and all of its overtones. Microphones are prone to being “boomy” and have a habit of feeding back when played at loud volumes.
- Piezo pickups – These pickups use a small amount of voltage to mechanically change the shape of a quartz crystal which then becomes microphonic in a way, therefore transforming the vibrations of the strings into electrical signals. I know – it sounds more complicated than it is. These pickups are less prone to feedback than microphones and can be mounted unobtrusively under the bridge. They are the most common type of acoustic guitar pickup. However, they can sound thin unless a preamp is used to boost the lows and mids.
- Magnetic pickups – Magnetic pickups for acoustic guitars work in the same manner as they do with electric guitars. They can be found mounted right at the base of the fretboard (look at John Lennon’s Epiphone to see how), or mounted in the soundhole of the guitar. Magnetic pickups have a much hotter tone than piezo pickups, and are also much less susceptible to booming like microphones. Many of them can also be put on and taken off at the players discretion. Magnetic pickups can be the victim of feedback as well, but they can typically be used the easiest without a preamp. They are great for players who own an acoustic guitar without factory electronics but want to add them occasionally for performances.
If you plan to perform and/or record, paying attention to the pickup system of an acoustic guitar is an important thing.
Check our full acoustic guitar pickup guide here.
Neck Profiles
Just like guitar bodies, necks can come in all sorts of different shapes as well. Neck choice is an extremely personal preference between players – meaning that just because someone else likes it doesn’t mean that you will!
Learn more about guitar neck shapes here.
Neck profiles can be symmetrical or asymmetrical. However, you’re likely to find that symmetrical necks are more common for traditional acoustics. They are often referred to by the shape of the letter that represents them. Here are a few common neck shapes.
Classic C Shape
This shape is one of the most common shapes for modern guitars. It has smooth curves with enough wood in the middle of the back of the neck to give the hand something solid to grasp while working the fretboard. They can vary in thickness, so be sure to pay attention to that!
D Shape
D-shaped necks are usually thin and fast. They allow the player to access the entire fretboard and are especially useful for lead guitarists that play fast. In fact, the term “fast” is sometimes used to describe D-shaped necks. If you’re a shredder, this is probably your neck of choice. If you have small hands, this is perhaps the way to go. D Shaped necks can also be found from classical guitars.
U Shape
This neck shape is big, thick, and chunky. There’s a lot of wood here to grab. This neck profile is often found on acoustic guitars used primarily to play rhythm because they allow you to grab on and wail away on some strumming chords. You probably won’t like this profile if you do a lot of intricate lead work up the neck. They fit large hands well though.
V Shape
V-shaped necks come in a hard or soft V. This refers to the amount of curvature at the center of the neck. The soft V gives more contour at the center, while the hard V has a more pronounced center. V-shaped necks are found on a lot of vintage guitars. Some guitarist prefer them as they give a bit of a flat surface to rest the thumb.
Keep in mind that these are the most common types of guitar necks. You may run into some guitars that have a combination of these. With these types of necks, the top of the neck will be one profile and the bottom half of the neck (toward the body) will be another profile. This is to accommodate the hand position when you’re using different parts of the neck.
My advice: play one of each type so you’ll know what you like and what you don’t. That way, you can make a better decision when buying a guitar online. Trust me, there is no worse feeling than getting your new guitar just to find out that you don’t like the neck!
FAQ
Are Under $1000 Acoustic Guitars Any Good?
Yes, you can find amazing acoustic guitars for under $1000 that are built incredibly well and sound and play almost as well as high-end acoustic guitars.
PRO TIP: to make sure your acoustic guitar lasts for a long time, make sure you expose it to ideal humidity for guitars.
Is Buying An Under $1000 Acoustic Guitar Worth It, Or Should I Spend More?
You should spend what you are comfortable spending. For a lot of musicians, money can be a hurdle. Since manufacturers realize this, they have put a lot of effort into making their instruments affordable while maintaining their commitment to great quality.
More money does not always mean that you’re getting anything more than bragging rights. You can certainly find a guitar under $1000 that will meet your demands.
This guide of ours helps with tuning stability issues.
Should You Buy All-Solid Wood Guitar or Guitar With Laminated Back & Sides?
Check our full laminate vs solid wood guitar guide here.
Each have their own strengths and weaknesses. While all-solid-wood acoustic guitars are preferred by many decerning musicians, guitars with laminated backs and sides have some benefits.
Firstly, laminated materials are less prone to warping and cracking compared to solid wood.
Secondly, they are more consistent in quality and tone. This means that each guitar engineered from the same laminated wood will sound consistent with the rest of the guitars produced on the assembly line.
Laminated wood is also more weather resistant so you can play outside or in areas with high humidity without worrying about the guitar getting waterlogged.
Lastly, laminated wood is often times better on the environment. This is a big issue these days, and since forests are a finite source of materials (unless sustainability practices are used), guitar manufacturers are always looking for new materials that they can get more economically and responsibly.
Solid wood acoustic guitars tend to have better tonal characteristics overall. They have more complex tones that represent the quality of woods used in the production process. Moreover, they tend to sound better as they age since the wood becomes drier and more brittle over time. So solid wood construction can improve the guitar’s sound in the long run.
Learn how to take care of your acoustic guitar here.
Brands Manufacturing Exceptional Acoustic Guitars Under $1000
Check our picks for the best acoustic guitar brands here.
- Taylor
- Martin
- Seagull
- PRS
- Alvarez
- Epiphone
- Fender
- Breedlove
- Yamaha
- Ibanez
Conclusion on Best Acoustic Guitars Under $1000
It has been proven time and time again: you don’t need to drop a ton of money for a great-sounding acoustic guitar. Manufacturers have worked for decades in an attempt to get players the best possible tone at the best possible price.
At Guitarist Next Door, we have been fortunate enough to play hundreds of guitars in our careers as musicians. One thing that we have found time and time again is that sometimes the best tone is also the most affordable. We’re not knocking high-end acoustic guitars by any means, but we are saying that it is possible to find the guitar of your dreams without sacrificing your financial stability. Find the one on our list that fits your style and go with it! You won’t regret it. Go and enjoy the best acoustic guitars under $1000!
You might also like:
5 Best Acoustic Guitars With Thin Neck in 2023 – Plus A List of 28 Runner-Ups
5 Best Taylor Guitars in 2023 – Get Value for Your Money
5 Best High-End Acoustic Guitars in 2023 – The Only Guide You Need
6 Best Acoustic Guitars Under $500 in 2023 – Great Sounding Instruments!
5 Best Gibson Acoustic Guitars in 2023 – Get REAL Value for Your Money
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!