How Much Do Acoustic Guitars Cost? – With Examples!

Last Updated on May 24, 2023 by Teemu Suomala

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I would be lying if I said I didn’t ask myself how much does a guitar cost a million times before buying my first ax. Yes, I’ve been in your shoes before trying to find out how much a guitar costs too. 

This happened to me as I was starting with my first acoustic guitar and also happened when I moved to electric guitars. There’s so much info online it’s hard not to get lost or overwhelmed.

Acoustic guitars cost between $100 and $400 for entry-level players and beginners. For intermediate and advanced players, they can be between $400 and $1200. For professional and session players, acoustic guitars can go up to $10000. Finally, vintage, mint-state second-hand guitars and collector’s items can be sold for several zeros.

Before you spend $6M on Cobain’s used guitar (the most expensive acoustic ever sold), let me help you in your search. 

Since I know how it feels to be so lost you don’t know where to start, I created this piece that can work as a compass to find your path through all the marketing and buy a great guitar.

If you’re serious about playing the acoustic, your next six-stringer is on this list.

How Much Acoustic Guitars Cost?

Unlike solid-body electric guitars, acoustic guitars are closer to “the sum of the parts” when you think about them price-wise.  Therefore, comparing a high-end acoustic to a lower price point acoustic is not a good idea.

I divided the options into categories as follows. Bear in mind that price changes will translate into better tonewoods and construction methods.

Beginner Level & Cheap Acoustic Guitars – $100-200

Epiphone DR-100

According to recent statistics, guitar sales soared between 2019 and 2020 and took another great leap from 2020 to 2021. This can be attributed to the pandemic, of course. Interestingly, entry-level guitars dominated sales with beginner acoustic guitars as the top choice.

But what can you expect from a beginner acoustic guitar? Well, while it is true that guitar manufacturers try to make entry-level guitars more affordable, certain characteristics separate an “affordable” instrument from a “cheap” one.

By cheap, I mean a guitar that’s not well-built and that won’t hold its tuning properly, for example. Affordable, on the other hand, is a guitar good for learning, but that doesn’t sound stellar. For example, it holds its tuning but is laminated and has no sustain.

Your first guitar should always be a good guitar in a price range you can afford at the time.

Moreover, a beginner guitar should be a decent guitar so you can fight only against your fingers instead of the fingers and the instrument. So, your new guitar, even if it’s your first guitar should:

• Tune properly (and stay in tune) – Avoid developing bad habits and train your ear. Beginner guitars in this price range should tune properly and stay in tune properly.
• Have enough volume – Low volume might be associated with poor construction quality. Also, guitars painted with thick polyester tend to sound shallow. Avoid those.
• Be comfortable – You’re going to spend hours playing the guitar, make sure you buy one that’s comfortable for your body and hands.

These are my picks for acoustic guitars that cost between $100 and $200:

Guitar	Body Style	Top	Back & Sides	Price	Check Todays Price
Epiphone DR-100	Dreadnought	Laminated Spruce	Laminated Mahogany	$169	Sweetwater
Fender FA-15 – Find Our Favorite Fender Acoustic Guitars Here	3/4 Dreadnought	Laminated Agathis	Laminated Sapele	$149	Sweetwater – Thomann
Washburn Vintage Series WA90CEVSB	Dreadnought	Laminated Linden	Laminated Linden	$149	Sweetwater
Cordoba Mini II FMH Nylon String	Mini Classical	Laminated Flamed Mahogany	Laminated Flamed Mahogany	$199	Sweetwater
Washburn Apprentice D5CE Acoustic-electric Guitar Pack	Dreadnought	Select Spruce (laminated)	Laminated Mahogany	$199	Sweetwater
Fender FA115 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar Pack	Dreadnought	Laminated Spruce	Laminated Mahogany	$199	Sweetwater
Yamaha GigMaker C40 Classical Pack – More Beginner-Friendly Yamaha’s Here	Classical	Laminated Spruce	Laminated Meranti (may vary)	$199	Sweetwater – Thomann
Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy	Parlor	Laminated Basswood	Laminated Basswood	$189	Sweetwater – Thomann
Ibanez PN12E	Parlor	Laminated Sapele	Laminated Nyatoh	$199	Sweetwater

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Budget & Low Mid-Range Acoustic Guitars – $200-400

Ibanez AW54

Moving up from the most affordable acoustic guitar price, we can aim for something a little more expensive, responsive, and with better build quality. The best acoustics under $500 make a very tight niche with ferocious competition between well-known brands in the music industry. 

At this price point, though, you can still find some starter packs, and some of these models make great beginner-oriented instruments.

But what should you aim for in this price range?

• Solid tops – At this price point, some brands start making solid-top guitars. A solid piece of wood vibrates more musically than a laminated one. Given the choice, always go for solid-wood tops.
• Electronics – You can expect a wider offer of acoustic-electric guitars in this range. If you’re playing out, you have to plug in.
• Gig bags and accessories – Some of these guitars come with a gig bag, which is a must. You’ll have to buy it separately anyways.

These are my picks for this very tight competition:

Guitar	Body Style	Top	Back & Sides	Price	Check Todays Price
Taylor Baby Taylor BT1	3/4 Dreadnought	Solid Sitka Spruce	Laminated Walnut	$399	Sweetwater – Thomann
Ibanez AW54 – More Great Ibanez Acoustic Guitars Here	Dreadnought	Solid Okoume	Laminated Okoume	$229	Sweetwater – Thomann
Yamaha Keith Urban Guitar Pack	Concert	Laminated Meranti or Agathis	Laminated Meranti or Agathis	$249	Sweetwater
Ibanez Talman TCM50	Talman	Figured Ash (laminated)	Laminated Sapele	$329	Sweetwater – Thomann
Epiphone PR-4E Player Pack	Jumbo	Solid Spruce	Laminated Mahogany	$289	Sweetwater – Thomann
Yamaha FG830 – More Great Budget Yamha’s Here	Dreadnought	Solid Spruce	Laminated Rosewood	$339	Sweetwater – Thomann
Washburn Deep Forest Ebony FE	Folk	Striped Ebony (laminated)	Laminated Okoume	$339	Sweetwater
Epiphone J-45 EC Studio – More Great Epiphones Here	Advanced Jumbo	Solid Sitka Spruce	Selected Mahogany	$369	Sweetwater – Thomann
Takamine GD20 – More Great Takamines Here	Dreadnought	Solid Cedar	Laminated Okoume	$399	Sweetwater

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Intermediate Level & Mid-Range Acoustic Guitars – $400-900

Epiphone Hummingbird Studio

Listing acoustic guitars under $1000 things get interesting. Yes, at their average price, the intermediate-level guitars or mid-level guitars at this price point can very well accompany a player for a lifetime.

These can be your step up from the first or second acoustic to a proper, great-sounding decent instrument that you can play indefinitely. Although they don’t have the fancy high-quality hardware, and the ultra-high quality wood of high-end acoustics; guitars in this price range will age well and give you years of joy.

Bearing in mind what these acoustic guitars cost, besides the better build quality, what should you expect?

• Accessories – While you were lucky to get a gig bag in the previous range, a guitar costing $500 should at least offer one. The closer you get to the $900 ceiling, the more chances of a hardshell case.
• Electric-acoustic brands – Electronics on an acoustic are paramount for your live sound; in this price range, you should expect high-quality materials from top brands like Fishman, LR Baggs, and such.
• Solid woods – Laminated guitars, solid-top guitars, and solid-wood guitars are three different categories in price but also in sound. So, look for a solid back and sides, they can take the guitar’s sound to the next level.

Here are my picks for this price range:

Guitar	Body Style	Top	Back & Sides	Price	Check Todays Price
Epiphone Hummingbird Studio	Dreadnought	Solid Spruce	Mahogany	$449	Sweetwater
Taylor GS Mini	GS Mini	Solid Tropical Mahogany	Laminated Sapele	$559	Sweetwater – Thomann
Martin 000-10E	Auditorium	Solid Sapele	Solid Sapele	$899	Sweetwater
Ovation Celebrity Elite Plus CE44P-SM	Mid-Depth Cutaway	Solid Spalted Maple	Lyrachord	$629	Sweetwater – Thomann
Seagull Guitars S6 Cedar Original	Dreadnought	Solid Cedar	Laminated Wild Cherry	$779	Sweetwater – Thomann
Taylor 114e	Grand Auditorium	Solid Sitka Spruce	Layered Walnut (laminated)	$889	Sweetwater – Thomann
PRS SE P50E	Parlor	Solid Sitka Spruce	Lamianted Maple	$719	Sweetwater – Thomann
Cordoba C7-CE	Classical w/Cutaway	Solid Western Red Cedar	Laminated Rosewood	$759	Sweetwater – Thomann
Gretsch G5031FT Rancher	Dreadnought	Solid Spruce	Arched Laminated Mahogany Back & Laminated Mahogany Sides	$749	Sweetwater

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Advanced Level & High Mid-Range Acoustic Guitars – $900-1600

Yamaha AC5M ARE

If things got interesting in the last batch, at this acoustic guitar price, they get serious. Yes, at this level you’re browsing professional-level acoustic guitars. By professional acoustic guitars, I mean guitars you can come across on any stage around the world. 

In other words, these are solid-wood guitars that offer a sound quality that can satisfy even the most demanding ears.

Leaving the vintage market out, here you’ll find traditional acoustic guitars and new creations (like the Fender Acoustasonic) that go beyond the “good acoustic guitars” to the “high-quality guitar” or “high-end guitars” category.

But what can you expect from these high-end acoustic guitars?

• Solid woods – Solid-wood acoustic guitars are always the best sounding. In this price range, you can choose a good acoustic guitar that can sound amazing unplugged in the studio. Many records you love were made with guitars in this price range.
• Complex and modern electronics – If you play guitar on stage most of the time, investing in a great live guitar like Fender’s Acoustasonic series might be worth it. That is, of course, if you don’t need to play it unplugged.
• Premium tonewoods – Although Martin, Taylor, PRS, and other brands show their true colors in the next price range, high-quality woods make high-quality instruments. So, you can expect solid mahogany, ebony and rosewood fretboards, and solid Sitka spruce tops. In good-quality guitars, wood is responsible for 80% of the tone.

These are my picks of the best acoustic guitars in this price range:

Guitar	Body Style	Top	Back & Sides	Price	Check Todays Price
Yamaha AC5M ARE – Find Our Favorite Yamaha Guitars Here	Concert Cutaway	Solid Sitka Spruce with A.R.E. treatment	Solid Mahogany	$1499	Sweetwater – Thomann
Fender Acoustasonic Player Telecaster	Acoustasonic Telecaster	Solid Sitka Spruce	Mahogany	$1199	Sweetwater – Thomann
Martin D-15M – Find Our Favorite Martin Guitars Here	Dreadnought 14-Fret	Solid Genuine Mahogany	Solid Genuine Mahogany	$1499	Sweetwater – Thomann
Cordoba C10 Crossover Nylon String	Spanish Classic	Solid European Spruce	Solid Indian Rosewood	$1299	Sweetwater – Thomann
Yamaha NTX3 Nylon-string	NTX Classical	Solid Sitka Spruce	Solid Walnut	$1049	Sweetwater – Thomann
Takamine TSP138CTB	Thinline	Solid Sapele	Solid Spruce	$1449	Sweetwater
Ovation Timeless Classic Nylon – Find Our Favorite Ovation Guitars Here	Mid-Depth Cutaway	AA Solid Cedar	Lyrachord	$1149	Sweetwater – Thomann
Taylor American Dream AD27 Mahogany	Round Shoulder Dreadnought	Solid Mahogany	Solid Sapele	$1449	Sweetwater – Thomann
PRS SE Angelus A60E	Concert with Cutaway	Solid Sitka Spruce	Laminated Ziricote	$919	Sweetwater – Thomann

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Premium & High-End Acoustic Guitars – $1600 +

Martin D-28

These higher-priced guitars are the antagonists of affordable acoustic guitars. 

Yes, in many cases, the flagship instruments of some of the most renowned guitar brands in the world. Thus, Taylor, Martin, Guild, and Larriveé go full-on with these models sparing no expense in delivering the world-class tone that made them famous.

Thinking of them as expensive guitars is, in my opinion, a mistake. In this category, you’ll find a high-quality instrument that will age like good wine and become a better guitar as it turns into an old guitar.

If you have the budget to buy such guitars, don’t think about it as an expensive guitar, but as the music industry benchmark and as an investment.

If you take care of it, guitar prices only go up with time in this price category. But, what you can expect from the best acoustic guitars in this price section?

• Premium tonewoods – While you can find a solid spruce top on a good acoustic guitar from this price range, you’ll also find exotic and precious woods such as solid rosewood, ebony, koa, sapele, Engleman spruce, and more.
• Premium accessories – Forget about gig bags; these pieces of stringed art come inside a premium hardshell case. Furthermore, many of these guitars come with a COA (Certificate of Authenticity).
• Premium electronics – Guitars like the Fender American Acoustasonic Jazzmaster represent the high-end acoustics evolution.

Price ranges this high make the throne for best guitar really hard to get. Yet, this is my take on the best in the market today:

Guitar	Body Style	Top	Back & Sides	Price	Check Todays Price
Taylor 814ce – Find Our Favorite Taylor Guitars Here	Grand Auditorium	Solid Sitka Spruce	Solid Indian Rosewood	$3999	Sweetwater – Thomann
Martin D-28	Dreadnought	Solid Spruce	Solid East Indian Rosewood	$3199	Sweetwater – Thomann
Martin D-42 Special	Dreadnought	Solid Spruce	Solid East Indian Rosewood	$12199	Sweetwater
Taylor PS14ce	Grand Auditorium	Solid Sinker Redwood	Solid Honduran Rosewood	$9999	Sweetwater
Gibson Acoustic Hummingbird – Find Our Favorite Gibson Guitars Here	Dreadnought	Solid Sitka Spruce	Solid Mahogany	$3999	Sweetwater – Thomann
Fender American Acoustasonic Jazzmaster	Acoustasonic Jazzmaster	Solid Sitka Spruce	Mahogany	$1999	Sweetwater – Thomann
Larrivee C-10 Rosewood	Round Shoulder Dreadnought	Solid Sitka Spruce	Solid Rosewood	$5361	Sweetwater
Guild F-55E Maple, Jumbo Acoustic	Jumbo	Solid Sitka Spruce	Arched laminated Figured Maple (back), Figured Maple (Sides)	$4199	Sweetwater – Thomann
Cordoba Hauser Master Series Classical	Classical	Solid Engelmann Spruce	Solid Indian Rosewood	$4399	Sweetwater

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What Makes-Up Acoustic Guitars Price?

This is a question every guitar player asks while freaking out at the price tag great guitars have. Let me try and break down a good acoustic guitar cost so we can think of where the price comes from.

Tonewoods

The first thing to bear in mind is the tonewood. Although you might not believe it, some tonewoods, like original Honduras mahogany, are more scarce and valuable than gold; whether it is for the bars of mallet instruments or guitars.

For example, if you’re lucky enough to be playing guitar with your limited edition Martin OM-24JM, you’ll know that your guitar’s neck is made of genuine mahogany while the new OMJM features a Spanish cedar neck. The difference in price between them is $8,000.

So, tonewoods make up most of the sound quality and also the cost.

Laminated or Solid?

A laminated guitar can be made with leftovers and glue but a solid guitar requires a solid piece of wood. Hence, the vibration, tone, and quality change and affect the price.

As your ears get better, you’ll be able to distinguish, and thus enjoy, higher-quality materials. For example, a laminated, entry-level guitar has a ringing, annoying top-end that is never present in a solid spruce, or solid mahogany top.

Read our full laminated vs solid woods guide here.

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Brand Name/Craftsmanship

Although a solid spruce top can make a difference in guitar tone and price, solid spruce by itself doesn’t do the trick. On the contrary, the inner bracings, techniques, and machinery that go into every single high-end guitar in the world took centuries to develop.

Also, modern construction techniques and facilities, like Gibson’s Plek machine, are company investments that go into the guitar’s final price.

Finally, the experience of the craftsman making the guitar is also a part of the price. It isn’t the same to have a seasoned craftsman (we could say artist?) putting the premium materials together than a total novice.

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Accessories

Finally, good guitars come with great accessories. Yes, whether it’s acoustic-electric, acoustic, classical, or electric guitar, brands tend to make increasingly costly and better accessories for the guitars. 

For example, a Baby Taylor or a Little Martin will come with a gig bag but a Martin D-15M or a Taylor 314ce comes with an exclusive hardshell case.

It all goes into the guitar price (the gig bag and the case) but it’s less notorious as the price goes up.

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FAQ

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Conclusion on How Much Acoustic Guitars Cost

It’s a common myth that all the good guitars have a hefty price tag attached to them. Yet, after playing a whole bunch of them in every price range, I have to say that’s not true.

We did the hard work for you boiling down the options to nine good guitars worth buying in each price category. Follow our advice, try out the guitars closest to your budget, and maximize what your dollars can get you.

Buy your next favorite acoustic guitar and let the world hear what you have to say.

Happy (acoustic) playing!

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