Welcome to my guide to the 7 best acoustic guitars under $1,500. The instruments in this list would all make excellent choices for any guitar player looking for a high-quality guitar.
Quick Answer: Best Acoustic Guitars Under $1500
- 1. Best Acoustic Guitar Under $1,500 Overall: Taylor 214 CE Deluxe
- 2. Martin D-13E
- 3. Yamaha APX 1200II
- 4. Godin A6
- 5. Seagull Artist Mosaic CW
- 6. Takamine P3NY New Yorker
- 7. Taylor GT Urban Ash
I’ve played acoustic guitar for over 30 years and have tried out many different instruments. I checked them as a quality control technician and taught guitar in a music store. Here’s what I think are the best choices.
About Acoustic Guitars Under $1500
Instruments under $1,500 are considered to be higher-end guitars. They’re not quite the best, but the quality at this level goes way up. You can expect a great sound, excellent craftsmanship, and a guitar suitable for most applications.
At this price point, you have a lot of options including wood choices, pickups, and body styles. You can get a guitar that matches your playing style and needs when you shop at around the $1,500 mark.
My Experience with Acoustic Guitars Under $1,500
I taught guitar in a music store and we sold several higher-end guitars. I got to try out many models myself. I believe my experiences with these guitars will help you find a high-quality instrument.
I also worked as a quality control technician checking guitars for flaws and have played for over 30 years, so I have a good idea of the types of guitars at this price point. Many are ideal for today’s players.
Things to Consider When Choosing Acoustic Guitars Under $1500
At around $1,500 you have a few things to consider before you make that purchase. It’s important to know what you want before you rush in and buy because you want to be satisfied with your investment.
Size
Have an idea of the body size you want. For example, a good dreadnought is fine for strumming, but you’ll struggle to play faster solos. A guitar with a deep cutaway makes soloing easier.
Smaller body dreadnoughts like concert size are easier to hold for fingerpicking styles. You may want a jumbo body if you like louder acoustic sounds for styles such as country, jazz, and blues.
The Overall Tone & Sound
At the $1,500 price point, you’re going to get a good sound, and the tonewood of your guitar starts to matter more as the wood at this price is a lot better than cheaper models. You may need to try several guitars to find your sound.
Experiment with a few guitars and wood combinations and allow your ear to guide you to the sound that you like. What you like may not be what another guitarist likes, so use your own judgment.
Price
I’d aim at around $1,200 to $1,500. In this range, you’re going to get quite a few options and an instrument that’s set up and ready to go.
Electronics
At around $1,500, a lot of guitars come preinstalled with a preamp and pickup. These are ideal for recording and playing live. You’ll need an acoustic amplifier, but this option is nice if you’re a gigging guitarist.
7 Best Acoustic Guitars Under $1500
This guide to the 7 best guitars under $1,500 has something for everyone. These are my own selections, so you may want something different, but these guitars are all worth the money.
1. Taylor 214CE Deluxe Acoustic Guitar
- Type: Grand auditorium cutaway
- What’s included: Guitar, hard case
- Pickups: Expression System 2
- Material & finish: Ebony, spruce, rosewood, sapele, gloss
- Best for: Those that want a professional acoustic guitar
The Taylor 214CE Deluxe provides a professional-level tone in one great package. The spruce top is warm with good note clarity. The cutaway body makes soloing easy.
Use the Expression System 2 to sculpt your tone through an amplifier. The ebony fretboard is smooth at all positions for effortless hand movements. This guitar has everything the player wants.
✅ Big tone
✅ Good electronics
✅ Hard case
✅ Smooth neck
❌ No info on EQ buttons
❌ Position of electronics cumbersome
Why I Recommend It
At just under $1,500, this Taylor guitar is a steal. The Expression System 2 electronics really shine through your amp with a great acoustic tone that sounds authentic. You won’t have a problem getting nice tones from this guitar.
It sounds fantastic whether you’re strumming chords or soloing. I’ve played one of these before and I was impressed at how the guitar performs. This is clearly one of the 7 best acoustic guitars under $1,500.
2. Martin D-13E
- Type: Standard dreadnought
- What’s included: Guitar, case
- Pickups: MX-T
- Material & finish: Spruce, hardwood, zircote veneer, gloss
- Best for: Chord strummers
The Martin D-13E is the ideal guitar for the chord strummer. It’s got a huge dreadnought tone with a Sitka spruce top, which is suitable for most styles of music.
In the soundhole is a superb Fishman MX-T pickup system that gives you great amplified tones. The high-performance neck taper makes the guitar comfortable to play in all positions up the neck.
✅ Good pickup
✅ Big tone
✅ Neck taper
✅ X-bracing
❌Case could be better
❌Could have better bridge pins
Why I Recommend It
You can’t go wrong with a Martin dreadnought, and at under $1,500 this is a good entry point for most players. This dreadnought is perfect for strumming chords, as it’s got that big Martin tone that you want.
The Performance Artist neck makes playing the guitar a breeze. It feels a lot like an electric guitar neck, so it’s ideal if you’re coming from the electric guitar to an acoustic. The added pickup is another bonus with this great guitar.
3. Yamaha APX 1200II Acoustic Guitar
- Type: Cutaway thinline dreadnought
- What’s included: Guitar, soft case
- Pickups: SRT electronics
- Material & finish: Rosewood, spruce, mahogany, ebony, gloss
- Best for: Those that want a high-performance cutaway
The Yamaha APX 1200II has a lot going for it. The thin dreadnought body and cutaway make the guitar ready for any soloist. The spruce top provides the tone that you want.
You get studio-quality tones with the SRT electronics system. You can use the blend control and different microphone modes for an authentic acoustic tone. This guitar is studio as well as stage ready for your next performance.
✅ Pickup
✅ Cutaway neck
✅ Smooth neck
✅ Compact headstock
❌ Case could be better
❌ Some may find EQ confusing
Why I Recommend It
This guitar has a lot of controls for under $1,500. You get a preamp with volume, low mid, and high as well as a tuner and mic modeling all in one. This pickup has a really good tone for recording.
The cutaway makes it easy to solo up and down the neck. The thinline body is lightweight, so it’s easier to hold when you’re standing on the stage. I like this model a lot, especially the full-featured electronics system.
4. Godin A6 Acoustic Guitar
- Type: Cutaway
- What’s included: Guitar, case
- Pickups: Humbucker, transducer
- Material & finish: Cedar, mahogany, rosewood, Richlite
- Best for: Those that want an advanced acoustic
The Godin A6 is a modern and advanced acoustic guitar capable of both acoustic and electric guitar tones. The guitar has an electric humbucker built right into the body.
The maple body, mahogany neck, and cedar top give this guitar a warm and balanced tone for all styles of music. This is a superb modern acoustic guitar and one of the best 7 acoustic guitars under $1,500.
✅ Deep cutaway
✅ Unique electronics
✅ Solid cedar top
✅ Electric feel
❌ Plugged-in tone better than acoustic
❌ Case could be better
Why I Recommend It
The Godin A6 is a modern guitar capable of a wide range of unique tones. The guitar is lightweight and comfortable with the feel of an electric guitar. I like the two-chambered body, as it reduces feedback when it’s plugged in.
The mahogany neck is nice up and down the fretboard. The guitar does have a bit better plugged-in sound than when it’s played acoustically, but the unique features make it a versatile acoustic guitar and that’s why it’s included on this list.
5. Seagull Artist Mosaic CW HG
- Type: Cutaway dreadnought
- What’s included: Guitar, case
- Pickups: LR Baggs Anthem
- Material & finish: Mahogany, spruce, Richlite, gloss
- Best for: Players that want a well-rounded guitar
The Seagull Artist Mosaic CW HG is a guitar capable of producing great tones. The cutaway body makes soloing easy, and the solid wood construction gives you a big sound when strumming chords.
The LR Baggs electronics give the guitar an excellent sound when it’s plugged into an amplifier, so it’s ready for the stage or a concert performance. Get the sound you want with the Artist Mosaic.
✅ Big tone
✅ Pickup
✅ Smooth neck
✅ Easy tuning
❌ Single notes can sound a bit weak
❌ Soundhole access for electronics
Why I Recommend It
I own this guitar and I have to say I’m quite impressed by it, as it’s got a huge tone for chords. I love the feel of the neck up and down the fretboard. The LR Baggs sounds great out of any amplifier, so there’s no need to fight for your sound.
Single notes can sound a bit weak when played acoustically, but this can be mitigated some by experimenting with different strings. It stays in tune well thanks to the tapered headstock. Overall, I enjoy playing it.
6. Takamine P3NY New Yorker Acoustic Guitar
- Type: Small body parlor
- What’s included: Guitar, case
- Pickups: Takamine CT4B II
- Material & finish: Sapele, cedar, mahogany, rosewood, satin finish
- Best for: Those that want a smaller body size
The Takamine P3NY New Yorker guitar has a great-sounding cedar top and fast mahogany neck. The smaller body size makes the guitar ideal for fingerpicking and many other styles.
The Takamine electronics give the guitar solid and dependable plugged-in tones when you need them. It’s got a bone saddle and nut for dependable tuning each time you play the guitar.
✅ Great neck
✅ Good pickup
✅ Feels like an electric
✅ Deep cutaway
❌ EQ a bit hard to access
❌ Some may find it too small
Why I Recommend It
This Takamine model is ideal for fingerpickers or those that like smaller body styles. The guitar feels comfortable when you’re standing up for a long duration. I like the Takamine electronics, which sound great through an amp.
There’s a three-band EQ, volume control, and a tuner included with the system. I’d prefer this on the side, but it’s near the neck of the guitar. Overall, this is one of the best 7 guitars under $1,500 if you want a smaller body size.
7. Taylor GT Urban Ash Acoustic Guitar
- Type: Grand Theater
- What’s included: Guitar, case
- Pickups: N/A
- Material & finish: Mahogany, spruce, urban ash, eucalyptus, satin
- Best for: Players that want a unique guitar
The Taylor GT Urban Ash combines the Taylor Mini with a grand concert-sized guitar. The guitar has the sound of a full-feature dreadnought with the portability of a travel-size guitar.
The C-class bracing gives this unique guitar an exceptional tone, intonation, and note clarity. The shape of the guitar is comfortable whether you’re standing or sitting down. It’ll provide a unique and enjoyable playing session each time.
❌ Case couple be better
❌ No pickup
Why I Recommend It
I really like the Grand Theater shape of this Taylor guitar. It’s a joy to play and has a wonderful sound especially when you’re fingerpicking and playing chords. The C-class bracing gives it good bass response and sustain.
I wish there was a pickup, but you can have one installed if you’d like. For a smaller-sized guitar, this Taylor is quite enjoyable to play. If you don’t like full-sized dreadnoughts, give this one a go.
Acoustic Guitars Under $1,500 Aesthetics & Build
At under $1,500, the build of most guitars will be pretty much spot on. The wood at this price level is very good and the guitars are built to a high level. You won’t find much wrong with a guitar in this price range.
Material
Here’s what to expect in terms of the tonewoods commonly used for $1,500 guitars.
- Spruce: Quite a few guitars have spruce tops, as the tone produced is warm.
- Mahogany: This wood is used for the neck, body, and sides and has a good overall tone.
- Cedar: An alternative to spruce with a great tone and resonance
- Maple: A hardwood used for necks and sometimes acoustic guitar bodies
- Rosewood: Found on fretboards and guitar bridges
- Richlite/ebony/laurel: Alternatives to rosewood for fretboards
Finish
There are several different finishes used on acoustic guitars. Here are the basics of each.
- Gloss: A common finish with a good shine used on acoustic guitars
- Matte/satin: A smooth finish without a lot of shine
- Lacquer: A finish with good shine and durability, but it may crack over time
Frequently Asked Questions:
Here are a few points to consider when buying a guitar for under $1,500.
Are Guitars Under $1,500 Worth It?
Guitars at $1,500 are worth it. There’s no real need to spend several thousand on an acoustic guitar unless you’re a gigging professional and need a top-tier tone. Most guitars in this range sound great and give you solid performance.
What Type of Sound Can I Expect?
The tone and sound of a guitar in this price range is more than enough to cover whatever it is you want to play. You’ll get a guitar suitable for fingerstyle, blues, country, rock, and so on. Guitars at $1,500 have a great tone.
What Size Should I Buy?
It’s up to you to decide whether you want a dreadnought, small body size, cutaway, or another size guitar. Dreadnoughts make good strummers, whereas the cutaway is more of a soloing guitar. Weigh your options.
Where to Buy Acoustic Guitars Under $1,500
There are a few places where you can pick up a good acoustic guitar. Here are the main places that you’ll want to consider before you buy.
Amazon
Amazon offers a wide product selection with good prices. I like reading guitar reviews before I order something from them. They ship fast and answer your questions quickly, so this is usually my first choice.
Sweetwater/Guitar Center
Sweetwater and Guitar Center are two alternatives to Amazon. Both online stores have a huge selection of products. They both ship quickly and answer all of your questions in a timely manner.
Your Local Music Store
It’s a good idea to check out a few guitars at your local music store to get a feel for what’s on the market. You need to be sure about what you want before you buy.
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Table of Contents
- Acoustic Guitars By Price
- About Acoustic Guitars Under $1500
- My Experience with Acoustic Guitars Under $1,500
- Things to Consider When Choosing Acoustic Guitars Under $1500
- 7 Best Acoustic Guitars Under $1500
- Acoustic Guitars Under $1,500 Aesthetics & Build
- Frequently Asked Questions:
- Acoustic Guitars
- In Conclusion
In Conclusion
Thanks for looking at my guide to the 7 best acoustic guitars under $1,500. All of these guitars would make great choices for any guitar player. There’s something out there for everyone.
Please comment, like, and share this article. I hope you enjoy your new guitar. Get out there and start jamming on that acoustic!
