Yamaha's FG/FS series continue to get rave reviews, even more so with the addition of traditional x-bracing support on their solid top models. The FS800 brings their tried and tested formula into a concert profile acoustic, it is essentially a smaller bodied alternative to the FG800.

The FS800's compact profile also alters the tone with more emphasis on the mids and highs. Another important difference, although minor, is the shorter scale length which lessens the tension required for the strings to be in tune. This makes it a tad bit easier on the hands, while the curvy compact body makes it easier on the body and elbow to play.

Features:

• Body Shape: Concert
• Top: Solid Spruce
• Back and Sides: Nato/Okume
• Finish: Natural
• Bridge: Rosewood
• Neck: Nato
• Neck Profile: Slim Tapered
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Fingerboard Radius: 400mm
• Number of Frets: 20
• Frets to Body: 14
• Scale Length: 25”
• Nut Width: 43mm

Pros

While this is an entry-level guitar, even experienced players appreciate its overall quality and value for money. Most users are satisfied with its tone, while its playability also gets a lot of thumbs up, especially from guitarists who are into fingerstyle playing. It is also described as a comfortable instrument to learn on.

Cons

Like most guitars in this price range, some recommend replacing the strings to better appreciate its tone. There are a few who had some fret-buzz issues, but they were able to get it setup properly, and still have mostly good things to say about the FS800.

Overall

The Yamaha FS800 is easily one of the best value concert profile guitars in the market today, especially when considering that it gives it comes with a solid spruce top and x-bracing.

Yamaha is a company that's been producing musical instruments ever since its inception, and their over 130 years of experience and expertise has expanded into guitars. The FG800 is another great example of why Yamaha continues to be a top guitar brand for students, with its solid top construction, beginner-friendly playability and student-friendly budget.

Solid spruce top guitars are expected to sound better than laminate top ones, they are also louder and have better frequency representation. Supporting the guitar's solid top is an X-bracing built to Yamaha's quality standards, which gives more freedom for the top to vibrate without compromising structural integrity.

Features:

• Body Shape: Dreadnought
• Top: Solid Spruce
• Back and Sides: Nato/Okume
• Finish: Natural
• Bridge: Rosewood
• Neck: Nato
• Neck Profile: Slim Tapered
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Fingerboard Radius: 400mm
• Number of Frets: 20
• Frets to Body: 14
• Scale Length: 25 9/16”
• Nut Width: 43mm

Pros

Build quality is the biggest factor in reviews, users are simply happy with how well built this affordable instrument is. With good build quality comes good playability, and this is reflected in reviews. Tone is also often commended, some even reporting that it sounds as good as other more expensive dreadnoughts.

Cons

The quality of the strings that it came with caused a few users to slightly lower their ratings. There are also some who recommend getting the guitar setup professionally to get the most out of the instrument.

Overall

If you're looking for an affordable dreadnought acoustic with solid spruce top, then this is well worth considering.

At publication time this was the Highest Rated Acoustic Guitar from $200 to $300.

Though Ibanez is known more for their electric guitars, the brand actually produces a lot of high quality and inventive acoustic instruments. The perfect example of this is Ibanez’s AW54, a member of their Artwood series, which features renewable tonewoods that allow for lower price tags.

The tonewood it uses is okoume, which is a lighter and more readily available wood compared to Mahogany. But it does have a similar “warm” tone, with stronger representation of low-end and low-mid frequencies. It’s great if you’re looking to play folk, blues, and country music. It’s also great for finger-style songs.

An interesting feature of this instrument is that Ibanez sells it with “Ibanez Advantage” bridge pins. These pins are designed to make string changes easier. The “bulb” of the pin is wider, making it easier to grab. The end is also tapered, which helps hold the strings in the correct position.

Features:

• Body Shape: Dreadnought
• Top: Solid Okoume
• Back and Sides: Okoume
• Finish: Natural
• Bridge: Rosewood
• Neck: Nyatoh
• Neck Profile: Slim (21mm at 1st Fret)
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Fingerboard Radius: 400mm
• Number of Frets: 20
• Frets to Body: 14
• Scale Length: 25.629"
• Nut Width: 43mm

Pros

The ibanez AW54 continues to impress users with its earthy appeal and warm tone, thanks to its tonewood configuration. Many also feel that the guitar surpassed their expectations when it comes to build quality. Playability is also often commended, as expected from Ibanez.

Cons

As similar as it is to mahogany, it still is a different wood, and this is a deal breaker to some. There are a few who caution that okoume is a bit softer than mahogany, which means that the guitar requires a bit more TLC when handling to avoid scratches and dings.

Overall

If you're looking for a warm sounding solid-top acoustic guitar that's easy on the pocket, then check out the Ibanez AW54.

The Yamaha FG820 is a traditional dreadnought with a solid spruce top that's within reach of serious students of the instrument. And while having a solid top is already good to get in this price range, having been built to meet Yamaha's renowned quality standards, makes it even more appealing.

The guitar's body stays true to classic dreadnought design, with the back and sides crafted from laminate mahogany. The neck is also described as having a standard shape, which judging from the specifications are straightforward reproductions of classic dreadnought neck profile.

To improve the guitar's resonance and tone, Yamaha employed scalloped bracings (lighter), a feature that's you can normally find in more expensive acoustic guitars.

Features:

• Body Shape: Dreadnought
• Top: Solid Spruce
• Back and Sides: Mahogany
• Finish: Gloss
• Bridge: Rosewood
• Neck: Nato
• Neck Profile: Standard
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Fingerboard Radius: 400 mm
• Number of Frets: 20
• Frets to Body: 14
• Scale Length: 25.5”
• Nut Width: 42.86 mm

Pros

The Yamaha FG820 is well loved for its overall build quality, and this is a common theme among reviews of Yamaha made instruments. Users appreciate how good the neck feels, describing it as very easy on the hands of beginners. Others appreciate the extra cosmetic details that add to its premium look, like the cream colored bindings on the body and fretboard. Owners of this guitar are simply satisfied with what they got for the money - a good quality instrument.

Cons

There are few concerns about the actual guitar design, but note that Dreadnoughts can be a bit bulky for smaller players.

Overall

If you're looking for an affordable dreadnought acoustic with solid top, then you have plenty of good options in Yamaha's line up, this one being one of the top rated.

The Yamaha FG830 is a dreadnought profile guitar with a solid spruce top paired with laminate rosewood back and sides.

Rosewood is more “focused” than mahogany, so the guitar has a stronger mid-range and high-end punch. This lets you be heard better over other instruments. However, musicians who prefer Americana music (not including bluegrass) or solo arrangements may prefer a mahogany guitar because of their warmer voicing.

Features:

• Body Shape: Dreadnought
• Top: Solid Spruce
• Back and Sides: Laminated Rosewood
• Finish: Natural, Tobacco Sunburst, Autumn Burst
• Bridge: Rosewood
• Neck: Nato
• Neck Profile: Slim Tapered
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Fingerboard Radius: 400mm
• Number of Frets: 20
• Frets to Body: 14
• Scale Length: 25”
• Nut Width: 43mm

Pros

Some users report that they bought this guitar so that they won't have to risk carrying their more expensive acoustics too often - yet they ended up liking the FG830 more! Tone gets the most positive mention in reviews, specifically how full it sounded when strumming. This is seconded by commendations for its overall value.

Cons

There are some who comment that the extra cost compared to its more affordable sibling, the FG820 is not justified, unless you’re looking for an affordable rosewood voiced instrument.

Overall

The Yamaha FG830 gives you a bit more quality for the money, well worth checking especially when you consider how expensive other similarly spec'ed guitars are.

As the name itself implies, the Taylor Academy 10 is a dreadnought acoustic with student friendly playability.

It sports a distinct slim profile neck and shorter 24 7/8" scale length, both of which make it easier to play. Another noteworthy feature is its armrest, which makes it more comfortable on your picking arm, especially for new players.

While many will consider this guitar as mid-priced, this is still entry-level for Taylor, thankfully, they still equipped the Academy 10 with solid spruce top and sapele back and sides. More importantly, this guitar is built to meet the quality standards of Taylor guitars, which many consider to be among the best available.

Features:

• Body Shape: Dreadnought
• Top: Solid Spruce Top
• Back and Sides: Sapele
• Finish: Varnish
• Bridge: Not Specified
• Neck: Sapele
• Neck Profile: Taylor Slim
• Fingerboard: Ebony
• Number of Frets: 20
• Frets to Body: 14
• Scale Length: 24.875"
• Nut Width: 1.6875"

Pros

Reviewers have many good things to say about the Taylor Academy 10, more specifically about its build quality, which many describe as up to par with other more expensive Taylor guitars. Extra brownie points are also often given for its playability, which some describe as "like a dream" thanks to its shorter scale length, light gauge string and slim neck profile.

Cons

Since it is a streamlined entry-level model, there's not a lot to expect cosmetically. At this price, you can get better spec'ed guitars from other manufacturers, but value for money is not the strong suit of Taylor guitars anyway. Interestingly, there are still some who feel that they got more than their money's worth.

Overall

If you're looking for a premium quality student friendly guitar, then this should be high on your list.

At publication time this was the Equal Highest Rated Acoustic Guitar from $500 to $1,000 along with the Guild OM-120.

Given its all solid wood body construction, the Alvarez MFA66 gives more value for your money, while giving big name manufacturers a run for their money. For a mid-priced acoustic guitar, the MFA66 uses solid African mahogany as its main tone wood, from the top to the back and sides, and it doesn't skimp on cosmetic details either.

Even the neck is crafted from solid mahogany, and is topped by a rosewood bridge. Speaking of cosmetics, this guitar features Paua Abalone body purflings and inlays, and even has a binding crafted from acacia.

Other noteworthy features include ebony bridge pins, forward shifted scalloped bracing for vintage style resonance and projection, and the use of real bone for the nut and saddle.

Features:

• Body Shape: Folk
• Top: Solid African Mahogany
• Back and Sides: Solid African Mahogany
• Finish: Shadowburst Finish
• Bridge: Bi-Level Polished Rosewood Bridge
• Neck: Solid Mahogany Neck
• Neck Profile: Not Specified
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Fingerboard Radius: Not Specified
• Number of Frets: 21
• Frets to Body: 14
• Scale Length: 24.8"
• Nut Width: 44.45 mm

Pros

Tone seem to be the top reason why users rate this guitar highly, with build quality and aesthetics coming in close. Being great sounding is a common theme among reviews, impressing even those who own more expensive instruments from other makers. Owners are also quite pleased with the overall look and playing feel of the guitar.

Cons

Since there aren't any noteworthy complaints about build quality other than some shipping issues, we just want to note that all-mahogany body guitars sound warmer compared to those with spruce top. And this tone difference can be good or bad depending on your preference.

Overall

With its great value, solid mahogany body construction and pleasing aesthetic details, the Alvarez MFA66 is easy to recommend.

At publication time this was the Equal Highest Rated Acoustic Guitar between $1,000 and $1,500 along with the Martin D-15M.

Martin is a famous name when it comes to acoustic guitars, and for good reason. The brand is one of the most revered and long lived producers of acoustic guitars which has been the weapon of choice for guitarists across a ton of different genres and decades.

The 000-15 features an all-mahogany construction which gives it a balanced voice with a strong mid-range presence that works for various musical and playing styles. The guitar's smaller 000 body complements its tonewood to give it a tone that's reminiscent of early Americana music.

Features:

• Body Shape: 000
• Top: Solid Mahogany
• Back and Sides: Solid Mahogany
• Finish: Natural
• Bridge: Rosewood
• Neck: Mahogany
• Neck Profile: Modified Low Oval / Standard Taper
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Saddle Radius: 16"
• Number of Frets: 20
• Frets to Body: 14
• Scale Length: 25.4”
• Nut Width: 43mm

Pros

This guitar continue to retain an almost perfect overall rating at major retailers, and it only follows that a lot of good things have been said about it. Organic, natural and mellow are words that users use to describe its tone, while others focus their praised on its classic appeal, build quality and playability. Speaking of playability, even experienced players find it a joy to play right out of the box.

Cons

There are a few who feel that the guitar is too bare-boned for the price, and wish for more cosmetic appointments.

Overall

If aesthetic appeal is not much of a big deal for you, and you're looking for a good quality 000 body acoustic, then check out the Martin 000-15M.

At the time of publication this was the Highest Rated Acoustic Guitar between $1,500 and $2,000.

The Martin 000-15SM is a guitar with a look that harkens back to the "blues box" guitars of the '30s, complete with a 12-fret neck joint.

Despite its smaller 000 body profile and 12-fret neck joint, Martin opted to give this guitar a standard scale length, which avoids the need for any technique adjustments when switching from a standard size acoustic.

Another important distinction of the Martin 000-15SM is its slotted headstock, which completes the guitar's old school appeal. The top, back and sides are all crafted from solid mahogany, while the fingerboard and bridge are crafted from East Indian rosewood.

Features:

• Body Shape: 000
• Top: Solid Mahogany
• Back and Sides: Solid Mahogany
• Finish: Satin
• Bridge: East Indian Rosewood
• Neck: Mahogany
• Neck Profile: Modified Low Oval
• Fingerboard: East Indian Rosewood
• Fingerboard Radius: 16"
• Number of Frets: 20
• Frets to Body: 12
• Scale Length: 25.4"
• Nut Width: 44.45mm

Pros

There's just something special about the look of 12-fret guitars with a slotted headstock, especially when backed by a premium brand like C.F. Martin & Co. This guitar continues to be rated highly, with most retailers reflecting reviews of perfect 5 star scores. It gets most of its commendations for its clear and detailed tone, followed by positive comments about its classic look and build quality.

Cons

We all wish that this guitar was priced a bit lower, but those who bought it are more than pleased with how their investment turned out.

Overall

With its premium specs and classic looks, the Martin 000-15SM is an easy recommend, even if you have to wait and save for it!

The Guild M-40 is a premium recreation of the Guild F-20 from the 1960's, featuring a smaller concert-size body with Guild's own bracing system. This guitar features an all solid wood body, with solid African mahogany for the back and sides, and solid Sitka spruce for the top.

Concert size bodies are generally expected to have a warmer tone, and they're also usually lighter compared to dreadnoughts. The guitar's curvy shape also makes it more comfortable to play, and look more pleasing.

Speaking of aesthetics, the Guild M-40 has a classic clean look, with vintage style rosette, bindings and '60s style tortoiseshell pickguard.

Other features include mahogany C-profile neck with 12" radius Indian rosewood fingerboard, Indian rosewood bridge, bone nut and bone saddle.

Features:

• Body Shape: Concert
• Top: Solid Sitka Spruce
• Back and Sides: Solid African Mahogany
• Finish: Thin Satin Varnish
• Bridge: Indian rosewood
• Neck: Mahogany
• Neck Profile: C shape
• Fingerboard: Indian rosewood
• Fingerboard Radius: 304.8 mm
• Number of Frets: 20
• Frets to Body: 14
• Scale Length: 24.75”
• Nut Width: 44.45 mm

Pros

Experienced musicians and those who own old Guild acoustics are impressed with the overall quality of the M-40. Owners are pleased with its vintage style appearance, and they are also happy with its mid-range emphasized tone, which is described as warm yet clear. Some even compare it favorably to more expensive acoustics from other brands.

Cons

Aside from the price that limits its accessibility, there aren't much negative about this guitar.

Overall

If you're in the market for a premium quality brand new yet vintage looking, playing and sounding acoustic guitar then check out the Guild M-40.