Deciding on buying the first acoustic guitar of your dreams as a beginner is not easy. When you enter your local music store and see isles and isle of choices of different colors, shapes and sizes of stylish acoustic guitars and a grinning sales person next to you who is trying their best to achieve the store targets, the chances are high that you might end up with a disappointingly wrong choice. But relax… we’ve got this! We guide you through to make the correct decision on purchasing your dream acoustic guitar as a beginner.
The aim to buy an acoustic guitar that will look good, encourage you to learn more, comfortable to play, and most essentially sounds great just the way you want is vital. Going for a trusted brand will save you a lot of trouble in the future. Yamaha & Fender are two of the best and well-reputed brands we could bring up for a great start to an entry level acoustic.
First of all, your choice of an acoustic guitar should match your requirements. Price is a massive catch as well. There are fabulous beginner deals just under $300, and you may also find some real value under $100 if you look around really well. Anything above $500 is going to add even better options. Black Friday is just around the corner, look for discounts and offers you may easily find some percentages off of their original price tags. We also recommend not to spend luxury on accessories such as hand-made leather straps or high-end picks, instead invest solely on the quality of your instrument. But having that said, something like a good tuner could be a wise investment.
Basic tips to buy a beginner acoustic guitar,
- Should be easy to play and handle with a comfortable shape
String action: 2-2.7mm recommended. Traditional workhorse is dreadnoughts, but parlors or concerts are smaller and easier to handle. Weight of the guitar is one other factor you need to pay attention to.
- A low action
The height of the strings above the fretboard makes it more comfortable and easy to play.
- The Wood
Different kinds of wood sound different. A fingerstyle player would need a wood that responds for delicate playing, while a wood that needs more force is great for picks for a full resonate.
- Sound
The selection of the wood and the shape are two major factors that determine the sound of your acoustic guitar. Most common choice of acoustic guitar top is Spruce. You may also find Mahogany, Cedar, Rosewood, and Maple depend on the sound and tone you prefer.
Common mistakes when buying your first guitar
We have gone through some top official rankings to determine the best options a beginner can go for when purchasing their first acoustic guitar. Yamaha and Fender are undoubtedly two of the best brands in the market and they hold the pride of manufacturing some stunningly functional beginner acoustic guitar choices.
Best Beginner acoustic guitars;
Fender CD-60S
Solid mahogany Dreadnought
Back and sides laminated mahogany
Mahogany Neck
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Scale: 25.3″ | Frets: 20 | Tuners: Chrome Die-Cast | Left-handed | Nut Width: 1.69″
Finish: Gloss
Price: Less than $250
Pros: An ace beginner. Sound easily ranks among the best in its price range. Beginner-friendly features and impressive specs. Solid Spruce top which is specifically reserved for expensive models.
Cons: Smaller than traditional Dreadnaughts, more of a concert-size body.
Yamaha FS800
Solid Spruce Concert
Back and sides are made of Nato/Okume
Nato/Okume Neck
Fingerboard & bridge: Rosewood
Scale: 25″ | Frets: 20 | Tuners: | Right-handed | Nut Width: 1.69″
Finish: Natural
Price: Less than $250
Pros: Popular FG/FS series of acoustics. Concert Body with solid spruce top and traditional X-bracing support. A slight sorter scale length lessens the string tension and ideal for young players.
Cons: Sound is a mid-focused tone.
Yamaha FG800
Solid Spruce Dreadnought
Back and sides are made of Nato/Okume
Nato/Okume Neck (matt finish)
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Scale: 25.6″ | Frets: 20 | Tuners: Chrome Die-Cast | Nut Width: 1.69″ | Hex wrench
Finish: Black body binding and gloss
Price: Less than $300
Pros: Loud consistent thick tone, neither too bright nor too booming. The action is low and the neck has an even thickness. Scalloped bracing. The finish is extremely high quality for the price.
Cons: You may feel small imperfections on the wood of the neck. Harder to access the lower fretboard.
Fender FA-115 II
Solid Spruce Dreadnought
Back and sides are laminated basswood
Nato/Okume Neck
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Bridge: Hardwood
Scale: 25.3″ | Frets: 20 | Tuners: Chrome Covered | Nut Width: 1.69″
Finish: Chrome
Price: Less than $200
Pros: Hardwood Bridge is equipped with the compensated saddle ensuring comfort and great performance. The tone is bright, can strum really hard, or could even play delicately. Comes with a gig bag and shoulder strap.
Cons: Laminated hardwood fretboard will have an impact on quality.
Both Yamaha and Fender have got some amazing acoustic guitars for entry-level players, yet Yamaha is most likely at the top due to the wood which has a direct impact on the tone of the guitar. Yamaha acoustic guitars are in general light in weight and offer good vibrations. Fender is most popular for their electrical guitars just as the sister company of Fender “Squire”.
Nevertheless, different acoustic guitars support different styles and tones. We highly recommend checking the guitar in person before purchasing. Don’t be a stranger! Playing guitars around can give you an idea of the kind of guitar you’re most comfortable with. Letting someone else strum the guitar as you listen from a distance of a few feet is the most practical way of knowing how the guitar sounds.
Since now you are ready to buy your six strings dream, you may even consider having your name inlaid on the fretboard, proudly owned!
