Acoustic Guitars - basics, guides, beermats, and seasoned tips...

Best Acoustic Guitars Recommendations

A UniGTR+ selection of recommended guitars to suit beginner to advanced guitar players. From the humble entry level starter guitar packs to the advanced and recognized company flagships.

Sign up for your free (for now) Uni Musicians E-Zine In the near future this exclusive listing will be a paid only membership - now's your chance to get in for free.

***

Find at Amazon UK

***

Acoustic Guitars - Entry Level

One of the biggest and best in the biz since long long ago! Fender guitars in general tend to have a good standard of sound and quality at all levels from entry to pro. This one's a good entry level model.

: Fender DG-8 Acoustic Gtr

Fender DG-8S Acoustic Guitar Value Pack

Beginners Tip The Fender DG-8S Acoustic Guitar Value Pack (acoustic guitar + extras) has a good playable Action. This relates to how high the strings come up of the fretboard. A cheap and badly made guitar has a very high action, and is therefore very hard to play. This is to be avoided like the plague!

Beginners Tip If you simply lower the action on a cheap guitar it will buzz and fret out (not sound) all over the place. All recommendations here, have at the least a good playable action.

This fender acoustic is cheap enough at entry level prices with a reputable company behind it.

Yamaha Guitar Pack

Another good entry level Acoustic guitar to consider is the Yamaha GigMaker Deluxe Guitar Pack Natural

This Yamaha's beginner's acoustic guitar kit which is a gud one including tuner, lessons, picks etc.

Their stuff is pretty reliable to say the least, and their motorbikes are cool too! Good action, tone and playability, great for serenading your loved one from under the balcony - eh?

If her father chases you out of it, you can always escape on the bike!

Mid - Top Range Acoustics

Moving a bit more upmarket, here's one of the best known Acoustic guitar builders of 'em all. The company behind this Acoustic are called Martin - they also get a mention in the string department.

Martin D-15 Custom Spruce and Rosewood Acoustic Guitar

Martin D-15 Custom Spruce and Rosewood Acoustic Guitar

The simple appointments of the Martin D-15 Custom Acoustic Guitar and its modest price makes it reminiscent of the 15 Series guitars of the 1940s. This model eschews vintage all-mahogany construction for a select solid Sitka spruce top with lighter bracing for big projection and solid East Indian rosewood back and sides that produce ringing punch and sustain. The modified low-oval mahogany neck is set with a mortise-and-tenon neck joint and has an adjustable truss rod and solid Indian rosewood fingerboard. The body and neck are bound in tortoise-colored binding. It also has a rosewood bridge, dot fretboard inlays, rosewood headstock overlay, and an inlaid single-ring rosette. Quantities of this custom Martin acoustic guitar are limited.

Takemine Mid Range Price Acoustic Guitar

Hugely popular and also one of the biggest Acoustic guitar makers is Takamine. You'll see pro's all over the land who use nothing else but this make. They have a really unique sound of their own, instantly recognize-able. Many cost a few grand to buy but if you don't have that sort of bread to spend on a guitar and your hankerin' for THAT sound there are cost-conscious models produced.

Takamine EG523SC Acoustic-Electric Guitar Black

Takamine EG523SC Acoustic-Electric Guitar Black

The Takamine EG523SC Acoustic-Electric Guitar has outstanding sound by itself or plugged in. Jumbo body style provides cool profile and comfortable playing with a huge solid spruce soundboard for big volume and titanic tone. Glowing, gorgeous flamed maple back and sides plus an abalone rosette make it flash in the stage lights. Active electronics with onboard EQ translate all that tone into the electrical world with total fidelity.

The Search for a Well Priced Electro-Acoustic

Finding a good, well priced Acoustic-Electric Guitar can be difficult. After mucho investigation I recommend trying a Yamaha. I used one of these for 2 years gigging a while back and it never let me down. I used one in Dublin too trouble free too. The Yam survived many a season in an Irish bar in sunny Spain and that's sayin' something.

Now Yamaha guitars may not be reknowned in general for characteristic and indidual sound like say the Takamine but in general they produce guitars that sound good, are reasonably priced and reliable.

The Yamaha FX 335 Acoustic-Electric guitar featured below has got a simple eq graphic control on it consisting of the usual suspects; Bass, Middle, Treble and Volume.

Yamaha FX 335 Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural

Yamaha FX 335 Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural

This finely-crafted Yamaha acoustic-electric guitar provides great sound and playing ease. Both a comfortable and an affordable guitar, the FX335 will give you years of playing pleasure. The FX335 has a classic dreadnought look and sound with a spruce top , rosewood fingerboard and bridge, and tortoise shell pickgard. Gold die-cast tuners provide smooth and accurate tuning. With a Piezo electric pickup mounted underneath the saddle and an onboard preamp with a 2-band EQ you will be equipped to play in any setting.

Acoustic-Electric Guitar Beginner's Tips

Beginners Tip These as their name suggests are simply Acoustic guitars with the ability to plug into a suitable amplifier. This just means that they can be heard over say, a noisy pub racket of cheering...yaahhh.

Recording Tip Normally the onboard electrics are used for live gigging. In the recording studio it's usual to use the studio's recording facilities to capture a guitars sound to tape. It's far superior, but feel free to experiment in your own time, as an engineer might tell you.

Tone Tip In general, get a FULL bodied semi-electric for the best tone. One that doesn't rely on the electronics to get a good sound. A semi-electric Acoustic Guitar should sound good even when it's not plugged in.

Mid-Range Semi-Electric

In the middish-range try an Ibanez Acoustic-Electric Guitar with Fishman transducer to amplify your self. This company has produced many a fine guitar electric and Acoustic/semi. This a good reliable brand and not a bad price either

Ibanez AW800ECENT ARTWOOD SERIES Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural Mahogany

Ibanez AW800ECENT ARTWOOD SERIES Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural Mahogany

If you've played or even just listened to many acoustic guitars, you know the amazing difference solid tonewoods make. The Ibanez AW800ECENT ARTWOOD SERIES Acoustic-Electric Guitar features a solid top made of Englemann spruce and solid mahogany back and sides. You'll hear warm lows and ringing highs in crisp detail, the way an acoustic is supposed to sound. The dreadnought body style is particularly well suited to making yourself heard in a group. The cutaway allows easy access to the entire fretboard.For faithful reproduction of acoustic tone, a B-Band UST pickup is paired with the B-Band A5 preamp with an onboard tuner. Tune anytime, anywhere.An abalone rosette and gold die-cast tuners with brown pearloid knobs are features you normally find on guitars costing far more. If you've been holding back on an acoustic guitar purchase because you haven't found the right features at the right price, your wait is over.

Top O' The Range Semi-Electric

We'll finish off the semi-electric steel string Acoustic Guitars with a 5 star top of the range industry standard - Your hear it every on professional recordings and gigs, it's none other than a Takamine Flagship.

Takamine EF360SC Acoustic Electric Guitar Natural

Takamine EF360SC Acoustic Electric Guitar Natural

The solid spruce top on the Takamine EF360SC produces rich, vibrant tone that gets crisp projection from gorgeous rosewood sides. Graph-Ex preamp with 3-band graphic EQ gives you complete command of your electric signal while the cutaway on the big dreadnought body lets your fingers roam the higher registers with abandon. The acoustic electric guitar comes complete with gold tuners with amber buttons plus an ebony and padauk rosette that add elegant flair.

Acoustic Guitars - Entry Level Nylon String

Nylon stringed guitars are typically suited to and heard in Classical, Spanish and Flamenco style music. These guitars are also to be heard in many other popular styles, and Sting does a nice Classical/Pop/Jazzy crossover in Fragile

Did U Know? Flamenco Guitars are slightly smaller than their Classical cousins which gives them a brighter sound.
Nylon Sounds For a wonderful example of nylon-stringed Flamenco Magic check out the amazing Paco De Lucia.

Antologia, Vol. 1

Fuente Y Caudal

Nylon Sounds For Classical masters try John Williams and Andre Segovia - 2 world class players of this style.
Beginners Sound Tips Mark Knopfler is a player who successfully combines Classical, Bluesy and Pop styles well together.
Sound Tips If your interested in Classical/Rock crossover styles check out Uli Jon Roth and his Scorpions/Electric Sun work, Yngvie Malmsteen, Richie Blackmore, Vinny Moore.

Here's a nylon with reputation, a good entry-level price and pro-sounding capabilities.

Cordoba Entry Level Classic Guitar Pack

Cordoba Cordoba Classic Pack with 110 Classical Guitar

Cordoba Cordoba Classic Pack with 110 Classical Guitar

With Cordoba's premium design, craftsmanship, and great playability, the Classic Pack provides the perfect starter kit for anyone looking to learn to play the guitar, especially without the discomfort of steel strings. This classical guitar features a solid spruce top and fine mahogany back and sides. Includes Savarez strings, electronic tuner, string winder, polishing cloth, protective gig bag, and instructional book and CD by guitar master Scott Tennant.

Sound Tip This brand is used famously by the Gipsy Kings Ol� Ol�.

Nylon String (Semi-Electric) Top o' the Range Level

Here's our old friend Meester Corrrdoba Signor -

This is their top o' the range - this company's guitars are gaining in popularity.

Cordoba 55R Classical Acoustic Guitar

Cordoba 55R Classical Acoustic Guitar

Cordoba's superb luthiery is evident in every detail of the 55R classical guitar. Trained through traditional apprenticeships, Cordoba's expert guitarerros join a solid European spruce top to genuine Indian rosewood back and sides with innovative bracing patterns for sweet, round tone. The ebony fingerboard on a Spanish cedar neck is silky to the touch.

Acoustic Steel/Nylon Guitar Strings

I recommend and use...

As often mentioned the lifeblood of any instrument, so take the time to experiment with strings 'til you find the right ones for you and your style. See our Tuning Tips for more details.

Capos - Multiply Your Options

There are different types for different styles of guitar. Here's the most common one for basic 6-string work...

Kyser Quick-Change Capo 6-String Gold

Capo Beginners Tips To multiply your Guitar Chord options, try a good Capo. This will increase your sound possibilities immensely, but don't become too reliant on the Capo or use it as an excuse not to learn Barre Chords ;-). There great for electric and acoustic guitars.
Capo Beginners Tips Try the KYSER brand, these are an excellent capo which will do you for life. I've had mine since the year dot - still goin' strong.
Capo Tips You can even buy spares for them!

You can get many different Kyser Capos to suit Acoustics, Nylons, Electrics and so on, so make sure you choose the correct one - they're all clearly marked.

Acoustic Guitar Reference Book

The Acoustic Guitars Guide is a good reference and learning source if your looking for more info on this wonderful instrument.

Acoustic-Gtr Tips Loads of relevant tips + tricks, Top Players, Recording Tips...

Acoustic Guitar - Affiliate Online Opp - Affiliate Club - Alternate Tuning - Amp Guide - Amp Resources - Blues Music - Beginner's Blues - Beyond the Pentatonic - Buy Guitar Guide - Chord Basics - Chain FX - Covers Band Money Tips - Covers / Equipment Tips - Covers Tips 2 - Creative & Song-Writing ESSENTIALS - Creative Tips - Creative Ideas - Electric Guitar - Effects + Pedals - Fender Guitars - Chord Chart - B Chords - Guitar Lessons - FX - Gibson - Guitar CD - Guitar Music - Recording - Resources - Major Pentatonic - Homepage - Home Studio - Vintage Keys - Studio Setups - Ibanez + Peavey - Legal - Midi Guitar Synths - Midi Studio - Modal Madness - Modes - 1PLs [ #1Payday.Loans ] / $5000 Installment Loan at 1PLs Co - Record Company - Recording Studio - Studio Recording - Tab - Tab Resource - Tuning - Tuning Resources - Tuning Tips - Tubes - Working with PC's - Legal Disclaimer ;-() MP3 Site Audio Recordings / Backing Tracks

... Acoustic Guitars ... Guitar Search, Martin, Takemine, Fender Acoustic ... Electric Guitars ... Buy Guitars Online ...