10 Best Acoustic Guitars Under $1000 Review

Are you aiming to purchase a new acoustic guitar for this year? An acoustic guitar that you can play all day to sharpen your playing skills and at the same time can accompany you when practicing your voice. Well if you are looking for a workhorse of a guitar. We have gathered here a mix of acoustic and acoustic electric guitars that might catch your attention and could be one of these guitars at this said price point is what you’re trying to find.

The generosity of having a thousand dollar budget for an acoustic guitar means you get to choose between a variety of tonewood combination for the top, back and sides. This is great especially if you’re really after a specific tonality in regards to brightness, lushness and warmth to the sound to be projected by the guitar. Generally this will take a player to look into different guitar models with a full solid wood body construction or a solid top acoustic guitar paired with a laminated wood back and sides. Then followed by figuring out what design shape, size and if the guitar should have electronics on-board that adds another flavor to the sound, dictates the volume output and lets not forget its overall playability.

Moving now onto the list. These acoustic guitar instruments you’re about to see all exhibit a built quality right on the money, and can deliver dynamic tones for your pleasure, as well for your avid listeners. Depending on how a player rate their guitars. These guitars can already be a serious buy to many of us and be considered premium models. While for others, could only be just a mid-range level guitars. So whenever you’re ready, here’s our list of best acoustic guitars under a thousand dollars.


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Epiphone DR-500MCE Acoustic Electric Guitar

Epiphone DR-500MCE Acoustic Electric Guitar
  • Dreadnought acoustic electric guitar with cutaway
  • Solid sitka spruce soundboard
  • Solid mahogany back and sides
  • Comfortable slim tapered D-profile mahogany neck
  • 21 frets rosewood fingerboard complete with pearloid split diamond inlays as markers
  • Set of vintage style 18:1 ratio tuning machines
  • Rosewood bridge with compensated bone saddle and bone nut
  • eSonic2 preamp system with a Shadow NanoMag neck pick-up and NanoFlex bridge pick-up

When searching the market for a full solid body acoustic guitar coming from a named brand, the usual expectation a player will have is that the guitar is going to be price expensively. But take a look again, it is now not anymore and just within your reach with the Epiphone Masterbilt DR-500MCE dreadnought acoustic electric guitar. This solid piece of acoustic instrument is fully packed with features a beginner would ever want for a first guitar. While for seasoned players out there on a hunt for a budget friendly axe, the Epiphone Masterbilt can make wonders for your playing and in creating music.

For the top, back and sides of the body of the guitar, it is comprise of solid sitka spruce and mahogany in natural or vintage sunburst finish that players can choose from protected of a tortoiseshell pickguard. Neck is also built using mahogany wood with a slim tapered D-profile for comfort and playability, then it is overlaid by a 21 frets rosewood fingerboard complete with pearloid split diamond inlays as markers.

Other features that comes with the guitar adding another element to the sound is the bone nut paired with a bone saddle bridge and to make the guitar really come alive, the Epiphone Masterbilt DR-500MCE can use its eSonic2 preamp system with a Shadow NanoMag neck pick-up and NanoFlex bridge pick-up.


Fender Paramount Series PM-1 Standard Dreadnought

Fender Paramount Series PM-1 Standard Dreadnought
  • Dreadnought acoustic guitar
  • Solid mahogany top with quartersawn scalloped X-bracing
  • Solid mahogany back and sides
  • C-profile mahogany neck
  • 20 frets rosewood fingerboard with cream binding and inlay dots
  • Set of open-back die-cast tuners
  • Rosewood bridge with compensated bone saddle and real bone nut

Always offering exceptional sounding reasonably priced guitar instruments. Fender took it a habit to quickly respond to a player’s demand and for this instance, for an all around acoustic guitar having a full solid wood body construction in a variation of tonewood combination, body style and can come with or without on-board electronics to fit a player specific needs. That line of guitar I’m talking about by Fender which includes this PM-1 standard all mahogany dreadnought model and the solid sitka spruce top with solid mahogany back and sides PM-1 Standard Natural is the Fender Paramount series.

This particular model of the PM-1 standard has an all solid open pore mahogany top, back and sides with scalloped X-bracing that enables the guitar to produce its warm focus sound. Neck is made of the same material as the body which is mahogany. Top of by 20 vintage style frets rosewood fingerboard complete with mother of pearl position inlays.

Furthering the guitar’s overall value are dual-action truss rod to adjust the neck when needed, age black and white checkered bindings that matches well the open pore finish, tortoiseshell pickguard to protect the finish, nickle open back tuners, bone nut and ovangkol bridge with bone saddle for string action and intonation.


Takamine GN93CE Acoustic Electric Guitar

Takamine GN93CE Acoustic Electric Guitar
  • NEX small jumbo acoustic electric guitar with cutaway
  • Crafted with a solid spruce soundboard
  • Slim waist walnut sides and special 3-piece walnut-maple-walnut back
  • Neck is made of mahogany
  • 21 frets laurel fingerboard with dot inlays
  • Gold die-cast tuners with black buttons
  • Rosewood bridge with synthetic split saddle and synthetic bone nut
  • TK-40D preamp system that includes a built-in tuner, three-band EQ and gain controls, mid contour switch, notch filter and EQ bypass switch

Another popular brand to take a good look at and a personal choice by many guitar players when it comes to great sounding well-built acoustic guitar instruments that can support the tones coming out in their hands are guitars made by Takamine. On that note, part of that awesome line of guitars offered by the brand players to come across is this acoustic electric guitar model called the Takamine GN93CE that has a scaled-down jumbo style body with a special back construction which gives it a distinctive feel and look for the guitar.

The Takamine’s GN93CE sleek NEX-style body is crafted with a solid spruce soundboard, slim waist walnut sides and highlighted with a special 3-piece walnut-maple-walnut back that dramatically upscale the look as well as the sound. Neck is made of mahogany having a comfortable profile, placed with a 21 frets laurel fingerboard that adds another great feel to the playability of the guitar.

Powering this guitar when plugged on an amp is Takamine TK-40D preamp system that includes a built-in tuner, three-band EQ and gain controls, mid contour switch, notch filter and EQ bypass switch for the ultimate in versatility and sound quality. Other premium features to look into this guitars are headstock binding, dark wood rosette, synthetic bone nut paired with split bridge saddle and gold die-cast tuners with black buttons.


Seagull Coastline Slim CW Spruce QIT Acoustic Electric Guitar

Seagull Coastline Slim CW Spruce QIT Acoustic Electric Guitar
  • Dreadnought acoustic electric guitar with cutaway
  • Solid spruce top
  • Wild cherry back and sides
  • Neck of the guitar is constructed using silver leaf maple with dual-function truss-rod
  • 21 frets rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays
  • Set of chrome die-cast tuners
  • Rosewood bridge with Graphtech compensated saddle and Graphtech nut
  • Quantum IT electronics with built-in tuner, volume, bass and treble controls

Let us now move north looking for a high caliber acoustic guitar and definitely the first thing that will bump into mind when heading towards that direction are the guitars made by Seagull. At this budget, the brand is proud to offer guitar players in all levels their Coastline and S6 models. These guitars namely are the Seagull Coastline S6 acoustic guitar, S6 Coastline QI acoustic electric guitar and the Seagull Coastline Slim CW Spruce QIT, the version of the Coastline acoustic electric guitar with a cutaway body.

For the sake of comparison to help clearly decide exactly what is best for your playing. In a nutshell, all these guitars are made with a solid spurce for tonewood, carries the same hardware and exhibits an identical dreadnought body shape and size. The only thing that really separate the guitars from each other is the Godin Quantum IT electronics with built-in tuner placed only on the two guitars and another thing to point out is that in the Seagull Coastline Slim CW QIT, the nut width is slimmer measuring 1.72” inches, while on the other two acoustic guitars without a cutaway the nut width is 1.8” inches.

The body of the Seagull Coastline model is made from a semi-gloss finished solid spruce top with a stained laminated wild cherry back and sides. Neck of the guitar is constructed using maple with dual-function truss rod before placing a 21 frets rosewood fingerboard. Tusq nut by Graphtech and compensated saddle rosewood bridge are placed for better intonation paired with chrome die-cast tuners to perfectly tune the guitar.


Martin Road Series DRS1 Acoustic Electric Guitar

  • Dreadnought acoustic guitar
  • Made with a solid sapele top
  • Solid sapele back and sides
  • Neck is comfortable made of select hardwood
  • 20 frets richlite fingerboard with dot inlay markers
  • Set of chrome enclosed-gear tuners
  • Richlite bridge with compensated tusq saddle and tusq nut
  • Equipped with a Fishman Sonitone pickup system to plug and play using an amp for stage performance, studio sessions and home practice

The Martin brand needs no introduction for its outstanding contribution to music and has been played by countless musician throughout the years, that continuously grows a following till to this today for the exciting new models of acoustic and acoustic electric guitars they keep adding up to their stable. So having a Martin as your dream guitar on a budget, the search will lead you to models like the LX1E Little Martin acoustic electric guitar and for a full-scale model, the solid sapele Martin DRS1 and solid sitka spruce top Martin DRS2 which are the best solid body acoustic guitar with on-board electronics the brand has to offer for players without emptying their pocket.

This all solid wood DRS1 acoustic electric guitar will only get better sounding as it age. It is made of solid sapele top, back and sides with a non-scalloped sitka spruce X-bracing, and top of by a cherry satin finish with a black pickguard in placed. Neck is select hardwood with a 20 frets richlite fingerboard which is a substitute material that closely resembles the appeal and feel of ebony, as well the material used to keep the price down on this guitar.

Adding to this guitar delivery of sound, the Matin DRS1 is equipped with a Fishman Sonitone pickup system to plug and play using an amp for stage performance, studio sessions and home practice. Other features the guitar pose are chrome enclosed-gear tuners, tusq nut, compensated saddle bridge and plastic bridge pins.


Blueridge BR-143CE Acoustic Electric Guitar

Blueridge BR-143CE Acoustic Electric Guitar
  • Triple 000 acoustic electric guitar with cutaway
  • Select solid sitka spruce top with pre-war style forward shifted X-scalloped bracing
  • Solid mahogany back and sides with black ABS binding
  • Comfortable neck is made of mahogany
  • 20 frets rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay markers
  • Set of nickel-plated 14:1 tuners
  • Rosewood bridge with compensated bone saddle and bone nut
  • Fishman Presys Blend pick-up system with on-board EQ and chromatic tuner

Besides a dreadnought or a jumbo style body acoustic guitar, there is another shape and size in the acoustic guitar family equally loved by players to play with. This acoustic guitar is especially suited for fingerstyle technique due to its delivery of a much mellower tone and close intimate volume output, but is nonetheless also capable to be utilize for strumming style as well. This guitar is none other than the triple 000, and the Blueridge BR-143CE acoustic electric guitar is that kind of acoustic instrument.

The Saga Music Blueridge BR-143CE acoustic electric guitar has the same great features as the BR-140CE dreadnought and the non-cutaway, no electronics on-board triple 000 BR-143 model. It has a pre-war style forward shifted X-scalloped bracing select solid sitka spruce for the top and solid mahogany for the back and sides with black ABS binding and a dalmatian tortoise pickguard. Neck material is as high quality as the body, made of mahogany combined with an inlay marked 20 frets rosewood fretboard.

Completing the standout features of the guitar are nickel-plated 14:1 tuners, bone nut and bone saddle placed on a rosewood bridge to achieve the best possible tone transmission, and a state of the art Fishman Presys Blend pick-up system with on-board EQ and chromatic tuner.


Breedlove Solo Dreadnought Acoustic Electric Guitar

Breedlove Solo Dreadnought Acoustic Electric Guitar
  • Dreadnought acoustic electric guitar with cutaway
  • Made of a gloss finished solid sitka spruce for the top
  • Has a mahogany back and sides
  • Hand-rubbed finish neck is slim profile made of mahogany
  • 21 frets rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays
  • Set of chrome tuners
  • Pinless bridge with compensated saddle and bone nut
  • LR-TCV preamp with LR Baggs Element pick-up controlled by a 3-band EQ, presence, phase, and has a stealthy built-in chromatic tuner

Registering the sought after boomy voice of a full size dreadnought style acoustic guitar, the Breedlove Solo is a gem of a find for its price and has the features not just to be played at home, but also to use for studio sessions to record and the guitar to bring when about to hit on-stage. Aside from just mentioning the tones it can deliver playing unplugged or plugged on an amp. The clean appointment of the guitar design is a portrait of class on its own that can persuade a player to put extra hours more playing than their usual.

The body of this dreadnought style guitar is made of a gloss finished solid sitka spruce top with a laminated mahogany back and sides which is easier to maintain compare to an all solid wood acoustic guitar because it is not much subjected to temperature humidity for its advantage. The hand-rubbed finish neck is slim made of mahogany with a 21 frets rosewood fingerboard, giving the guitar another dimension to its sound clarity and detail.

Also included to the guitar main features are Breedlove monitor upper side sound hole to project sound directly towards the ear of the player, pinless bridge with compensated saddle that eliminates the need for six drilled string holes to the soundboard, bone nut, chrome tuners, and an LR-TCV preamp with LR Baggs Element pick-up controlled by a 3-band EQ, presence, phase, and has a stealthy built-in chromatic tuner.


Yamaha A Series AC3R Acoustic Electric Guitar

Best Acoustic Guitars Under $1000
  • Concert acoustic electric guitar with cutaway
  • Features a scalloped bracing gloss finished solid sitka spruce top
  • All solid rosewood back and sides
  • Comfortable slim mahogany neck
  • 20 frets matte finish African ebony fingerboard marked by dot inlays
  • Set of chrome die-cast tuners
  • Ebony bridge with compensated urea saddle and urea nut
  • SRT2 preamp ystem plus SRT piezo pick-up controlled by volume/mic, treble and bass

Triggering rich vintage tones in such ease using its cutting edge A.R.E. (acoustic resonance enhancement) treated solid tonewoods, and modernizing the guitar capabilities by equipping it with an SRT2 pick-up system to boost the overall sound even more, is what the Yamaha AC3R ARE cutaway concert style guitar stands for. It can surely produce powerful acoustic sound from the very first moment you pick it up and as you go forward in your playing, gives the guitar its lasting value.

Like its big brother the Yamaha A3R ARE dreadnought. It features a scalloped bracing gloss finished solid sitka spruce top and an all solid rosewood back and sides with shorter bracing than normal for a louder and stronger low-mid ranges. All that body tonewood is paired with a slim mahogany neck and a genuine 20 frets matte finish African ebony fretboard marked by dot inlays.

Keeping the guitar in perfect pitch and to attain a stable intonation during and after long hours of playing, the Yamaha AC3R ARE is properly equipped with a urea nut, urea saddle ebony bridge with black ABS pins, and a set of chrome die-cast tuners assigned to each individual strings that can be quickly adjust when needed.


Guild D-140CE Acoustic Electric Guitar

Guild D-140CE Acoustic Electric Guitar
  • Dreadnought acoustic electric guitar with cutaway
  • Solid spruce top with scalloped bracing
  • Solid mahogany back and sides
  • Satin finish C-shape mahogany neck
  • 20 frets rosewood fingerboard marked by mother of pearl inlays
  • Set of chrome die-cast tuners
  • Rosewood bridge with compensated bone saddle and bone nut
  • Fishman Sonitone under-saddle pick-up with an active preamp

Right out of the box and as soon a player lift it up, the Guild D-140CE is already a performance driven acoustic electric guitar. The core values of this well designed guitar is to deliver a smooth playing experience and can address to every player’s utmost attention to details. This stunningly looking full-bodied Guild cutaway dreadnought is straight forward in providing guitarist a flawless classic acoustic voicing and with its hidden Fishman Sonitone pick-up, the guitar is now really geared to let a player go out there and play.

All the punchy and balance sound of the Guild D-140CE cutaway dreadnought starts from its solid spruce top with scalloped bracing and further initialized using its solid mahogany back and sides. The satin finish C-shape mahogany neck with a 20 frets rosewood fingerboard marked by mother of pearl inlays paired to the body will now then take good care of the other busy hand by giving it the playbility it ask for and in turn, well affecting the overall sound.

Aside from the tones coming from body and neck wood. Other important parts that also greatly defines the sounds of this guitar are the bone nut paired with a compensated bone saddle on a rosewood bridge, chrome die-cast tuners, single-action truss rod and again the Fishman Sonitone under-saddle pick-up with an active preamp.


Taylor 214CE Acoustic Electric Guitar

Taylor 214CE Acoustic Electric Guitar
  • Grand auditorium acoustic electric guitar with cutaway
  • Solid sitka spruce top with forward shifted bracing
  • Layered rosewood back and sides with bindings
  • C-shape sapele neck
  • 20 frets ebony fingerboard marked by small dot inlays
  • Set of closed-type die-cast tuning machines
  • Ebony bridge with compensated micarta saddle and Tusq nut
  • Behind the saddle ES-2 pick-up system controlled by a master volume, bass and treble

Offering a depth of richness to the sound with the flashy appearance of a premium guitar, the Taylor 214CE is a piece of acoustic electric guitar to behold and arguably somewhat already affordable considering it is a Taylor. At first glance you might mistakenly identify this guitar for the well received Taylor 114CE and the Taylor 214CE DLX which is a better comparison. However, in the end of the day, the Taylor 214CE is still a totally different guitar not only in specs alone, but on how it can deliver the sound strumming style and when transitioning to plucking single notes at a time using a pick or by fingerstyle, the articulation it brings to the table has a distinctive ring and feel exclusive only for the Taylor 214CE model.

The Taylor 214CE grand auditorium venetian cutaway body is made of solid sitka spruce for the top with forward shifted pattern bracing and has an attractive layered rosewood back and sides. Then the body is paired with a comfortable satin finished sapale neck with a truss rod before placing a 20 frets African ebony fingerboard on top marked by dot inlays.

Other remarkable features a player will have from getting this guitar are the tusq nut and micarta saddle placed on the brdige, chrome die-cast tuners and the built-in Expression System 2 electronics with a breakthrough behind the saddle design can capture an even more dynamic sound.

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