There are many acoustic guitars that are appropriate for people learning to play the guitar. This article throws light on the best acoustic guitar for beginners…
The best acoustic guitar for beginners is the one which has a good quality tone, and is not highly priced. Such guitars can be of any make and model. Beginners are individuals who have just started with guitar lessons, and for learning the basics of music, they necessarily don’t need guitars which have the best sound and are highly priced. In the initial stage, they can buy inexpensive guitars which provide the perfect tone. Once they have considerable knowledge and understanding of playing the guitar, they can upgrade to ones which are meant for professional use.
If children are learning, then guitars with small fretboards are more suitable. As they grow, they can be provided with guitars with normal-sized fretboards. Buying an acoustic guitar for beginners can be a challenge as there are many low-priced ones available in music instrument stores. You just need to remember that the guitar should have an acceptable tone. However, beginner acoustic guitars manufactured by reputed companies like ‘Yamaha’ and ‘Fender’ have a very good tone which matches the tone quality of professional acoustic guitars. Below is the list of some of the top acoustic guitars which are suitable for beginners.
Most Popular Acoustic Guitars for Beginners
Yamaha FG700S
Yamaha has been in the music industry for years, and it knows exactly what guitar beginners prefer. As a result, it came up with the FG700S. As the Seagull S6, this guitar is also one of the best sounding instruments, but with a significantly lower price. Even at a price range of about $200, it just sounds as amazing as a professional acoustic guitar. It has die-cast tuners, and a rosewood fretboard and bridge.
Takamine G-340
This is one of the beginner’s model acoustic guitars manufactured by ‘Takamine’. Being a beginner’s model, it does not compromise on the tone quality. However, some do call it below-par as compared to other guitars manufactured by the company. With a good tone quality, it is not too hard on the pocket and is available at around $360.
Seagull S6 Series
These guitars are considered one of the best guitars for beginners. They have a very good sound tone, and excellent value. They have a solid cedar top, and the body is made up of mahogany wood. They also have rosewood fretboards which are easy on the fingers. They are priced around $400. However, the price may not suit most beginners.
Fender CD140S
This is one of Fender’s lower-priced acoustic guitars, which is targeted especially at beginners. It is well known for producing sharp and crystal clear tones, and is available for a very low price. As a result, it is the most preferable option for newbies. However, it is not a guitar that you will choose to keep forever, but it certainly provides what a beginner expects. It is available for around $300.
Epiphone DR-100
In its class, this guitar is considered as a best seller by ‘Gibson’, the parent company of ‘Epiphone’. It has a very good tone quality for its price. One thing which will certainly surprise you is the price which is just around $100. This guitar is highly recommended if you want an acoustic guitar which produces a good tone at a surprisingly low price.
Here are some of the other options that you can go for:
- Martin LX1 Little Martin – $420
- Ibanez AC30NT Artwood Series – $250
- Epiphone Dove – $300
- Taylor Baby Taylor – $400
- Aria AD-28 – $450
- Alvarez AF410 – $350
Choosing Between Cheap and Expensive Guitars
This aspect can be quite confusing to most people. I believe buying a cheap guitar just because you’re learning is a slight misconception, but only according to the situation. Here are two general scenarios where you can decide which guitar to buy:
A parent buying a new guitar for their child
If the child is over-enthusiastic, buy a cheap one. If the child controls himself/herself with new things, buy a decently priced guitar that stays with the child for the next 2-3 years. This is because changing guitars in the middle of training can throw the ear off.
A Person with financial constraints
If there is any way you can save up money, do it. It will be worth the wait to buy a new guitar that stays with you for longer. If there isn’t a way to save up and you need a guitar urgently, then buy a cheap one. Don’t go for second-hand guitars. As a beginner, you won’t fully understand the problems that a second-hand guitar has, or how to set it up properly.
The basic reasoning behind the favoring of buying a quality guitar is the sound. It is crucial for a beginner to be cultivated with an instrument that provides excellent tones and timbres. Buying a cheap guitar means risking exposure of the ear to bad sounds and a tough fretboard, lowering motivation and a slowing the learning curve. A costlier guitar will be better than a cheaper one, because of the quality of both, the craftsmanship and the wood.
There are many local companies who manufacture good acoustic guitars, and offer them at a very low price. In some countries like India, you can get one with a good tone quality at somewhere around $50. If you really want to find the best acoustic guitar for beginners, just visit a local musical instruments store, and check some models yourself. You might even end up purchasing a beginner guitar pack for a price lesser than your budget.
