What's A Good Acoustic Guitar For Under $400?

gtrdave · 10-13-2010, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gg7

Art & Lutherie. You should be able to get a dreanought or folk model with cutaway for under $400 (without electronics and case). They are made in Canada (No questionable labor practices like you're going to get with the vast majority of other guitars in this price range which are made in China). Excellent build quality. Excellent factory setup.
I've owned, I think, four of these over the years. I've also owned guitars by a lot of the big names..expensive guitars. As far as build quality and factory setup goes, they are right up there with the big boys. Of course, what you like as far as sound goes is personal preference.
I prefer my A & L Ami to guitars that cost $1000 + . It's the only one that sticks with me. I doubt it's the particular model for you though, who knows. That's why I mentioned the folk and dread ones. They are more popular body styles.

These are harder to find than some other brands. This dealer is good to work with. Their stock can vary, but they should be able to order any model. You might want to take a look at this one.

Check out the A & L website here. I also really like how their company operates.

I owned an A&L Cedar for a while. Paid $175 for it used and it was one of the nicer sounding 'cheap' acoustics I've ever put my hands on.

ibanez_dude · 10-13-2010, 08:27 AM

Maybe I haven't played good A&L models then, cause the 2-3 I've played over the years never really impressed me at all

**redbaron** · 10-13-2010, 01:55 PM

In that price range you'd be crazy to not try to buy used. What you can get used for $400 may be a much, much better guitar than what you'd get new.

gg7 · 10-13-2010, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtrdave

I owned an A&L Cedar for a while. Paid $175 for it used and it was one of the nicer sounding 'cheap' acoustics I've ever put my hands on.

Nice. I will say, all the ones I've played are somewhere around 2005-2006 models and later. I haven't played any of the older ones. I'm not sure what has changed since then.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ibanez_dude

Maybe I haven't played good A&L models then, cause the 2-3 I've played over the years never really impressed me at all

They are usually consistent as far as build quality and setup go, in my experience. Maybe you just don't like the A&L sound. Not every person is going to like every guitar. That's why I usually make the disclaimer that sound is always personal preference.
To me, the A&L sound is one of balance. There isn't a shimmery high (Taylor kind of sound) or a boomy bass (think Martin sound).

lakeyale13 · 10-16-2010, 05:42 PM

I got a Fender DG 220 SCE brand new at one of the large music stores for $350. Very please with it and its sound. Great first guitar for me.....been playing it now for about a year.

boxman2000 · 10-18-2010, 08:50 AM

I always find Yamaha very good value for money - probably not everyones choice but for acoustics I've been very happy with them for years and give the exact sound I'm after.

cheyguy426 · 10-22-2010, 11:03 AM

Over the past year or so I've seen/played a bunch of Takamine cedar top models (dread and orchestra) that were priced at $300 and I was very, very impressed.

And also a second on the seagulls as long as you like the necks on them, IMO those are the best sounding sub-1000 guitars available.

crossroadsmike · 11-11-2010, 06:58 PM

Ive always been a fan of Taylor BigBaby in that range. about 450. actually walked into sam ash store <2 years ago to buy one. Walked out with Fender cd100-ce. Which I liked just as much and had a pickup for 200dollars less. Have played other examples of this fender model in the stores and find I was fortunate to get a particularly good sounding/playing one. but the others Ive played are still very good and solidly built for the $$. Also have played and like the Fender Sonaran SCE line. about 330.

1/2-Fast Player · 11-11-2010, 07:39 PM

I've been very happy with my Ibanez AW100 for about 15 years now, but I played a lot of guitars in my price range to find a really sweet one.

When I started shopping, I first visited a few shops and played several high end acoustics. Then I started playing guitars that fit my budget, trying to get a similar sound and feel. I shopped for a few months, and I played a LOT of guitars of different brands and models.

It finally came down to two Ibanez guitars, the AW100 and an AW300 (I think). The 300 had nicer appointments and looked better, but the 100 sounded better. I kept going back and forth, playing one and then the other, and finally settled on the 100. At that point, the salesman started laughing and said "I was wondering whether you'd go for looks or sound!"

Anyway, my advice is for you to play many many guitars. There are excellent $400 guitars out there, and there are also some real dogs, and the great and the bad may be the same make and model.

Also, keep a few dollars back for a setup. After I bought mine, I had a shop make a new bridge, clean up the nut, dress the frets, and adjust the truss rod. Money well spent.

jeepnstein · 11-12-2010, 07:09 AM

Over the last few weeks I've been playing a lot of borrowed guitars for some reason. I've come to the conclusion that my Seagull is a head and shoulders above anything in the sub $750 range and it doesn't get really interesting until one gets into D series Martin money. There was one Gibson though, oh, it was nice but terribly expensive. Seagull. Get a Slim or an Entourage if you can't stand the wide nut of the Original.

akaTom2u · 11-20-2010, 11:58 PM

I'm a huge fan of the Takamine EG333c Limited Edition for $350.00
The $400.00 Ibanez guitars I have played recently were nice too.... ha, here's the model...lol... Ibanez EW20ASENT palen music in tulsa has it...