Affordable Guitars For Beginning Players

 

Much of what I’ve learned about guitars I have picked up from going to music stores and checking out the instruments, and talking with sales staff. I started when I was very young.

Dodd's Music
(with white sign)

At 12 years old I was waiting at a local music store to take lessons, and eyeballing the wonderful instruments which hung on the establishments walls. I would start asking the guys that worked there to tell me about all of those guitars. And every week my guitar teacher would grab a different guitar for me to play. I played everything from Danelectros' to Gibson Switchmasters'.  I would also peruse the local pawn shops to see what sort of bargains they offered.

Later on when Guitar Center came along I was very disappointed with the quality of some of the beginner instruments offered. 

$80 Rogue Guitar 

If you or your child just wants to learn to strum a few chords maybe a $89 Rogue or Johnson guitar may be just the thing. But if you are are willing to spend four to six hundred dollars on a much better quality instrument that you will play for years to come here are a few suggestions. 

Used Guitars

My first suggestion is to buy a quality used instrument. Like most manufactured goods, many mid-end guitars depreciate in value rather quickly, so you might find a great bargain. However try it before you buy it. 

I have seen guitars in a store's used section selling for almost half the price of the same new instrument.

My Blemished Crafter Guitar

My next suggestion is check out blemished instruments. However be very careful. Over the years I have purchased two blemished guitars, both at deep discounts. One was a very nice fancy guitar that I had my eye on back in the 1990's.  The list price was $1000. 

 

I was at a store one day and saw that same guitar marked down to only $200. Someone had dropped it, and there was a small but noticeable mark on the bottom edge. It did not affect the sound or playability. I still have that guitar. It is overkill on the trim, and a real eye-catcher.

Harwood Guitar

Another guitar that I still own is a parlor guitar that had a slight split in the top that was repairable. That guitar was selling for nearly $900 new, I traded in a reproduction Rickenbacker 330 that the salesman had his eye on plus $200 for that guitar. They threw in a gig bag too.

 However if you are looking for a quality new instrument, here are a few suggestions.

Blueridge Guitars

Blueridge Guitars are imported by a company called Saga Instruments. I first read about them a long time ago when they were importing banjos and musical instrument kits.

 

Over the years Saga has become a major exporter of a variety of Chinese made musical instruments.  They not only import musical instruments, but also design and distribute them. 

Many of their Blueridge line of guitars are made of solid wood tops, backs, and sides. Most are reproductions of Martin style guitars. Many Blueridge instruments sell in the thousand plus dollar range. I have seen Bluegrass groups and some well-known Southern artists using Bluegrass guitars.

BR-40

But for those of us on a budget, The Blueridge BR-40 comes with a solid Sitka Spruce top, and scalloped bracing that is similar to Martin’s design. Though the back and sides are laminate a solid top is essential for good tone. The dreadnaught design of the BR-40 replicates the shape of a Martin D-18 that sells for more than four times the asking price of the BR-40, which is around $600 new. 

Takamine guitars originated in Japan. Now most are manufactured in China. 

Takamine GD93

The Takamine G Series GD93 Dreadnaught features a solid spruce top. The sides and three piece back are laminated rosewood. The fretboard is rosewood and is bound. The tuners are gold plated with black plastic buttons. The split style nut allows for compensated tuning. 

Seagull S6 Dreadnaught

If a beginner asks me to suggest a guitar, my choice is always the Seagull S6. This guitar is built in the town of La Patrie,  Quebec Canada in a modern factory that rivals any United States manufacturer. The factory is owned by Robert Godin, who makes guitars under this and other brands. 

Compound Curved Top

The compound curved top is made of pressure tested solid red Canadian cedar. The back and sides are made of three piece laminated cherry wood which run in opposite directions. The neck is made of compensated Silver leaf Maple. The saddle and nut are both made by Tusq, which is a synthetic bone material that is very easy to work with.

Seagull Tapered Headstock

The unique headstock shape allows for straight pull action on the strings. Also the headstock is reversed. This means the neck starts out as a solid block of wood. The section that will become the headstock is sawed off at a 45 degree angle, the glued allowing for the grain to be reversed and provide strength.  This guitar has a suggested retail price of $479. The company offers many models with a higher price point, and some are all solid wood. 

Arts & Lutherie
 Dreadnaught 

Another Godin brand is called Arts & Lutherie. These guitars are similar to Seagull instruments, but usually feature a satin patina top, back and sides. Some are reminiscent of older Stella instruments, however the wood is much better than those old guitars. 

Headstock for Arts & Lutherie
Americana

Instead of enclosed metal tuning machines, Arts & Lutherie guitars usually feature open back tuners with brass machines with plastic buttons. Many of these instruments come with built-in electronics.  The guitars can be purchased from $300 up to $700 depending on features, like electronics. Just like the Seagull line up they are crafted in Canada. 

These guitar also feature solid pressure tested Cedar tops, 3 piece laminate Wild Cherry back and sides all harvested in Canada, rosewood fret boards, Tusq nuts and compensated saddles. 

Yamaha FG830

One of the best selling beginner acoustic guitars is the Yamaha FG830.  The Yamaha Company has been making guitars since 1887. One of the guitars that John Denver played was made by Yamaha, although his instrument was specially made for him. 

The Yamaha FG830 is a big improvement over the old FG160's that I recall from back in the 1970's, which were completely made of laminate material. 

Yamaha FG830
Brown Burst Finish

The FG830 features a solid spruce top with laminated rosewood back and sides. The internal bracing is scalloped. The neck is made of Nato wood. It is a bargain at only $320. 

Taylor GS Mini

For someone with smaller hands you may consider the Taylor GS Mini. It has a slightly smaller 23.5" scale (the distance from the nut to the bridge). This guitar is made in Mexico. It has a solid Mahogany top. The back and side are made from "layered" Sapele (which I am told is comparable to Mahogany, but it always feels heavier to me).  The saddle and nut are made of Tusq, a synthetic bone like material. The tuning machines are enclosed. The price is $500, but it comes with a hard gig bag.

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