What makes a GOOD acoustic Guitar? How to tell terrible from wonderful.

#howtobuy #acousticguitar #jeremytheguitarhunter
What makes a GOOD acoustic guitar?
Get a hygrometer, they’re so cheap and will save your guitars life: amzn.to/2TCKoVt
Beginner Guitars:
Fender CD60S: imp.i114863.ne...
Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy: imp.i114863.ne...
Intermediate Guitars:
$250 to $500
Yamaha FG-820: imp.i114863.ne...
Fender Tim Armstrong: imp.i114863.ne...
Guild DS-240: imp.i114863.ne...
$500 to $899
Taylor GS Mini: imp.i114863.ne...
Taylor GS Mini E Koa: imp.i114863.ne...
Taylor Academy Dreadnought: imp.i114863.ne...
Semi-Professional Guitars:
$750 to $1,000
Taylor GS Mini Koa Edgeburst: imp.i114863.ne...
Taylor 110e layered Walnut: imp.i114863.ne...
Eastman E6OM: imp.i114863.ne...
Martin D-10E Road Series: imp.i114863.net/YO32P
$1,000 to $1,500:
Martin 000-15M or D-15M: imp.i114863.ne...
Gibson G-45: imp.i114863.ne...
Guild M20E: imp.i114863.net/xBDyA
Taylor 214: imp.i114863.ne...
Professional Guitars:
Martin D-28: imp.i114863.net/oA3ye
Gibson Southern Jumbo: imp.i114863.ne...
Taylor 714ce V Class with cedar top: imp.i114863.ne...
Prestige Guitars:
Collings D2H: www.collingsgu...
Huss & Dalton TDR: hussanddalton.... (tell them I sent you!)
Martin Custom Shop D41: imp.i114863.ne...
Gibson Banner J45 with torrefied top: imp.i114863.ne...
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Jeremy the Guitar Hunter
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Jeremy the Guitar Hunter’s Picks:
10’ Ernie Ball Cable
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30’ Ernie Ball Coiled Cable
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Primetone 1.0mm Picks
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My favorite Acoustic Guitar Strings, D’Addarrio Nickel Bronze Light Top, Medium Bottom
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Favorite Electric Guitar Strings: Ernie Ball Slinky’s
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One Spot Power Adapter Kit
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LR Baggs Venue DI
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LR Baggs Session DI
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Bose L1 Compact
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LR Baggs Synapse Personal PA
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Must-Have Guitar Toolkit:
Dunlop String Winder
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Wirecutters for cutting Strings
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Snark Tuner
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Paige Guitar Capo
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Screwdriver Set
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[@theshapeexists]

The thing with guitars is there's hidden gems in almost all price ranges if you play enough of them.

[@garymelnyk7910]

I couldn’t agree more. I am 70 and have played and loved (and yes........collected) acoustics all my adult life. My two favourites are a 1927 Levin size 2 parlour, and a 30’s Martin Coletti. (The two together didn’t cost £1,500). They’re my favourites because I am a “tone addict”. You get better build quality and better woods but don’t necessarily get “better tone” the more you move up these gradations, which Jeremy correctly broad brush defines them. The best article I’ve even seen on what makes a “special guitar” comes from George Gruhn’s original luthier and repairer, John Greven, who now is considered a master luthier himself. All acoustic guitar lovers should be made aware of it. It’s the reason I write. www.grevenguitars.com/pdfs/MartinMyths.pdf

[@Silverheart1956]

Yeah, I went to Guitar Center in Charlotte N.C. one day and saw a Washburn WCG25SCE Comfort Series guitar. Yeah, the eye candy hanging on the wall caught my eye, because it looked absolutely great. It looks a little different from all the pictures I see of that model. As I played it I was making mental notes: 1. Great looks 2. Very good playability. The action was set just perfect. The strings were smooth. the neck was smooth and felt great. Very easy to play. 3. The Tone was very good. Good deep resonance. You can really feel the guitar against you. The trebles rang out. It sounded great fingerpicking it or strumming it. 4. Comfortable. It was light weight. The neck felt really good. The beveled comfort armrest made playing more comfortable. 5. Obviously kept tune. It was well tuned when I picked it up and stayed in tune as I played. 6. Sounded good when I plugged it in. 7. Price - Wow, it was $600.00 (new). All that for $600.00 This guitar was was better, over all, than Taylor Guitars I have played that were $2500.00. Really ! Well, I had no intentions of buying another guitar, but this wast to good to pass up. My wife could see how impressed I was with it and actually encouraged me to buy it (True Story !). I have played many high end guitars since then and this guitar holds it's on against them. Now, I have no idea if the next Washburn comfort series guitar is like this one. I have looked online (for the cedar top G66SCE) and the prices are much higher for these guitars now. I feel I got a wonderful deal ! Be Well, DZ

[@brucemacewen1488]

Absolutely.I've played Cort, Peavey, Yamaha, Aria, Seagull, Art & Lutherie, Simon & Patrick, Alvarez guitars,some of which I bought for a song.And I've played Taylors that I put back down.Eastman E10D is likely the best value in a guitar out there,comparable to a D-18 for a fraction of the price.Made in China by top notch builders.

[@upcycleelectra8311]

Correct .. i like this guy .. but hes got a channel to fill & talks alot of total bollocks Like most Self aclaimed Experts You really dont need a shed load of cash to find a hidden gem Just takes effort & time plus alotta research.. the information is at your finger tips ya just need a good ear a Bench mark guitar Sound that works for you.. £300/400 or even a lot less.. will buy a high quality vintage guitar that absolutely... Ziiiing's that you cant put down.. Just stay away from the over praised & well over priced American made.. europe japan korea & Taiwan all had small Production master luthiers.. building some amazing instruments Just need to sort the wheat from the mass Produced chaff Yeno..Some people will never be able to see the wood.. for the trees

[@brucemacewen1488]

@@upcycleelectra8311 Very true.

[@tylerrichman9]

Eastman simply makes the best guitars for the money. For 279 bucks an Eastman PCH model is the only thing I would purchase in that category.

[@JavaoftheLava]

You left out the true hidden gems of the $300-$1000 range. Seagull guitars

[@dietersdawgs]

All these Americans are Gibson Taylor Martin biased brainwashed parrots lol!

[@maplebones]

Are you in Canada ? If so you should check out Sigma's. They are licenced Martin clones, available worldwide but not in the US. We've had people come in our shop to have their Martin set up and they ended up crying when they played the $300 Sigma clone of their model in the showroom. Outstanding quality and now the only entry level we sell.

[@zollyclaman]

I'm a new owner of a 00018 and it still keeps me up late at night. No longer hunting for it, just enjoying it.

[@Christian-oi7sd]

I bet thats loads of fun to play. I'm waiting on my first all solid wood guitar to come in the mail its a martin d10e sapele I can't wait. One day in the future ill get a top tier martin probably a d18 or d28. My dream guitar is a vintage martin especially the 1959 d18e but there's only so many of those that were made

[@unclesham5507]

​@@Christian-oi7sdgood luck finding one of those lol

[@ShineDawg]

Yamaha FG800 is the best sounding $200 guitar you ever heard. It is true, there are hidden gems in every price range. All the best, great channel!

[@whitneysmith2541]

I find that I play twice as much when I keep a good intermediate decent quality guitar sitting on a stand in the den that I don’t have to worry about. The expensive one stays in the case more often than not.

[@TheOtherPhillip]

Hey Jeremy. Just want to appreciate you for the effort that you put into these videos. I learn more about guitars from you than anyone else, and watching these videos makes me want to pick up a guitar and play every time. Thank you.

[@JeremySheppard]

That means a lot! This video was very difficult to assemble and keep entertaining.

[@LegsON]

I've played a lot of budget guitars and know a fair bit about repair. Fender acoustics are garbage compared to what Yamaha and Cort offer. They are of great quality and sound very nice. Epiphone is hit-or-miss, though they're better than Fender, definitely. Tanglewoods and Alavarezes are pretty good! Thin satin or open-pore finish is a GAME-CHANGER when we speak of tone and reduced weight of the guitar. All-solid budget guitars are kings. Comfortable neck, adjustable relief and great fretwork are invaluable.

[@Christian-oi7sd]

I'm waiting on my all solid sapele martin d10e to come in I'm really excited, its gonna be my first all solid wood acoustic. I had a martin DX1AE with just a solid top and I loved that guitar it sounded and felt amazing. I accidentally broke it and bought a Taylor academy 10e, it was more expensive and didn't sound or feel as good as the martin to me

[@aaron4757]

Recording Kings are really good too, great alternative to a Martin.

[@jasonpedley]

@@Christian-oi7sd My Martin 000-X2e is absolutely incredible for $800CAD.

[@joalco3]

in my experience out of production Gretsch acoustics are underlooked

[@oneamongall8861]

Sold my amp and electric guitar. 3 years ago bought a used Martin 00 28V and I cannot put it down as it sings to me. I am amazed. You need to put aside $3000 and shop around;if you don't you will always wished .

[@tincansailor9437]

I LOVE my Gretsch Jim Dandy! It is so much fun and gets along just fine with my Taylor 512ce and Eastman E20OM.

[@anthonyoliver]

Useful info, thanks! My first acoustic: a laminate Tanglewood dreadnought I bought for £100 (UK) in 1990. I still have it, I love it, but I realised its limitations when I moved up a notch to my first solid top - a Thermo Aged Ibanez parlour, which I bought for £350 (UK) in 2018. Wow, it was like being hit by a rocket - this great three dimensional sound... the sheer woodiness of it! I fitted a Fishman Neo-D pickup and I've already gigged it a lot and it gets better and better. And now I'm eyeing my next move up - a Guild D40 or D40 Traditional - all solid, USA built. Really looking forward to that one! So, yeah, your wise words 'resonated' with me. Peace.

[@Klimwriter]

Great video. Small note: when I started playing again after a long layoff, I first bought a premiere level guitar (K. Yairi Parlour model), but never meshed with it. Went to a local shop, sat down, played through their (amazing) stock and ended up with a 300 Euro Dowina Puella (a Slowakian company!).. it's not all in the price, especially if you're looking for a specific sound.

[@jaminjim44]

Tell ya what I’ve played Gibson and Martin my whole life. Mostly Gibson but I recently picked up a few Enya guitars and they are cheap! But man they are VERY well made and they sound pretty AMAZING! And out of the box it is VERY playable! Also!! Which this is big to me is they hold a tune!!! I was BLOWN away! I just got the Enya Sonic today, it’s charging! Nicest thing is they are a carbon fiber/poly carbonate material so you can leave them in a car and not have to worry about warping, cracking and checking!! Sure you’ve probably already done a video on them 😂 great video!! ✌️

[@texhaines9957]

Guitar voice & playable neck. Due to my aging process, I'm kind of set on a short scale 12 fret slimmer acoustic neck with a good bass than I can sing with. Lots of tone wood variables there. But still need a rough & tumble Guitar for some sessions.

[@CasuallyJapan]

Yamaha is the best bang for your buck in my experience.

[@footwinner1]

I played for about 8 years, mostly metal, and had a budget Taylor I borrowed from my cousin. Had to give it back, slowly lost interest, life went on. Ten years later I’m back to learning fingerstyle and was sick of my beginner’s Washburn (about $200 new a decade ago) and just got an Eastman PCH 1-OM and absolutely love it. The only one I tried at the store that day. It just made sense. No one’s opinion in a guitar matters but your own.

[@NoCoverCharge]

I love love my Martin d-16e it’s not an expensive Martin but it is the shizzle

[@nesta8518]

You can go up levels much cheaper by not choosing those big brands. Try a cort or a Yamaha and get a professional for a semi professional price

[@paulneely5102]

that gretch you listed in the beginning is amazing i use it as my beater when im out and about instead of a more expensive one, and it sounds so good and punchy fingerpicked. you cant beat it for 160 bucks. acoustic life lists it in one of their top ten videos, too! Also, im very happy to see you shout out to eastman! my all time favorite guitar is an east man cutaway ive had for a year, that i paid 1000 for , that sounds as good as any martin ive played!

[@ΆγγελοςΤουρουλίνης]

Jeremy, please check the eastman e1d and e2d. I'd love to see your opinion about these guitars. Otherwise, you rock man!

[@paulspitale1585]

Wonderful video by Jeremy! Every acoustic guitar player should see this step by step process in the selection of ownership......

[@darcellelfoster3981]

Thanks for this video! It really helped me understand the difference between the different levels of guitars. And it corrected my misconception that a more expensive guitar made for a better sounding/playing guitar. My bank account thanks you for telling me this too!

[@guitarzana688]

I have a local luthier that built me a couple of guitars. A 6 string and a 12 string. Not in the price of Froggy Bottom but he took into account my size, tone preferences, neck profile, and I chose the fret markers and tone woods. I have guitars by manufacturers but I love my Bittersweet guitars! For comfort, playability, and tone they check all my boxes.🙃

[@jimneybob8847]

Eastman e1om simply mind blowing hand made all solid wood dirt cheap circa £550 sold both my d35 and d28 as it done everything in way of resonance that the Martins did without the fear of having to baby it which I did with the Martins. In saying that my Next stops gonna be either a j45 advanced jumbo or a d18

[@pearsoncourtneys4671]

Good info but a couple things from luthier ..don’t get turned off by “laminating” back and sides. The best custom builders lamenate back and side on some models… why? Well one, the more mass you ad to the sides of your guitar the more monopole movement you get from the top, drastically improving tone.. Trevor gore has great info about this.. also it makes the guitar much more stable and less likely to crack and less susceptible to temp and humidity changes. And for custom made guitars, there is a whole lot more than wood choice … for example custom builders thickness each top specific to that piece of wood, and carve the braces specific for the tone they are creating for that model, bringing out the full capability of that guitar . Unlike factory made guitars with the same wood which is all taken to the same specs on every guitar, which is why you go play hundreds of guitars to find the best sounding one, bc 1 out of 10 has the wood at the correct specs to make it the most musical . Also they are over built, Martin doesn’t want a lot of warranty work coming back. For this reason custom guitars are much more delicate and you have to be tedious in taking care of them.

[@shawnadams1693]

Deployed to the Middle East right now, bought a used $100 Jasmine plywood acoustic here and it is VERY good; for what it is. Have two Taylors at home, which I miss...🥰

[@JeremySheppard]

Oh man! Thanks for your service. What branch are you in? I have family just getting back from a deployment to the ME. That jasmine is a perfect partner for that trip. They sound good and play well.

[@shawnadams1693]

@@JeremySheppard Army Reserve. Thanks, Jeremy.

[@ayman.s]

Nicely put (I’ve played for decades and agree). More complicated is how do vintage instruments fit in this?

[@joedown962]

Jeremy, I agree to every word you said in this video but I think you forgot something: you didn't say a word about wonderful sleeper guitars that you can find for example in vintage '70 MIJ guitars. I own a 51 years old El Degas MT-18 ( Martin D35 copy ) MIJ guitar made out of a super tight grain spruce top and laminated brazilian rosewood. This guitar sounds just fantastic, so much that I played it side by side with a D28 ( ok, it was "green" ), and the Martin didn't impressed me at all. The D28 cost close to $3000 canadians while I paid $450 for the El Degas. Hello from Quebec!!

[@MM-rf8ml]

Good info! Fortunately or unfortunately for me my first real guitar was a Harmony Hollywood that someone left for dead in its case. Played it with high action. Top was sunken in. I took the back off some years later fixed the braces and even after getting a new Oscar Schmidt i still play it. Depends on the learner if they are serious a kid will push through a crap guitar.

[@slpc30]

This is such a great video thank you Jeremy

[@j.w.groves7314]

You left out the king of modern acoustic guitars SANTA CRUZ lol

[@doukdouk2550]

I love my Breedlove Pursuit concertina red cedar E! It was $500 and its all i need! Its a Parlor sized guitar and has bone Nuts (like me) it has a solid cedar top and mahogany laminated back and sides. sounds and plays like a dream! As soon as I went in MusicWorld in Odessa this guitar called to Me and I was so focused on it that the store looked empty..it was the only guitar there! Felt like the song; the Guitar by Guy Clark: There was something spooky in his voice And something strange on his face When he shut the lid I saw my name was on the case.

[@ThaRealXD]

Thank you! Very informative👌

[@dynosaurrrr]

i have a guitar i had boughu on amazon for $90 because of the pandemic and i didnt want to spend too much in case i didnt stick with it, plus im a kid so that was like my life savings lol but it was worth it, i just wished id maybe spent a little more to find a better guitar, it bugs me when i play higher on the neck on the e a and d strings because the notes sound so empty and lifeless, dont really resonate enough or something, and then i feel sad

[@patrickroe3260]

The Canadian made Godin guitars are the best values you can find in a solid top guitar. These guitars sound good yet have a certain toughness. All solid wood guitars are indeed, great guitars. That said, they must be well taken care of. Extremely well taken care of. If you can't or won't do that, save your money and just go with a solid top guitar. When you start looking at all solid models, remember that guitars are subject to the law of diminishing returns. You might not hear a difference between a guitar costing $1800 and one costing $2800. The price difference may not be about the sound at all. If it is about sound, is the sound better or just different? Does the sound fit YOU?

[@patrickroe5926]

Wood is an organic substance. While there is may be basic things to look for as far as wood (sound) quality, past a certain point, it's hard to determine how that wood will sound as it matures.

[@maplebones]

It will sound more mature. you know what I'm sayin ?

[@R.L.Humpert]

You talk about Martin and other brands but you didn’t mention taylor. I just bought a taylor 324ce. How do you feel about this brand and the actual model I bought? I hope I chose well because it was 2100 bucks! It sounds absolutely amazing and I liked it better than Martin to be honest. Not by a lot but I loved the mahogany sound. But now you have me kinda nervous cause you didn’t say much at all about taylor. Gibson to me is not a very good brand acoustic. And I have watched videos you have made talking about their quality having gone down. So I’m confused now your thoughts on the taylor 324ce. Thanks buddy!

[@PotPoet]

There is another level higher still than the five levels mentioned here. Level six does give a good return on the extra dollars invested. What is level six? Top tier like level five, but VINTAGE. Add fifty years to a guitar and hear it sing! Try a hundred years. I own thirty guitars in levels four, five and six. One might add in show guitars as a level of their own.

[@ABSOLUTfiftytwo]

What’s your thoughts on Rick Turner Guitar’s? Omg 💰💰💰

[@fayezshalati623]

Hey what kind of wood is the less than 100$ guitar made of?

[@rookmaster7502]

The best sounding guitar I've ever played on was a Fender Gemini II, which is a fairly cheap guitar. I've have had the opportunity to play on guitars three or four times more expensive, but none produced as sound as good as the Gemini.

[@dpiranda]

How does Cort Gold series fits for you? Thank you!!

[@paddyc8200]

Cort are excellent guitars mate,I don’t own one at the minute but iv played lots over the years,iv broken some and was amazed to find that the MOP was in fact real Mother of Pearl and the wood choices were very good quality.

[@thefounding5879]

Great video!

[@badmotherfarker123]

It's interesting hearing the steel string commentary as someone who has played seriously high end nylon strings. I think of a high end classical guitar $12K+ (you used to be able to get such quality retail at $8K - Thanks degenerate Dementia Joe!) as an individual's singular vision of sound, and perhaps less so, playability, as many classical guitar builders do not play in any serious capacity. To be fair, I haven't run across a high end guitar in that price range that is particularly difficult to play (assuming proper setup and fundamentals). Even for "custom" steel string makers, I'm frankly shocked of the mechanized/assembly line nature of the process. As Antonio de Torres used to say, there simply isn't an easy way for him to communicate to another human the feeling of when a guitar top has the right flexibility. I brought this issue up with the talented luthier Eric Reid in Santa Cruz and he responded that the better shops get closer to the better copies of vintage instruments, which I think is fair.

[@maplebones]

I didn't know Joe Biden was controlling the classical guitar market. I thought you folks said it was a cabal of Jewish space aliens or something like that . I could be wrong. Sorry to hear that Tony de Torres can no longer communicate feelings. He never actually could, by my reckoning, but then I've never seen him sober. Who else did you namedrop ? Oh yes. Eric Reid. Did he say where the 'better shops' might be ? Offshore, I'm sure. Anyway, byeeee.

[@davidm.d.hyskell8983]

Jeremy, have you ever played any of Taylor’s legacy models like the 810CE acoustic guitars that are no longer in production and if so what did you think?

[@CHDEXTER5]

How do you call a Larrivée L05 1990 mahogany/sitka and or a Lowden F32c Rosewood/Sitka (1999)?

[@bgp6656]

Kinda unrelated but I'm looking to buy my first nice guitar that I can keep for a long time and I was looking at a larrivee d40 mahogany because they seem to be good bluegrass guitars for my budget but I can't seem to find one anywhere near me (maryland) and I don't really trust reverb so I was wondering if you had some nuggets of wisdom about somewhere more reputable I can order from or some good music stores you know of (or even reverb sellers as long as the guitar survives the trip here) where I could get one. Or a different make/model that would be a good bluegrass guitar for around $1500 (preferably made in the USA). Sorry that was so long winded and thanks in advance if you do reply.

[@charlesbolton8471]

Obviously, I’m not Jeremy, but I’d like to try to help. I’ve never owned a Larrivee, but they are definitely well made guitars. Prior to replying to your comment I searched Larrivee’s website and found that they have 116 dealers in the USA so you might want to start there and find the ones that are close (or closest) to you since you didn’t say where you were located. This was the first time I’ve ever searched Larrivee’s website and their homepage listed a Featured Dealer. That dealer is Martin Music in Memphis, Tennessee. Having lived in Memphis for three years (2013-2016) I can tell you beyond a shadow of a doubt that Martin Music is one the best guitar stores in the country, and I would highly recommend reaching out to them. Also, I have had nothing but good experiences on Reverb. It is a very reputable site overall. Of course, there are bad sellers and scams, but many brick and mortar stores (including the aforementioned Martin Music-I think they only list their used inventory on Reverb) have Reverb Shops. If you buy from an actual physical store on Reverb I don’t think you can go wrong. The one thing I would caution is that some dealers raise their price on Reverb to cover Reverb’s fees so if you buy on Reverb check the price on the store’s website first to see if it is the same. As far as other potential guitars in your price range. You can buy a brand new American made Martin D-15 for that price, and if you buy used you could find something higher up in Martin’s line for that price.

[@bgp6656]

@@charlesbolton8471 Thanks for the info! This is very helpful. I thought I had written that I live in Maryland but I guess not. I didn't know about Martin Music so I'll check them out and it's comforting that reverb seems to be a safer bet than I thought. Also, I was actually originally looking at a D15M, but the thing is I want a bluegrass guitar with some volume and the all hog body can't really do that. Plus, the Larry seems to be higher quality for the price. (Better woods, hand fit dovetail, maple binding, tec.) I'm still in high school so getting all the way to Tennessee isn't really in the cards, does Martin Music deliver? Thanks again.

[@charlesbolton8471]

@@bgp6656 Martin Music would ship to you in Maryland.

[@bgp6656]

@@charlesbolton8471 Great! That's exactly what I've been looking for.

[@kamolthanavaro4916]

Mostly, custom guitars are copied Martin guitar and the pricing are quite expensive why spend more money to buy them. What makes them so different from Martin guitar

[@robertmoore6263]

Hi Jeremy great videos always watch them can you answer me a question what are your thoughts on ovations from the celebrity up

[@JeremySheppard]

Thanks, Robert. I do not like ovations and don't have much good to say about them.

[@ZombieBacon13]

I bought a 150$ epiphone that has worked pretty well for me. My dumbass bought a hardcase for it though which was just a complete waste of my money cause I never take it anywhere anyways.

[@HL-OOI]

No testing if u r not buying especially the high ends one..🤣 only thing most of the guitar comes with high action and most shops do not care about properly setup the guitar for u..luxury watch is better than 3k guitar? 😂 Cort gold series value for money..now I like guitars with lots of pearl inlays, gold tuners, torrified top, etc ..

[@TheTinkushal]

What about Taylor's

[@markstaggs7342]

I am 62 years old and I've been playing guitar since I was a little kid my dad collected guitars and other instruments ,I have owned many guitars and just about every brand you can think of and I'm talking very expensive guitars,from martin D28s to D45 eight martins all together ,I owned Gibson's Gretch tats Yamaha Collins blue ridge I could keep on and now I only own a 1980 martin D-28 it's the only martin I've ever in loved now I own seven Taylor guitars and I don't care what anyone else says Taylor hands down makes the best playing best sounding guitar that money can buy ,I'm not saying this because I don't know what I'm talking about ,I'm saying this because I know from guitars and experience I was a Martin fanatic until two guys that were martin players came to church because the fell in love with Taylor guitars I put my martin guitars to a sound and play test and I was mad because the truth was the Taylor guitars played better and sounded better , Taylor is the only guitar that I will put my money on, There expensive but worth everything is penny ,my guitars I bought all brand new 2015 614ce,2018 814ce DLX v brace 2015 816 ce,2019 614 ce builder's edition,2018 K-24 ce v brace all Koa,2015 914 ce, and a baby Taylor ,When I was a kid Taylor wasn't around and I only wanted martin guitars and my dad always said when you buy a Martin your buying a name and he would say they were a lot better sounding guitars out there and he was right ,You have to hunt down a good martin all you gotta do is pick a Taylor up and know it's one of the best out there , anyway that's my experience with guitars , Also I really like Guild guitars , Gibson's are like martin hunt a good one down,I recommend Taylor guitars to anyone who wants one if not the best which is in my opinion.

[@Skrammelcaster]

The brand on the headstock duh...

[@neel1551]

I am your 1k liker

[@joeyoungs8426]

Answer: One that doesn’t need a neck reset in twenty years.

[@gfurstnsu]

Yes a fine guitar will be passed down through the family and inspire generations to play guitar. My father purchased his Martin D-18 back in the summer of 1945. He enjoyed playing it for years and passed on to me back in 1969. I played it , hitch hiked all over the US, took it to Alaska and the only place I did not take it was to Vietnam! When I moved to South Korea in 2003, I passed it on to his grandson, who is now playing it. Every year it has become more valuable and the tone is fantastic. Yes, purchase the best guitar you can, it will become an family treasure!

[@TheRealJaded]

Breeding is pointless

[@TR-uw2sp]

​@Jaded you need help.

[@cesarcamacho2266]

@@TheRealJaded only if it comes for you.

[@maplebones]

On the other hand, if you invest the ridiculous price of a Martin wisely it might pay for your grandson's college education.

[@roberthuffman6815]

That's an awesome story! I bet that thing sounds fantastic!

[@JC-DC]

I've seen many average guitars become much better guitars after being set up by a pro that really knows what they are doing. 👍

[@festushaggen2563]

Yamaha may be the best place to start and work up from. They have offerings at every price point and for level of play. Their FG series is extremely affordable, solid wood and sounds incredible. Their high end stuff is comparable to many of the big names and for much less money. I'm a huge fan of Yamaha guitars and it's always the first name that I mention for someone to start looking. It may be the last place they look too.

[@charliewelch328]

Alvarez also

[@maplebones]

Good advice. Yamaha are as good as anything out there, at sometimes 1/3 the price. They don't advertise or engage in media hype like Martin and Gibson, so they're less well known in the USA..

[@AchillesWrath1]

I love my 20 something year old Takamine it sounds amazing. Solid cedar top with solid mahogany back and laminate mahogany sides. I tried tons of guitars when i was in the market for a new guitar several months ago. Nothing sounded as good to me. I did end up buying a D18 but i wouldn't say it sounds better it. I just wanted one. It sounds different but good in it's own way. My D18 sounds the best up around the first 5 frets. My Takamine sounds good everywhere on the fretboard. I even asked my wife without letting her know which guitar i was playing which one she liked the sound of better. She chose the Takamine every time. It's just so good on everything, lows, mids, and highs.

[@bhobg]

Happy owner of 3 Takamines here and I love the tone. Even my laminate top GD11M-NS. Great value, and the important thing is it makes me happy. My bucket list is to one day own an MIJ Tak.

[@redbed1604]

My advice? Buy the best guitar than you can possibly afford the first time! They are always going to sound better, and, if you decide that guitar is not for you, it will still have a lot of value, so you can recover most of what you've spent.

[@OriginalPuro]

"My advice?" Why is that a question? Oo

[@maplebones]

That's not true. Martins depreciate by 30% when you walk out the door with it. That can be $1000, enough to buy 2 excellent entry level guitars or one superb intermediate guitar. 90% of people who buy guitars give it up in the first year, so don't make it a high priced model.

[@rickpa79]

Better guitars sound better, they are also much easier to play. But, put 10 guitars of the same make and size in a line and try EVERY one. Chances are that each one will sound different. Even to an untrained ear, you can hear the difference in each guitar. The more they cost does not mean the better they sound.

[@adiiqbal8010]

I'm a yamaha collector. Cheap prices but incredible quality. Japanese yamahas like red labels and the L series are half the price of martins yet imo are comparable. Plus if you like vintage acoustics, their old acoustics are cheap and still top notch

[@janeandthecoolcats5033]

There arre also some high end yamahas (L 36, 56 ..) where the price is very similar to martin :)

[@davidconnellchicago]

Yahama seems to make everything good. Pianos, Snowmobiles, motorcycles, amplifiers, guitars. Just real outstanding quality in everything they touch. And the price is always reasonable. I just some times just laugh a little when I am playing a little country-blues on my Yahama, think Lightnin' Hopkins and Mississippi John Hurt just shaking their heads.

[@charlesbolton8471]

@@davidconnellchicago I’m not really into their guitars (acoustic or electric) or their amps, but I agree that they make a great quality product for a great price. However, I do like their pianos (and keyboards) and their motorcycles (even though I own a Honda).

[@jamiescott1080]

Any thoughts about Yairi? Amazing, hand built, massive bang for your buck especially used.

[@aldenwilkins]

Sounds good, feels good, then looks good. IMHO.

[@howabouthetruth2157]

Great video, and I agree with most ( but not all ) of what ya said. I'm 62 yrs old, been playing for 50 yrs now, and I gigged professionally for many many years all over east/central Florida ( guitarist......electric and acoustic, my main love has always been acoustic and acoustic gigs, singer, and blues harp. ) I've joined several rock/blues bands, founded & co-founded a few, and then went back to strict acoustic gigs as a trio, duo, and solo performer. I've learned an awful lot over the decades, and for me personally, I would much rather focus on the quality of the acoustic guitar, and not even consider a pre-installed pickup system as a driving force in my buying decisions. Especially since the K&K Ultra Mini ( passive ) pickup was introduced. It's the most natural sounding pickup ever invented, a very simple & straightforward design, costs only $255, and is relatively easy to install in most acoustic guitars. So because of this, I would rather focus on getting the most guitar for my money, and worry about installing a pickup system later. I feel that you can buy a better acoustic guitar "for the price" in this way. On another topic: if a guitar is made very well, and it has a very nice solid top and solid back, there is absolutely nothing wrong with laminated sides..........so long as quality wood & techniques are used to produce those laminated sides. Quality laminated sides are actually more durable, and can handle weather/humidity changes better vs solid sides. I love both........the 3 very fine acoustic guitars I own & perform with right now all have solid sides. But I've owned 3 very fine acoustic guitars that I gigged with for years, that all had killer solid tops & backs, but had laminate sides. Just beware of CHEAP laminate sides ( poor wood quality & build techniques. ) As a matter of fact, if you're the adventurous type of guitarist who loves playing /performing around a lot of campsites, or outdoor gigs where your acoustic guitar is going to be exposed to different weather conditions..........you're much better off with a high quality guitar with solid top & back, and quality laminated sides.

[@RedEyedPatriot]

I play the two guitars my grandmother gave me...a 42 banner j45 and a 69 Yamaha Red Label...ive had some good offers on the banner but I could never part with it

[@tomf429]

I’ve played my D18 for 47 years. It has a superb tone and fullness that has improved over the years. Buy an old, well-kept guitar. You won’t be sorry.

[@jaketylermusic692]

I’m not a great player but I agree with this. I just picked a 49 Gibson lg2 for My more subtle finger picking songs and it’s on another level. Love my martins but I can’t wait to pay it off and put it in a video

[@jaketylermusic692]

Note: I’ve been playing bass and song writing for about 10 years just started getting serious about guitar this July

[@nahnope8581]

I do get the attraction of a vintage acoustic, but to me it seems like I'd just be inheriting someone elses pulled up top and neck reset. Thats just me though

[@tbeau6663]

@@nahnope8581 ...Not if you buy wisely.

[@tbeau6663]

@@jaketylermusic692 Check out the Furch/Stonebridge range of guitars

[@teamrockettes]

Can rec Godin Company Acoustics (Seagull, Simon & Patrick, Art & Lutherie) for the intermediate/mid-tier range! I got a seagull s6 used for $200 (from the 90's) and I love it. And mine is old and yet its just gotten better with age.

[@jakerslucky24]

I have a Martin 0000-1, Martin M-36, Collings OM2H and a Collings CJ. I've been playing for 28 years. It's been a journey and when you find the guitars that sing and resonate in a way that connects with you, it's magical.

[@chinnesepuerta]

Wowwww!!! Your final words were amazing!!! Thanks for Sharing !!! Could you make a list of guitar makers and your general opinions??

[@JR-pr8jb]

Hard to find an acoustic guitar that doesn't have a baseball-bat neck. Great if you have monster hands/fingers, otherwise a life of pain.

[@rodrigocm13]

Its funny how this people always say "This Brazilian Rosewood was in some stash for 40 years", while we all know this came from Amazon deforestation

[@nixternal]

I have the Fender CD-60. Currently my nephew is using it to learn on. I will say this, one of the best playing acoustics I've tried. Granted I believe it was professionally setup, but I'm not 100% certain. When I say it's one of the best playing acoustics, I'm talking many $2000 didn't play that nice...INITIALLY! The sound though, mine is a little muddy sounding, so I want to try some 80/20 strings on it & take off the Phosphor Bronze ones to try & brighten it up a little. Last year when I went for my first acoustic, I set my budget at $500. Tried the Martin's, the Taylors, Fender Cali series (I really liked these other than the stupid colors), Breedlove (amazing!), Yamaha, and Epiphone. I ended up with the Epiphone Masterbilt DR-400MCE. I got $50 off, so I paid $350 for it. All solid, bone nut & bridge, 18:1 tuners, and electronics. Sounded & played great out of the box, but after a setup oomph it is a beast! I think once this Covid shit is over & I'm making money again, I can't wait to get in to CME to try out some way better guitars.

[@hekhopop]

I had 2 fender cd-60. One was great and the other not so. Later I had 2 Masterbilt. They are amazing for the price.

[@markbateman3676]

It seems like you tend to forget about Guild guitars in a lot of your videos. Curious as to why? I love my newer and vintage Guilds. Super super solid and every bit a contender with Gibson, Martin and Taylor. Thanks for Your work- I love your channel.

[@JeremySheppard]

That's funny. I've featured Guild a million times. I've had an M20, D55, 258 and have hunted a few of vintage ones on the channel.

[@ikravchik]

Bro, don’t forget about the law of diminishing returns

[@Blkojo]

Well-done video. I know. I sell guitars for the largest music store in my state.

[@geneholdway8836]

Greetings Jeremy - This is excellent and very concise info for folks looking to get a guitar or move up in the guitar world. I'm often amazed at how closely you and I view the guitar world. There are very good less expensive guitars that will please the vast majority of players. You don't have to spend your child's college fund to get a great guitar. However, when you get that child out of college, start looking for your holy grail. H&D, Collings, Bourgeois - THERE IS A DIFFERENCE. A piece of good advice given to me years ago about guitar shops - Buy from a local dealer that requires them to hand you the guitar. If they care that much, it has been well taken care of while in their shop.

[@mkg28]

ive just saved and sold some of my guitar rigs to afford my dream guitars. I just ordered a Martin 000-28 Eric Clapton by saving and selling one of my electric guitar rigs that i was hardly using it anymore. A 000-28 has been one of my dream guitars ever since i saw Clapton playing one. Also if you want a high dollar guitar of course just look for used ones for the better deal, thats how i found my Martin D35. Getting dream guitars is possible, just be patient.

[@maplebones]

So if Clapton was playing a Harmony, that's what you would have bought ?

[@dnottis]

When I see someone in the Guitar center acoustic room.. I tell them to just buy a Taylor or a Martin. Even the low end ones are better than most the other low end ones from other brands and no matter what you buy, get a professional setup... I've also owned some that were too valuable to take out of the case. I've sold those, I refuse to own case critters these days. If I won't take it to a gig, I don't want to own it.

[@hekhopop]

The Taylors and Martins are so different that they are not really interchangeable in my opinion. It's a matter of taste. I tried all the Taylors until the 510 and they just don't work for me. I also tried several martins under 1000 bucks and was not convinced. I ended up buying an Epiphone Masterbilt. Over the years I came back to the shop to try the guitars and never feel the urge to upgrade to any big names guitars up to 1200 euros. On the other for that price you can find some nice Furch or Eastman.

[@caseyreneeguitar]

This video is EXCELLENT!!! I have experienced all those steps from beginner guitar to semi professional. One day I'll step it up to the next level. Thank you for your knowledge.

[@davidconnellchicago]

Great video and great advice. I have a Yahama and an Epiphone, both acoustic and have played them for more than 30 years. I added pickups to the Yahama years ago. Both cost about $400 years ago. They seem perfect for what I do. When I go to the guitar stores I take time to drool over the Taylors, Martin's and Gibsons, but when I realize they require a little more care than what I am interested in giving them, I think I am cool with what I have. It's like having a beautiful car, looks great but I don't want another job. Great information here. Sometimes good enough is what you need.

[@wfqsfg]

Takamine pro series are all solid wood.

[@jeffbaker2376]

Well done Jeremy. You put a lot of good solid info out there for us all.

[@robertarief8315]

One of the most informative and sincere and honest videos keeping in mind the guitar lovers and done by Guitar Hunter. Well done.

[@brianisaacs9745]

What do you think about Godin Seagull S6 or S6 CW

[@nautiquecowboynautiquecowb5317]

I have the seagull S6 on one side and my dog on the other you can't go wrong with the seagull they play good they sound good and they're very affordable. Seagull any list at any price point.

[@yhzh2002]

I have a seagull coastline slim cutaway that I keep as my layaround guitar. It's well put together and there's nothing wrong with it, but I don't really think that it rises above its price point. I got a a few years ago for a good bit cheaper than they go for now as well.

[@BruceNunnally]

Good discussion. I looked for an all-solid wood, made in USA guitar for my first upgrade acoustic and selected a Taylor 314CE (Sitka & Sapele). It has worked out well and sounds good. The old adage on when to upgrade is "When the artist can hear the difference between the instruments".

[@gabeah]

I started playing about 4 months ago and found it very addicting to learn about guitars, builders and tone woods. I started with a couple Yamaha dreads, which are unbelievable for the money, especially the FG5, but I just took delivery of my new Collings D2HT A, and it’s really a piece of art. Highly recommend Collings as a good option for a once in a lifetime guitar. Also recommend looking hard at used guitars, some great deals to be had from reputable shops, especially on martins which seem to lose a ton of value the first few years making them a deal.

[@gosman949]

wow you jumped from beginner guitars to master guitars with master budget and beginner ability! Sounds like me!

[@imannonymous7707]

I do enjoy this channel, yep

[@ericecklund676]

Hi Jeremy, as an alternative to the Boutique guitars, folks can look at the Martin Custom Shop. Through a good dealer like Maury's Music, they can expect to pay about 60% of the list price of the Custom Shop quote. In some cases this can bring the cost down close to where the Martin Standard Series are. It's still a few thousand, but nowhere near the boutique guitar price levels. I can see that you did a lot of research to set up these classifications and price ranges. I loved the Huss and Dalton shop visit. Great video!

[@Whatsisface4]

I like the sound of a lot of Martin Custom Shop guitars, but I would caution people to check out how close to the edge of the fretboard the two outside strings have been positioned. I've tried a few of the 000 all sinker mahogany models, and on some the strings are too close to the edge. Oddly, on some they aren't so bad. I didn't buy an otherwise fine guitar because of this.

[@KathyInglis1]

Hi Jeremy Thanks for all the info here. I've played for 45 years but have not done much research into different instruments till now. In 1975 a pro-musician friend of mine who has played Martins all his pro life) picked me up a Takemine DFS315 Martin D28 copy (with pre-lawsuit original 'Martin' semicircular logo on the headstock) from Ivor Mairants in London for £70 (not sure how many $ that was back then, probably about $200-$300). It has fooled a lot of people, not just by its look, but by its sound - it has gotten louder and mellower over the years. In 2005 I took it to a music shop here in Liverpool to size up a new hard case for it and the chappie evaluated it for me - turns out it's a solid top (being no expert, I just assumed it was layered, and not sure about the sides and back ) - that, and the fact it's aged so well and I've kept it in good condition, he valued it at £1,000-£1,500 ($1,320-$1,980). As I haven't got any kids of my own, it's willed to the son of the lad that got it for me (who would get it, but he's 84 now and may not be around, though you never know)! It plays really well and is my best buddy!

[@gosman949]

that is noting Kathy, About the same time in early 1970's a bought something called and 1964 Fender Stratocaster. I still have it and you can imagine what it is worth now!

[@HenryPipes]

I think a good guitar is a lightly built, all solid wood instrument, that’s setup to play very well. Eastman is making some incredible guitars that meet these specs right at $500. Those have been truly good guitars.

[@zunif]

Eastman necks are horrible.

[@jmdbb]

@@zunif What don't you like about them? They can vary quite a bit. I've had some that were huge and thick and others that feel perfect.

[@HenryPipes]

@@zunif in what way? I’ve owned 4 and structurally they were very solid, can’t say that about my Martins. They also do very great fret work and their neck angels are a overset so you don’t need a neck reset for years and years.

[@zunif]

They aren’t consistent. The frets aren’t leveled and the neck ends up getting a hump where it meets the body.

[@HenryPipes]

@@zunif this might be you’re experience, but I’ll literally played hundreds of Eastmans and have not found that to be the case.

[@Gratefulman1965]

One of the guitars I own is a 1975 Alvarez 5024 ( Version of a Gibson Dove) I still can’t quite figure out what it is about this guitar but I paid 399.00 for it and have owned it for awhile and it’s a magical guitar. It has amazing tone and the neck on it is the most comfortable one I have ever played. I’m an owner of martins and Guild and others but that Alvarez is such a wonderful instrument. Sometimes a great instrument can be had for little money.

[@lmfrimond]

Agreed - sometimes less IS more!

[@pmscalisi]

Many of those old Alvarez guitars are pretty nice had a few myself.

[@EddyForero07]

a good player can do great music on a cheap guitar. A $700 Yamaha is enough guitar to work professionally.

[@JeremySheppard]

I agree but these are about resale value, historical importance and legacy. Yamahas are amazing players but don't have the same value or legacy aspects.

[@dxcman1]

I have a 1K dollar Taylor that I love, but I also have a 600 dollar Yamaha that is fantastic. The Yamaha follows me where ever I go in the house. I will admit I like to buy new guitars, but the Yamaha is now the bar all guitars have to beat. Maybe I got a really good one I don't know, but the sound is fantastic. There are wonderful guitars at all price points, you just have to pick them up and buy the one that feels and sounds good to you.

[@davidb5659]

Few guitarists really need a pick-up. You *might* need a pick-up if you’re gigging regularly. For recording, it’s easier to use the pick-up, but it sounds much better to mic your guitar. If you’re playing gigs with a full band and especially if your band plays with some volume, you might want a pick-up to avoid getting bleed from other instruments on your mic - especially drums - on stage. For playing solo or a small acoustic combo, you have a lot more control and flexibility with a mic.

[@noahr4951]

I really dislike the labels of beginner, intermediate, and so on. Many of those beginner guitar are very much like the trash guitars less than $100.

[@dougalvis]

GREAT info & delivered in an understandable format - Thanks Jeremy because my mind just fogs up when I go in guitar stores and there’s so MANY to choose from! 😄

[@JeremySheppard]

Thanks, Doug!

[@sandoncrowder7839]

I will always recommend a Yamaha 830 series, for the price they are the best guitar out there. They look great, sound good, and they play great. You're not gonna get that Martin tone but you won't with anything under two grand anyway

[@tcoudi]

i started playing for second time and over two year i graduated to 2k Furch and I feel it will not go away, its all i wanted from a rosewood dread.