The Best $2000 Acoustic Guitar You've Never Heard Of

This is the story of my 2-month search for the best $2000 acoustic guitar... and how it found me instead.
As one of the first (lucky) owners, this is my honest review of this awesome yet relatively unknown guitar that launched at around the start of 2019, the Maestro Original Series Singa IR.
I bought it at full price as soon as I heard it play in person. Not a sponsored video.
Gear seen/used in this video:
Leather Strap - geni.us/iTbGH
Tonerite - geni.us/S27es
Strings - geni.us/pOwr
Seagull S6 Original - geni.us/V3Nto
Magnetic Guitar Pickup - geni.us/bsrUvi
Soundboard Transducer + Guitar Mic System - geni.us/vwhP
Mirrorless Camera - geni.us/NwHA
Camera Mic - geni.us/DRGYbfd
Large Condenser Mic - geni.us/9iyPoox
Audio Interface - geni.us/oN9N
Audio Recorder - geni.us/FOrhlX
Maestro Guitar Links
Origin Story - • Maestro Guitars | Epis...
Philippines - Contact Bob @ Guitar Pusher via 0995 823 8395
Everyone Else - www.maestroguitars.com/
Mike Dawes Links:
KZbin - • Mike Dawes - One (Meta...
Patreon - / posts
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References:
How a PLEK machine works - • How Does A PLEK Machin...

[@robertocarloordonez4150]

Great review and production. Very worthwhile to watch. Thank you for the effort and time to create this video!

[@burny1969]

Thank you for making such a great video. I could not be happier with my purchase of a Maestro Victoria IR CSB.

[@rianmcgonigal7419]

What is your problem with Zager? You say they are a scam but provide no evidence. That is a very bad quality you have...to denegrate someone's reputation with no proof. Like a politician. That is not honest research. Very bad example you make of yourself. I don't own a Zager so I'm not for or against them, I just feel that you are not a good example of honest research or a reasonable person.

[@burny1969]

@@rianmcgonigal7419 . . . . and you are certainly entitled to your opinion. However, read what you just posted. I could say the same goes for you! I've ordered, played, and returned 3 Zagers and they are low quality and overpriced. If you are going to spend that kind of money you could actually get a very nice handmade guitar. Order a Zager and find out for yourself.

[@rianmcgonigal7419]

@@burny1969 so there's something to back up your criticism. You tried 3. Enough said. Now I can put faith in your opinion. So much bad mouthing going on these days with no back up. I've seen so many great & very good musicians speak up for Zager, and Zager claims to have a great set up for arthritis (my issue) I haven't seen much other than praise, so of course I was curious why you were so down on them with no back story. Thanks.

[@jasonanderson1755]

Curious why you call Zager a "Scam" What models did you try? A co-worker of mine brought in the 50th Anniversary 900CE and it was great. The reason I ask was because after playing it I was considering buying one myself.

[@burny1969]

@@jasonanderson1755 I've tried 3 of their models and am very thankful I could return all of them at no charge. In my opinion, their guitars are worth about 1/3 (and that's really stretching it) of what they want for them. Additionally, their marketing is very deceitful and misleading to say the least. Do some more research online and you'll find out what I'm talking about. If you want a quality guitar in this price point you might want to check out Eastman. They make a great guitar that is worth every penny. I own 3 of them myself and I'm very picky with my guitar collection. After a long time of searching/buying/playing/selling, the 3 Eastman guitars made my acoustic collection that consists of 8 total guitars. The other 5 are two to three times the cost (Cole Clark, Lowden, Maestro, Martin, Yamaha) and the Eastman definitely hold their own. My entire collection now consists of 8 acoustic and 8 electrics and I'm proud to say I'm done! I have all I want and thoroughly enjoy all of them. Don't get caught up in the Zager "hype" because that's exactly what it is and there are so many better guitars out there for that price. I hope this helps and if you have any more questions (acoustic or electric) just let me know.

[@stephkirwin1898]

how nice to pick a guitar like this. I picked up my larrivee like this..im in Canada. seagull country, keep on strumming. the maestro sounds real nice nice mic too

[@TUSK1157]

I absolutely love my Takamine TSF48 Santa Fe. At the time I purchased it list at $1999. I'm not sure if what it would run today.

[@routhless007]

Really enjoyed the excellent review as I am in the process of purchasing to move up a level in sound. Sound like we have some of the same inspirational artists,and sound they get with their guitars. I will defiantly check into this manufacture soon. Thanks,and I am now subscribed to your channel

[@acousticgeekery2223]

I appreciate that you subscribed, Shane -- and I'm glad that this video review was helpful to you.

[@routhless007]

I have already went to their site,and let them know I had seen the video of their guitars on your site,and I myself am in search for the exact same sound,size,and qualities of what I heard come out of yours. I had a 312ce,and many others in the past but just didn't have the sound I was looking for so was actually going to look at a 314ce this week but as of now that is on hold for sure. Again thanks for your review,and sharing look forward to your future videos.BTW the one you have is a 1 3/4 rosewood back,and side,and spruce top correct?

[@acousticgeekery2223]

@@routhless007 that's correct, Indian Rosewood B&S and Sitka Spruce Top. Make sure you get the "Original series" made in late 2018 or 2019 (they started implementing a new and much better voicing on the tops and bracings recently) -- not the "Custom series". If $$$ is not an issue, you might want to check out their top of the line, the "Private Collection series" (I did not get a chance to demo this -- but apparently "an HD version of the sound of the new Original series")

[@routhless007]

Acoustic Geekery I have been in contact through email Mr Hernandez and he said it would be the Singa IR CSB is that correct? I am mailing him back soon as I know all the numbers are same as yours. BTW I did tell him it was your review that done it.

[@spiretonegatz]

@@routhless007, that is correct. Original Series, not Custom Series.

[@azcharlie2009]

To my ear, the Maestro was by far the better sounding. You made a good purchase.

[@billyblastov7984]

Impressed that your seagull sounds so good @ just $500... and laminate construction!!

[@marcstreiff6067]

Thank You for this informative review on this brand which I did not know of... As I search for aother acoustic to complement my current quiver of 4 acoustics ( 1993 Taylor 814C, 2021 Taylor Koa 224C, 2005 Takamine EG45C, 2020 Takamine CP7MOTT ) I will definitely look up Maestro guitars..... Where I live in New England my local shop carries the brands by Alvarez, Taylor, Yamaha, Guild, Seagull, Eastman.. About 1-1/2 hour drive I can go to Music Emporium in Wellesley Mass..... Thanks for the heads up..

[@kevinwagner8697]

great review

[@spectacularlyunqualified2391]

How much can you generally expect to pay for the original series guitars?

[@360-media]

A beautiful instrument. How does it play? Feel?

[@davidadkins2563]

Hello. Beautiful guitar,, I’m going to visit Cebu with my Filipina wife next month and was wondering where I can look at maestro guitars,, I’m thinking they would be cheaper to purchase in Cebu and bring home to USA. Any ideas

[@mikelundquist4596]

My holy grail acoustic guitar? Lowden. I'll probably never obtain one, but good grief... so good.

[@6933CH]

nice.radius fingerboard?

[@MrMagJon]

Do you still like your Maestro Singa? What are your thoughts after using it for a longer period of time? I am about to purchase a Singa IR CSB Double Top

[@acousticgeekery2223]

Still my go to and I don't see myself trying to buy another guitar to replace it. Here's my other YT channel if you want to see it in real-world use: paologitara.com

[@Deuce_Dufresne]

Looks pretty awesome

[@BernardNg]

Hi! Nice review! What is the title of the song at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="570">9:30</a>? Thanks

[@acousticgeekery2223]

Gymnopédie No. 1 - Erik Satie

[@kelvinpell4571]

Excellent video. Concentrating on the guitars and using simple chords and songs to demonstrate them

[@KRATOS_XIX]

@Acoustic Geekery Awesome Review! High quality content right here!

[@osdhat6366]

This video is a great help in the search for a better guitar. As all luthiers know, there is an overtone / tuning issue with thirds in the upper range of the guitar. Can you make another video addressing this issue on both brands that you present here? Many thanks for this video.....love the channel name.

[@jayjohnson4236]

Great review, man. Never even heard of these guys before but she sounds lovely. I’m sure she’s really opened up in the last year

[@leonelahmir749]

you prolly dont give a shit but does anybody know a method to log back into an instagram account?? I was stupid lost my login password. I would love any tricks you can offer me.

[@rockyjay7373]

@Leonel Ahmir Instablaster :)

[@leonelahmir749]

@Rocky Jay Thanks so much for your reply. I found the site on google and Im in the hacking process now. Seems to take a while so I will get back to you later with my results.

[@leonelahmir749]

@Rocky Jay It did the trick and I finally got access to my account again. Im so happy! Thanks so much you saved my ass!

[@rockyjay7373]

@Leonel Ahmir Happy to help :D

[@Tonedog88]

I like the way you play the guitars side-to-side. Nice video.

[@Knowasark]

Thank you so much!!! Amazing presentation.

[@skraka98]

Taylor 314 is the netree level of all solid wood guitar from taylor. Taylor 1144- 214 are HPL wood. (Laminate}

[@jamesallen6309]

Erik Satie - Gymnopédie. What a haunting intro, no matter the instrument.

[@646oleg]

seagull sounded good

[@moreyfuller8576]

Thank you bro for sharing all of your hard work, the skill and accuracy along with its detailed precision sets this guitar in a class of its own . The great blend of sound speaks for its self. Have you not posted we would have missed out thank you so very much.

[@averyellis]

I love seagull guitars

[@flylippfantom8425]

Seagulls are great but factory setup suck. Get an all solid get the Artist Mosaic

[@johncostelloe743]

Thank you for sharing your beautiful guitars your new guitar is a real find

[@hyunbin8814]

Hi what are the songs played in here?:) love it

[@spiretonegatz]

House of the Rising Sun, Gymnopedie No.3, Last Steam Engine Train, Let it Be

[@practicerepo]

My wife is from Marinduque and I just might bring one back with me when we go there to visit her folks. Good to see someone has done their homework. Hey AG please come and visit me and check out what I do to help people get started playing guitar. Anyone who knows their foundation of chords and some f-picking or strumming can gain a lot of experience while having fun. Your guitar looks and sound great, but with every guitar it always comes down to playability. The Plex setup ensures a fantastic playability and I think it makes "perfect sense" to have that guarantee your guitar is perfect when you purchase it. I love that.

[@pusader3]

A video on acoustic guitars and I didn't even hear Wonderwall once!

[@acousticgeekery2223]

Got you covered kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZeUfH2hdqmaaNU

[@truthray2885]

What's going on with Andy McKee's guitar and those frets "fainting away" from vertical to that slanted nut? Never seen THAT before!

[@danielfaulkenbury7700]

Fanned fretted.. each string has better intonation and it's more ergonomic for the left hand.

[@fp3359]

Thumbs up. I own my self bought Pre Lawsuit Vintage Ibamez iF 950 m 1976. Like the Martin mahoghany sides & back solid spruce top. Headstock mahoghany with enony fretboard ,& d'Adario strings.... Sounds from the beginning heavenly and now after 47 years just wow....

[@vincentremue4147]

Great review! Amazing! Greetings from Belgium!

[@2GoldensTosa]

Great review and shared information! New subscriber - greetings from Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA!

[@pcmountaindog]

Nice video.

[@renmad0078]

You should try a recording king R0-318 or higher number you will understand ear much better sound

[@daveydoodle1916]

Tried to get that leather strap didn’t come up

[@paulmitchell5349]

The Faith brand is good quality . 2nd hand Sada Yairi guitars are also good.

[@sailorbuckobuckley5217]

I have an old sada yiari classical that I play all the time as it a tone monster that is clean and crisp sounding

[@joshuaewart4761]

You should leave his Link in description below

[@cittingstatue3033]

I will buy one thank you for advice

[@acousticgeekery2223]

No problem. Congrats on the new guitar!

[@evoknight132]

Do I know you

[@pankajjoshi2032]

I own Yamaha LL16D under CAD 2,000: The Best!

[@markod442]

Your wonderful my friend

[@charlesstrahin-wf3un]

I will stick to my Recording king RD328 and Taylor 224ce, the 2 you picked sound like a childs beginner guitars!

[@johnlocke3481]

He’s picking and strumming bridge-side so it sounds more nasally and trebly than it should

[@360-media]

subscribed.

[@chiefpotpipe]

Takamine P5DC is killer.

[@AileenTimmers-kz8rb]

The best was guitars by max krimmel. I bought max the 81st in 1973. Stellar. As good as any Martin. Steven Stills and other pros swore by his guitars

[@emanrique1982]

Great advice

[@rodneykitchen3869]

McKinley and Marr from Canada are pretty good,

[@johnmorrell]

Great vid. btw the word Cuntz, is pronounced Koontz. ( koon -tss )

[@Stoneabba9999]

Larrivee is superior to most. I have 2. Amazing rich sound, Canadian builder

[@donnyh3497]

When 8 was shopping for guitars I played too many guitars to remember and I ended up falling in love with a larrivee and a taylor 714. It was a super hard choice and I eventually went with the taylor but I honestly could have gone either way depending on which one I played last. God that Larrivee sounded beautiful!

[@OYABUNxix]

@Acoustic Geekery Dude, its like you're in the top 3 percentile of guitar reviewers :p :-D

[@manaumman9732]

Compare whith taylor 314 !

[@lenz03]

I own a Sire r7 GZ. Solid sitka spruce top, rosewood back and sides an a grand auditorium shape. Price: 800€ (Italy) Check it out if you want ;)

[@markstaggs7342]

I own several very expensive guitars and from Taylor and Martin Gibson's and Guilds but if someone ask me if I could recommend a one guitar that is exceptional a one to have and I would recommended a 2015 614ce Taylor it's one of the best sounding guitars that I've played,I also have a 2019 614ce Builder's Edition V brace it's a totally different sounding guitar but just as good there both great sounding guitars just completely different.I tried many Seagull guitars and I mean many but just couldn't find one that I fell in love with,I learned that if you play a guitar that it don't make you fall in love with it then it's not worth buying,I have to actually love a guitars sound and playability,If I play a guitar and go home and I keep thinking about that guitar then the next day I'm still thinking then this is why I have nine guitars and I'm very picky when it comes to the sound and feel and playability.

[@ShowseeTravels]

Nice

[@skraka98]

Brad. if you are keen on Taylor but dont want to pork out $3-4 k? try Crafter Gae 18 it's sounds very close to High end Taylor 614 model at 1/3 of the price. $ 1300 Aus so mga 1k U.S ano ang facebook name mo para i tag ko sayo ang guitar collections ko.

[@egonnes]

Zelda Sounds

[@tribu1071]

MARTIN 000-15m STREET MASTER...

[@markc4768]

Like soul-mates, dogs and great books, "never-sell" guitars find you ...

[@skraka98]

Brad. I'm a Acoustic guitar collector junky. i got Acoustic guitars from Canadian made S6 Seagull $699. Yamaha Compass edition$749, Martin DX1Ae $1150, Korean made Crafter GAE 18$1300, Terada 1969 $400, Watson 1976 Lawsuit $350and Teharu 1972 Lawsuit copy of D35 Martin $15 the $15 Teharu was underneath piles of old trash guitars, no logo with just 1 string on it. i hit the 1 string and i knew right away that it was a special guitar. I tried side by side with my guitars and it was way so much better. I did some more research on it then i found out exactly what Gem of a guitar i have. Sitka Spruce top. Brazilian Rosewood sides. 3 piece Brazilian Rosewood back. Basically my $15 guitar sounds as good as the Martin top of the line guitars $4000-7000. I tooke it to a party when a brawl broke out. I ran as fast as i can to safeguard my Guitar in my car then i went back inside to fetch my Girlfriend. She goes you prioritized your guitar over me? My responsed was syempre anytime maka kita uli ako ng nobya pero to find a guitar as great sounding as mine? i dont think so.

[@johnnovia6593]

Support for our fellow Asians!☀️💯🎸🎶

[@kroome8]

seagull

[@barrykershaw9818]

For 2,000,that's expensive firewood.

[@zedzed1046]

To me the seagull sounded warmer and cleaner.

[@diegobejarano261]

absolutely... and a lot

[@nudratnavid5546]

I hate to break the bubble buddy but you probably weren't able to play the Taylor well. Even so, I still think the one you got is Better , but I am not buying your one sided comparison...

[@startreker8591]

Why slap😢

[@bobaldo2339]

I prefer the S6 - more mellow.

[@chrisstanford3652]

🤗🤗

[@jimakin3541]

Pronounced Mystrow

[@KenSwiatek]

I'd suggest buying a used Guild guitar

[@midwaymonster30]

I don't know...honestly...the seagull sounded better to me. I mean, it's compressed yt video and my speakers aren't top of the line, but still....I wasn't impressed yet.

[@ralfybaby]

The s600 sounded boomier. The Maistro (not the meestro 😂) sounded crisper.

[@cressdiligent]

Tjat second guitar the the guy showed for 15k. The guy didnt even play it just slaped swiped and patted it. Why bother even having strings

[@ralfybaby]

The seagull was actually boomier and the Maestro was crisper. As alwys diminishing returns.....

[@thomasowen2148]

sounds like 100 dollar guitars not impressed...maybe consider taylor or zager

[@howabouthetruth2157]

The proper pronunciation for Maestro Guitars is: "MY-strow". So what is "a Maestro"?............a Maestro is a term used to label a master musician or conductor of a symphony orchestra.

[@tjstevens001]

The Top of the line Zager 900 series runs about 2600. The Best guitar you will ever own. I own a Zad50ce that ran about 1200.00. This is the best guitar for the money.

[@jamesbelisle9704]

I agree 100%. I love my Zager ZAD50-CE.

[@larrykenney7091]

For me, YAMAHA guitars is the best deal for sound and money wise.

[@ralfybaby]

This^. And alvarez. This is how you choose a guitar. Set aside a budget. Play every guitar in the store. Including the Martins and the Taylors and the gibsons and the whatnots. Then buy the yamaha. Or the Alvarez. At this level of $ the yairi.

[@markstaggs7342]

I tried every seagull guitar there was in music stores and to be honest I did not find one to really my liking,I ended up with Eight high end guitars and a mint condition Martin D-28 1980 year, people might try to say seagull guitar are as good or better than a Taylor or a Martin but I definitely proved that wrong to myself and I'll say it loud and clear it's a flat out lie.And in saying it because I proved it . Taylor guitars are expensive but are the best out there that's why I own eight Taylor guitars.

[@arlo2203]

so funny... guitars are like food, everyone has their own individual taste. i have owned a seagull and a taylor. i loved the seagull... i did not think the taylor was superior or inferior to the gull... just different. sold em both... now i own a $12k mcpherson. so... there...

[@YouTubesSucksDick]

Cort makes the best $2000 guitar. Look at the Roselyn.