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

[@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.

[@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!

[@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

[@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).

[@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.

[@thewonderofyou1]

They have neck problems

[@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.

[@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".

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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. 👍

[@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!

[@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..

[@thewonderofyou1]

I just bought a fully solid Harley benton acoustic orchestra model. Grade A spruce top. Grade A rosewood sides. It also has a mahogany armrest. £250 brand new with free shipping from Germany to the UK and UK tax paid. It sounds absolutely fantastic. Responsive and warm. The times they are a changing.

[@robertarief8315]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@chrislyle2425]

I have a 1965J 45 Gibson. It was given to me on my 18th birthday they belong to my grandfather. He bought it when he went to Vietnam to learn to play, and when I learn to play and turned 18 he gave it to me one of the best sounding guitars I’ve ever played and I have played just about every brand

[@maplebones]

Of course it is. Everybody has one that is the best sounding guitar they ever played. It has nothing to do with the brand.

[@chrislyle2425]

@@maplebones you’re right it has nothing to do with a brain that has everything to do with the wood and considering my guitar was made in 1965 they using wood that was from me 1800s that is no longer exist today in their factories

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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 .

[@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.

[@ehfoiwehfowjedioheoih4829]

Thank you, I quit the guitar when I was 11 because my squire MA 1 was so bad. I decided to play again and got it out and realized that it wasn’t my fault that the D chord would not ring out no matter what I did. Went to guitar center recently, picked up some 1000$ Taylor and fell in love.

[@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!

[@chinnesepuerta]

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

[@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.

[@brucechavez9535]

I got lucky because I've been wanting a Taylor acoustic-electric guitar, and now I've finally got it. I found a Taylor 110-E used selling for $550 at Guitar center just last month. I never let that opportunity passed me, so obviously I bought it in a heartbeat. I've put on a Tusq saddle and Tusq bridge pins, now it sounds like a $3k or $4k Taylor..:) Taylor to me is the best sounding acoustic guitar, it's got its own unique character sound. Once you own and play one, then you guys will be a believer, too.

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@DustyNonya]

Good to hear someone at least allude to the issues with laminate guitars and sound over time. Sure they can open up over the course of 5-10 years...but you start eventually getting that dull, thumpy sound from layers and/or whatever binder starts to slowly vibrate itself apart.

[@plusone4726]

All I could buy a few months ago was a base model Takamine Dreadnought for A$320. I love it, but I have tried a few nice guitars since and there is a huge difference

[@jeffbaker2376]

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

[@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.

[@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

[@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 ?

[@HayesTech]

Outstanding video Jeremy. And yes, we all aspire to be able to own one of those high-end guitars but truth of matter is that an all solid wood guitar, made right, will do the job just fine. I would love a Martin HD-28 but can't afford it. So I purchased a Recording King RD-328 and am blown away. Those that watched my reviews, and purchase one for themselves, all say the same thing as I did in my review.."it blows them away too"... So purchase what you can afford and aspire for those guitars in your dreams.

[@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.

[@sammyrothrock6981]

I have played 6400.00 Martin's at the factory also 3000.00 Taylor's . Price does not always reflect tone or sound projection . I have Guilds under 1000.00 and Alvarez I absolutely love this Ibanez solid top AW54LCE it's wonderful and the pickup system is very good and it's a solid top for 350.00 and put Bronze Phosphors on it ! It's worth every penny try as many as you can I say let your ears decide. I been playing for 50 years

[@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!

[@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.

[@bleufishtv]

Jeremy! I bought an ancient Taylor 410ce with the original fishman prefix plus pickup in it . This year is will be 22 years old and I’m the second owner . A new 400 series starts at $3600 cad to 4g before taxes. I only paid $1500 cad for it about $1000 usd . The thing is crazy the overtones are wild it sustains for a really long time . The action is as low as an electric guitar. And I pick it up almost on a daily basis

[@starfighter2952]

Not just an informative video. But also inspirational toward playing as well.

[@3000LeftyMagician]

Never really thought about my guitar outliving me or being able to hand it down to my kids. Got my Taylor 324ce in 2015 when I was 14 at SouthPaw guitars. I just turned 22 am still in love with it. Still a long ways from starting a family, but it’s cool to think about. Hopefully they are lefty and they can pick up mine haha. Thanks for this video… I really enjoy all your work and content.

[@josephmyers9843]

Very informative and professionally done.

[@dalewells5880]

I’m a bass player. I play in church. I rarely get to play guitar at church. But I do love guitar too. My electric is a ‘72 Gretsch country club, but I wanted a great acoustic too. I decided I wanted a D28. My wife found a used Martin DM mahogany for $500. I tried it, I bought it, I love it! If I ever get a D28 I’ll be happy. If I never do, I’ll still be happy. My DM mahogany has satisfied my wants and my needs.

[@tincansailor9437]

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

[@john15333]

I have 2 martin custom shop, 2 Lowdens, and a Collings. The guitar that I play the most, and my absolute favorite guitar, is a Martin LX1E that I purchased for $300. Solid top, laminate back and sides. It has become incredible over the years.

[@allosaurusfragilis7782]

Reading this makes me happy. I recently bought a second hand x series martin at a guitar shop. It's not what I was going in for but to me it just sounded and played really great. It was less than half my budget. Enough people have said this to convince me these guitars are great buys. Feels really robust as well. It's really all I'd ever need. Doesn't mean it's all I'll ever buy, of course....

[@scottfishkind5335]

Great stuff as always Jeremy, you provide the best content!! A few personal thoughts... Yamaha FG800 is amazing for $200 range, Walden Natura series and Breedlove ECO series (Discovery, Pursuit, Rainforest) for between $450-$800 (I have both, I think the Walden's sound better than Breedloves at that price point, but the Breedloves are great!). Furch for are my favorite when you get to the next levels (to infinity and beyond)! But of course that is personal preference. Humidipaks and Humiditrak by D'addario are my go-to humidity control! I live in Michigan, you will definitely damage your guitars, especially during the winter, if not carefully monitored and humidified in that sort of climate! Also I have found Music Nomad Detailer and String Fuel are great products for cleaning guitars and strings! I am a stickler for keeping my guitars pristine, I play them all a lot so feel they deserve TLC from me! I think it is good to learn how to take care of guitars from the beginning so if/when you get to those next level instruments you'll feel comfortable with what is required to keep them in great shape! Lastly, unless you live in a perfectly controlled environment, I recommend putting your guitars in their cases when you're done for the day!

[@Blkojo]

Excellent post.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@Gentleman808]

I only play Martin guitars. I started with an X, moved to a Custom D, and now I have a VTS D-28. I’m in 💕

[@jamiescott1080]

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

[@beiragusa]

Best guitar is one that feels best to you. I had mahogany Fender that I could never get to sound good, hard, stiff and cold sounding. Then I bought a budget Yamaha thin body and couldn't stop playing it. Sure doesn't sound as massive but its just such a joy to play it makes YOU sound better

[@sbbeowulf8296]

Thankfully I started with an Intermediate/semiprofessional guitar my dad has that has the Lowest action I've ever seen on a guitar that doesn't buzz I now play a Martin GPC-13E and it is just perfect for me I played one once and knew I needed to have it also since you made this video I've seen Guitars have increased about $200 at the $1250 to $1500 guitars

[@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.

[@garywagner9942]

I have a classical. Session BC-300 had it over 30 years.. Solid wood hand crafted.. Good tone... My knock about is a Cort. Nice info.. Just love it.. Cape Town South Africa

[@Hillbilly_Bob.J]

My first acoustic was an Alvarez that I bought on sale a guitar shop and I was a beginner basically. Not the first time I had owned a guitar just first acoustic. And every musician that played it loved it. I went to jail and my ex pawned it after holding on to it for like 6 years. 14 years later I still miss that little cheapo.. lol I am hunting for a decent price good guitar right now and haven't said anything to anyone about it but this popped up and I clicked. Get out of my head youtube!! Lol

[@phillipward937]

I traded a pair of altec lancing speaker boards from a vintage apex home entertainment center that I paid 25.00 for, for a Yamaha sj400s, I didn't have those speakers 20 minutes. I had never owned a Yamaha acoustic, other than a nylon string that wasn't a great guitar but I really liked playing (lots of compensating going on there, but it was perfect to sit down and chart out a new tune or resolve a lyrical passage.) I didn't know how pitiful the sj400s was in the eyes of aficionados until I took it to the Dallas international guitar festival. I played it at the Yamaha booth and liked everything about the sj400s than any of the scarf- jointed acoustic guitars offered at the Yamaha booth. The guy from the Gibson booth stopped me as I was leaving and said, you're a song writer, all you need is something you will pick up and play, I bet you compose as much on a keyboard as you do on guitar don't you. I said yes. He said he could tell by the voicing of the notes in my melodies. I didn't pay much attention to that voicing thing until Brad Davis put me on microphone at his songwriter showcase, (even though the guitar was fitted with a Martin Bridge pickup I've never pluged it in, and removed it last week and replaced it with a solid bone bridge saddle. Now I have to figure out how to deaden a little ring. Before the bone saddle it already sounded as rich as it could sound and was loud. Since I've played this guitar so much the frets are shot, (they were soft to start with) I'm really torn about doing a fret job on this guitar. One of my cousins had one of the early harmony (pre-depression) guitars refreted it made that poor thing unplayable and unbearably twangy. I will say this, if you have an acoustic guitar you enjoy playing and dedicate enough time to find the tones you're looking for and the tones you find comfort you, play it until it falls apart then move on, as my friend Buddy Whittington likes to say "they're dead wood and wire" guitars are tools and every one of them is a little different, no two players sound the same, some who are technically great have almost no soul. After you reach a certain point the equipment isn't the problem. I had a peavey classic 50 on of my friends put a thermo switch in to keep the fans from running all of the time, it did hard Thursday night blues jams for years, and people (great Dallas players) would almost fight to play through that amp, with blackface supers in abundance. Couldn't keep a reverb tank in it, Heartley told me to mount the tank on the side of the cabinet like they were mounted on old Hammond organs. I threw the reverb tank away, and they added what little reverb it needed on the house PA. A guy from Schecter couldn't believe that a stock American Standard Strat could sound so good through a Peavy Classic 50, it finally got to the point I'd have to call Rocky Athas and ask him if I could use my Amplifier. Heartley Peavy was listening in on the conversation and remarked, sounds like that's just a special one. The fact is everyone who played through it sounded different, that cheap amp just gave them something they might not have been expecting, but some would remark, that's the closest to early Clapton I've ever sounded without actually sounding like Clapton. I know electric and acoustic are two completely different animals, but being comfortable with your gear bridges a lot of gaps.

[@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.

[@McDowellCountyYoungLife]

Just picked up a Martin 000xae Used for 400... This thing sounds beautiful and it’s a growing family budget, especially in a house without central air to humidity. I was glad for your comments about issues of owning High-end guitars. I’m very inspired by this guitar, probably Will throw some open back tuners for vibes and a nicer pickup someday. Thanks for the videos man, really enjoying going through catalog as you started videos years ago

[@galengallardo6917]

Well done, and well said. Have a 150$ Ibanez that sounds and feels great. More alive then my Takamini and Alverez, but like you said, a Martin or Gibson would sure be nice. Thanks for the info guitar hunter.

[@RhinoRuns]

I have the Taylor Academy 10e as my first acoustic and I love it. So comfortable and seems well set up. I just changed the strings to 11s as I get used to it. Enjoying this new journey I put myself on. Thanks for the videos and wisdom you share with us. 🙂

[@JeremySheppard]

What a great guitar! Glad we're in it together!

[@jurgenmaes7690]

I own both. Taylor A 10e and 12e. I go with the 12e (hog neck). Fits to my hands and body so well and as an older guitar ( ca. 3,5 years) it rings like a bell 😁 Trying to trade the 10e with maple neck 🤷‍♂️

[@dingersbu]

I just got a Breedlove Organic Collection Concert Wildwood. It's all solid Mahogany and plays like a dream. Perfect and less than $600. Cannot go wrong with a Taylor GS Mini, either.

[@JeremySheppard]

Whoa!! I'm jealous.

[@dingersbu]

@@JeremySheppard Thanks for all you do with this channel man. Even my little girl loves watching you play the guitar. She wants a pink guitar for her 5th birthday so she can be a worship leader!

[@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

[@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

[@ScottRandall31]

“A guitar that sounds better the more you play and will last for many years.” Absolutely! I have a 30 year old $300 solid spruce guitar that just gets better and better with age. I do also have a custom boutique guitar. Both are great guitars.

[@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

[@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!

[@DaltonPhantom]

In your blind H&D/Martin/Orangewood shootout, I thought your H&D blew the other two out of the water. Now I want to get a Froggy Bottom.....so, let's start those snowball videos!

[@kft590]

Play an Olson Guitar if you can find one, they Cost over $10,000 but many believe that they are one of the Best. I Hand Build Guitars that are of the Martin Style with an X Bracing Pattern that do not cost what a Martin Costs. You can make them any way that you like, with any type of Wood, Koa is a beautiful wood that has a very balanced tone somewhere between a Mahogany and a Rosewood.

[@bigcole9832]

I have a hummingbird thatvis cherry wood and i love it..but i want a paddgett guitar the video you have of them they are beautiful..

[@aldenwilkins]

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

[@acealvarez1038]

I think it really depends what your definition of "professional" is. Takamine guitars for example are probably the most used acoustic guitar for lively country and rock concerts. The laminate back and sides help with the road abuse, as well as being less resonant (which means less prone to feedback from loud speaker systems). That's why Takamine puts so much R&D into their pickup systems. Does it sound the greatest unplugged? Definitely not. But it's obviously excellent for a live "professional" setting. On the other hand, if you're playing in much smaller venues where you're probably mic'd up and sitting down then those boutique manufacturers are definitely appealing. Different guitars for different purposes. But both considered professional.

[@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!!

[@IndigoJo]

All the semi-pro Taylors you mention have laminate back and sides - the solid back and sides start with the AD, GT and 300 series. Furch are a big name in the less expensive all-solid guitar market and you can get an all-solid, gloss top Furch for 3/4 the price of a Taylor 314.

[@patrickroe5926]

Some luthier's tone tap wood to choose ideal woods but I don't think that is the case with guitars from Martin, Gibson, Taylor, Larrivee, etc. Those guitars, built to the nth degree cost much more, take more time to build... Can become a very fussy build. AND they may not sound better in the end. Time and amount played seem to be what effects how a factory made guitars will sound to the greatest degree. There is a certain amount of random luck, too. So, yes- wood, design, workmanship. But there IS a sort of magic that makes for the exceptional instrument.

[@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.

[@anthonylavoie5856]

I would say Godin guitar family cover the the 3 first range with Art and Lutherie, Norman and Seagull solid and reliable. They do offer solid wood with the SWS. I have two s6 solid wood and i really like them. One is 20 years old finish is cracked and word and it sound really great. Boucher is not in the same family but in the same root. Norman Boucher work with Robert Godin in the 80's and Robert end up to buy the brand i think in the 80's. After that Norman son's start the Boucher guitar. They are amazing but i can't afford that will be in the 4 and 5 category. For a player who search a good guitar i good price build in canada and usa look at Seagull products. I think in these hard times we must look at local products that give work to people in our country or close neighbour :)

[@DRealFatguy]

Norman, Simon & Patrick, Art & Lutherie , La Patrie and Godins new line of acoustics wont rate high with Jeremy it seems. With 16k subscribers, a million albums sold and guest appearances on many top artists songs, these lowly brands are beneath him Anthony.

[@anthonylavoie5856]

@@DRealFatguy Give him a chance to know them :)

[@charlesbolton8471]

I completely agree with the last sentence of your comment. This is something we should have been doing all along. I think we should all refocus on that going forward.

[@lastcall9998]

Also, thanks for the tip about the D45 being just a prettier D28. I saw a D45 for $5000 only, I wanted to snatch it... but... lol

[@autistichead8137]

I am blessed to have found a diamond “a good one!” in the $700-$1,000 price range. My Fender Redondo Mahogany Special is beautiful and sounds amazing.

[@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.

[@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.

[@charliewelch328]

Great information! Surprised not to hear Alvarez Masterworks or Yairi

[@jimmycollette9209]

If at all possible go to the dealership and play the instrument. I went to the guitar center to buy a Martin d-18. I came home with a Gibson j-45. The action on the Gibson was so much better plus the short scale length. All guitars of the same make and model don't play the same. Whatever price range you can afford, play it before buying. If they have more than one play them all. I'm 76 years old and have been playing since I was 14 and have been through a few guitars. Play before you pay.

[@maplebones]

It should be a state law to play before buying . Even better is to ask for a i week trial with full refund if you change you're mind.

[@riclrk9947]

My favourite acoustic is a Faith natural series Saturn(dreadnought).I have other much more expensive acoustics(took many decades to get)but its still my favourite and only cost just over 400 pounds when i got it

[@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.

[@hakanaxlund7951]

Thank you for insightful review. I agree with your thoughts 100 %. Also want to say that if you contact a builder/luthier you will get a guitar that is far better than any brand-guitar for significantly less money. He or she will build a one off to suit your purposes only, everything from style of guitar, specs and choice of wood. And if the guitar your playing sounds and fells good...it is good.

[@ΆγγελοςΤουρουλίνης]

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

[@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

[@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.

[@wfqsfg]

Takamine pro series are all solid wood.

[@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.