Buying a guitar can be an intimidating process, especially if you've never purchased one before. There are so many factors to consider, and so many guitars available, novices will surely feel overwhelmed. Fear not - help is available

What makes one guitar different from another? Is a guitar that costs $3,000 better than one that is $500 or $100? Of course it is, but a more basic question to be asked it whether a beginner needs a top-of-the-line guitar.

Every aspiring guitar player fantisizes about playing a classic Martin D28.  However, if the guitarist is a beginner just starting out I don’t recommend spending any more that $500. It is a good idea to first determine if the interest continues and the talent is present before spending a large sum of money on a guitar like those played by the legends. All of the guitars listed below are lower priced acoustic guitars all offer great value for their respective price tags. You will be able to find discounted prices at The Best Guitar Shop at http://www.best-guitar-shop.com

1. Seagull S6

These Canadian-made instruments are terrific guitars - very highly regarded, both for their beautiful sound, and their excellent value. The S6 features a solid cedar top and mahogany back and sides. Although the price may be slightly above what some might be willing to pay for a first guitar, it should be considered an investment.

 2. Yamaha FG700S

Perhaps not in the same league as the Seagull, the FG700S is still a solid beginner instrument, and for the price (significantly cheaper than the S6), it's a good value. Guitar features a solid sitka spruce top, with nato back and sides.

3. Takamine G-340

This beginner model Takamine guitar features a laminated spruce top. Although it clearly isn't on par with some of the higher end Takamine guitars, the general consensus is the G-340 offers a pretty good bang for the buck.

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Takamine G Series G340SC Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar, Natural List Price: $459.99 Sale Price: $227.95 You save: $232.04 (50%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days 18 new from Too low to display

Description

Designed and built under the supervision of Takamine’s head luthiers, G-Series guitars are created to serve all players from the hobbyist to professional. The G340C dreadnought features a spruce top for extended dynamic range and a rich harmonic content. Mahogany back and sides enhance resonance. Gloss finish adds durability and enduring beauty.

Features

• One of the few acoustic cutaways on the market today
• Solid spruce top adds increased resonance and tone
• Dreadnought body size delivers a strong low end with plenty of volume
• Cutaway body design adds easy playability up to the highest fret
• Color: Natural

Reviews

4. Fender CD-140S

This lower cost Fender acoustic boasts a solid spruce top, with laminated mahogany back and sides. Cheaper Fender products tend to be occasionally guilty of lackluster workmanship, but, considering the solid spruce top, this guitar could be attractive to newbies.

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Fender CD-140S Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar, Natural List Price: $299.99 Sale Price: $199.99 You save: $100.00 (33%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days 1 new from $199.99

Description

Quality and value in a great dreadnought guitar is what the CD-140 S is all about, with a Fender- designed dreadnought body, solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides, gloss-finish body, satin-finish neck and die-cast tuners.

Features

• Solid Spruce Top, Laminated Mahogany Back and Sides
• Scalloped X Bracing
• Rosewood Bridge with Compensated Saddle and chrome die cast tuning keys
• Additional Features: Dual Action Truss Rod, Tortoise Shell Pickguard, Scalloped X Bracing, Dot Position Inlays, Compensated Urea Saddle, Gold Silkscreen Logo, Multi-ABS Inlays on Soundhole and Body Edge
• Additional Features: Dual Action Truss Rod, Tortoise Shell Pickguard, Scalloped X Bracing, Dot Position Inlays,
• Compensated Urea Saddle, Gold Silkscreen Logo, Multi-ABS Inlays on Soundhole and Body Edge
• Gold Silkscreen Logo, Multi-ABS Inlays on Soundhole and Body Edge
• Dot Position Inlays, Compensated Urea Saddle

Reviews

5. Epiphone DR-100

The DR-100 features a spruce top, with mahogany back and sides. This guitar can usually be found at a rather cheap price, which makes it attractive to beginners. Most consider this a strictly beginner instrument, however, so it may not be long before you'll want to trade up.

6. Fender CD-60

Want features you'd expect in a much more expensive instrument? The CD-60 is your guitar, with features including a spruce top, mahogany back and sides, die-cast tuners.

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Fender CD-60 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar, Sunburst List Price: $299.99 Sale Price: $199.99 You save: $100.00 (33%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours 4 new from $199.99  1 used from $169.99

Description

Want features you’d expect in a much more expensive instrument? The CD-60 is your guitar, with features including a spruce top, mahogany back and sides, die-cast tuners and an included hard-shell case. Available in Black, Natural and Sunburst. Specifications Body Body Back: Laminated Nato Back Body Sides: Laminated Nato Sides Body Top: Laminated Spruce Top Body Finish: Gloss Polyurethane Finish Bracing: Scalloped X Bracing Rosette: Multi-ABS Inlays on Soundhole Rosette Body Depth: 3.94" (100mm) to 4.92" (125mm) Body Width Upper Bout: 2.25" (57 mm) Body Binding: Black Body Binding Neck Number of Frets: 20 Position Inlays: White Dot Position Inlays Fingerboard: Sonokeling Fretboard: Sonokeling Neck Material: Nato Nut Width: 1.69” (43 mm) Scale Length: 25.3" (64.3 cm) Truss Rods: Dual Action Truss Rod Hardware Hardware Finish: Chrome Bridge: Sonokeling with Compensated Saddle Bridge Pins: Black Bridge Pins w/ White Dots Tuning Machines: Die-Cast Tuners String Nut: Synthetic Bone Miscellaneous Strings: Fender® Dura-Tone® Coated 80/20 Bronze (.012-.052 Gauge) Unique Features: Dual Action Truss Rod, Black Pickguard, Scalloped X Bracing, Dot Position Inlays, Compensated Urea Saddle, Gold Silkscreened Fender Logo, Multi-ABS Inlays on Soundhole Rosette, Black Body and Neck Binding, Black Bridge and End-pins Accessories Case Gig Bags: Hard Case Included (USA and Canada Only) Pickguard: 1-Ply Flat Black

Features

• Laminated Spruce Top, Laminated Nato back and sides
• Scalloped X Bracing
• Sonokeling Bridge with Compensated Saddle and chrome die cast tuners
• Additional Features: Dual Action Truss Rod, Black Pickguard, Scalloped X Bracing, Dot Position Inlays, Compensated Urea Saddle, Gold Silkscreened Fender Logo, Multi-ABS Inlays on Soundhole Rosette, Black Body and Neck Binding, Black Bridge and End-pins

Reviews

7. Ibanez AC30NT

The Ibanez AC30NT is another well-constructed instrument with solid Engelmann spruce top and mahogany back and sides. This combination creates a warm, bottom-end tone with bright highs.

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Ibanez AC30NT Acoustic Concert Size Guitar List Price: $342.84

Description

If you've played or even just listened to many acoustic guitars, you know the amazing difference a solid top makes. The Ibanez AC30NT ARTWOOD SERIES Acoustic Guitar features a solid top made of high quality Engelmann spruce. You'll hear warm lows and ringing highs in crisp detail, the way an acoustic is supposed to sound. The grand concert body style is particularly well suited for fingerpicking, but sounds great in any style. Mahogany back and sides, maple body and neck binding, and gold die-cast tuners with brown pearloid knobs are features you normally find on guitars costing far more. If you've been holding back on an acoustic guitar purchase because you haven't found the right features at the right price, your wait is over.

Features

• Acoustic Concert Size Guitar

Reviews

8. Taylor Baby Taylor

This is a 3/4 size dreadnought guitar, making it a good choice for younger guitarists with smaller hands. Taylor has a reputation for being one of America's greatest guitar makers, and although they've cut a few corners here to meet a low-price point, this is still a solid instrument.

9. Martin LX1

One of the most highly esteemed guitar makers has provided this 3/4 size guitar, designed for guitarists with small hands and small pocketbooks. The LXI features a solid sapele top, back and sides.

What is the soundboard?
The soundboard is the top of an acoustic guitar, and plays the most critical role in determining the overall tone and projection qualities of the instrument. Though there are many available materials suited to satisfy the structural requirements of a soundboard, none have been found to match the acoustic properties of wood.

How soundboards are built
Traditionally, soundboards have been made from high-quality, quarter-sawn spruce planks that have been carefully seasoned to remove moisture and ensure structural stability. Higher quality instruments use two 'book-matched' pieces of wood, butted together to avoid warping caused by differential shrinking.

On the back of soundboards is a pattern of struts and braces that provide stability to the soundboard, while allowing it to vibrate as uniformly as possible. The choice of wood used for these struts and braces is much less critical than it is for the soundboard. However, the bracing pattern can have a significant impact on the sound of the instrument. Guitar makers have tried many different bracing patterns in attempts to add distinctive tonal qualities to their instruments. In addition to bracing patterns, hardwood plates designed to add support to the bridge and soundhole areas are also commonly attached to the underside of soundboards. Though the acoustic impact of these plates are minor compared to the bracing patterns, their size, shape and wood type can also affect the tone of the guitar.

Best woods for soundboards
Spruce has historically been the wood of choice for acoustic flat-top guitar soundboards. However, Luthiers and other large guitar manufacturers very often choose more economical and readily available woods rather than top-quality spruce. Redwoods and cedar, for instance, are often used in soundboards by American guitar-makers to great effect. In some cases, two different woods are used together to give the guitar a distinctive appearance and tone.

The following is a summary of woods commonly used in soundboards, and the characteristics of each:
• Spruce: Crisp high end. Big bottom-end. Lots of volume.
• Cedar/Redwood: Brilliant, "bell-like" tone.
• Mahogany: Warm, sweet tone. Tends to make quieter guitars. Generally used in less expensive instruments.
• Koa: Soft, warm, sweet tone. Strong midrange.

Soundboards in cheap guitars
In low-end instruments laminated or plywood soundboards are often used. Although these materials often impart great strength and stability to the instrument, via layers of perpendicular grains, they do not vibrate the same way that natural wood does, generally producing an inferior tone with less amplification. Instruments with laminated or plywood soundboards should be avoided if possible.

In celebration of his dedication to the instrument, and his achievements in his field, Gibson Acoustic presents the Brad Paisley J-45 Model, a custom-appointed acoustic guitar from the luthiers of Bozeman, Montana. Constructed in the image of the beloved J-45 “round-shouldered” dreadnought with Paisley’s own preferences for a prized solid Adirondack Red Spruce top, solid mahogany back and sides, and one-piece custom mahogany neck with “modified V” profile and 24 3/4”-scale rosewood fingerboard, it’s a sultry instrument on par with the best pre-War Gibson flat-tops, yet equipped as a top-flight performance machine for today’s professional.

Details such as original 1942-spec scalloped red spruce & hide glue X-bracing, a Fishman Ellipse Aura pickup and preamp system and a bone nut and saddle all work to ensure rich, resonant tones, either unplugged or fully amplified, while a hand-sprayed nitrocellulose a bright Cherry Sunburst finish, multi-ply top binding, double-ring rosette, tortoiseshell pickguard with paisley engraving, mother-of-pearl dot inlays with MoP paisleys at the 12th fret, and “Brad Paisley” signature engraved truss-rod cover all declare that this is a rare and exclusive instrument. Only 300 Brad Paisley Model guitars are being produced by Gibson Acoustic, and each one comes with a formfitting hardshell case with plush blue lining, an owner’s manual, Gibson’s Gold Warranty, label personally signed by Brad Paisley, and a Certificate of Authenticity.
This big-bodied, round-shouldered dreadnought is built in the image of the legendary 1942 J-45 Legend Model, from the classic tonewood combination of solid Adirondack Red Spruce top and solid mahogany back and sides. Its top is supported by original 1942-spec red spruce scalloped X-bracing bonded by hide glue, a structure and design known for its superior strength and resonance. To top it off, a hand-sprayed nitrocellulose lacquer custom early 1960’s style Cherry Sunburst finish, elegant multi-ply top binding and single-ply back binding, and a tortoiseshell pickguard with paisley engraving ensure the Brad Paisley Model looks just as sublime as it sounds.

The guitar’s neck and headstock are custom made much in the tradition of the original J-45, with the 24 3/4” scale length as featured on several classic Gibson flat-tops. Carved from a single piece of quarter-sawn mahogany to Brad Paisley’s preferred “modified V” profile, and topped with a rosewood fingerboard, the design incorporates Gibson’s lauded 17-degree back-angled headstock, which contributes greatly to the instrument’s resonance and sustain, and the narrower dimensions of 1.625” at the nut, as specified by Paisley himself. The headstock is adorned with the pre-War “Gibson” logo with the “banner” emblem across the center of its face. The Brad Paisley Model carries an up-market hardware set, including custom hand-made vintage-style nickel tuners with cream buttons, and belly-up rosewood bridge with traditional bridge pins and bone saddle. MSRP $5,158 USD

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The Gibson Acoustic Keb Mo Blues Master model honors the three-time Grammy Award winner. The guitar is a flat-top acoustic made in the tradition of the great small bodied Gibson blues boxes with the added versatility of a built-in L.R. Baggs Element pick up with sound hole mounted volume control. The Keb Mo Signature model is available in a limited edition of only 300. Gibson's "L" series acoustic guitars were there at the very birth of blues played by the great blues originator Robert Johnson, among others. This inspiration follows through with the Keb Mo Blues Master. The model packs all of the tonal nuance and sweetness you could hope for in a high-end, hand-crafted acoustic guitar while vintage specs include the 12th fret neck/body joint that positions the bridge right in the body's "sweet spot" for optimum resonance. The new model is reminiscent of the best of acoustic guitars from the 20s and early 30's. Finishes include Antique Natural or Vintage Sunburst with double antiquing. The guitar has a cream top, back and fingerboard binding, herringbone trim, mother of pearl inlays and double-ring soundhole rosettes. It comes with a Gibson hardshell case, a personally signed interior label by the artist Keb Mo himself, an owner's manual and Gibson Acoustic's Gold Warranty. MSRP is $3,868 USD.

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Local instrument experts say you should consider these things whether you're buying a guitar.

Whether your son or daughter is trying to shred like Metallica or play Bob Dylan covers, here's what to look for:

In general
For beginners, many guitars come in packages that include everything you need to start learning to play.
Electric guitar packages come with the guitar, an amplifier, a strap, extra strings, picks, a carrying bag and an instructional DVD or book or both.
Acoustic guitar packages come with the guitar, bag, strap, strings, picks and instructional material. Some stores also offer another acoustic package that comes with an amplifier for an additional $30.
Packages come from a multitude of manufacturers and cost at least $200 for an electric guitar and $149 and up for an acoustic.
Individual instruments can be had for less than the price of the packages. An acoustic guitar will cost at least $100. An electric guitar will cost around $110 and up.

Acoustic or electric?
What's better for a beginner: an acoustic guitar or an electric guitar?
It's one of the most commonly asked questions at guitar stores, but the answer isn't clear cut.
One isn't necessarily better to play or easier to learn than the other. It's a stylistic choice.
If the person playing the instrument wants to learn country, folk, worship or other music, an acoustic guitar is generally the better choice. For rock 'n' roll, an electric is generally better, said Dan Sullivan, pro shop manager at Dietze Music.
And for those parents worrying that the noise from an electric guitar will shake the walls, be not afraid. The amps in the starter packages mentioned above are usually only a meager 10 watts.
“They're not that loud. And they all come with headphone jacks,” Sullivan said.

Guitar stand
Those nifty packages come with everything. Everything but somewhere to put your guitar when you're not using it. You can pick up a simple guitar stand anywhere for under $20.

Size
Sometimes kids need small-sized guitars because they're not big enough to comfortably play a full-size guitar.
Children can benefit from playing a smaller guitar, but it depends on the child's height. Someone at a store can help you pick the right size, said Hoyle of Russo's.
At age 11 or 12, it might be a good idea to buy a full-size guitar even if the child isn't quite big enough to play it yet since they'll quickly outgrow a small-size guitar.

Strings and picks
Guitar strings come in all kinds of styles and from many manufacturers.
For a beginner, it's best to use a light to medium gauge string. The lighter strings are easier for a beginner to press down and play notes.
As for picks, they come in countless shapes, sizes and thicknesses. Again, it's better for a beginner to use a thinner, lighter gauge pick. They're easier to use and require less finesse than a thicker pick, Hoyle said.

Amplifiers and pedals
The Foo Fighters might have them, but a beginner doesn't need an enormous amplifier.
If you're not buying as part of a package, a 10- or 15-watt amp is perfect for a beginner. Many by Marshall and Fender have both clean and distorted channels in order to play a variety of different styles.
For a higher price, some amps have multiple effects that can make a guitar sound like practically any guitarist you admire.
“You want to be Eddie Van Halen on the spot? Just push a button,” Hoyle said.

Lessons
It used to be that you had two options: Take lessons or fumble around and try to teach yourself.
“I'm self-taught,” Hoyle said. “When I started, I watched people play or listened to the album and pulled the needle back and listened again to figure out a part.”

A few more options exist today on the Web. Many sites are dedicated to teaching guitar with videos, sheet music and tablature that can help you learn a plethora of songs.

Still, the experts say getting one-on-one time with an instructor and being able to ask questions is important.
“There's a lot of cool stuff on the Internet. There's a treasure trove of information,” Sullivan said. “(But) lessons are the optimum way to do it.”

Teachers can give students direction and guidance and teach them a guitar philosophy that you can't get from a computer, Hoyle said.
Instructors at local stores teach on acoustic and electric guitars in a variety of styles and offer lessons to almost any age. Children can start as young as 6 years old.

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Nickel Grover Rotomatic tuners are an engineering marvel, with abundant style and performance exactly suited for the J-45. With a gear ratio of 14:1, the Rotomatics deliver precision tuning in a durable housing that provides maximum protection for the gear and string post. All moving parts are cut for exact meshing, eliminating the possibility of slippage. A countersunk tension screw lets players regulate the tuning tension to any degree. A special lubricant inside the gear box provides smooth and accurate tuning stability.
The top of the J-45 is made from AA-grade Sitka spruce, while the back and sides are constructed from pattern grade Honduras mahogany, giving the J-45 its world renowned full, balanced expression, warm bass, and excellent projection. Selecting the right wood, and the formula to dry it out, are two of the most central procedures to Gibson’s guitar-building process. Beginning with its first catalog in 1903, Gibson has assured its customers that every guitar would be built using woods with the most durable, elastic, and sonorous qualities, and today’s guitars from Gibson Acoustic are no different.

The pickguard for the J-45 is Gibson’s standard plain tortoise tear drop shape, which has been used on the J-45 since its introduction in 1942. As with all of Gibson’s pickguards, the coloring and binding are all done by hand.

A rosette is the beautiful, hand-crafted circle around the sound hole, and can be one of the most ornamental elements of any acoustic guitar. It is also one of the most subtle and complicated woodworking decorations on any acoustic guitar. The rosette on the J-45 is a simple single-ring rosette consisting of three-ply binding, adding a stylish, understated elegance to the J-45 Standard.

Rosewood Fingerboard with Rolled Edges and Dot Inlays The fingerboard of Gibson’s J-45 is constructed from the highest grade rosewood on earth, which is personally inspected and qualified by Gibson’s team of skilled experts before it enters the Gibson factories. The resilience of this durable wood makes the fingerboard extremely balanced and stable, and gives each chord and note unparalleled clarity and bite. The J-45s dot inlays are made of genuine mother of pearl, measuring approximately ¼-inch in diameter, and are inserted into the fingerboard using a process that eliminates gaps. The fingerboard also sports a rolled edge instead of the usual right angle where the fingerboard surface meets the neck; Gibson Acoustics’ rolled edges are slightly beveled for an extremely smooth and comfortable feel, enhancing the playability of the J-45.

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There are several different types of acoustic guitar available, catering for different styles of music. Classical guitars - sometimes referred to as concert or Spanish - typically feature six nylon strings and are generally used to play classical music. They are often plucked as opposed to strummed and have a flat fretboard profile. They produce a more mellow sound than acoustics with steel strings, which are both louder and brighter.

Different types of acoustic guitar
The three main types of acoustic guitar shape are dreadnoughts, cutaways and round backs. The dreadnought, which has a bell-like body, was developed by famous manufacturer CF Martin & Company and has gone on to be considered the standard acoustic guitar shape. Cutaways have an indentation in the body next to the bottom of the guitar neck to make it easier for guitarists to play the lower part of the fingerboard. Round back models have a rounded as opposed to flat back, which is considered to create a clearer and brighter sound.
Acoustic guitars available on the market.

A starter instrument, such as the Concert Acoustic Guitar can be bought from £39.99. Designed for those on a budget, the instrument is particularly good for smaller players. It produces a mellow and balanced tone and features a compensated bridge to assist with intonation. It is considered to be ideal for finger-picking and playing acoustic blues music.

The Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar, which is also geared towards beginners, is available for the same price. The larger instrument has a full and balanced tone and boasts high levels of playability and response in addition to the compensated bridge.

Electro-acoustic guitars, which feature pickups, are marginally more expensive, with the Round Back Acoustic Guitar available for £65. The slimline instrument has a cutaway feature and produces warm and clear tones in addition to having a great feel. It is designed with live performance in mind, with the aim of minimising problems with feedback when the instrument is amplified.

Boasting similar features and the same price is the Single Cutaway Electro Acoustic Guitar, which has a well-balanced acoustic sound that is also designed to sound great through an amp.

Further up the price range and for those looking to advance is the Washburn D46S Acoustic Guitar. The dreadnought instrument costs £299 and is thought to be unrivalled in its price range for its richness of feel and the quality of wood used in its build.

At the top of the price range is the Yamaha LJX6C Solid Top Jumbo Acoustic for £675. With a solid spruce top, cutaway rosewood back and sides and a two-way pick-up with pre-amp system, the instrument is built with the modern guitarist in mind, producing a controlled and assertive tone and a strong mid-range.

Other things to consider when buying an acoustic guitar
Those looking to buy an acoustic guitar and start playing straight away may be interested in the Dreadnought Guitar + Accessory Pack, which comes with a spare set of strings and gig bag for £49.99. Other popular accessories include guitar polish, picks and tuners, while those with electro-acoustics will probably find a practice amp to be useful. Full amplifiers will likely be needed for those looking to play live.

According to Gibson, most players will consider the size of a guitar first, as it must feel comfortable in the lap and under the arm.
However, the instrument manufacturer noted that acoustic guitar players need to look at other factors too when choosing which one to buy.

Indeed, it said body styles can have a "major impact" on tone, which means a person should look beyond aesthetics and check whether a guitar meets their sonic needs as well.

"While size is the most obvious factor in acoustic guitar design, it certainly isn't the be all and end all of the matter," Gibson commented.
The company added that an acoustic guitar should at least be loud enough for a person to hear clearly in a medium-sized room.

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