Best Acoustic Guitar Under $1000 (7 Pro Picks)

Buying a guitar for the first time can be a little overwhelming with so many options to choose from. 

Such is also the case If you’re looking to step up from your beginner acoustic guitar. 

Well, look no further as we bring you the best acoustic guitars for under $1,000. 

In the case of guitars, the more expensive they are the better they will be. However, you do not have to break the bank to get value in less expensive ones. 

Drawing on our experience in the market, we have picked a few guitars that provide exceptional value for money while packing punch solid tops, and premium tonewoods. So sit back and let’s get started!

Don’t Have Time? Check Out Our Top Guitar Selections Under $1000

1. Zager ZAD50 Solid Spruce “OM”: Best for beginners looking for a fully acoustic guitar
2. Zager ZAD20: Beginner-Friendly Design  
3. Zager Parlor 38-inch Parlor:  Best for children and small adults
4. Zager Travel Electric: Best for travelers and beginners with smaller hands 
5. Taylor 114e: Entry-Level Gem for Beginners
6. Fender Paramount PM-1: Best Guitar for portability and vintage aesthetics
7. Yamaha CSF3M: Best for Sound and Portability

Who Should Get These Guitars? 

The guitars we have listed under $1000 are perfect for intermediate players looking to upgrade. They can also be for more experienced musicians in search is an affordable travel-friendly companion without sacrificing quality. 

Mainly, guitars under $1000, are for the serious learners who are willing to put in time into improving their guitar playing. Surely you can get ones that are under $500. However, they will not be as long-lasting as the ones mentioned here today.

Best 7 Acoustic Guitars Under $1000 in 2024 – Our Top Picks

1. Zager ZAD50CE Solid Spruce 

The Zager ZAD50CE Solid Spruce is a full-sized dreadnought with a Venitian cutaway. It is designed with playability and professional use in mind. It was originally priced at $1495 but is going for a more affordable rate today at $995. This puts the ZAD50CE series that can easily foreshadow the feature you find in a more reasonable guitar. 

The ZAD 50CE includes all the elements that make a superior instrument. The guitar sports a solid wood construction, high-quality hardware, and a comfortable. The hand-carved bracing system produces a robust and powerful sound, while frets ensure smooth movement across the fretboard without discomfort. 

With its full-sized dreadnought body comes a solid wood construction for enhanced tone with age and a slim neck design. The custom string spacing and Zager soft-touch fret design promote faster and more accurate playing with reduced finger fatigue. Additionally, the guitar has an adjustable truss rod, hand-laid abalone inlay rosette, and genuine Grover tuning machines.

2. Zager ZAD20 Series

The ZAD20 Series has a solid wood construction and comes with a custom neck design and special bracing system. Every aspect of the ZAD20 is crafted to deliver exceptional sound quality and playability. As a full-size dreadnought, the ZAD20 embodies the most popular guitar size globally, catering to a wide range of players. 

Its construction ensures that the guitar’s sound improves over time. The top-class bracing system enhances the movement of the soundboard, resulting in a richer tone. The slim neck design and custom string spacing enhance playability, allowing for greater speed and accuracy with fewer rattles. 

Additionally, features like the Zager soft touch fret design and adjustable truss rod further enhance the playing experience. It helps reduce string bite and fatigue that can arise from different playing styles. The guitar comes finished in a special ultra-thin high gloss finish that contributes to a deeper and more resonant sound. 

With premium components such as the hand-carved bone nut and saddle, hand-laid abalone inlay rosette, and genuine Grover tuning machines, the ZAD20 delivers exceptional quality at just $895.

3. Zager Travel Acoustic-Electric

The Zager Travel Size Acoustic-Electric guitar is a compact solution for musicians on the go. They are built with the same high-quality materials and craftsmanship as their full-sized counterparts. These 3/4 size travel guitars offer convenience without compromising on performance. 

It is ideal for children and adults with smaller builds. It can also be a great secondary guitar for travel. The Zager Travel guitar features a solid mahogany wood construction that improves in sound quality over time. Expect it to sound sweeter and more powerful year after year.

What sets this guitar apart is the fact that Zager included all the professional-grade hardware and electronics found in his flagship models. It comes equipped with a custom electronic transducer system and automatic tuner. So you can hook this guitar into any amplifier or PA system, transforming it from an acoustic to an electric guitar with ease. 

The onboard Fishman electronics package includes custom equalization, allowing you to tailor your sound to your playing style.  It has a slim neck design, custom string spacing, and of course, Zager’s soft touch fret design. With a small footprint, the Zager Travel offers great playability and comfort even when you’re on the go!

4. Zager Parlor 38-inch Solid African Mahogany 

The Zager 38-inch Parlor is a great example of an experienced luthier’s passion for creating a great instrument at half the cost. Denny Zager has the expertise in crafting instruments made for players who appreciate smaller guitars without compromising on sound quality. 

The Zager Parlor has a design geared towards comfort and playability. It boasts a 2-inch shorter-scale neck that makes it easier for smaller players to handle. Different from other parlor guitars it still delivers a rich and deep sound thanks to its slightly larger box. It is made from solid wood with a hand-carved bracing system and a custom neck design. 

From users and master guitarists themselves there is a lot of praise for the Zager Parlor. Its performance for its price is exceptional, often surpassing guitars priced twice as high by top manufacturers. This guitar offers unparalleled value at $795. 

Zager has put attention to detail in features like the adjustable truss rod, Zager soft touch fret design, and hand-laid abalone inlay rosette. Additionally, the slim neck design and custom string spacing help playability. This allows for greater speed and accuracy while minimizing string buzz and finger fatigue. 

The Zager Parlor 38-inch is a great choice for players seeking a smaller instrument without sacrificing sound quality or playability. Whether you’re a professional performer, a student, or a collector, this guitar offers exceptional value and craftsmanship.

5. Taylor 114e

The Taylor 114e is a great entry-level guitar from the manufacturer priced around $800. It is a full-sized concert-style acoustic guitar. The 114e is known for producing a bright tone. It is a guitar that is best for fingerpicking and lead acoustic. This is one reason why it is sought after by the daily singer-songwriter. 

The 114e features a solid Spruce top that contributes to its bright yet warm sound. It uses  Walnut for the back and sides further adding to the guitar’s warm tone. Despite this, the 114e still maintains a brightness that sets it apart from other brands and models. It lands in the perfect middle ground of warmth and brightness.

In terms of tonewood, some may think that the Spruce is slightly warmer. The body of the Taylor greatly accentuates the tone as it is bigger than most in this range. Whether you’re opting for the standard 114e or the cutaway, expect to be pleasantly surprised by how well this guitar can sound given its smaller form factor.

6. Fender Paramount PM-1

The Fender Paramount PM-1 is another great example of Fender’s commitment to excellence in the acoustic guitar world. This model in particular showcases the brand’s dedication to quality craftsmanship and innovative design. 

The Paramount Series was launched in 2016 with the PM-1 being one of the few guitars on their acoustic guitar lineup. The PM-1 sports a mahogany top with a vintage-indented texture and a thin ‘open-pore’ satin finish. As a result, the guitar has a vintage charm while setting a new standard for its price range in terms of quality and aesthetics.

One of the best-selling features of the PM-1 is its all-mahogany dreadnought design. It perfectly captures the essence of this popular tonewood. Additionally, it adds a lively and dynamic character to the instrument and its sound. Despite its solid build, the guitar maintains a relatively lightweight, contributing to an airy tonal without sacrificing loudness. 

Thanks to the mahogany, the sound in the midrange midrange is very prominent. It delivers a deep, punchy, and defined low-end that distinguishes it from other guitars in its class. On the other hand notes with a hit of sustain pleasing to your eardrums. Its rounded bluegrass quality makes it an ideal choice for fingerpicking. 

The Fender Paramount PM-1 brings to the table a premium vintage touch combined with modern craftsmanship and tone. With the mahogany construction and aesthetics, this guitar is sure to appeal to the masses looking for a high-quality acoustic that won’t burn a hole in your pocket.

7. Yamaha CSF3M

Yamaha’s CSF3M marks a significant stride for the brand into the market for compact acoustic guitars. While its neck may not be the slimmest compared to other compact models, its 16-inch fretboard radius offers a comfortable playing experience. This is a sigh of relief for those accustomed to the cramped feel of some travel guitars. 

The Yamaha is another great guitar for under $1000. The guitar’s scalloped bracing and deep body depth of 105mm contribute to a louder, richer acoustic sound. In terms of tone, the CSF3M impresses with a hollowed bottom-end sound, ideal for fingerstyle bass notes. It also has a crisp high end that can go well in folk or country rhythms. 

Despite its compact size, the guitar delivers surprisingly powerful projection on single notes, thanks in part to its satisfying neck dimensions. The neck design accentuates the sound coming from the small body of the guitar. It makes it sound like you’re hearing the full-bodied version of this guitar from afar.

With a perfect balance between a standard parlor and a lightweight compact traveler, the CSF3M ticks almost all the boxes for a moderately priced guitar for beginners and professionals alike.

How Did We Determine The List?

When picking the guitars on the list, we did not just pick from a list of the cheapest ones on the guitars listing sites. It required careful consideration from experts and musicians alike. Here are the parameters we looked into.

Sound Quality Is A Must!

Prioritizing sound quality, we selected guitars featuring solid Sitka spruce, solid mahogany, and other premium woods known for their exceptional tonal properties. Unique sound characteristics, such as those found in the Zager ZAD50 and the Fender PM-1, made them an easy pick as mahogany of a great tonewood. It is also difficult to find one at this price point as mahogany is expensive.

The Brand Should Have A Good Reputation Among Musicians

Brand legacy plays a great role in picking a guitar to purchase. We highlighted reputable brands like Taylor, Fender, and Zager. They are known for their consistent quality and innovation across various price points. Brands such as Taylor Guitars and Yamaha earned recognition for their reliability. The Zagers on the other hand offer a greater bang for the buck, even though it has not been around for as long as the industry giants.

The Build Quality Should Be Good

The guitars listed here are a mix of popular solid woods. The most sought-after tonewoods are Sitka spruce tops, mahogany bodies, and Indian rosewood. This is because these materials contribute to premium sound production. 

Although most of the body shapes are more on the smaller scale parlor style, none of them sounded lacking. Yes, a bigger body would project sounds better, but the value that these guitars pack is unparalleled in the price they are offered.

How Does It Feel? 

All the guitars offer a premium playing experience from day one. They come with additional premium features like adjustable truss rods and comfortable fingerboards. Instruments like the Zager ZAD50, with adjustable truss rods, are a steal as they ensure a comfortable playing experience.

If you want to have a better experience with your guitars, check out our list of 7 best acoustic guitars under $2000.

What Should You Check Before Getting The Acoustic Guitar?

Before rushing out to buy a guitar make sure you note down the following things to pick the absolute right one for you. Do some market research, and watch a few videos online to narrow down your choice.

1. Choice Of Tonewoods

The type of wood a guitar is made of heavily affects how it sounds. Solid wood construction, particularly with a solid top, offers more resonance and sustain compared to laminated construction. Look for visible grain patterns at the edge of the soundhole to determine if the guitar has a solid top or laminated construction.

2. Choice Of Body Size 

Choose a guitar size that complements your playing style and sound. Smaller guitars like Concert, Grand Auditorium, and Parlor models offer tighter, more controlled tones. On the other hand, larger Dreadnought and Jumbo models provide deeper, fuller sounds. Consider how the guitar’s size may impact your comfort while playing it in different settings.

3. Build Quality

Make sure you thoroughly check the overall build quality of the guitar. Pay attention to details such as the body, neck, machine heads, bridge, and saddle. Ensure that the guitar feels robust and sturdy. It must feel sturdy enough to withstand regular use and the test of time. Check for sharp fret ends or uneven fret heights that may cause buzzing as time goes on.

4. The ‘Feels’ Of The Guitar

Try to do as much in-person testing as you can of what you want to buy.  Factors such as neck comfort and body ergonomics play a big role in how quickly you can get accustomed to your instrument.

Remember, the guitar can only be played to its potential when you can make the instrument just another extension of you. The neck should feel comfortable and forgiving, suitable for both beginners and experienced players. So thoroughly test how comfortable the guitar feels when playing in various positions.

5. Sound Quality

It is a no-brainer that your guitar must sound right for you on its own. Test the guitar’s tone and sound quality by playing different techniques and styles. Strum wide-open chords with a flat pick, dabble with some fingerpicking and explore different playing dynamics. 

Listen for volume and tonal balance to ensure the guitar produces a pleasing sound that aligns with your musical preferences. If you are buying an acoustic eclectic guitar make sure to plug it in and hear how well sound is projected through the onboard electronics and pickups.

Check These Acoustic Guitar Reddit Threads

• Best acoustic guitar under $1000
• Best Guitar Under $1,000? : r/AcousticGuitar
• [Question] Acoustic Guitar under $1000
• Best Acoustic Guitars Under 1k?
• What are some good options for an OM acoustic under $1,000 : r/AcousticGuitar
• Buying a Zager guitar! : r/AcousticGuitar

Frequently Asked Questions

Under $1000 Acoustic Guitars Are Amazing, Aren’t They?

Buying a guitar is not easy. It requires meticulous research and a profound knowledge of the guitar itself. What greatly helps is the help of reading up several online reviews and suggestions from the experts. Having said that, we have tried to reduce the time you would have had to spend doing so when buying your first or next guitar.

From our list of the best acoustic guitars for under $1000, you can’t go wrong with any one of them as each will give great value to your guitar playing in the long run. They are all made by reputed brands with years of experience. So feel free to pick one from here and strum away with peace of mind!