The best acoustic guitars

Once you've got the courage to go to the music store for a guitar, it becomes necessary to know the range of products. There are a large number of different categories of tools: price, shape, type of construction and method of application. In order not to get lost in all the selection criteria, it would be wise to familiarize yourself with the types of string equipment in advance. Therefore, in this article we offer you a rating of interesting models - both for beginner musicians and professionals.

The first thing to be familiar with before buying a guitar is the brands, because acoustics from different manufacturers can sound completely different. Companies from all over the world create quality products, but the tone of the strings will differ due to the use of different types of wood, different nut shapes or string heights.

Here's a list of the most popular brands for quality string instruments.

• Aria. The country where the brand was founded is Japan. The first workshop of the Aria instrument brand was founded in 1956 by a young Japanese musician named Shiro Arai. The 26-year-old teacher and guitarist managed to create a company that nowadays competes with brands from all over the world. Japanese guitars are now renowned for their quality construction and sound clarity.

• Fender. An American manufacturer that creates both acoustic and electronic guitars. The company has been occupying a decent position in the musical instrument market for a long time - it was founded in 1946 by an entrepreneur named Leo Fender.Thanks to this man, the Fender brand is often at the top of the list of the best guitar manufacturers.

• Martinez. A brand from Korea, whose equipment is created in one plant along with the products of several other brands. Despite the modest production, Korean guitars of this brand are in demand among many novice musicians. The company is younger than most other manufacturers - it was founded in 1978.

• NewTone Guitars. The country in which the guitars of this brand are produced is Russia. A young company that produces high quality acoustic and electroacoustic instruments.

• LaSiDo Inc. A large Canadian company that fans of stringed instruments from all over the world have probably heard of. In 1972, a French-born Canadian named Robert Godet created a small guitar workshop called Godin, which eventually grew into the largest LaSiDo empire. Canada has become the birthplace of many LaSiDo subsidiaries such as La Patrie, Seagull and Norman. Nevertheless, each branch of the guitar empire has a different way of creating instruments.

• Strunal. A Czech company that used to be called Cremona but was reorganized. The quality of the tools of this company has always been famous in Europe and Asia. Czech classical guitar can withstand the tension of steel strings - few brands can boast of such an achievement. Strunal tools are durable enough, because they are made from trees that have grown in harsh climatic conditions. The Czech Republic has been home to a reorganized brand since 1946.

• Hohner. The company was founded in Germany and has existed since 1857, at first it was engaged in the production of only wind musical instruments. In the 90s of the twentieth century, the company underwent a revision of its products, thanks to which now German Hohner guitars are found all over the world.

To choose an acoustics for the hobbyist or beginner, you must first familiarize yourself with the various instrument criteria. For guitarists who are going to study and practice at home, choose guitars to speed up the learning process. Beginners will find it easier to work with nylon strings - this option is most convenient for fingers who are not used to gripping chords. It will also be wise to choose equipment with a wide neck - this will allow a beginner musician to master chords without drowning out adjacent strings with his fingers.

Here's an overview of the very best guitars for beginners.

• Fabio FB3610BK. The instrument is made of natural wood and equipped with soft nylon strings. The body of the six-string is strong enough, so if necessary, the strings can be replaced with copper or steel. The body structure is made of maple, the durable neck with fretboard is made of basswood - thanks to this material, the guitar sounds very pleasant and melodic. Fabio belongs to the budget price category, but is suitable only for young musicians - the size does not allow adults to fully unleash the potential of the guitar.

• Flight C-225 NA 4/4. The model has the standard appearance of a full-size stringed instrument. The upper part of the body is made of maple, thanks to which the equipment sounds very voluminous and iridescent. The guitar bridge is made of cabucalli and the lower body is made of sapele. The neck is crafted from mahogany wood with nylon strings. The distance from the strings to the neck is no more than 4 mm, complete with soft material, such equipment is ideal for beginners. This design has no flaws in the sound; the guitar does not belong to the most budgetary price category.

• Colombo LF-3800CT / GS. This acoustics differs from other models in its unusual shape - it has a cutout on the body. Wood is used to create all the details of this instrument: the lower half of the body is made of linden, the neck is made of nato wood, the nut is made of maple, and the surface of the neck is made of rosewood. Natural material makes the sound of the instrument quite pleasant and deep. Colombo is great for travel or gatherings with friends in nature, because the guitar has a fairly low weight - no more than 2 kg.

• Terris TC-3801A NA. Like the Flight model, this is a full-size guitar with a classic shape. The main body of the instrument is made of linden wood. The Terris neck is reinforced with a truss rod and painted maple fretboard. Apart from the fretboard, paint was never used anywhere else on the instrument - the soundboards and sides remained in the natural wood color. The disadvantage of this model is low quality strings - it is better to replace them immediately after purchase.

Not only beginners are faced with the problem of choosing a tool - even a professional must make every effort to the process. An experienced musician has many requirements for the sound and structure of a guitar; not all models correspond to the skills and knowledge of such a buyer.

Professional equipment differs in that it is made of better material, but the price of such an instrument will be appropriate. Due to the production technology, acoustic guitars of an expensive price category tend to "sing" over time, so experienced guitarists prefer just such models.

We present to you the top of the best guitars for professional guitarists.

• Lag OC88. The acoustics have an average cost and are a good choice for those who have just finished their studies and are choosing their first guitar. The model is completely made of natural wood: the top of the body is made of spruce, the lower half is made of African redwood, the bridge and neck surface are made of brownwood. The fretboard itself is made of kaya wood, and the number of frets on it is 19 pieces. The body of the guitar is not painted, so the product has a natural wood color. The quality materials used to create the Lag allow you to extract pleasant and versatile melodies from the guitar, but fingerprints often remain on the glossy finish, which requires regular cleaning.

• Martinez C-95 / N. The most striking representative of classical acoustics - the entire body and neck of the guitar are made of mahogany, the shape and size do not go beyond the standard framework. The neck consists of 18 frets, and its fretboard is made of rosewood. The tuning pegs are chrome-plated and have a 650 mm string span. The disadvantage of the equipment is the varnish coating on which fingerprints remain. Also the disadvantage of this guitar is that it initially has nylon strings, which are more suitable for beginners.

• Yamaha FS820 Natural. The shape of this acoustics is representative of the folk category. The upper part of the body is made of solid spruce, and the lower part is made of red wood. The neck of the guitar is made of nato and the fingerboard is made of rosewood. The surface of the instrument is glossy, so it will need to be cleaned regularly. The structure of the tuning pegs on Natural is closed; upon purchase, a special key is included in the kit for tuning the key of the strings. The scale length on the strings is 635 mm and the number of frets is 20.

• Prudencio Saez Prudencio High End Model 138. One of the most elite representatives of stringed musical instruments, which has a clear and penetrating sound to the depths of the soul.The decks of the instrument are made of solid wood: the upper one is from spruce, the lower one is from Indian mahogany. The use of such material in the production of equipment provides a deep melodic sound of Prudencio. The neck for this model is made of cedar, and the overlays are made of ebony. The neck raw materials are selected from the finest acoustic breeds that reinforce the structure of the instrument. The imposing build of the guitar is complemented by luxurious fittings and decorative rosette trim. The only but not insignificant drawback of such acoustics is a very high cost, not every musician can afford to buy such a luxurious instrument.

To play beautiful melodies on acoustics, you first need to choose a suitable, high-quality instrument. An important criterion for choosing a guitar is its price - everyone is looking for the best possible instrument that fits their budget. To make your choice easier, we offer you a list of high-quality budget equipment, as well as top premium models.

It is rather difficult to choose inexpensive, but solid models of guitars, because there are a huge variety of companies on the market that create cheap low-quality copies of expensive "relatives". For this reason, you can find two speakers of the same appearance, which will be very different in sound and cost.

To avoid unpleasant situations, we present a rating of good budget products from trusted manufacturers.

• Stagg C440M BLK. The most inexpensive model with a good build, its price does not exceed 5,000 rubles. The acoustics are perfect for beginner musicians, as they are equipped with nylon strings. The neck of the instrument is made of nato wood with rosewood fingerboard, body is made of lime wood. A significant advantage is the matte finish - it is non-staining and very easy to clean. The length of the working surface of the strings is 645 mm, and the number of frets is 19. Due to the fact that the construction is made of natural wood, the melodies on the acoustics are very melodic and deep. The disadvantage is that the strings are not of very high quality, which will stretch rather quickly, so after a while they will have to be replaced.

• Martinez FAW-702 B. One of the most popular guitars among novice musicians, its cost is up to 10,000 rubles. The body of the instrument is made in the style of a dreadnought or western. The deck design is slightly larger than that of conventional acoustics, resulting in deeper, clearer and louder notes. The FAW-702 assembly is famous among musicians for its durability - it easily withstands temperature changes and humidity, which allows you to safely take the instrument on a hike. The model is made entirely of mahogany and has a 20-fret neck. The downside is the lack of a second belt clip, but this can be fixed by contacting a workshop.

• Epiphone PRO-1 Classic. The standard model of an acoustic guitar is produced in two sizes - classic and reduced, the cost of the equipment does not exceed 15,000 rubles. Due to the fact that the product is available in different sizes, it is suitable for both adults and children. The instrument is made from reliable mahogany wood, which provides a pleasant sound and long service life. The fretboard has 19 frets and the scale length is 650 mm. You definitely can't go wrong with the PRO-1 Classic.

• Cort AC250. An excellent budget guitar from a well-known American company, its cost does not exceed 20,000 rubles. Such an instrument is made of three types of natural wood: the main deck is of cedar, the bottom of the body is of mahogany, and the neck is of rosewood. The solid wood construction allows you to extract voluminous, interesting and iridescent melodies from the guitar.Many guitarists started out with the Cort AC250, and most of them considered the equipment to be the best candidate for the first gigs.

• Fender FA-125 Dreadnought W / BAG. Another equally well-known manufacturer that combines high-quality sound and a low price in a guitar - up to 30,000 rubles. The top is made of solid spruce, while the sides and back are made of lime wood. The instrument is made from natural materials and creates a pleasant, soulful sound, and the design is very comfortable for playing with a finger-style. Dreadnought has a long list of advantages, with the only drawback you will only encounter when changing strings - due to the lack of special slots, this will take a little longer than usual.

Choosing expensive equipment is no less difficult than budgetary ones, because experienced musicians have much more requirements and a better ear for music. Therefore, having visited a store, such people are very often lost in the assortment of goods. To narrow your choices, here's a list of the best premium guitars.

• Antonio Sanchez S-1005. Luxurious equipment from Spain, the cost of the product is about 40,000 rubles. The instrument is made from a whole solid wood: the fingerboard is made of rosewood, the lower part of the body is made of mahogany, the main part of the guitar with a rosette is made of American spruce. A distinctive feature of the production of the S-1005 is the fact that it is assembled by hand.

• Yamaha NTX700. Solid Japanese equipment with a pleasant classic sound, the cost of which does not exceed 50,000 rubles. Quality materials (solid spruce, nato and rosewood) and compact design make the NTX700 ideal for performances. The special design of the neck allows you to extract the maximum potential from the nylon strings. In addition, Yamaha has worked hard on the wood to improve its resonance properties, so that the instrument sounds vintage and moderately sharp.

• Gibson J-45. Undoubtedly, the most expensive model in our rating - its cost is at least 200,000 rubles. At the same time, this guitar is one of the best instruments of the Gibson brand. The neck, sides and back are made of mahogany wood, while the main surface with rosette is made of spruce. During the creation of the parts of the equipment, the factory used advanced wood processing technologies, due to which the six-string J-45 is capable of producing incredibly multifaceted, voluminous and loud notes. At the final stage of the manufacture of the equipment, the surface of the neck and the bridge are treated with a special oil - this enhances the vibrations of the acoustics and improves the sound quality of the chords. The guitar is impeccable, its only drawback is its impressive cost, the instrument is definitely not intended for beginners.

First of all, you need to think about why you are buying an instrument, assess your abilities, determine how much time you are willing to spend on learning and what style of music you are going to play. All these little details will greatly help you in choosing the right acoustics. Also check for yourself the maximum price that you are ready to pay for the desired equipment, because this criterion significantly narrows the range of assortment in the store.

Let's take a closer look at a few of the nuances that it would be wise to pay attention to before buying a guitar.

• Sound. Sound quality is the most important criterion for choosing a musical instrument, so feel free to ask the seller to tune your guitar and try to play it. When playing chords, the guitar should not emit unnecessary ringing or trembling clangs. It is much easier for a beginner to choose equipment with good sounding when there is a knowledgeable friend who understands music nearby.Ask a friend to listen to the instrument - the sound quality should be smooth and melodic.
• Comfort. Before you buy a guitar, try to hold it in your hands and strum a little, carefully analyze your feelings. Try pinching chords and pay attention to the quality of the strings - all the details should be comfortable for you.
• Tuners. The sound of the strings is directly related to the quality of the tension mechanism, so carefully try to pull or release the tuning pegs. After manipulations, they must remain in the same position, but if the peg continues to spin independently, it is considered broken.
• Appearance. Carefully examine the body and neck of the acoustics - if you find deformations, cracks or clues on the instrument, it is better not to opt for this model.
• Details. Pay attention to the quality of the attachment of the tuning pegs, bridge and sills - there should be no gaps or loose elements.