@Guitario I used to have an Aria acoustic when I was younger. It’s been a while and I was young so I don’t know if I was just ignorant but I remember it having a great sound and really comfortable to play. It’s been probably 25 years since I had it. Have you ever played that brand before?
I recently bought a Martin after playing on Tanglewood and Yamaha for years, The Martin is a whole different animal, it has a beautiful tone quality and feels great to play.
I picked up an OM-28 back in 2015 from Guitar Center. What I did (which I highly recommend if they still do it) is purchase a new guitar (order if necessary) during their black Friday sale. They offered a 15% discount on anything, and I took advantage of it to order a new Martin. I save over 400 bucks that way (about 2800 vs 2400).
I bought a 000-28 about 6 months ago and couldn't be happier! Never thought I would spend that much on a guitar but it will probably be the last one I buy. I have a Yamaha which I still like and play often but I thought it was time to step up! Very happy with my choice!
I bought my first Martin in 1971 and still own it and have added to the collection since then. For me their warmth, pronounced bass and playability make them a joy every time I pick them up. Taylor’s are just a bit behind but still wonderful to play. Your guitar life is a journey, enjoy them all.
I have a Takamine pro series made in Japan that I regularly gig with for about a year now. It was 1500.00 US dollars. I’ve owned and played everything from Rouge to Martin and in between. My Takamine plays and sounds better than all of them. Of course that’s subjective, but that’s been my personal experience.
I once bought a Takamine because I thought it was beautiful. I thought I would learn to play... I never learned. I sold it 10 years later for full price. Resale tells you plenty about any instrument.
There is a big difference between the G series guitars and the guitars made in Japan. Night and day. the Japanese Takamine guitars IHO are right up there with Martin and Taylor. With the best ones costing over 5K. Takamine wrote the book on acoustic guitar pickup systems and they still are ahead of the pack.
I have a 12 string takamine that is about 30 years old from Japan and it is the best I have ever played. Everyone who plays it loves and wants it. Japan taks are tier A in my opinion.
Yeah Im lucky to have two of their high end Gold series - blown away by response from a couple of different luthiers about quality and tone especially for the dollars -come setup well but truly come alive after a good setup. I love the sound and feel and that I don’t have to be too precious with them.
I am a Taylor fan. Owned a 310CE and traded it for 412E and sold it. Bought myself the Taylor Mini GS and it blew my mind. I played this guitar every day in the last 6 months of owning it than the 2 previous Taylors that I had when I owned it. It doesn't matter what brand or model or price of the guitar you get as long as it is comfortable and it has that connection to you.
Hear that, picked up a mini 6 mo back and its all good, great bang for the buck. Though that action on the fretboard, i just gota laugh/ha ha! Multiple forums ive seen people complain about it, though easily fixable hitting up the truss rod. That being said; I occasionally mess around with a slide and some blues, which actually goes great with high action /so haven't done any adjusting for the time being. The couch guitar is a thing.. a strange and cool phenomenon, anything that gets you practicing more is a win. -Cheers
The BEST acoustic guitar brand is the guitar that you can afford and the guitar that INSPIRES you to pick it up and play every day. There is no BEST guitar brand. Just my opinion, of course.
I'm with you there Tyler. I have had some good Martins, but I'm currently play a Taylor 522 Hog, love this guitar, and haven't found a Martin that sounds as good to me. It's a matter of choice, I don't think you can pick a "best" brand.
I totally agree! When I first started playing a couple of years ago I started with a cheap £60 guitar from Argos. The strings were so hard to push down and would buzz even if your finger placement was perfect. It ended up gathering dust for a few months until recently. I just couldn't play anything on it and had become unmotivated. A couple of weeks back i decided to pop down to my local guitar shop and start learning again from scratch and I've brought a new guitar for about £200. It is a Vintage solid top and I love it!! It has a really nice sound and the action is much lower so pressing the strings is so much easier. I've practised every day since buying it and will hopefully be able to play something soon like a full song 😂
Buying a Martin after almost quitting was the spark I needed to fully learn guitar. Didn’t realize how good I had gotten until I actually played on a decent guitar - you’d be surprised by the difference. They are incredible in terms of playability
@@dbpool I guess every brand no matter how good can have a dodgy one. It's not indicative of the entire brand. Asz for electric guitars I recognise that Gibson are a good guitar but I'm not a true fan. I had a LP but it was heavy and it had some quality issues. Played fine but absolutely not worth the money they charge. I am a big fan of Fender electric even though they at times also have quality issues. For me they sound better, feel better, look better. It's all personal taste isn't it?
@@dbpool That is normal. Wood is a living thing and moves with the weather and temperature changes. Even with the best instrument tuning can vary, even during a playing session. I check my tuning between every song when I am on stage, always tune up before playing and just expect to do that. It is automatic. The first step to learning to play a guitar is to learn how to tune it. I am old enough to have used a tuning fork as the only accurate option. Clip on electronic tuners are cheap and awesome today. It does not matter if I pick up a cheap electric or my D35, first thing I do is tune it. It is the most import part of your playing. Tune early, tune often, sound great, be happy player!
I think you’re off on Guilds, especially on the higher end Guilds. I have a F47ce that just is such a pleasure to play, very responsive and warm sounding
For me the Taylor necks and fretboards are just perfect. They just feel right. I think how the guitar fits your particular body makes a big difference.
Agreed. I have had a Taylor 315 for 18 years, it is my partner. I chose a Breedlove 12 for when I want 12, it's good enough... if not great. I will stand by classic Gibsons though, I have a family hand me down S-25 that just has the most amazing tone, doesn't get the playtime my Taylor does, but it's still a great guitar. Sad that Gibson is no longer as good as they once were.
@@sabermoon5393 Gibson's quality control is a lot better now. In 2022, I bought a new Les Paul Standard, and in 2023 I got a new J-45 Standard. Both these guitars absolutely dominate my old '90s era Gibsons. I also have a Taylor 414ce that I love, but this J-45 is in an entirely different universe. I was shocked that this or any guitar could be that much better than the Taylor.
@@f3uibeghardt522 Good to hear Gibson is getting that under control. My S-25 is a real jewel and I have played many Gibsons that were the best of the best, but in the 2000's though that seemed to change. The S-25 (Folksinger) is a vintage 64.
@@leefranklin3054 Oh yeah, definitely. Gibson was awful during all those years. Every one I picked up and played was just utterly terrible, and I pretty much completely wrote Gibson off and saw them as an irreparable lost cause. But even I can't believe how fantastic my new ones are. And it's not just the tone or fit and finish/QC that are superior, the playability is unbelievably good. I can't believe I'm actually hearing myself say these words right now. I would've been thrilled if they were simply able to return to the quality of my '90s 'good wood era' Gibsons, but these new ones are actually even better - and better by many orders of magnitude.
Seagull guitars are the best value period, change my mind. It plays like a thousand bucks and you only pay around five hundred for it, every guitar they've ever made has a solid wood top and solid maple neck, and you can get solid wood body ones for under $1000. Action is set up very well and the tone is warm and full. Long live Seagull
I agree! Seagull S6 original are great guitar for the money. Sound is bright and built quality is fantastic.Godin makes excellent instrument for the money.I play on the S6 most of the time.
Bought my Seagull S6 when I graduated from high school and still absolutely love it to this day (15 years later). I’ve got some nicks and dings in the finish from not properly placing it on guitar stand through the years, but that thing sounds better than I say I bought it. Would never get rid of it. Just bought a Taylor 114e as my intro into the Taylor world. A lot people say the Seagull S6 is better, so I will soon find out. Either way, I’m sure I’ll love both for their separate personalities.
Bought a Martin 12-string for just over $800 then brought it back and exchanged it for a Seagull Coastline 12-string and saved $200. Maybe just a tad brighter than the Martin but still warm and room-filling sound. The build materials and quality of construction has no match at this price.
Absolutely agree! I have several Martins, all nicer ones (i.e., solid wood bodies). The only other guitar in my collection that comes close to them is a lower-end Seagull (Entourage Rustic). Even with a laminate body, it's nearly as enjoyable and satisfying to play as my Martins that all cost considerably more - several times more in some cases.
That video was sensational. I wish more people with a broad range of experience would do this "tier" sort of breakdown, whether that be Power Tools, Lathes, Scuba Diving gear or anything. It is very handy for when you're just trying to get a feel for a particular market before buying and it helps reduce the overall amount of research you need to do when getting in. Cheers
I agree. Would make an informative, overall valuable list for beginners to continuous, advanced, professional enthusiasts. There would be a lot of branches on the acoustic tree. Classical, Spanish, Folk, Western, Rock, Rock, Blues, Jazz...etc.
I have an S6 for over 13 years now, and I've written so many songs on it I can't remember. I take it with me everywhere I go and it's got a beautiful woody sound to it now after a decade of being loved. I have all the other guitar models and makes, but I always take my Seagull with me everywhere I go.
As for me, _Furch guitars_ would be very high on this list, fully comparable to Martin and Taylor concerning quality, and with excellent quality-to-price ratio.
Larrivee is a much better guitar than where you put it....consistently far better....A for sure....I own a Larrivee L04....incredible guitar....superior to any of the new Martins or Taylors I tried out (I also own two vintage Martins....a 1941 D-18 and a 1955 D-28....prefer using Larrivee for everyday playing to Martins)....the Larrivee is my go to acoustic guitar
Larivee and Gibson are A tier guitars. I've got a Martin 00018 and a Taylor 810 and they're both amazing guitars but Ive played Larivees and Gibsons that are definitely in the same league. Martins are woody and lush, Taylors are very hifi and chimey, Larivees and Gibsons are kinda somewhere in between with their own unique voices.
Both of my acoustics would be in the "F" category. But both of my acoustics ,6 and 12 string, are electric and have been on stage. What I do to keep a better sound is tune them down capo. The 12 is a whole step and the 6 is a half step down. My secret is a BBE Sonic mini stomp and wireless. Less volume knob on the guitar keeps a better acoustic sound ;cleaner clearer. More like a miked acoustic guitar sound. Also I use a small mixer as my guitar pedal; wireless going into mini stomp going into mixer going into P A channel. This way I can use mixer effects to whatever point sound go out in audience land. With wireless I can check my sound before each performance. And that's just for A / E guitars. My electric setup is totally different.
@@MrSmackdab okay, i m actually searching for a new accoustic guitare but i m still a beginner and i don t know which one choose so if you can help me😉
I have an awesome Breedlove. Wasn't looking for one. Saw it hanging in the store, took it down 'cause it looked good, met my other more critical criteria...sounded good, intonation was good, played easily.
Did A LOT of research and ended up buying a Breedlove concert cutaway. Had to string it with .10 Ernie Balls (to save my finger tips) but it is great! glad you ranked it. You should check out Giannini.
Started playing a Martin last year after playing an old Guild D-50 for four decades. As much as I love my old Guild, I must say that the Martin is now my favorite guitar.
Same. Went from a Guild D-30 that I played for many years, sold it and bought a Martin HD-35. Spent all day in the store (which, incidentally, was in Nazareth, PA, about 2-3 miles from the factory) playing about 10-12 different Martins. Each had their own appeal...it was a difficult choice.
The best acoustic I ever played was a $600 range Alvarez jumbo acoustic - spalted maple. I compared it to every taylor and Martin I could get my hands on, and the Alvarez sound is just amazing.
Yep, I'm a pro bass player and just play acoustic guitar for shits and giggles around the house. Got two Alverez's that sound great and didn't bust my wallet.
I bought a 12 string about 45 years ago for $125 at a pawn shop. Had it for about a year and it got stolen. Now, I play my late fathers 1920 Sovereign.
I've got to stick up for Larrivee guitars. I have a D-05 and my brother-in-law has the LV-05. These are both superb hand built guitars of very high quality and compare very favourably to high end Martin guitars. I think they should have made the A section particularly as the woods they are made from are sourced by a world renowned expert in tone woods. Jean Larrivee.
I've always stuck with Guild.I've owned one Seagull,and will be purchasing a Seagull 12 string as soon as they become available.Extremely impressed with Seagulls build quality, sound, and value for money.
Bought a Washburn D10SCE from a factory outlet on ebay, 15 or so years ago, for £160. What a great guitar it has been for me, and still going strong. Might need to get the tuners replaced in the next few years, but apart from that, everything is spot on, and it sounds lovely.
I would move Larrivee and Gibson up to "A". In the "S" class, you mentioned Santa Cruz and Olson. There is also Huss and Dalton, Bourgeois, and a few overseas brands...Furch, Henkes and Blazer, and B&G.
Larrivee is a great build. The build is great but they are really tight guitars. Ive owned two of them and initially loved their tone (L-09 and D-60). The problem I had with them is that they never really opened up and sounded too tight which affected the overall sustain. Build quality - I'd put them over standard Martins any day and right up there with Collings and most other boutique makers. I could be wrong but I read somewhere that they use a poly finish instead of a nitro finish. If true, thats their problem. I would also put Martins Custom Shop in the S class as well.
Putting in a shout out for Epiphone. I am a beginner/intermediate guitarist picking it back up again after it sitting around for years when I bought it back in college and have an Epiphone DR-100. I see everyone complain about what goes wrong with cheap guitars (bad tone, buzzing, not staying in tune, etc) and have not really felt held back by this guitar yet so for the price I'd recommend it to anyone for getting starting under $200 a la your comments about Yamaha (who I've also heard is fantastic for the price point). Your analysis seems fair and perhaps YMMV with quality and consistency but none the less I will always remember and love this old Epiphone on my guitar journey. Although I am not feeling held back of course my eyes are looking towards moving up soon. Have had Martin, Breedlove, Taylor and Yamaha all on my radar so glad to see I am on track to get something solid there. Good video man
The two brands I disagree with you about are Guild and Gibson. I've played several Guilds (F-40, F-55, D-55). Absolutely superior instruments. Also, I own a Gibson Hummingbird that I would put in the 'S' slot, and I've played SJ-200s that were SUPERIOR in every way. You are correct about Epiphone. I own a Masterbuild that is amazing. The rest of the line, not so much. Taylors are my bugaboo. I've played several and I've haven't found one that I like, even the high-end stuff. They have a sound that I find lacking in a way I can't describe.
Good list. I agree with your opinion of Yamaha. I have a D25 Guild that I bought new in 1977. I own a Martin D28 and a Gibson J50 but I keep going back to the Guild. I love it.
I have a 35 year old Takamine which started as a japanese Martin copy, and it is an amazing guitar. It was fairly expensive at the time. I also have a Taylor Classical great guitar, sounds and plays awesome. One tip I would give to people looking for guitars, especially if you are budget constrained, is try a lot of mass produced guitars like Epiphone and low end Fender, because sometimes you get lucky. I was looking for a very inexpensive classical guitar years ago and I couldn't find one that I liked, then one day I walked into a shop and found an epiphone for $189.00 and it was amazing. It had a solid top, played beautifully, and played amazing. It just goes to show, that sometimes everybody who works on the guitar has a good day. What it lacked was it was very plain looking. Another tip (and I've done this for friends several times), if you are just starting out playing, take a friend who is an experienced player with you and can give you an actual evaluation. Also, if you are just starting, good luck in your quest, it can be an amazing journey.
I have one of the pre-lawsuit Takamines (actually, I gifted it to my oldest son). I had bought it used around 1991 for about $150 and it sounds great. I can understand why Martin sued them. It was clearly based on the Martin design and sounded darn good. Even though it wasn't expensive, I don't want that guitar to leave the family. When I gave it to my son I did so on the condition that I get first right of refusal if he ever decides to sell it. I bought a Takamine EN40C in the late 90s or early 2000s. Still have it. I think it was around $1200 new back then and I would put it up against anything in a comperable or even somewhat higher price range. I am about to buy a new Martin D35 Commemorative model. Excited to get it.
I bought a Takamine in 1984 for half price, some special model. Bought it for round about 5000$. Sounds good,. Must, for that price. It´s got a lot of bling
Very interesting and honest tier list. Too bad most responders didn't pay attention when you stated numerous times that this was based solely on your own personal experience with playing different guitars in their range. Though I didn't agree with the Guild placement, I only have experience with their upper tier models and not their lower tier, so I really wouldn't know the overall picture. Good job.
I have 6 acoustic and 1 electric guitars, since I don't go ANYWHERE without taking my guitar with me, I've decided to get myself an 3/4 scale travel guitar. Having a tough time between Martin, Taylor, Breedlove or something by Orangewood. The Orangewood sounds great but I think that when people see names of guitars on the headstock, if they know anything about guitars, the names immediately tell them you are serious about quality. Breedlove guitars are up the scale with quality and I've noticed that Breedlove actually sells guitars for less than a Martin or a Taylor. I still want to go into a guitar store to make my final decision. Love to all----Peace out !!
Martin for sure. I have a om 18e . Been playing a lowden o10 for years. The Martin has the best tone . I feel like I’ve missed Out . Martin Tone is something special
I totally agree! I bought mine (Yairi) in 1997 and when I was searching for one I tried lots to finaly choosed between a Gibson at 2500.00$ CAD and my dear Yairi at 1300.00$ CAD. The Yairi wins all the way not for the price but for the deep sound she provides. This instrument is still is my best guitar ever!
@@alexandrealphonse69He did not play a Guild. He is seen on the album cover Bryter... holding an M20, but this guitar did not belong to him. He played a Levin dread and later a Martin D-28.
I own a 1996 Guild Bluesbird electric (LP style) that was made in the Fender Custom Shop in Corona ,CA shortly after Fender acquired Guild. When I want to play some blues she sings. I have played a lot of Les Paul's from studios to R9 Custom Shop level. They never lit up my ears the way this Guild Bluesbird does and I just loose the awareness of the guitar as I play it. It becomes transparent to me. Never owned a Guild acoustic but my sister has 2 of them, a D30 and a maple jumbo 12 string both USA made. She also owned a Bluegrass Jubilee for a while, a really sweet axe. I have played Guilds there and elsewhere a good bit. I started with a Gibson J50 and now have several Martins and others. A Guild D50 or D55 would be a prime addition.
I found Guild guitars are not as well crafted as some others that ranked above Guilds like Taylors, Martins, and Gibsons. However, Guild guitars are way better crafted than most of other guitars in the C group. Sound wise, Guilds should be in the B group but with Guild guitar price going up in recent years I think Guild doesn’t deserve to be in the B group. I have 4 Guild guitars (f512 rosewood, f512 maple, f55 rosewood, d55). Needless to say I’m a Guild fan. I’m sad to say C group is where Guild should be given its craftsmanship and price tag nowadays.
I had a Yamaha FG 335 for over 40 years, it was great for what it was. I did a lot of work on it. Then I got a Collings this year, wow. Fabulous. I liked it so much better than all the Martins I tried and I honestly never thought I would get any guitar other than a Martin. I agree with so much of your review. Thanks
I have the same model. Bought it used from a friend 40 years ago. For an inexpensive guitar, it has great sound. The action is a bit high now and can be difficult to play, but I still like to sit down and revisit it like an old friend. I keep it and use it for my campfire guitar mostly. My experience with Yamahas is that they make a consistently good, affordable guitar across their entire line. I generally recommend that any new player on a limited budget check our Yamaha.
My first guitar was a 1950's double F hole, arch top Aria jazz 6-string guitar with a thin neck I bought in 1969 for $35.00. Then I fell in love with the sound of a 12-string guitar that my friend Billy had. I asked for 1st 'dibs' on his guitar. Like many eastern NJ hippies, he needed money to go to California and sold me his Seagull for $75.00. I started in 1974 on a Seagull 12-string. Great sound, sustain & feel. Bought a Gibson Epiphone 12. Was very heavy and had no sustain! Sold that and bought a Yamaha 12 that is lighter with low action and super sustain. I love Yamaha! I also gig with an Ovation "Standard" that can we played for hours w/o the usual 12-string finger pains. I hope to buy a 12-string Taylor bc the sound is one of a kind. Great video.
I can't speak for the newer models, but I own a 1976 Guild D35, and it is hands down the best guitar I've ever played. When I bought it new in 76 I played several Gibson's and Martin's and to me they didn't even come close. I wouldn't trade my Guild for any other guitar. I feel like they are the most underrated guitar on the market. I think part of the problem is that they have been owned by a number of different companies and that has hurt them. I'm hoping that Cordoba can bring them back where they belong.
I'm 68 and have been playing since 70, Guilds, were great and even cheaper than Martin's and Gibsons. Guilds were made in NY. But I went with a Martin D 28. Many is.the time I questioned, did I make the right decision.
I have a Guild D40 (solid spruce and mahogany ) from 1977. The tone is really good. After some action work and some better machine heads, it's a wonderful guitar.
If Guild was good enough for Stevie Ray Vaughn (Life by the Drop), it's good enough for me. That guitar sounds amazing. It is a 12 string though. I'd love to play a few Guilds but like everything else, it's hard to find much these days in stores.
I think I'd have to give Alvarez an A based on what they are actually selling right now. They are making great guitars in every line from the artist series up. I'm also wondering if you would bump Gibson up solidly into the A category based solely on what they are currently producing.
I totally agree! I bought mine (Alvarez Yairi) in 1997 and when I was searching for one I tried lots to finaly having to choose between a Gibson J-45 at 2500.00$ CAD and my dear Yairi DY-50N at 1300.00$ CAD. The Yairi wins all the way not only for the price but for the deep sound she provides. Since then, this instrument still is my best guitar !
I can’t find any flaws in these rankings. I’m in the market for a new guitar. This is helpful information. My current guitar is pretty decent, but it’s always been hard for me to play because it’s too big. I am a smaller guy playing a dreadnought. It sounds good but was a bad choice for me. I could see buying a higher end Yamaha.
I spent about $400 on my first acoustic guitar about 15 years ago and I still love the way it sounds (plugged or unplugged). It is a Yamaha, and they’ve made a fanboy out of me. Definitely a lot of value for the money.
If you're a guitar collector like me you have a regret story. One of my first guitars an acoustic Yamaha Guitar made in the 80's. I wish I could remember the model but it was medium size dreadnought style. I sold it and have regretted it since. It had a perfect sound the action was perfect it was easy to play. Then. I was fixated on name brands. I say if you ever find a guitar that sounds great. Never part with it. You'll end up like me 40 years later looking for that same sound. Don't get me wrong. I play Taylor's and Ovation's because I like the sound too. I just recall how smooth that Yamaha guitar was. Not all Yamaha's have the same effect. I've tried others and did not have the same admiration.
I'd have put Eastman acoustic guitars on here, perhaps in the B category of this particular list. I own a couple of high endMartins and a couple of high end Yamahas. They are great, but so is my Eastman E20D, and it is the least expensive of my collection, although, you wouldn't think so after hearing and playing it. Anyway, fun list. Always fun to do that exercise!
I bought an Orangewood Morgan Mahogony Live. I really liked the guitar. However, the low E string was buzzing and I learned that the Truss rod turns with no effect. It is stripped inside. A repair expense that would exceed the cost of the guitar.
Overall a pretty decent assessment but I think with a few brands it isn't helpful to average them out. For example, Takamine's lower end models would certainly be in the "C" category. But I own one that I got more than 15 years ago that cost over $1200 at the time. It is definately higher than a "C" category guitar. It is at least a "B" and maybe an "A-". Martin is another. On the lower end they make some composite models that probably belong in the "C" category but their upper end models and their Custom/Commemorative models would have to be in the "S" category, IMO.
Great post! I own a Simon and Patrick acoustic made by a Canadian company in Quebec called Godin. It has a big full sound and also sounds great plugged in.
I think he's underrating Guild a bit, and my two Taylors just don't equate with Martin's deep, warm sound, although they play easier along the fretboard. Go figure!
I think it's because Guilds are so overbuilt that they take years to reach their full potential. An old Guild is A tier all day long, IMHO. Also, I'm not a Taylor guy, actually have multiple Martins and greatly prefer them. That said, I think Taylor's insane consistency makes them an A-tier brand. I can play 2 Martins, same model, and have 1 that I like but the other that absolutely blows me away. I've played good Martins, and I've played unbelievable Martins, up and down their product range (never bad though, if it's made of wood). On the other hand, if I pick up any 2 Taylor 714s, I'm gonna say, "that sounds *just like* I expect a Taylor 714 to sound." So even though it's not the sound I prefer, it's a sound you can count on if it's your thing. And that, to me, is A-tier worthy.
@@roymeyer6837 Great reply. I've owned all three, and my Guild held its own. I've found Taylors to be the most playable along the fretboard, but if I play the k14ce, and then pick up my Martin D18 shortly thereafter, there's just no comparison in tone. Martin is deeper, warmer, richer, more even across the strings. I get the inconsistency, maybe because C.F.M. seems to be overproducing these days, going for a wider costumer base. I bought the Taylors because with age came some fingering difficulties, and I found them easier on my hands. By the way, I'm not wealthy at all, average really, but who can resist a new ax every once in awhile?
@@stashuk7450 yeah, I also think some of the Martin variance is because that's just the nature of building by hand with natural materials. I had 2 DMs, which aren't made anymore but were some of the best entry-level models Martin ever made. One was really good. The other was on par with any D-18 I've ever heard.
I have a Taylor and a Martin. Love them. You can include Collings, Furch and Lakewood guitars in that same level. Personally, my other favourite guitars that I have tried and are a notch higher are McPherson, Goodall, Charis and Kevin Ryan guitars. Ones I have not tried yet are the Froggy Bottom and Olson guitars. But the reviews are superb.
Even if Alvarez, Larivee, and Seagull rank below Martin, Taylor, and Breedlove in absolute quality, which is questionable, they are at or close to the top when value is taken into account.
Agree with Tony and others on the Larrivee. I have a Taylor 614ce and a Larrivee LV-03re, also a Larrivee parlour. I always go for the Larrivee LV over the Taylor for sound. The body sizes are similar, although the Larrivee is rosewood and the Taylor is maple but the little parlour is mahogany an it also has a killer sound for the size of it. All really fine instruments but Larrivee should definitely be a tier higher in my books. The rest of the list is pretty accurate. Well done
I bought a Guild in 1968 and I believe it sounds a lot like the Taylors I’ve tried. It has good solid bass without losing the clarity of the mid and high strings. I found out much later that it was the first year they made this model, and there were only 900 made that year. I have no idea if it is the aging effects or it’s just really well made. I think the sound is like a great California Chardonnay, rich and buttery.
Had an old Guild 12 string that was just right for me. I've enjoyed Martin , Taylor and Yairi as well, but that old Guild sounded like it had been a lifelong cigar smoker. Rough and warm.
I am surprised by how similar your experiences are to mine. The only difference is Guild. I recently played one that was, as you said, lifeless, but the vast majority of them have been very lively. I am 61, and most of the instruments I have played (including the one that I own) were made decades ago, and maybe the ones you played were newer and aren't made to the same standard.
It's pretty hard to beat a vintage guild. The new ones though are made by fender and only thing that's the same is the name guild. But the vintage guild.. They sound like a harp frm heaven. I wish I owned one. My buddy has one and won't part with it.
I have a ‘72 Guild F20 and I’ll never need another guitar. That doesn’t mean I won’t talk myself into buying 20 more... but I’ll always come back to her.
I bought a Collings D2H in 2004. Their company was only a few years old at the time, I had never heard of them. I made a trip to Blue Note Music in San Luis Obispo (out of business since then) to choose between two Santa Cruz guitars. The owner handed me the Collings and asked me to try it out and give feedback. I played one chord and never gave another thought to the Santa Cruz guitars. It’s an amazing instrument. I recently had LR Baggs Anthem pickups installed, and I can say it’s the guitar I had dreamed of owning. Save up your money. A lot of it. Find the guitar you know you can play the rest of your life and then pass to someone else.
I have a Taylor 910; it's quite finicky and sensitive to the weather. When everything lines up and you've broken in a new set of strings, it rings like a piano. I've tried Martins in the same line and Taylors are superior.
Recently bought a Larivee and I definitely would have this as an A class guitar, hands down better feel and richer tone than Seagull, Yamaha or Ovation. I tried all of them before I bought and kept coming back to the Larivee. Personally I think they are in a class by themselves, certainly on a par with many of the more expensive Martins I have played.
I'm with you 100%. Larrivees just have a distinct tone to my ear, and far nicer and more unique than anything else out there. I came here to see where he put them on the list. Should be top-tier, IMO.
I have a Fender, a Takamine, a Larrivee, and two Martin’s. My Fender plays amazing well, gets the job done and is my “campfire” guitar. The Takamine has a cedar top, no pick guard and a light weight solid body that makes it really loud and a bit woody. The custom D40R Larrivee is beautifully constructed, almost plays itself and has a very open balanced tone - excellent for recording. My D-28 Martin has traditional straight bracing with a 50s or 60s sounding voice that barks out a rich, punchy, classic Martin tone that turns heads; it’s my go-to guitar that puts a smile on everyone’s face. My 2018 Martin HD-12-28 plays as easily as a well setup six string and is a marvel with huge chorus like tone that sustains like a Steinway Grand Piano. I have yet to buy a new guitar. I look for well cared for used Martin’s that have open up with age.
Agree with this comment about Larivee. I currently owned one plus a Gibson and a Taylor. I am also very experienced with various Martins. I agree with all your ranking of those I have played except the Larivee although I only know about the one I own which is a mid-priced product. The think the Larivee should be in the "A" category. I was amazed I could afford a guitar that sounds so good.
In the US, Yamaha is known mostly for their more reasonably priced guitars BUT the company also plays in the upper reaches of the market as well. They makes some amazing, handmade in Japan guitars built by master luthiers. These instruments cost 2-4K USD and they compare quite well with anything in your A tier.
Yup, I bought a FGX5, great guitar. The Red Label series from Yamaha reminds me of the Masterbuilt series from Epiphone. For the money the quality is are very hard to beat.
@@johndavies5023 Same man I’ve had apparently better guitars but my FS5 is the favourite. Reliability never comes into these comparisons. The Yammy rocks and I trust it to perform exactly the same every time. Great guitars
I love my current Yamaha FS5. I think they win hands down as a company ..and that’s what is being compared here. The quality of there budget guitars has been the starting point for more great players than anyone else and the current Red labels are fantastic. High end I haven’t played but would imagine they must be incredible.
After putting Alvarez on the 'B' line, you'd mentioned that the Alvarez Yairi series ranks as an 'A' and I agree, being the proud owner of a Yairi Masterworks DYM-70CE. You should separate the Yairi Series into the A category, from the generalization of Yairi overall being a B-level acoustic. While there are tonal differences, I would pair my Alvarez DYM as equivalent to my Taylor 414ce-R ... definitely A-level instruments.
For other brands he as well gave a median ranking for the full range. If he used an $8,000 Martin, I would expect it to be rated higher than my lowly OM-28V, which only cost $2,500 but still is A-plus. Why should Alvarez receive preferential treatment?
I am a ' late beginner' at learning guitar and 'splurged' $255 on a used Yamaha acoustic and think it's a great guitar to play and learn with, to your point. Sounds great and I recommend it
I had a Yamaha as a child, and it was great quality. We upgraded to a larger Yamaha, as well, which again had gorgeous quality and sound. After 25 years of not playing, I recently decided to get back into guitar due to covid. I wanted to try another brand, just in principle....but then I found out about the Yamaha Transacoustics, and I couldn;t NOT get one, lol. My concert body FS-TA Yamaha Transacoustic is amazing, and cost about $600 American. It's gorgeous, quality build, and sounds great.
I think Eastman acoustic guitars belong on this list in one of the upper tiers. I have an E20 OOSS that plays and sounds marvelous. The build quality is in a league with Martin, Taylor and other high end guitars. A friend of mine has their archtop jazz guitar and it is also a fantastic instrument.
I personally think Eastmans are more consistent than Martins and Taylors, and the sound is phenomenal. The icing on the cake is that they cost 3 times less. It's a shame they weren't included on this list. They are my favorite brand because the value is incredible.
My Eastman OO was a third of what a similar Martin would have cost. Being primarily a bassist that was looking for a good quality acoustic guitar, it was a no-brainer. It was the owner of the guitar shop that steered me in that direction when she could have made more money had I decided to go with the Martin OO that I was considering. @@danielniesing5628
I understand everyone will have their own opinion but I've owned a few Larrivee guitars and i think they're every bit as good as Martin and Taylor and their build quality is really nice as well. Last time I checked they only use solid wood on all of their guitars from the cheapest to the most expensive. Right now I only have a Taylor 714 V class and love the sound of the new bracing.
I’ve played Yamaha, Martin, Larivee, own a Taylor and a Tacoma, but my favorite sound by far is definitely my Collings D1. It is on a completely different stratosphere than all those other brands
I’ve owned a Martin, Taylor and now a Seagull. The Martin was definitely the best. Although it was really well made, there was something about the Taylor that just didn’t do it for me. The Seagull shocks me at how great a guitar it is, especially for the price. It is 100% solid wood and is almost as good as the Martin.
I have a Seagull S6 and even though I spend more time on the Martin nowadays I have to agree that Seagull is an incredibly good value. The quality to price ratio is legendary.
I generally agree with all that you said with some exception. A good sounding Gibson, belongs in the tier above - it does depend on what sound you want. Martin has a thunderous voice and Gibson can have a nice tonal ring to it. I have a Taylor 710 which produces a synthesized sound of the two above. A Santa Cruz parlor guitar will fill the room with the volume of a dreadnought. Finally, the most sound for the $ comes from a Yamaha!
Someone I know plays his Martin at church for school assembly. I'm sitting at the back behind the kids, so can't see the guitar. We came back from summer break 2021 and as soon as he started playing I'm thinking, "That's not a Martin!" It sounded terrible compared to a Martin D28. Turns out he'd splashed out on a Taylor during the summer break, so I immediately asked him what he's done with the Martin - unfortunately he's keeping it for his kids (wise man!)
I think Ibanez and takamine should be higher. Also I’d put Santa Cruz and Bourgeois up there with Collings, Maybe Froggy Bottom (maybe one higher). I feel you with where you put Gibson. Some sound great and some like cardboard. Above the s tier, there’s gotta be a place for single luthier made guitars like: Somogyi, Gaiero, Kostal, Buendia, Sands, Matsuda, Kraut, Simon Fay, Kevin Ryan, etc…
Pretty good list overall and Collings is my favourite from the list, I personally would switch Takamine into the B tier though I think they are certainly above the other C tier options.
Yesss for the Yairi love. The guitar I've used longest in my life has been a K. Yairi YW-600, which I bought when I arrived in Japan and was basically the only acoustic I played for 13 years. Kazuo Yairi, their head luthier, died a few years back. I hope the quality stays good!
The old ones made in Westerly, Rhode Island are usually fantastic. Their 12-strings, like the F-512 were unbeatable. Wish I could find one. I have a 40 year old D-212 with no struts in the back (Guild curved bulge back) and the sound absolutely BOOMS out of that. There's practically nothing that compares for the bass notes that come out of it, and it's beautiful and easy to play!
I think you were little harsh on guild, they are the best at making 12 strings, the maple model Old f-412 or the new f-512 maple are like a one man orchestra. They have made many great 6 string guitars as well. Hopefully under Cordoba's ownership they will continue making great guitars for many years.
I own a 1970 Gibson Hummingbird, a Martin auditorium sized guitar, and a Zager ZAD80CE OM that I purchased a couple of months ago. I’d put the Zager up against my Martin and Gibson in all respects. They have an unconventional marketing program, but they make some beautiful guitars!
I set takamine side by side to my Suzuki brand guitar and my suzuki stand out way better than takamine handling wise, sound wise, action wise, takamine cost $300-600 bucks while my suzuki brand cost me $100 bucks
My "better" guitar is in the shop for the second time in two years with a broken bridge. So I've been playing my 45-year-old Artists Ltd, a solid wood Japanese-made guitar that I bought new for under $100. Sounds decent, not great, but is fun to play. To be fair, I did spend $150 getting that one repaired last year too.
For the models I’ve tried, I would add: Orangewood in C, Cort in B (some are A for me, but ok). Never tried Collings, but I love Maton guitars more than A tier, so would put them in S (or at least should be A).
Great review, I have been playing for 30 years now and started with a Martin and a Taylor. Both great sounding guitars with no dislikes about either brand, just a little expensive. About 18 years ago I switched to playing just Yamaha guitars, very great guitars for the money (lower priced than the other two). I do know that if you keep new strings on the Yamaha's they will sound very good, my favorite is the FG830 with the Mahogany back and sides.
Seagull deserves to be higher in my opinion. I own an Artist CW Qii and that guitar is super premium in both build quality, look, and sound. I've had it for 10 years and it has aged extremely well. The craftsmanship is on par with guitars more than twice its price. MSRP was around $1700 when I bought it back then (though I paid around $1400 new). Also, several of their guitars offer solid wood top, back, and sides at under $1,000. Plus they are handmade in Canada, even the cheap ones. That's impressive.
You should try the Godin Metropolis line from the Seagull's mother company. I was really amaze how I sounded" I own a Martin D28 and I almost regret buying it.
I have had a lot of Guitars in my life as I have been playing for almost 40 years. I just wanted to say that I Love Seagull guitars! I have owned multiple Martins, also Taylor Santa Cruz and Breedlove, Tone wise Seagull guitars are as good as any of them. Seagull guitars also age very well, if you play one that has had time for the wood to breath they become a beast of an instrument jut a total cannon. One thing that I can say for sure is I currently own a Maritime SWS series spruce top that I bought in 2009 and It is hands down the loudest guitar I have!
Doing sound for many live bands in church and non-church bands, the Takamines are the best sounding in a 5/5+ piece band setting. They just sit in the mix well, don't have to do too much to the EQ. Acoustic sets direct to PA - Cole Clark and Maton. Fingerpicking - Martins and Taylors. Honoury mentions - Cort and Yamaha. Choice of guitar depends on application but this is my experience in a live stage environment.
I have a cheap Mitchell I bought used. It’s amazing. I know a guy who owns a very expensive Taylor and he actually really likes it’s playability and it’s tone. It’s cracked and beat up but just sounds fantastic and plays pretty well with 11s on it. It’s a solid top. I’m pretty sure mine is a deviation from the norm but I guess I just Happened to get a good one.
Curious to see L'Arrive wasn't higher. Those always impress me when I see them. Also, my latest cheap acoustic which I *love* (at the price) is a $200 Fender CP-60S. It was in a shop alongside $400 Guilds that were garbage in comparison. I do hope to get back to Martins some day. My first acoustic was a terrible Yamaha. My second was a superlative Seagull S-6. That one was the guitar that made me understand acoustics could be fun.
The big 3 for me are Martin, Gibson, and Taylor. I owned a few Recording Kings but didn't like the tone. Played all the cheaper models on your list and hated them all for more than 1 reason. I've been consistent with Martin but I won't play anything cheaper than the 18 series. A Martin 18 is as low as Ill go with a Martin.
I know the guy who ran R&D at Martin for several years. He told me that the best guitars available are Collings. The guy who started the company was a machinest. He used metal working tolerance specs to wood working guitar construction.
I have a Taylor 410CE made in the late 90's. This guitar is absolutely amazing. It's my lifetime guitar and I've gone through a lot of guitars over the years. I will never replace it. I've played with other musicians who've owned Martins, Yamahas, Gibsons, Fenders (and the list goes on) and they all raise an eyebrow when I play this guitar. It cuts through like nothing else.
I bought a Ovation plastic back one for $35 bucks almost two decades ago. Just loved the sound for some reason. It was so beat up and handed around many camp fires and parties way before I purchased it, and it is still going strong. Just easy to pick up and jam on without too much worry of hurting it.
I bought a shallow depth Ovation back in the 70's carried it around in the trunk of my car until it cracked behind the bridge, sent it back to the factory and they replaced the top free of charge, played it until around the early 2000's and the top went south again so I got in touch with them and they said send it back and they would see what they could do with it, about 3 months later they notified me and said it was ready but I had to purchase a new hard shell case, so I asked what happened to my old case and they said my new guitar will not fit in my old case, they had built me a brand new mid depth ovation because the old one was discontinued, the only thing I got back from the old one was the neck and head, they sold me the case at cost around 80.00 bucks and I'm still playing it today, great customer service & they stand behind their lifetime warranty for material and workmanship.
I bought a plastic backed one at a house party a few years back. Absolute tank of a guitar. Bit of a dust collector but makes it down to the beach regularly for summer jams.
Hi It’s still crazy to say this but I’m 16, and a old woman gifted me my first guitar which I didn’t know what it was at first but it’s form the brand zaar and it cost about 1.4K, and it is truly amazing , it looks great but plays even greater and it’s an acoustic electric with a Bluetooth and everything
I just bought a Taylor a few weeks ago, and the whole time I was shopping, I was on the fence between a Taylor and a Breedlove. I'm happy to see I was thinking about both "A" tier guitars! Breedlove is a local company here in Oregon, so that really appealed to me, but the sound of the Taylors is just amazing!
Yamaha FD01S still amazed at how well built and the quality of the sound, sounds better than a lot of other Guitars in the $400/500 dollar range and it was only a under $200
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apparently you haven,t played a high end takamine,
Zager!!!
Luna wasn't there...
No Maton?!
@Guitario I used to have an Aria acoustic when I was younger. It’s been a while and I was young so I don’t know if I was just ignorant but I remember it having a great sound and really comfortable to play. It’s been probably 25 years since I had it. Have you ever played that brand before?
I recently bought a Martin after playing on Tanglewood and Yamaha for years, The Martin is a whole different animal, it has a beautiful tone quality and feels great to play.
I prefer the D-18 to the D28 for the warmer sound from mahogany, but that's a matter of taste.
A buddy of mine just purchased one and it sounds incredible and is super light.
I picked up an OM-28 back in 2015 from Guitar Center. What I did (which I highly recommend if they still do it) is purchase a new guitar (order if necessary) during their black Friday sale. They offered a 15% discount on anything, and I took advantage of it to order a new Martin. I save over 400 bucks that way (about 2800 vs 2400).
I bought a 000-28 about 6 months ago and couldn't be happier! Never thought I would spend that much on a guitar but it will probably be the last one I buy. I have a Yamaha which I still like and play often but I thought it was time to step up! Very happy with my choice!
I bought my first Martin in 1971 and still own it and have added to the collection since then. For me their warmth, pronounced bass and playability make them a joy every time I pick them up. Taylor’s are just a bit behind but still wonderful to play. Your guitar life is a journey, enjoy them all.
I have a Takamine pro series made in Japan that I regularly gig with for about a year now. It was 1500.00 US dollars. I’ve owned and played everything from Rouge to Martin and in between. My Takamine plays and sounds better than all of them. Of course that’s subjective, but that’s been my personal experience.
I once bought a Takamine because I thought it was beautiful. I thought I would learn to play... I never learned. I sold it 10 years later for full price. Resale tells you plenty about any instrument.
There is a big difference between the G series guitars and the guitars made in Japan. Night and day. the Japanese Takamine guitars IHO are right up there with Martin and Taylor. With the best ones costing over 5K. Takamine wrote the book on acoustic guitar pickup systems and they still are ahead of the pack.
I have a 12 string takamine that is about 30 years old from Japan and it is the best I have ever played. Everyone who plays it loves and wants it. Japan taks are tier A in my opinion.
Cort is a very underrated guitar company
He probably overlooked Cort which have many good affordable ones n the Earth 300ss is Wow!
Was the very first guitar I bought. Still love it, has a great sound for blues and it’s in my office at work and gets plenty of attention every day!!
Yeah Im lucky to have two of their high end Gold series - blown away by response from a couple of different luthiers about quality and tone especially for the dollars -come setup well but truly come alive after a good setup. I love the sound and feel and that I don’t have to be too precious with them.
I think Cort stand on par with the Yamahas?
I am a Taylor fan. Owned a 310CE and traded it for 412E and sold it. Bought myself the Taylor Mini GS and it blew my mind. I played this guitar every day in the last 6 months of owning it than the 2 previous Taylors that I had when I owned it. It doesn't matter what brand or model or price of the guitar you get as long as it is comfortable and it has that connection to you.
Hear that, picked up a mini 6 mo back and its all good, great bang for the buck. Though that action on the fretboard, i just gota laugh/ha ha! Multiple forums ive seen people complain about it, though easily fixable hitting up the truss rod. That being said; I occasionally mess around with a slide and some blues, which actually goes great with high action /so haven't done any adjusting for the time being. The couch guitar is a thing.. a strange and cool phenomenon, anything that gets you practicing more is a win. -Cheers
Yep I have the Taylor gs mini in koa and same experience blew my mind had to buy it
The BEST acoustic guitar brand is the guitar that you can afford and the guitar that INSPIRES you to pick it up and play every day. There is no BEST guitar brand. Just my opinion, of course.
I'm with you there Tyler. I have had some good Martins, but I'm currently play a Taylor 522 Hog, love this guitar, and haven't found a Martin that sounds as good to me. It's a matter of choice, I don't think you can pick a "best" brand.
Spot on. Period.
Great point, if your ear doesn't like it, don't buy it.
Well said
I totally agree! When I first started playing a couple of years ago I started with a cheap £60 guitar from Argos. The strings were so hard to push down and would buzz even if your finger placement was perfect. It ended up gathering dust for a few months until recently. I just couldn't play anything on it and had become unmotivated. A couple of weeks back i decided to pop down to my local guitar shop and start learning again from scratch and I've brought a new guitar for about £200. It is a Vintage solid top and I love it!! It has a really nice sound and the action is much lower so pressing the strings is so much easier. I've practised every day since buying it and will hopefully be able to play something soon like a full song 😂
Buying a Martin after almost quitting was the spark I needed to fully learn guitar. Didn’t realize how good I had gotten until I actually played on a decent guitar - you’d be surprised by the difference. They are incredible in terms of playability
Had a buddy buy a Martin - and depending upon the humidity it went in and out of tune constantly.
@@dbpool I guess every brand no matter how good can have a dodgy one. It's not indicative of the entire brand. Asz for electric guitars I recognise that Gibson are a good guitar but I'm not a true fan. I had a LP but it was heavy and it had some quality issues. Played fine but absolutely not worth the money they charge. I am a big fan of Fender electric even though they at times also have quality issues. For me they sound better, feel better, look better. It's all personal taste isn't it?
@@dbpool I have 3 Martins and never have had this issue. You probably live in a climate that favors one humidity extreme or something.
Probably loose or bad tuners.@@dbpool
@@dbpool That is normal. Wood is a living thing and moves with the weather and temperature changes. Even with the best instrument tuning can vary, even during a playing session. I check my tuning between every song when I am on stage, always tune up before playing and just expect to do that. It is automatic.
The first step to learning to play a guitar is to learn how to tune it. I am old enough to have used a tuning fork as the only accurate option. Clip on electronic tuners are cheap and awesome today. It does not matter if I pick up a cheap electric or my D35, first thing I do is tune it. It is the most import part of your playing. Tune early, tune often, sound great, be happy player!
Proud Yahama owner, good bang for my buck and helped get me jump started playing. ❤️
Same here.
same here...i have a very good ovatin as well as a greg bennet too...these are are well made and very nice..
Yahama? Anything like my Yamaha?
same here
For the money you can't beat yamaha.
I think you’re off on Guilds, especially on the higher end Guilds. I have a F47ce that just is such a pleasure to play, very responsive and warm sounding
My 40 yrs experience finds this list VERY accurate... find the sound you like, that you can afford and can’t wait to practice!!
List looks good. I'd include Santa Cruz near the top.
For me the Taylor necks and fretboards are just perfect. They just feel right. I think how the guitar fits your particular body makes a big difference.
Agreed. I have had a Taylor 315 for 18 years, it is my partner. I chose a Breedlove 12 for when I want 12, it's good enough... if not great. I will stand by classic Gibsons though, I have a family hand me down S-25 that just has the most amazing tone, doesn't get the playtime my Taylor does, but it's still a great guitar. Sad that Gibson is no longer as good as they once were.
@@sabermoon5393 Gibson's quality control is a lot better now. In 2022, I bought a new Les Paul Standard, and in 2023 I got a new J-45 Standard. Both these guitars absolutely dominate my old '90s era Gibsons. I also have a Taylor 414ce that I love, but this J-45 is in an entirely different universe. I was shocked that this or any guitar could be that much better than the Taylor.
@@f3uibeghardt522 Good to hear Gibson is getting that under control. My S-25 is a real jewel and I have played many Gibsons that were the best of the best, but in the 2000's though that seemed to change. The S-25 (Folksinger) is a vintage 64.
@@leefranklin3054 Oh yeah, definitely. Gibson was awful during all those years. Every one I picked up and played was just utterly terrible, and I pretty much completely wrote Gibson off and saw them as an irreparable lost cause. But even I can't believe how fantastic my new ones are. And it's not just the tone or fit and finish/QC that are superior, the playability is unbelievably good. I can't believe I'm actually hearing myself say these words right now. I would've been thrilled if they were simply able to return to the quality of my '90s 'good wood era' Gibsons, but these new ones are actually even better - and better by many orders of magnitude.
gc ukulele
Seagull guitars are the best value period, change my mind. It plays like a thousand bucks and you only pay around five hundred for it, every guitar they've ever made has a solid wood top and solid maple neck, and you can get solid wood body ones for under $1000. Action is set up very well and the tone is warm and full. Long live Seagull
I agree! Seagull S6 original are great guitar for the money. Sound is bright and built quality is fantastic.Godin makes excellent instrument for the money.I play on the S6 most of the time.
I agree if you cant afford a Martin or Lowden Seagull are a great alternative
Bought my Seagull S6 when I graduated from high school and still absolutely love it to this day (15 years later). I’ve got some nicks and dings in the finish from not properly placing it on guitar stand through the years, but that thing sounds better than I say I bought it. Would never get rid of it.
Just bought a Taylor 114e as my intro into the Taylor world. A lot people say the Seagull S6 is better, so I will soon find out. Either way, I’m sure I’ll love both for their separate personalities.
Bought a Martin 12-string for just over $800 then brought it back and exchanged it for a Seagull Coastline 12-string and saved $200. Maybe just a tad brighter than the Martin but still warm and room-filling sound. The build materials and quality of construction has no match at this price.
Absolutely agree! I have several Martins, all nicer ones (i.e., solid wood bodies). The only other guitar in my collection that comes close to them is a lower-end Seagull (Entourage Rustic). Even with a laminate body, it's nearly as enjoyable and satisfying to play as my Martins that all cost considerably more - several times more in some cases.
That video was sensational. I wish more people with a broad range of experience would do this "tier" sort of breakdown, whether that be Power Tools, Lathes, Scuba Diving gear or anything. It is very handy for when you're just trying to get a feel for a particular market before buying and it helps reduce the overall amount of research you need to do when getting in. Cheers
^^^^
I agree. Would make an informative, overall valuable list for beginners to continuous, advanced, professional enthusiasts. There would be a lot of branches on the acoustic tree. Classical, Spanish, Folk, Western, Rock, Rock, Blues, Jazz...etc.
Seagull guitars have such an inspiring sound to them. Makes me want to play it all day.
The cherry with the cedar top has the most unique sound of all that warm mellow sound that sings to your heart
Couldn't agree more. I have a Seagull Entourage...basically an S6 with a burst top. The quality you get for the price is extraordinary.
I have an S6 for over 13 years now, and I've written so many songs on it I can't remember. I take it with me everywhere I go and it's got a beautiful woody sound to it now after a decade of being loved. I have all the other guitar models and makes, but I always take my Seagull with me everywhere I go.
Agree, I have played just about every Seagull guitar models and they're excellent. I liked the Maritime SWS CW GT Q1T more than the D16rgt.
I think Seagulls sound great, but for the life of me, I can't get over the goofy headstock.
As for me, _Furch guitars_ would be very high on this list, fully comparable to Martin and Taylor concerning quality, and with excellent quality-to-price ratio.
Larrivee needs to be A for real. Such super quality parts and build quality. These really are some of the best guitars out there
Larrivee is a much better guitar than where you put it....consistently far better....A for sure....I own a Larrivee L04....incredible guitar....superior to any of the new Martins or Taylors I tried out (I also own two vintage Martins....a 1941 D-18 and a 1955 D-28....prefer using Larrivee for everyday playing to Martins)....the Larrivee is my go to acoustic guitar
That one surprised me the most too...
YES, YES, YES - the only guitar that sounds better to me is a Collings - but they are way outside my price range
Awesome guitars. When they were made in Vancouver. A little stiff in the beginning
Larivee and Gibson are A tier guitars. I've got a Martin 00018 and a Taylor 810 and they're both amazing guitars but Ive played Larivees and Gibsons that are definitely in the same league. Martins are woody and lush, Taylors are very hifi and chimey, Larivees and Gibsons are kinda somewhere in between with their own unique voices.
Both of my acoustics would be in the "F" category. But both of my acoustics ,6 and 12 string, are electric and have been on stage. What I do to keep a better sound is tune them down capo. The 12 is a whole step and the 6 is a half step down. My secret is a BBE Sonic mini stomp and wireless. Less volume knob on the guitar keeps a better acoustic sound ;cleaner clearer. More like a miked acoustic guitar sound. Also I use a small mixer as my guitar pedal; wireless going into mini stomp going into mixer going into P A channel. This way I can use mixer effects to whatever point sound go out in audience land. With wireless I can check my sound before each performance. And that's just for A / E guitars. My electric setup is totally different.
gibson has the distinction of being the worst and best guitar I've ever played
Wich guitar is the best and the worst?
@@marty9221 no specific models - I've just had varying degrees of success with Gibson -
@@MrSmackdab okay, i m actually searching for a new accoustic guitare but i m still a beginner and i don t know which one choose so if you can help me😉
@@marty9221 what's the budget?
@@louismachin9681 around 350$/€
I'm a breedlove acoustic owner, it is absolutely an amazing instrument, and the breedlove family is awesome and have great customer service!
I have an awesome Breedlove. Wasn't looking for one. Saw it hanging in the store, took it down 'cause it looked good, met my other more critical criteria...sounded good, intonation was good, played easily.
Did A LOT of research and ended up buying a Breedlove concert cutaway. Had to string it with .10 Ernie Balls (to save my finger tips) but it is great! glad you ranked it.
You should check out Giannini.
Started playing a Martin last year after playing an old Guild D-50 for four decades. As much as I love my old Guild, I must say that the Martin is now my favorite guitar.
Same. Went from a Guild D-30 that I played for many years, sold it and bought a Martin HD-35. Spent all day in the store (which, incidentally, was in Nazareth, PA, about 2-3 miles from the factory) playing about 10-12 different Martins. Each had their own appeal...it was a difficult choice.
The best acoustic I ever played was a $600 range Alvarez jumbo acoustic - spalted maple. I compared it to every taylor and Martin I could get my hands on, and the Alvarez sound is just amazing.
Yep, I'm a pro bass player and just play acoustic guitar for shits and giggles around the house. Got two Alverez's that sound great and didn't bust my wallet.
I bought a 12 string about 45 years ago for $125 at a pawn shop. Had it for about a year and it got stolen. Now, I play my late fathers 1920 Sovereign.
Alvarez are under rated tbf
My mom has a 12 fret Alvarez that’s pretty incredible.
I've got to stick up for Larrivee guitars. I have a D-05 and my brother-in-law has the LV-05. These are both superb hand built guitars of very high quality and compare very favourably to high end Martin guitars. I think they should have made the A section particularly as the woods they are made from are sourced by a world renowned expert in tone woods. Jean Larrivee.
Mine is over 40 years old, never played one I didn't like.
I played 'em all, one right after the other. Kept coming back to the Larivee. The Larivee sound tops 'em all.
I love my Larrivee! Never played one I didn’t like.
Been playing high end Washburn acoustic guitars on stage for 40 years. The sound quality has always been exemplary.
Rockdoc Palm Coast I have several on this list, Martin, Taylor, Breedlove, and a Washburn D56SW, it’s a great guitar
I've always stuck with Guild.I've owned one Seagull,and will be purchasing a Seagull 12 string as soon as they become available.Extremely impressed with Seagulls build quality, sound, and value for money.
I love my seagull 6 string. It has aged well and sounds better than other cheap guitars that I've owned.
My Seagull Mini Jumbo is perfect.
I’d put fender in B just because of how good their playability is, even for the cheapest ones. Best beginner guitars out there. Great list!
Bought a Washburn D10SCE from a factory outlet on ebay, 15 or so years ago, for £160. What a great guitar it has been for me, and still going strong.
Might need to get the tuners replaced in the next few years, but apart from that, everything is spot on, and it sounds lovely.
I’d be interested where you think Maton guitars sit if you’ve played them?
Really good…….I have a Tommy Emmanuel Maton………can’t fault it…….all the best
Maton are stunningly good Australian guitars. 🎶🎸🇦🇺
Based on his assessment of Larrivee and Guild, probably below Epiphone.
I would move Larrivee and Gibson up to "A". In the "S" class, you mentioned Santa Cruz and Olson. There is also Huss and Dalton, Bourgeois, and a few overseas brands...Furch, Henkes and Blazer, and B&G.
Larrivee is a great build. The build is great but they are really tight guitars. Ive owned two of them and initially loved their tone (L-09 and D-60). The problem I had with them is that they never really opened up and sounded too tight which affected the overall sustain. Build quality - I'd put them over standard Martins any day and right up there with Collings and most other boutique makers. I could be wrong but I read somewhere that they use a poly finish instead of a nitro finish. If true, thats their problem.
I would also put Martins Custom Shop in the S class as well.
There is also Andrew white guitars
Totally agree. Huss and dalton and bourgeois are amazing.
Putting in a shout out for Epiphone. I am a beginner/intermediate guitarist picking it back up again after it sitting around for years when I bought it back in college and have an Epiphone DR-100. I see everyone complain about what goes wrong with cheap guitars (bad tone, buzzing, not staying in tune, etc) and have not really felt held back by this guitar yet so for the price I'd recommend it to anyone for getting starting under $200 a la your comments about Yamaha (who I've also heard is fantastic for the price point). Your analysis seems fair and perhaps YMMV with quality and consistency but none the less I will always remember and love this old Epiphone on my guitar journey.
Although I am not feeling held back of course my eyes are looking towards moving up soon. Have had Martin, Breedlove, Taylor and Yamaha all on my radar so glad to see I am on track to get something solid there. Good video man
The two brands I disagree with you about are Guild and Gibson. I've played several Guilds (F-40, F-55, D-55). Absolutely superior instruments. Also, I own a Gibson Hummingbird that I would put in the 'S' slot, and I've played SJ-200s that were SUPERIOR in every way.
You are correct about Epiphone. I own a Masterbuild that is amazing. The rest of the line, not so much. Taylors are my bugaboo. I've played several and I've haven't found one that I like, even the high-end stuff. They have a sound that I find lacking in a way I can't describe.
I think the Seagull SWS (Solid wood series) should be in the A class. Beautiful sounding and looking guitar.
Good list. I agree with your opinion of Yamaha. I have a D25 Guild that I bought new in 1977. I own a Martin D28 and a Gibson J50 but I keep going back to the Guild. I love it.
I have a 35 year old Takamine which started as a japanese Martin copy, and it is an amazing guitar. It was fairly expensive at the time. I also have a Taylor Classical great guitar, sounds and plays awesome. One tip I would give to people looking for guitars, especially if you are budget constrained, is try a lot of mass produced guitars like Epiphone and low end Fender, because sometimes you get lucky. I was looking for a very inexpensive classical guitar years ago and I couldn't find one that I liked, then one day I walked into a shop and found an epiphone for $189.00 and it was amazing. It had a solid top, played beautifully, and played amazing. It just goes to show, that sometimes everybody who works on the guitar has a good day. What it lacked was it was very plain looking. Another tip (and I've done this for friends several times), if you are just starting out playing, take a friend who is an experienced player with you and can give you an actual evaluation. Also, if you are just starting, good luck in your quest, it can be an amazing journey.
I have one of the pre-lawsuit Takamines (actually, I gifted it to my oldest son). I had bought it used around 1991 for about $150 and it sounds great. I can understand why Martin sued them. It was clearly based on the Martin design and sounded darn good. Even though it wasn't expensive, I don't want that guitar to leave the family. When I gave it to my son I did so on the condition that I get first right of refusal if he ever decides to sell it. I bought a Takamine EN40C in the late 90s or early 2000s. Still have it. I think it was around $1200 new back then and I would put it up against anything in a comperable or even somewhat higher price range. I am about to buy a new Martin D35 Commemorative model. Excited to get it.
I bought a Takamine in 1984 for half price, some special model. Bought it for round about 5000$. Sounds good,. Must, for that price. It´s got a lot of bling
Very interesting and honest tier list. Too bad most responders didn't pay attention when you stated numerous times that this was based solely on your own personal experience with playing different guitars in their range. Though I didn't agree with the Guild placement, I only have experience with their upper tier models and not their lower tier, so I really wouldn't know the overall picture. Good job.
All RUclips reviewers are sponsored or hoping to be lol. He wouldn't have looked as insane if he did it by price range at least. Lol
Are you here to share your experience or just to brag about your fancy guitars by bashing other people opinions on their humble guitars?
Breedlove doesn’t get enough credit - I love my Breedlove - glad to hear someone else giving them attention
I have 6 acoustic and 1 electric guitars, since I don't go ANYWHERE without taking my guitar with me, I've decided to get myself an 3/4 scale travel guitar. Having a tough time between Martin, Taylor, Breedlove or something by Orangewood. The Orangewood sounds great but I think that when people see names of guitars on the headstock, if they know anything about guitars, the names immediately tell them you are serious about quality. Breedlove guitars are up the scale with quality and I've noticed that Breedlove actually sells guitars for less than a Martin or a Taylor. I still want to go into a guitar store to make my final decision. Love to all----Peace out !!
Martin for sure. I have a om 18e . Been playing a lowden o10 for years. The Martin has the best tone . I feel like I’ve missed Out . Martin Tone is something special
My first guitar when I was 14 years old was aK Yairi for like 500 Euro, back in 1982. I Still Love It And Will Never Sell It 🥰 Incredible quality
I totally agree! I bought mine (Yairi) in 1997 and when I was searching for one I tried lots to finaly choosed between a Gibson at 2500.00$ CAD and my dear Yairi at 1300.00$ CAD. The Yairi wins all the way not for the price but for the deep sound she provides. This instrument is still is my best guitar ever!
Those are lifetime keepers.
Personally I’m enamored by all of Guild’s guitars-top to bottom line. They’re just so good. But everyone has their own opinion that I respect fully!
Nick Drake played a Guild. That's it. S tier. 8--)
@@alexandrealphonse69He did not play a Guild. He is seen on the album cover Bryter... holding an M20, but this guitar did not belong to him. He played a Levin dread and later a Martin D-28.
@@andygump724 thanks
I own a 1996 Guild Bluesbird electric (LP style) that was made in the Fender Custom Shop in Corona ,CA shortly after Fender acquired Guild. When I want to play some blues she sings. I have played a lot of Les Paul's from studios to R9 Custom Shop level. They never lit up my ears the way this Guild Bluesbird does and I just loose the awareness of the guitar as I play it. It becomes transparent to me.
Never owned a Guild acoustic but my sister has 2 of them, a D30 and a maple jumbo 12 string both USA made. She also owned a Bluegrass Jubilee for a while, a really sweet axe. I have played Guilds there and elsewhere a good bit. I started with a Gibson J50 and now have several Martins and others. A Guild D50 or D55 would be a prime addition.
I found Guild guitars are not as well crafted as some others that ranked above Guilds like Taylors, Martins, and Gibsons. However, Guild guitars are way better crafted than most of other guitars in the C group. Sound wise, Guilds should be in the B group but with Guild guitar price going up in recent years I think Guild doesn’t deserve to be in the B group. I have 4 Guild guitars (f512 rosewood, f512 maple, f55 rosewood, d55). Needless to say I’m a Guild fan. I’m sad to say C group is where Guild should be given its craftsmanship and price tag nowadays.
I have a Larrivee OM-01. Got it for $400. Best guitar I’ve ever played. Love it more than any Taylor or Martin.
He was hard on Larrivee. How did you manage to get one for $400, though.
I had a Yamaha FG 335 for over 40 years, it was great for what it was. I did a lot of work on it. Then I got a Collings this year, wow. Fabulous. I liked it so much better than all the Martins I tried and I honestly never thought I would get any guitar other than a Martin. I agree with so much of your review. Thanks
I have the same model. Bought it used from a friend 40 years ago. For an inexpensive guitar, it has great sound. The action is a bit high now and can be difficult to play, but I still like to sit down and revisit it like an old friend. I keep it and use it for my campfire guitar mostly. My experience with Yamahas is that they make a consistently good, affordable guitar across their entire line. I generally recommend that any new player on a limited budget check our Yamaha.
My first guitar was a 1950's double F hole, arch top Aria jazz 6-string guitar with a thin neck I bought in 1969 for $35.00. Then I fell in love with the sound of a 12-string guitar that my friend Billy had. I asked for 1st 'dibs' on his guitar. Like many eastern NJ hippies, he needed money to go to California and sold me his Seagull for $75.00.
I started in 1974 on a Seagull 12-string. Great sound, sustain & feel. Bought a Gibson Epiphone 12. Was very heavy and had no sustain! Sold that and bought a Yamaha 12 that is lighter with low action and super sustain. I love Yamaha! I also gig with an Ovation "Standard" that can we played for hours w/o the usual 12-string finger pains.
I hope to buy a 12-string Taylor bc the sound is one of a kind. Great video.
I can't speak for the newer models, but I own a 1976 Guild D35, and it is hands down the best guitar I've ever played. When I bought it new in 76 I played several Gibson's and Martin's and to me they didn't even come close. I wouldn't trade my Guild for any other guitar. I feel like they are the most underrated guitar on the market. I think part of the problem is that they have been owned by a number of different companies and that has hurt them. I'm hoping that Cordoba can bring them back where they belong.
My main guitar is yours' twin. Same year too! It's a great, great instrument.
I'm 68 and have been playing since 70, Guilds, were great and even cheaper than Martin's and Gibsons. Guilds were made in NY. But I went with a Martin D 28. Many is.the time I questioned, did I make the right decision.
I have a Guild D40 (solid spruce and mahogany ) from 1977. The tone is really good. After some action work and some better machine heads, it's a wonderful guitar.
If Guild was good enough for Stevie Ray Vaughn (Life by the Drop), it's good enough for me. That guitar sounds amazing. It is a 12 string though. I'd love to play a few Guilds but like everything else, it's hard to find much these days in stores.
Like em' but won't buy one because I cant get past the gaudy head stock.
I think I'd have to give Alvarez an A based on what they are actually selling right now. They are making great guitars in every line from the artist series up. I'm also wondering if you would bump Gibson up solidly into the A category based solely on what they are currently producing.
I totally agree! I bought mine (Alvarez Yairi) in 1997 and when I was searching for one I tried lots to finaly having to choose between a Gibson J-45 at 2500.00$ CAD and my dear Yairi DY-50N at 1300.00$ CAD. The Yairi wins all the way not only for the price but for the deep sound she provides. Since then, this instrument still is my best guitar !
I own a Martin and it was my third guitar, it just feels so good with age I’ve had it for four years and it sounds better each year.
I can’t find any flaws in these rankings. I’m in the market for a new guitar. This is helpful information. My current guitar is pretty decent, but it’s always been hard for me to play because it’s too big. I am a smaller guy playing a dreadnought. It sounds good but was a bad choice for me. I could see buying a higher end Yamaha.
I spent about $400 on my first acoustic guitar about 15 years ago and I still love the way it sounds (plugged or unplugged). It is a Yamaha, and they’ve made a fanboy out of me. Definitely a lot of value for the money.
If you're a guitar collector like me you have a regret story. One of my first guitars an acoustic Yamaha Guitar made in the 80's. I wish I could remember the model but it was medium size dreadnought style. I sold it and have regretted it since. It had a perfect sound the action was perfect it was easy to play. Then. I was fixated on name brands. I say if you ever find a guitar that sounds great. Never part with it. You'll end up like me 40 years later looking for that same sound. Don't get me wrong. I play Taylor's and Ovation's because I like the sound too. I just recall how smooth that Yamaha guitar was. Not all Yamaha's have the same effect. I've tried others and did not have the same admiration.
I'd have put Eastman acoustic guitars on here, perhaps in the B category of this particular list. I own a couple of high endMartins and a couple of high end Yamahas. They are great, but so is my Eastman E20D, and it is the least expensive of my collection, although, you wouldn't think so after hearing and playing it. Anyway, fun list. Always fun to do that exercise!
I'd love to know where you would put an orangewood guitar on this list.
S tier for Surprisingly Similar to an A tier guitar.
C/D Looks good, sound eh.
I got rid of mine.
I bought an Orangewood Morgan Mahogony Live. I really liked the guitar. However, the low E string was buzzing and I learned that the Truss rod turns with no effect. It is stripped inside. A repair expense that would exceed the cost of the guitar.
Not very good. C/D
Overall a pretty decent assessment but I think with a few brands it isn't helpful to average them out. For example, Takamine's lower end models would certainly be in the "C" category. But I own one that I got more than 15 years ago that cost over $1200 at the time. It is definately higher than a "C" category guitar. It is at least a "B" and maybe an "A-". Martin is another. On the lower end they make some composite models that probably belong in the "C" category but their upper end models and their Custom/Commemorative models would have to be in the "S" category, IMO.
Great post!
I own a Simon and Patrick acoustic made by a Canadian company in Quebec called Godin. It has a big full sound and also sounds great plugged in.
Godin are amazing guitars! I would love to have a Godin, Bedell, or Maton. Or of course Martins, those are my favorite more well-known guitar company
I would include Bourgeois in the very top tier
I think he's underrating Guild a bit, and my two Taylors just don't equate with Martin's deep, warm sound, although they play easier along the fretboard. Go figure!
Guild should be in the A tier
Agreed. Guild is right up there alongside martin and Taylor. Perhaps this guy hasn't played enough of them.
I think it's because Guilds are so overbuilt that they take years to reach their full potential. An old Guild is A tier all day long, IMHO. Also, I'm not a Taylor guy, actually have multiple Martins and greatly prefer them. That said, I think Taylor's insane consistency makes them an A-tier brand. I can play 2 Martins, same model, and have 1 that I like but the other that absolutely blows me away. I've played good Martins, and I've played unbelievable Martins, up and down their product range (never bad though, if it's made of wood). On the other hand, if I pick up any 2 Taylor 714s, I'm gonna say, "that sounds *just like* I expect a Taylor 714 to sound." So even though it's not the sound I prefer, it's a sound you can count on if it's your thing. And that, to me, is A-tier worthy.
@@roymeyer6837 Great reply. I've owned all three, and my Guild held its own. I've found Taylors to be the most playable along the fretboard, but if I play the k14ce, and then pick up my Martin D18 shortly thereafter, there's just no comparison in tone. Martin is deeper, warmer, richer, more even across the strings. I get the inconsistency, maybe because C.F.M. seems to be overproducing these days, going for a wider costumer base. I bought the Taylors because with age came some fingering difficulties, and I found them easier on my hands. By the way, I'm not wealthy at all, average really, but who can resist a new ax every once in awhile?
@@stashuk7450 yeah, I also think some of the Martin variance is because that's just the nature of building by hand with natural materials. I had 2 DMs, which aren't made anymore but were some of the best entry-level models Martin ever made. One was really good. The other was on par with any D-18 I've ever heard.
I have a Taylor and a Martin. Love them. You can include Collings, Furch and Lakewood guitars in that same level. Personally, my other favourite guitars that I have tried and are a notch higher are McPherson, Goodall, Charis and Kevin Ryan guitars. Ones I have not tried yet are the Froggy Bottom and Olson guitars. But the reviews are superb.
Don't forget Boucher guitars as well!
If you like an Olson, try his protégée, Brian Applegate. He built me two acoustics (and two Teles as a personal favor) and they are AMAZING.
I only recently got a Breedlove, but I am loving it. Their solid bodies sound absolutely amazing imo. Best $500 I've spent.
Even if Alvarez, Larivee, and Seagull rank below Martin, Taylor, and Breedlove in absolute quality, which is questionable, they are at or close to the top when value is taken into account.
Agree with Tony and others on the Larrivee. I have a Taylor 614ce and a Larrivee LV-03re, also a Larrivee parlour. I always go for the Larrivee LV over the Taylor for sound. The body sizes are similar, although the Larrivee is rosewood and the Taylor is maple but the little parlour is mahogany an it also has a killer sound for the size of it. All really fine instruments but Larrivee should definitely be a tier higher in my books. The rest of the list is pretty accurate. Well done
I own a Taylor, but Larrivee beats it in bass tones. I find the Taylor extremely well balanced, but lacking “punch” in the first string.
I bought a Guild in 1968 and I believe it sounds a lot like the Taylors I’ve tried. It has good solid bass without losing the clarity of the mid and high strings. I found out much later that it was the first year they made this model, and there were only 900 made that year. I have no idea if it is the aging effects or it’s just really well made. I think the sound is like a great California Chardonnay, rich and buttery.
Quick lil flex hood for u gang gang. We the new crips
Had an old Guild 12 string that was just right for me. I've enjoyed Martin , Taylor and Yairi as well, but that old Guild sounded like it had been a lifelong cigar smoker. Rough and warm.
"lifelong cigar smoker" is one of the best ways I've ever heard a guitar tone described!
I am surprised by how similar your experiences are to mine. The only difference is Guild. I recently played one that was, as you said, lifeless, but the vast majority of them have been very lively. I am 61, and most of the instruments I have played (including the one that I own) were made decades ago, and maybe the ones you played were newer and aren't made to the same standard.
It's pretty hard to beat a vintage guild. The new ones though are made by fender and only thing that's the same is the name guild. But the vintage guild.. They sound like a harp frm heaven. I wish I owned one. My buddy has one and won't part with it.
@@tomterry2662 Agreed. A 1970s Guild is a wonderful, deep, ringing masterpiece. But the new ones are something else.
Ditto everything you said (we're even the same age). My Guild is a 1971 D35 that sounds rich as can be.
I have a ‘72 Guild F20 and I’ll never need another guitar.
That doesn’t mean I won’t talk myself into buying 20 more... but I’ll always come back to her.
Best acoustic I’ve ever played was a vintage Guild.
I bought a Collings D2H in 2004. Their company was only a few years old at the time, I had never heard of them. I made a trip to Blue Note Music in San Luis Obispo (out of business since then) to choose between two Santa Cruz guitars. The owner handed me the Collings and asked me to try it out and give feedback. I played one chord and never gave another thought to the Santa Cruz guitars. It’s an amazing instrument. I recently had LR Baggs Anthem pickups installed, and I can say it’s the guitar I had dreamed of owning. Save up your money. A lot of it. Find the guitar you know you can play the rest of your life and then pass to someone else.
That would be my Martin. Never played a Collings but now I’m compelled to go try one out.
I must try a Collings
A few years old ? Collings was founded in 73 I think. That would have made them over 30 years in production at the time.
Randy Force I would take my Collings 02h over my Martin any day of the week. It’s hands down the best made guitar I’ve played.
Santa Cruz guitars are awesome
I have a Taylor 910; it's quite finicky and sensitive to the weather. When everything lines up and you've broken in a new set of strings, it rings like a piano. I've tried Martins in the same line and Taylors are superior.
Taylors are superior if you like thin and brittle tone. 😂
Recently bought a Larivee and I definitely would have this as an A class guitar, hands down better feel and richer tone than Seagull, Yamaha or Ovation. I tried all of them before I bought and kept coming back to the Larivee. Personally I think they are in a class by themselves, certainly on a par with many of the more expensive Martins I have played.
I'm with you 100%. Larrivees just have a distinct tone to my ear, and far nicer and more unique than anything else out there. I came here to see where he put them on the list. Should be top-tier, IMO.
I agree, just purchased an L-03rw and It sounds better than many guitars that are far more expensive.
I have a Fender, a Takamine, a Larrivee, and two Martin’s. My Fender plays amazing well, gets the job done and is my “campfire” guitar. The Takamine has a cedar top, no pick guard and a light weight solid body that makes it really loud and a bit woody. The custom D40R Larrivee is beautifully constructed, almost plays itself and has a very open balanced tone - excellent for recording. My D-28 Martin has traditional straight bracing with a 50s or 60s sounding voice that barks out a rich, punchy, classic Martin tone that turns heads; it’s my go-to guitar that puts a smile on everyone’s face. My 2018 Martin HD-12-28 plays as easily as a well setup six string and is a marvel with huge chorus like tone that sustains like a Steinway Grand Piano. I have yet to buy a new guitar. I look for well cared for used Martin’s that have open up with age.
I agree... Very underrated guitar by some. Amazing quality and sound.
Agree with this comment about Larivee. I currently owned one plus a Gibson and a Taylor. I am also very experienced with various Martins. I agree with all your ranking of those I have played except the Larivee although I only know about the one I own which is a mid-priced product. The think the Larivee should be in the "A" category. I was amazed I could afford a guitar that sounds so good.
In the US, Yamaha is known mostly for their more reasonably priced guitars BUT the company also plays in the upper reaches of the market as well. They makes some amazing, handmade in Japan guitars built by master luthiers. These instruments cost 2-4K USD and they compare quite well with anything in your A tier.
Waited 8 months for my Yamaha FSX5 Red Label. Amazing guitar for the price and I'd put it up against my Martin any day.
Yup, I bought a FGX5, great guitar. The Red Label series from Yamaha reminds me of the Masterbuilt series from Epiphone. For the money the quality is are very hard to beat.
@@johndavies5023 Same man I’ve had apparently better guitars but my FS5 is the favourite. Reliability never comes into these comparisons. The Yammy rocks and I trust it to perform exactly the same every time. Great guitars
@@douglaswesson2458 yep they have a real loyal following for a reason. I love mine.
I love my current Yamaha FS5. I think they win hands down as a company ..and that’s what is being compared here. The quality of there budget guitars has been the starting point for more great players than anyone else and the current Red labels are fantastic. High end I haven’t played but would imagine they must be incredible.
After putting Alvarez on the 'B' line, you'd mentioned that the Alvarez Yairi series ranks as an 'A' and I agree, being the proud owner of a Yairi Masterworks DYM-70CE. You should separate the Yairi Series into the A category, from the generalization of Yairi overall being a B-level acoustic. While there are tonal differences, I would pair my Alvarez DYM as equivalent to my Taylor 414ce-R ... definitely A-level instruments.
For other brands he as well gave a median ranking for the full range.
If he used an $8,000 Martin, I would expect it to be rated higher than my lowly OM-28V, which only cost $2,500 but still is A-plus.
Why should Alvarez receive preferential treatment?
I am a ' late beginner' at learning guitar and 'splurged' $255 on a used Yamaha acoustic and think it's a great guitar to play and learn with, to your point. Sounds great and I recommend it
I had a Yamaha as a child, and it was great quality. We upgraded to a larger Yamaha, as well, which again had gorgeous quality and sound. After 25 years of not playing, I recently decided to get back into guitar due to covid. I wanted to try another brand, just in principle....but then I found out about the Yamaha Transacoustics, and I couldn;t NOT get one, lol. My concert body FS-TA Yamaha Transacoustic is amazing, and cost about $600 American. It's gorgeous, quality build, and sounds great.
I have the same model, great feeling guitar. My favorite guitar a own
I think Eastman acoustic guitars belong on this list in one of the upper tiers. I have an E20 OOSS that plays and sounds marvelous. The build quality is in a league with Martin, Taylor and other high end guitars. A friend of mine has their archtop jazz guitar and it is also a fantastic instrument.
I love my Eastman SS,can’t put it down and don’t want to!
Same!! I also have an Eastman, but a midrange PCH1-D Dreadnought, but it still sounds extremely good for the price.
I personally think Eastmans are more consistent than Martins and Taylors, and the sound is phenomenal. The icing on the cake is that they cost 3 times less. It's a shame they weren't included on this list. They are my favorite brand because the value is incredible.
Eastman's are good guitars. American made prices for Chinese made guitars though is a no go for me.
My Eastman OO was a third of what a similar Martin would have cost. Being primarily a bassist that was looking for a good quality acoustic guitar, it was a no-brainer. It was the owner of the guitar shop that steered me in that direction when she could have made more money had I decided to go with the Martin OO that I was considering. @@danielniesing5628
Just bought a Yamaha solid top and am pretty happy with it 😊.
Ovation fan here. I have a 94 Collector Series that sounds like a dream. Plugged in or unplugged. They’re not for everyone but they work for me.
I understand everyone will have their own opinion but I've owned a few Larrivee guitars and i think they're every bit as good as Martin and Taylor and their build quality is really nice as well. Last time I checked they only use solid wood on all of their guitars from the cheapest to the most expensive. Right now I only have a Taylor 714 V class and love the sound of the new bracing.
I’ve played Yamaha, Martin, Larivee, own a Taylor and a Tacoma, but my favorite sound by far is definitely my Collings D1. It is on a completely different stratosphere than all those other brands
A Toyota Tacoma?? 😂
Very fair assessment of these guitar brands . I've owned five of those brands you listed and thought you were almost spot on. Cheers.
I’ve owned a Martin, Taylor and now a Seagull. The Martin was definitely the best. Although it was really well made, there was something about the Taylor that just didn’t do it for me. The Seagull shocks me at how great a guitar it is, especially for the price. It is 100% solid wood and is almost as good as the Martin.
I chose a Taylor over a Martin 30 years ago and never regretted it at all. The Martin neck was far too thick for my fingerpicking style.
I have a Seagull S6 and even though I spend more time on the Martin nowadays I have to agree that Seagull is an incredibly good value. The quality to price ratio is legendary.
My Maton made from QLD Mable is a thing of beauty, I named her Eleanor, same as my birth year Mustang 🐎 😍
I generally agree with all that you said with some exception. A good sounding Gibson, belongs in the tier above - it does depend on what sound you want. Martin has a thunderous voice and Gibson can have a nice tonal ring to it. I have a Taylor 710 which produces a synthesized sound of the two above. A Santa Cruz parlor guitar will fill the room with the volume of a dreadnought. Finally, the most sound for the $ comes from a Yamaha!
Someone I know plays his Martin at church for school assembly. I'm sitting at the back behind the kids, so can't see the guitar. We came back from summer break 2021 and as soon as he started playing I'm thinking, "That's not a Martin!" It sounded terrible compared to a Martin D28. Turns out he'd splashed out on a Taylor during the summer break, so I immediately asked him what he's done with the Martin - unfortunately he's keeping it for his kids (wise man!)
I think Ibanez and takamine should be higher. Also I’d put Santa Cruz and Bourgeois up there with Collings, Maybe Froggy Bottom (maybe one higher). I feel you with where you put Gibson. Some sound great and some like cardboard.
Above the s tier, there’s gotta be a place for single luthier made guitars like: Somogyi, Gaiero, Kostal, Buendia, Sands, Matsuda, Kraut, Simon Fay, Kevin Ryan, etc…
Thanks for great video. I think you should add Furch quitar on the list 😉
Pretty good list overall and Collings is my favourite from the list, I personally would switch Takamine into the B tier though I think they are certainly above the other C tier options.
Collings are good guitars but way overpriced for what they are - the frets also wear too easily
Yesss for the Yairi love. The guitar I've used longest in my life has been a K. Yairi YW-600, which I bought when I arrived in Japan and was basically the only acoustic I played for 13 years.
Kazuo Yairi, their head luthier, died a few years back. I hope the quality stays good!
You rate Guild way too low, especially high-end. They are some of the best.
The old ones made in Westerly, Rhode Island are usually fantastic. Their 12-strings, like the F-512 were unbeatable. Wish I could find one. I have a 40 year old D-212 with no struts in the back (Guild curved bulge back) and the sound absolutely BOOMS out of that. There's practically nothing that compares for the bass notes that come out of it, and it's beautiful and easy to play!
I play a top end Guild and wouldn't change it! Bought it 20 years ago over $1200.
Agreed, dollar for dollar, Guild is the best guitar you can get. They are easily as good as guitars twice or three times the price.
My dad has a late 70’s D-35 guild and that thing sounds amazing
I think you were little harsh on guild, they are the best at making 12 strings, the maple model Old f-412 or the new f-512 maple are like a one man orchestra. They have made many great 6 string guitars as well. Hopefully under Cordoba's ownership they will continue making great guitars for many years.
I had a beautiful cutaway 12 string Yammaha, I think Martins are best ,at the moment I'm playing a Cort and it's lovely
I own a ZAD80 Zager , I wouldn’t traded it for nothing else. Great sound great action. I really like your list, good job.
I own a 1970 Gibson Hummingbird, a Martin auditorium sized guitar, and a Zager ZAD80CE OM that I purchased a couple of months ago. I’d put the Zager up against my Martin and Gibson in all respects. They have an unconventional marketing program, but they make some beautiful guitars!
Ovation - D. Yamaha - C. Takamine at least a B.
I set takamine side by side to my Suzuki brand guitar and my suzuki stand out way better than takamine handling wise, sound wise, action wise, takamine cost $300-600 bucks while my suzuki brand cost me $100 bucks
My "better" guitar is in the shop for the second time in two years with a broken bridge. So I've been playing my 45-year-old Artists Ltd, a solid wood Japanese-made guitar that I bought new for under $100. Sounds decent, not great, but is fun to play. To be fair, I did spend $150 getting that one repaired last year too.
Just picked up an Alvarez MD60BG and it has incredible sound, easy low action and the craftsmanship is great. I prefer its lows to the muddier Martin.
For the models I’ve tried, I would add: Orangewood in C, Cort in B (some are A for me, but ok). Never tried Collings, but I love Maton guitars more than A tier, so would put them in S (or at least should be A).
I just got an Orangewood sierra live. Love it so far! Their cheaper stuff I've heard can be problematic so C or B tier is probably accurate
Great review, I have been playing for 30 years now and started with a Martin and a Taylor. Both great sounding guitars with no dislikes about either brand, just a little expensive. About 18 years ago I switched to playing just Yamaha guitars, very great guitars for the money (lower priced than the other two). I do know that if you keep new strings on the Yamaha's they will sound very good, my favorite is the FG830 with the Mahogany back and sides.
Seagull deserves to be higher in my opinion. I own an Artist CW Qii and that guitar is super premium in both build quality, look, and sound. I've had it for 10 years and it has aged extremely well. The craftsmanship is on par with guitars more than twice its price. MSRP was around $1700 when I bought it back then (though I paid around $1400 new). Also, several of their guitars offer solid wood top, back, and sides at under $1,000. Plus they are handmade in Canada, even the cheap ones. That's impressive.
You should try the Godin Metropolis line from the Seagull's mother company. I was really amaze how I sounded" I own a Martin D28 and I almost regret buying it.
I have a Norman ST50, Solid flame maple body with solid spruce top. Amazing sound and playability. Beautiful as well.
I have had a lot of Guitars in my life as I have been playing for almost 40 years. I just wanted to say that I Love Seagull guitars! I have owned multiple Martins, also Taylor Santa Cruz and Breedlove, Tone wise Seagull guitars are as good as any of them. Seagull guitars also age very well, if you play one that has had time for the wood to breath they become a beast of an instrument jut a total cannon. One thing that I can say for sure is I currently own a Maritime SWS series spruce top that I bought in 2009 and It is hands down the loudest guitar I have!
Try their high-end acoustics the Godin Metropolis LTD Acoustic. It's easily as good as my Martin D-28
Doing sound for many live bands in church and non-church bands, the Takamines are the best sounding in a 5/5+ piece band setting. They just sit in the mix well, don't have to do too much to the EQ. Acoustic sets direct to PA - Cole Clark and Maton. Fingerpicking - Martins and Taylors. Honoury mentions - Cort and Yamaha. Choice of guitar depends on application but this is my experience in a live stage environment.
I have a cheap Mitchell I bought used. It’s amazing. I know a guy who owns a very expensive Taylor and he actually really likes it’s playability and it’s tone. It’s cracked and beat up but just sounds fantastic and plays pretty well with 11s on it. It’s a solid top. I’m pretty sure mine is a deviation from the norm but I guess I just Happened to get a good one.
I have a newer one .their cheap $200 one & it's my primary rehearsal guitar..held it's own to a $800 taylor
Curious to see L'Arrive wasn't higher. Those always impress me when I see them. Also, my latest cheap acoustic which I *love* (at the price) is a $200 Fender CP-60S. It was in a shop alongside $400 Guilds that were garbage in comparison. I do hope to get back to Martins some day.
My first acoustic was a terrible Yamaha. My second was a superlative Seagull S-6. That one was the guitar that made me understand acoustics could be fun.
I have a 70's Fender that has an awesome sound with great play ability. Maybe one in a million? Took it for lessons and the instructor was blown away.
I completely agree, every Larrivee I’ve played I’ve been absolutely blown away with and I personally love them more than Martins
The big 3 for me are Martin, Gibson, and Taylor. I owned a few Recording Kings but didn't like the tone. Played all the cheaper models on your list and hated them all for more than 1 reason. I've been consistent with Martin but I won't play anything cheaper than the 18 series. A Martin 18 is as low as Ill go with a Martin.
I know the guy who ran R&D at Martin for several years. He told me that the best guitars available are Collings. The guy who started the company was a machinest. He used metal working tolerance specs to wood working guitar construction.
I have a Taylor 410CE made in the late 90's. This guitar is absolutely amazing. It's my lifetime guitar and I've gone through a lot of guitars over the years. I will never replace it. I've played with other musicians who've owned Martins, Yamahas, Gibsons, Fenders (and the list goes on) and they all raise an eyebrow when I play this guitar. It cuts through like nothing else.
Older Guild guitars are exceptional instruments.
I bought a Ovation plastic back one for $35 bucks almost two decades ago. Just loved the sound for some reason. It was so beat up and handed around many camp fires and parties way before I purchased it, and it is still going strong. Just easy to pick up and jam on without too much worry of hurting it.
I bought a shallow depth Ovation back in the 70's carried it around in the trunk of my car until it cracked behind the bridge, sent it back to the factory and they replaced the top free of charge, played it until around the early 2000's and the top went south again so I got in touch with them and they said send it back and they would see what they could do with it, about 3 months later they notified me and said it was ready but I had to purchase a new hard shell case, so I asked what happened to my old case and they said my new guitar will not fit in my old case, they had built me a brand new mid depth ovation because the old one was discontinued, the only thing I got back from the old one was the neck and head, they sold me the case at cost around 80.00 bucks and I'm still playing it today, great customer service & they stand behind their lifetime warranty for material and workmanship.
I bought a plastic backed one at a house party a few years back. Absolute tank of a guitar. Bit of a dust collector but makes it down to the beach regularly for summer jams.
Hi It’s still crazy to say this but I’m 16, and a old woman gifted me my first guitar which I didn’t know what it was at first but it’s form the brand zaar and it cost about 1.4K, and it is truly amazing , it looks great but plays even greater and it’s an acoustic electric with a Bluetooth and everything
I just bought a Taylor a few weeks ago, and the whole time I was shopping, I was on the fence between a Taylor and a Breedlove. I'm happy to see I was thinking about both "A" tier guitars! Breedlove is a local company here in Oregon, so that really appealed to me, but the sound of the Taylors is just amazing!
Jason Brown Both have bolt on necks...that is a plus with me...very easy to re-set a neck
Good ole boys play martin, bad boys play gibson and choir boys play taylor!
Zager the best by far.. unreal play like an electric...
My Taylor sounds awesome and when I want to hear a Martin or Gibson, I retreat to the latrine!
@BALDY MCNUTT They are indeed, I owned 4 of them.
CHEVY!!
I have all three
Yamaha FD01S still amazed at how well built and the quality of the sound, sounds better than a lot of other Guitars in the $400/500 dollar range and it was only a under $200