Best Acoustic Guitar Under 1500

Having a high quality acoustic guitar will help to ensure your success and that you will get the most out of your instrument. It’s easy to pick out a high quality guitar when you have unlimited funds to spend, but most people (including myself) don’t have a boatload of money under the mattress.

Luckily, there are plenty of extremely high quality acoustic guitars that can be found for under $1500! So, let’s take a look at the very best guitars that you can find for under $1500, lets also briefly review some common questions that you might have when you are in the market for an acoustic guitar and things that you should look out for.

Lastly, if you are looking for a guitar that still has some great features but is on the less expensive side click here.

Best Acoustic Guitar Under $1500 – Top 10 For 2022

1. Taylor 214ce Deluxe Grand Auditorium Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Quick Features

• Body Material: Rosewood
• Guitar Weight: 4.4 pounds
• Top Wood: Sitka Spruce
• Number of strings: 6

One of the best acoustic guitars of Taylor’s 200 Deluxe Series, this guitar is an ideal choice for under $1500. The 214ce DLX comes with a famous narrow waist grand auditorium body and a Venetian cutaway style. Featuring a solid Sitka spruce, the back and sides of the Taylor acoustic guitar have laminated rosewood. The neck features a classic easy-playing Taylor shape and has been crafted of Sapele with a satin finish.

This best acoustic guitar under $1500 comes with Taylor’s Expression System 2 electronics along with an advanced behind-the saddle pick-up. The system offers volume, treble, and bass rotary controls. Other notable hardware features are sealed nickel tuners by Taylor, a NuBone nut, a Micarta saddle, and an ebony bridge.

Why We Love the Taylor 214ce

When it comes to sound, you get a rich and warm but well-balanced tone. The spruce offers decent articulation, whereas the laminated wood offers an elegant touch of darkness. This guitar is also one of the most “affordable” Taylor guitars. It still sounds outstanding, but it is far less expensive than something like the Taylor 814ce.

Other notable features include forward-shifted bracing, Taylor Deluxe Hardshell case, and two color options, including vintage tinted sunburst and natural finish to choose from.

Don’t believe us? Check out the below video on the Taylor 214ce’s playability!

2. Martin D-15M Acoustic Guitar

Quick Features

• Body Material: Mahogany
• Guitar weight: 19 pounds
• Number of strings: 6
• Top Material: Solid Sitka Spruce

One of the best mid-range acoustic guitars available on the market, the D-15M is an ideal choice for both casual and professional players. Made from mahogany material, the body, including the top, back and sides is crafted from solid mahogany and has a soft satin finish. The top is book-matched, and the wood is excellent and has A-frame X bracing for additional strength. The mahogany neck joins the guitar at the 14th fret with a reliable moisture and tenon neck joint.

The neck comes with a solid East Indian rosewood fretboard, 20 frets, and decent dot inlays. With flawless craftsmanship, this D-15M is highly slick and ultra-comfortable to play. There are six open geared nickel tuners and a Delmar faux tortoiseshell Pickguard, along with a standard bone nut and saddle to help with projection and tuning stability. Its bridge is also manufactured from solid East Indian rosewood.

The warm sound of this best acoustic guitar under $1500 is due to the all-mahogany construction. The sound is overall rich and mellow with excellent projection, thanks to the dreadnought feature. But still it the tone is well-balanced and offers some subtle brightness in the treble. It has a lot to offer players, whether flat-picker, finger stylist, or strummers, every guitar will find it an ideal match for his style. Last but not least, the guitar comes with a decent Martin 345 hardshell case.

You can check out the sound of this guitar in the video below:

3. Yamaha 6 String Series A3M Cutaway Acoustic-Electric

Quick Features

• Body Material: Mahogany
• Guitar Weight: 6.8 pounds
• Number of strings: 6
• Top Material: Spruce

Released in 2017, this Yamaha electro-acoustic offers power, comfort, and versatile features for guitar lovers. Though the design is not extraordinary, it’s decent enough with dreadnought size featuring a 23.65 scale length. This body is crafted from all-solid wood including Sitka spruce top, solid mahogany back and sides, along with the Yamaha’s Resonance Enhancement treatment. The mahogany beck is ultra-comfortable and hand-rolled edges on the rosewood fretboard.

Featuring a cutaway body, the guitar has a matte finish and 19 frets. It has Yamaha’s own Studio Response Technology system (S.R.T.), which is an excellent system, blending a combination of both microphone and piezo pickup. The preamp is controlled using a master volume and 3-band E.Q. Besides electronics, the guitar has a durable set of sealed die-cast chrome tuners, a urea nut & saddle, an ebony bridge, and a decent set of Elixir coated strings for excellent playability.

Whether you love acoustic projection or plugged-in tone, the sound is overall amazing. The combination of solid mahogany and solid spruce lends itself to a well-balanced tone. In simple words, the tone is full, rich with great warmth. There is also a soft case included to keep your guitar safe and help in convenient portability.

4. Takamine EF341SC Pro Series Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Quick Features

• Material: Cedar and Maple
• Guitar Weight: 17 pounds
• Number of strings: 6
• Top Material: Solid Cedar

The Legacy Series by Takamine has truly stood the test of time, and this EF341SC is a perfect example of it. Featuring a dreadnought body shape, this best acoustic guitar under $1500 comes with a deep cutaway. The top of the guitar is made with solid cedar, whereas the back and sides are manufactured of laminated maple. The best thing about the appearance is the highly polished black finish combined with a white top, binding, and soundhole decoration.

The ultra-comfortable C-shaped mahogany neck joins the guitar at the 14th fret. The neck also has a nut width of 1.675 inches, a decent rosewood fretboard, and small diamond inlays. Being an electro-acoustic guitar, the guitar is equipped with CT-4B ll preamp system and exquisite Palathetic under-saddle pickup. This quality system features 3-band EQ (mid, bass, and treble), a built-in chromatic tuner, and a volume tuner. Other notable hardware includes chrome tuners, Rosewood Bridge, EXP1 light-gauge strings by D’Addario, bone saddle, and nut.

The sound, along with the amplification system, is ideal for stage performances. With the dreadnought body shape, the guitar offers ample natural projection and low end, whereas the solid cedar top provides a warm tone. Last but not least, this guitar comes with a solid case for protection and portability.

5. Breedlove Solo Concert CE Red Cedar – Ovangkol Acoustic-Electric Guitar – Best Acoustic Guitar for Small hands

Quick Features

• Material: Cedar and Ovangkol
• Guitar Weight: 14.27 pounds
• Number of strings: 6
• Top Material: Cedar

If you are looking to improve your performance, then this Breedlove acoustic guitar is made for you. The instrument comes with a prominent hole in the side of the laminated rosewood structure, but there is a second soundhole to help you hear what exactly the audience is hearing. However, this hole doesn’t affect the resonance. It comes with a petite concert body which makes it one of the best acoustic guitars for small hands. It also has a soft cutaway appearance to provide unhindered access to the 20 frets.

The mahogany neck is ultra-comfortable to hold and play with and it also has a smooth semi-gloss finish. The top of the guitar is manufactured with solid red cedar combined with an elegant honey-colored grain and glossy finish. Being an electro-acoustic guitar, Breedlove has added L.R. Baggs Undersaddle Piezo pickup along with the preamp having versatile 3-band EQ controls. There is also a notch and phase switch for better feedback control and an onboard tuner. Other notable hardware features include a pinless rosewood bridge, cool Breedlove headstock, and a soft padded gig bag.

This acoustic guitar offers a dark tone, thanks to the rosewood and solid cedar combination. Though the tone is warm and woody, it is also well balanced across the lows and highs. However, this concert-sized guitar is less powerful than a dreadnought. Additional handy accessories include a Suede strap, a Guitar stand, ChromaCast Pick Sampler, a 10-foot pro series instrument cable, Med-Light Gauge Guitar strings, and a microfiber polish cloth.

6. Washburn 6 String Acoustic-Electric Guitar – Best Lightweight acoustic guitar

Quick Features

• Body Material: Mahogany
• Guitar Weight: 4.54 pounds
• Number of strings: 6
• Top Material: Mahogany

When it comes to comfort, there is nothing like Washburn acoustic guitars, and WCG55CE is one of those popular models by the brand. This guitar is specially designed for comfort, whether sitting or standing. Washburn has added an excellent bevel onto the lower bout for an ultra-comfortable playing experience. Featuring a real rustic design, this beautiful guitar comes with a Grand Auditorium body size.

The top, back, and sides are manufactured with laminated koa. As for the comfortable mahogany neck, the manufacturer has added a slick satin finish along with the rosewood fretboard and 20 frets to offer a high-end appearance. When it comes to hardware, Washburn has used Fishman Presys+ 501T, which is one of the most versatile preamp systems used in acoustic guitars. The control panel of the top has a plethora of knobs to shape the sound according to your playing style. Also, there is a built-in tuner, mic blend, notch, and phase controls.

Besides supreme comfort, the sound of the guitar is a top-notch one. The high-quality craftsmanship and the all-koa manufacturing lead to a well-balanced tone. However, due to the absence of solid wood, the tone lacks a bit of complexity. This Grand auditorium bodied guitar offers an excellent all-rounder tone, such as from strumming to fingerstyle, from rock to folk.

7. Fender Paramount PM-1 Standard Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar

Quick Features

• Material: Mahogany
• Guitar Weight: 11 pounds
• Number of strings: 6
• Top Material: Mahogany

A premium acoustic guitar for passionate musicians, this high-end instrument offers stage-worth sound with easy playability. As compared to the previous model’s PM-1 and PM-2, this PM-3 by Fender comes with a small body Triple 0 size body including a scale length of 25.3 inches. The body is manufactured with solid wood. There is Solid Sitka spruce used on the top along with the solid mahogany back and sides. Featuring a high gloss finish that covers the mahogany neck, it joins the body at the 14th fret and has a comfortable C shape for long performances.

The small cutaway in the body offers to reach the highest of 20 frets. Overall the guitar is well made, featuring a PM preamp, which has vintage-style radio control knobs for additional sophistication. The preamp provides some versatility along with 2-band EQ and master volume. There is also a nifty built-in tuner and phase controls for player convenience. Fender has equipped this guitar with some quality hardware, including a compensated bone saddle and bone nut, Rosewood Bridge, Dura-Tone coated strings set by Fender, sturdy nickel tuners, and a high-quality hard case for protection.

The tone of the PM-3 is very well balanced with a slight warmth. The small size means it’s a lot quieter than a standard dreadnought. One of the best features of the Fender acoustic guitar is that it has more volume than a parlor guitar. To sum up, PM-3 comes with a lovely style, excellent tone, high-end hardware, and above all, an affordable price.

8. KLOS Black Carbon Fiber Full Size Acoustic Guitar – Best Travel acoustic guitar

Quick Features

• Body Material: Carbon Fiber
• Guitar Weight: 7.98 pounds
• Number of strings: 6
• Top Material: Carbon fiber

KLOS is one of the popular names in the music industry, however, they are making a big splash right now in the traditional acoustic guitar world. Rather than using wood for the guitar body, they use carbon fiber which is quite a unique experiment. This full-size acoustic guitar by KLOS is a combination of carbon fiber and a wooden neck. Featuring a dreadnought style body, this best acoustic guitar under $1500 comes with a carbon fiber composite which is 550x stronger than wood. The mahogany neck has two built-in carbon fiber stiffening rods for additional strength. This stiffening reduces the effect of humidity and temperature on the neck.

What Do We Like About The KLOS Carbon Fiber Acoustic Guitar?

This acoustic guitar is equipped with 18 frets located on the Brazilian cherry fingerboard along with a 24 ¾ inches scale length. One of the most unique features of the guitar is its detachable neck which makes storage and traveling ultra-convenient. The minimalist headstock is perfectly fitted with a chrome steel machine. There is a simple black wood bridge to keep the guitar in tune and add to the unique sound.

My biggest caution with this guitar is that due to it being out of carbon fiber the sound is different from what you would typically expect from a wooden body. This is not to say that the Klos guitar does not produce a great sound, only that the sound is different and you should definitely try it out before purchasing.

The good news about this carbon fiber material is that it is naturally resonant and offers a warm, mellow tone. If you are a regular traveler, then this best travel acoustic guitar is made for you. Other notable features include a neck sleeve, custom gig bag with rain cover, best quality cotton and leather guitar strap, KLOS branded screwdriver, a branded aluminum capo, and a hex wrench.

9. Epiphone Hummingbird PRO Acoustic/Electric Guitar

Quick Features

• Body Material: Mahogany
• Guitar Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Number of strings: 6
• Top Material: Solid Spruce

When it comes to quality acoustic guitars, Epiphone is one of the trustable brands on the market. The Hummingbird PRO is an upgraded, electro-acoustic model of the classic steel-string Gibson Hummingbird. Featuring a big dreadnought body of classic 1960 design, the guitar comes with square shoulders and a tortoiseshell Pickguard to improve the appearance of the guitar. It is manufactured with solid spruce at the top and laminated select mahogany on the back and sides. You can choose from the stylish all-black and Faded Cherry Burst finish.

The mahogany neck has a SlimTaper D-shaped profile combined with a rosewood fretboard and 20 frets. Epiphone Hummingbird’s hardware is quite impressive. Featuring a Shadow performer preamp and NanoFlex Undersaddle pickup, the guitar includes master volume, bass, and treble controls. There is also a useful mute button and a dynamics control slider. Other noteworthy hardware includes Rosewood Bridge, adjustable truss rod, compensated imitation bone saddle, and D’Addario light strings.

Thanks to the tonewood and preamp system, the guitar offers plenty of tones. The fine-quality solid spruce top helps to resonate very well and provides a big and bold sound. Overall, the tone is warm, rich, and well-balanced, whereas the Shadow-designed preamp perfectly amplifies the acoustic tone naturally.

10. Martin 000-15M Acoustic Guitar

Quick Features

• Rosewood Finger wood
• Mahogany Neck
• Mahogany back and sides
• Martin hard case

Featuring a bold and solid look, Martin 000-15M acoustic guitar is made of solid mahogany. Its top, neck, back, and sides are all made with mahogany. That’s why this one durable and stable acoustic guitar you will find on the market.

Offering luxurious, warm, and clear sound, the guitar has an East Indian rosewood fingerboard that adds to the playability and warmth. Honestly speaking, this is one of the beautiful guitars with a classic appearance. While holding, it’s like a decent guitar-shaped chocolate bar.

It also has an ebony bridge pin, East Indian rosewood bridge, faux tortoise pickguard, abalone fingerboard inlays, compensated bone saddle, bone nut, nickel open-geared tuners, and butterbean knobs. The acoustic guitar stays in tune for a long time, so no need to about the sound. With an expressive low end, this acoustic guitar produces a warm, balanced, and mellow sound.

What To Look For When Buying A Mid-Priced Acoustic Guitar

Finding a good quality acoustic guitar for under $1500 is not very difficult as there are lots of them! However, we want to help you avoid any lemons and hopefully get the best bang for your buck when purchasing an acoustic guitar.

Should I Look For a Specific Brand?

We have listed a lot of great guitars in this guide and you might have noticed that there are quite a few brands represented here. Martin, Epiphone, Klos, Yamaha and Taylor are all well-recognized brands in the guitar world and they are all capable of producing high-quality guitars. We say “capable” because every brand has its share of bad apples from time to time.

If you decide to choose an acoustic guitar outside of this list we strongly urge you to try it before you buy. In addition, be wary of knock-offs and counterfeit guitars. Avoid purchasing guitars from individuals claiming they are selling them new at a discount. Check out this article on recent counterfeit guitar seizures at Dulles Airport in Virginia.

If you have never heard of a particular brand and the price seems too good to be true, chances are it probably is.

Solid Wood Versus Laminate?

In the $1500 and below price range you can find some guitars made out of solid wood. Solid wood construction acoustic guitars generally produce a better acoustic tone with more resonance than a plywood-constructed guitar. You typically don’t find entirely plywood-constructed guitars until you really dive into the lower price range, but you will find lots of guitars that are a combination of solid wood and laminate.

In our opinion, solid wood versus a combination solid and laminate is not a deal-breaker for us at this price range. The Taylor 214ce is a laminate-solid combination guitar and it sounds outstanding. However, if you are looking for a tie breaker factor between two guitars, this consideration will serve you well.

What About Guitar Size?

Not every guitar is made for every guitar player. Acoustic guitars vary significantly in size and shape. This is to promote ease of playability for different body sizes and it also makes it easier for us guitar players to narrow down our options.

The dreadnought is by far the most common size, but other common guitar sizes include parlor, concert and jumbo. If you haven’t already, try out a few different sized guitars to find the right guitar size and shape for you.

Best Acoustic Guitar Under $1500 – Comparison Table

Conclusion

Finding the best mid-range acoustic guitar under $1500 can be challenging as there are so many different options out there. Hopefully, this article has helped you in separating the wheat from the chaff. It takes some time to find the best acoustic guitar for under $1500 as you need to find a guitar that works for you and your specifications. Remember to double-check the manufacturing quality, material and desired features for playing style and then choose the best acoustic guitar from those available options.