Best Acoustic Guitar Under $3000


Spending $3000 means you are looking for a high-end acoustic guitar manufactured with quality material, offering superb tones and ultra-convenient playability. Whether you are performing on stage or attending a recording session with your band at the studio, a charming soul mate is your utmost necessity. Also, when you are spending that much amount, choosing the best guitar is very important. Finding guitars in nearby stores or online is easy but selecting the perfect match for your needs is a confusing task. There are many quality brands offering high-end acoustic guitars loaded with fancy features, which leads to analysis paralysis. You are simply overwhelmed with the available options. Well, we have solved the problem for you by reviewing acoustic guitars for you. Based on brand, construction, features, and user convenience, you can easily select the best acoustic guitar under $3000 for your playing style.

Best Acoustic Guitar Under $3000 Comparison Table

Product Image

Name

Body & Top Material

Guitar Weight

Check Availability

Martin D-18 Acoustic Guitar

Sitka-spruce, Mahogany & Spruce

22 pounds

Takamine H8SS Classical Nylon String Acoustic Guitar

Rosewood & Spruce

18 pounds

Martin D-28 Acoustic Guitar

Rosewood & Spruce

17.6 pounds

Taylor T5z Classic Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Sapele & Mahogany

12.45 pounds

Breedlove Oregon Series Concert CE Sitka-Myrtle wood Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Myrtle wood & Spruce

20.2 pounds

Takamine EF360S TT Thermal Top Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Rosewood & Alder

18 pounds

Blueridge BR-160 Acoustic Guitar

Spruce, East India Rosewood & Spruce

4 pounds

The Loar LH-700-VS Deluxe Acoustic Guitar

Solid Flamed Maple & Solid Hand-Carved Arched AAA Spruce

10 pounds

Best Acoustic Guitar Uuder $3000 – Top 8 Guitars for 2022

1. Martin D-18 Acoustic Guitar

Martin D-18 Acoustic GuitarQuick Features

  • Body Material: Sitka-spruce & Mahogany
  • Guitar Weight: 22 pounds
  • Top Material: Spruce
  • Number of strings: 6

With the legacy stretching back over 180 years, Martin is one of the most popular acoustic guitar manufacturers on the market. Also best known for their dreadnought models, Martin D-18 is among the very first guitars produced by Martin. The D-18 dreadnought acoustic guitar comes with a combination of mahogany and spruce. Solid Sitka spruce has been used to create the top, whereas the back and sides are manufactured with solid mahogany. Such tonewood combination offers more focused and responsive bass as compared to Martin D-28 and D-35 acoustic guitars. It has a one-piece hardwood neck which is craved in low profile shape. This flatter neck is comfortable to grip in different situations. In fact, this is one of the best acoustic guitars for smaller hands.

The fingerboard has been made of ebony featuring 20 frets in total. This best Martin guitar comes with a slightly wider nut. One of the prime features of D-18 is forward-shifted internal bracing. Such different positioning helps the soundboard to vibrate more and improve volume and projection. Its ebony bridge is a thick belly style reminiscent of classic models. The saddle and nuts are manufactured of genuine bone. When it comes to the body, it is finished with glossy nitrocellulose breathability, whereas the neck has a satin finish for excellent playability.

The tonewood combination plays a vital role in the sound of an acoustic guitar. The mahogany back and sides provide a more focused, responsive low end. Middle and treble frequencies are bright. The thin bracing under the top makes it an ideal axe for those who prefer lighter-gauge strings. They not only allow the soundboard to resonate but also provide the entire volume and projection that dreadnought guitars are famous for. No matter which style you prefer, Martin D-18 is a lifetime-level instrument.

Pros

  • Premium handmade guitar
  • Excellent sound
  • Enhanced playability
  • Best for professionals
  • Comfortable low profile neck

Cons

  • No extra wood support at the top to handle strings

2. Takamine H8SS Classical Nylon String Acoustic Guitar

Takamine H8SS Classical Nylon String Acoustic GuitarQuick Features

  • Body Material: Rosewood
  • Guitar Weight: 18 pounds
  • Top Material: Spruce
  • Number of strings: 6

The Hirade series H8SS by Takamine may not be the best choice for concert-level professionals, but the solid wood construction, premium build quality, and construction combined with winning sound make it a great pick for intermediate to advanced players. It is manufactured from the ideal tonewood combination, including spruce soundboard and rosewood back and sides. The neck is created with mahogany, whereas the fretboard is ebony. Featuring simple but decent appointments, the acoustic guitar cuts a decent figure. Takamine has added engraved gold Gotoh tuners along with pearl buttons to give a classy touch to its appearance.

Equipped with just over inches of nut, it offers a traditional feel. Overall, the guitar is well built and feels solid. The frets are properly seated and smoothly published, whereas the bone nut is slotted precisely. The neck is full with no fret-hand fatigue while playing guitar for long sessions. The solid rosewood back and sides not only improve the projection but also the appearance of the guitar.

The sound of this best acoustic guitar under 3000 is full and clear with excellent projection. From firm lows to solid mids, the registers are perfectly balanced. All of the notes on the guitar neck are true and clear, with great intonation and an elegant amount of sustain. Due to its transparent sound, the guitar is versatile enough to match different playing styles. Additional features include a deluxe hardshell case, D’Addario EXP45 normal tension strings, and a polishing cloth.

Pros

  • High-gloss polyurethane finish
  • Deluxe Gotoh tuning machines
  • Deluxe hardshell case
  • Rosewood Fingerboard
  • Excellent sound

Cons

  • High price

3. Martin D-28 Acoustic Guitar

Martin D-28 Acoustic GuitarQuick Features

  • Body Material: Rosewood
  • Guitar Weight: 17.6 pounds
  • Top material: Spruce
  • Number of strings: 6

Another best acoustic guitar by Martin, the D-28, has been used by famous players including Nick Drake, Van Morrison, Johnny Cash, and Eric Clapton throughout their careers. The guitar comes with a tonewood combination of rosewood and spruce. The top of the instrument is manufactured with Sitka spruce, whereas East Indian rosewood has been used to create back and sides. These two different kinds of wood provide contrasting tones. Spruce offers clear, loud high end, whereas rosewood is known for warmer and smoother tones through the midrange frequencies. The neck is fashioned out of select hardwood. The modified low oval shape, along with the performance taper, combines to make the guitar easy to play.

The hardware used in D-28 is scalloped internal X-shaped bracing. Such bracing strengthens the top of the guitar and also helps to prevent vibrations. Also, the guitar offers more bass with a fuller, louder sound. Another excellent feature of this dreadnought acoustic guitar is the stylish herringbone purfling. An ebony bridge has a bone saddle which keeps the intonation perfect while playing the instrument. You will find a bone nut along with the butterbean open-gear tuners on the other end of the neck.

The sound of high-end guitars is what makes them distinctive from other models. Offering well-balanced sound, the guitar offers a versatile tone with booming and powerful bass. Also, the resonance and projection of D-28 are amazing. On the other hand, midrange and treble are articulate. Whether you love bluegrass or folk tunes, the D-28 responds with aplomb. Last but not least, Martin has added a durable hardshell case to prevent the guitar from damages and help in convenient portability.


Pros

  • Premium handmade guitar
  • Iconic dreadnought design and tone
  • Forward-shifted bracing pattern
  • Modern neck profile for improved comfort
  • Powerful sound with full bass

Cons

  • Not for small hands

4. Taylor T5z Classic Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Taylor T5z Classic Acoustic-Electric GuitarQuick Features

  • Body Material: Sapele
  • Guitar Weight: 12.45 pounds
  • Top Material: Mahogany
  • Number of strings: 12

Acoustic-electric guitars feature thin bodies, and T5z is a perfect example of it. Offering thing bodies like hollow body electrics, the guitar has a mahogany top. The slim neck of the guitar has 12 inches fretboard radius and jumbo frets to make strings bend effortlessly. Also, it’s capped with an ebony fretboard to produce a warm tone. To improve the appearance of the instrument, Taylor has equipped it with small diamond inlays. The back and sides are made with Sapele wood.

When it comes to hardware, this best Taylor electric acoustic guitar has a perfect blend of traditional acoustic and electronic technologies. The pickup configuration has an acoustic sensor that can sense vibrations from the solid mahogany top and two humbuckers. The one is hidden by the neck, whereas another one has lipstick style, which is mounted close to its bridge. There is a five-way selector that allows you to craft tones.

Taylor Tz5 comes with the traditional volume-low EQ-high EQ knob setup. Due to its thin body, the volume knobs are mounted right on the top. The chrome Taylor tuners are ultra-smooth and precise. One of the best benefits of a high-quality pickup system is that it offers excellent sound. The plus point of the electric acoustic guitar is that besides offering warm and rich sound, it provides electric tones. You can easily go from traditional acoustic to smooth and jazzy with a simple flick of a switch.

Pros

  • Small diamond inlays and nickel hardware
  • Comes with a Gig bag
  • Compact body with classic mahogany finish
  • Thin body
  • Onboard tone controls

Cons

  • Cheap soft gig bag

5. Breedlove Oregon Series Concert CE Sitka-Myrtle wood Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Breedlove Oregon Series Concert CE Sitka-Myrtle wood Acoustic-Electric GuitarQuick Features

  • Body Material: Myrtle wood
  • Guitar Weight: 20.2 pounds
  • Top Material: Spruce
  • Number of Frets: 6

Crafted with a comfortable and accessible soft cutaway design by Breedlove, the guitar offers to utilize every note on all twenty frets. The concert is one of the most famous body shapes that have been used by players due to its compact, well-balanced, comfortable to play, and provides the qualities of an excellent sounding guitar. This best acoustic guitar under 3000 generates a great articulate range of sound with a decent low end that is not boomy at all. The back has been made with Myrtle wood, and the maple neck makes it ultra-comfortable to play the guitar for long sessions.

Myrtle wood provides potent fundamentals with a powerful sound. Commonly used for versatile playing, this best tonewood has a clear and bright tone with superb projection and sustain. It is equipped with a piezoelectric pickup configuration, Hardtail Bridge, African ebony fretboard, and herringbone rosette.

Another excellent feature of the Breedlove Oregon Concert acoustic guitar is the slim neck profile to facilitate effortless playing for long sessions. Also, the LR Baggs element electronics allow re-creating the natural plugged-in tone. Other noteworthy features include gloss finish, offset dot fingerboard inlay, bone nut and saddle, and a hardshell case for protection.

Pros

  • Pinless bridge for an easy string change
  • Nickel Breedlove tuners
  • LR Baggs EAC VTC electronics
  • Hardshell case
  • Offers versatile playing style

Cons

  • None

6. Takamine EF360S TT Thermal Top Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Takamine EF360S TT Thermal Top Acoustic-Electric GuitarQuick Features

  • Body Material: Rosewood
  • Guitar Weight: 18 pounds
  • Top Material: Alder
  • Number of strings: 6

This innovative EF360S-TT model by Takamine offers the versatile tonal characteristics of well-aged woods. Besides its tonal benefits, one of the best features of this great acoustic guitar is its traditional design featuring a typical non-cutaway dreadnought body shape along with a superb overall appearance. It comes with a faux tortoiseshell guard combined with the ivoroid binding for a classic vintage look. The back and sides of the guitar are made with solid Indian rosewood. Takamine has used spruce in its solid thermal top. Also, it has fast playing mahogany neck, an ebony fretboard along with the 20 frets.

When it comes to hardware, Takamine sticks with the vintage theme. However, the addition of electronics is pretty modern. The notable hardware of the guitar includes a TLD-2 line driver preamp, Palathetic pickup, and onboard control. Also, there are open geared tuners featuring butterbean tuning keys and a decent quality hardshell case.

The sound of the guitar is bright and rich, thanks to the quality tonewoods. The combination of classic spruce and rosewood helps to keep the tone well-balanced and articulate. This excellent high-end acoustic guitar is an ideal choice for those looking for versatile sound, catchy appearance, and ultra-convenient playability.

Pros

  • Gloss Natural finish
  • Easy to play neck
  • TLD-2 Liner Driver Preamp
  • Open gear butterbean tuners
  • Versatile tone

Cons

  • No warranty

7. Blueridge BR-160 Acoustic Guitar

Blueridge BR-160 Acoustic GuitarQuick Features

  • Body Material: Spruce & East India Rosewood
  • Guitar Weight: 4 pounds
  • Top Material: Spruce
  • Number of strings: 6

A great-looking acoustic guitar with best performing vintage style dreadnoughts, the BR-160 by Blueridge comes with the best tonewood combination. The solid Sitka spruce top is paired with superb-looking Indian rosewood back and sides. Blueridge has added elegant white binding all around the top, along with the high-quality pickguard. Looking at the build quality and craftsmanship, this acoustic guitar is defiantly reasonably priced. The mahogany neck has an East Indian rosewood fretboard and custom inlays.

You are going to love the high-quality hardware components of BR-160. It is equipped with the standard bridge that has been fitted with a bone compensated saddle. The nut is manufactured with genuine bone, whereas the tuners feature a vintage, open-back nickel-plated set. When it comes to performance, it is easy to play, retains intonation and tuning for a long time.

Being a vintage-style guitar, the BR-160 reflects more than aesthetics. A perfect combination of Indian rosewood body and solid Sitka top offers an ultra-sweet, mellow sound full of vintage warmth. When you being finger picking, it is obvious to expect soft nature from such tonewoods. Besides clear notes, the dreadnought body ensures there is good enough volume and projection. In terms of performance and value for your money, Blueridge BR-160 is a perfect pick.

Pros

  • Extremely lightweight
  • Vintage Toned High Gloss Finish
  • Santos rosewood fingerboard
  • Slim mahogany neck
  • Adjustable truss rod

Cons

  • Poor Packing

8. The Loar LH-700-VS Deluxe Acoustic Guitar

The Loar LH-700-VS Deluxe Acoustic GuitarQuick Features

  • Body Material: Solid Flamed Maple
  • Guitar Weight: 10 pounds
  • Top Material: Solid Hand-Carved Arched AAA Spruce
  • Number of strings: 6

As compared to popular guitar brands, The Loar is a fairly unknown guitar brand on the market. However, this Chinese manufacturer is producing high-quality instruments, and LH-700 is a perfect example of its quality craftsmanship and innovative design. Featuring AAA-grade spruce, the top of the guitar is hand-carved and hand-graduated. There is no round soundhole on the top but two hand-craved F-holes on both sides of the bridge. The back and sides are created with solid AAA-grade flamed maple to give the guitar a vintage appearance and sound.

Equipped with a high gloss maple neck having a vintage F profile, it has a bound ebony fretboard, 19 frets, along a mother of pearl dot inlays. There are no electronics as it is a solely acoustic model. But the hardware used in the guitar has quality and style. It sports six gold Grover Sta-Tite open-geared tuners, 18:1 gear ratio, and butterbean style tuning keys. Also, there is a compensated adjustable ebony bridge, floating trapeze style tailpiece along with a standard bone nut.

The solid woods used in this guitar are of great quality and resonate perfectly well, which makes it an ideal choice for both groups and vocalists. The spruce offers a mellow and balanced sound, whereas the maple back and sides project the tone clearly. The timeless appearance and high vintage tone combine to make this high-end guitar a prominent choice for intermediate to professional players. Last but not least, it is delivered with a durable hardshell archtop case.

Pros

  • Compensated Adjustable Ebony Bridge
  • Hand-Buffed Nitrocellulose Lacquer Finish
  • Compact design
  • Bound Ebony Fretboard
  • Comes with a hardshell case

Cons

  • Less familiar brand

Conclusion

Whether you are a recording artist, regular concert performance, or a professional guitarist looking for a real treat, these premium acoustic guitars are a perfect match for your needs. Spending $3000 is a serious matter, and therefore it is important to choose the best acoustic guitar for your playing style and experience level. Most people don’t consider important factors before buying and thus choose the one that lack essentials feature that they need. So, sit back, grab a cup of coffee, analyze each listed acoustic guitar above, consider your needs and then make a decision to buy the best guitar.

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