Being a beginner or intermediate guitarist, it’s really confusing to choose the perfect instrument for your playing style while keeping the cost budget-friendly. However, there are different fully-sized acoustics available on the market that can satisfy your musical needs. To be honest, finding the best acoustic guitar under 400 needs proper market research with essential information. From build quality to modern features, we have analyzed every best guitar brand and selected these 8 best acoustic guitars under $400 for you.
Best Acoustic Guitar Under $400 Comparison Table
Product Image | Name | Weight | Body & Top Material | Check Availability |
Takamine 6 String Acoustic Guitar | 7 lbs. | Wood & Cedar | ||
Yamaha FG800 Acoustic Guitar | 6.38 lbs. | Mahogany & Spruce | ||
Fender CC-60SCE Concert Acoustic Guitar | 8 lbs. | Mahogany & Spruce | ||
Yamaha FG820 Left-Handed Solid Top Acoustic Guitar | 6.64 lbs. | Mahogany & Spruce | ||
Taylor BT2 Baby Taylor Acoustic Guitar | 10 lbs. | Wood & Mahogany | ||
Oscar Schmidt OG1FYS-A-U 3/4 Size Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar | 5 lbs. | Spruce & Spruce | ||
Ibanez AW54CEOPN Artwood Dreadnought Acoustic/Electric Guitar | 4.5 lbs. | Mahogany & Solid Mahogany | ||
Jasmine S35 Acoustic Guitar | 5.63 lbs. | Nato & Spruce |
Best Acoustic Guitar Under 400 – Top 8 guitars for 2022
1. Takamine 6 String Acoustic Guitar
Quick Features
- Body Material: Wood
- Guitar Weight: 7 pounds
- Top Material: Cedar
- Number of strings: 6
One of the best entry-level acoustic guitars on the market, this Takamine guitar is an ideal blend of solid woods. The Takamine GD-20 comes with a lot of innovation. The tonewood combination of solid cedar top with mahogany back and sides makes the sound incredible. Equipped with a solid cedar top, the guitar comes with a slim mahogany neck for an ultra-comfortable feeling during long playing sessions.
There is a pin-less Rosewood Bridge fitted with a split saddle manufactured of bone. The bone nut, along with the headstock, has a set of excellent tuning machines. Available in natural satin finish, the guitar offers superior intonation for sweeter-sounding chords, and also single note runs.
GD-20 by Takamine features a thicker cedar top to clear up the tone considerably whereas also adding ideal intonation. Whether you love strumming or finger picking, this is a perfect match for your playing style. Other notable features include chrome die-caster tuners, rosewood head cap, Pearloid dot inlays, and synthetic bone nut.
One of the best budget acoustic guitars on the market with the supreme build quality and excellent sound, the Yamaha FG800 doesn’t have any upgraded aesthetic additions, but it is still a great-looking acoustic guitar. Featuring a timeless, uncluttered 25-inch scale length non-cutaway dreadnought body, this comes with a mix of scalloped-braced solid Sitka spruce took and laminated nato on the back and sides. The Yamaha FG800 also has a sleek glossy finish, comfortable neck, a faux tortoiseshell Pickguard, and a white multi-ply binding to give to some character. The most appealing aspect of this guitar is its premium hardware used previously in high-priced FG830 by Yamaha. It not only improves the tone but also the reliability and consistency of the instrument. The headstock has a set of sealed die-cast chrome tuners to keep the guitar in tune. Other notable hardware includes a urea nut and saddle and a standard rosewood bridge at the bottom. When it comes to sound, FG800 offers the best sound as compared to other budget-friendly options. The sound is very loud and high resonant, thanks to the dreadnought body shape and scalloped bracing. Though the tone is slightly lighter as compared to rosewood-backed FG830, it is still very sweet and warm with a decent balance of brightness.
Fender is a California-based company that has been producing high-quality acoustic and electric guitars for more than six decades. Manufactured in 2017, this CC-60SCE is specially designed for beginners as an affordable, easy-to-play, and durable acoustic guitar. Featuring a concert-size body, the CC-60SCE is the best acoustic guitar for the small hands of those searching for a manageable shape instead of a dreadnought. The solid spruce top has been the gold standard for acoustic guitars that offer harmonic vibration and lends a clear quality sound. The body is available in black and has a standard natural finish. Its neck sports an easy-to-play feature, which is a cross between thinner and faster playing shapes. The back, neck, and sides are all manufactured with mahogany. The fingerboard comes with a standard 12-inch radius, whereas the edges are slightly rolled to improve comfort and playability. Another excellent feature of this best acoustic guitar under 400 is the Piezo pickup and Fishman preamp with onboard EQ. There are also equalization controls along with the tuner to dial in the ideal sound for any gig. Fender has also added a walnut bridge, compensated saddle, chrome die-cast tuners by Fender, and plastic nut to keep intonation and tuning stable. The sound of the guitar is classic, as the first in CC-60 stands for classic. Articulation is clear with bright highs and proper full-sounding lows. The body size of the guitar makes a perfect pick for fingerpicking. Overall, the guitar is an ideal choice for almost any style.
This acoustic dreadnought guitar ensures a warm, strong sound, thanks to the solid spruce top. The appearance of the guitar is improved with its mahogany back and sides. Yamaha has used a solid spruce top in FG820, which is known for ideal protection. The slim neck is manufactured with nato wood which is easy to hold. The best thing about the 800 series is the new scalloped bracing pattern which is a perfect acoustic structure to maintain the durability of the top board. For beginners, it’s the best choice as you will love the comfort of the body and neck. Other notable hardware includes dying cast tuners, adjustable truss rods, rosewood bridges, and rosewood fingerboards. It has a louder and stronger sound, thanks to the solid spruce and mahogany combination. The scalloped bracing pattern accentuates low frequencies along with improved projection. Available in natural gloss finish, the guitar is available in two body shapes, including FS concert size.
Taylor is another reputable brand known for producing the best expensive acoustic guitars, but this Baby Taylor BT2 is a special gift for the budget-friendly category. One of the best travel acoustic guitars on the market, the Taylor BT2 has a slightly larger dreadnought body shape to bring versatility to its users. The combination of the solid mahogany top with layered Sapele not only offers a clear sound but also adds to the appearance of the guitar. The Sapele design neck features a standard rosewood fretboard. The instrument is equipped with a decent rosewood bridge perfectly fitted with a compensated saddle manufactured by NuBone. Though the die-cast tuner set is not that good, but it still works to keep tuning and intonation well maintained. Another great feature of the Baby Taylor is that it needs no setup; just tune it and enjoy the supreme performance with this best acoustic guitar under 400. Perhaps, the most popular feature of the Baby Taylor BT2 is its excellent sound. The dreadnought body compensates well for the compact-sized guitar. From the bottom of the frequency range to the very top, everything is tight. You enjoy the clarity, definition, and warmth of the tone with the Baby Taylor BT2 acoustic guitar.
Featuring a class small body, the OG1FYS from Oscar Schmidt comes with few intriguing features. The guitar is an ideal choice for beginners and small-handed players. It features a ¾-sized body which is manufactured with a laminated select spruce top, and layered catalpa has been used on the back and sides. If you are looking for a guitar with a gorgeous appearance, this best acoustic guitar is made for you. While the OG1FYS sport a yellow sunburst model, you can find red, black, blue, and natural version too. Each color is equipped with a high-quality gloss finish and appealing abalone binding and rosette. The strong mahogany neck has a standard rosewood fretboard. The manufacturer hasn’t used any electronics but a set of reliable chrome sealed tuners to keep the guitar in tune for a long time period. The rosewood bridge is appealing but also functional, whereas the adjustable truss rod is another handy addition to ensure the right tension and intonation. The combination of solid woods enables the acoustic guitar to produce solid sound. However, it is a tad quieter as compared to the standard full-sized acoustic having a reduced rebound. Its sound is crystal clear, along with the strong and punchy bass, balanced elegantly with the trebles. Overall, the guitar is an excellent combination of appealing design, high-end craftsmanship, and a great tone.
An impressive electro-acoustic guitar with a dark appearance, the AW54CE comes with some premium features that are hard to find in budget-friendly guitars. Featuring a classic dreadnought-shaped body, the guitar has a single-cutaway ad a 25.6 inches scale length. This all-mahogany model comes with a laminated back and sides. This best acoustic guitar is equipped with a solid mahogany top which is rare at such a price. The entire body features an open-pore finish which adds to the rustic appearance of the instrument. Its mahogany neck joins the body on the 14th fret. Besides appearance and tonewood combination, this best budget acoustic guitar comes packed with innovative features to improve both appearance and performance. There are an Ibanez AEQ210TF preamp and Fishman Sonicore pickup. This system sports a 2-band EQ having volume, bass, treble, and an onboard tuner to keep the instrument in tune for a long time. There are six chrome die-cast Grove tuners located at the headstock, a bone nut, and a bone saddle on the rosewood bridge. When used unplugged, this acoustic guitar has a lovely rich tone. Thanks to the dreadnought body and a solid mahogany top, the guitar offers plenty of resonance and natural projection. All mahogany manufacturing offers a warm, slightly dark tone, whereas the X-bracing keeps things articulate. For such a price, the overall tone is excellent.
How about a classical acoustic guitar under 100? Yes, this Jasmine acoustic guitar is a decent quality instrument for beginners. However, you cannot expect premium woods or features on such a budget. Featuring an appealing 25.5 inches scale length dreadnought body manufactured from an X-braced laminated spruce top, the Jasmine S35 comes with a laminated nato back and sides. The neck of the acoustic guitar is made with nato and copped with a decent rosewood fretboard. It also has 20 frets, simple Pearloid dot inlays, and a smooth satin finish. When it comes to hardware, there is nothing extraordinary, but still, it is equipped with decent parts for quality performance and durability. For instance, the guitar has a Rosewood Bridge, a synthetic bone compensated saddle, along with a nut made of the same material. There is a set of chrome-covered sealed tuners at the headstock to hold tuning for some time. However, the sound of this best cheap acoustic guitar is a total surprise. Overall the tone is well balanced along with the big and clear projection. To be honest, this acoustic guitar is not made for stage performance, but beginners, even some professionals, can use this as an affordable alternative to improve their skills.
If you are looking to buy a low-cost entry-level acoustic guitar, there are two possibilities. Either you are buying your first acoustic guitar, or you are looking to find a decent instrument for a practice session. When investing money, you have to be careful while making a choice as sometimes, things may be fancy but not practical. Always choose an acoustic guitar that meets your playing style. To be honest, when you are tight on budget, you have to compromise on either features or quality. However, we have tried our best to select the best acoustic guitar under 400 and help you make the right choice that lasts for a long time.Pros
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2. Yamaha FG800 Acoustic Guitar
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3. Fender CC-60SCE Concert Acoustic Guitar
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4. Yamaha FG820 Left-Handed Solid Top Acoustic Guitar
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5. Taylor BT2 Baby Taylor Acoustic Guitar
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6. Oscar Schmidt OG1FYS-A-U 3/4 Size Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar
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7. Ibanez AW54CEOPN Artwood Dreadnought Acoustic/Electric Guitar
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8. Jasmine S35 Acoustic Guitar
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