If you are looking for the best acoustic guitar under 3000, definitely you are searching for a high quality one. It has to meet your requirements such as tones, materials, playability,… But in diverse brands and models, it seems hard to find a suitable one for you. But we are here!
I have researched and tried many times before picking out the best acoustic guitar under 3000. In my opinion, it’s always the right time to start playing acoustic guitar. The sheer range of available acoustics these days, there are a wide range of manufactures, that’s why you should keep conscious when considering to buy one.
But we are here! I have researched and tried many times before picking out the best acoustic guitar under 3000. Not keep you waiting for long, let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Best Acoustic Guitar Under 3000 Comparison 2024
No | Name | Image | Best For | Rating | Details |
1 | [amazon link=”B07F7NHVPS” /] | [amazon fields=”B07F7NHVPS” value=”thumb”] | Best Acoustic Guitar Under 3000 FOR reaching high frets | [amazon fields=”B07F7NHVPS” value=”star_rating”] | [amazon fields=”B07F7NHVPS” value=”button”] |
2 | [amazon link=”B07629J68X” /] | [amazon fields=”B07629J68X” value=”thumb”] | Best Acoustic Guitar Under 3000 FOR handmade acoustic guitar | [amazon fields=”B07629J68X” value=”star_rating”] | [amazon fields=”B07629J68X” value=”button”] |
3 | [amazon link=”B007IVV33C” /] | [amazon fields=”B007IVV33C” value=”thumb”] | Best Acoustic Guitar Under 3000 FOR recording | [amazon fields=”B007IVV33C” value=”star_rating”] | [amazon fields=”B007IVV33C” value=”button”] |
4 | [amazon link=”B00IE8LJAK” /] | [amazon fields=”B00IE8LJAK” value=”thumb”] | Best Acoustic Guitar Under 3000 FOR fingerstyle | [amazon fields=”B00IE8LJAK” value=”star_rating”] | [amazon fields=”B00IE8LJAK” value=”button”] |
5 | [amazon link=”B004ZL2PQ2” /] | [amazon fields=”B004ZL2PQ2” value=”thumb”] | Best Acoustic Guitar Under 3000 FOR playing experience acoustic guitar | [amazon fields=”B004ZL2PQ2” value=”star_rating”] | [amazon fields=”B004ZL2PQ2” value=”button”] |
** Below, you will find our detailed reviews of the Best Acoustic Guitar Under 3000, but you can also click these following links to see current prices or read customer reviews on Amazon.
[amazon bestseller=”Best Acoustic Guitar Under 3000″ items=”5″ ]
Top Best Acoustic Guitar Under 3000 Reviews 2024
Martin D-28
[amazon box=”B07629J68X” ]
It’s once said that Martin D-28 is like a dream to any guitarist in this world. When your guitar-playing ability reaches a point, you will comprehensively know what makes it so special. In mid-range price, this can be considered as one of the best acoustic guitars under 3000.
Martin’s Standard Series are handmade from the highest quality materials. It delivers rich resonance, classic tones, and a professional sound. Its rich, warm tones can be employed across any musical genres, while the build quality is as good as it gets.
Martin D-28 comes with many sizes and models, which make it easier for customers to choose one for them. From acoustic to acoustic-electric, and a bunch of body types such as dreadnought, concert, orchestra model, jumbo, or grand performance cutaway,.. This will confuse you a lot if you are an amateur. But this also a good chance for you to find out which one that is best work for you.
The Taylor 414ce
[amazon box=”B07F7NHVPS” ]
The Taylor 414ce is my recommendation to anyone looking for the best acoustic guitar under 3000. It is an acoustic-electric guitar, with a perfect combination of versatility and depth With rosewood and spruce, The Taylor 414ce appears with the most versatile body shape. It was offered with a hard case.
The Grand Auditorium body shape masters any genre or playing style and when paired with the rosewood/spruce tonewood combo, this 414ce-R will give you abundant overtones, tonal richness, and superb depth.
The ebony fretboard is definitely smooth. Exclusive V-Class BracingMade using Taylor’s exclusive, groundbreaking V-Class bracing system, the 414ce-R has even more sonic horsepower, clarity, sustain, and a more expressive tonal response than its brothers.
Taylor 814ce
[amazon box=”B007IVV33C” ]
There are significant changes in the design of Taylor 814ce. The headstock changes from rosewood to jet-black ebony, and has a gloss-finished. Moreover, there is also the appearance of vertical side struts, with an aim to strengthen the side and avoid impact splits.
A remarkable change in the weight of Taylor 814ce, it is much lighter than its “brothers”. It is only 22 pounds, this helps you carry it easier and put less pressure on your body.
Taylor 814ce is easy to play and has a wonderful sound. The new-gauge strings add more thickness to the high, and the guitar feels like having something more to give, volume-wise. The GA has a lot of bass, meaning that fingerpicked basslines have a strong sound. The midrange sounds bold and smooth. The Taylor 814ce is definitely worth its high price in comparison with other acoustic guitars under 3000.
Martin OM-21
[amazon box=”B00IE8LJAK” ]
The Martin OM-21 is specialized for fingerstyle people. Back in 1992, many players requested Martin to design a guitar for fingerstyle and OM-21 was designed as a stock model. It has two remarkable features that made it become a best-seller: a wider nut width and scalloped top bracing, resulting in a super-slim, super-fast neck.
The sound of Martin OM-21 will impress you from the beginning due to bell-like clarity and the separation in tonal spectrum. If you are familiar with other Martin OM models, the sound of this OM-21 will make you feel like home.
With Sitka spruce top and solid East Indian rosewood back and sides, the Martin OM-21 will bring you a rich and luxury appearance. If you are looking for an acoustic guitar under 3000, this will give you even more than that price can give.
Blueridge BR-283A
[amazon box=”B004ZL2PQ2″ ]
Blueridge BR-283A is the combination of the top-notch craftsmanship , the scariest, most expensive tonewoods and sumptuous pearl inlay on every single border. The top is treated with solid spruce top and parabola-shaped braces as 1930’s original. The back and sides use premium which helps to boost strong bass.
The sound is smooth and low-pitched. With size 000, this perfect size will bring you a comfortable and easy playing experience. The Blueridge BR-283A includes a gig bag made from nice China leather to protect your guitar carefully. This could be one of the best acoustic guitars under 3000 you can find.
Martin D-18 Acoustic Guitar
[amazon box=”B0002GU6KG” ]
To buy the best acoustic guitar under 3000 is not an easy task. But with Martin D-18, you can give it a try. With its depth, balance and clarity, it is definitely worth trying. It has a dreadnought body, as well as scalloped bracing, which are all Martin’s signatures.
The top is constructed from a high-grade Sitka spruce, creating a good guitar. When it comes to the back and sides, you have solid mahogany. All these features create a warm, versatile tone. The scalloped bracing helps to improve resonance.
A fact about this Martin D-18 is that it has been used by many musicians and considered as one of most used guitars. One of the reasons is because the even tone fits perfectly with other instruments, it does not crowd out the bass guitar or overwhelm the vocals.
Takamine EF740FS TT Thermal Top
[amazon box=”B01CF0VZA6″ ]
With the EF740FS TT Thermal Top, Takamine once again consolidated their trusted electro manufacturer with the innovation. The “FS” stands for “fingerstyle”, which means this is the best acoustic guitar for fingerstyle people.
The guitar’s top is baked in high-heat, which is claimed that it would create a stronger weight-to-strength ratio due to lighter and stiffer wood. This EF740FS has a resonance in the bass which can be felt clearly. And the earthy roundness of tone creates a warmth in the played-in instruments.
One more reason why this could be the best acoustic guitar under 3000 is the unique design. An OM shape with a deeper body and a wide neck allows easy access to upper frets. Overall, with both design and function, this acoustic guitar under 3000 won’t let you down.
Martin 000-18 Auditorium
[amazon box=”B0002GUDHW” ]
Martin’s Standard Series guitars combine authentic wood, The Martin 000-18 has a unique vintage-inspired design and offers many features found in other Martin’s guitars. It combines high standard wood, such as sitka ebony, rosewood, and more, with conventional bracing and body designs. Of course, it is all handmade, which creates high resonance, regular tones and high quality sound.
No matter what you are expecting in a guitar, this is a wonderful choice. It delivers a natural playing experience as Martin’s iconic tone. You can play guitar for hours without getting irritated due to a slim profile. The ebony fretboard is smooth, the neck is fast. It is suitable for both fingerstyle and flatpicking.
The Taylor 313ce-N Nylon String
[amazon box=”B007IVUULS” ]
Taylor is famous for their steel string. However, when they first introduced nylon strings around 10 years ago, they did not let us down. It currently has a perfect line of nylon-string guitars that decrease its grand concert and auditorium line of steel string..
Its ES-N pickup system, which comes along with The Taylor 313ce-N Nylon String, includes controls of low profile such as bass, treble, or volume in the upper of the guitar. It uses a transducer and preamp voice.
The Taylor 313ce-N has a dulcet tone with a fast, straight attack. Its end sound is thrillingly deep and low, but there is no midrange resonance as other classical guitars.
Takamine EF360S TT Thermal Top
[amazon box=”B01AYFA06Y” ]
Takamine’s innovative EF360S-TT is one of ample models of Takamine series: TT – Thermal Top. It offers a sparkle and vintage tone as spruce has been baked for some time in a controlled high-heat, low-oxygen environment.
You might pop up in mind a vintage theme when thinking about Takamine’s hardware. Their Palathetic pickup and the nearly invisible TLD-2 line driver preamp make the general look quite small.
The quality of the build and the aged top comes out with a rich, opened-up tone. The mahogany neck and the ebony fretboard are among the best to any players as it is so smooth. The fit and finish are immaculate. Takamine EF360S TT has a high-quality hardshell case, which is good to protect your guitar.
Takamine Pro Series 3 P3DC
[amazon box=”B009OAJTBI” ]
Takamine has been well-known for over half a century for their high quality, wonderful sound, and great playability. Takamine models have been seen in many stars’ performances. Of course, there are reasons for that.
Not only the tonewoods are created with high quality but also the painstaking parts are beautiful in every detail. Scalloped solid cedar top and sapele back and sides make P3DC look amazing and can master any playing styles.
Their CT4B preamp system will providde you a rich, clear sound, and could satisfy any guitarist in the world. It can be switched on and off by plugging a cable of the instrument into the pin jack.
Martin SC-13E
[amazon box=”B083ZRCX8S” ]
With Fishman MX-T preamp, Martin SC-13E manages to extend their bass response at a lower level. This preamp comprises tone controls, a phase and a neatly tuned onboard.
Their brand new one-sided S-shape body seems to be more of Taylor’s Grand shape. And its cutaway is also different from other models. It seems that this trendy Martin SC-13E is a revolution in their design.
Martin SC-13E ships with custom light gauge (0.011 to 0.052) Martin Authentic Acoustic Lifespan 2.0 92/8 Phosphor Bronze strings and 1.2mm string height over the 12th fret on the treble side; 1.8mm on the bass. It is obviously the slinkiest Martin model. The sound gets better the more you play them, The tuner is very well positioned. The guitar comes with a really cool gig bag instead of hardshell case.
Yamaha A-Series A5R
[amazon box=”B06Y4D4MGZ” ]
Yamaha A-Series A5R is specially built for on stage performance. .The top is furnished with Yamaha’s ARE (Acoustic Resonance Enhancement) to provide warmth and vintage voice . The top board is treated with scalloped bracing and a shorter one for the backboard, this will help midrange sound stronger and much louder. The sound itself also is very clean.
The fretboard edges create an amazing experience with the ebony board. The bright A5R has an airy quality, however some resonance is traded with the lower action. It sounds both wonderful even when plugged or unplugged. The guitar is included with a hard case.
Taylor 714ce
[amazon box=”B07BWY5SPX” ]
Taylor first made their acoustic guitars in 1974, so obviously they know how to make the best acoustic guitars. And Taylor 714ce is the embodiment of all features that makes Taylor.
Solid Indian rosewood is used for both the side and the back of the body, inspired from Venetian cutaway. It is glitter due to Engelmann top and an elegant vintage finish.
Taylor 714 ce could be the best acoustic guitar under 3000 as the neck shape is comfy and the string spacing is like specially made for finger-playing. The sound is amazing, it pushes out lot of volume, but still balances between firm lows and a warm.
Taylor 224ce-K DLX Koa Deluxe
[amazon box=”B01MQCFTE0″ ]
The Taylor 224ce is constructed with Hawaiian Koa wood, creating a rich, deep tone. Not only the exotic hardwood brings a rich and colorful aesthetic, but also over time, the tonal output gains more depth in the mids and lows.
The Taylor 224ce includes a custom-designed professional-grade preamp, accompanied with volume, phase filter, and treble/bass controls. Now you can control the sound by twerking the controls, and customize it into your wanted tone.
The same as most other Koa designs, the 224ce-K offers up the characteristic brightness, with gloss-finish, creating a luxurious finish to the final product.
How To Buy The Best Acoustic Guitar Under 3000
When it comes to acoustic, I am sure it is hard for you to choose out which one to buy. There are a variety of brands with different models and ranges of cost. It may confuse you somehow because I used to be the same. After trying and researching numerous acoustic guitars available on the market, I believe here are some characters you should take notice of when considering buying the best acoustic guitar under 3000.
Shape and Size
There are 5 typical types of acoustics guitar, namely: Dreadnought, Jumbo, Mini, Grand Auditorium, Classical and Parlor. They are categorized by their body type, so how to differentiate them?
Dreadnought
Dreadnought used to be extremely popular in 20 and 21st centuries when Martin first developed their dreadnought guitar in 1916.
Dreadnought guitar usually features a bolder and much larger body, which creates a richer and louder tone. This is also a good shape for beginners to start their journey.
Jumbo
Jumbo is considered as a “big strummer” when compared with other acoustic guitars. The loud volume full of bass and character which is perfect for folk players or those who wants to solo.
Jumbo normally has a circular style body with a tight-waist with a large amount of air in the body to create loud sound.
Mini
It is clearly from the name, the mini guitar has smaller size than the normal one. It is portable and convenient, especially for travel.
Grand Auditorium
It is a steel-string acoustic and usually has a flat top, but also could be archtop or other specialized versions. The size usually stands between Dreadnought and Grand Concert. And it is suitable for both fingerstyle and flatpicking. One plus mark is that the Grand Auditorium delivers a big and clear sound.
Classical
As you can see from the name, it is usually used in classical music. An acoustic wooden string instrument normally made with nylon or gut string. The fretboard is also wider than that of acoustic guitar.
Tone
As you might know, the tone of the guitar is affected by many elements. The bodywood has the biggest effect on tone but the strings can also carry a lot of weight. So our goal is to get to those sounds deliberately and methodically, whenever we want them. Warm tone usually has more bass and mellow. Bright tone, however, has much more treble and might sound a bit harsh.
Wood types
There are 5 typical wood types that are mostly used in guitar. You might already be familiar with these but I still want to mention a little.
Spruce
Spuce is the most popular wood used for guitar tops, mostly because the tone makes it a very good “all-rounder”. It has a pale and understated figuring. It also has a good projection and volume to boot.
Cedar
It is probably the second most popular wood type. It is warmer, and takes less time to reach its full tonal potential. Cedar has a warm, rich tone and has a red brown color.
Solid Wood
Solid wood has a more resonant, and better tone than laminate guitar. You can see this type of wood in a more expensive guitar as it is hard to work with.
Mahogany
Mahogany is a dense wood, with dark finish and close grain. It is commonly used for guitar back and side, has rich highs and mids and strong lows.
Maple
Maple is one of the hardest and dense tonewood. It delivers a bright tone with great projection. Maple back and sides often add greater power and mid-range to a more typical top material.
Rosewood
Rosewood is one of the most expensive wood types. It has a smooth, warm tone with complex harmonic overtones. Rosewood usually has a dark, more like a chocolate brown color and is usually used for back and sides.
Playability
The playability of the guitar is one of the key factors that you should consider when buying a guitar. The playability refers to the feelings of the guitar’s neck when you fretting your hand, and how easy it is to fret and pluck the strings. This could be the intonation or the action height.
The range between the strings and the fretboard is action height. And you can not keep the action too high or too low.
The intonation is where the strings and note on the fretboard are at the correct pitches. At that point, it has a properly placed bridge, saddle and saddle angle.
Components
Fingerboard (a.k.a fretboard) by far one of the most important elements when considering buying a guitar. It not only affects comfort and tone, but also the playing style. It is normally made from rosewood, ebony or maple.
The material which supports the strings on the end of the neck of the guitar is called the nut. This thin piece usually made of ebony, ivory, bass, holds the strings at the proper height from the fingerboard.
High quality guitars are usually pricey because it is made with high standard materials and craftsmanship. The sound is more accurate and consistent, and brings a more satisfying experience.
Especially when buying a high-end guitar, you do not need to worry if it will get obsolete over time. The solid wood has a specific character that it opens up and resonates over time, creating a beautiful and vintage tone. Moreover, with strict quality control, it can be played for years.
If you intend to buy a high-end guitar, especially if you are looking for a best acoustic guitar under 3000, means that you take your music journey seriously. So think it carefully before you decide to buy one as it could be your friend for a lifetime.
Nylon Strings Or Steel Strings
Acoustic guitars are available with either nylon strings or steel strings. Mostly, when talking about nylon strings, people will come up with classic guitar.
This has its own reason, as nylon strings deliver a warmer, mellower sound, which is suitable for classical music. Meanwhile, steel strings are more suitable for playing country, rock,…
If you are a beginner and confused about which strings to choose. In my opinion, there’s no difference as your fingers will be full in pain when you first start. But after time, it will get better. So choose your best acoustic guitar (under 3000) based on the type of music you intend to play.
Pure Acoustic or Acoustic-Electric guitar
Let’s clarify the difference between two of these. The pure acoustic guitar has no electronics to amplify its sound acoustically. Meanwhile, the acoustic-electric guitar offers an electronics pick up to plug into an amp, mixer or PA system.
The pure acoustic guitar delivers sound when you vibrate strings placed above a hollow chamber on the guitar’s body. That’s why there is no need for the appearance of electrical amplification. But this also creates a limitation that it can not be changed or modified the acoustics tone.
The electric-acoustic guitar is equipped with a pick up and a preamp (normally with EQ and volume controls). The pickup works as a converter of the sound to become an electronic signal to be amplified by the preamp. The combination of pick up and preamp allow you to amplify the sound.
Normally, players aim to perform live opt for electronic-acoustic guitar. Whereas bedroom players are more into regular acoustic guitar.
Brands
At this average priced guitar, some brands you can consider are Taylor, Martin, Blueridge, Takamine,… These brands have been popular world wide and have many legendary guitars. It has been loved by both professionals and amateurs. But mostly, many people choose Martin or Taylor as it offers the highest quality.
A small comparison that Martin’s acoustic guitars are more of tradition and Taylor’s acoustic guitar are more of modernity. Having been established in 1833, Martin created their very first dreadnought guitar with traditional embracement. While Taylor has a more modern approach with the sound that’s really prominent within modern music of all genres.
If you find it hard to comprehensively understand what I try to explain, here is a Youtube video clip for you to better understand. This video will help you to know how to buy a good acoustic guitar under any budget, not only an acoustic guitar under 3000 as you are looking for
Here is a video for you to grab more information:
Conclusion: My Top Pick For Best Acoustic Guitar Under 3000
It is not an easy task for me to pick out my Top 5 as each guitar has its own uniqueness and speciality. But due to my personal preference, these are my most favourite guitar:
No | Name | Image | Best For | Rating | Details |
1 | [amazon link=”B07F7NHVPS” /] | [amazon fields=”B07F7NHVPS” value=”thumb”] | Best Acoustic Guitar Under 3000 FOR reaching high frets | [amazon fields=”B07F7NHVPS” value=”star_rating”] | [amazon fields=”B07F7NHVPS” value=”button”] |
2 | [amazon link=”B07629J68X” /] | [amazon fields=”B07629J68X” value=”thumb”] | Best Acoustic Guitar Under 3000 FOR handmade acoustic guitar | [amazon fields=”B07629J68X” value=”star_rating”] | [amazon fields=”B07629J68X” value=”button”] |
3 | [amazon link=”B007IVV33C” /] | [amazon fields=”B007IVV33C” value=”thumb”] | Best Acoustic Guitar Under 3000 FOR recording | [amazon fields=”B007IVV33C” value=”star_rating”] | [amazon fields=”B007IVV33C” value=”button”] |
4 | [amazon link=”B00IE8LJAK” /] | [amazon fields=”B00IE8LJAK” value=”thumb”] | Best Acoustic Guitar Under 3000 FOR fingerstyle | [amazon fields=”B00IE8LJAK” value=”star_rating”] | [amazon fields=”B00IE8LJAK” value=”button”] |
5 | [amazon link=”B004ZL2PQ2” /] | [amazon fields=”B004ZL2PQ2” value=”thumb”] | Best Acoustic Guitar Under 3000 FOR playing experience acoustic guitar | [amazon fields=”B004ZL2PQ2” value=”star_rating”] | [amazon fields=”B004ZL2PQ2” value=”button”] |
Last Words
The best acoustic guitar should be the one that fits your playing style and music genre. You can easily buy the best acoustic guitar under 3000. You will not ever regret it. With this price, you can buy a guitar so great that you can play it as long as you want. A good guitar can be your soulmate, sharing with you over time and expressing your voice.
- Don’t forget to share your thoughts about Best Acoustic Guitar Under 3000 at the comment box below!