Regardless of whether you are a beginner or a professional guitar player with decades of experience under your belt, it’s hard to ignore the “wow” factor once you see a premium high end acoustic guitar. But, once you get past the initial astonishment and dig a little deeper, you see the price tag and then you start wondering whether they are actually worth the money.
When compared to their affordable mid-range counterparts, premium acoustic guitars are not only superior in terms of sound and playability, but also a whole range of other parameters, such as build quality, tonewoods, quality of the hardware, as well as looks.
So, which acoustic guitars are actually considered to be high end or premium? Well, it’s hard to pinpoint the exact number, but there is a significant rise in overall quality and characteristics once you get past the $1500 to $2000 price tag.
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I’ll start this article by jumping into reviews on some of my favorite high end guitars, but if you want to learn more about them before reading reviews check out our acoustic guitar information guide at the bottom of the page here.
My Review: Martin has done a really good job over the years of reimagining its legendary guitars, and this D-41 is just about as good as it gets. In fact, this is just about the best guitar you can buy today, apart from shelling out five figures for an actual vintage version. Unlike most Martin guitars from the 40 series, this one is pretty understated in its looks, although still incredibly elegant and classy, with abalone inlays for the fretboard and soundhole rosette. We also love the rosewood sides and back with white binding. The neck is mahogany, with a 1.75-inch nut width, which makes this guitar stunningly comfortable and easy to play.
As for the sound, it is absolutely amazing, whether you are strumming loud chords or doing some gentle fingerpicking. Deep and rich bass tones, bright and sparkling trebles, full midrange, you name it. The D-41 does it better than any other guitar out there. And it will only sound better with age. The scalloped forward-shifted bracing is really doing its job here. Just spending 15 minutes with this acoustic guitar is enough to make everything else you’ve ever played pale in comparison.
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Who Will Use This Most: Professional guitar players, recording artists, and studio musicians. Martin D-41 belongs in the collection of every musician and guitar aficionado that can afford it. It’s the sort of guitar that gets passed onto other generations, only gaining in value and tone.
Bottom Line: The Martin D-41 could be the poster child for the phrase “buy once, cry once” and the price tag is completely justified. The only guitars that can go up against it are actual vintage Martins, which is about as good of a compliment you will ever come across. Simply put, this is the only acoustic guitar you will ever need in your life, so you might as well start saving up for one now.
My Review: Since we are speaking about the only acoustic guitars you will ever need in your life, we have to mention the Taylor 814ce. This could have easily been our first pick. The 814ce boasts that signature bright, loud Taylor sound has become synonymous with, with crisp and clear treble and midrange tones, complemented by a warm low end. Whether you are playing solos or just strumming, this acoustic guitar is nothing short of sublime, and it’s really comfortable to play to, thanks to low action, Venetian cutaway which allows you to access the frets more easily, and a neck that fits perfectly in your hands.
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Like all guitars in the 800 Series, the 814ce has a top which is made out of solid Sitka spruce, with back and sides made from solid Indian rosewood. They’ve also really paid attention to how this guitar looks, as well, with an abalone rosette and mother-of-pearl fingerboard inlays which give this guitar a true premium shine. On the inside, the 814ce has V-Class bracing, which really makes a difference, especially in comparison with other, similarly priced models. The guitar sounds louder and has incredible sustain, even for a high end guitar. You can also plug this into an amp since it features the Expression System 2, which has three piezo sensors in order to capture the sound in all of its glory. And glorious it really is.
Who Will Use This Most: Although not as expensive as Martin D-41, the Taylor 814ce is out of reach for most guitar players. This means it will mostly be used by professional artists that are able to afford it. It’s also ideal for live performance, especially for acoustic rock and country, since its bright, loud sound cuts through any kind of mix.
Bottom Line: The Taylor 814ce acoustic guitar is simply breathtaking in terms of sound, looks, build quality, and attention to detail. It works in just about any setting, and for the price, there is no better guitar.
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My Review: No list of all-time great acoustic guitars would be complete without the Martin D-28, which is simply iconic, there is no other word for it. It was introduced back in 1931 and has been played by the likes of Jimmy Page, Johnny Cash, and Eric Clapton. This particular model is a re-imagining of the original D-28, and while that’s usually a recipe for disaster, Martin has done a great job of improving upon the original, just like they did with the D-41. The guitar features a solid Sitka spruce top, and solid East Indian rosewood back and sides.
One of the things that were updated on the D-28 is the bracing pattern, and now it features a forward-shifted X-bracing, which means this model has a better bass response than the original. However, the sound is very well balanced, with crisp highs and clear midrange tones. The D-28 also features a new neck design for more comfortable playing. In terms of looks, Martin has gone for the vintage-style aesthetic, which is understated and elegant. One of the things that really stands out on the D-28 is the piano-like sustain, which is down not just to the dreadnought body shape, but also the updated bracing pattern. The original is one of the all-time great guitars, and the updated Martin D-28 belongs in the same category. It’s nothing short of sublime.
Who Will Use This Most: Touring musicians and studio professionals alike. The D-28’s dreadnought body shape makes it ideal for any kind of music style which involves chords and loud strumming. However, it’s balanced sound means it’s also great for softer fingerpicking as well. Even though it’s cheaper than our first two picks, it’s right up there with them in every category.
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Bottom Line: The Martin D-28 is everything you would want in an acoustic guitar, and then some. Martin has really done an awesome job reimagining and updating their legendary models, and we can safely say that it has outdone itself with the D-28. If you’re looking for a great high end acoustic guitar and your budget is around $3000, this is a great option.
My Review: How good are high end acoustic guitars on the low-end of the price range? Judging by the Martin D-15M, they are excellent. And yes, this is already the third Martin on our list, which just goes to show how good they are making acoustic guitars. Along with Taylor, Martin is simply in a league of its own. The D-15M, unlike some of the other guitars on this list, is built with a no-frills approach in mind. You won’t find any fancy binding or inlays. However, you will find a solid, all-mahogany body which is amazing. It has that signature deep mahogany sound, without sounding too muddy or indistinctive. Adding to the overall vintage look are the satin finish and open-gear tuners.
The D-15M might not look as expensive as some of the company’s top-tier models, but what Martin has done with this guitar is put every single penny where it counts: into the sound and build quality of the guitar. It also features a bone nut and saddle, and as for the playing itself, you should find its low oval neck really comfortable. It costs significantly less than most of the guitars on this list, yet you still get an acoustic guitar which is all-solid and sounds like it costs twice as much. $1300 is not cheap by any means, but it’s at least something you can eventually save up for. And the Martin D-15M is worth every penny, especially if you like the looks and the sound of mahogany. We wholeheartedly recommend it.
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Who Will Use This Most: If there was ever a guitar that was ideal for a singer-songwriter, the D-15 is it. It’s also perfect for playing some of the darker blues-based stuff, due to all-mahogany construction, and you would be hard-pressed to find a professional recording artist that wouldn’t add this guitar to their collection, as well.
Bottom Line: We love everything about the Martin D-15.
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