Published on this page in the GuitarFella archive — what our editors chose at the time, not a lab test.
Last Updated: February 12, 2019
In the most recent update of this article we didn’t make any significant content changes, although we removed the older Blueridge BG-2500 and replaced it with the impressive Taylor 224ce-K DLX.
If you’ve been searching for your ultimate acoustic guitar, you’ve come to the right place! We’ve examined the current high-end market and selected ten of the best acoustic guitars that come in at $2000 or under.
This is serious money for any guitarist to spend, and therefore a serious guitar is required in return. We’ve listed some of the best on offer, including both steel and nylon stringed guitar, as well as electro-acoustics. So whether you’re a regular concert performer, a recording artist, or an experienced guitarist looking for a real treat, check out this list for some premium inspiration.
Best Acoustic Guitars Under $2000:
Best Classical Guitars Under $2000:
When spending up to $2000 on an acoustic guitar you are all but guaranteed to end up with something fantastic. This is premium territory and names such as Martin, Taylor, and Takamine all excel. While our above list is in no way comprehensive, its a great starting point when looking for the best in this price range.
So what can you expect from guitars at the higher end of affordable? More often than not it will depend on the style of guitar and the manufacturer. However generally the woods on offer will be excellent quality, solid and special – you’ll still see rosewood, mahogany, cedar, and spruce, but exotic woods with attractive grains and super rich tones will pop up, such as cocobolo and ziricote.
The decoration and detailing will also be capable of turning a few heads – just look at Blueridge’s grand BG-2500 for some true Art Deco style. Craftsmanship will be intricate and flawless in most cases – you are paying a premium to receive a premium model, and most guitars in this high-end range will not leave the factory unless they are perfect.
Sound also comes into its own in the high-end market – full, rich and warm tones, with big resonance and articulation should come as standard, although the specific sound you receive will depend on the tonewoods used in construction.
For electro-acoustic models, pickups and preamps will be superior and innovative – look at the CTP-3 CoolTube onboard tube preamp on Takamine’s TSF48C Santa Fe NEX for example. Controls on all systems in this price range will be versatile and allow you to leave annoyances like feedback for the cheaper models.
Finally, the components – bridges, nuts, and tuners in particular – should be of the highest quality, and the guitar should almost certainly comes with a hardshell case as standard.
The Final Word
Believe us when we say that $2000 is only scratching the surface when it comes to high-end acoustic guitars. You can spend $8000 on Taylor’s Presentation Series PS56ce, and $80,000 on Martin’s OM-45 Deluxe. Or what about Martin’s Limited Edition D-200 Deluxe for an eye-watering $120,000!? (Seriously, check it out!)
So spending $2000 is not as flash as you may originally think. If you can afford it, you will likely end up with a model that will show impeccable construction, awesome tonewoods, and exquisite sound – and it should last you a lifetime.