Every detail of an acoustic guitar plays a big role in the performance of a professional guitarist.
Whether you’re rocking the stage, covering a song, or hosting a guitar jam, they make the most of all the guitar’s features.
Hence, it becomes more important to have one that matches your skill and style.
So if you still haven’t found the ‘one’ to vibe with, FRET NOT! This article can help you.
Usually, advanced players look for 4 specific factors in just acoustic guitar, (not the electric mix one).
That’s tone quality, craftsmanship, playability, and value for money. Although it’s hard to find a model that excels at all those categories, one guitar might interest you.
Want to know which one? It’s Zager ZAD900, which is known as the best acoustic guitar under 2000. It has almost everything an advanced player looks for.
That said, many other options happen to be the best in different categories. Among several models, we’ve picked and reviewed 12 of them for you.
Top 12 Acoustic Guitars for Advanced Players
Top Picks for Tone Quality
High-quality tonewoods and strings are basically the ultimate features of acoustic guitars for optimal tone. No matter what kind of sound the stuff makes, it should hit right.
Advanced players mostly look for guitars that can excel in different genres. Here, Sitka and Adirondack can bring you that, although the latter can be quite costly.
Speaking of which, Sitka Spruce happens to be an all-rounder of tonewood material. It has a sweet spot between bright and warm tones and offers incredible highs, mids, and lows.
With such tonewood material, you can try out a variety of music genres.
1. Zager ZAD900
In this category, Zager ZAD900 is the most-loved acoustic because of its unique tone and sound quality. It’s got Sitka Spruce which makes it a versatile performer. Such a tonewood gives you a dynamic range with its deep, rich, clear, and powerful tone. The lows, mids, and highs are all well-balanced, providing solid shimmer effects. It even made the Beatles jealous.
Not only that, the acoustic guitar has Zager pillow-touch strings that give a nice buttery feel while creating a rich tone from the brightest to the warmest range.
Being an advanced player, you’d enjoy playing a lot of genres with Zager ZAD900, be it pop, country, rock, blues, folk, jazz, or classic. It adapts smoothly to various playing styles from strumming simple tunes to fingerpicking intricate melodies.
The best part is that it shines on two other factors too. It means you’ll get a longer lifespan and comfortable playability. The guitar might be slightly on the pricier side but it’s pretty cheaper than its counterparts.
2. Taylor AD17
Another one is Taylor AD17 which has similar properties to the Zager one. There’s Sitka tonewood that impresses you with its incredible bright notes. The mids deliver powerful sounds with a well-balanced top.
The lows aren’t a star but it’s decent. You may want to have a pop or country jam with this guitar.
3. Martin LX1
Just like the other two, Martin LX1E’s tonewood is of Sitka. Its mids and highs cut through big time so you’d love to play some folk, blues, or pop with the guitar. It’s going to be pretty loud, so the guitar would be perfect for big spaces with some crowds.
How About Superior Build and Craftsmanship?
Wood materials of an acoustic guitar determine both the durability and sound. The materials shouldn’t only be high-quality and solid but also rich and powerful in tone and volume. This ensures a longer lifespan, better sound, and a comfortable playing experience.
For advanced players, the combination of Mahogany, Rosewood, and Sitka works to give you both superior build and craftsmanship.
1. Zager ZAD50
Zager ZAD50 excels at giving you long-lasting performance making it the best acoustic guitar. It’s both durable and silvery that earned Danny Zager the “guitar master” title.
The guitar’s back, sides, neck, and head are made of African Mahogany whereas the soundboard is Sitka Spruce. The materials happen to be solid with fine finishes. So, it should last decades for advanced players.
Zager’s attention to detail in the construction of this acoustic guitar reflects meticulous craftsmanship. You get to enjoy the versatile tone from the Spruce and exceptional bass from the Mahogany.
Its soft nickel frets and bridge are well-constructed which makes sure to enhance playability and stability. Plus, the guitar leaves a natural and earthy sound which makes it perfect for cover sessions.
2. Gibson Montana Hummingbird
The Hummingbird is an all-time classic because of its durability. The acoustic guitar has similar properties.
Both the Sitka spruce top and Mahogany back and sides tend to be quite durable. The same combo also works to ensure an authoritative voice.
The tone will be loud and bold which makes it stage-ready.
3. YamahaRed Label FGX5
When you combine retro with contemporary, you get Yamaha Red Label FGX5. The acoustic guitar has a robust Mahogany body with a Sitka spruce top to last several years.
With the top material, the guitar ensures both visual appeal and a well-rounded tone. As for the mahogany body, it works to deliver a solid punch. The classic V-shaped head and semi-gloss finish give it an aesthetic look.
You Need Playability and Comfort
When it comes to the comfort and playability of acoustic, the shape, weight, and neck profile are the main players.
You can fine-tune strings, action, and other features but not them. Since advanced players are mostly into intricate playing and longer sesh, the acoustic guitar has to provide comfortable playability.
You might find such features from models with dreadnought shapes and slimmer necks. It benefits you with proper weight distribution. Plus, you can try different techniques while moving your fingers quickly across the frets.
1. Zager ZAD80
Expect to have both comfort and playability from this rockstar acoustic Zager ZAD80. Its dreadnought size and weight distribution are incredibly well-balanced.
So, there won’t be any straining issues and you can have longer sesh easily with it. Plus, the shape gives you plenty of space to strum and fret freely so you explore multiple advanced techniques.
The best part is its slim neck profile. It feels natural in your hand which makes it pretty easy to form chords. Moreover, it benefits you with faster finger movement between frets. So, you’d find it suitable for intricate fingerings and solos.
The guitar also has a soft-touch fret design. This makes sure you face less string bite and finger fatigue. Plus, the guitar also offers access to chords near the sound hole through a Venetian Cutaway Style.
This way, you can explore a wide range of music genres while transitioning easily across the whole fretboard.
2. Martin D-15M
Just like ZAD80, this acoustic Martin D-15M ensures ease of playing as well. The neck taper feels comfortable which makes it right for strumming and fingerpicking.
Moreover, the dreadnought shape comes well-balanced. It gives a versatile platform for you to try out different playing styles.
3. Guild Traditional D-55
The Guild’s D-55 also comes with a dreadnought shape, very similar to the other two. So, it’s going to be quite comfortable for advanced players to hold and play.
There’s a slimmer nut that accentuates the overall thinness of its neck. Although it’s more a D than C profile, the guitar provides comfy first-position chords.
Let’s Find The Value for Money
Low cost doesn’t always mean bad. Some models bear the nicest features without being pricey.
Some good, budget-friendly acoustic guitars can cost around $500-$1,000 if it’s for advanced players. You may have solid wood made of inexpensive materials like Mahogany or Spruce. Such woods tend to last years.
Besides, the tonal quality will be decent. You can play a good range of genres like country, rock, pop, jazz, and indie with low-end options. Many budget-friendly guitars come with smooth fretboard and decent intonation. So, you can get a good balance of quality and cost.
1. Zager ZAD20
Popular among the most advanced players for its price, the Zager ZAD20 possesses lots of features without costing much. You can call it the best budget-friendly acoustic guitar under $1000.
It comes in a dreadnought shape to give you a balanced sound. The slim neck design feels natural and comfy so it easily forms chords. Moreover, it won’t cause any aches in your hands.
Since the guitar is made of Spruce-Mahogany, you’d love its well-balanced tones. The mids and lows are rich making it just right for blues, rock, jazz, bass, and folk.
Although the highs are less pronounced, its slightly crispy sound can play pop or country. But because it provides a smooth, focused sound, you can try out fingerstyle playing.
2. Seagull Entourage Autumn Burst
The Autumn Burst by Seagull knows how to grab your attention with its build quality and headstock shape. Costing around $600, the guitar has a tapered head to make sure its very straight strings pull through the nut to give you tuning stability. It pairs wild cherry back and sides with a cedar top. The materials are durable and deliver a punchy sound. So, you’d love it for strumming and fingerpicking. Although it may not have the richness in lows, the highs and mids are great.
3. Fender Paramount PM-1
Explore all the benefits of Mahogany with Fender Paramount PM-1 at just around $600. The guitar feels long-lasting and has some great tones to offer. You’ll get an overall rich warm sound from the acoustic. So, players wanting a mellow tone would love it.
The mids are solid and have a punchy effect. You can bring out some good blues or country music out of it. The lows aren’t overpowering but it’s sufficient enough for different indie or alternative.
The dreadnought shape is there to provide both comfort and playability. Not only that, PM-1 happens to last long too.
