Even though Taylor is considered to be among best acoustic guitar brands which most people associate with four digit price tags, they actually have a pretty awesome line of affordable models.

There are those who will say that buying cheap Taylors is more or less just paying for the brand, but that is definitely not the case.

Taylor GS Mini belongs to a line of good acoustic guitars that offer balance and great performance. 

Features and Performance 

All things considered, this is one of the more traditional acoustic guitars from Taylor’s lineup.

The shape and size are reminiscent of a smaller orchestra acoustic guitar, which makes it a very comfortable model for a variety of users.

It features a mahogany solid top combined with laminate Sapele back and sides. The neck is also made of supple and the whole guitar just inspires confidence when you handle it. 

Where there is a Taylor, you also have to include its biggest competitor, Martin Guitars.

The one we chose for this occasion is the Martin LX1 Little Martin.

This guitar packs heavy-hitting punches in all the right places while retaining a relatively affordable price.

This makes it one of the best acoustic guitars for beginners who want a future-proof first acoustic. 

This guitar features a standard Dreadnought design which has proven to be the most popular choice in the last half of the century. Build quality is great, and performance is definitely following close.

You’ve probably noticed that Martin LX1 Little Martin is cheaper than the other guitars we have mentioned so far. That probably leads you to believe there’s a catch of some sorts.

Even though this Martin goes outside our budget by just a bit, we felt that not including it on the list would be robbing you of a great potential choice.

It’s no secret that Martin, considered by some to be the best acoustic guitar brand in the world, feels comfortable in the high-end segment of the market.

That is perfectly apparent when you take a closer look at Martin Custom D. 

Features and Performance 

All things considered, this Martin is among the more conservative models in their lineup.

We are looking at a standard dreadnought design that is built using solid Sitka spruce top and solid mahogany back and sides.

The neck is also a mahogany design that features one of Martin’s more popular neck profiles. The fretboard is made of Indian rosewood, which offers all of the benefits of having a real rosewood piece with increased comfort. Build quality and craftsmanship are superb, to say the least, as it is expected. 

In terms of sound, you are looking at one of the best sounding guitars in this price range. There’s a lot of volume, width, and warmth in its tone, even though you would expect some limits due to its dreadnought shape.

Finally, we have another Martin that has rightfully found its way onto our list.

This high end model has a beautiful design. The 000 15-fret body size rests easily on the player’s arms making it comfortable to play.

The guitar looks right out from the pages of history book, thanks to the mahogany appearance.

The sound that this acoustic guitar produces is simply outstanding.

A good thing to notice is the compatibility for left-handed guitarists as well.

We are looking at a high-end guitar, that means the price tag is a bit high for most guitarist, but you can rest assure that it’s worth every penny.

With the reputation of making quality acoustic guitars for more than one and a half centuries, Martin guitars are certainly one of the best acoustic guitar brands.

So their products are for those who want their instrument to exceed in every aspect, sound, tone and design.