Best All Solid Guitar Under $1,000?

[Chedeng88]

Yamaha.....

[geetaruke]

I’ve tried a bunch in this price range and there are def a lot of great suggestions here, but I’m in the Yamaha L16 camp as well. I actually feel they compare favourably to guitars that are quite a bit more than $1000.

[Terry_D]

If you look around online you can sometimes find a Seagull Artist Series with tiny blemishes for under 900.00. A year ago I found an Artist Cameo on Reverb with a tiny blemish on the heel for 850.00. When I got it the 'blemish' ended up being a mark made from the heel coming in contact with something that had a soft paint or something on it. It rubbed right off and I then had myself an unblemished 1200.00 guitar that sounds and plays beautifully.

[geetaruke]

Originally Posted by geetaruke

I’ve tried a bunch in this price range and there are def a lot of great suggestions here, but I’m in the Yamaha L16 camp as well. I actually feel they compare favourably to guitars that are quite a bit more than $1000.

Just like to add that I also (like many others here) feel pretty much the same about virtually everything under the Godin umbrella as well.

[jed1894]

Originally Posted by yell03

If you can stretch to $1100 you can pick up a Gibson J-15 on Amazon.

They are offering 18% off of $1349 right now.

I grabbed one.

The Matin GPCRSGT for $999 is also nice, I have that model also, but the Gibson sounds better.

Both come with hardshell cases.

Not any more. I think you got last one. hahaha. I went to get one after we talked and they had none left. Still got it as "temporarily out of stock" I missed my chance. I tried calling too. No dice.

[StrumNSing]

I've done a lot of research on this. A lot. Personally, I love the Martin sound, AND I've always wanted to keep the price down. So here's my list. You can find some of these new or used below $1000. For me, the issue comes down to the 1.75 nut width. You can find many more brands with a 1.69 nut, but if you're like me and prefer 1.75, then here you go. (I don't prefer Seagull headstock, so not including them). And this is in the order I prefer, based on warmth...

(I have a Blueridge BR-140a and a Larrivee L-02).

Larrivee (L-02 and L-03, and D-02 and D-03, although not all Ds are 1.75)
Blueridge (BR140a and BR160a)
Eastman (E6D, E8D, E10D, E20D)

Yamaha & Taylor get honorable mention, but (other than the Taylor DN3) they haven't quite "spoken" to me like the others have.

Such a fun quest!

[yell03]

Originally Posted by jed1894

Not any more. I think you got last one. hahaha. I went to get one after we talked and they had none left. Still got it as "temporarily out of stock" I missed my chance. I tried calling too. No dice.

If I don't bond with mine and I am going to return it I can let you know.

[waveform]

Martin OMC Custom?? List for around 1 grand.. Just a thought..

[buckallred]

Originally Posted by ngockhanh1988

Martin DRS2, Sitka top and Sapele back and side

Yes! I got one of these slightly used for $550 and it is a brilliant instrument!!

[Charmed Life Picks]

There are so many choices, but one could do worse than an Eastman dread, either square- or round-shouldered.

sm

[robj144]

Guild Westerlies, I would presume, are good. I've never played one, but I have a Guild GAD and it's really good.

[WildBill82]

There are a couple Martins with a used street price under a grand that I am forever considering (D-16RGT, DRS2, MMV, etc.). Couple years back I had a Taylor DN3 (spruce/sapele) that I loved initially but didn't take long for the honeymoon to end, that guitar put me on the trail of a rosewood guitar that I finally realized in my Breedlove (which also has solid guitars under a grand).

I'd give mahogany another chance in a D-18 or whatever but it just didn't work in that Taylor, all trebles with a nothingburger for bass.

[dalep]

I am still in the Yam A3R camp.

[NotValid]

What do you guys think of Sigma guitars? Martin copies basically. I might try a few out tomorrow

[dave999z]

Originally Posted by NotValid

What do you guys think of Sigma guitars? Martin copies basically. I might try a few out tomorrow

Martin copies that are Martin licensed. Martin owns the Sigma trademark everywhere except the US (due to their own lapse), and licensed it to the German company that manufactures the guitars now (well, they have them manufactured in China).

Most are not all solid, and I think the few that are cost more than $1k.

But super cool guitars and apparently a good value. From the US you can order them on eBay from Germany or from some dealers in Canada. Sigma just shuffled their lineup and discontinued a bunch of models, so if you have your eye on a particular one that’s been discontinued, order it asap.

Where are you going to try them? Are you in Canada?