Favorite acoustic dreadnaught under $1200

[donlyn]

Favorite acoustic dreadnaught . .

None.

No dreads need apply.

Don
.

[Zissou Intern]

Recording King Tonewood Reserve or Tonewood Reserve Elite
Blueridge BR140A or BR160A
Eastman E6D-TC

[tsmith28]

If you can find a used Martin Special 16 in that price range, it's a no-brainer. Otherwise, either a Martin Road Series (e.g. D10E) or a Guild Westerly (e.g. D140).

[RobBnTX]

My Eastman E6D. I am going on year two with it and it has opened up very nicely. Plays great and sounds great.

[Texsunburst59]

I’d definitely go used and try to find the best Martin Dred I could get hands on.

I think putting some time and energy it could be done.

I would hit all the local guitar shops, pawnshops, CL,and FB Marketplace.

I frequent pawnshops at least 2-3 times a week, and I scored my ‘15 Martin Centennial DC-28E for $1K.

Here’s some pics.

[Medford Guitar]

I really like the sound of my Guild D-260ce Deluxe. Fairly well made and very powerful sound. It's my main gigging guitar

[bfm612]

Originally Posted by Roccorobb

Im 7 years into my Eastman e10d and still love it. Other dreads during the hunt are/were huss & Dalton, larrivee sd50 (12 fret beauty), Bourgeois, Goodall, Jayson Bowerman Breedlove Revival deluxe, and a vintage D28. The Martin, Goodall, and Eastman are my keepers.

I have an Eastman E10D as well, and I second this recommendation. I've grown to prefer OM-sized guitars, but of my dreads (the Eastman, Larrivee SD-40, Gibson J-15), the Eastman gets played the most. Its tone really works for me.

[Jdenkevitz]

Eastman E10D.

[llew]

Consider Eastman...

[Pickcity]

Alvarez MD60 or MD70, depending on whether you prefer mahogany or rosewood.

[rstaight]

I really like my Takamine GD93. I have let others play it and they have all said, "That's nice". Several folks at the jams I attend have commented on how good it sounds.

[L20A]

Eastman and Yamaha both make some fantastic guitars in this price range.
In fact, you can get a great Eastman or Yamaha for a much lower price.

There are a lot of other choices also but these two brands are among the best.

[TBman]

I like my Martin D-16GT. They don't make them anymore but there are a few used ones out there.

[mrjop1975]

The Taylor 110 c/e sapele - I can highly recommend it. It doesn't feel as bulky as a dread but has that full sound, and not a muddy sound either.

[seaveez]

Also check out the Godin family of guitars, such as Godin Metropolis and Seagull SWS or S6 (depending on tone woods).