TOP TEN Acoustic Guitar Brands - as voted by you.

Jimmy Recard · #1 10-02-2016, 08:32 PM

Recently I posted 2 surveys asking which guitar brands you (AGF members) own and play regularity. Over 300 members were surveyed about 27 guitar brands and the poll represents 473 guitars (see disclaimer point 4). The following is the top ten, as voted for by you.

1. Martin: (130 votes, 27.5%)
2. Taylor: (81 votes, 17.7%)
3. Gibson/Epiphone: (51, 10.8%)
4. Yamaha: (28 votes, 5.9%)
5. Guild: (25 votes, 5.3%)
6. Collings: (21 votes, 4.4%)
7. Santa Cruz: (20 votes 4.2%)
8. Alvarez: (15 votes, 3.2%)
9. Seagull/Godin: (15 votes, 3.2%)
10. Eastman: (14 votes, 3%)

The top ten represents 85% of all brands surveyed.

Disclaimer and background:
1. All surveys are flawed and this one is no better.
2. This is not a comment about build quality or global popularity. For instance if you went out and surveyed what Australian's play Maton and Cole Clark would have likely come out on top, at least in my experience - you rarely go to a live music event and not see one or both, and stock of these two seem to turn over in the guitar stores pretty quickly. Nashville may have put Takamine on top and here Takamine only got 4 votes out of 473. Ireland may have put Lowden at the top - who knows.
3. Having a PART 1 and PART 2 caused issues, for instance: 266 members voted in PART 1, and 97 members voted in Part 2. This means the total number of members who participated is between 266 and 363, as some members may have voted in both. Its probably safe to say over 300 members were sampled.
4. The "other" vote has not been counted, as some people have voted "other" when their guitar was listed in PART 1.
5. I don't really care how incensed you are that Gibson and Epiphone are on the same line.

mickthemiller · #2 10-03-2016, 03:27 AM

The top three are no surprise. Almost 9% playing Collins's or Santa Cruz is a good result for them.

Mbroady · #3 10-03-2016, 05:49 AM

The poll was fun.
I kept on thinking about this song later that day https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IUK6zjtUj00

Nate the Skate · #4 10-03-2016, 11:32 AM

Just wondering, how many votes did Larrivee get? I missed the poll, else I would have voted for the company.

Petty1818 · #5 10-03-2016, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate the Skate

Just wondering, how many votes did Larrivee get? I missed the poll, else I would have voted for the company.

I am pretty shocked that Larrivee did not place. How is that even possible?

The rest of the list doesn't surprise me though. Of course Martin, Taylor and Gibson will be the top three, they are just more readily available. It would be cool to do the poll in Canada though. I bet Godin/Seagull would place much higher.

baimo · #6 10-03-2016, 12:49 PM

Who makes Larrivee? Are they one man shop like Somogyi, because maybe not many people have them. I assume that is why Froggy Bottom and Goodall are not on the list I live in the NYC area and it is hard to find a place that carries them. FB only has 5 authorized dealers.
Do you have a picture of one? It is cool not to be on the list. Everyone has a Martin-Gibson-Taylor dealer within driving distance.

Warrenaines · #7 10-03-2016, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Petty1818

I am pretty shocked that Larrivee did not place. How is that even possible?

The rest of the list doesn't surprise me though. Of course Martin, Taylor and Gibson will be the top three, they are just more readily available. It would be cool to do the poll in Canada though. I bet Godin/Seagull would place much higher.

I'm surprised about Larrivee as well, don't they sell a lot more acoustics made in North America than even Gibson (i.e., not counting Epiphone acoustics, etc.)? Also, isn't Larrivee exclusively operated in California now?

Johan Madsen · #8 10-03-2016, 02:04 PM

Where is Furch/Stonebridge ??

Jimmy Recard · #9 10-03-2016, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate the Skate

Just wondering, how many votes did Larrivee get? I missed the poll, else I would have voted for the company.

Larrivee only just missed out. They came in at the 11th position with 9 votes. If you count the tie for 8th between Alvarez and Seagull, then maybe you could argue Larrivee are in the top ten. The poll's still open if you really want to bump Larrivee up.

wailin... · #10 10-03-2016, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johan Madsen

Where is Furch/Stonebridge ??

This poll just really highlights mass produced guitars churned out daily are the biggest sellers. Furch are relatively small compared to the companies above, even though their quality is easily as good.

Tico · #11 10-03-2016, 02:15 PM

I'd be quick to add that high sales do not necessarily indicate what is best.

Perhaps you've heard of McDonald's and WalMart.

rogthefrog · #12 10-03-2016, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baimo

Who makes Larrivee? Are they one man shop like Somogyi, because maybe not many people have them. I assume that is why Froggy Bottom and Goodall are not on the list I live in the NYC area and it is hard to find a place that carries them. FB only has 5 authorized dealers.
Do you have a picture of one? It is cool not to be on the list. Everyone has a Martin-Gibson-Taylor dealer within driving distance.

Larrivee has a factory (maybe even more than one). They're a relatively high-volume manufacturer. Not like Taylor or Yamaha, but almost certainly more than SCGC or Collings.