What are your top 3 "Factory" made guitar brands

[Jcamp]

Martin
Gibson
Alvarez

[Brucebubs]

All
of
them

[thomasinaz]

Martin

Larrivee

Martin.

[Rev Roy]

Top 3 based on what?

Based on tone:
Martin/Gibson (tied)
Taylor

Based on playability out of the box:
Taylor
Gibson
Martin

Based on craftmanship:
Taylor
Martin
Gibson

Overall:
Martin
Gibson
Taylor

NOTE: Yes, Taylor tops 2 of my 4 categories...but it’s last in tone. And tone trumps everything for me.

[Shadowfox]

Originally Posted by Rev Roy

Top 3 based on what?

Based on tone:
Martin/Gibson (tied)
Taylor

Based on playability out of the box:
Taylor
Gibson
Martin

Based on craftmanship:
Taylor
Martin
Gibson

Overall:
Martin
Gibson
Taylor

NOTE: Yes, Taylor tops 2 of my 4 categories...but it’s last in tone. And tone trumps everything for me.

Interesting that you would put craftmanship high on Gibson. I think of Craftmanship the ability to make great guitars at a consistent level with a good fit and finish.

Fit and finish on Gibson's are usually great. Tone and consistency, meh.

[Tico]

I have only two favorite acoustic manufacturers ... maybe because I'm spoiled by owning their flagships, a 1977 D-55 and an Authentic D-28 37 VTS.
For me Guild and Martin truly do tie for the favorite spot.

I have no third favorite.

I do love my two Taylor Big Babies, but I have trouble seeing their higher end models as being worth thousands of bucks, same with Gibson acoustics.
Just a tonal preference thing, not a criticism of the brand.

BTW I do LOoOoOoOVE my 2 Gibbys, a Les Paul and especially my ES-335 in sweet delicious cherry.
If the house was burning down and I had time to grab only one guitar, it would be my 335.
Sorry.

[Rev Roy]

Originally Posted by Shadowfox

Fit and finish on Gibson's are usually great. Tone and consistency, meh.

Not my experience. “Fit and finish” on the Gibsons I’ve owned (all from the Bozeman era) has been okay, but not remarkable. Playability has always been good and tone has been great. JMHO...

[jojobean39]

People said Collings, but I’d sort of put them in the same category as SC and Huss and Dalton. So, I won’t say SC.

1. Larrivee- best bang for the buck, IMO. They just make excellent sounding guitars. For the price, no one comes close in terms of what I like to hear and feel.

2. Takamine- their Japanese line is a good guitar line. I own one of their classicals made in Japan and it’s a great sounding instrument. It was only like $400 new (that was in 1998 or so). Heck of an instrument.

3. Breedlove- I will say, they need to change their logo back. But they make some nice guitars.

[brencat]

1. Gibson -- Love the tone and playability, fit and finish not so much. Like a raspy voiced singer in a smoke filled bar. Old school, whiskey drinking, testosterone fueled Americana.

2. Martin -- Iconic sound. Bass biased and unbalanced, but like an old pair of well worn shoes. The acoustic sound I grew up listening to.

3. Collings -- I've been without one for close to two years now. Making ~ 1500 acoustics per year, they are no longer considered boutique, but a small factory operation. If you like loud, articulate, piano like tone, Collings is your brand. Legendary fit and finish...maybe even #1 overall. I love their craftsmanship and beauty, and cutting power and volume for bluegrass flatpicking, but playability is challenging if your technique is less than ideal. They punish sloppy players (like me) mercilessly.

[rwmct]

Martin

Gibson

Guild.

These were the "big three" when I was a kid, and they are what I think of when I think acoustic guitar.

[WWDIII]

Martin, Alvarez and Seagull.

I have a 149 dollar Alvarez AD60 off the used rack at GC that is hard to beat. Its not as good as my Martin but for the money its hard to live on the difference.

[89bruin]

1. Larrivée - Somehow they’re just perfect for me ...
2. Martin - Still love the sound despite some recent QC concerns
3. Guild

[Mbroady]

My signature says it all. I’m a Furch Fan
I think Lowden and Martin, in no perticular order would come next for me.

But I think all Factory guitars have come a long way in consistency and quality, even the lower priced imports.

[noledog]

1. MIJ TAKAMINES

2. MARTIN STANDARD and above

3. Guild USA

[Neil K Walk]

Larrivee
Martin
Taylor