Here are 20 of the most popular acoustic guitar brands, along with some of their best-known models and famous players.
1. Martin
Martin is one of the oldest and most recognizable acoustic guitar brands. Its guitars have a traditional look, and many of the company’s best-known designs have changed very little over time. Martin created the dreadnought body shape, which later became one of the most popular acoustic guitar designs in the world.
Popular Martin Acoustic Guitar Models
- D-28: A rosewood dreadnought with a strong bass response and plenty of volume.
Famous players: Neil Young, Hank Williams.
- D-18: A dreadnought with mahogany back and sides and a more direct, balanced sound.
- 000-28: A smaller-bodied guitar that is comfortable to play and works well for fingerstyle.
Famous player: Eric Clapton.
2. Taylor
Taylor guitars have a more modern feel than many traditional acoustic brands. They are known for comfortable necks, clean construction, and a large range of acoustic-electric models.
Popular Taylor Acoustic Guitar Models
- 814ce: One of Taylor’s best-known Grand Auditorium guitars, with rosewood back and sides and built-in electronics.
- GS Mini: A smaller guitar that became very popular for travel, practice, and everyday playing.
- 214ce: A more affordable Grand Auditorium model and one of the most common Taylor guitars.
Famous players: Taylor Swift, Jason Mraz.
3. Takamine
Takamine is especially popular with musicians who play live. The brand became well known for acoustic-electric guitars with reliable pickups and built-in preamps.
Popular Takamine Acoustic Guitar Models
- EF341SC: A black cutaway dreadnought with a cedar top and built-in electronics.
Famous players: Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi.
- P3DC: A cutaway dreadnought from the Pro Series with a cedar top.
- EF360GF: A dreadnought made in honor of Glenn Frey.
Famous player: Glenn Frey.
4. Guild
Guild has been making acoustic guitars since the 1950s. The brand is known for traditional American designs, including dreadnoughts, jumbo guitars, and 12-strings.
Popular Guild Acoustic Guitar Models
- D-55: A high-end dreadnought and one of Guild’s best-known acoustic guitars.
- M-20: A small all-mahogany acoustic with a simple design and warm sound.
- F-512: A large 12-string jumbo with the strong, full sound Guild 12-strings are known for.
5. Yamaha
Yamaha makes acoustic guitars for both beginners and professional players.
Popular Yamaha Acoustic Guitar Models
- FG800: A simple dreadnought and one of Yamaha’s most popular beginner acoustics.
- LL16: An all-solid guitar from Yamaha’s L Series with a more traditional design.
- A5R: An acoustic-electric made with live performance in mind.
6. Breedlove
Breedlove guitars are easy to recognize by their modern body shapes and headstocks. The company also uses several woods that are less common on traditional American acoustics.
Popular Breedlove Acoustic Guitar Models
- Oregon Concert: A US-made model that often uses Oregon myrtlewood.
- Pursuit Exotic Concert CE: A cutaway acoustic-electric available with several different woods.
- Discovery Concert: A more affordable smaller-bodied guitar aimed at beginners and casual players.
7. Seagull
Seagull is a Canadian brand with a strong reputation for affordable acoustic guitars. Its guitars have a simple look and a narrow, easy-to-recognize headstock.
Popular Seagull Acoustic Guitar Models
- S6 Original: The model most people associate with Seagull and one of the brand’s longest-running guitars.
- Maritime SWS: An all-solid-wood series available in several body shapes.
- Artist Mosaic: A higher-end model made with solid woods.
8. Alvarez
Alvarez makes acoustic guitars at different price levels. The brand is known for solid-top and all-solid models at reasonable prices.
Popular Alvarez Acoustic Guitar Models
- AD60: A dreadnought from the Artist Series and one of the brand’s most familiar models.
- MD60BG: An all-solid dreadnought from the Masterworks line.
- AG60CE: A Grand Auditorium acoustic-electric with a cutaway.
9. Eastman
Eastman is known for traditional acoustic designs and all-solid construction. Many Eastman guitars have a traditional American-style design. The brand offers both affordable and high-end models.
Popular Eastman Acoustic Guitar Models
- E1D: A solid-wood dreadnought with a simple traditional design.
- E20D: A higher-end dreadnought with rosewood back and sides.
- AC222CE: A Grand Auditorium cutaway with built-in electronics.
10. Larrivee
Larrivee focuses on acoustic guitars and has its own body shapes. The guitars have clean styling without much decoration.
Popular Larrivee Acoustic Guitar Models
- D-03: A dreadnought from the long-running 03 Series.
- L-03: Uses Larrivee’s L body shape, which sits between a large dreadnought and a smaller auditorium guitar.
- OM-40: A smaller Orchestra Model with a traditional look.
11. Furch
Furch is a Czech company that has become much more widely known outside Europe. Most of its guitars use solid woods, and the company organizes many models by color series.
Popular Furch Acoustic Guitar Models
- Blue Gc-CM: A Grand Auditorium cutaway with cedar and mahogany.
- Yellow Gc-CR: A higher-end Grand Auditorium with cedar and rosewood.
- Red Gc-SR: One of the more expensive Furch models, with spruce and rosewood.
12. Lowden
Lowden guitars are made in Northern Ireland and are especially popular with fingerstyle players. Their body shapes and sound are different from the traditional American dreadnought style.
Popular Lowden Acoustic Guitar Models
- O-32: A large-bodied Lowden and one of the company’s better-known models.
- F-32: A slightly smaller body that works well for both fingerstyle and strumming.
- S Series: Lowden’s smaller body shape for players who prefer a more compact guitar.
Famous players: Pierre Bensusan, Richard Thompson, Ed Sheeran.
13. Maton
Maton is an Australian guitar company with a strong reputation for acoustic-electric guitars. The brand is especially well known for its smaller 808 body shape and its pickup systems.
Popular Maton Acoustic Guitar Models
- EBG808TE: Tommy Emmanuel’s signature model, based on the smaller Maton 808 body.
- EBG808C Artist: Another 808-style acoustic-electric with Australian blackwood back and sides.
- EM100 Messiah: A high-end dreadnought with spruce and rosewood.
14. Ovation
Ovation guitars are easy to spot because of their rounded composite backs. The company also put a lot of focus on acoustic-electric guitars and stage performance.
Popular Ovation Acoustic Guitar Models
- Celebrity Elite: One of the more affordable Ovation lines, with the company’s familiar roundback body.
- Legend: A long-running series with a more traditional center soundhole.
- Adamas: Ovation’s higher-end line, known for unusual materials and construction.
Famous player: Glen Campbell.
15. Recording King
Recording King focuses on vintage-style acoustic guitars and resonators. Many of its models are based on American guitars from the 1930s and other early designs.
Popular Recording King Acoustic Guitar Models
- RD-328: An all-solid dreadnought with an Adirondack spruce top and rosewood back and sides.
- Series 11 Dreadnought: A more affordable vintage-style dreadnought.
- Dirty 30s Series: A group of lower-priced guitars inspired by older parlor, 0, and dreadnought designs.
16. Washburn
Washburn is an old American guitar brand with roots in Chicago. The brand has produced everything from inexpensive dreadnoughts to acoustic-electrics made for live use.
Popular Washburn Acoustic Guitar Models
- D10S/D10SCE: One of Washburn’s best-known acoustic lines.
- Festival Series: Acoustic-electric guitars designed mainly for stage use.
- Comfort Series: Guitars with body shapes designed to sit more comfortably against the player.
17. Collings
Collings is a Texas guitar maker known for high-end acoustic guitars. The brand focuses on traditional designs, careful construction, and premium materials.
Popular Collings Acoustic Guitar Models
- D1: A mahogany dreadnought with a strong, clear sound.
- D2H: A rosewood dreadnought and one of the brand’s best-known models.
- OM2H: A smaller orchestra-style guitar that is popular with fingerstyle players.
18. Gibson
Gibson is better known overall for electric guitars, but its acoustic models are an important part of the company’s history. Many of them have very recognizable body shapes and a warmer, fuller sound.
Popular Gibson Acoustic Guitar Models
- J-45: A round-shoulder dreadnought and one of Gibson’s best-known acoustic guitars.
Famous players: Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen.
- Hummingbird: A square-shoulder acoustic with a decorated pickguard and a very recognizable look.
Famous player: Keith Richards.
- SJ-200: A large Super Jumbo acoustic with a wide body and a strong stage presence.
Famous players: Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan.
19. Epiphone
Epiphone has a long history with acoustic guitars. Today, the brand also offers more affordable versions of several Gibson acoustic designs.
Popular Epiphone Acoustic Guitar Models
- Texan: One of Epiphone’s best-known original acoustic designs.
Famous player: Paul McCartney.
- Inspired by Gibson Hummingbird: A more affordable version of the Gibson Hummingbird.
- Inspired by Gibson J-45: Epiphone’s version of the classic Gibson J-45.
20. Fender
Fender has a large acoustic range. Most Fender acoustics are aimed at beginner and mid-range players.
Popular Fender Acoustic Guitar Models
- CD-60S: A traditional dreadnought and one of Fender’s most common beginner acoustics.
- Newporter: Part of the California Series, with a body shape and headstock that take some ideas from Fender electric guitars.
- Malibu: A smaller California Series acoustic for players who prefer a more compact body.