How Much Does An Acoustic Guitar Cost? Pricing Guide (2024)

The prices of acoustic guitars vary depending on the country of origin, brand, body, and wood type. For entry-level acoustic guitars, the average price is around $150, while intermediate-level guitars cost between $250 and $1000, and professional-level acoustic guitar prices can go up to $15.000.

Acoustic Guitars

Acoustic guitars are highly popular instruments that can be found in all music stores. There is a wide range of acoustic guitar models, from low-quality acoustic guitars for $50 to professional-grade elite models that cost more than $10.000.

Entry-Level Acoustic Guitars

Entry-level acoustic guitars can cost anywhere from $50 to around $250. They are mainly made overseas in China or South-East Asian countries. These guitars feature cost-effective materials such as laminate wood bodies, which are not the best acoustic material in terms of sound or durability.

Well-known brands such as Cort, Epiphone, Yamaha, Fender, Ibanez, Dean, and many more offer great entry-level acoustic guitar models with cost-effective designs.

Mid-Level Acoustic Guitars

Mid-range acoustic guitars cost between $250 to $1000 and are ideal for players who want to make an upgrade with their instrument. More affordable mid-level models still feature laminate wood but have higher quality parts, while more expensive models have a solid body and greater tonal qualities.

In the mid-level range, there are some models of bigger acoustic guitar brands like Martin, Taylor, and Guild. In this price range, there are many guitars made in different parts of the world, from the U.S.A. to China, Mexico, and Southeastern Asian countries. 

Mid-level acoustic guitar models are great for music enthusiasts who play guitar as a hobby or professional players looking for a backup or travel guitar.

High-End Acoustic Guitars

The high-end acoustic guitar range prices start from $1000 and go as high as $15.000. The best acoustic guitar brands, such as Martin, Taylor, Gibson, and Guild, offer many great models especially aimed at professional players. These guitars are often made in America, but there are made-in-Japan or Mexico models, too.

High-end acoustic guitars feature the best possible tonal quality and playability with great durability as they are made for professional players.

Acoustic-Electric Guitars

As acoustic-electric guitars feature preamp systems, they tend to have slightly higher prices compared to acoustic guitars. The prices start from $100 and go up to $10.000. Furthermore, you will need an amp, which increases the total price.

Besides the extra cost of the preamp and pickups system on acoustic-electric guitars along with the extra amp price, there is not much significant difference between the acoustic-electric and acoustic guitar features and prices.

How Much Do Used Acoustic Guitars Cost?

Used acoustic guitars cost significantly lower than new acoustic guitars. The price difference heavily depends on the guitar’s condition and the model. You can expect to pay %20 to %50 less for the price of a used guitar compared to the new one of the same model.

However, acoustic guitars are harder to maintain compared to electric guitars. That means you will have to examine the guitar in detail to make sure that the guitar is in good condition. If you have the chance, try the instrument with your own hands before deciding to buy a guitar.

What Affects Acoustic Guitar Price?

As seen before, there is a big gap between high-end and low-end acoustic guitar prices. The difference is due to some factors such as origin country, wood type, body construction, and hardware.

The higher-end acoustic guitar models have better quality wood, solid finish, and handmade construction process, and the U.S.A. and Japan as countries of origin. Lower-end models are mass-produced instead of by hand, laminated instead of solid design, and are made in China, Indonesia, Korea, or Vietnam. 

Origin Country

The most expensive guitars are typically made in the U.S.A as the attention to detail and workmanship are top-quality in the U.S.A. After that comes Mexico and Japan, which are the two countries that are known for quality instrument production. China, Indonesia, Korea, Vietnam, and other eastern Asian countries are more concentrated on producing cost-effective guitars. 

Wood Type

As acoustic guitars produce their sound acoustically without any electrical circuit or preamp system, the wood of choice plays a huge role in the sound quality. Spruce is a highly popular wood both in entry-level and professional acoustic guitars, while unique wood choices like koa, for instance, can only be found in high-end models. 

Body Construction

Body construction is also important as the tone and sustain increase or decrease with the construction quality and style. Laminate construction means fusing layers of wood, which is found in lower-end models, while higher-end models are solid models with better sustain and tonal quality.

Hardware

Another factor in the acoustic guitar price is the hardware material quality. Guitar parts like tuners, nuts, strings, and bridges all play a role in the sound, durability, intonation, and playability of acoustic guitars. The higher the quality of these parts, the better the acoustic guitar and the higher the price.

How Much Should You Spend on an Acoustic Guitar?

The question of how much to spend on an acoustic guitar depends on your budget, your goals with the instrument, and your experience level. A beginner guitar for around $300 will be ideal if you are an entry-level guitarist. If you are an experienced player, anything from $500 to $5000 would be reasonable.

Conclusion

Acoustic guitars are some of the most popular musical instruments, which is the reason why there are so many acoustic guitar models on the market. The prices of these guitars vary between $50 to $10.000, with the low-end range being $150 on average, medium-range from $300 to $800, and high-end going up to $15.000.