ALVAREZ RD 50S

$499. Limited lifetime warranty. Solid spruce top, laminated rosewood back and sides, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, mahogany neck. Nut width: 1⁵/8 inches.

This guitar’s good looks and high-quality materials were very seductive. The Alvarez’ top featured the tightest grain of all the guitars reviewed, and the rosewood back and sides had the desirable rich chocolate color. The guitar was nicely finished, and its body was buffed to a high gloss, while the neck featured a smooth satin finish for better playability. With its simple appointments, this model is a fine example of an attractive, no-frills guitar. The tone of our review instrument, while not noticeably complex, was pleasing, and it sustained well and projected a balanced voice when fingerpicked or strummed softly. It was difficult to get real volume out of the guitar without causing the strings to buzz around the 12th fret, however, and the somewhat scratchy frets made it a bit uncomfortable to bend strings. Even though the fret dressing and setup needed a bit of work, the instrument’s overall playability was excellent, and the good-looking Alvarez RD 50S left us with a very positive impression.

ARIA AMS-01

$469.99. Limited lifetime warranty. Solid spruce top, laminated rosewood back and sides, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, three-piece mahogany neck. Nut width: 1¹¹/16 inches.

This guitar—the smallest we reviewed—represents a collaboration between Aria USA and German designer Stephen Schmitz. Its elaborate faux-abalone decoration, vintage-style top stain, and high-quality materials all contribute to the Aria’s handsome appearance. The workmanship inside the review guitar’s body seemed less than perfect, but the Aria featured great fretwork, and it played very evenly up and down its slim neck. The bass response was a bit weak and the overall sound somewhat midrange-heavy, resulting in a relatively quiet guitar. But given its great playability and the fact that inexpensive small-bodies are scarce, this instrument would be a very good choice for a beginning fingerstylist or a physically smaller player.

BLUERIDGE BR-2M

$395. One-year warranty. Solid spruce top, laminated mahogany back and sides, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, mahogany neck. Nut width: 1⁵/8 inches.

This guitar was the most difficult instrument we reviewed—difficult because it defied our experience and expectations. Its construction details were not up to par with the other instruments we received, its finish felt thick and plastic-like, and its setup was stiff. The guitar we received for review had a slightly warped top that had begun to sink in front of the bridge—a condition that, while acceptable in a vintage instrument, raises some serious questions in regard to a new guitar. There were other flaws as well: small filled-in gaps along the binding, a poorly seated nut, and a high E string that was a bit too close to the edge of the fingerboard. That’s why we were so surprised by the Blueridge’s great sound. Its tone was natural and rich, and it was one of the loudest instruments we reviewed. If you can put up with a few inconsistencies and have the time to check out a number of examples (I’ve inspected Blueridge guitars of a much higher structural quality in the past), you could be rewarded with exceptional tone.

DEAN DA PS

$399. Five-year warranty. Solid spruce top, laminated mahogany back and sides, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, mahogany neck. Nut width: 1⁵/8 inches.

This guitar had several features that set it apart from the pack. The materials were superb, and the abalone rosette and binding added a sophisticated touch. The Dean was also the only guitar we reviewed with a cutaway. At about grand concert size, but a bit deeper, it was very comfortable to hold. Its sound was bright if a bit trebly, and its intonation was quite good. The guitar stayed right in tune, due in part to its high-quality Grover tuning machines. The fun of playing the Dean was tarnished somewhat by below average fretwork. The test instrument’s first string buzzed in several locations, and there were visible file marks and inconsistent crowning on the frets. Fingerstyle players might find the 1⁵/8-inch nut width a little too narrow for comfort, but it was easy to play single-line melodies that rang out loud and clear. With a little bit of work, this would make an excellent choice for the player looking for an attractive, inexpensive, smaller-bodied guitar.

EPIPHONE AJ-18S

$389. Limited lifetime warranty. Solid spruce top, laminated mahogany back and sides, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, mahogany neck. Nut width: 15/8 inches.

This instrument was inspired by Gibson’s Advanced Jumbo design of the late 1930s, and in many ways it captures the Gibson’s essence. At about dreadnought size, but with sloped shoulders, the AJ offers a distinctive look and feel. Although the materials used in the review guitar were slightly below average, the overall appearance and finish were very good. The instrument was comfortable to play, and its sleek neck featured the flat-but-wide frets typical of Gibson guitars, affording the Epiphone a vintage vibe. The factory setup was excellent, with even action all the way up the neck and only a hint of buzzing when played hard. We all agreed that this guitar excelled at single-note runs but was a little weak in the bass, especially for playing chords. Overall, a great-playing instrument with good sound and lots of vintage character.

FENDER DG14 S TF

$389.99. Limited lifetime warranty. Solid spruce top, maple back and sides, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, mahogany neck. Nut width: 1¹¹/16 inches.

This nondescript-looking guitar surprised us with its great playability and loud, balanced sound. Its middle and upper frequencies were exceptionally strong (as is typical for maple guitars), and its bass was also bright and clear. The string-to-string balance was spot-on, and the Fender offered one of the more sophisticated voices of the guitars reviewed. The instrument’s setup was very good, and its player-friendliness was aided by its slim, somewhat Taylor-esque neck and above average fretwork. The quality of the materials used was about average, and the test guitar had a few slight cosmetic flaws in the finish. But given the otherwise solid craftsmanship and the guitar’s sound and playability, I wouldn’t think twice about recommending the Fender DG14 S TF.

HOHNER HW 640

$299. Limited lifetime warranty. Solid spruce top, laminated maple back and sides, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, maple neck. Nut width: 1¹¹/16 inches.

With a list price of only $299, the Hohner was the biggest surprise of the review. When it comes to appearances, what you see is what you get. The neck was grafted from three pieces of maple, there were visible knots in the guitar’s maple sides, and the top was not likely to win any beauty contests. However, everyone who played the guitar was simply stunned by its sound and huge dynamic palette. The Hohner was quite responsive when picked softly, and it really came to life when played hard. Where many guitars begin to compress or "bottom out," this one just delivered more volume. Moreover, its tone was nice and bright without being tinny. The guitar was not as playable as some of the other instruments reviewed; its action was slightly stiff higher up on the neck. But the setup was good, and there were no buzzing problems. For the truly budget-minded player who values tone over looks, the Hohner HW 640 may very well be the perfect ax.

IBANEZ ARTWOOD AW 100

$449.99. Limited lifetime warranty. Solid spruce top, laminated mahogany back and sides, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, mahogany neck. Nut width: 1¹¹/16 inches.

Ibanez has long been a driving force in the budget guitar market, and the company has repeatedly managed to manufacture instruments of great value. The AW 100 is no exception. The test guitar had the lively response one hopes for in a mahogany-backed instrument, and its balanced sound and sustain made it a good candidate for fingerstylists. When played hard with a pick, the Ibanez began compressing quite noticeably and didn’t seem able to project its sound character. The choice of materials—particularly the mahogany back and sides—was very good, but it’s too bad that the bridge was finished in black, a cosmetic decision we found harmful to the guitar’s overall appearance. Although there was a bit of buzzing in the trebles when played with force, the overall playability was excellent. With its nice, round tone and emphasis on the upper frequency spectrum, the Ibanez Artwood AW 100 would be a reliable, mic-friendly instrument for those who don’t dig in too hard.

OVATION CELEBRITY CC 01

$369.50. Limited lifetime warranty. Laminated spruce top, lyrachord back, rosewood fingerboard, walnut bridge, mahogany neck. Nut width: 1⁵/8 inches.

The untraditional roundbacked Ovation guitar has been a best-seller since it was introduced over 30 years ago. Its unique design elements afford it unparalleled road-worthiness, indifference to changing temperature and humidity, excellent projection, and, perhaps more importantly, its signature sound. Constructed of the same synthetic back material as other Ovation models as well as nice-looking woods all around, the Korean-built Celebrity model shares many of these traits with its more expensive U.S.-made cousins. The review guitar’s setup was about average, although the frets could have been polished a bit more. The Celebrity’s bright, somewhat midrange-heavy sound was paired with good note separation, providing an instrument well-matched to strumming techniques.

SAMICK SW 630 HS

$500 (Note: Samick doesn’t set a recommended retail price; this price was arrived at as a standard percentage of the wholesale price). Limited lifetime warranty. Solid spruce top, laminated rosewood back and sides, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, mahogany neck. Nut width: 1¹¹/16 inches.

The name Samick may not be familiar to many players, but in fact Samick is the largest Korean guitar manufacturer and the supplier of many instruments sporting other brand names. The SW 630, part of the company’s Artist Series, is a good indicator of the high level of quality and craftsmanship attained by Korean factories today. With its vintage-yellow top, chocolate-brown back and sides, herringbone binding, and vine-inlaid fingerboard, the SW 630 was one of the flashier, more attractive instruments we reviewed. Soundwise, it offered sweet but somewhat restrained tone, perhaps due to its heavy construction. The guitar’s tuning stability could be improved with a better fitted nut (the nut in the guitar we reviewed bound the treble strings during tuning and note bending). The instrument’s most impressive feature was its comfortable, great-feeling neck, featuring a relatively flat-radiused fingerboard, which should facilitate playing difficult material. If a smooth-playing neck and fancy appointments are high on your wish list, you might want to give the Samick a try.

SIMON AND PATRICK 6 MAHOGANY/SPRUCE

$469. Two-year warranty. Solid spruce top, laminated mahogany back and sides, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, maho-gany neck. Nut width: 1¹¹/16 inches.

Made by Canada’s La Si Do company, which is best known for its Seagull and Godin guitars, the Simon and Patrick line is virtually identical in construction to its Seagull cousins, including the typical bolt-on neck and lacquer finish. The model we reviewed offers a more traditional dreadnought design and headstock shape than the Seagull. Our test instrument was extremely lightweight for a dreadnought guitar, amazingly responsive to a soft touch, and able to develop respectable volume when played hard. The sustain was outstanding, and the bass was very focused, resulting in a great sound with no offending frequencies. The sound was matched by the Simon and Patrick’s wonderful feel, good setup, and silky-smooth, slightly triangular neck. This guitar seemed to have no limitations.

TAKAMINE G-330S

$459.50. Limited lifetime warranty. Solid spruce top, laminated nato back and sides, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, mahogany neck. Nut width: 1⁹/16 inches.

Although Takamine has established itself as one of the most popular brands among professional guitar players, the Asian manufacturer has also maintained an ongoing tradition of offering affordable instruments for beginners. The Taiwanese-made G series is Takamine’s low-cost line, and the G-330S we received was another simple-looking guitar that performed well. Its craftsmanship and materials were both up to snuff. Our only complaint, appearance-wise, concerned the unattractive, painted bridge. The instrument’s tone was nice, especially strong in the low-to-midrange area, but its projection was somewhat lacking. There was a bit of buzzing around the upper frets, but all in all playability was good. The G-330S would be a good choice for those players who don’t need the loudest guitar on the block and appreciate balanced tone and reliability.

WASHBURN D-13S

$499. Limited lifetime warranty. Solid spruce top, laminated ovangkol back and sides, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, mahogany neck. Nut width: 1⁹/16 inches.

Washburn’s review instrument was identical to the model we reviewed five years ago, except for its solid top. With its classy herringbone design, excellent materials, Grover tuning machines, and scalloped braces, the Washburn D-13S is still one impressive instrument. The craftsmanship and setup on the one we received were quite good, but the action could have been set a little lower and the frets could have been polished a bit more. The sound is pleasant if a little quiet, and the string-to-string balance could be better, as the treble strings come across softer than the rest. The instrument displayed the restrained tonal character often associated with new instruments, and based on other Washburns I’ve played, I suspect that it would open up with time. Overall, the instrument delivers classic dreadnought vibe and feel.

YAMAHA FG-432

$479.Limited lifetime warranty. Lamin-ated spruce top, laminated nato back and sides, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, nato neck. Nut width: 1¹¹/16 inches.

Yamaha has long had a reputation for offering quality acoustic guitars at fair prices. The laminate-topped FG-432 we received for review was quite impressive (a solid-wood version is available for $519). Strummed with a pick, the guitar wasn’t extremely loud, but it managed to stay focused even under heavy attack. It also produced a sweet sound when fingerpicked, although some players would find the narrow string spacing at the bridge inhibiting. The guitar’s nut and saddle showed a poor fit (which didn’t seem to affect its playability), but the general craftsmanship and materials were on the upper spectrum of the instruments reviewed. The Yamaha’s even tone did not favor any unwanted frequencies; we were bathed in nice, rich basses and crisp trebles. A fine, playable guitar suitable for instrumentals or accompanying voice or other instruments.

THE WRAP

These 14 guitars leave no doubt that a lot of R&D has taken place over the last few years. None of the instruments showed serious flaws, most offered exceptional sound, and any one of them would get the beginning guitarist off to a good start. The only weaknesses that appeared repeatedly were sloppy fretwork and a certain midrange emphasis in the sound, perhaps due to overly heavy bracing. A handful of these guitars really stood out from the crowd. The Simon and Patrick’s sound and feel lent it a very professional vibe, and the instruments submitted by Fender, Ibanez, and Alvarez each exhibited some exceptional qualities. Given its low list price of $299, Hohner’s HW 640 represents a remarkable value, and Dean’s DA PS is a welcome addition to the small field of inexpensive, solid-top, small-bodied guitars. Yamaha’s FG-432 proves that a guitar with a laminated top can still provide excellent sound, and one can assume that its solid-top cousin—which is only $19 above our price limit—would perform even better.

With such a high level of overall value, much of the decision-making process will depend upon your individual preferences. If this is your first shopping venture into the world of acoustic guitars, I would strongly recommend that you bring a more experienced friend along. Get him or her to play each instrument you’re considering so that you can step back and listen to the sound. Once you have narrowed down the field a bit, spend some time with each guitar and make sure it feels comfortable to you. Remember that the action can easily be adjusted after you buy the guitar; try to focus on more permanent characteristics such as body size, neck shape, and finish. In the end, however, it is the sound that counts, so listen up. With a little bit of luck, you will find an instrument whose sound inspires you to play.

Excerpted from Acoustic Guitar magazine May 1999, No. 77.

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