Acoustic guitars are a hefty investment. Given that on average one can cost anywhere between $500 and $5000, buyers are going to exercise great discretion before investing. Like most things in life an acoustic guitar’s value depends on the purpose you are purchasing it for, personal preference, and other subjective factors. Even so, a sensible buyer will want some level of objective standard to hold their prospective instrument to. So what makes an acoustic guitar the best acoustic guitar? Ultimately it comes down to three major facets: sound, durability and comfort.
Sound
There are countless different sounds an artist can aspire to create, but certain techniques are simply superior in creating any kind of music. A lighter gloss finish, using hide glue, and implementing the quartersawn method (Lee) are all techniques that are going to help preserve the tonal qualities of the acoustic guitars wood. Thick coats of gloss are going to dampen the tonal transference resulting in duller notes, while hide glue creates strong bonds that transfer tone between parts of the guitar better than easier to use glues. Meanwhile, the quartersawn technique of woodcutting preserves the innate tonal qualities of the wood, resulting in sharper sounds. So while different strings and woods will be better suited for different genres of music, these techniques are going to result in a consistently better sounding guitar across musical needs!
Durability
One of the struggles of guitar shopping is that different core needs are often at odds with one another. Lighter gloss might enhance tonal transference, but it also makes the guitar last longer. Luckily, not all possible approaches are at odds with one another. A sturdier wood will also help your guitar withstand the hazards of playing. Sitka spruce is a known, sturdy wood that still provides clear sounds and is a good place to start if you don’t have deeply specialized needs.
Comfort
By far the most nuanced of these considerations, comfort will always be a deeply subjective matter across all shopping experiences. However, we can still apply some conventional wisdom to this topic. A lighter, smaller guitar will be generally more accommodating and less taxing over long play sessions. You’ll also want a properly fitted guitar. For most adults, this means a full size guitar (40” in Concert, 41” in Dreadnought).
This collection of parameters will help you start making an informed investment in your next acoustic guitar. It cannot be emphasized enough though that guitars are a nuanced and deeply objective oriented buying experience. Different strings, woods, makes, and even sizes can all have an affect on the tones your acoustic guitar creates. Different people will need different size guitars, and someone just starting out might not want a high quality, long lasting guitar given the likelihood of discovering their needs just aren’t quite what they thought they were. But when looking for a consistent baseline, these parameters will provide you with a consistent way to find the best acoustic guitar.
