https://acousticguitar.com lessons, music to play, and how-tos for all guitarists Tue, 28 Oct 2025 23:03:55 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://i0.wp.com/acousticguitar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/AG_Favicon.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 https://acousticguitar.com 32 32 103806923 https://acousticguitar.com/carved-for-sound-how-the-acoustic-archtop-guitar-keeps-swinging/ https://acousticguitar.com/carved-for-sound-how-the-acoustic-archtop-guitar-keeps-swinging/#comments Wed, 29 Oct 2025 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=148325 In this feature, we’ll trace the history of the acoustic archtop guitar—from its 19th-century origins and golden-era prominence to its postwar decline and modern-day revival.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/carved-for-sound-how-the-acoustic-archtop-guitar-keeps-swinging/feed/ 9 148325 https://acousticguitar.com/review-the-iris-guitar-company-ms-00-is-a-custom-made-boutique-flattop-with-vintage-flair-and-high-end-tonewoods/ https://acousticguitar.com/review-the-iris-guitar-company-ms-00-is-a-custom-made-boutique-flattop-with-vintage-flair-and-high-end-tonewoods/#comments Wed, 13 Aug 2025 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=148189 The MS-00 is a guitar that’s straightforward, well-balanced, and built to be played, not pampered]]> https://acousticguitar.com/review-the-iris-guitar-company-ms-00-is-a-custom-made-boutique-flattop-with-vintage-flair-and-high-end-tonewoods/feed/ 2 148189 https://acousticguitar.com/review-martins-new-d-28-and-d-x2e-billy-strings-signature-models/ https://acousticguitar.com/review-martins-new-d-28-and-d-x2e-billy-strings-signature-models/#respond Wed, 25 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=147739 Inspired by two of Strings’ longtime musical companions, the stage-worthy D-28 and the road-ready D-X2E reflect the flatpicker's fast rise and deep roots.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/review-martins-new-d-28-and-d-x2e-billy-strings-signature-models/feed/ 0 147739 https://acousticguitar.com/great-acoustics-gordon-lightfoots-1967-gibson-b-45-12-the-guitar-behind-the-wreck-of-the-edmund-fitzgerald/ https://acousticguitar.com/great-acoustics-gordon-lightfoots-1967-gibson-b-45-12-the-guitar-behind-the-wreck-of-the-edmund-fitzgerald/#comments Fri, 06 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=147721 Open up a copy of ‘Sundown,’ his 1974 best-selling record, and you’ll see this prized guitar by Lightfoot’s side.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/great-acoustics-gordon-lightfoots-1967-gibson-b-45-12-the-guitar-behind-the-wreck-of-the-edmund-fitzgerald/feed/ 5 147721 https://acousticguitar.com/great-acoustics-jason-isbells-1940-martin-0-17/ https://acousticguitar.com/great-acoustics-jason-isbells-1940-martin-0-17/#comments Sun, 20 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=147246 Isbell owns some prized vintage guitars, but when it came to recording his latest solo acoustic album, the singer-songwriter turned to this smaller and plainer 0-17.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/great-acoustics-jason-isbells-1940-martin-0-17/feed/ 1 147246 https://acousticguitar.com/review-l-r-baggs-aeg-acoutic-electric-guitar/ https://acousticguitar.com/review-l-r-baggs-aeg-acoutic-electric-guitar/#comments Sun, 16 Mar 2025 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=147260 After spending time with the AEG-1, I found it to be a well-executed blend of comfort, playability, and a remarkably natural amplified tone.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/review-l-r-baggs-aeg-acoutic-electric-guitar/feed/ 1 147260 https://acousticguitar.com/review-the-cort-modern-black-a-contemporary-guitar-blending-bold-looks-with-great-playability-and-sound/ https://acousticguitar.com/review-the-cort-modern-black-a-contemporary-guitar-blending-bold-looks-with-great-playability-and-sound/#respond Fri, 31 Jan 2025 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=146923 The instrument takes a conceptual approach to guitar design that somehow balances the radical with the comfortable and practical.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/review-the-cort-modern-black-a-contemporary-guitar-blending-bold-looks-with-great-playability-and-sound/feed/ 0 146923 https://acousticguitar.com/review-taylor-614ce-ltd-and-858e-ltd-golden-anniversary-guitars/ https://acousticguitar.com/review-taylor-614ce-ltd-and-858e-ltd-golden-anniversary-guitars/#respond Wed, 04 Dec 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=146211 Taylor's 50th anniversary lineup revisits some of the brand’s most iconic designs, blending the character of the originals with modern innovations.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/review-taylor-614ce-ltd-and-858e-ltd-golden-anniversary-guitars/feed/ 0 146211 https://acousticguitar.com/review-the-takamine-ft340-bs-a-quality-modern-dreadnought-primed-for-the-stage-or-studio/ https://acousticguitar.com/review-the-takamine-ft340-bs-a-quality-modern-dreadnought-primed-for-the-stage-or-studio/#respond Sun, 13 Oct 2024 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=145726 The Takamine FT340 BS is a versatile axe for the gigging acoustic guitarist who needs a consistent sound at a variety of volumes in a variety of venues.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/review-the-takamine-ft340-bs-a-quality-modern-dreadnought-primed-for-the-stage-or-studio/feed/ 0 145726 https://acousticguitar.com/review-collings-om1a-hill-country/ https://acousticguitar.com/review-collings-om1a-hill-country/#comments Wed, 14 Aug 2024 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=145167 Designed to be "just a guitar—simply in its purest form, open and woody,” every inch of the OM1A HC speaks to lutherie at its finest.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/review-collings-om1a-hill-country/feed/ 2 145167 https://acousticguitar.com/review-gruhn-versitar/ https://acousticguitar.com/review-gruhn-versitar/#respond Wed, 03 Jul 2024 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=144541 Based on the Tacoma models that Gruhn designed back in the 1990s, the Versitar series deconstructs and reconstructs many of the touchpoints of traditional flattop design, like the neck joint, fret count, bracing, soundhole position, and more]]> https://acousticguitar.com/review-gruhn-versitar/feed/ 0 144541 https://acousticguitar.com/review-martin-gpce-inception-maple/ https://acousticguitar.com/review-martin-gpce-inception-maple/#respond Sun, 07 Apr 2024 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=143857 Using sustainable domestic tonewoods paired with an innovative bracing design, the Inception is a great-sounding instrument that is easy to play.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/review-martin-gpce-inception-maple/feed/ 0 143857 https://acousticguitar.com/review-taylor-814ce-builders-edition/ https://acousticguitar.com/review-taylor-814ce-builders-edition/#comments Wed, 06 Mar 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=143347 With its perfectly dressed frets, spot-on neck relief, excellent action, and smooth joints and edges, the build quality on the 814ce is simply unimpeachable.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/review-taylor-814ce-builders-edition/feed/ 1 143347 https://acousticguitar.com/review-fenders-highway-series-parlor-a-thinline-acoustic-electric-engineered-to-sound-big/ https://acousticguitar.com/review-fenders-highway-series-parlor-a-thinline-acoustic-electric-engineered-to-sound-big/#comments Wed, 07 Feb 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=143296 With its fast-playing neck and thin, flattop-shaped body, the Highway is ideal for electric guitar players looking to add some acoustic vibe to their sound.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/review-fenders-highway-series-parlor-a-thinline-acoustic-electric-engineered-to-sound-big/feed/ 1 143296 https://acousticguitar.com/review-preston-thompsons-pkt-d-eis/ https://acousticguitar.com/review-preston-thompsons-pkt-d-eis/#respond Wed, 24 Jan 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=143307 This visually stunning, well-rounded flattop is ideal for a variety of musical styles and contexts.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/review-preston-thompsons-pkt-d-eis/feed/ 0 143307 https://acousticguitar.com/review-yamaha-fg9/ https://acousticguitar.com/review-yamaha-fg9/#comments Wed, 06 Dec 2023 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=142497 This limited-edition beauty feels like a bespoke guitar, and it truly shines whether flatpicked or fingerpicked.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/review-yamaha-fg9/feed/ 4 142497 https://acousticguitar.com/review-martin-super-d-and-d-18-streetlegend/ https://acousticguitar.com/review-martin-super-d-and-d-18-streetlegend/#comments Fri, 06 Oct 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=141797 Two new guitars that stretch the parameters of the models they take after without abandoning their core sonic or build qualities.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/review-martin-super-d-and-d-18-streetlegend/feed/ 2 141797 https://acousticguitar.com/cordoba-stage-guitar-review/ https://acousticguitar.com/cordoba-stage-guitar-review/#comments Fri, 25 Aug 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=141022 With its C-shaped mahogany neck and radiused fretboard, the Stage handles more like a semi-hollow electric than a traditional classical or flamenco guitar.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/cordoba-stage-guitar-review/feed/ 6 141022 https://acousticguitar.com/review-gibsons-j-45-50s-faded-and-keb-mo-3-0-12-fret-j-45/ Fri, 14 Jul 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=138644 Both models stick to the strengths and depart from the script in terms of our preconceived ideas about the J-45 shape.]]> 138644 https://acousticguitar.com/breedlove-artista-pro-series-concert-ce-review/ https://acousticguitar.com/breedlove-artista-pro-series-concert-ce-review/#respond Thu, 29 Jun 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=135584 The Pro Series Concert includes some of the maker’s signature touches in a well-made instrument that’s ready for the stage or studio.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/breedlove-artista-pro-series-concert-ce-review/feed/ 0 135584 https://acousticguitar.com/review-taylors-ad12e-sb-provides-walnut-warmth-in-a-small-footprint/ https://acousticguitar.com/review-taylors-ad12e-sb-provides-walnut-warmth-in-a-small-footprint/#respond Thu, 15 Jun 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=140769 Part of Taylor's relatively affordable American Dream series, the $1,999 AD12e-SB covers a lot of bases. Taylor calls its Grand Concert shape compact, and I think that’s a good way to describe an instrument whose tone belies its size.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/review-taylors-ad12e-sb-provides-walnut-warmth-in-a-small-footprint/feed/ 0 140769 https://acousticguitar.com/review-bourgeois-touchstone-om-vintage-ts/ https://acousticguitar.com/review-bourgeois-touchstone-om-vintage-ts/#respond Sun, 16 Apr 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=134926 The Bourgeois Touchstone OM Vintage/TS is a collaboration with Eastman Guitars that has resulted in an excellent tradition-inspired guitar with a relatively affordable price.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/review-bourgeois-touchstone-om-vintage-ts/feed/ 0 134926 https://acousticguitar.com/review-hill-guitar-company-companion/ https://acousticguitar.com/review-hill-guitar-company-companion/#comments Wed, 21 Dec 2022 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=134130 The Hill Guitar Company Companion is designed to be a professional-quality travel instrument for a classical guitarist or a crossover guitar for the steel-string player.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/review-hill-guitar-company-companion/feed/ 1 134130 https://acousticguitar.com/review-prs-se-a20e-angelus-cutaway-acoustic-electric/ https://acousticguitar.com/review-prs-se-a20e-angelus-cutaway-acoustic-electric/#respond Sun, 04 Dec 2022 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=134116 In this review of the PRS Angelus SE A20E acoustic-electric guitar, we were impressed as much by its easy playability as its bright yet flexible tonal range.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/review-prs-se-a20e-angelus-cutaway-acoustic-electric/feed/ 0 134116 https://acousticguitar.com/review-takamine-crn-ts1-guitar/ https://acousticguitar.com/review-takamine-crn-ts1-guitar/#respond Wed, 26 Oct 2022 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=133357 Our reviewer found that for a big guitar with a big sound, the Takamine CRN-TS1 also offers an intimate quality that rewards an uncluttered approach, where notes are given the time and space to linger.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/review-takamine-crn-ts1-guitar/feed/ 0 133357