Acoustic Guitar Magazine | 7 years ago
The dreadnought is big. Outside of its portly proportions, this form remains a top-seller a century after its birth. For all of the talk about how fun it is to play parlor guitars and other small-bodied instruments, the dreadnought still casts a tall shadow across the landscape.
That is why we decided to look at this perennial guitar at its most popular—and competitive—price point. We invited guitar makers to submit their best examples selling for under $500. Naturally, some models run right up against this dollar limit, but most of these companies have offerings with lower costs or other features. (Editor’s note: The price on the Taylor Academy 10 changed between our review and press time. It is now $549.)
The makers assembled here—Breedlove, Eastman, Epiphone, Martin, Seagull, Takamine, Taylor, and Yamaha—have either distilled the essence of the classic dreadnought in a new design or used its form as a canvas for experimenting with woods, finishes, and contemporary features like cutaways and electronics.
After spending hours with these beasts, I can safely say that what you can take home for around $500 these days is remarkable—a far cry from the subpar budget offerings of yesteryear. Every guitar has unimpeachable fretwork, quality hardware, and a setup that is ready to go from the first strum. All sound huge and respond best to a flatpick or fingerpicks. They like to be driven powerfully, which makes a lot of sense, as guitarists clamoring for loudness originally dictated the dreadnought’s large size.
Not every one of these guitars is perfect for every player—you have to find an instrument that speaks to you—but this group shows that there are ample options for an affordable dreadnought that you can rely on for years of inspiration and fun.
FULL STORY + SPECS: http://acousticguitar.com/8-dreadnoughts-under-500/
