If you want to buy an acoustic guitar but aren’t sure where to start, this post is for you. There are a lot of factors to consider when purchasing an instrument. Size, shape, appearance, quality, warranty, price, sound just to name a few. We have searched high and low and have come back time and time again to the acoustic guitars made by Alvarez as the best value guitars on the market. Here are some reasons why:

Playability
While all guitars in this price range are made overseas, Alvarez Guitars are different in that they are shipped to their setup facility in St. Louis to be set up by hand before being sent to the retail stores to be hung up for sale. This means each guitar is given an inspection and fine tuning by hand here in the U.S. This makes a big difference when it comes to playability. A guitar that has good ‘action’ means that the strings are at the proper distance from the fretboard and are easy to press down to create a good sound. For the beginner guitar player, this is a must. Many other brands do not have this added touch of quality control.

Size
Alvarez offers a size to fit every player. From the travel size guitar to a jumbo acoustic guitar, they can truly fit anyone. This is important for guitar players, especially beginners, to find a guitar that fits them. Playing a guitar that is too big or too small can be frustrating, even painful, and lead to a student giving up on their dream of learning to play the guitar. Alvarez has affordable models in each size.

Warranty
How about a lifetime warranty to go with that? Yeah, for real. If there is anything wrong with your guitar, you can send it back and they will repair or replace at no cost to you (as long as you’re the original owner).

Sound
It isn’t that hard to build a great sounding guitar that costs $4,000. In fact, if you are spending that much money on a guitar you should have high expectations! What Alvarez has done is nothing short of amazing: they build great sounding guitars for a tenth that price. Don’t get me wrong, there isn’t anything like playing a $4,000 guitar, but for the beginner guitar player, you are not going to find a better sounding acoustic guitar in this price range than an Alvarez.

Will Mason Showcases Alvarez Guitars

The Three Alvarez Guitars We Have Chosen To Showcase Are:

RT26
This is Alvarez’s Travel Size Acoustic Guitar. With laminate mahogany back and sides, and a laminate spruce top, this guitar packs a lot of sound into a small body. Perfect for young guitar players or anyone who wants to save space on a trip (and leave their $4,000 guitar at home), the RT26 comes with a gig bag and is ready to rock for under $200 (ok, $199 is still less than $200 right???). The neck is narrow enough for a small child to get their hands around it comfortably, but still large enough that an adult hand can easily play it as well.

AF60SHB
This guitar is a size up, and a step up in quality from the RT26. From the Artist Series of Alvarez, the AF60SHB features a solid Sitka spruce top and laminate mahogany back and sides. We picked this particular guitar for the stunning glossy shadow burst finish. In this price range, I’ve never seen a prettier guitar. The F in the product number stands for “Folk” and refers to the size and shape of the guitar. This is the perfect instrument for someone who does a lot of finger picking, or anyone who is in between sizes and a full-size dreadnought is too big or bulky to play. The Artist Series from Alvarez also includes other upgrades such as premium die-cast tuners, solid bone nut and saddle, and small aesthetic features such as abalone inlays. This more than justifies the price point at $329.99. Be prepared to spend a little extra for a gig bag, or case, as the Artist Series does not include that in the price of the guitar.

RD27
Our third and final pick is back in the Regent Series. This is hands down the best acoustic guitar under $300. With Rosewood back and sides and a spruce top (all laminate) this guitar sounds huge. This is the same combination tone wood as found on much more expensive guitars, like a Martin D28. Of course, there are a lot of differences in the construction, quality and materials between the two so it’s nowhere near a fair comparison. That being said, the Alvarez truly does sound like a great bluegrass dreadnought guitar in its own right. This guitar is perfect for any full grown acoustic guitar player looking for a big sound for strumming, flat picking, or any style of playing for that matter.

So there you have it! These are our top 3 picks for best acoustic guitars for under $400. And to boot, two of them would also qualify for the best acoustic guitar for under $300! Watch the video to hear samples of each guitar being played and come visit us online or in person to try one out for yourself. Our knowledgeable staff can make sure you find the right guitar for you or your child so learning music will be a pleasure.