American Made Guitars: Ranking The Best US Made Acoustic Guitars

Acoustic guitars have played huge roles for among the best music that played on our radios – and for good reason! Many famous musicians and instrumentalists had the acoustic guitar as their first instrument that introduced them to the world of music.

While some would want to explore other instruments after. acoustic guitars still appeal greatly to a lot. especially because of the versatility it offers. Acoustic guitars could fit right into just about any genre imaginable – rock, ballad, jazz, R&B, even hip-hop nowadays feature the distinctive sound of strings being plucked.

What’s even better, American made acoustic guitars offer the best acoustic guitars in the world. While countries overseas do make some good sounding guitars, there really is no beating the American made acoustic guitars that even history proves are the best.

So, if you are just a beginner, or you are already a pro looking for a well-worth upgrade, we’ve listed the best American made acoustic guitars in the market today.

The Best American Made Acoustic Guitars

IMAGE	PRODUCT	DETAILS
	Taylor 514ce V-Class Grand Auditorium Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural	Great strumming sound Looks and feels very luxurious Sounds balanced in the tonal range	Check Price
	Gibson J-15 Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Guitar Walnut Burst	Fantastic sound as expected from a Gibson Its great design offers it a great feel Fairly cheap	Check Price
	Guild USA D-55 Traditional Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar Natural	One of the best guitars, this is a powerhouse. Beautiful, luxurious design for seasoned and session musicians. It provides everything you want in a guitar	Check Price
	Martin D-28 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar	Perfect for strumming, picking, and plucking Provides a very classic tone Made to be very comfortable	Check Price
	Taylor 314ce V-Class Grand Auditorium Acoustic-Electric Guitar	Cheaper than most American made acoustic guitars Offers all the good qualities and technology of Taylor guitars Very comfortable to play	Check Price

Taylor 514ce V-Class Grand Auditorium Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural

Taylor is probably the best-selling guitar brand in the United States. And we are kicking off our list with one of Taylor’s best products to date, and while the brand has many impressive guitars in its repertoire, one that is worth checking is the Taylor 514ce V-Class Grand Auditorium Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural.

The top of the body of the guitar is made of Western Red cedar, which makes it sound warmer than most guitar while combining it with its mahogany back and sides give the guitar midrange overtones and quick response.

Considered as one of the best guitars Taylor has made, this acoustic guitar offers fantastic volume on itself. And thanks to its Expression System 2 preamp, it sounds just as beautiful and natural sounding when it is plugged in.

Finally, its West African ebony fingerboard with the Century fretboard inlay gives this guitar a very luxurious look and feel!

Gibson J-15 Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Guitar Walnut Burst

Introduced in 2014, the Gibson J-15 still stands as one of the top tier American made acoustic guitars for a fairly cheaper price. This guitar sacrificed its portability measuring at 24′ in length so that it can offer an extravagant and rich power and volume. Of course, the signature Gibson tone is present as well, being warm and versatile.

Having a beautiful midrange and ringing bass, the curvy shape design also gives it an iconic look which would surely be famous in the years to come — the Gibson J-15 is perfect to be played sitting down or standing up.

However, its size makes it not recommendable for younger players or small built adults. Nonetheless, the design makes it easy to handle and play.

Finally, just like most American made acoustic guitars, this Gibson is great even either as a pure acoustic or plugged in.

Guild USA D-55 Traditional Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar Natural

This guitar shows Guild in its peak, giving the Taylor and the Martin brands a run for its money. And if money isn’t really an issue for you when choosing a guitar to buy, the Guild USA D-55 will surely give you your coin’s every worth.

The high price of this American made acoustic guitar is matched by its excellent build quality: the top is made of Adirondack spruce giving it a light and resonant sound balanced out by the rosewood back and sides which give it a deep bass sound.

Did I mention that when you buy this luxurious guitar, you also get a high-quality, high-end case that resembles alligator skin — surely heads will turn when you walk into a room holding this beauty.

This guitar is perfect for players who have been in the industry for quite some time. even famous recording artists use the same guitar. If there’s one word to describe the Guild USA 0-55: Opulent!

Martin D-28 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar

If the only people you trust to help you in deciding which American made acoustic guitar to buy are Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash, then look no further.

These two legends personally loved the Martin D-28. and the same guitar has continued to wow seasoned artists since its introduction to the world in 1931!

This is one of the greatest guitars in history, offering balanced sounds in the tonal spectrum — both good in bass and treble. The guitar produces clarity in the harmony when played with rhythm as well. The design is nothing too special, and that’s preferable because the Martin D-28 is very comfortable to hold and it really feels like a premium guitar.

While the price tag is a bit on the expensive side, this American made acoustic guitar actually is worth buying because of its reliability in almost all of the factors on what a good guitar should be.

Taylor 314ce V-Class Grand Auditorium Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Now, you may be wondering why another Taylor brand is making an appearance on this list. As mentioned already, Taylor is one of the best­selling brands in the United States because it really delivers on the quality of the guitars they produce. But of course, they come at a steep price.

Now comes the Taylor 514ce, an entry-level guitar which brings all the good qualities we know and love from the Taylor guitar in the higher price points.

The brand sacrificed the high-end materials such as the tortoiseshell pickguard and the mother-of-pearl inlays and the fancy binding to give us a cheaper Taylor guitar but with the great sound and quality build that we would expect from an American made acoustic guitar.

This is perfect for those who are in a bit of a budget, but still want the bright and clear high-end notes, full bass, and smooth midrange of a Taylor guitar.

Which acoustic guitars are made in the USA?

People often ask: are American made acoustic guitars better than those made overseas? Well, to make it simple, the answer is yes.

Although American made acoustic guitars are at the pricier side of things, some may even call it a luxury. you can have confidence and you are assured that the guitar you’re picking up has actually a quality build and will offer you the best sound there is in the world.

Not only that, America is also proud that it is part of the history of music for continuously innovating the technology we have in our guitars. Brands such as Martin, Fender, and Ovation helped the ascent of the United States as a leading manufacturer of acoustic guitars.

There are numerous brands of American made acoustic guitars out there in the market, but the most famous brands are famous for a good reason. They have stood the test of time because they never fail to produce and offer the best sounding American made acoustic guitars that even seasoned and famous players would pick up.

These brands have a direct connection in every step of the manufacturing process and the regulation is very tight so we are assured that the guitars they produce are only the best. These guitars help players achieve greatness just as much as their own talent.

Among the most famous brands are the Fender and the Gibson. Both of these are coveted brand, whose tone and sounds are often the standard for other brands. If you’re a player who is looking for a more retro or classical tone to recreate the sounds of the old times, the Fender or the Gibson is the go-to.

Then we have the Martin and the Taylor brands that manufacture some of the best sounding acoustic guitars these days. across all price ranges. And as already mentioned. the Taylor is the best-selling acoustic guitar brand in the United States.

Both brands are the very best in terms of the build quality, the attention to details, and the tone of their fantastic guitars.

But we also have to give honorable mentions to the other American made acoustic guitar brands that has continuously and tirelessly revolutionizes the guitar industry. We have the Paul Reed Smith that actually now rivals the Fender and the Gibson, the Guild which offers a more retro style with durable and quality build, and the Ovation that is as much a part of guitar history as all these brands.

How To Choose The Best American Made Acoustic Guitars

Choosing and picking the best guitar is a hard thing to do. While it all boils down to your personal preference, these preferences should still be backed with the guidance in order to get the best guitar that is best suited for you.

To help you, we streamlined some areas where you should focus when you are choosing your very own American made acoustic guitar.

Experience

The level at which you are as a player is as of the moment should be considered when choosing a guitar.

Are you a beginner or at least amateur and lacks some years in playing? Maybe you should consider buying one of the cheaper ones and staying away from high-end acoustic guitars.

Don’t spend your money on the pricier instruments just yet and thanks to the outstanding brands, spending less on guitars doesn’t mean you are sacrificing the build quality and the beautiful sounds.

However, if you are a more experienced player, then an upgrade to your guitar should be in order and consider looking into the construction and sound of the of the guitar, which we will delve in later on.

How You Will Use The Guitar

It is also important to consider where you will be playing your acoustic guitar. Many people who are planning to buy high-end acoustic guitars are also looking to play in public or in stage, or often times, they are in a band.

If you are one of these people, then you should consider an acoustic-electric guitar which is built-in with a preamplifier to plugged in to amplifiers.

Construction

Probably what makes or breaks an acoustic guitar is its construction. Generally, for the less experienced players, the materials with which the guitar is made might not move mountains — as long as the guitar is well-made, then you are good to go.

However, for experienced musicians, the materials used, the tonewood, the length of the neck, the body, and even the strings could make the greatest difference and deliver various sounds that could fit different styles and genres.

If you have a specific sound of style in mind that you might want to achieve while playing your American made acoustic guitar, then you might want to spend some time studying the different construction elements that is put into creating a guitar.

Sound

While the construction, design, and material elements of an acoustic guitar determines the sounds it produces, it is still important to keep in mind what sound and style you are aiming to produce in order to guide you to the perfect guitar.

Do you want a retro tone to your music? Are you more of a jazz kind of musician? Do you want a modern take on a classical and distinguishable sound? These are some questions to ask yourself.

There you have it, Preference, of course, is still important. We suggest that you go to a guitar store. hold and play some. See if you’re comfortable with it, if you like the sounds it offers, and does it have the construction and technology you need.

Conclusion

There are good reasons why American made acoustic guitars are considered the best in the industry. They have the best quality, the best sounds, styles, and tones, they offer reliability, they are very comfortable to play and hold, and they are continuously being innovated to be tailored fit to the needs of the times.

American made acoustic guitars may be on the pricier side of things. They may even be considered a luxury, however, keep in mind that these guitars, especially these brands, are a part of history that revolutionized the music industry for good.