AudioFu Chart · November 2026
Best Baritone Acoustic Guitars Under $2,000 2026
The top pick is Ibanez AE275BT Baritone ($668). Harley Benton Baritone CLG-414BCE NT gives you the most for the money at $334. Ranked by the AudioFu Index from 7 models across 5 brands, prices checked every night.
Last updated: November 7, 2026
Top 7
Full detail for the 7 highest AudioFu Index scores. Every other model is listed below.
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- Nut width44 mm (1.73")
- Scale685.7 mm (27")
- Frets20 frets
You get a baritone acoustic with a solid Sitka spruce top, a cutaway body, and a built-in Ibanez pickup with volume and tone controls. Its 685.70 mm scale and 20 Jumbo frets make it a good fit if you want a lower range than a standard guitar. The Comfort Grip neck and wooden vine inlays make it a practical choice if you plan to play with a pickup.
Pros
- Solid Sitka spruce top, a strong tonewood choice for an acoustic
- Ibanez AP11 magnetic pickup with Ibanez Custom Electronics for plugging in
- Comfort Grip neck with a rounded fretboard end for easier playing
Cons
- Longer 685.70 mm scale suits players who want the deeper baritone range
71AudioFu
IndexStableno change since Aug 17Aug 17$668 now$668€598 at Thomann · in stockCheck price ↗ -
Guild Westerly Collection BT-258E Deluxe Baritone
BT-258E Deluxe Baritone · Guild
6 for sale on Reverb1 finish at Thomann
- Nut width45 mm (1.77")
- Scale686 mm (27.01")
- Frets20 frets
- Strings8-string
This 8-string baritone has a solid spruce top, rosewood back and sides, and a built-in Fishman GT-1 pickup. It suits you if you want to play lower, deeper parts on a steel-string guitar and plug in when you play live. The pickup is ready to use, so you can connect it to an amp without adding a pickup of your own.
Pros
- Solid Sitka spruce top gives the guitar a solid wood soundboard
- Fishman GT-1 pickup system with volume and tone controls is built in
- Rosewood arched back and sides pair with a mahogany neck and Pau Ferro fretboard
Cons
- Electronics offer only one volume and one tone control
70AudioFu
Index↓ 0.9%since Aug 17 · lowest so far$780 · Aug 17$774 now$774€693 at Thomann · in stockCheck price ↗ -
Guild Westerly Collection BT-240E Baritone
BT-240E Baritone · Guild
7 for sale on Reverb1 finish at Thomann
- Nut width43 mm (1.69")
- Scale686 mm (27.01")
- Frets20 frets
This Guild baritone has a solid Sitka spruce top, mahogany back, sides, and neck, and a Fishman GT-1 pickup with volume and tone controls. Its 686 mm scale and B-E-A-D-F#-b tuning give you the lower range of a steel-string guitar. It suits you if you want a baritone that is ready to plug in and play live.
Pros
- Solid Sitka spruce top gives the body a solid, well-built tonewood foundation
- Fishman GT-1 system is built in, with volume and tone controls on hand
- Mahogany back, sides, and neck paired with a Pau Ferro fretboard and bridge
69AudioFu
IndexStableno change since Aug 17Aug 17$613 now$613€549 at Thomann · in stockCheck price ↗ -
- Nut width45 mm (1.77")
- Scale685.7 mm (27")
- Frets20 frets
- BodyWalnut body
- FingerboardPau ferro fingerboard
You get a baritone acoustic with a selected solid spruce top and walnut body. It has a Fishman Sonicore pickup and Presys-II preamp with a built-in tuner, so you can plug in when you need to. Its longer 685.70 mm scale and grand auditorium cutaway body suit you if you want to play in the lower register and reach the upper frets with ease.
Pros
- Selected solid spruce top gives this guitar a solid tonewood top
- Fishman Sonicore pickup paired with Fishman Presys-II preamp and built-in tuner
- Scalloped X-bracing inside the body adds internal support
64AudioFu
IndexStableno change since Aug 17Aug 17$334 now$334€299 at Thomann · in stockCheck price ↗ -
- Nut width45 mm (1.77")
- Scale704 mm (27.72")
- Frets20 frets
If you want a baritone guitar, this one is worth a look. It has a solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and a built-in rechargeable pickup, so you can plug it in and play through an amp. It suits players who want a lower-tuned acoustic with a pickup, and the long 704 mm scale takes a little getting used to.
Pros
- Solid spruce top, a solid tonewood base for the guitar
- Mahogany back and sides with an okoume neck and laurel fretboard
- MB-3 rechargeable pickup system built in for amplified playing
Cons
- At 704 mm, the scale length is long, so the neck stretches further than on most guitars
46AudioFu
IndexStableno change since Aug 17Aug 17$445 now$445€399 at Thomann · in stockCheck price ↗ -
- Nut width45 mm (1.77")
- Scale710 mm (27.95")
This is a baritone acoustic guitar with a solid cedar top and solid mahogany back and sides. It has an L.R. Baggs EAS-VTC pickup, so you can plug it into an amp when you want more volume. It suits you if you want a deeper-tuned acoustic that you can play amplified, and it comes with a gig bag.
Pros
- Solid cedar top paired with solid mahogany back and sides
- Mahogany neck with an ebony fingerboard and ebony bridge
- Built-in L.R. Baggs EAS-VTC pickup system for amplified playing
43AudioFu
IndexStableno change since Aug 17Aug 17$1,875 now$1,875€1,679 at Thomann · in stockCheck price ↗ -
- Nut width48 mm (1.89")
You get a jumbo steel-string baritone with a solid spruce top and mahogany back, sides, and neck. Its longer scale and fanned frets make it a fit if you want to play in a lower range than a standard guitar. It suits players who already know the basics and want something different from standard tuning.
Pros
- Solid spruce top for a sturdy, resonant soundboard
- Mahogany back, sides, and neck in one wood combination
- Fanned frets with a 643 mm to 700 mm scale for baritone range
Cons
- Its longer baritone scale calls for heavier strings than standard guitars
40AudioFu
IndexStableno change since Sep 24Sep 24$557 now$557€499 at Thomann · in stockCheck price ↗
Baritone Acoustic Guitars by the numbers
Measured across all 9 models we track, not a sample.
Median $557 — half of all baritone acoustic guitars here cost less.
median of 9 models · 43 mm (1.69")–45 mm (1.77")
median of 8 models · 685.7 mm (27")–704 mm (27.72")
median of 7 models · 20–20
How to choose the best baritone acoustic guitars
Low-End Response
It's a baritone - it needs thump. We're looking for a solid fundamental tone that doesn't just fizzle out; it needs to cut through a mix without turning into a muddy mess. A weak low end is just a regular guitar that's harder to play.
Sustain & Articulation
Baritones often suffer from a lack of clarity. We prioritized instruments that maintain decent articulation even when playing lower chords and that have enough sustain to make those low notes sing, not just die quickly.
Neck Profile & Playability
A thick, unwieldy neck is a baritone's worst enemy. We favored guitars with comfortable neck profiles that allow for easy access to those lower frets, especially important for chording and those big, open voicings.
Bracing & Construction
Baritones put more stress on the top. Solid wood tops are a must, and the bracing pattern needs to be well-executed to handle the extra tension and avoid a boomy, uncontrolled sound. Look for X-bracing as a baseline.
Pickup Voicing (If Applicable)
Many baritones end up amplified. A bad pickup can ruin an otherwise good guitar.
Buying guide
So you're looking to drop down to baritone territory, huh? That low-end rumble is addictive, but baritone acoustics aren't exactly ubiquitous, and the good ones can get pricey fast. We're going to break down the best baritone acoustic guitars you can realistically snag for under $2000, focusing on getting you the most usable instrument for the money - because let's be honest, you want to be heard in a band, not just look cool.
At this budget, you're not getting a pristine, flawless instrument. Expect some trade-offs - maybe the finish isn't as flawless, or the hardware isn't top-of-the-line. Solid wood tops are non-negotiable for any baritone worth playing.
Pay close attention to the neck profile; if it feels awkward in your hand, the low-end rumble won't make up for it. Don't chase specs; chase feel and sound.
How the AudioFu Index works
Five measured signals and nothing else — no stars from strangers, no “tested by experts” we didn’t do. The weights are fixed and public. We don’t play these instruments; we measure the market around them.
This chart covers 9 baritone acoustic guitars from the Thomann catalogue. Before you buy, read hands-on reviews and, where you can, play it. Full methodology.
AudioFu earns a commission when you buy through our Thomann links. It never changes the order — the index does.
- Demand40%
How many of this exact model are for sale on Reverb right now — what musicians actually buy and resell.
- Lineup20%
How many finishes Thomann stocks — makers expand the models that sell.
- Price15%
Where the price has moved since we started tracking in August.
- Specs15%
How completely the maker documents it.
- Maker10%
How deep the brand’s range is in this category.
Questions
Are baritone acoustics harder to tune?
A little. The longer scale length means more tension, so strings can snap more easily, and intonation can be a bit trickier to dial in. Get a good setup from a tech.
What gauge strings should I use on a baritone?
Heavier gauges are generally needed to maintain tension and proper intonation. 12-56 or even 13-58 are common. Experiment to find what feels best and sounds right for your playing style.
Can I use a regular acoustic guitar case for a baritone?
Probably not. Baritones are wider. You'll need a longer case to avoid damage. Don't risk it - a broken neck is expensive.
I'm a fingerstyle player - is a baritone acoustic a good choice?
Absolutely! The low-end resonance adds a richness and depth to fingerstyle playing that's hard to replicate. Just be mindful of string tension and action.
Is a baritone acoustic good for recording?
Definitely. The unique tonal character can add a lot of dimension to your recordings, especially for cinematic music, ambient textures, or adding weight to a mix. Just be careful with mic placement to avoid boominess.
