Best Folk Acoustic Guitars Under $5,000 2025
Affordable folk acoustic guitars under $5,000 - great value without compromising quality
Last updated: October 15, 2025 • Next update: October 22, 2025

Gibson L-00 Original Vintage Sunburst
- • Comfortable smaller body size
- • Balanced tone across frequencies
- • Lower volume projection
- • May lack power for heavy strumming
Gibson L-00 Original Vintage SunburstSteel String GuitarBody shape: 00Top: Solid Sitka spruceBack and sides: Solid...

Gibson Les Paul Parlor Acoustic VCS
- • Great for fingerpicking
- • Balanced tone across frequencies
- • Less bass response than dreadnought
- • May lack power for heavy strumming
Gibson Les Paul Parlor Acoustic VCSSteel-String Guitar with PickupType: Parlor with cutawayTop: Solid AAA flamed...

Martin Guitar SC-13E Special Burst
- • Clear note separation
- • Great for fingerpicking
- • Limited low-end presence
- • Not ideal for band situations
Martin Guitar SC-13E Special BurstSteel-String Guitar with PickupShape: S-13 Fret with cutawayTop: SpruceBack and...

Gibson L-00 Original Ebony
- • Balanced tone across frequencies
- • Great for fingerpicking
- • Less bass response than dreadnought
- • Not ideal for band situations
Gibson L-00 Original EbonySteel-String GuitarBody shape: 00Top: Solid sitka spruceBack and sides: Solid mahoganyNeck:...

Lakewood A-52 Premium
- • Balanced tone across frequencies
- • Comfortable smaller body size
- • Less bass response than dreadnought
- • May lack power for heavy strumming
Lakewood A-52 PremiumSteel-String GuitarTop: AAAA Sitka spruceBack and sides: MyrtleBody edges: MahoganyBody purflings:...

Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2
- • Balanced tone across frequencies
- • Easy to handle and transport
- • Limited low-end presence
- • Lower volume projection
Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2, Steel-String Guitar with PickupNathaniel Rateliff's music, both solo and with the...

Lakewood C-31 CP 2024
- • Easy to handle and transport
- • Comfortable smaller body size
- • Less bass response than dreadnought
- • Limited low-end presence
Lakewood C-31 CP 2024Steel-String Guitar with PickupStyle: Concert with cutawayBack and sides: Solid East Indian...

Martin Guitar GPC-13E Burst Ziricote LH
- • Great for fingerpicking
- • Comfortable smaller body size
- • Not ideal for band situations
- • Lower volume projection
Martin Guitar GPC-13E Burst Ziricote LHAcoustic Guitar with PickupLefthand / left-handed modelStyle: Grand Performance...

Martin Guitar SC-13E Koa
- • Comfortable smaller body size
- • Clear note separation
- • Limited low-end presence
- • Not ideal for band situations
Martin Guitar SC-13E KoaAcoustic Guitar with PickupStyle: S-13 Fret with cutawayTop: SpruceBack and sides: KoaX-Brace...

Sheeran by Lowden Stadium Edition
- • Great for fingerpicking
- • Balanced tone across frequencies
- • Not ideal for band situations
- • Less bass response than dreadnought
Sheeran by Lowden Stadium EditionAcoustic Guitar with PickupDesign: WL (Wee Lowden) with custom thin bodyExact...

Martin Guitar SC-13E Special
- • Easy to handle and transport
- • Balanced tone across frequencies
- • Limited low-end presence
- • Less bass response than dreadnought
Martin Guitar SC-13E SpecialSteel-String Guitar with PickupType: S-13 Fret with cutawayTop: SpruceBack and sides:...

Martin Guitar GPC-13E Burst Ziricote
- • Great for fingerpicking
- • Clear note separation
- • Lower volume projection
- • May lack power for heavy strumming
Martin Guitar GPC-13E Burst ZiricoteAcoustic Guitar with PickupStyle: Grand Performance - 14 FretTop: SpruceBack and...

Maton EMBW6 Mini
- • Comfortable smaller body size
- • Balanced tone across frequencies
- • Lower volume projection
- • Limited low-end presence
Maton EMBW6 MiniSteel-string guitarBody design: miniTop: "A" blackwoodBack and sides: "A"...

Gibson Les Paul Parlor Acoustic VS
- • Comfortable smaller body size
- • Clear note separation
- • Limited low-end presence
- • May lack power for heavy strumming
Gibson Les Paul Parlor Acoustic VSSteel-String Guitar with PickupType: Parlor with cutawayBack and sides: Solid...

Gibson Parlor Rosewood EC RB
- • Great for fingerpicking
- • Comfortable smaller body size
- • Lower volume projection
- • May lack power for heavy strumming
Gibson Parlor Rosewood EC RBAcoustic Guitar with PickupType: Parlor with cutawayBack and sides: Solid rosewoodTop:...
How to Choose the Best Folk Acoustic Guitars
Budget Planning
- • Under $200: Entry-level
- • $200-$500: Intermediate
- • $500-$1000: Advanced
- • $1000+: Professional
Quality Check
- • Sound clarity & tone
- • Build materials & finish
- • Hardware durability
- • Overall craftsmanship
Key Features
- • Your musical style
- • Skill level match
- • Intended use case
- • Brand reputation