Best Premium Acoustic Guitars Under $5,000 2025

Affordable premium acoustic guitars under $5,000 - great value without compromising quality

Last updated: November 5, 2025 • Next update: November 12, 2025

Lakewood M-15 Custom - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#1

Lakewood M-15 Custom

Live Performance Professional Recording Collector Items
Key Feature:
• Superior tone and projection
✓ PROS
  • • Investment-grade instruments
  • • Superior tone and projection
✗ CONS
  • • Can be intimidating to play
  • • Very high price point

Lakewood M-15 CustomSteel-String Guitar with PickupType: Grand ConcertNeck-body joint at the 13th fretTop: Solid...

4.8/5 (17 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Lakewood M-32 Custom - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#2

Lakewood M-32 Custom

Investment Live Performance Professional Recording
Key Feature:
• Superior tone and projection
✓ PROS
  • • Highest quality materials and craftsmanship
  • • Investment-grade instruments
✗ CONS
  • • May be overkill for beginners
  • • Can be intimidating to play

Lakewood M-32 CustomSteel-String GuitarType: Grand ConcertTop: Solid European AAA SpruceBack & sides: Solid AAA...

4.7/5 (21 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Martin Guitar SC-18E - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#3

Martin Guitar SC-18E

Collector Items Investment Serious Players
Key Feature:
• Exceptional playability
✓ PROS
  • • Professional appointments
  • • Investment-grade instruments
✗ CONS
  • • May be overkill for beginners
  • • Very high price point

Martin Guitar SC-18EAcoustic Guitar with PickupStyle: S-13 fret with cutawayTop: solid spruceBack and sides: solid...

4.5/5 (17 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Martin Guitar OM-21 - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#4

Martin Guitar OM-21

Professional Recording Live Performance Collector Items
Key Feature:
• Superior tone and projection
✓ PROS
  • • Exceptional playability
  • • Professional appointments
✗ CONS
  • • May be overkill for beginners
  • • Insurance considerations

Martin Guitar OM-21Acoustic GuitarDesign: OMTop: Solid spruceBack and sides: RosewoodNeck: MahoganyFingerboard:...

5.0/5 (31 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Bedell Coffee House Dreadnought ESPR - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#5

Bedell Coffee House Dreadnought ESPR

Studio Work Collector Items Investment
Key Feature:
• Professional appointments
✓ PROS
  • • Professional appointments
  • • Investment-grade instruments
✗ CONS
  • • Insurance considerations
  • • Very high price point

Bedell Coffee House Dreadnought ESPRSteel-String Guitar with pickupType: DreadnoughtBack and sides: Solid East Indian...

4.8/5 (14 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Furch Rainbow OM-LK 2024 - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#6

Furch Rainbow OM-LK 2024

Live Performance Professional Recording Collector Items
Key Feature:
• Highest quality materials and craftsmanship
✓ PROS
  • • Highest quality materials and craftsmanship
  • • Investment-grade instruments
✗ CONS
  • • Can be intimidating to play
  • • May be overkill for beginners

Furch Rainbow OM-LKSteel-String GuitarType: OMTop: Alpine spruceBack and sides: KoaBinding: Redheart with contrast...

4.5/5 (39 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Taylor 454ce - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#7

Taylor 454ce

Studio Work Collector Items Investment
Key Feature:
• Highest quality materials and craftsmanship
✓ PROS
  • • Professional appointments
  • • Investment-grade instruments
✗ CONS
  • • May be overkill for beginners
  • • Requires careful maintenance

Taylor 454ce12-String Steel-String Guitar with PickupWith cutawayBody: Indian rosewoodV-class bracingTop: Sitka...

4.8/5 (29 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Breedlove Premier Concert Burnt Amber CE - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#8

Breedlove Premier Concert Burnt Amber CE

Serious Players Investment Collector Items
Key Feature:
• Superior tone and projection
✓ PROS
  • • Highest quality materials and craftsmanship
  • • Investment-grade instruments
✗ CONS
  • • Very high price point
  • • May be overkill for beginners

Breedlove Premier Concert Burnt Amber CESteel-String Guitar with PickupStyle: Concert with cutawayTop: Solid Adirondack...

4.5/5 (26 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Breedlove Oregon Companion Old Fashioned - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#9

Breedlove Oregon Companion Old Fashioned

Investment Collector Items Serious Players
Key Feature:
• Superior tone and projection
✓ PROS
  • • Highest quality materials and craftsmanship
  • • Professional appointments
✗ CONS
  • • Insurance considerations
  • • Can be intimidating to play

Breedlove Oregon Companion Old FashionedSteel-String Guitar with PickupStyle: Concert with cutawayTop: Solid MyrtheBack...

4.5/5 (34 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Epiphone Chris Stapleton Frontier - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#10

Epiphone Chris Stapleton Frontier

Studio Work Investment Live Performance
Key Feature:
• Professional appointments
✓ PROS
  • • Exceptional playability
  • • Investment-grade instruments
✗ CONS
  • • Insurance considerations
  • • Very high price point

Epiphone Epiphone Chris Stapleton FrontierAcoustic Guitar with PickupChris Stapleton Signature ModelTop: Sitka...

4.7/5 (47 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Furch Rainbow Gc-LP 09 2024 - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#11

Furch Rainbow Gc-LP 09 2024

Live Performance Studio Work Investment
Key Feature:
• Professional appointments
✓ PROS
  • • Superior tone and projection
  • • Investment-grade instruments
✗ CONS
  • • Very high price point
  • • May be overkill for beginners

Furch Rainbow Gc-LP 099-String Steel-String GuitarType: Grand Auditorium with CutawayDoubled GB and E stringTop: Alpine...

4.8/5 (13 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Guild F-40 Traditional NAT - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#12

Guild F-40 Traditional NAT

Serious Players Professional Recording Collector Items
Key Feature:
• Highest quality materials and craftsmanship
✓ PROS
  • • Superior tone and projection
  • • Professional appointments
✗ CONS
  • • Can be intimidating to play
  • • Requires careful maintenance

Guild F-40 Traditional NATAcoustic GuitarStyle: JumboTop: solid sitka spruceBody: solid African mahoganyNeck: Mahogany...

4.9/5 (23 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Adamas 2087GT-8 RBLB CW - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#13

Adamas 2087GT-8 RBLB CW

Studio Work Professional Recording Investment
Key Feature:
• Exceptional playability
✓ PROS
  • • Highest quality materials and craftsmanship
  • • Investment-grade instruments
✗ CONS
  • • Requires careful maintenance
  • • Insurance considerations

Adamas 2087GT-8 RBLB CWSteel-String Guitar With PickupBody: Deep Bowl Contour CutawayA thin (<1 mm) carbon fibre...

5.0/5 (51 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Adamas MD80-8R-G - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#14

Adamas MD80-8R-G

Collector Items Investment Serious Players
Key Feature:
• Highest quality materials and craftsmanship
✓ PROS
  • • Superior tone and projection
  • • Exceptional playability
✗ CONS
  • • Very high price point
  • • Requires careful maintenance

Adamas MD80-8R-GAcoustic Guitar with PickupStyle: Roundback with mid-depth contour cutawayTop: carbon...

4.6/5 (12 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Bedell Coffee House Dreadnought AT - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#15

Bedell Coffee House Dreadnought AT

Investment Studio Work Serious Players
Key Feature:
• Professional appointments
✓ PROS
  • • Exceptional playability
  • • Superior tone and projection
✗ CONS
  • • Requires careful maintenance
  • • May be overkill for beginners

Bedell Coffee House Dreadnought ATAcoustic Guitar with PickupStyle: DreadnoughtBack and sides: Solid East Indian...

5.0/5 (4 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10

How to Choose the Best Premium 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

Frequently Asked Questions

Key factors include build quality, sound characteristics, playability, brand reputation, warranty coverage, and value for money. Consider your musical style, skill level, and intended use to find the best match.
Budget depends on your needs and experience level. Beginners can find quality options for $200-500, intermediate players should consider $500-1500 range, while professionals often invest $1500+ for premium features.
Higher-priced premium acoustic guitars typically offer better materials, craftsmanship, and performance. They're worth it if you're serious about music, perform regularly, or need professional-grade features.
Top brands combine quality, innovation, and reliability. We evaluate brands based on build quality, sound performance, durability, and customer satisfaction to recommend the best options for different budgets.
Both have advantages. Online offers better prices and selection, while stores allow hands-on testing. We recommend researching online first, then testing in stores if possible. Many online retailers offer excellent return policies.

We use cookies to improve your experience. Learn more