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Last updated: 19 Jan 2021

The Best Acoustic Guitars Under $700

Best Choice
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Epiphone Hummingbird Pro Acoustic Guitar
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Runner-Up
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Fender California Newporter Player Acoustic Guitar
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Most Exotic
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Ovation Elite Celebrity Super Shallow Acoustic Guitar
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Classic Pick
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Seagull S6 Acoustic Guitar
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Best Value
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Taylor GS Mini Acoustic Guitar
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Strong Tones
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PRS SE Parlor P20 Acoustic Guitar
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Plug and Play
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PRS SE Angelus AX20E Acoustic Guitar
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Smooth Playing
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Yamaha APX600 Thin-line Cutaway Acoustic Guitar
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Any Playing Style
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Takamine GN30 Acoustic Guitar
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Premium Pick
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Martin GPC-X2E Grand Performance Acoustic Guitar
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Red Cedar Pick
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Breedlove Pursuit Concerto CE Acoustic Guitar
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Best Looking
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Ibanez AEWC300 Acoustic Guitar
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Best Left-Handed
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Luna Art Vintage Folk Acoustic Guitar
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Vintage Look
Gretsch G5022CE Rancher Jumbo Cutaway Acoustic Guitar
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Traditional Pick
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D'Angelico Premier Tammany Acoustic Guitar
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Jack Stoneybrook
By Jack Stoneybrook
Published 9:33 pm
Show contents
  • 1 Epiphone Hummingbird Pro Acoustic Guitar
  • 2 Fender California Newporter Player Acoustic Guitar
  • 3 Ovation Elite Celebrity Super Shallow Acoustic Guitar
  • 4 Seagull S6 Acoustic Guitar
  • 5 Taylor GS Mini Acoustic Guitar
  • 6 PRS SE Parlor P20 Acoustic Guitar
  • 7 PRS SE Angelus AX20E Acoustic Guitar
  • 8 Yamaha APX600 Thin-line Cutaway Acoustic Guitar
  • 9 Takamine GN30 Acoustic Guitar
  • 10 Martin GPC-X2E Grand Performance Acoustic Guitar
  • 11 Breedlove Pursuit Concerto CE Acoustic Guitar
  • 12 Ibanez AEWC300 Acoustic Guitar
  • 13 Luna Art Vintage Folk Acoustic Guitar
  • 14 Gretsch G5022CE Rancher Jumbo Cutaway Acoustic Guitar
  • 15 D’Angelico Premier Tammany Acoustic Guitar

Just learning how to play guitar or looking for a no frills one to take to the beach, park or buddy's place? Don't call these beginner guitars- they are performance-ready instruments. Thankfully, the build and performance quality for today's budget-priced guitars is at a much higher level than years ago. You'll find these guitars listed below all have good action and playability. Pickups are included as well, so you'll be able to plug in and amplify your axe as well. Here are the best acoustic guitars under $700 in 2021.

Best Acoustic Guitar Under $700

1

Epiphone Hummingbird Pro Acoustic Guitar

– Best Choice
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Key Features
  • The Hummingbird look is among the most classic of classic acoustics. Instantly recognizable by its Faded Cherry Sunburst finish, a gorgeously ornate hummingbird pickguard adds a touch of class.
  • Also features a great-looking split parallelogram inlay along its pau ferro fingerboard.
  • Mahogany back and sides add richness and depth to your toneFishman electronics provide great plugged-in tone.
THE SCOOP

The Epiphone Hummingbird Pro has style like no other. This guitar’s vintage vibe and enhanced tone makes it an instant classic.

2

Fender California Newporter Player Acoustic Guitar

– Runner-Up
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Key Features
  • Solid spruce top; mahogany back and sides.
  • Fender-exclusive CD-1 Fishman pickup/preamp system.
  • Mahogany neck with slim-taper “C”-shaped profile; walnut fingerboard and bridge., 6-in-line headstock.
THE SCOOP

Close your eyes and picture your favorite artist: we guarantee they’ve been on stage with a Fender. The Newporter Player is a great place to start.

3

Ovation Elite Celebrity Super Shallow Acoustic Guitar

– Most Exotic
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Key Features
  • Ovation’s classic multi-soundhole design and quartersawn scalloped X-bracing combine to imbue your playing with clear highs, focused lows, and a balanced response, along with phenomenal volume and projection.
  • A Slimline pickup and OP-4BT preamp system provide plenty of useful features, such as a 3-band EQ and Volume/Gain control for tone-shaping, an onboard tuner, and a low battery light.
  • Quartersawn scalloped X-bracing yields phenomenal volume and projection.
THE SCOOP

Exotic, powerful, and unique. Ovation’s Elite acoustic guitar fits all of these superlatives while boasting a great price under $700.

4

Seagull S6 Acoustic Guitar

– Classic Pick
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Key Features
  • Seagull’s pressure-tested cedar top and 3-layer wild cherry back and sides give you a warm, detailed tone. The Seagull S6’s modified dreadnought body shape eliminates unwanted boominess and gives you a full-range tone that’s great for all styles of music.
  • The unique compound curved top adds structural integrity to the guitar and allows for thinner bracing.
THE SCOOP

Simple and pure, the Seagull S6 isn’t for the average guitarist. Pick one up and you’ll understand why it’s an experience to play this instrument.

5

Taylor GS Mini Acoustic Guitar

– Best Value
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Key Features
  • The award-winning Taylor GS Mini acoustic guitar series is a scaled-down version of their ever-popular Grand Symphony guitar shape. With a total length of just over 36″, the Taylor GS Mini is a guitar that you can easily pack in any vehicle, haul on the subway, or even store in overhead compartments on planes.
  • This Taylor guitar features a tropical mahogany top and layered sapele back and sides. Both woods are durable and produce great tone. The mahogany top is not as bright as a spruce top but has a full, rich sound with a little extra punch. The layered sapele back and sides of the Taylor GS Mini deliver a great tone while adding durability and stability to the guitar.
  • Ebony fretboard and bridgeShort 23.5″ scale lengthScaled-down Grand Symphony guitar with big sound.
THE SCOOP

Slimmed down yet still sounding like a full-sized guitar, the Taylor GS Mini is a great choice for anyone.

6

PRS SE Parlor P20 Acoustic Guitar

– Strong Tones
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Key Features
  • Searching for a parlor-sized acoustic guitar with a big voice? The PRS SE P20 is just such an instrument. This acoustic is jam-packed with pro-grade construction and signature PRS appointments, such as a solid mahogany top, X-brace/classical hybrid bracing, a bone nut and saddle, and an eye-catching herringbone rosette and accents.
  • Mahogany back and sides provide warm and rich sound.
  • Mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard is playable and responsive
  • Smaller size makes playing fun and comfortable and allows for convenient transport.
THE SCOOP

With its parlor-looking style, the PRS SE P20 will work for you whether you’re playing live or in the studio.

7

PRS SE Angelus AX20E Acoustic Guitar

– Plug and Play
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Key Features
  • The PRS SE Angelus AX20E features an Angelus body with a solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides.
  • The neck of this SE Angelus AX20E follows Paul Reed Smith’s Patter wide-fat profile and is carved from choice mahogany. A bound ebony fretboard gives the neck a smooth feel and rich tones. And the signature bird inlays denote the Angelus as a member of the PRS family.
  • Fishman under-saddle pickup system.
THE SCOOP

The PRS SE Parlor P20 is a classic. This flat-top acoustic delivers warm, clean tones that will impress any audience.

8

Yamaha APX600 Thin-line Cutaway Acoustic Guitar

– Smooth Playing
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Key Features
  • This thinline cutaway acoustic-electric features a built-in tuner and a System 65A preamp piezo pickup system, great for plugging in and playing coffeehouse gigs with natural acoustic sound that people will love.
  • It features a spruce top and a rosewood fingerboard and bridge that combine to put out a superior, far-reaching tone. Yamaha uses locally sourced tonewoods for the neck and body in an effort to minimize waste and support sustainable harvesting of wood.
  • It has a piezo pickup system, which helps to give it a truly realistic, natural acoustic voice when it’s pumping through a PA system. Another cool touch: an onboard tuner.
THE SCOOP

A great budget option, this guitar is ideal for beginners and easy on the bills in your wallet.

9

Takamine GN30 Acoustic Guitar

– Any Playing Style
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Key Features
  • Sporting a solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides, the GN30-CE’s cutaway NEX “small jumbo” body is incredibly comfortable – even for smaller players. The GN30-CE’s solid spruce top responds beautifully to a light, fingerstyle touch, yet will sing with authority when strummed boldly.
  • Takamine’s TP-4TD preamp is onboard, waiting to serve up natural-sounding amplification and flexible tone-shaping.
  • Rosewood bridge and fingerboardChrome tuners; Abalone Rosette.
THE SCOOP

The Takamine GN30CE is sure to be your new favorite. The warm delivery of these acoustic strings will make this instrument stand out in any collection.

10

Martin GPC-X2E Grand Performance Acoustic Guitar

– Premium Pick
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Key Features
  • Martin introduced the X Series line 20 years ago with the aim of producing an acoustic guitar from more eco-friendly materials while still retaining all the earmarks of a Martin guitar: great design; impeccable tone; and instant playability.
  • When you are ready to plug in, onboard Fishman MX electronics kick out gorgeous amplified tone.
THE SCOOP

The Martin GPC-X2E Grand Performance is a beautifully designed instrument. The smooth, lightweight design is not only stunning but enhances the smooth expression of the notes.

11

Breedlove Pursuit Concerto CE Acoustic Guitar

– Red Cedar Pick
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Key Features
  • Like all Breedlove guitars, this acoustic-electric guitar features a solid top. Made from red cedar, the top lends a treble sweetness that sets it apart from spruce-topped guitars. The back and sides are made from okoume, a tonewood Breedlove chose for its mahogany-like sound and extremely low weight.
  • The Slim-“C” neck profile feels secure in your hand, facilitating easy playing. When you and your trusty new six-string appear onstage, you can be sure the LR Baggs Element electronics will provide an accurate re-creation of your acoustic’s natural tone.
  • Pinless Delta bridge makes string changes easy. Slim-C-shaped neck sits securely in your palm. Genuine bone nut and saddle enhance sustain.
THE SCOOP

The Breedlove Pursuit Concerto CE is music to your wallet’s ears. It is a stand out for its affordability and high-quality delivery.

12

Ibanez AEWC300 Acoustic Guitar

– Best Looking
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Key Features
  • Contoured for comfortThe AEWC300 features a specially contoured front and back for maximum ergonomic comfort. In addition, a Florentine special cutaway offers stellar, unfettered access to higher fret positions, making the AEWC300 great for a variety of playing styles.
  • The uniquely, asymmetric neck on the AEWC300 also offers enhanced comfort and playability, maximizing access to the bass side of the fingerboard.
  • Fishman Sonicore pickup and Ibanez AEQ-SP2 preamp with onboard tuner provide solid amplified tone.
THE SCOOP

Ibanez is commitment to quality, and the AEWC300 is no exception to that. This guitar stands out for its glossy aesthetic and balanced note projection.

13

Luna Art Vintage Folk Acoustic Guitar

– Best Left-Handed
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Key Features
  • This parlor-sized acoustic is ultra-comfortable to play and features a solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides for a rich, full tone.
  • A mahogany neck with Pau Ferro fingerboard offers wonderful playability, comfort, and response. The “C” profile neck features a 25.5″ scale length adorned with captivating Pearl Moon Phases along the fingerboard.
  • Parlor-sized folk guitar ideal for beginning and emerging players.
THE SCOOP

Do not pass up on the Luna Art Vintage Folk. Perfect for musicians looking for comfortable playability at a price that does not break the bank.

14

Gretsch G5022CE Rancher Jumbo Cutaway Acoustic Guitar

– Vintage Look
Key Features
  • The Gretsch G5022CE Rancher Jumbo Cutaway catches attention whether it’s heard or seen first. The distinctive triangular soundhole maintains the look of original ’50s Rancher guitars, and you’ll love how it enhances the already rich sound.
  • The solid spruce top is a premium feature not normally found on guitars at this price, creating a lively sound that will become even more harmonically rich as it ages.The spruce top is reinforced with scalloped X bracing, a premium touch that enhances the projection and tonal balance while minimizing vibration dampening. And the rosewood bridge features compensated saddles, for optimum intonation and tuning performance.
THE SCOOP

The Gretsch G5022CE Jumbo Cutaway is guaranteed to capture attention. This beautiful, vintage inspired guitar design both looks and sounds amazing.

15

D’Angelico Premier Tammany Acoustic Guitar

– Traditional Pick
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Key Features
  • The D’Angelico Premier Tammany is incredibly playable. It has a smaller, OM style body that’s made with a solid sitka spruce top and laminate mahogany back and sides. It has a slightly shallower body that sits well in your lap and reduces fatigue in your picking arm.
  • the Premier Tammany has a slim, satin-finished c-shaped neck carve. Combined with the 20 medium jumbo frets, this neck feels just like D’Angelico’s electric guitar necks — quick and effortless.
  • D’Angelico equipped the Premier Tammany with an under-saddle pickup and onboard preamp. It has a master volume control with 2-band treble and bass EQ. To save you from putting an unsightly clip-on tuner on your headstock, the preamp has an easy-to-read tuner installed within it.
THE SCOOP

The D’Angelico Premier Tammany is your new go-to. We love this guitar for its lightweight design that guarantees a well-balanced tone.

Best Acoustic Guitars Buying Guide

Any good musician knows that a quality acoustic instrument is a true calling. That's why the right guitar can help you achieve your musical goals and beyond. A guitar is one of the most versatile instruments out there. It can play nearly any type of song, it's durable, and it sounds great. If you're not sure where to begin, you've come to the correct place. We’ve gathered a wide range of options for you to choose from, so you can find a guitar that suits your playing style. Whether you want to learn the basics or you re a seasoned pro, our product recommendations have something for everyone.

American Songwriter delivers original review content that connects musicians of all skill level with outstanding products. We help people discover practical products that will improve their lives and are worth the investment, focusing on experience and real-life use cases. In the same way that readers trust American Songwriter to navigate music news, they also trust us to navigate the abundant world of internet shopping. General information about types of products and categories is provided here to assist readers in meeting their varied purchase needs and is not intended to represent the page author's endorsement in any way.

Acoustic Guitar Buying Tips

When shopping for an acoustic acoustic you should consider your needs. Do you want a traditional style of guitar or something more modern? Do more complex chord shapes interest you? Are you an advanced player looking for a new toy or a complete beginner? Finding the right acoustic for you takes careful consideration of your musical preferences and the style you will primarily be using it for. Acoustic guitars come in a few different types, and each has its advantages and disadvantages. Here are some tips for shopping.

If you are new to the world of acoustic guitars, it's a good idea to start with a beginner model. These guitars are lightweight and easy to play. The strings are often a bit too short for advanced players, so it may be a while before you feel comfortable on one. You may find that the higher end guitars in this category are more comfortable for beginners.

Amps on an electric acoustic include coil-style pickups, which are closer to what you would hear on a guitar played by a classical guitarist. Rather than a bridge pickup, these have a metal clip that fits directly to your mouthpiece. It's not a huge difference, but if you're new, an amp can help you get used to playing the instrument. Most electric guitars have single coil pickups. When you plug in the guitar strings, they produce a tone that is similar to that produced by an ordinary guitar plugged into a speaker. However, the sound quality is far superior. This type of pickup is often referred to as double coil. Because these guitars require the use of two pickups (one for each string), they are an excellent choice for recording. Single coil guitars also have their disadvantages, such as the fact that they don't produce quite the same sound as a double-coiled guitar. Depending on the model, your acoustic will either have the classic single-wound neck or the modified neck you may come across on vintage Fenders, Jethro Tull, or Cream.

Acoustic Guitar Considerations

Guitars can be expensive pieces of equipment, and that’s no exception when it comes to acoustic guitars. Even the most basic models can cost hundreds of dollars, so you need to understand what you are looking for in a guitar before you make a purchase. Acoustic guitars come in many different shapes and sizes, but there are three basic styles that remain popular: Standard Telecasters, Stratocasters, Les Pauls.

If you're a beginning player looking to play a few beginner songs, a Telecaster is the way to go. These guitars are small, lightweight, and ideal for beginners who are just starting to learn the guitar. The quality of a Strat is influenced by how the body is crafted, which affects the intonation of the strings. While most players prefer the bridge pickup on a telecaster to the neck pickup in an acoustic model, some players don”t mind the pickups in either case.

Another popular choice for beginning students of acoustic music is a LesPaul. This is an extremely durable guitar that offers the best tone. Some students want to explore other types of guitars, such as steel string guitars or electric guitars with pickups. To help you find the right acoustic for your playing style, consider the following:

Pickup Type

This largely determines which type of sound you will get from the acoustic. All acoustic pickups have a coil that is wound around a magnet. Each coil has a different sound. You can get a clean, hard-hitting sound from a single coil pickup, whereas a richer, warmer sound can only be obtained with two coil pickups.

Bridge Pickup

The bridge position of an electric guitar is usually used for the lead instrument and provides the highest gain. However, if you want the versatility of playing the electric part with an integrated acoustic, you may need a pickup specifically designed for this purpose.

Pickups

Acrylic, chrome, gold, silver, black. Depending on the model of guitar you have, there may be a variety of pickups available.

Neck Pickup or Bridge

Most guitars have three pickups, with the middle pickup being the volume control. An electric and acoustic guitarist must choose which pickup they prefer in order to make the sound they have chosen. A guitar may have either a bridge or neck pick, depending on which is better for them.

Price Range

When it comes to acoustic guitars, the price tag often depends on the type of wood and fretboard material used.

For a beginner, a entry-level acoustic model may cost as little as $100 to $150. Models in this price range are usually made from top-grain maple, or a hybrid of maple and spruce.

Mid-range acoustic acoustic models start at $200 to roughly $500. These guitars typically have a fretless position, and many come in solid body or hollow body designs.

Expensive acoustic electric guitars generally cost $600 and above. Some models cost even more, but these models are meant for professional use, so the cost will likely be higher.

Ease of Installation

Acoustic guitars are easier to install than electric guitars, but this does not mean you should not take the necessary precautions. If you are installing an acoustic, electric, or both, you need to ensure the neck is properly positioned to prevent vibrations that could damage the wood. Look for a guitar with a D-ring. It can be tightened to make installation even easier.

Shape and Size

While many guitars do not have specific sizes, there are some guitar shapes that have particular advantages. For example, a 6-inch radius neck would give you a lot more sustain, while a 12- to 15-string guitar would be easier for players with smaller hands to play. Make sure the guitar you’re purchasing is the right size for the player you intend to use it for.

Final Thoughts

A quality acoustic electric guitar should have a timeless quality that resonates from the moment you pick it out of the store. If you look at the high-end models, you’ll see that they are made of carbon steel or some other durable metal. These guitars sound great, but the price can be intimidating. In this article, we”ll focus on a few of our favorite acoustic models that are great values, and that will last you a lifetime if you treat them right.

Acoustic Guitar FAQ

Q: What is an acoustic acoustic electric guitar?

A: An acoustic-electric guitar is a guitar that doesn’t feature a traditional neck pickup (which is where the strings hit) and instead features a diaphragm pickup that relies on your voice to pick up the string vibrations. The diapering method uses tiny holes (or “sines”) in the neck to vibrate the air between the guitar's strings. This enables the instrument to generate a higher sound quality than a neck-only electric. Although they don't have a full tuning fork, many acoustic guitars feature an eight-way selector switch so you can switch between acoustic, electric, traditional, and hollow body.

Q: How do you play an electric acoustic? How does an acapella work?

A: An electric-acoustic hybrid guitar works in a similar way to a standard electric except that the pickups are enclosed in an enclosure and have their own vibrato system built into them. With an e-bow, you get a vibration from the bowstring that‘s then amplified by the body of the acoustic. In contrast, when you pull the trigger on a regular acoustic guitarist, the vibrations from your fingers are simply passed on to the soundboard. An acapela has the same principle as a normal acoustic but instead of creating a vibrating "ping" sound, it uses a ’whirr  sound to create a richer, fuller sound.

Q: What are the benefits of an ACG?

A: Apart from sounding more dynamic, an amplifier-equipped acoustic allows you to add effects and effects pedals to your guitar via a MIDI interface. You can use a microphone to mimic the tone of a live band, for example, or you could record yourself playing an improvised passage in your bedroom, then use the input from an audio or MIDI input port to trigger the effects. Since you don't need to connect external effects to an amp, these are great for live performances. They also make it easy to play many different styles of music with an instrument that has a resonant, full sound and is relatively inexpensive. ACGs are ideal for beginners because they have fewer features and are therefore easier to learn. If you are ready to embark on that journey, consider one of our recommended models.

Jack Stoneybrook
By Jack Stoneybrook
Jack has been a touring guitarist for almost 20 years, playing in a number of country music and rock bands. Jack loves the road and defines himself as a never-ending student of the guitar and other important instruments or tools that make a musician.
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