Guitar Price Guide: Current Values & Sales

Asking what a guitar costs is a bit like asking what a car costs. A first acoustic for a teenager and a handmade dreadnought for a touring player share a name and little else. This page covers acoustic guitars; electric models have their own guide.

The tables below show listed prices for specific models grouped by level. Treat them as examples that show where each tier starts, because dealers change prices and run sales.

Beginner acoustics are where most first-time buyers start. The Fender CD-60S, listed at $229.99, is a common example. Moving up a step adds a cutaway and pickup, as with the Yamaha FGX800C at $439.99, or a compact travel body like the Martin LX1E Little Martin at $549.99.

Pickups let you plug into an amplifier, which matters for performing but not for learning at home. A guitar without electronics is usually the cheaper choice for a beginner.

Between the entry tier and the professional tier, the biggest changes tend to be the wood and the finishing. Cheaper guitars often use laminated wood throughout, which is durable and affordable. Mid-priced models commonly step up to a solid top, and professional instruments typically use solid wood for the top, back, and sides. Solid wood tends to open up in tone as the guitar ages, though that is a general tendency and not a promise.

Build quality also shows up in the neck, tuners, and bracing. Fit and finish tend to be tighter higher up the range, and a more careful setup makes the guitar easier to play.

The Yamaha LL6 ARE, listed at $689.99, sits in the middle. It is a larger jumbo body, aimed at players who want more volume and bass than a student dreadnought offers.

At the top of the retail market, Martin guitars are a common benchmark. Chuck Levin's lists the D-18 and the 000-18 at $2,999 each, and Sweetwater lists the D-28 Standard Series at $3,499.99. The D-28 Modern Deluxe is higher at $4,599.99.

The D-18 and 000-18 are listed at MSRP on the retailer's page, so street prices at other dealers may differ.

The sticker price is only part of the first-year spend. A new guitar often needs a professional setup, which adjusts string height and intonation, and cheaper models benefit most. Add a case or gig bag, a tuner, picks, a strap, and spare strings. Some entry packs bundle these, so compare what is included before deciding.

If you buy online, ask about the return policy. Guitars shift with humidity and shipping, and a reputable dealer will inspect the instrument before sending it.

Used guitars can lower the price, especially at the professional end, because quality instruments hold their value better than the cheapest models do. If you buy used, check the neck for warping, look for cracks along the seams, and play every fret. For a first guitar, a reputable shop offers more protection than a private sale.

Smaller bodies are easier on small hands and on a travel budget. Dreadnoughts are the common all-purpose shape and are what most lesson books assume. Jumbo bodies are louder but heavier. A teacher or a salesperson at a local shop can help you try several shapes, since comfort matters more than a spec sheet.