Best Acoustic Guitar Under £200. Advice You Will Never Hear From A Guitar Shop
Written by: Richard Cholerton
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Published on
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Time to read 5 min
Looking for the best acoustic guitar under £200?
Do not be fooled by "best acoustic guitar under £200" recommendations you find on guitar shop websites and industry magazines!
3 YEARS ago I did this video talking about this very same subject and whilst I forget the exact motivation for the video at the time I am pretty sure I would be saying something similar to what I have just been observing - and felt compelled to tell you.
Here is the video on "The Best Acoustic Guitar Under £200"
It seems 3 years on - and nothing has changed.
What Is The Advice Guitar Shops Don't Want You To Know?
OK - So guitar shops, especially big online stores who provide you seemingly endless choices of "guitars under £200" all share one thing in common. Most of the brands they are showing you are all from similar factories - often with poor or non existent human welfare standards - and has anyone even checked into it?
I have - I do. The truth is pretty grim and many of the factories supplying brand names you know and love are using factories exposing workers to untold dangers - carcinogens and poor working conditions.
The supposed "choice" you receive is no more than a color change, a variation in body shape, a brand name on the headstock but this is all smoke and mirrors.
So where should you be focusing your attention most of all? EXACTLY where they do not want you to look.
Which is.... HOW DOES IT PLAY? HOW DOES IT SOUND? Where was this MADE?
You may as well forget the descriptions and recommendations - merely content on a page to try and make one guitar sound more interesting than another. They are all much of a muchness - in terms of quality - feel - sound - Its next to impossible to differentiate one from another. Thats the TRUTH - whether you want to hear the truth or no - thats the reality.
So whats MY advice when looking for the best acoustic guitar under £200?
1. Have the guitar setup - either by the shop you are buying from or privately after you have purchased it.
Every single guitar I sell is setup to perfection. If you had your guitar setup privately at Richards Guitars in our workshop it would cost you £85 - but when you buy a guitar - its FREE.
As well as the FREE setup worth £85 - ensuring your guitar plays to perfection - You can return the guitar in 6 and 12 months to have it reset!
Guitar shops do not want you to know HOW important a setup is. If they let you know this crucial fact you would soon realise how utterly pointless it is scrolling through page after page of acoustic guitars under £200 when NONE of them are setup pre sale - and if they SAY they do - they are most likely telling "porkies" - because if they DID, they would be shouting it from the hill tops! Its a very expensive, time-consuming process, which high volume retailers do not have the resources to provide - so they dont mention it whilst appearing to offer you lots of choice - and even when they do - you need to make sure this setup they talk about is actually a full setup and not just "tuned".
Watch The Following Video To See How Much Work Goes Into A Setup (FREE With Your Guitar Purchase At Richards Guitars)
2. Buy a brand that is the ACTUAL manufacturer
If you want to test my advice, ask any other store you visit, how many of the guitar brands they are recommending actually MAKE the guitar they are selling? You will soon find out that probably NONE of them do. So to give you a sample.... Ibanez, Tanglewood, Sigma, Fender - all brand names you THINK would make guitars - but dont ACTUALLY make them in this case. They out source to what are called OEM manufacturers like Cort guitars who will produce the guitar with their brand name - and ship it to them - for them to pass on to dealers - who pass them on to you - the guitarist looking for the best acoustic guitar under £200!
But think about it? How on Earth can a brand name, who has a large marketing budget, guitar endorsements to fund, who is having to pay an external manufacturer to produce their guitars and have them shipped to them - be as economical to produce and supply as a manufacturer who is selling their brand direct to the distributor or retailer? In simple terms - any manufacturer using an OEM producer will have to sell the guitar at a higher price than the OEM manufacturer selling their own brand direct.
OK - So the simple question therefore is how many manufacturers who produce OEM guitars also supply their guitars direct? Well I deal with both of the highest profile examples - Cort guitars and Fujigen guitars. Fujigen are made in Japan and renowned for their high end guitars and Cort guitars are the Worlds largest manufacturer in the mid price market.
Cort have technologies that most brands could only dream of and have put brands like Tanglewood guitars, Ibanez guitars, Fender guitars on the map when it comes to providing players affordable acoustic guitars - but ultimately the way to get most bang for your buck is.... to buy a CORT!!!
So now we have TWO vital pieces of advice that will save you so much pain and heart ache - as well as money.
What is the point of buying your first acoustic guitar under £200 only to then have to upgrade 6 months later because the guitar you have bought plays like a cheese grater?
Putting these two vital pieces of advice together and the obvious conclusion I would give you is...
The Cort Earth 60M has just been launched for 2023 and is INCREDIBLE and comes complete with our FREE professional setup (worth £85) as well as a 6 and 12 month check and reset at our workshop totally free of charge.
I guarantee you that my ONE offering of a solid topped Cort acoustic guitar under £200 will play better than any other guitar you could buy elsewhere - will sound fantastic and be of the highest specification your budget can afford.
So? You want me to give you 50 other body shapes, colors, or brands to browse? I can't - because they are not my recommendation - for the reasons highlighted above - but should you wish to buy a more expensive guitar or a brand of lesser quality - we can of course have that guitar setup for you to a professional level for £85
Here is the Cort EARTH60M With its solid mahogany top this is an incredible guitar and with our professional setup included this is literally second to none...
Hi Richard
Very interesting piece. Certainly made me think. I was thinking about getting the Vintage VE900MH after reading a review. I don’t know if they make them themselves or not and so fall into your category of actual manufacturers.
I have an Alvarez AD60 12 string that I literally cannot get my hand around due to worsening tendonitis in my left wrist (fretting hand) so need to sell. Its virtually untouched and un-played and just gathering dust.
I’m after a more manageable budget electro acoustic under £200 just for home use and the occasional small gig in a duo setting.
Need to sell the Alvaraez first though
Any advice
Cheers
Ian
For me - there is no difference between "personal" and "business" life - It is all "my life". Interconnected and therefore highly personal. Every guitar I sell (EVERY) is one I can tell you the backstory - about the people who make them - the ethos of the brand and how they align with my own - they are a genuine personal recommendations based on 28 years in the industry.
With the industry dominated by marketing, hype, and "blinkered" brand loyalty - retailers focus on what they get asked for - with little effort in raising awareness of guitars that are better than the one you asked about. This leads to a lot of poor buying decisions!
Here is a quick introduction to the brands I often refer to as "my babies" but really you could simply refer to them as "benchmarks". Check the prices - check the specs - check the quality and back story - and find me a brand that does it better - or even close. The fact is you cant buy a bad guitar from Richards Guitars - you will only find the best - set up to your personal requirements.
My "Personal Collection"
Art Meets Craft - Artisan - Unique
Hand Made In Slovakia
I have the honour and privilege to be Englands exclusive dealer for Dowina guitars. A completely unique approach to guitar building that blends passion, art and craft producing the most inspiring and wondrous acoustic guitars that represent so much more than the materials they are made from.
Dowina is more than just a guitar - its an experience that you will appreciate and remember for a lifetime.
I introduced Furch to to the UK over 20 years ago - with my good friend Keith Twine who has since retired.
At the time I was a leading supplier of brands such as Gibson, Martin & Taylor. Experiencing Furch guitars made me realize there is what you "know" and what you "should know". Just because you DON'T - doesn't mean it doesn't exist!
What does all this mean? Forget what you think you know and open your mind to the possibility that you can find better - and we will guarantee you an experience you will never forget - with help from Furch and my other personal finds from over the decades.
Inspirational quality, tone & feel at a price you never thought would be possible.
A Benchmark British Brand
With an incredible Back story - A Truly Brtiish yet global brand utilising the shared skills of the Gordon Smith Team in England and a small boutique workshop in China - The result? Unbelievable quality that far surpasses that of recognised mass produced brands at the same price.
We Were The First UK Dealer for Eastman Guitars...
....and continue to be their largest and most experienced dealer in the UK supplying Eastman guitars throughout Europe.
Originally known for their extraordinary quality, hand made arch tops - produced by violin makers - as their reputation spread they developed into the World of electric and acoustic guitar production which continue to be made by hand.
Eastman have now become a hugely dominant force in the Guitar World producing the "best in class" in any guitar genre they opt to focus on.
Nobody knows them better or can provide you a better experience.
Whether you decide on the showroom experience or buying online you could not be in safer hands.
Godin have been solving problems for performing acoustic and electric guitar players for over 30 years, producing the most divine instruments which are stylish, of the highest quality whilst serving the practical needs of the modern performing professional
You could say Godin is the antithesis to Gibson! Godins reputation is built largely on the word of mouth of professionals and session musicians who need their instruments to be highly reliable and consistent night after night.
Get one in your hands, and you will soon understand their unique contribution to the evolution of the guitar.
I have to thank Stuart - Director of UK Distributor Selectron for thinking of me when he made a very special find in the guise of Luigi - A man building what can only be described as playable works of art. An extraordinary man - extraordinary guitars and I can only thank Luigi & Stuart for thinking of me as a perfect fit to help represent Luigis work in the UK.
Breathtaking guitars made by men who continue their passion literally in a war zone.
The human story is inspiring but no less than the impeccable, meticulous qualitywith an enormous dash of the secret ingredient so many guitars can never find - MOJO!
The most comprehensive collection of affordable electric guitars money can buy.
We will help you find The best playing - Affordable electric guitar
I have been promoting Vintage brand guitars since the day they were "born" some 20+ years ago! In this time they have just got better... and better... and better! Not just that but the range has just become EPIC. Something for everyone!!
In the past couple of years ProShop has become one of the mmost exciting UK hand built guitars- using the Vintage range as the building blocks to create wonderful and exciting guitars that would normally cost thousands of pounds.
After spending a good 3 hours playing various Furch Eastman and Dowina guitars available in the shop I kept returning to two. A lovely Dowina (Moon spruce/ Paduak) and what I eventually bought, the Furch Blue Oc cm.
Now I’d given myself a budget of up to £2000 which meant there were good choices open to me, the aforementioned Dowina unfortunately was a little over that.
But, what if had in mind before I’d even arrived at the shop was to looking to buy a Furch with the new CNR ACTIVE system in place and find out how Furch guitars sounded and played with my own ears, and fingers.
So here is my opinion on the Furch Blue Om c/m.
This is NO entry level guitar, this guitar is built to such a high standard, even without any glitzy bits, this has a beauty all its own, and sounds and plays so beautifully…. Any professional/studio musician would be happy to be playing with this fantastic tone instrument.
Also the absolute friendliness and professionalism I received as a customer at Richard’s Guitars was a delight, and special shout out to Jake who with only the information of me wanting an Om size guitar Pulled the guitar I ended up buying out of the fresh deliveries and set it up ready for my arrival with another 4 or 5 similar ones.
What can I say other than it will be a cherished memory that I hope to repeat in the near future.
Mark
This is my first Furch guitar and I’m delighted with my purchase. This is one in their low/mid price range but sounds as good (or better) than my Taylor 614ce and quite definitely plays better straight out of the box. In the past few years having also purchased Eastman instruments I have come to the conclusion that US manufacturers just don’t offer anything to justify their pricing.
Hello everyone, I want to thank all the staff at Richard's for the professionalism, kindness and efficiency of their work. I bought this bass vi and it is perfect. Really an excellent setup of the instrument. Thanks again! Alessandro Terlizzi
I've had my eye on a Guild A150 for sometime then this one popped up at a very attractive price. I received it just after the new year and it's my Christmas present to myself. It was nicely setup, and plays extremely well. I couldn't find a blemish of any kind on the guitar and it was absolutely perfect. I've never bought a guitar that was so good on delivery. I will definitely buy again from Richards Guitars
I had three Furchs in my collection already: Yellow GcCR, GN4 Nylon and Little Jane. I also have a McNally OM, Dowina Merlot BV, Larrivee Baritone and Brook Lyn. I kept thinking this is far too many, especially as I am now retired and might need to reduce the flock to raise funds. But I then realised that I love every one, dearly…but could not, obviously, buy any more. I was however a bit obsessed with the walnut guitars I’d heard…something in the tone that was so different to what I had. I’d heard Blue Series walnut offerings played on You Tube reviews and they sounded so bright and distinctive. So, when tempted by a reduction on the Blue Deluxe GSW I yielded to temptation. I am sooooo glad I did. In short, I absolutely love this guitar. How can a guitar sound this good at this price point? The point of listing my other guitars is to show that I have some pretty decent ones (the house is falling to bits but I have nice guitars…which seems the right priority to me)…yet, it is now this guitar that now comes out more than any other. It came perfectly set up for me and my predominantly fingerstyle preference…as have the other three guitars I’ve bought from Richard. Jake was extremely helpful right through the purchase process and the guitar arrived well packed and on time. As soon as I picked it up I was in love: the tone is just wonderful, it plays so easily, despite my best efforts to mangle every note and I love the feel of the open pore finish. It is bright and joyful, clear and articulate but with a real power when you want it. I was also taken aback by the beauty of the walnut back: beautiful and perfectly matched swirls that I’ve only seen in more expensive guitars. How can Furch produce the guitars they do at these prices? At the risk of repeating myself, I love this guitar.
An excellent guitar, plays beautifully, feels great in your arms, for this being a middle range in Furch guitars, I’m really pleased with the quality of this guitar, and of course Richard’s Guitars were fantastic in looking after me in the purchase. I definitely would buy from them in the future.
This guitar is absolutely sublime. I have had some less than average experience of nylon stringed guitars in the past but I do love their sound and tone.
I sought advice from Jake who had all the time in the world to address my concerns and hesitations.
Having played this guitar I can state, without reservation, that his counsel was absolutely spot on.
The walnut / cedar combination provides a far better tone that I could have hoped for, the articulation is amazing and the guitar is beautiful in every way.
The set up is perfect, when it arrived the outside temperature was just about freezing but after tuning up once the guitar stayed in tune! This is remarkable with brand new nylon strings (which can act like elastic bands).
First class instrument from a team that provide works class service.
Now I need to go and search for a tab for Stanley Myers’s Cavatina!
