"Richards Top Recommendations": Electro Acoustic Guitars (From £200 to £3000) You HAVE To Try
Below, you will find the culmination of30 years research - fine tuned to a list of my personal favorites.
Needless to say - any guitar on this list is a 100% bona fide benchmark at the price and will almost certainly provide you a better instrument - and cost you less -than what you THINK the benchmarks are (if you listen only to mainstream marketing and brand hype).
As one of the World's leading specialists in all the brands I supply - I could bore you to death about why these guitars are listed, have presented numerous videos on personal recommendations - and have many thousands of reviews from customers all around the World to back up my feelings.
I hope you find this shortlist of value and that you use it as part of your research.
Want the "Best" Electro Acoustic Guitar? Check out my video on the subject which I hope helps in some way. I am available on live chat if you need me.
As a massive Furch fan, and owner of several of their instruments, I'm biased. That said, I have been playing for 51 years and have hone through the best part of 100 guitars looking for 'THAT' tone;, and in Furch, I've found it.
This Pioneer ER is a real powerhouse, with genuine depth and clarity in its tone, and the booster soundport really does enhance the experience for the player. I was surprised just how much difference the Englemann top makes; it seems really warm and woody, yet with a soft clarity that shines.
As one would expect, the build quality it superb, though I would always prefer a bone / bone substitute saddle to Tusq; just mh personal preference.
It plays wonderfully, as always a testament to the craftsmanship of guitar tech, Chris. If he had hair and a beard I would call him Gandalf as what he can do with a guitar setup is nothing short of magical.
If you want a go-to /travel guitar that requires no assembly then I'd recommend you try a Furch Pioneer - all solid woods, innovative neck systems and the booster soundport, it leaves other big brand travel guitars for dead.
Furch Pioneer ER: Engelmann spruce top with Indian rosewood back and sides. (Furch Mini / Travel Guitar) (2025 CNR Active Upgrade Model)
Mark Robinson
First Class Furch
This is a really beautifully made guitar; the woods look like much higher quality than one might expect on a Vintage 1 series - some bearclaw in the Sitka top, and the Rosewood back and sides have lovely silking - the sides in particular have really nice figuring.
That said, it's the tone that's paramount, and this little guitar is sweet and articulate, and really projects - it is so LOUD, and not just for its size. It plays really comfortably - a testament to the perfect setup by brilliant guitar tech Chris. The service at Richards is exemplary; it doesn't get any better than these guys, who have grown to feel more like trusted friends.
One last note: this guitar came with Furch's new T-line case, which - being a Hiscox fan - I was somewhat apprehensive about. I needn't have worried - the case fits like a glove and is well padded, with good quality latches. I might not trust airline baggage handlers with it as it's definitely lighter and less crush resistant than the Hiscox Pro II, but for pretty much anything other than flying,the T-Line case is more then good enough - and it looks pretty cool, to be honest.