If you’ve been shopping for a brand new guitar lately, you’ll notice that some guitars seem to be extra expensive.
You might be wondering why guitars are so expensive anyway and does it really matter if you buy a cheaper guitar? Do the less expensive guitars actually sound worse than the pricier ones?
In this article, we discuss why some guitars are more expensive than others and whether or not it makes a difference if you buy a cheaper guitar. We’ll also recommend some cheaper guitars that people rave about in a good way.
After all, the price of a guitar should not be the reason why you hold off on your dreams of becoming a really great guitar player.
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Do Expensive Guitars Actually Sound Better?
The truth is, expensive guitars do have the tendency to sound better than cheaper guitars.
The reason for this is that the expensive guitars are usually made with better quality wood and other features such as pickups and tuners.
With that being said, not all expensive guitars sound super awesome, and not all cheap guitars sound like dirt.
An expensive guitar may sound great at first, but if it’s not kept in the right environment, it could sound worse than intended.
It doesn’t matter what quality of guitar you buy if you keep it in an environment that is either too high in humidity or too low. Humidity has a tendency to destroy guitars.
No matter how much you spent on your guitar, it’s always important to make sure that you are storing your guitar properly to avoid any damage that could occur.
Why Are American Guitars So Expensive?
The main reason that American guitars are so expensive is mainly due to the labor costs involved in producing the guitar. This cost usually trickles down to the consumer.
In most other countries, the cost of labor is much less than in the United States. This also trickles down to the consumer and allows for a lower purchase price than an American-made guitar.
So does this mean that American-made guitars are better in quality than ones made in other countries? The answer is no.
There are plenty of guitars of decent quality made in countries such as Indonesia, Mexico, and Korea.
When it comes to guitars made in China, most of them are of low quality and are made with extremely low-quality parts.
There is, however, an exception to this statement, and that is with the Donner brand of guitar that is made over in China.
These guitars are actually pretty decent, and are inexpensive as well, making them a good choice for a beginner who doesn’t know yet if playing the guitar will be a long-term hobby.
Usually, when you buy a guitar from the Donner company, they include a variety of accessories like a tuner, picks, capo, and a soft guitar case. Some electric Donner guitars even include an amp.
Not all of these accessories are of the highest quality, but nonetheless, it makes for a pretty enticing guitar kit for the beginner guitarist.
Cheaper Alternatives to Expensive Guitars
Luckily, there are plenty of decent alternatives to buying an expensive guitar. I’ve listed some samples below that are inexpensive, yet have decent quality.
Not all of the alternatives come with accessories, but plenty do which makes it much easier for a beginner to pick out the guitar that is right for them.
Last update on 2024-09-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Why Are Some Acoustic Guitars So Expensive?
The main reason that some acoustic guitars seem quite pricey is because of the wood that they are made from, and also how the instrument is made.
A hand-crafted guitar using the best wood will almost always cost much more than a guitar made with cheaper wood.
Premium materials will always end up with a guitar that is higher quality, and thus, more expensive to buy.
The wood on an expensive acoustic guitar is normally made with a type of wood that is referred to as tonewood. Sitka and Adirondack Spruce are considered tonewoods, for example.
Does a handcrafted guitar always result in a high-quality product? The answer is no, and actually, in some parts of Europe, hand-crafted is synonymous with low quality.
The best way to choose a high-quality acoustic guitar is to purchase it from a reputable brand such as Martin or Gretsch.
Or you could go directly to the guitar store and try out a few guitars before spending a fortune on an acoustic.
What Guitar Brands Are the Most Expensive?
Most of the guitar brands that happen to be the most expensive also are very popular among professional musicians.
The most expensive guitar brands on the market are (in no particular order):
- Gibson
- Martin
- Gretsch
- PRS
- Fender
There are other guitar brands out on the market that may be just as expensive as these brands, but this list consists of the most popular of the brands.
Also, it is possible to find affordable models of these guitar brands, but most of their guitars will be pretty expensive.
For example, a new Fender Stratocaster will usually have you forking over the dollars, but a Fender Squier Stratocaster is pretty affordable for the average musician.
