Top 10 Acoustic Guitars

The acoustic guitar is one the most enduring instruments in western music. The name itself is a retronym, coined after the advent of electric guitars to differ between the two and refers to the manner in which the sound created by the vibration of the strings is amplified via the hollow cavity in the body of the guitar known as the sound box. Below are just ten of some of the best acoustic guitars of all time.

Gibson Guitars, despite being a household name in electric instruments also produce a number of noteworthy acoustic guitars. Originally released in 1938 as the Super Jumbo, the Gibson J-200 featured a huge 16 7/8" flat top body, double-braced red spruce top and rosewood back and sides (although for subsequent re-releases this was exchanged for maple resulting in a cooler, snappier sound). It was the guitar of choice of Elvis Presley himself and due to the limited quantities that they were produced, the early Super Jumbos` are favoured amongst collectors.

Another Classic acoustic by Gibson is the J-45, dubbed "The Workhorse Guitar" by its manufacturer. Built to compete with C.F. Martin & Company`s "D" line, the J-45 featured solid spruce construction and mahogany back and sides (often with a sunburst finish partly intended to hide the flaws in what was poor quality wood) and became a popular, inexpensive alternative to the top-of-the-range Super Jumbo/J-200.

Lastly is the Gibson Everly Brothers Flattop. Built in conjunction with country-rockers The Everly Brothers, the guitar features a rosewood fretboard and unusual flourishes such as star-shaped inlays and a large double tortoise grain pickguard. As with the J-200, it remains a collectors` favorite and a timeless piece of music memorabilia, played by artists such as Cat Stevens, Jimmy Page and Neil Diamond.

C.F. Martin & Company, otherwise known as the makers of Martin guitars are often said to produce some of the finest acoustic guitars. The D-50 Koa Deluxe is one of their most coveted (and expensive) models, fetching hundreds of thousands of dollars. The limited edition model, of which there are only 50 in the world features koa back and sides, sitka spruce top with scalloped adirondack spruce braces and elaborate pearl inlay and ivoroid binding.

A more affordable (and attainable) Martin dreadnought is the D-18. It too boasts a sitka spruce top as well as mahogany back and sides and the same handmade construction.

Morgan is another name in sought-after handmade acoustic guitars. The CCK (Concert Florentine Cutaway Koa), as with the Martin D-50, is made using Koa for the back and sides and the neck is constructed from other exotic woods such as ebony and South African mahogany, resulting in a versatile and unique tone.

There are also a number of high-quality acoustic guitars that are available at a more reasonable price. Fans of the J-200 will be pleased to know that Epiphone, Gibson`s` sister company manufacture a more affordable model known as the EJ-200 which boasts near-identical materials and construction at a fraction of the price.

Another two noteworthy guitars are the Ovation Folklore Contour and the Fender GA43SCE, both featuring high-quality materials and construction at a significantly lower price then their better-established peers.