Category: Gear Reviews

0 and Concert

Review: The Breedlove Roots Concert RTC-MMe Is a Mahogany Lover’s Delight in a Concert-Sized Package

A member of Breedlove’s new US-made Roots series, the Concert RTC-MMe offers rich tone, versatility, and mahogany.

Emile Menasché October 14, 2026

Dreadnought

Review: The Collings DS1 A Hill Country Is a Different Kind of Dreadnought

This modern take on the nearly century-old 12-fret dreadnought offers expansive low end, clear mids and highs, and impressive responsiveness across a wide dynamic range.

Greg Ruby July 29, 2026

Gear Reviews

Review: Fishman Fluence Acoustic Pickups Offer Tone-Targeted Models and Real-Time Voice Switching

While most acoustic soundhole pickups are one-sound-fits-all generalists, the Fluence series instead targets specific sonic goals.

Emile Menasché July 19, 2026

Gear Reviews

Review: Grace Design’s MOXi, a Two-Channel Instrument Preamp, Offers Pristine Sound and Streamlined Features

A rugged, reliable, preamp with all the essentials for high-fidelity acoustic amplification.

Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers June 1, 2026

All Gear Reviews

Review: L.R. Baggs Lyric Pickup System is a Transparent, Plug-and-Play Solution for Acoustic Guitars

This is a great option for acoustic pickers searching for transparent amplification.

Teja Gerken
April 4, 2013

Review: Kala U-Bass-SMHG is Way More Than Just a Novelty

Tiny bass with a ukulele-size body has serious low-end tones.

Greg Olwell
April 4, 2013

Acoustic Guitar editor Teja Gerken holding guitar for 11 affordable small bodied flattop guitars

Acoustic Guitar Roundup: 11 Affordable Small-Body Flattops

Here are reviews of 11 steel-string flattops priced between $350 and $800.

Teja Gerken
March 1, 2013

Review: PRS SE Angelus Standard Has a Balanced and Even Sound

If the sound and playability of our review guitar is any indication, it’s definitely time to stop referring to PRS as an electric guitar maker.

Scott Nygaard
February 27, 2013

Review: Yamaha LS6 Acoustic Has a Bright Voice with Great Presence

For many years, especially in the 1970s and ’80s, Yamaha was virtually synonymous with inexpensive, good quality flattop guitars, and the LS6 lives up to this reputation.

Teja Gerken
February 18, 2013

Review: Schertler Jam 100 is Lean and Mean, With Tone That’s Clean

A powerful yet compact acoustic amp with four flexible channels.

Acoustic Guitar Editors
February 18, 2013

Recording King RO-310 Review

Recording King RO-310 acoustic guitar review.

Teja Gerken
February 15, 2013

Taylor GS Mini Review

I sat on my couch, put the GS Mini in my lap, and experienced the strangest feeling: total comfort.

Nicole Solis
February 13, 2013

Fueled by reader requests for an overview of currently available small-body guitars, Acoustic Guitar invited manufacturers to send us samples of their small-body instruments with list prices between $500 and $1,000. We ended up with 11 guitars that are surprisingly diverse in sound and feel, some inspired by vintage instruments and…

Teja Gerken
February 11, 2013

Martin 000X1AE Review

Martin 000X1AE acoustic guitar review.

Teja Gerken
February 11, 2013

Guild M-120 Review

Guild M-120 acoustic guitar review.

Teja Gerken
February 11, 2013

Eastman E60M Review

Eastman E60M acoustic guitar review.

Teja Gerken
February 11, 2013

Breedlove Passport OM/SM Review

Breedlove Passport OM/SM acoustic guitar review.

Teja Gerken
February 11, 2013

Blueridge BR-163 Review

Blueridge BR-165 acoustic guitar review.

Teja Gerken
February 11, 2013

Bedell HGM-28G Review

Teja Gerken
February 11, 2013

Alvarez AF70 Review

Alvarez AF70 acoustic guitar review.

Teja Gerken
February 11, 2013

Seagull Maritime SWS Folk HG Review

Teja Gerken
February 11, 2013

Review: Martin’s DRS1 is a Solid Dreadnought Designed For the Working Musician

Luckily for those unable to afford a D-28, Martin recently unveiled the DRS1—a guitar with many similarities to the American-made D-15, but built in Martin’s Mexican facility.

Adam Perlmutter and Scott Nygaard
January 13, 2013

DigiTech Vocalist Live 3 and TC Helicon VoiceLive Touch effects units

DigiTech Vocalist Live3 and TC Helicon VoiceLive Touch Review

These two new auto-harmony devices not only provide more power, but are easier to use and better organized.

Andrew DuBrock
January 5, 2013

Review: Martin 000C Nylon Has Familiar Steel-String Sound with Electronics and Some Unusual Features

The Martin 000C's strong lower mids combine with a crisp high end to produce a scooped tone completely different from the sound usually associated with classical instruments.

Doug Young
January 4, 2013

Godin Multiac ACS-SA Nylon USB Review

The ACS-SA/USB is about as easy to use as it gets, giving a convenient way to plug into a computer and get ideas down quickly with a pro-level sound and feel.

Doug Young
January 4, 2013

Review: Fender Passport 500 Pro is an All-In-One PA System Designed for Portability

Acoustic solo or small-combo acts will find plenty of use for it in everything from house concerts to cafés to small clubs.

Stevie Coyle
January 4, 2013

Review: Alhambra Crossover CS-1 CW E2

The Alhambra produces a rich, warm tone with good presence and definition

Doug Young
January 3, 2013

Review: The Differences are in the Details with Taylor’s 314CE-N Hybrid Nylon-String Guitar

The most obvious departure from Taylor’s steel-string grand auditorium design is the wider neck

Doug Young
January 3, 2013

Review: Martin 0-28VS is a 12-Fret Loaded with Character

This updated and reissued design is part of Martin's Vintage series.

Stevie Coyle
January 3, 2013

Guitar & Gear Review FAQs

How do you choose which guitars to review?
Our writers are guitar fanatics, just like you. They’re always on the lookout for new or updated offerings to recommend. We’re sometimes asked why we don’t publish negative or one-star reviews – there are so many great guitars being produced today that we’d rather share our balanced opinions on the instruments we do think you should consider.

Do companies pay for you to review their instruments?
No. We are proud of the firm separation between advertising sales and editorial coverage that we’ve held strong since our founding in 1990. We only accept endemic advertising – meaning, you won’t see ads for products or services unrelated to making music with an acoustic guitar; inevitably that means we’ll review products made by companies who advertise with us, but you’ll see just as many reviews by companies who do not. We have never (and will never) take money or gifts in exchange for a favorable review.

What’s up with affiliate links?
There is no billionaire owner or mega-corporation behind Acoustic Guitar – your support keeps us independent and in business. When you shop for gear using one of our affiliate links, a small percentage of your purchase gets shared with us (at no cost to you) for being the one that referred you. This is one way you can support our work (learn about more ways here.) We do not select products to review based on the availability of affiliate links.