A Martin isn’t just a guitar. It’s playable history; part of a long line of legendary instruments stretching back to the company’s beginnings in 1833. The guitars were strummed by Civil War soldiers around campfires, helped shape the sound of modern music at the turn of the 20th century, and were played by music’s first superstars like Jimmie Rodgers and Gene Autry. Martin Guitar has expanded their popular solid mahogany 15 Series with a respectful nod to the working musician. Martin is more than twice the age of some of the previous brands they produced with a range of acoustic stringed instruments as well as electric-acoustics. Their guitars have evolved and changed shape many times in their lengthy history.

Martins makes great-sounding entry-level guitars and are ideal for beginners. They won't set you back too much as they employ decent materials in their construction. Their older models are well sought after one D-28 played by Elvis in his final concert fetched over 100,000 bucks at auction. They also produced a line of solid-bodied electric modeled after Fender which is fairly rare.

Some popular series are 000-15M StreetMaster® model, DX series, DX Woodstock 50th X Series, LX1RE Little Series, Road Series, Standard Series, Backpacker Series etc

The 000-15M StreetMaster® model is built to the same specifications as the 000-15M model but Martin has added a beautifully distressed satin finish. The StreetMaster® is perfect for your next gig, whether it be at the historic Ryman Theater or a day of busking in the big city. Enjoy the look and feel of a well-worn instrument with the limited lifetime warranty and the superb playability of a brand new guitar. The 15 Series StreetMaster® models come with a gig bag making them ready to hit the streets.

The cheaper DX series features laminates but again you get what you pay for and they make fantastic sounding budget guitars. They are great for fingerpicking and classic styles. They offer a range of models including a few interesting electric travel options.

Positive:

• Affordable

• Easy to play (good for beginners)

• Consistent quality

Negative:

• The quality though consistent isn't spectacular.

• Low-end models can be disappointing to a more seasoned player.

• Laminate tops on inexpensive models.

Website: https://www.martinguitar.com/

Taylor Guitars is an American guitar manufacturer based in El Cajon, California, and is one of the largest manufacturers of acoustic guitars in the United States. They specialize in acoustic guitars and semi-hollow electric guitars. The company was founded in 1974 by Bob Taylor and Kurt Listug.

Taylor is the number one seller for acoustic guitars in America and has been running production for over forty years. Taylor himself was very innovative with design concepts Schemmer was a luthier with skills which outshone the majority of other luthiers worldwide together with the business brains of Listug they began their venture.

The brand is famous for its series GT, GTe Urban Ash, American Dream Series, GS Mini, 200 Series or bestselling Grand Auditorium models like the 814ce, 214ce and Builder's Edition 324ce, etc.

With the addition of the Indian rosewood GT 811e and the all-Hawaiian-koa GT K21e, the GT Series now features a wider sonic palette to make these compact, bold-voiced guitars even more musically appealing

The all-new 326ce features the innovative soundpost cutaway, V-Class bracing and responsibly sourced Urban Ash. Urban Ash Series meet the new Grand Symphony. Marrying the warmth and clarity of Urban Ash with the innovative design of our revoiced Grand Symphony body shape, the new 326ce brings a new type of acoustic tone to the Taylor line. This model’s dusky sonic character is reflected in its subtle visual aesthetics, with black binding, a three-ring black rosette and Gemstone inlays in Italian acrylic all framed by our new Urban Sienna color treatment in a 5-mil satin finish.

Players of all styles and skill levels will find something to love in the 200 Series, which features several new standard models in addition to a batch of freshly appointed 200 Series Plus guitars with 15 Acoustic Guitars models. All models are available in a left-handed configuration at no additional charge, except most Builder's Edition models.

Born from adversity and priced to meet the needs of working musicians, the American Dream Series features three new Grand Pacific models with V-Class bracing. With the American Dream Series, the lowest-priced solid-wood, US-made guitars with V-Class bracing and signature playability are the highlight. These essential, versatile guitars deliver premium performance, while the appointments are streamlined to fit their function. They have everything you need, and nothing you don’t.

Adding exciting new sounds and tonal flavors to the beloved lineup of short-scale guitars, the first rosewood GS Mini as well as a brand-new GS Mini-e Koa Plus are highly recommended.

Positive:

• Proficiently built
• Expertly designed
• Affordable lines
• Exceptional high-end guitars

Negative:

• Cheap guitars aren't brilliant
• Can be on the thin side
• Whilst their high-end guitars are better made and sound great some think they are overpriced

Website: https://www.taylorguitars.com/

Ibanez is a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki was one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United States and Europe, as well as the first brand of guitars to mass-produce the seven-string guitar and eight-string guitar. Created a little over sixty years ago Ibanez has achieved a lot already in their span and currently has left more than 130 acoustic models, 300 + electric and around 160 bass models in their legacy.

They are one of Japanese companies which significantly shaped the instrument import industry. They began making Spanish-style acoustic guitars under the Ibanez Salvador name their modern era guitars came in the late '50s. They soon came into their own with their Iceman and Roadstar series and were flourishing by the time the '70s ended. The company had close ties with Steve Vai which also helped considerably.

They offer 2 main solid body styles the RG (24 fret standard, thicker body) and the S (22 frets, thinner. ) Other styles incorporate arched tops. The majority of their guitars are floating tremolo but there are some fixed bridge options. They have a range of pickup combinations. They also produce many signature series lines Joe Satriani JS series, JEM and Universe with Steve Vai, the K7 with Head and Munky to name a few. The Ibanez brand is subdivided into Custom, Prestige, Premium, and Gio their budget series line.

The Ibanez John Scofield models (the JSM100, JSM10 and JSM20) are a great choice if looking for a versatile semi-hollow body guitar capable of switching easily between different genres, but still possessing a classic warm jazz tone. In terms of price, the JSM100 certainly isn’t an entry-level instrument, but the JSM10 and JSM20 models come in at a lower price point

Ibanez’s best-selling arch-top guitar of all time is their George Benson GB10 model, designed to Benson’s exacting specifications. The floating GB special pickups sit on top of the body of the guitar, producing a superb warm jazz tone, and the instruments ebony neck was chosen to deliver rich sustain. It’s a beautifully made instrument, crafted from high-quality woods, and this versatile laminate-top guitar whose size sits somewhere between a semi-hollow and large arch-top guitar.

Positive:

• Epic range of stock.
• Solid/hollow bodied.
• Their high-end guitars are absolutely unbelievable.
• Great craftsmanship.
• They have a range of low priced entry-level instruments.

Negative:

• Better models will set you back.
• Some people feel the signature models are gimmicky.

Brand origin: Japan

Website: https://www.ibanez.com/asia/

Yamaha is one of the biggest names in music, but the Yamaha name isn’t necessarily associated with guitars very often. Their range of keyboards is one of the most diverse in the world, for example. However, that doesn’t mean Yamaha isn’t there to help gift a guitarist with a great sound. They combine a certain traditionalism with some modern movements, and are generally known for their acoustic output. They’ve also got a great handle on the beginner electric market, too. They started constructing their first guitars in the 1940s and since then have consistently produced guitars which have sold in impressive record numbers.

The Maplewood of the neck helps add a brightness to the top end of the instrument, while rosewood of the fingerboard keeps warmth within. This is comparable to that balanced Gretsch sound. At the same time, they offer you single-coil pickups if you want to guide that bright sound more in the direction of a Strat, as well as humbuckers, meaning you can also add a serious bit of distortion without the worry of annoying buzzing.

In terms of appearance, many Yamaha electric guitars look a little like many of their competitors. For example, the Pacifica is basically a Strat that you can tell isn’t as high in quality. This has really helped back Yamaha from becoming one of the leading figureheads in terms of actual quality, even if they have a massive reach across the market.

On the whole, though, Yamaha is a good choice for true beginners. They are a guitar that is designed to last you a few years in good condition, before your playing ability takes you beyond them, and their guitar starts to give up on you. But that isn’t a flaw; that’s what they’re trying to do.

Some bands worth mentioning associated with playing Yamaha guitars include Duran Duran, Earth Wind and Fire, No doubt and the Goo Goo Dolls. Carlos Santana had a custom Yamaha SG175 which he loved and he worked in collaboration with Yamaha to further improve it and the result was one of their most popular models the SG2000.

Brand origin: Japan

Website: https://yamahaguitargroup.com/company/

Gibson Brands, Inc. (formerly Gibson Guitar Corporation) is an American manufacturer of guitars, other musical instruments, and professional audio equipment from Kalamazoo, Michigan, and now based in Nashville, Tennessee. The company was formerly known as Gibson Guitar Corporation founded in 1902 and renamed Gibson Brands, Inc. on June 11, 2013.

Gibson is one of the most recognizable names in the entire music industry. Gibson is seen to be one of the best high-end electric guitar brands this is largely due to early innovation.

Firstly, Gibson guitars are typically fitted with humbucker pickups, giving off an incredibly warm, thick sound. This also avoids hum, and allows the guitar to be a little louder in general. As such, some might claim that Gibson guitars are well-positioned to have a good deal of overdrive added. To play, Gibson guitars are typically a little heavier than their counterparts, while their necks are often slightly thicker than most.

Finally, Gibson guitars are known for their longevity. As they are built from some of the most premium materials in the world, the guitars can withstand a lot, and many original models from the 1960s will still sound as brilliant today as they did more than fifty years ago.

Throughout more modern eras Gibson has produced a wide variety of instantly recognizable pieces including the flying V and the Gibson SG. They manufacture guitars under several subsidiary brand names including Epiphone, Tobias, Maestro, Kramer, Steinberger and have had many others on their production lines in their lengthy history.

One of the world's best-known guitars is the Gibson Les Paul which was introduced as its first solid-body electric guitar in 1952 designed by a team led by Ted McCarty. The new Les Paul Standard returns to the classic design that made it relevant, played and loved - shaping sound across generations and genres of music.

Gibson was at the forefront of innovation in acoustic guitars, especially in the big band era of the 1930s; the Gibson Super 400 was widely imitated. Some famous series include Original, Standard, Hummingbird, Rosewood, Banner, Jumbo, etc.

Positive:

• All Gibson guitars are manufactured in the USA with high quality.
• They produce some of the greatest guitars of all time.

Negative:

• Can be on the pricier side.
• Outstanding debts have attributed to some quality loss.
• Some people feel the legendary Gibson brand has been compromised in recent years.

Brand origin: USA

Website: https://www.gibson.com/

PRS guitars have operated out of Maryland for the last 3 decades, founded by master luthier Paul Reed Smith who began building guitars during his college years. The big break came for Smith in the shape of none other than Carlos Santana. The high-end bespoke guitars they were producing had little competition so they had a good niche in the market.

PRS is considered to be one of the most diverse brands in the world. Not only do they have a portfolio of guitars that covers just about every possibly niche a player could ever want, but each of the guitars within that range has the capability to do just about anything. PRS is consistently the most beautiful guitar brand in the world. They take a little from Gibson to get that rounded body, but also there are hints at Ibanez through the cut-offs in the body. Their choice of colors and the beautiful wooden patterns that flow through are just incredible.

Some popular best models can be recommended as below.

One particular band who are known for their use of the PRS is Opeth, and that just about sums up why PRS is one of the best guitars in the world for a constantly genre-bending musical world. Opeth mixes death metal, folk, classical, jazz and just about anything else in their music. This means that, as a band, they view PRS as the best brand to shift instantaneously from acoustic emulation to the crushing heaviness of death metal which few guitars that can do.

Anyone who loves guitars knows the name Ted McCarty. This guitar perfectly blends the modern, forward-thinking PRS with the vintage style and sensibilities of the golden age of guitars. At the heart of this guitar are the 58/15 pickups. These deliver bags of retro tone that will cut through the densest of mixes. The addition of a push/pull tone control adds another modern flair to this guitar, making it even more versatile.

PRS SE Mark Tremonti. It's difficult to separate metal guitar powerhouse Mark Tremonti and his PRS guitar. Tremonti is best known as the guitarist for the much-loved Alter Bridge, the opinion-splitting Creed, and his successful solo efforts. In fact, Tremonti became the second musician to become a PRS signature artist - right after Carlos Santana. The single-cutaway mahogany body is adorned with a rather gorgeous flame maple veneer, which is beautifully finished in the rather understated Charcoal Burst. The Wide Thin maple neck is a shredder's dream, while the more aggressive nature of the Tremonti S pickups is sure to bring the house down.

It's fair to say all PRS guitars have a particular look and vibe about them. The Starla certainly takes the PRS aesthetic and runs in a completely different direction. This unique-looking single-cut is drenched in vintage mojo, and wouldn't look out of place in the hands of a 60s guitar hero. The solid mahogany body comes in a jet black finish with a tortoise pickguard or in a drop-dead gorgeous Powder Blue - which would definitely be our choice. The PRS-Designed DS-02 pickups offer a completely different sonic pallet. They are brighter, with a top-end response you can't get from other PRS models. Fans of clean to mid-gain tones are sure to love these pickups. The mahogany Wide Fat neck will most definitely fill your hands, it feels substantial and is great if you are a player who likes a fuller neck profile.

Positive:

• Great consistency.
• Superior quality in high-end models.
• Ultimate boutique customization.

Negative:

• Very expensive.
• Only their private stock is of any real value.
• There are better guitars in their comparative price range.

Origin brand: USA

Website: https://prsguitars.com/