Best Dreadnought of 2018

A dreadnought acoustic is particularly distinguished by its bigger size over other types of acoustic guitars. These guitars can have a louder and even richer tone than smaller sized acoustics. Dreadnoughts are perfect for strumming given they have a larger body and project sound very well.

Art & Lutherie

Americana

Keeping the century-old Dreadnought tradition of versatility, the Americana is a reinvented classic. Its best described as one part plow horse for its durability and two parts thoroughbred for its exquisite tone and articulation. This stage and studio ready songbird comes with optional Godin Q1T electronics featuring a built-in tuner. Get it in a Bourbon Burst, Faded Black or Tennessee Red semi-gloss patina finish.

Gibson

Bats in Flight Acoustic

The combination of Gibson's traditional square-shoulder dreadnought body, coupled with the bright, crisp tone of quilt maple back and sides gives the Bats in Flight dreadnought a rich, balanced tone all its own. No less stunning in appearance, the maple back and sides are hand-rubbed with a Trans Black stain and the top is hand-sprayed with Gibson's own Snakebite finish. The mother-of-pearl bat inlay in the bridge and fingerboard culminate in the headstock’s magnificent hand-engraved Bats in Flight scene. If you're looking for something that'll make a big impression and stands out in a crowd, this one does both sonically and aesthetically. A Gibson hardshell case is included with this Bats in Flight acoustic.

Takamine Guitars

P3DC

Takamine’s top-line Pro Series P3DC cutaway dreadnought presents the finest in full-size Takamine acoustic sound, style and performance, with resonant tonewoods, elegant appointments and state-of-the-art electronics that deliver an exquisite acoustic experience onstage and off. The solid cedar top features X bracing and ivory binding, with dark purfling and a gorgeous concentric-ring rosette with wood marquetry. An elegant Venetian cutaway offers optimum access to the upper registers. The unique Takamine split-saddle bone bridge provides faultless intonation and excellent acoustic coupling to the top. Other premium features include a solid sapele back, mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard with wood “dot-in-dot” inlays, gold tuners with amber buttons, natural satin finish and the highly acclaimed CT4B II preamp system with three-band EQ, volume control and built-in tuner.

Takamine Guitars

SW341SC Steve Wariner Signature

The Takamine SW241SC Steve Wariner Dreadnought creates amazingly warm, full tone thanks to its solid mahogany back and solid cedar top. The deep black finish favored by Steve is enhanced by body binding and rosette inlaid with sparkling abalone that looks magnificent under stage lights. Steve's initials "SW" are fitted into the rosewood fingerboard at the 12th fret. The CT4B preamp allows you to shape your sound with precision with its 3-band graphic EQ. An extremely stable and accurate chromatic tuner lets quickly and efficiently keep in perfect tune, and it's equally effective for non-standard and open tunings.

Takamine Guitars

EF341SC

The EF341SC dreadnought is handcrafted in our pro series facility that has been building precision quality instruments over five decades. This guitar has been the choice of pro musicians of all genres. The versatility of this guitar begins with its solid cedar top that can play sweet mellow passages or power chords with equal ability. The maple back and sides are a perfect reflector for the tone generated by the soundboard and the gloss black finish looks great under the stage lights. The mahogany neck is joined to the body with a traditional, ultra strong dovetail joint. Includes Takamine’s CT4B II preamp system paired with the unique Palathetic™ under-saddle pickup for peerless amplified response. The highly acclaimed CT4B II preamp system with three-band EQ, volume control and built-in tuner.

Fender

F-1020 SCE

Reminiscent of the Fender F-Series of the 1970s, new F-Series acoustics are a modern take with great value that evokes the essence of that era with features such as a large Fender ’70s headstock and “Viking”-style rosewood bridge. The F-1020SCE Dreadnought Cutaway also features a beautiful gloss finish in Natural or Black, solid cedar top with quartersawn scalloped “X” bracing and all-wood rosette, mahogany back and sides, convenient Venetian cutaway for easy access to the upper reaches of the 20-fret rosewood fingerboard, mahogany neck with comfortable “C”-shaped profile, black neck and body binding, aged bridge pins, aged black or chrome hardware, and Fishman® Isys III pickup/preamp system with onboard active preamp, built-in chromatic tuner, volume control and three-band EQ for great amplified sound and performance.

Epiphone Guitars

Masterbilt AJ-500 M

The AJ-500M is one of the classics of our new Masterbilt Collection. The original Masterbilt Collection was first issued in the early 1930s and was the pride of our founder Epi Stathopoulo. The Masterbilt line of guitars marked Epiphone’s arrival as one of the great acoustic designers and builders of the era. That same spirit of timeless designs and innovation is still the mission of Epiphone. As with all Epiphone guitars, the AJ-500M features Epiphone's Limited Lifetime Warranty and is backed by world famous 24/7/365 Gibson Customer Service. You deserve the best. Make your own history with a Masterbilt AJ-500M today at your Authorized Epiphone Dealer.

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Gibson

J-50

After a brief appearance in 1942, the J-50 was reintroduced in 1947. The J-50 is essentially the same guitar as the iconic J-45 but with a natural instead of sunburst finish. As such, the changes in specifications between the two models have been more or less identical through their history.

Jasmine Guitars

S-35 Dreadnought Acoustic

The Jasmine S-35 is a great-looking dreadnought guitar with a big, bold sound and excellent features ideal for any player seeking a well-built and easy-playing guitar. The S-35 features a select spruce top with Jasmine's Advanced "X" bracing, and agathis back and sides. Its slim neck and full 25-1/2" scale length provide comfortable feel and excellent playability, and its smooth satin finish maximizes resonance for optimal sound quality.

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#10

Harley Benton

CLD-10SCE-LH BK

Left-handed model Solid Standard Series Design: Dreadnought with cutaway Top: Solid spruce Back and sides: Mahogany Cream binding Neck: Mahogany Scale: 648 mm Fretboard: Ovangkol 20 Frets Fretboard inlays: Dots Nut width: 43 mm Bridge: Ovangkol Preamp: Fishman Presys II with built-in tuner Machine heads: Chrome diecast Colour: Matte Black

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#11

Bourgeois Guitars

Slope D

Our slope shouldered dreadnought is only about 1/4" wider than a standard dreadnought, but what a difference! Voiced for a more open, though less driving, sound than the Dreadnought, the Slope D happily accommodates a wide variety of playing styles including country, blues, old timey, pop, contemporary, and--you name it. And if you're a fingerstyle player looking for a dreadnought-sized guitar that can handle fingerpicks or bare fingers as well as flatpicks, the Slope D is definitely your guitar! The Slope D is also available as a Slope D, 14 Fret, 25” short scale: Relaxed playability; warmer than the long scale version, without significant loss of volume.

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#12

Martin Guitar

D-18

Understated looks, timeless tone. The warm tone of mahogany and authentic Sitka spruce couple with resonant scalloped bracing under the hood for a sound that's honest, authoritative, and clear. Vintage details like open-geared tuners and classic 18-style appointments pair with a modern, low profile neck for an old-soul sound in a brand-new body.

#13

Alvarez Guitars

DY91

Alvarez Yairi DY-91 Koa Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar

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#14

Takamine Guitars

EF340SCGN

Handcrafted in our pro series facility that has been building precision quality instruments over five decades, The EF340SCGN dreadnought is an amazing blend of exquisite tone and playability. The solid cedar top is voiced for a deep, mellow tone and responds well to a light touch. Features a fully bound body and fretboard, finished in a silky smooth antique satin stain. The mahogany neck is joined to the body with a traditional, ultra strong dovetail joint. Dual action adjustable tension rod keeps the guitar playing true no matter what the environment. Includes Takamine’s Palathetic™ pickup, known in the industry as one of the most accurate and natural sounding acoustic/electric pickups. The CT4B preamp has long been the popular choice among Takamine pro artists, providing warm natural acoustic tone at high sound pressure levels.

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#15

Greg Bennett Guitars

D2 12

The great acoustic guitars from the early part of the 20th century established the standards for most of the premium instruments built today. This included shapes, wood combinations, construction, and cosmetics. The truth is that they really did a fine job. The REGENCY™ series acoustics really embrace that simple elegance: traditional tone woods, superb craftsmanship, and professional appointments in traditional sized bodies. Grover™ tuners insure fast, accurate tuning. Traditional X-style top braces let the top breathe for maximum power, while maintaining the top’s structural integrity. The abalone type rosette and the soft cornered bridge provide a distinctive professional appearance.

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#16

Takamine Guitars

GS330S

Designed and built under the supervision of Takamine's head luthiers, G-Series guitars are created to serve all players from the hobbyist to professional. The GS330S dreadnought is known throughout the industry as the best playing acoustic guitar at this price level. Features a solid cedar top for a warm, deep resonant tone while the ultra light satin finish adds to the overall resonance of the guitar. The mahogany neck and dual action adjustable tension rod keeps the guitar playing true no matter what the environment. A super fast neck and amazing tone make this our most popular G-Series guitar.

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#17

Taylor Guitars

810e

The rosewood/spruce 810e brings Taylor's latest tone-enhancing refinements to the traditional steel-string Dreadnought, blending driving low-end power with a vibrant upper register for a turbo-charged flatpicking machine. Bluegrassers will love the strong, crisp top-end punch in any picking circle, with robust projection across the entire tonal spectrum. Premium appointments include maple binding and back strip, rosewood top edge trim, rosewood pickguard, mother-of-pearl Element fretboard inlay, and smoky ebony fretboard. With Taylor's onboard Expression System 2 pickup, the dynamics of the player will translate loud and clear.

#18

Taylor Guitars

410e 2014

On the 410e, we've infused the iconic Dreadnought shape with modern Taylor refinements to create an inspiring playing experience. Solid ovangkol shares rosewood's full-spectrum tonal range, with a slightly fuller midrange and a bright, focused top end. Pickers and strummers will love the blend of power and articulation, along with Taylor's sleek, playable necks. White binding, progressive dot fretboard inlays, and a three-ring rosette supply understated style, while the onboard Taylor Expression System pickup and preamp deliver a smooth plug-and-play experience. The guitar ships in a Taylor deluxe hardshell case.

#19

Taylor Guitars

410e-R (2015)

This special edition Dreadnought features an upgrade to Indian rosewood back and sides, blending a classic tonewood with a bold-voiced body style. Pickers and strummers will love the mix of low-end power, snappy midrange, and sparkling treble, especially paired with Taylor's fast, easy-playing neck. Contemporary aesthetic touches include white binding, Italian acrylic dot fretboard inlays, a three-ring rosette, and satin finish back and sides with a gloss top, while the onboard Taylor Expression System® 2 pickup and preamp serve up a smooth plug-and-play experience. The guitar ships in a Taylor deluxe hardshell case.

#20

Taylor Guitars

510 (2014)

Our mahogany/spruce Dreadnought is a great choice for strummers and pickers looking for a strong, focused tone with a crisp response. The Dreadnought's upper midrange emphasis forms the sweet spot of its voice, and rootsy guitarists will love the way the 510 articulates together with other instruments, especially on fast runs. Appointments include a grained ivoroid rosette, grained ivoroid binding, and a Century fretboard inlay.

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#21

Taylor Guitars

510e

Taylor's 500 Series Dreadnoughts boast several uniquely compelling design features, including a slightly shorter 24-7/8-inch scale length and a V-carve neck with a slotted headstock. The result is an inviting handfeel with less string tension - making string bends fun - and matches up well with chord strummers and vocals. The dynamic response of the Lutz spruce top works especially well with the dry, woody sound of mahogany, producing a balanced voice with crisp highs and soft lows. With Taylor's Performance bracing optimized for the Dreadnought shape and the model's other features, the 510e makes a musically versatile instrument that blends well with other instruments, either unplugged or amplified with Taylor's Expression System 2 electronics.

#22

Taylor Guitars

510e (2014)

Our mahogany/spruce Dreadnought is a great choice for strummers and pickers looking for a strong, focused tone with a crisp response. The Dreadnought's upper midrange emphasis forms the sweet spot of its voice, and rootsy guitarists will love the way the 510ce articulates together with other instruments, especially on fast runs. Appointments include a grained ivoroid rosette, grained ivoroid binding, and a Century fretboard inlay, and the guitar comes equipped with Taylor's Expression System® 2 pickup.

#23

Taylor Guitars

516ce (2012)

Singer-songwriters are often drawn to our 500 Series because mahogany yields its inspiring tone easily, with a breathy midrange and a wonderful balance of warmth, clarity and complexity. Our larger body shapes (Grand Symphony and Dreadnought models) feature tops of spruce, while the Grand Auditorium and Grand Concert models sport cedar tops. The refined appointment package features a laser-engraved Deco Diamond inlay scheme, faux tortoise shell binding, and a dark body stain that honors mahogany's enduring heritage.

#24

Taylor Guitars

520e

Taylor's 500 Series Dreadnoughts boast several distinctive design strokes, including a slightly shorter 24-7/8-inch scale length and a V-carve neck with a slotted headstock. The result is an inviting handfeel that makes string bending fun and serves up a great Dreadnought option for singer-songwriters in search of a bold and expressive voice. The all-mahogany body unleashes a woody, focused tone with appealing midrange warmth, and the mahogany top helps smooth out a player's attack to produce a balanced voice with crisp highs and soft lows. With Taylor's Performance bracing optimized for the Dreadnought shape and the model's other features, the 520e makes a musically versatile acoustic that blends well with other instruments, either unplugged or amplified with Taylor's Expression System 2 electronics. A shaded edgeburst body, faux tortoise shell binding, and grained ivoroid Century inlays support a neo-classic aesthetic, especially with the slotted headstock.

#25

Taylor Guitars

516 (2014)

Singer-songwriters are often drawn to our 500 Series because mahogany yields its inspiring tone easily, with a breathy midrange and a wonderful balance of warmth, clarity and complexity. Our larger body shapes (Grand Symphony and Dreadnought models) feature tops of Engelmann spruce, while the Grand Auditorium and Grand Concert models sport cedar tops. The refined appointment package features a laser-engraved Deco Diamond inlay scheme, faux tortoise shell binding, and a dark body stain that honors mahogany's enduring heritage.