Acoustic guitar players: What is your favorite brand?

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RI built Guilds.

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Hard to put hands on one though. I've only seen one cheapy Chinese made Guild. It sounded fine.

My BlueRidge is Chinese but it is made as a straight up copy of a Martin, and they do a good job.

I just enjoy the options with Gibsons. I believe some have Maple necks. I'm a sucker for the look and sound of lighter woods in the body/back and neck of guitars. Always gravitate toward them. Like a woman to shiny things.

Nearly all of my acoustic playing is fingerstyle so I really like the Taylor Grand Concert shapes. I have a 612ce, which is all maple with a torrefied Sitka spruce top. Normally maple guitars are too bright for me but this one isn't like that. Supposedly has to do with how they constructed the bracing for it.

My other acoustic that I use for strumming is an Alvarez-Yairi DY-59 from about 1987. Brazilian rosewood back and sides and Sitka spruce top. It's a pretty decent guitar for the money but it's not ideal for fingerstyle, which is why I bought the Taylor.

If you're spending less than 2k you really can't go wrong with a Taylor. Mine isn't ultra high end (210ce) but I absolutely love that guitar. I couldn't find anything that played as well as that does for the same price range. If we are getting into the really expensive stuff there are obviously tons of great options.

got a taylor 616 that I dig

love the low end sound

I would go with Taylor or Martin. I purchased a Martin D16GT (Gloss Top) about 2 years ago. Love it. It's probably the cheapest solid wood guitar, hand made in the USA. Retails around 1,400-1,600. I paid right at 1K with a hard case.

If I could do it again I would probably pay the extra 2-300 and get the rosewood instead of the mahogany.

I'm a Taylor guy, but since the OP isn't I won't go there.

If you like the deeper Martin sound, but don't have the $ for a nicer solid wood model, take a look at Eastman.

They're made in China, but in this case MIC is a good thing. Among other things, Eastman brought in a top luthier from New York to show them how to design quality guitars, back when they started making them in the late 80's or early 90's. Prior to that the company was a maker of violins and cellos.

Anyway, I've got an Eastman 10D dreadnaught, cost me about $1100. I've listened to it compared to a $3K Martin, and the Martin sounded richer, deeper. But for 1/3 the $ my Eastman gives me a good deal of the darker Martin sound, especially compared to my Taylors.

Top: Adirondack Spruce
Bottom/Sides: Mahogany

Incidentally, Eastman has an excellent reputation for price/quality/value.

Check 'em out if you're interested.

I use Taylor. 310CE

I play a custom Martin that fits perfectly with the music I write, which is kind of dark and moody. My dad plays a Taylor 816 and my mom a Taylor 414, both of which are awesome guitars. I brought the 816 to the studio one day, and let me tell you, it sounded like pure Heaven on the tracks I used it on!

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e $ for a nicer solid wood model, take a look at Eastman.

They're made in China, but in this case MIC is a good thing. Among other things, Eastman brought in a top luthier from New York to show them how to design quality guitars, back when they started making them in the late 80's or early 90's. Prior to that the company was a maker of violins and cellos.

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Same maker as Blue Ridge? Saga music? Sound similar if not. Known for violins etc. I bought a BR 160 for $399 used at guitar center and love it. They had a vintage 1980ish D28 there too and they were similar enough to make me buy the BR160.

$399 for all solid spruce and rosewood? Couldn't leave it there.