I Tested the Top Three $200 Guitars (ONE stole the show)

Comments · 1.4K

• TA

  @tacguitar · 1 year ago · pinned

  Hey guitar friends! As guitar players, we constantly get asked "hey, so and so wants to learn guitar, can you recommend a good beginner guitar?" So I made this video for you to share the next time you get this question! Let me know which one sounded best to you. Cheers! - Tony

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• ST

  @stevenkono · 1 year ago

  For the blind test, the Yamaha sounded the best to my ears.  Full and robust.  The Fender was thin, loud, and tinny, and the Orangewood was muted and subdued to my ears.  After a set-up, the yamaha would pull more sound out of the body with the strings lower.  But for a few dollars more, the FG800 is the best selling acoustic guitar in the world for a good reason.  The sound and build quality are far above the F325D.  Also, an FG830 will outperform almost any guitar twice it's price.  It's a real gem to look at and hear with the dark burst and the full warm sound.

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• RO

  @rodriguezahr · 5 months ago

  I picked number 3 and was delighted to known it’s also your pick and surprised it’s also the cheapest one.

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• KJ

  @kjjmusic · 1 year ago

  My pick in the blind test was the Yamaha. It has a nice clarity to it. Overall i can see the orangewood is a great buy, but a little too boomy for my taste.

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• CA

  @carlschnackel3051 · 9 months ago

  The "Orangewood" had a "richness" to the tone that the others didn't have.  I was impressed.

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• AZ

  @azcharlie2009 · 1 year ago (edited)

  The Yamaha was the clear sound winner.  But, owning an Orangewood (Echo Live), I can't believe they can make a guitar like that for what I paid.  $325 at that time!  Whoever makes Orangewood guitars does a great job for the money.  That being said, I thought the mahogany Orangewood didn't quite have the punch, or volume, either of the other guitars had.  But, that is the nature of the wood, and the size.

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• ST

  @stuartcoles6057 · 1 year ago

  I prefer the sound of Yamaha. Just pay to get it set up.

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• PA

  @patrickgrant4804 · 1 year ago

  At 63 years old, I have decided to learn to play. I have found your videos to be inspiring and ordered the Orangewood Austen, it will arrive tomorrow. A funny story about myself.....I worked as a live sound engineer for 20 years, the last 5 years, the production company I worked for also owned a large music store in the midwest where I was also employed on my non gig days as a...........wait for it..........guitar salesman.......LOL. I knew the products extremely well and usually lead the monthly sales without ever knowing how to play (I do know three chords)....lol. But listening to Howard Stern learning to play guitar now later in life pushed me to finally get off my a$$ and learn! I will be siging up for your courses and I am really looking forward to this journey.

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• TO

  @tomg6284 · 1 year ago

  Strings can make a guitar sound warm and full or thin.<br>Just a reminder for the new players.

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• AU

  @aurastudio2248 · 1 year ago

  I bought the Orangewood Rey based on this comparison review. Plays perfectly out of the box and far exceeds my expectations in terms of sound quality, playability, string tension, build quality, aesthetics, as well as fit and finish. Thank you for this awesome review!!

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• ME

  @medalofhonor7216 · 1 year ago

  Every one of us sees the same color differently and hears the same note differently. &nbsp;We are all unique. &nbsp;My ear tells me the Yamaha is the number one choice for me.

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• AN

  @AndyA1234 · 11 months ago

  The thing that puts most beginners of is a badly set-up guitar with a high action and strings like telegraph wires. Have the action lowered, even if it buzzes a little, and put on light or extra light strings. Guitar companies intentionally set up their guitars, especially cheaper ones, so that there&apos;s no chance of strings buzzing, which to a beginner might point to poor manufacturing rather than set-up. Also, always try to get a guitar in your hands before you buy it to see how the neck feels. Playability, for a beginner, should be their main concern, not the tone. If you progress, you&apos;ll eventually buy a guitar based on the knowledge you&apos;ve gained while learning, based on playability, tone, and, of course, your budget.

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