You’ve gotten the music bug and buying a flat top guitar is on your mind. The good news is that you don’t need to break the bank to get yourself a quality flat top acoustic guitar.
For most beginners, you should plan for your first flat top guitar. Most of these beginner guitars will be made of spruce and in the future when you are looking to play professionally, you might consider getting a solid wood one later on.
What are the Best Flat Top Guitars to Buy?
2) Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy Flat Top
- Popular Choice
- X-bracing
- Lightweight & Portable
- Rosewood Bridge
1) The Loar LO-16 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar
- High Quality
- Rosewood Fretboard
- Great Sound
- Solid Spruce
3) Gretsch Guitars Limited G9520-BRB
- Agathis Body
- Beautiful Design
- X Body
Finish
- Comfortable Playing
Here are some top tips for choosing a flat top guitar when you’re going shopping;
Setup – You should check that the guitar you want to buy is comfortable for you to play. Check that the strings are not sounding weird and if you can find a guitar with light strings that can be tuned properly, then you can go for it.
You should, however, make sure that the one you pick sounds right from the get-go. If you have one you’re in love with, then you can buy and make sure the dealer tunes it before you leave the store.
Wood quality – Pay attention to the type of wood used to construct the guitar as this will play some parts in the type of sound that it produces. Beginners guitars are mostly constructed from laminated wood which maintains its quality over time. Advanced flat top guitars are made from other more exotic woods that produce richer sounds.
Shape – Choosing a body style for your flat top acoustic guitar is also important. There are many sizes available and lengths too which are adaptable from children to adults with larger hands.
Once the body of the guitar is larger than 16 inches wide, you can call it a large guitar. Larger guitars are louder than smaller ones and are better suited to players that are part of a band.
If you’re looking to be playing a solo or a more treble sound with rhythm and blues, you can also consider a small-bodied guitar. In addition to being more portable, you can amplify the sounds whenever you need a louder volume on a playing stage.
5 Best Flap Top Guitar Reviews and the Best Flat Top Guitar Brands
1) The Loar LO-16 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar
The LO-16 flat top acoustic guitar is crafted in the signature Loar Golden Age style that is evergreen and easily recognized. This is one of the most capable guitars you can find that combines a vintage look with quality modern performance.
It is also an excellent blues guitar for concert players. Some of the features of this LO-16 guitar are its warm sound that projects really well no matter the location. It is also capable of producing a throaty rhythm that is popular with songwriting enthusiasts.
The guitar is constructed from a nice combination of spruce, mahogany, and rosewood. The top is crafted from Solid Spruce while the rest of the body is made of Mahogany. The guitar is available in two finishes – either a lovely natural color of a glossy black finish that buyers have found really popular.
The Grover tuning machines also help to keep the tone sharp and improve playability. You can also easily buy a Guardian hard-shell case to put this guitar in if you travel around a lot and want the best protection for it during transportation. The playing experience can also be enhanced by buying more capable strings like the Ernie Ball Aluminum Bronze strings.
2) Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy Flat Top – Vintage Sunburst
This is a small body flat top guitar that is perfect for all categories of players. The agathist body is portable enough for most players and it is designed with a white purfling patch close to the strings that makes it easily identifiable.
Gretsch acoustic guitars come from a line of quality products that were extremely popular between the 1930’s and 1950’s. The volume is heady despite the small body because of the 12-fret style and long upper bout that it has.
The agathist body is also very resonant and produces a distinctively mellow tone. This is an awesome guitar that can be played casually for home plays and training. It can also do well as a stage performer’s guitar for any occasion.
The bass production is great and it is more than sufficient for whatever you need it for. The guitar is also beautiful and looks far more expensive than it really is, one of the reasons why it is one of our top picks when shopping for a flattop acoustic guitar to buy.
3) Gretsch Guitars Limited G9520-BRB Jim Dandy Flat Top Acoustic Guitar Bronze Burst
This flat top guitar is made in a small body style and consists of Agathis back panels and side plates. The body finish is semi-glossy and easy to clean. The neck also is made to be right-handed.
The design and quality finish make this a solid addition to any guitar collection, whether player or admirer. The design of this guitar makes it easily recognizable as a Gretsch guitar and the brand does not disappoint once again.
This guitar is also lined to be comfortable and uses a nice blend of wood types to ensure that it is easy to carry without giving anything away in terms of quality and durability. This guitar does not come with a carrying case but can be used with most common Guardian and other brands of guitar carrying cases.
4) The Loar LH-200-NA Flat Top Acoustic Guitar
This lovely acoustic flat top guitar also has a classically small-body design that is composed of an upper layer made of spruce. Mahogany is used to make other parts of the guitar like the back and the side panels.
The fretboard is constructed of high-quality rosewood that ensures a sturdy build overall. With a design and construction that is reminiscent of the Golden ages, the Loar LH-200 has a body that pre-dates the wars and produces a healthy hearty tone that belies its shape.
The combination of different wood types is also important because it gives a classic design that is both effective and beautiful. The tuning machines are made from Grover and the neck joint in a Dovetail style. The body style is light and projects loudly which is a delight for musicians who use this guitar.
If you are a songwriter that wants a light, well-resonant flat top guitar for all purposes, this is one to consider. It doesn’t require too much tuning and can be used by beginners without too much of a fuss. The inbuilt D’Addario strings are also quite competent but you can get better ones online.
5) Eastman E20 Parlor Traditional Flattop Acoustic Guitar
If you’re looking to add one more guitar to your collection, this traditional acoustic guitar should be on your shopping list. First of all, the body is just about 13 inches wide and is made of quality Adirondack spruce.
When combined with Indian rosewood, what you get is a well-built guitar that comes with a rich tone. This guitar is usually custom-built and you’re guaranteed of the high quality of production that is backed by the Eastman limited lifetime warranty.
The sound of the guitar, as well as the finish, are both excellent and something to look forward to whether as a beginner or an experienced concert player. It also comes in two finishes, a plain light wood finish and another more popular sunburst finish.
Choosing the Best Flat Top Guitar from the Best Flat Top Guitar Brands
When buying a new flat top acoustic guitar, a lot of emphases should be placed on the playability, especially if you are a beginner or a new player. This is because a hard-to-play guitar will make it difficult to learn.
2) Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy Flat Top
- Popular Choice
- X-bracing
- Lightweight & Portable
- Rosewood Bridge
1) The Loar LO-16 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar
- High Quality
- Rosewood Fretboard
- Great Sound
- Solid Spruce
3) Gretsch Guitars Limited G9520-BRB
- Agathis Body
- Beautiful Design
- X Body
Finish
- Comfortable Playing
You should also invest in quality accessories for your guitar. This includes a tuner if you are looking to spend a lot of time playing. A carrying case is also important for protection when not in use. A carrying case also offers protection against drops and other inadvertent shocks that may occur.