When it comes to playing the acoustic guitar, one of the most important factors to consider is the type of strumming you’ll be doing. If you’re a heavy strummer, you’ll need a guitar that can handle the pressure and still produce a beautiful sound.
But with so many options on the market, it can be hard to know where to start. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to the best acoustic guitars for heavy strumming. First and foremost, it’s important to look for a guitar with a solid top.
Another key factor to consider is the type of wood used in the construction of the guitar. Tonewoods like spruce and cedar are popular choices for acoustic guitars, as they offer a balance of warmth and brightness. Let’s find out some of the best guitars.
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Martin Guitar D-18 |
| Check Price |
 | Blueridge BR-140 |
| Check Price |
 | Yamaha FG800 |
| Check Price |
 | Taylor Baby Taylor BTe-Koa Dreadnought |
| Check Price |
 | Martin D-28 |
| Check Price |
 | Taylor Builder's Edition 816ce |
| Check Price |
 | Martin HD28 |
| Check Price |
Our Top Choice For You
If you want a shortcut or a brief summary of this article, here is our top pick for you.
Martin D-28
Specification:
- Brand: Martin
- Color: Natural
- Top Material Type: Spruce
- Body Material: Rosewood:
- Back Material Type: Rosewood
Handmade with heavy-duty materials, time-tested styles, and innovative designs, Martin Guitar's Standard Series delivers classic acoustic and acoustic-electric guitars that any musician will love to play. With many different body styles, sizes, bracing designs, and materials, you can find the guitar that works best for your playing style and music type—rock, country, folk, bluegrass, jazz, pop, and much more.
The Martin D-28 is among the best acoustic guitars that come with a solid Sitka spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and a rosewood fingerboard. It features a mahogany neck and ebony fretboard.
The D-28 also comes equipped with a mahogany bridge and saddle, and a single-ply black-and-white pickguard. It has a carved headstock and a bone nut with six strings onboard and a 34.5-inch scale length.
Construction
These acoustic guitars are designated as Playability Upgraded. It may appear to be the type of mass-production process that would turn off some players looking for a high-end acoustic guitar.
However, when you consider the market for Martin acoustic instruments in comparison to manufacturers who use conventional methods of construction, it’s no surprise that they want to accelerate the process.
Considering that, in order to maintain their brand image, Martin will not release an instrument from their workshop if the craftsmanship isn’t as high as it has always been.
Sound
There seems to be a justification for why D28 is so popular. The tones are clear and well-balanced — not overly bassy or buzzy.
It resonates beautifully and generates a rich sound that is perfect for a variety of scenarios – it will not overpower voices or other instruments, but it will also not be buried in the mix.
D28’s bracing is relocated forward. This produces a stronger sound with improved bass response. The fundamental distinction here is in tonality.
Reliability
This acoustic guitar is built of high-quality materials and will last a generation. It doesn’t readily go out of sync, and you can assume it to sustain hours of play while still producing the very same strong, rich tone.
- Antique design
- High-quality materials are being used
- Deep tonality
- Martin is a Trustworthy brand
- A great choice for hard playing
- A little costly
Some Best Acoustic Guitars you should try for heavy strumming
Here are some other best acoustic guitars of various brands you should try if you are looking for an acoustic guitar other than the Martin D28.
1. Martin Guitar D-18
Specification:
- Brand: Martin
- Color: Modified Vintage Toner
- Top Material Type: Mahogany
- Back Material Type: Mahogany Wood
- Neck Material Type: Mahogany
Handmade with heavy-duty materials and a time-tested design, the D-18 Authentic 1939 Aged Guitar is another iconic acoustic guitar from Martin. Featuring genuine mahogany and Adirondack spruce with VTS construction, scalloped 1939 X-bracing, and a dreadnought body, this mahogany acoustic guitar delivers a vintage tone.
The D-18 is the acoustic guitar that started it all for the Martin Guitar Company. Since its release in the 1950s, the D-18 has become an iconic guitar and the guitar that is often used as a benchmark for other Martin’s acoustic guitars.
The D-18 features a mahogany body with a modified vintage toner finish. The neck and fretboard are made of mahogany wood and are bound with nickel frets. The instrument features six strings and is equipped with a tremolo bridge.
The D-18 may appear lackluster at first look. It is quite modest, as are many of Martin’s acoustic guitars. And under the simple surface, dominates the soul of one of the most gorgeously created and wonderful sounding acoustic instruments money can buy.
Construction
This guitar features a solid Sitka spruce top and sides made of high polished solid mahogany. The solid Sitka spruce top has an antique feel. The weathered top is intended to give it a pre-war appearance.
It’s an aesthetic that divides views, with some preferring the natural golden finish of the timber. We believe it works well since it contrasts nicely with the rich solid mahogany back and sides and ebony fretboard.
The black and vintage-style aesthetic white binding on the instrument’s body is likewise expertly crafted and draws minimal attention to itself. The modest inlay surrounding the soundhole follows the restrained theme.
Sound
Since this is a dreadnought instrument, you expect it to be loud, so we can tell you that you will not be dissatisfied. You’ll also be pleased to learn that the latest Martin D-18 Standard keeps a terrific mid boost.
Furthermore, it retains its excellent bottom end without ever sounding boomy. Furthermore, it accomplishes this without overpowering the music, letting the melodic intricacy come through.
It really does all of this while remaining warm and rich, and without ever losing its gorgeous even tone. There’s no doubt that this is the best acoustic guitar for recording and for fingerpicking.
- Amazing workmanship.
- Excellent tonewoods and finishing.
- Scalloped X bracing on the front.
- A high price may be a negative factor.
2. Taylor Builder’s Edition 816ce
Specification:
- Brand: Taylor
- Color: Natural
- Top Material Type: Spruce
- Body Material: Rosewood
- Back Material Type: Rosewood
A Premium Taylor with an Imaginative Design.
The Taylor Builder’s Edition 816ce is a six-string acoustic guitar made by Taylor Guitars. It was first introduced in 1997 and is among the best Taylor guitars to date. This acoustic guitar has a solid Sitka spruce top with maple sides and back, a rosewood fingerboard with white Pearloid dot inlays, and a rosewood bridge.
The neck joint is a dovetail style. The body is constructed from a single piece of maple and finished with an oil-based finish. It has a set-in headstock with rosewood trim and a carved rosewood rosette.
The headstock has a “Taylor” logo on the front. This acoustic guitar is available in either a natural or a dark cherry finish.
Sound
The Taylor Builder’s Edition 816ce is among the best Taylor guitars that take you back to the days of the classic acoustic guitar, with an authentic look and feel. A set of Elixir Phosphor Bronze strings with nickel-plated brass ferrule and nylon winding keep the sound clear and bright.
The Taylor ES-2 electronic tuner and Gotoh open-gear tuners provide accurate tuning and the ability to switch easily between standard tuning and alternate tunings.
Body
The inclusion of V-Class bracing adds a whole new dimension to this body type, pushing more loudness and sustain while highlighting the Grand Symphony’s purity, tonal richness, and full-bodied reverberation.
Guitar players with a strong attack would appreciate the Grand Symphony’s richness, loudness, and endurance.
Despite having such a powerful sound, the GS is still clear and responsive to quick picking runs or a light touch, making it an excellent choice for a dynamic musician. And having a loud voice does not mean sacrificing balance.
The piano-like bass, meaty midrange, and lush, dazzling highs all fit together well. If you enjoy a rich, powerful guitar tone that can fight with other acoustic guitars, this is the guitar for you.
Taylor Expression System
The Taylor Expression System is an innovative pickup design that represents the most recent advancement in Taylor’s acoustic guitar amplification development. Taylor’s revolutionary behind-the-saddle pickup, with three grouping and independently adjusted pickup sensors, is at the core of the Expression System 2.
The sensors’ placement allows for a wider dynamic spectrum of tonal qualities to be collected than ever before. This system offers remarkable enhanced tone and sensitivity when combined with Taylor’s specially designed “professional audio”-grade preamplifier.
The ES2 has the same loudness and tonal controlling settings as the original Expression System. The gain structure of the preamplifier is similar yet somewhat modified. As a result, it will be roughly 25% warmer, more in accordance with other pickups. This makes it ready to use.
- Excellent clear tone.
- A distinct appearance and comfortable feel
- Quite responsive, with a lovely, broader tone.
- It has a lighter sound than a typical Grand Symphony
3. Martin HD28
Specification:
- Brand: Martin
- Top Material Type: Spruce
- Body Material: Sitka-Spruce;Rosewood
- Back Material Type: Rosewood
- Neck Material Type: Mahogany
This classic Martin! Standard-Series dreadnought acoustic guitar with solid Sitka spruce top, solid book-matched East Indian rosewood back and sides, and herringbone body trim. Includes a Martin vinyl laminated hardshell guitar case.
The Martin HD28 is also among the best acoustic guitars of Martin that bring a bold new look to the Martin lineup. This signature instrument features a mahogany neck with rosewood fretboard and fingerboard, ebony bridge, bridge saddle, and a solid Sitka spruce top with a satin finish.
A beautiful combination of classic Martin looks and feel with a modern vibe. It also has a 24.75” scale length, 20 frets, and a 25.4” body. The overall weight of the acoustic guitar is 5.8 lbs. The Martin HD28 is available in a variety of colors and woods.
Performance
The Martin HD28 is designed to bring you a new dimension of performance and playability. It is built to take your playing to a whole new level of expression and musical adventure.
From the rich and deep tones of the mahogany neck and ebony fretboard to the fast and fluid response of the mahogany fingerboard and Rosewood bridge saddle and bridge to the crisp and clear highs of the solid Sitka spruce top, this smaller bodied guitar will be the perfect addition to your collection.
Construction
The Martin HD-28 Standard is an all-solid-wood instrument with exquisite craftsmanship. It’s something we’d anticipate from a Martin and an instrument at this price level, but it bears mentioning.
The wood textures and varnished finish are so lovely that it’s difficult to take your gaze away from them. The bindings are excellent and consistent. This instrument exudes excellence in every detail.
The back and sides are pure rosewood, while the top is genuine solid Sitka spruce. The combination between the coffee-colored rosewood and the slightly tinted solid Sitka spruce is pure magnificence.
Sound
This is a large-bodied instrument. As a result, like all dreadnoughts, you’ll have plenty of loudness. Where many of the shorter and more popular 34-sized instruments fall short, the Martin HD-28 Standard excels.
So there is no denying that the HD-28 has a lot of bass, loudness, and range. The HD-28 is also known for its excellent projection and tonal clarity. It is a well-balanced instrument with a smooth, sweet sound. Besides being a smaller-bodied guitar, the HD-28 has a wide dynamic range, with plenty of power and volume.
- Excellent workmanship
- Tonewoods of exceptional grade
- Kryptonite hard case
- Scalloped X bracing on the front
- The neck of outstanding quality
- Price is a little problem.
4. Yamaha FG800
Specification:
- Brand: Yamaha
- Color: Natural
- Top Material Type: Spruce
- Body Material: Mahogany
- Back Material Type: Nato Wood
Yamaha's standard acoustic model, with simple and traditional looks and outstanding quality, at an affordable price. A solid-top guitar with authentic sound that is well balanced without sacrificing its robust strength, thanks to the newly developed scalloped bracing design.
Yamaha fg820, as the name shows is among the best acoustic guitars of the Yamaha brand. Though the price bracket is not unaffordable, the features and characteristics of this guitar are awesome.
Thanks to cutting-edge acoustic analytic technology created by Yamaha R&d Department, the 800 Series boasts a richer and louder sound in the low to mid-ranges. Yamaha’s researchers created this tone by using research and modeling to determine the ideal brace structure without relying on the legacy.
Look
As this is marketed as a low-cost guitar, it does not seems to be such. It has a very classic appearance and a classical shape directly inspired by the FG series.
The instrument’s shiny polish and natural overall colors truly tie everything together. When buying a new guitar, a customer can choose from five distinct colors.
All of the color options are pretty natural-looking, which fits in with what Yamaha is striving for in general. They are not a firm that makes loud-looking guitars, preferring to strike the perfect combination of sophistication and cutting-edge design.
Sound
Overall, this guitar seems to have a very rich sound, and it is perhaps especially suitable for performing country music and blues. Different sorts of music can be played, although the sound is strongest in those categories.
A tiny difference between this version and previous models has greatly improved the audio quality. The scalloped bracing design does an excellent job of maintaining tones and providing a realistic sound throughout all times. The nice aspect is that nothing is lost with this move.
Durability
It will take something out of the ordinary for the instrument to shatter with a western Style body. Certain components of the instrument may be more fragile, but the frame, in general, is one of the strongest in this category.
Even the polish on the body is quite robust, and it will be difficult to identify the instrument’s age until it is properly examined. The fingerboard is also quite robust, thanks to Yamaha’s usage of cream polymer.
When compared to other possibilities available, it does not appear to be something out of the norm. Hence it is the best acoustic guitar for this price.
- Excellent build quality.
- Distinct, powerful, and well-balanced sound.
- Best acoustic guitar for the price.
- Gives a big sound.
- You may face a little bit of difficulty with high notes.
5. Blueridge BR-140
Specification:
- Brand: Blueridge Guitars
- Color: Natural
- Top Material Type: Spruce
- Body Material: Sitka-Spruce Mahogany
- Back Material Type: Mahogany
Traditional bracing with solid mahogany back and sides give the BR-140 a pure vintage sound. This understated yet perfect guitar for any style of acoustic music. Fine black and white top purfling and the original abalone and pearl inlay work on the headstock are touches of fine art.
The Blueridge BR-140 is among the best acoustic guitars to start your journey into the world of acoustic music. A great entry-level guitar for players who want a solid instrument but don’t want to spend an arm and a leg on it.
This guitar has a mahogany body, a rosewood fingerboard, and a fixed bridge. It comes with a hard case and a gig bag.
The BR-140 is a modern acoustic-electric guitar with amazing tonal quality and a distinctive, timeless look. It has a Rosewood fretboard with 24 medium jumbo frets and a rosewood bridge with an adjustable saddle.
The BR-140 is built with quality hardware and features a 5-way pickup selector switch and a chrome pickguard. This guitar is designed for the player who wants to start playing acoustic music and wants a quality guitar that won’t break their bank account.
Hardware
Blueridge took each aspect into mind to offer the greatest instrument with an incredible performance. The fretboard, bridge, and bridge plate are all composed of Solid East Indian Rosewood.
The pickguard is made of Safas Dalmatian tortoise, and the truss rod and dovetail head connection on the neck provide stability, stiffness, and luxury while strumming.
The saddle and nut are constructed of actual bone, which is a terrific feature for anybody interested in classical instruments. Many people love bone nut because it generates a richer, clearer voice than most the other materials, and this is evident in the tone of this guitar.
Construction
It is a dreadnought with a strong solid spruce top that produces a robust, loud sound and accurate prewar forward X-pattern. The outer layers are composed of mahogany, another conventional but high-quality wood that is less expensive but delivers in terms of function and longevity.
The neck is likewise mahogany, and its slender design guarantees that you are relaxed when grasping it, allowing for simple motion.
- Excellent tonewood
- Pleasant antique sound
- Comfortable to play
- A little pricey for beginners
6. Taylor Baby Taylor BTe-Koa Dreadnought
Specification:
- Brand: Taylor
- Top Material Type: Mahogany
- Body Material: Wood
- Back Material Type: Koa Wood
- Neck Material Type: Sapele Wood
Baby Taylor BTe-Koa Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural. The Baby Taylor has maintained is a legitimate musical instrument that anyone can enjoy, and also a great second guitar for experienced players who want a travel guitar that sounds great and is satisfying to play.
Taylor Baby Taylor BTe-Koa Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Guitar is a full-size dreadnought acoustic guitar. The guitar is made from solid Hawaiian Koa solid top and back, layered Koa sides, and a Sapele neck.
Moreover, it is equipped with an Ebony fretboard with Pearloid dots, NuBone nut, and saddle. This guitar features a 24.75” scale length, 22.75” total length, and 3.37” body depth. The guitar has 6 strings, with 2 strings in the low E, 4 strings in the high E, and the remaining 2 strings in the A. The body of the guitar is finished with a glossy varnish.
Baby Body
The Baby Taylor, a 34-scale Dreadnought, is meant to produce a lot of volumes considering its compact size. A multilayered Sapele back is compressed into a small curve, adding strength and contributing to the Baby’s deep, rich note. It’s also incredibly adaptable for unique purposes, whether in alternate tunings or high-strung; with a capo or a slide.
It’s also an excellent travel partner or first guitar for small children. With a well-crafted construction that balances melody and practicality, Taylor’s 34-size mini-Dreadnought helped launch the travel guitar market.
Its compact size also makes it an excellent beginner guitar for children and an ultra-compact composition instrument, and it gives a distinct acoustic flavor to any musical arrangement.
Wood
Layered koa is an all-wood laminated structure, like Taylor’s other multilayered wooden alternatives, with an outside layer of finely formed koa plywood and an internal layer of either koa or Sapele divided by a core network of poplar.
Though the tonal qualities of multilayer wood are not as complicated as those of solid wood, the manufacturing approach allows us to save tonewood resources while offering gorgeous, long-lasting instruments at a lower cost. Taylor’s workmanship and a strong Sitka spruce top provide a clean, controlled musical response.
Electronics
Taylor’s Expression System 2 piezo design components are used in the ES-B electronics, which include a multipurpose integrated preamplifier with a built-in digital chromatic tuner and dynamic tone-shaping EQ controller.
The preamp/tuner device has a Volume button and a tri-band EQ, as well as a Digital display for tuning and a low battery indicator. A 9v battery powers the preamp/tuner. Battery average lifespan with an alkaline battery is almost 500+ hours while solely using the preamplifier, and over 50 hours when utilizing the tuner.
The battery is activated when the instrument is plugged in. Whenever the battery reaches 4.5 volts, a lower power indication on the Display panel (placed on the preamplifier circuitry) will glow.
- Good action
- Suitable size for a youngster
- Comes with a carrying case.
- Sounds great
- Doesn't remain in tune for a long time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here we will answer a few faqs to clear your mind further.
What if I strum too hard?
It’s quite acceptable to link the guitar with a powerful sound. However, loudness may come from a variety of sources other than how forcefully you strike the guitar strings with your pick! In reality, forceful strumming frequently results in unpleasant and disturbing wounds on your fingertips. It’s critical to master the strum in a reasonable fashion.
Strumming guitar strings too forcefully results in imbalanced bass tones and almost no medium or upper tones. When you use specific guitar pedals and, obviously, an amp, you don’t have to strum as forcefully as you want the strings to sound. Take the time to experience how forcefully you’ll need to strum to achieve the desired result.
Is it okay to strum with your thumb?
Using the thumb to strum is a very common technique. It is not unusual to see a guitarist using the thumb to strum the strings. The thumb is used to strum chords, as well as single notes.
The thumb is used to strum in a similar manner to a bass player while strumming chords. The thumb is employed a lot more in the field of fingerstyle. As said before, many performers in the fingerstyle genre, as well as other forms of playing, use thumb picks.
The most common way to employ the thumb as a strumming digit is to strengthen it and bend it at the hand, brushing the strings with the outside of the thumb while keeping the hand static.
Another method of strumming with the thumb is to maintain the thumb rigid enough to endure string pressure while remaining relaxed and steady. Then, to strum, move the forearm.
How weight of a guitar affects playability?
Assuming you select a 10-pound instrument and also have a petite frame or aren’t the fittest, you’ll surely begin to feel a little uneasy after around 30 minutes of standing up. If you perform in bands, this may be a major concern.
The same may be true about sitting down. When the guitar is resting on your leg for an extended period of time, its weight might become an issue. Lightweight guitars are frequently easier to sit and stand with, making them better alternatives for gigging.
So keep in mind that it’s not all about the sound. So, before you buy a heavy guitar just because you like the tone, think about how simple it is to operate. This is much more difficult to change than sound, which can be altered with gadgets and varied amplifier configurations.
What is the difference between Dreadnought and Jumbo guitars?
The Dreadnought and Jumbo body types are two of the most famous acoustic guitar body types. The Dreadnought is a traditional guitar model invented by Martin Guitars in 1916. Other instrument makers have since adopted it, and it is currently the most popular design for string instruments.
Jumbo is the biggest body type of any regular acoustic guitar body form. A Jumbo is shaped like a larger relative of the grand auditorium and is significantly distinct from the dreadnought. It was created in the early 20th century when Gibson wanted to produce their unique model to capitalize on Martin’s dreadnought’s popularity. They enlarged it by rounding the shoulders.
Is strumming so important for a guitarist?
Strumming distinguishes excellent players from ordinary performers. Few people recognize that strong strumming is essential to being a competent guitarist.
You can perform all of the fundamental chords and perhaps some more difficult ones, but they’re meaningless if you can’t make them sound decent. A, C#, or a C-Maj for that matter, will not sound well without a suitable strumming sequence. People will judge you as a novice in about half a second if your plucking is rigid and unnatural.
Strumming is, in my opinion, one of the most difficult obstacles for newcomers to surmount. There are certain tips you can follow to overcome the difficulty of mastering your instrument. Always keep your right hand moving and do not use your left hand. Observe other guitarists and keep practicing.
How to choose a strumming pattern?
Selecting a strumming pattern is a personal choice. If several guitarists were in the same room, they would almost definitely all come up with a relatively different pattern for the same melody.
Listen to the musician and bass player on a recording of the song you’re studying and look for a rhythm that maintains the rhythm. Practice the plucking sequence until it becomes instinctive when learning to sing and play at the very same time. You should really be capable of carrying on a discussion while maintaining a consistent beat. The lyrics will return to normal after the strumming has become automatic.
Conclusion
A larger, dreadnought-style guitar will typically offer more projection and volume, making it a great option for heavy strumming. However, if you prefer a more compact guitar, a smaller concert-style body may be a better fit. We have talked about several options available.
Ultimately, the best acoustic guitar for heavy strumming is the one that feels and sounds the best to you. Be sure to try out a variety of options before your final decision, and don’t be afraid to invest in a high-quality instrument that will serve you well for years to come.