Best Harmony Acoustic Guitar (2024 Update)

This is a great little guitar! I have had several travel guitars including the Martin and Taylor versions and I think this beats them hands down. You can’t find a better travel guitar especially for the price. This is the third one I’ve purchased as I’ve given them away and moved them on— people appreciate them very fast. I do recommend using a little pillow wrote a tale so you’re are mangoes are the same as for a regular size guitar Makes it much easier to play any small guitar.I do recommend using a little pillow or rolled up small towel so your arm angles are the same as for any regular size guitar. This makes it much easier to play any small guitar. Very lightweight. One came with perfect action, but the other two I had to do a truss rod adjustment to get the optimal action which can be very good. The adjustment was simple. Orangewood customer service is excellent .Thomas B.

Not just for the money, its just a nice guitar! So my packaging had a few issues, it looked like it had gotten hung up on a fork lift tyne and dragged across the floor, I was nervous about opening it. But it was very well packed, not even a blemish. Everything I ordered was there, the guitar itself coming from California to South Alabama, undoubtedly passed through abrupt temperature and humidity changes, yet it was almost in tune out of the box. So much so, that I could tell that it had been tuned properly, and the QC person rolled the heads back about a half, or maybe 3 quarters of a turn just to relieve stress from the rod and neck. The E. Ball strings are pretty nice, feels like standard Bronze Phosphorus strings. I wiped them down with a clean cloth, and no dust or anything whatsoever came from them. I had no loose bindings, no sharp fret wires hanging over, and the ride height is perfect. Its almost unbelievable to get such a nice guitar for what I paid. The gig bag is certainly not the worst one I've ever seen, its padded nicely and has the backpack straps which I like. I hope that you guys never change your core business model, of offering the add-on accessory pack separately, which in my open leaves more room for nicer details like good strings, and real bone. And also allows you to offer slightly higher quality accessories. Very nicely done. I understand that now that you're up and running good, I hope that you still offer a guitar like the Rey at that low price point, for those who may be like I was growing up, and just couldn't afford a decent guitar. They always sounded like crap, couldn't tune them…and for a couple decades I just gave up. I'm back into it again, thanks to this guitar, I'm going to be upgrading soon, but I will probably always hang on to this one…I like it that much. Thanks guys, no complaints from me…God Bless you all, – Jeff Andrews, Mobile AL.Jeffery A.

I really like guitars from Orangewood’s “Playa” collection including my mahogany Dana mini guitar. (I also own a mahogany Rey guitar and have examined a friend’s Victoria guitar.) I will outline my recommendation reasons below, but also will attempt to temper any unrealistic expectations. Size: The diminutive Dana guitar is IMHO a great instrument for hauling around outside the home or playing where space is tight such as on the couch, or at a desk or table, where larger instruments might more readily bump into things or make playing cramped. The shorter scale length might be helpful for those with small hands, but isn’t *that* much different from longer-scale instruments to make going back and forth a big problem. Sound: A small guitar won’t have the deep, resonant tone of a larger instrument no matter how much you pay. That said, after being used for a while, the Dana “plays in” nicely — the tone getting better than out of the box. It’s voice is completely loud enough and resonant enough to satisfy reasonable expectations. Materials & construction: The bracing and general construction seem to be good. Mine is a very handsome, rich honey-chocolate brown with contrasting off-white binding. The laminated materials are a good economical choice but also don’t sacrifice much sound quality. I think this is due to the clever design of these “Playa” instruments, which seem to have thin top, back and sides as well as light bracing and a thin finish; these things together, I think, make for louder, more resonant tone. A key benefit to the laminated wood of the guitar body is that it’s less sensitive to changes in humidity and temperature. I play my laminated guitars much more frequently because they are not so “fussy” — though I do nonetheless humidify them in the winter months. The light construction may benefit from lighter strings. I prefer electric-like playability, so I restring my guitars with 10-46 strings. This makes the instrument more player friendly and may also help the guitar to last by reducing string tension. The tuners are adequate, but have turning ratios that just require slow sneaking up on perfect pitches. Set up: Of the three “Playa”-collection guitars that I’ve examined in detail, NONE arrived set up to the standards of professional guitar technicians. I believe that Orangewood way oversells the “professional” set up on their “Playa”-collection guitars. However, my Dana arrived about a year later than the others, and was the best set up of the three. This guitar arrived at my doorstep with the neck having extreme forward bow. This was not just due to string tension. The double-action truss rod was actually adjusted to increase the neck relief, which was excessive to say the least. I had to tighten the truss-rod adjustment just to get to neutral tension engagement, then continue tightening to get the neck relief to an appropriate setting of about .006”. The set up required no additional adjustment. This was a big improvement over the other “Playa” guitars I’ve examined, which required both nut and saddle tweaking. I am a guitar-tech hobbyist, so I have the tools and knowledge to check out and set up acoustic guitars. My Dana had a fingerboard that was not straight from the factory. I know this because despite the slight waviness of the fingerboard when straightened as much as possible by truss-rod adjustment, the frets are surprisingly level — though they obviously vary considerably in height to compensate for the wavy fingerboard. But let me be realistic. To be able to sell a guitar at these prices, some corners will be cut when compared to the manufacture of guitars that cost five or ten or more times the price. This also applies to guitar set up, which may be the most time-consuming, and therefore expensive, single aspect of guitar creation. So, of course, the set ups on these economy guitars will be less than perfect. (Okay, that said, Orangewood might please stop way overselling their “professional” set ups done in the USA.) So my general recommendation regarding set up on these “Playa”-collection instruments is, upon delivery, to pay a good luthier/technician to check them over to assess keeping or returning, and, if a keeper, have him or her set them up for your level of play or personal preferences (that is, if you aren’t qualified to do it yourself). And that brings up my final, important set-up point, which is that the truss rod's purpose is to compensate against string tension. Action is properly adjusted at the nut and saddle. Bottom line: I have the Orangewood guitars because they are a good value, they sound good, they don’t require obsessive attention to humidity or temperature, and can be fun to play both for a beginner and a more experienced guitar player. The Dana fulfilled my final requirements, which were a guitar that travels more easily and doesn’t require quite so much space to play.Doug H.

So far, I really love the sound, construction and appointments. I asked my guitar tech to check it out before I picked it up at the store and he played it for 20 minutes. Andy Powers really did a nice job redesigning the 614ce into the V-Class. So far, I've found no flaws, and the factory setup is perfect. The action matches that of any of my electrics and is extremely playable above the 12th fret without any tuning issues. The appointments are as nice or better than that of my 2006 Taylor NC62ce, which is also maple and spruce.Chris

This is a beautiful instrument. The flamed maple back and sides with the brown sugar stain look incredible, the ebony backstrap is a nice touch as well. I'd prefer abalone to ivoroid for the fretboard markers, but other than that I have no visual complaints. The rock maple neck might be the best I have ever played. The re-voicing work Taylor has done has really brought some additional warmth to the Maple tone, however it still sounds bright next to a rosewood guitar, and I find it can sound a little 'thin' in certain applications. The clarity and note-to-note separation are the best I have ever heard though. Excellent sound when plugged in. Overall a great, and highly unique, instrument.Ryan

I have been playing guitar for 60 years. I have an extensive collection of vintage guitars including several Martin, Gibson, etc acoustic and electric guitars. The Taylor Koa K28e is the best guitar that I have ever played. The beauty, action, and sweet tone of this guitar is above my expectations. This is a pricey guitar, but once you strum the strings and hear the melodic sound, you will hear why this guitar is expensive. It is made using the best and finest materials and workmanship. I believe the Taylor K28e has a richer sound than my Martin D-28. It is certainly prettier than the Martin; or any other guitar that I own, Gibson, Rickenbacker, etc.Donal

I didn't have high hopes for a guitar in this price point, but it has had rave reviews so I ordered one. When I unboxed it after about 5 hours, the very first thing that I noticed was the build quality. The neck set is absolutely perfect and the guitar is very nicely playable right out of the box. The finish on this guitar is superb. It is a Plain Jane but it's pleasing to the eye as a solid, well built guitar. It tuned up well and I played a couple of sets on it, and after one retune, it sang out quite nicely. The only change I will make to this guitar is changing the nut and the bridge to bone, since the plastic polymer just doesn't sustain like this guitar is capable of doing. The additional 50 dollar investment is well worth it, I would be comfortable playing this guitar anywhere, it's well worth the money, and it's easy to see why the reviews have been so good on it.Taylor W.

I’m impressed by the build and sound quality of this acoustic guitar! Easy to tune and play. I used to play on a Taylor GS mini (Koa) but couldn’t bring it with me when I moved to the UK. I was thinking about buying the same model here but they’re quite expensive and paying for international shipping to bring mine from my home country wouldn’t be cheaper as well. That’s when I saw online reviews of this Yamaha FG800 and decided to give it a shot. PMT shopping experience was very smooth and the delivery was very fast – next day. Couldn’t be happier! Now I have something to play after 6 months after moving. And it’s a good quality guitar.Victor T.

This Yamaha instrument is well made. Especially for the price point of just under $200.00. I have purchased many Yamaha acoustics over the years and this guitar will not disappoint. No cosmetic flaws on this instrument, with a nice finish and worth checking out. I have been playing for over 40 years and am now retired, and I rate this guitar at 9.5 out of ten. Perfect for my finger style playing. Very full sounding board and visually appealing. Truss adjustment was made to tighten the action a bit to my personal preferred. The frets could use some polishing, as do most of acoustics at this price. I had purchased an identical instrument not too long ago and it also was a gem right out of the box, and decided to keep only one. Very comparable to an Ibanez Artwood instrument. I highly rate this Yamaha and it is definitely worth a look👍CHRISTOPHER

I love this guitar, but I got mine for a killer price, so… I probably like it 5x better than had I paid full price. I'm marking it not a good value because the new prices are ridiculous. But I am extremely happy with the price I got it for. Plays great, sounds great, looks great. It's got that awesome vintage vibe but has excellent playability all the way up and down the neck. Great for strumming and fingerstyle, and least for anything I want to do with it. The mic on the LR Baggs Anthem blender doesn't get much use because it feeds back. Run it through a Fishman Aura Spectrum DI, and you will love it.martin_gibson

This is a unique Gibson. With the Rosewood sides and back and long scale it sounds a bit like my Martin HD-28. This guitar though, with the Rosewood bridge seems to have a little more clarity and punch. Unlike short scale Gibsons this guitar has a nice tight sound. Fit and finish is really good. I am very pleased to add this Gibson to my growing guitar collection.Victory Pete

My dream guitar. Had one priced up as a custom build a few years back and it came to more than double what these are selling for. So, not cheap but a comparative bargainReviewed by Kenny's Music custom

Incontrovertibly, the most exquisitely beautiful instrument I own. Easy to play and sounds magnificent right from the factory. As this all solid Koa body and top ages, it will only sound deeper and richer.Fred

THIS GUITAR IS AN ABSOLUTE WORK OF ART. THE KOA TOP IS THREE-DIMENSIONAL LOOKING AND PERFECTLY RENDERED. THE FINGERBOARD INLAY IS METICULOUS AND BEAUTIFUL. THE BINDING IS FLAWLESS. THE SOUND OF THIS INSTRUMENT IS SO RESONANT THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE ITS REVERBERATING. THERE IS NO BETTER GUITAR THAN THIS!JCOFFEY

So far, I really love the sound, construction and appointments. I asked my guitar tech to check it out before I picked it up at the store and he played it for 20 minutes. Andy Powers really did a nice job redesigning the 614ce into the V-Class. So far, I've found no flaws, and the factory setup is perfect. The action matches that of any of my electrics and is extremely playable above the 12th fret without any tuning issues. The appointments are as nice or better than that of my 2006 Taylor NC62ce, which is also maple and spruce.Chris

This is a beautiful instrument. The flamed maple back and sides with the brown sugar stain look incredible, the ebony backstrap is a nice touch as well. I'd prefer abalone to ivoroid for the fretboard markers, but other than that I have no visual complaints. The rock maple neck might be the best I have ever played. The re-voicing work Taylor has done has really brought some additional warmth to the Maple tone, however it still sounds bright next to a rosewood guitar, and I find it can sound a little 'thin' in certain applications. The clarity and note-to-note separation are the best I have ever heard though. Excellent sound when plugged in. Overall a great, and highly unique, instrument.Ryan

I have been playing guitar for 60 years. I have an extensive collection of vintage guitars including several Martin, Gibson, etc acoustic and electric guitars. The Taylor Koa K28e is the best guitar that I have ever played. The beauty, action, and sweet tone of this guitar is above my expectations. This is a pricey guitar, but once you strum the strings and hear the melodic sound, you will hear why this guitar is expensive. It is made using the best and finest materials and workmanship. I believe the Taylor K28e has a richer sound than my Martin D-28. It is certainly prettier than the Martin; or any other guitar that I own, Gibson, Rickenbacker, etc.Donal

My dream guitar. Had one priced up as a custom build a few years back and it came to more than double what these are selling for. So, not cheap but a comparative bargainReviewed by Kenny's Music custom

Incontrovertibly, the most exquisitely beautiful instrument I own. Easy to play and sounds magnificent right from the factory. As this all solid Koa body and top ages, it will only sound deeper and richer.Fred

THIS GUITAR IS AN ABSOLUTE WORK OF ART. THE KOA TOP IS THREE-DIMENSIONAL LOOKING AND PERFECTLY RENDERED. THE FINGERBOARD INLAY IS METICULOUS AND BEAUTIFUL. THE BINDING IS FLAWLESS. THE SOUND OF THIS INSTRUMENT IS SO RESONANT THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE ITS REVERBERATING. THERE IS NO BETTER GUITAR THAN THIS!JCOFFEY

Beautifully built guitar with some nice appointments. It sounded a bit too bright / clear for me out of the box (coming from Martin tones) so I switched the strings across to a set of Ernie Ball Earthwood Phosphor Bronze and it’s improved the tone for me. The brightness is probably a factor of the Koa back and sides and I really struggled for a long time on deciding between a 914ce and the K14ce. Even when it arrived I struggled for a week or two mulling over my decision and whilst the deeper woodier tones of the rosewood would’ve probably suited me better, the builder edition appointments on the K14ce were the deciding factor. It just looks and feels superb. Sometimes I wonder was it the right decision from a tone/sound perspective but then I still have the Martins to play and Taylor’s have always been a bit less muddy / a bit more clear than a Martin. Overall very happyReviewed by guitarguitar custome

Always wanted an 814ce and this model does not disappoint. It came nicely set up in its deluxe hard case and it has a beautiful tone and sound. It has inspired me to start recording again. Love it.Mike S.

I spent a long time checking out the right acoustic for me. Actually a whole year. I test this guitar against so many Martins in the smae price point and not one matched up to this taylor. What a guitar.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

I’ve been waiting for the comets to be released I am also a product of Kalamazoo and was looking for a semi hollow. The pictures don’t do these justice. The guitar is double bound and is a glossy metallic dark blue. It fades and looks flat in pictures for some reason. Plus you get coil splitting and locking tuners. It arrived with a suitably low action and was ready to go out of the box. Has a classic look but modern profile — looking forward to playing this for yearsThomas E.

This is, hands down, the best guitar you will find at this price point. This would be a great guitar at $3,000. These are made by Heritage, in Kalamazoo and they are spectacular. Carved mahogany top, nitro finish, stellar quality all around. When you consider there are guitars made under contract for once great American brands in Asia that cost as much as this American made guitar, made in the old Gibson factory, you would be insane not to give one of these a try. Pickups are amazing, from screaming rock and blues to mellow jazz, this guitar is a total sleeper punching way above its weight. Plus, it comes in a $200 padded gig bag, not a cardboard box. Cannot find a single flaw and cannot put it down. I wish I had 4 hands so I could give this four thumbs up. That good. Get one.Mike

Beautifully built guitar with some nice appointments. It sounded a bit too bright / clear for me out of the box (coming from Martin tones) so I switched the strings across to a set of Ernie Ball Earthwood Phosphor Bronze and it’s improved the tone for me. The brightness is probably a factor of the Koa back and sides and I really struggled for a long time on deciding between a 914ce and the K14ce. Even when it arrived I struggled for a week or two mulling over my decision and whilst the deeper woodier tones of the rosewood would’ve probably suited me better, the builder edition appointments on the K14ce were the deciding factor. It just looks and feels superb. Sometimes I wonder was it the right decision from a tone/sound perspective but then I still have the Martins to play and Taylor’s have always been a bit less muddy / a bit more clear than a Martin. Overall very happyReviewed by guitarguitar custome

Always wanted an 814ce and this model does not disappoint. It came nicely set up in its deluxe hard case and it has a beautiful tone and sound. It has inspired me to start recording again. Love it.Mike S.

I spent a long time checking out the right acoustic for me. Actually a whole year. I test this guitar against so many Martins in the smae price point and not one matched up to this taylor. What a guitar.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

My dream guitar. Had one priced up as a custom build a few years back and it came to more than double what these are selling for. So, not cheap but a comparative bargainReviewed by Kenny's Music custom

Incontrovertibly, the most exquisitely beautiful instrument I own. Easy to play and sounds magnificent right from the factory. As this all solid Koa body and top ages, it will only sound deeper and richer.Fred

THIS GUITAR IS AN ABSOLUTE WORK OF ART. THE KOA TOP IS THREE-DIMENSIONAL LOOKING AND PERFECTLY RENDERED. THE FINGERBOARD INLAY IS METICULOUS AND BEAUTIFUL. THE BINDING IS FLAWLESS. THE SOUND OF THIS INSTRUMENT IS SO RESONANT THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE ITS REVERBERATING. THERE IS NO BETTER GUITAR THAN THIS!JCOFFEY

One of the best acoustic guitars I've ever played. Handles great, amazing action, on board tuner is awesome, Satriani's preset sounds are incredible when blending other effects. I highly recommend this guitar be added to anyone's arsenal!!!! Pros: Everything Cons: NothingRon

This is the second JSA5 we have purchased. We purchased the black one a few years ago and we needed to get some frets replaced. So, we decided to purchase the Vintage Burst. We did need to reset the neck a little but are very satisfied with both guitars. Would highly recommend to anyone wanting great sound at shows.BRENDA

I have no idea how they do it for the money. Quality binding and purfling, good finish, ebony bridge and bridge pins, TUSQ nut and saddle, vintage Grover-style tuners, abalone inlays down the back of beautiful solid Pau Ferro back and sides. This guitar would be a good deal at $2,000 USD when you compare it to the other stuff on the market, at the current price it's practically robbery. Tonally speaking it's very bright and somewhat lacks bass, but if you go play very expensive guitars you'll find that's actually quite common for spruce tops made from hard body back and sides (rosewood, maple, walnut, pau ferro, etc.). I personally like a really bright guitar because on recordings guitars always end up sounding darker and bassier than in person (due to proximity effect). To my ear it sounds like a high-end Martin D-35, which I also own and have compared together. If you're looking for a bright and somewhat even midrange response from a guitar, especially for recording or playing live gigs then I highly recommend the Sierra. This guitar has no business being as cheap as it is for the quality. The workmanship is very good all throughout and I will almost certainly be buying their all mahogany guitar next.Joshua

I bought this guitar on faith. Faith in the reviews. Faith in the guitar's description, the manufacturing process descriptions, and the warranty promises of the company. Prior to Covid, I would not have conceived of buying a guitar online, without playing it first. But I have a couple friends who buy guitars online and they have done well. So I pulled the trigger. A few days later my guitar arrived, and slightly ahead of schedule. The outer box was damaged, and there really wasn't any other protection other than the included hardshell case. But the case did protect the guitar, and my first revelation was, just how nice the case is. It really is a nice plush and sturdy case. Then I pulled the guitar out of the case, and it was undamaged. I inspected it carefully and could not easily find any flaws in it's construction or finish. So I tuned it up and walla! It sounds great. And it feels nice in my hands. It probably needs a slight truss rod adjustment, as it buzzes very slightly, but it did come from clear across the country to a very different climate. I bought this guitar on sale, and for the solid woods and quality components, it is definitely a higher quality instrument than offered by other Guitar companies at this price point. So I am very pleased with my purchase. I will gladly recommend Orangewood to my friends.Stephen C.

I have played guitar on and off for most of my life and have just picked it up again after a 15 year hiatus. My last acoustic guitar was a Martin D15 which I loved but rather than let it collect dust, I sold it to someone who appreciated it and gave it the attention it deserved. When I decided to start playing again I considered several different brands but based on you tube reviews was originally interested in the Orangewood Echo. But then I watched a video that was a blind comparison of the Hudson to a Huss and Dalton and a Martin D41. I was blown away and when this went on sale, I made the leap and bought the Hudson rather than the Echo because I love the way the sound of a solid wood guitar evolves as it is played. Even though I haven’t played in 15 years, the setup on the guitar was perfect and I was able to get some beautiful tones immediately. My chops are coming back quickly (muscle memory still there despite the time lapse) because it is such a joy to play. Not only do I love the tone and sustain of this guitar, the fit and finish is outstanding. The herringbone binding on the top and back is clean,elegant, and refined. Reminds me of the D28 herringbone, but even nicer in my opinion. I am thrilled with this guitar. It has reminded my just how satisfying playing a quality guitar is.Brian N.

Superb quality, very impressed, everything feels right, great build quality, excellent pickups, very well made indeed, a genuine pro instrument … quality straight out of the box puts other manufacturer’s instruments of a comparable price point to shame .. no set up required, plays beautifully, sounds great, more twang than your average humbucker guitar.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

This guitar is an absolute dream. It's no frills, US made, with excellent attention to detail. The pickups sound warm and full. The frets are polished near flawlessly. And the setup out of the box was on point. Honestly edged out several instruments that were far pricier.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

Awesome guitar, the dreadnought sound with a personal sound hole, so I can practice quite, and listen profoundly to the distinctive tones.CARL

Awesome guitar with great sound and price. Came setup very well with the action nice and low with no fret buzz. I highly recommend.Terrence B

It's brilliant. I have never practiced so much and it makes me feel like a much better player than I really am. It's beautiful too. The nitro finish and colour is so nice. Even when I'm not playing, I can't stop looking at it!Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

Brilliant little guitar, P90s are responsive, plenty of bite, fit and finish are impeccable. Really glad I took a punt on one!Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

This guitar is a lot of fun, Mine is well made, enjoyable to play and has a personality all it's own. I was always kind of a fan of certain Harmony models from the fifties and sixties but the new Harmony instruments (apparently still American made) seem to be really well made with quality components and features. I'm really enjoying the clean sound of the neck pickup. Read the specs and you'll see it's pretty basic and you'll probably be adjusting your tone with the amp's controls some of the time but I'm okay with that. It's a fun guitar and I'm glad I got it.Ken

The quality of these guitars are incredible. The design is unique,as well as the pickups. It sounds very open and alive! All in all it's a very simple but wonderfully made guitar with amazing build quality.Lamar