Acoustic Guitars
( in stock)
Sold2011 Bourgeois DB Signature Model OM
This gorgeous OM features a premium grade Adirondack “Red” Spruce top and master-grade Madagascar Rosewood back and sides. The tone is as good as an OM can get with a rich and balanced sound. It is in near-mint condition with very little sign of play for a 10 year old guitar beyond some light fret wear and a very small ding or two onto top. It comes with its original hard shell case.
Sold2021 Taylor 312ce 12-Fret
Taylor’s 12-fret guitars update a classic steel-string design with signature touches that combine a slinky handfeel with impressive tonal power for the compact Grand Concert body size. The 312ce 12-Fret’s slightly condensed 24-7/8 inch scale length makes the fretting experience more accessible, while the solid sapele and Sitka spruce pairing produces a vibrant midrange with pleasing focus and projection. V-Class bracing bolsters the projection and sustain, adding sonic headroom for lively players looking for mix-leading sound from a small, comfortable frame. Appointments include satin back and sides with a gloss top, black binding, Italian acrylic small diamond fretboard inlays, a 3-ring rosette, a Venetian cutaway, and Taylor’s stage-ready ES2 acoustic electronics. The guitar comes with a Taylor deluxe hardshell case.
SoldTaylor 214ce-K DLX
Our distinctive 200 Series Deluxe category is loaded with high-end performance appeal. The Grand Auditorium 214ce-K DLX features beautiful layered koa back and sides, a solid Sitka spruce top, a full-gloss body, white binding, Small Diamond fretboard inlays, Venetian cutaway, Taylor Expression System 2 electronics, and a Taylor standard hardshell case.
SoldTaylor Academy 12e
Taylor’s Academy Series makes the playing experience more accessible in every way, packing signature Taylor playing features into an affordable package. With the Academy 12e, our compact Grand Concert body makes the perfect companion for fingerpicking or anyone with a lighter touch who craves the physical comfort of a small-body guitar. The guitar’s design specs are optimized for playing ease. Taylor’s patented, slim-profile neck features an array of hand-friendly touches: a shorter 24-7/8-inch scale length, 1-11/16-inch nut width, low action, and light gauge strings, all of which contribute to a slinky handfeel. The lightweight guitar body, featuring layered sapele back and sides with a solid Sitka spruce top, boasts an ergonomic armrest that enhances the playing comfort for one’s picking arm. The guitar was also voiced to be extra responsive to make the playing experience as relaxed as possible. The guitar comes with an onboard ES-B pickup that includes a built-in digital chromatic tuner, and comes with a sturdy lightweight gig bag.
SoldSanta Cruz Custom OM/Pre War Model Old Growth Sitka Fiddleback Mahogany
This custom OM/Pre War model features an Old Growth Sitka Spruce Top, incredible Fiddleback Mahogany, Adirondack braces attached with hot hide glue, Advanced X bracing and tortoise body, neck, fingerboard and peghead binding as well as a ebony peghead overlay. The 1 3/4” nut width and comfortable body size makes this guitar a dream to play. It’s perfect for both fingerstyle and playing with a pick. It comes with a hard shell case.
SoldBourgeois D Country Boy / Professional Series
Nothing beats a Bourgeois Country Boy for great traditional Mahogany tone. This beauty features an Aged Tone Sitka Spruce top and genuine Mahogany back and sides. The long scale, satin finished neck feels fast and easy with a 1 23/32” width nut. Of course a hard shell case is included.
SoldSanta Cruz HT/13 - Happy Traum
Just in! The brand new Happy Traum Santa Cruz Signature Model HT/13 Fret. We love Happy’s brand new signature model featuring a Redwood top, Mahogany sides and back and Aid bracing attached with hot hide glue. Ivoroid bindings and tail wedge, abalone rosette and top purfling, 42 style fingerboard inlays and custom finish all lend this guitar a classic, elegant look. Happy's signature is at the 18th fret. The 1 3/4" nut width, 2 3/16" 12th fret spacing and 23.375" scale length makes the the instrument a breeze to play. It comes with a hard shell case.
SoldSanta Cruz OMG - Cocobolo
The OM Grand has everything that a regular OM has plus more volume, punch and bass. This custom OM Grand has an ideal combination of balanced tonewoods…Cocobolo back and sides paired with an Adirondack Spruce top with Adirondack Bracing attached with hot hide glue. It is a breeze to play with 1 ¾” nut, 2 3/16” saddle spacing and a 25.375" scale length. The koa body, fingerboard and peghead binding and rosette add an elegant vibe to this beauty. A hard shell case is also provided.
Sold2020 Taylor Baby Mahogany (BT2e)
The mahogany-top version of the Baby Taylor will yield a slightly darker, earthier tone than its spruce top sibling. The pint-size Dreadnought was originally inspired by a desire to provide a smaller, starter-size guitar for kids and a legitimate musical companion for travelers, but players have since adapted it for their needs in all sorts of creative ways, from high-stringing it to setting it up to play lap slide, to embracing alternate tunings that add unique acoustic flavors to recordings. This model also comes equipped with the Expression System Baby™ (ES-B) pickup, which incorporates piezo design elements from the Taylor ES2. The pickup is powered by an onboard preamp with a built-in digital chromatic tuner. The preamp/tuner unit features an LED display for tuning and low battery indication, along with Tone and Volume controls.
Sold2020 Taylor 414ce-R
This Taylor 414ce-R features a beautiful wide-grained Sitka Spruce top and Premium East Indian Rosewood back and sides. It’s comfortable size and 1 3/4” nut width help this guitar live up to Taylor’s high standard old playability. This guitar shows light signs of play but is in excellent condition with no issues and is ready to play with nice low action. The frets have light wear but still have plenty of life left in them. This is a great guitar at a great price and is just waiting to make someone very happy! It comes with it’s original hard shell case.
SoldTaylor AD22e
The AD22e offers players all the warm, seasoned tone, workmanlike style and exceptional value of the American Dream Series in a compact, accommodating Grand Concert frame. Featuring all-solid-wood construction and our tone-enhancing V-Class bracing, this model’s mahogany top pairs with sapele back and sides for a rich response with a bold midrange character and clear, pristine highs. The Grand Concert’s 24-⅞” scale length makes for a relaxed, slinky feel that will please fingerstylists and traditional pickers alike, while the hardwood top helps to even out the attack for a more balanced sound all the way down the neck. Chamfered body edges provide an even more intimate feel, while the ultra-thin matte finish preserves the guitar’s performance-forward aesthetic. Other visual details include 4mm dot fretboard inlays in Italian acrylic, black top purfling, a faux-tortoiseshell pickguard and a single-ring rosette. The non-cutaway AD22e includes our ES2 acoustic pickup and ships with a lightweight, durable AeroCase.
SoldIris OG Mahogany Top w/ K&K Pure Mini Pickup & Aged Finish
Look at this stunning IRIS Hog Top (Mahogany Top). Stunning !!! This guitar features a subtly aged finish and a K&K pure mini pickup. No pickguard on this one, to really show off the beauty of this Mahogany. Tonally this instrument is on the warm and rich side, with a thick mid range and a rolled off top end. This has a silky smooth tone and feel that is mellow like an old Bassett hound. This will only improve with age. This one has no pickguard to highlight the natural beauty of the Mahogany. The nut is a standard and quite comfy 1-11/16" and the scale is 25" Comes with a TKL hard shell case.
SoldIris OG Natural w/ K&K Pure Mini PIckup and Aged Finish
We are thrilled to have an IRIS OG Spruce top w/ Mahogany back in stock. We requested this one be equipped with a K&K pure mini pickup. It sounds natural and full when plugged in. This guitar also has a checked finish without any dings or dents added (relicing). Being a satin finish, this checking adds character in an elegantly subtle way. Being a Spruce and Mahogany combination, this guitar has both excellent brightness/ articulation and a warm, meaty midrange. This instrument features a 1 11/16" nut width and a 25" scale length. Comes with TKL hard shell case.
SoldIris DE-11 Dan Erlewine w/ K&K Pickup and Aged Finish
Featured recently in Vintage Guitar Magazine, the DE-11 is taking the world by storm. Co developed with legendary guitar repairman Dan Erlewine of Stewart Macdonald. This DE-11 has a special aged finish, that is subtly checked. This guitar is also equipped with a K&K pure mini pickup. This guitar features a 24 3/4" scale length and a 1 3/4" nut width along with a hard shell TKL case. This instrument has a lovely tone and the neck has nice vintage chunky feel.
Sold2020 Bourgeois OM Soloist - Large Sound Hole Custom Koa
Here is a guitar that really has it all. First, it’s one of the very best sounding OM’s to come out of the Bourgeois shop, there’s just something about that large soundhole! This gorgeous cutaway OM features an Aged Tone Bearclaw Sitka Spruce top and Master Grade Hawaiian Koa back and sides. The 1 3/4” nut width and 25 1/5” scale length combine to make this guitar a breeze to play. Aged Tone options also include Adirondack Spruce Bracing, and Animal Protein Glue. The DB Signature 3-color herringbone purfling and gold Waverly tuners with Ebony buttons add to the elegant look of this beautiful guitar. It was just built in December of 2020 and is in excellent condition with no issues. It originally sold for $11,300. It comes with it’s hard shell case.
SoldBourgeois GA Country Boy H/S Heirloom Series
This GA size combines the comfort of and OM with just a little bit more of everything in tone and volume. The Aged Tone Adirondack Spruce top and genuine Mahogany sides and back along with a full Aged Tone Package combine for a balanced and robust tone. The long scale and 1 23/32” nut width make the guitar a breeze to play. It comes with it’s hard shell case.
Sold1971 Martin D-18
Looking for a true American Classic? The D-18 has been a standby for greats from Elvis, to Paul Simon to Curt Kobain. This particular one is exceptional. We sent this guitar to Pat Diburro for a neck reset and partial re-fret so this guitar plays great and has tons of playing life in it. Cracks have been cleated, guitar is solid. Cosmetically this instrument is well loved and road worn, with a gorgeous checked finish. Yes, there are dings and dents here and there and each one tells its own story. Tonally this guitar is a classic. Warm, round and mellow sounding. Comes with a hard shell case featuring stickers from around Vermont and New Hampshire.
Sold2017 Martin GPC-28E
This GPC-28e is the perfect Martin for home picking and strumming and for gigs too. The Indian Rosewood back and sides and the Sitka Spruce top give you the classic Martin sound and the 1 3/4" nut and cutaway make it easy to play your hardest material. This guitar comes with it's original hard shell case and is in very good condition with normal signs of light playing including a few light marks and light fret wear but no signs of abuse at all and it plays and sounds great! It comes with it's original hard shell case.
Sold2017 Santa Cruz Eric Skye Cocobolo
This Eric Skye OO model is the perfect fingerpicking guitar with a 1 13/16” width nut, 24.9” scale length and 2 1/4” string spacing. The tone is hard to beat thanks to an Adirondack Spruce top, Adi bracing attached with hot hide glue and a gorgeous set of Cocobolo back and sides. This 12-fret slot-head is in excellent condition and comes with its original Ameritage case.
SoldSanta Cruz OOO Custom Cutaway - Old Growth Cedar
This guitar is incredibly responsive thanks to the combination of a specially selected Old Growth Cedar top and a Master Grade Quilted Sapele Body. Adirondack braces attached with hot hide glue add to the range of this beauty. It’s cutaway and 1 3/4” nut width make this guitar very comfortable to play. It comes with it’s hard shell case.
SoldBourgeois 00 Vintage Professional
With an Aged Tone Sitka top and Indian Rosewood sides and back, this is an ideal OO. It’s short scale makes long fret reaches easy and the 1 3/4” nut width gives you plenty of room to finger chords without fumbling. The versatile OO size is the perfect choice if you are looking for something that is full sounding and very comfortable to hold and play. It comes with it’s hard shell case.
SoldBourgeois OM Soloist Aged Tone Alpine Moon Spruce
The Soloist is the ideal Fingerstyle guitar with a cutaway to give easy access to upper frets. We hand selected the set of Aged Tone Swiss Alpine Moon Spruce used for this guitar as well as the Mahogany back and sides for superior tone. The long scale and 1 3/4” nut and EVO Gold fret wire make this guitar feel solid and roomy. It comes with it’s hard shell case.
SoldBourgeois OM Large Soundhole
This spectacular Large Soundhole OM features a Bearclaw Figured Aged Tone Adirondack Spruce top and a Pao Rosa back. The tone has everything you expect from a Bourgeois thanks to Aged Tone bracing, animal protein glue and Aged Tone Finish. The playability is great too with a 1 23/32” nut width and a long scale. It comes with a hard shell case.
Acoustic Guitars for Sale at Northern Lights Music - Best Quality Brands
Discover top-notch boutique acoustic guitars at Northern Lights Music, featuring sought-after brands such as Santa Cruz Guitars, Bourgeois Guitars, and Collings Guitars. Whether you're searching for a brilliant Brazilian OM or a warm mahogany dreadnought, we have the perfect guitar for you. Can't find what you're looking for in our inventory? Our featured brands are custom shops that can build a guitar to match your imagination and budget. Looking for an affordable option or just starting out? We also offer high-quality, budget-friendly acoustic and electric guitars from Taylor Guitars, Seagull Guitars, and Yamaha Acoustic Guitars.
What is an Acoustic Guitar and its Characteristics
An acoustic guitar is a type of stringed instrument that uses a hollow body and a soundboard to produce sound, instead of relying on electronic amplification. The soundboard is usually made of wood, and the body can be crafted from wood or synthetic materials. Steel strings are typically used, but acoustic guitars can also be strung with nylon or other types of strings. Acoustic guitars can be played with a pick or fingers and are popular in various music genres, including folk, country, blues, and classical.
Reasons to Choose an Acoustic Guitar
Acoustic guitars have a lot to offer, attracting players for different reasons. The rich and warm sound that an acoustic guitar produces is often described as "full" or "rounded," and is appreciated by many players. The versatility of the instrument allows it to be played in a variety of styles and genres, such as folk, country, blues, and classical. The simplicity of an acoustic guitar is also appealing, as it does not require electronic amplification or other equipment. Furthermore, the portability of acoustic guitars makes them convenient for playing at home, with friends, or on the go.
History of the Acoustic Guitar
The acoustic guitar has a rich and diverse history that stretches back centuries. The modern acoustic guitar is derived from various stringed instruments developed in different parts of the world. The lute, one of the earliest known stringed instruments, was developed in ancient Egypt and was popular in Europe during the Middle Ages. The lute was a pear-shaped instrument with a long neck and a hollow body and was used to play melodies and accompaniments.
The guitar as we know it today is believed to have evolved from the lute, and it was first developed in Spain in the 15th century. Early guitars had four courses (pairs) of strings, which were tuned in fourths and were played with the fingers. They were used to play a wide range of music, including folk, popular, and classical. Over time, the guitar has undergone many changes and has been adapted to meet the needs of different musicians and musical styles. Today, the acoustic guitar is a popular instrument used in various music genres, including folk, country, blues, and classical.
Best Guitars for Beginners
There are many great options for beginner acoustic guitars, and the best one for you will depend on your budget, playing style, and preferences. A budget-friendly option for beginners is the Yamaha FG800, known for its excellent sound quality and playability. The Yamaha FG800 has a solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides, which give it a warm and full sound. For those who prefer a North American-made guitar, Taylor is a great step-up option. Try out a few different guitars to find the one that works best for you and your playing style.