BIG innovations are coming from guitar makers in 2021. Learn about the latest and greatest guitar models from luthiers that are making waves in the acoustic guitar industry!
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In today’s video, I’m showing you the 10 guitar makers that you need to watch in 2021. Some of them are small bench makers, some of them are huge multinational makers. But all of them are making incredible acoustic guitars in 2021.
From Taylor to Mule Resophonic Guitars, each of these guitar makers is either pushing the envelope on acoustic guitar innovation or providing guitars that are priced just right.
In addition to talking about the 10 guitar makers you need to watch in 2021, I’m going to share with you the latest acoustic guitar news from the industry. Whether it’s mergers, album releases, or artist announcements, I got you covered!
As always, you can catch Acoustic Tuesday at 10 am every Tuesday in these four places:
Tony, it’s based ON. You can play off of, glance off of, ricochet off of, etc. But you base ON. (Sorry, I’ve been grading a lot of undergrad papers this week…)
Martin Guitars are always of my interest. Taylor guitars have a few other new things of interest. However, I agree with you about Iris Guitars. Their OG natural was featured in your recent weekly letter. And I called them about it. Thanks for the info.
Zager ZAD900CE
I ordered mine for April delivery. I can’t wait!
John, I agree with you regarding the Zager guitar. I’ve only had mine — I ordered the 80 — for a few weeks, but it is truly an “easy play” as advertised. My 35-year-old Guild 25 nearly ate my fretting fingers, and I had to make a change. Plus, my Zager is beautifully crafted with the finest of woods and appointments, and delivers a beautiful sound. I wish Tony would review it for us.
A really hot item right now is the Lag HyVibe Smart acoustic acoustic guitar. They’re going to blow the doors off in 2021
Saw an online demo – sounded great – surprised there is not more noise about this
Tony, check out Andrew White Guitars (a luthier in Morgantown, WV) & tell me what you think.
Great overview of all these fantastic guitars. Do you have any experience and/or opinion about some of these new “Smart” guitars coming on the market such as the HyVibe?
Have you ever reviewed the Riversong guitars out of western Canada? I have one and find it amazingly beautiful and innovative. Their neck goes all the way through the body so adjusting action is a mere turn of a nut. Please check out this company and let us know what you think.
Great show as always!!! I’ll be checking out Yasmine Williams’s new project, as well as Tommy Emanuel’s. Looking forward to next week’s show to learn more about tonewoods. And it’s very exciting that Taylor Guitar is now owned by the employees, cheers to a bright future for the Taylor Guitar Company!!!
I didn’t see my previous comment about Riversong guitars, so I’m trying again. I love my Riversong! It is so unique in its beautiful design, including the neck through the body. This makes it possible to adjust the action precisely with turning a knob. These guitars are beautifully made by hand. Hope you get a chance to review one and give us your thoughts.
Great show Tony! Loved seeing some of the new products coming out this year. I would have liked to hear more detail about them such as tone woods used and actual price ranges. But I guess that your intention was to let people go down their own rabbit hole!
I, and a few of my professional musician friends like and turned me on to the Easy Play Guitar. I have the ZAD50 and ZAD 20 and the 900CE is on my goal list.
I have heard good things about the MARITIME SWS CONCERT HALL CW SEMI-GLOSS QIT, but have not heard you talk about Seagull guitars, yet. Thoughts?
BTW, Seattle has finally made it to the NHL! Go Kraken!
Hi Tony. Thanks as ever! I keep looking at Emerald. The guitars look great, they sound — online anyway — pretty fab. And not having to worry so much about humidity, that’s a real plus. Also, the folks there keep innovating, which I like to see. Not cheap, no, but I keep looking at them.
Hi Tony Watch Maton Guitars from Australia they are always comming up with new ideas.
Back in the 60’s I played in a folk music group. We were quite good. I played all the Time on my Gibson J-50 adj. bridge.I had great hard finger tips at the time. After the military and marrage and a family I stopped playing. I am now 73 and after 50 years I ran into the leader of the group I was in. He never stopped playing and aske me to get together to play again. I have been trying to get back what I used to have. I still have my Gibson but I having trouble with the cords: my fingers are soft. I have been looking at the Zager ( easy play guitars). Do you or friends have an opinion as to how I may benefit from buying one of their guitars. Are they good quality guitars.
I am not a qualified guitarist. I’ve owned a guitar since 1977, took lessons for about a year, and since pick it up to play a few chords most evenings. Over the years I’ve had to buy a used guitar every 10 years or so because something goes wrong with the one I have. Breaks are probably the result of low humidity but I have never know how to treat a guitar. In 1917 or 18 my Washburn started to buzz. I traced it to a broken bridge support and took it to the only guitar seller within 50 miles of me. When I first bought a guitar I lived in a different area and just walked into Guitar Center. They told me to just play any that were hanging on the wall or balanced in a floor stand. I hated the experience. I could not play well enough to play in a store and I had no idea how to describe to the salesman what I wanted. I’d end up asking what the price of this and that were and pick one at a moderate price. Price really was not that critical to me at the time I was a very successful engineer but it gave me a basis to buy this one versus that one. Well after the seller that fixed my Washburn got done he said the fix would not last and within a year the buzz was back and the front of the guitar developed a crack. I was then in the local bar and they were having anybody can get up and play night. I did not get up but I did ask one of the players what kind of guitar he had as it looked like my Washburn. He told me the name and said it was his older guitar as his favorite was in the shop. I used that to find out the name and location of a full time luthier in Bradlboro VT. He fixed the crack but said the bridge support was loose and I should consider a new guitar. As he demonstrated my fixed guitar I realized he was a very good player and I was not willing to demonstrate my minimal skills in his shop while I picked out a new guitar. In VT I live on a ski mountain and the lady in the condo next to me played the guitar very well (on stage to accompany her singing.) The walls were thin so she knew I played my guitar most evenings and she encouraged me to thy different things. I finally asked her how I could buy a new guitar and get a good one without being able to play in a store? She gave my the Zagar name and recommended I just buy the low end guitar they sold. She had previously played on one. I looked at the web pages picked out a higher priced model but not the top end. Called up to order one and it arrived withing a week. I love it. I now get emails from them about once or twice a week touting the professional players that have converted to Zager. I also listen to your Tuesday sessions almost every week. What I wonder is why you never mention Zager? They certainly seem like they should be ideal for hopeless players like me and I’m pretty sure we are a big group.
I have the bad habit of embarrassingly playing like crap in guitar stores for hours, picking out a guitar I think I like then after about a year it develops some tonal quality or flaw I can’t stand. Lol. So I’ve ended up with a half dozen crappy guitars, I don’t like, not wanting to try to sell them or spend the necessary money for a luthier to fix them. Guitar buying is just hard, I think , no doubt about it.
I agree with you on Eastman guitars. You left out Guild Guitars, the F-55 and F-512 are good.
You never mention Bedell Guitars from Bend Oregon. They have excellent handmade guitars, some in Brazilian Rosewood with Guitar Passports, showing the wood was legally harvested.
No Texas Guitars either like Collings and Republic (who has a cutaway tricone). Hard to cover all the good guitar makers.
You mentioned Taylor becoming employee owned. This is sometimes an indication that the company is about to be sold. I work for a company that went from family owned, to employee owned, and finally sold to a large corporation. The employee owned move allowed the owners to hide debt and make the maximum amount off the sale. A friend predicted this would happen as soon as I told him we were about to become employee owned. I am not complaining – I came away with significant payout from my company stock just saying this may mean Taylor will be sold in the next 5 years. Let’s hope not!
I am looking forward to trying out a Maton BB1200 JH semi hollow guitar. I know a bit of Australian parochialism. They have not been available for some time.They are also going to replace a 1200 Betty Blue with something new.
Maton (Australia)
is going to release a new guitar to celebrate the matriarch of Maton Guitars and the wife of founder Bill May, Vera May turning 100. They are set to release one of the most beautiful guitars they have ever produced.I am very excited to see this one.
Just saw #171 show.a beautiful show,for learning.i never was interested in a resonator guitar,until I saw your show.i actually fell in love with the rich sound of the mule resonator.i loved the sound,and the body.thin.perfect for a small bodyed framed person.👍 Tony Emmanuel an artist you love and talk about alot,a beautiful sound album.i learned so much from you Tony,thank you.you opened my thought process as an artist.i fell in love with many different guitars lately.i love to look at them,and just feel which one calls me.i have my eyes on an open pore Luna guitar.a stunning color,elegance,and sound.and for me a very beautiful visual guitar.all those traits are very important to me.like an art painting.some you might like,but there are others,you really love,and you just want it.case closed.no geek guitar could never have just one guitar.no way.you love what you love,nobody can say other wise.flip them the bird.👍🤣😂😆😁 Thanks👍
I like and love all the guitars you mentioned.thanks Tony.
Hello Tony;
I just purchased a Yamaha APX 600. What is your opinion on this guitar.
Thanks
Russ