If you are getting back into guitar after years away, the right instrument matters more than ever. Comfort, neck feel, body size, and setup can decide whether you play every night or put it back in the case.
I am 65 and I have been playing for decades. I started on a Taylor 114ce, moved up to a 414ce, and now my everyday guitar is the Taylor 814ce — the one you see in the photo on the homepage. I have also owned two different Taylor 12-strings along the way. So when I talk about how these guitars feel and what changes as you move up the ladder, I am not reading off a spec sheet. I have actually lived it.
I care less about flash and more about tone, comfort, and feel. The 814ce is the gold standard I measure everything else against. But not everyone needs — or wants — to spend that kind of money, and this list reflects that. There is something here for every stage and every budget.
Quick takeaway: If your fingers hurt fast, it is usually not you. It is the action, the setup, or a guitar that does not fit your body.
Quick Picks at a Glance
Best overall: Taylor 114ce — comfortable, versatile, genuinely excellent
Best budget: Yamaha FG800 — reliable, well-built, sounds better than it should
Most comfortable body: Yamaha FS800 — smaller body, easier on shoulders
Best step up: Taylor 214ce — premium feel, real upgrade from beginner territory
Best for fingerpicking: Seagull S6 Original — wide neck, warm cedar tone
Best mid-range value: Fender CD-140SCE — lively, loud, great electronics
Best serious investment: Taylor 414ce — all-solid rosewood, plays like a dream
The forever guitar: Taylor 814ce — my personal guitar, the one I measure everything else against
What Matters Most After 50
Before we get to the picks, here is what I actually pay attention to when evaluating a guitar for players in the second half of life. These things matter more than specs.
Neck feel: A comfortable neck profile makes chord changes easier and reduces hand fatigue. Taylor necks in particular are famous for this — smooth, fast, and easy on your hands.
Action: Lower action means less effort to fret notes cleanly. A good setup can transform a mediocre guitar into a pleasure to play. If your current guitar feels hard to play, get it set up before you buy a new one.
Body size: Smaller bodies can be easier on shoulders and more comfortable when you are sitting on the couch for an hour. Dreadnoughts are loud and great, but they are not for everyone.
Weight and balance: A guitar that sits well is a guitar you will actually pick up. This sounds obvious but it really does affect how often you play.
Electronics: If there is any chance you will ever play for other people — family, friends, an open mic — get a guitar with a built-in pickup. You can always choose not to plug in, but you cannot add good electronics after the fact without affecting the instrument.
Solid wood construction: Solid wood tops resonate more freely, sound better, and — importantly — improve with age and playing. At the prices on this list, there is no reason to settle for a laminate top.
The Picks
1. Taylor 814ce — The Forever Guitar
Price: ~$3,999 | Body: Grand Auditorium | Electronics: Yes (ES2)
This is my personal guitar, so I will do my best to be honest rather than just enthusiastic.
The 814ce has Indian rosewood back and sides, a Sitka spruce top, an ebony fretboard, and a finish so thin you can feel the grain of the wood under your hand. It is not just beautiful — that thin finish allows the top to vibrate more freely, which is part of why it sounds the way it does. The V-Class bracing gives it exceptional sustain and intonation that stays true across the entire neck.
I have owned four Taylors and this is the one I will play for the rest of my life. The neck feels effortless. The tone is balanced, warm, and complex — it responds to fingerpicking and strumming equally well. The ES2 electronics sound like a real acoustic when you plug in, which is rarer than you would think at any price point.
Is it worth the price? That depends entirely on your situation. If you are serious about playing and you want one guitar that will outlast you and bring you joy every single time you pick it up, yes. Absolutely yes.
Best for: Experienced players who want their last guitar and are ready to invest in it.
→ Check the Taylor 814ce on Amazon
→ Read my full Taylor series guide to see how the 814ce fits into the lineup
2. Taylor 414ce — The Sweet Spot
Price: ~$2,799 | Body: Grand Auditorium | Electronics: Yes (ES2)
I spent years with a 414ce before moving to the 814ce, and here is the honest truth: it is an exceptional guitar. If you had told me when I bought it that I would eventually want something more, I would not have believed you. It is that good.
The 414ce has all-solid construction — Indian rosewood back and sides, Sitka spruce top — and it shows. The tone is warm, full, and resonant in a way that layered-wood guitars simply cannot match. The rosewood adds depth and complexity. Notes bloom. Chords ring with a richness that surprises you every time.
The jump from the 214ce to the 414ce is significant — more significant than the jump from the 114ce to the 214ce, in my experience. This is where Taylor’s all-solid construction begins to reveal itself and you start to understand why people spend this kind of money on an acoustic guitar.
Best for: Serious players who want a professional-quality instrument they can grow into for decades.
→ Check the Taylor 414ce on Amazon
3. Taylor 214ce — Best Step Up
Price: ~$1,499 | Body: Grand Auditorium | Electronics: Yes (ES2)
If the 814ce is your long-term target and the 414ce is where you want to land eventually, the 214ce is a smart place to start. It gives you the Taylor neck, the Taylor playability, and the Taylor ES2 electronics in a package that is genuinely beautiful without the all-solid price tag.
The solid spruce top does the heavy lifting tonally. The layered rosewood back and sides are not ideal, but they do the job — and the difference between this and a full solid guitar is something you notice more over years of playing than in the first few months. For a returning player getting back into the instrument, the 214ce is an excellent and honest choice.
Best for: Players who want the Taylor experience and feel at a more accessible price point.
→ Check the Taylor 214ce on Amazon
4. Taylor 114ce — Best Overall Value
Price: ~$799 | Body: Grand Auditorium | Electronics: Yes (ES2)
This is where I started, and I have nothing but good things to say about it.
The 114ce is made in Mexico rather than Taylor’s California facility, which keeps the cost down without compromising the thing that matters most: the way it plays. The neck is the same comfortable Taylor profile you will find on guitars costing three times as much. The action is well-set. The ES2 pickup sounds excellent. For $799, it is genuinely hard to beat.
The solid spruce top is a real asset — it will open up and improve the longer you play it. The layered walnut back and sides are the main concession at this price, but most players will not find it a dealbreaker, especially in the first few years of playing.
If you are getting back into guitar and you want to start on something that feels right from day one, this is my honest first recommendation.
Best for: Returning players and anyone who wants the Taylor experience without a major investment.
→ Check the Taylor 114ce on Amazon
5. Seagull S6 Original — Best for Fingerpicking
Price: ~$630 | Body: Modified Dreadnought | Electronics: No (acoustic-electric version available)
The Seagull S6 is one of the most underrated guitars in this price range, probably because Seagull is a Canadian brand without the marketing budget of Taylor or Yamaha. But players who have tried it tend to become devoted fans.
What makes it special for older players is the neck. The nut width is slightly wider than a standard dreadnought — closer to a classical guitar — which gives your fingers more room to breathe. If you have ever found standard necks a bit cramped for fingerpicking or if you have larger hands, the S6 is going to feel like a revelation.
The cedar top produces a warm, dark tone that responds beautifully to a light touch. You do not need to dig in hard to get a full sound out of this guitar, which is ideal if you are dealing with hand or finger fatigue. Handcrafted in Canada, solid cedar top, excellent quality control. At $630, it is extraordinary value.
Best for: Fingerpickers and players who want a wider neck and a warmer, more intimate tone.
→ Check the Seagull S6 Original on Amazon
6. Fender CD-140SCE — Best for Strummers
Price: ~$579 | Body: Dreadnought | Electronics: Yes (Fishman Presys+)
Fender does not get nearly as much credit for their acoustic guitars as they deserve. The CD-140SCE is a genuinely excellent instrument that tends to surprise people who come in with low expectations.
The solid spruce top gives it a bright, lively character that is really satisfying for rhythm playing. If you love strumming folk songs, playing along to records, or just filling a room with sound, this guitar has the energy and projection to make it fun every time. The cutaway body gives you access to the upper frets, which you might not use every day but will appreciate when you do.
The Fishman Presys+ electronics are among the better pickup systems in this price range and include a built-in tuner, which is genuinely convenient. The overall playability is excellent — Fender knows how to make instruments that feel good in your hands.
Best for: Rhythm players and strummers who want a lively sound and good electronics without spending a lot.
→ Check the Fender CD-140SCE on Amazon
7. Yamaha FG800 — Best Budget Option
Price: ~$299 | Body: Dreadnought | Electronics: No
Yamaha makes some of the most consistently reliable guitars in the world, and the FG800 is a perfect example of why the brand has such a devoted following among players who know what they are looking for.
The solid spruce top is the headline feature — at this price, a solid top is genuinely impressive and it makes a real difference to the sound and long-term playability. The action tends to be well-set from the factory, which is something Yamaha consistently gets right. For a lot of returning players, that matters enormously. The last thing you want is to finally get a new guitar and find it is hard to play before you have even started.
It is loud, it projects well, and with a proper setup it can feel surprisingly comfortable. If budget is your primary concern and you want something you can trust, the FG800 is the answer.
Best for: Players on a tighter budget who still want a reliable, well-built instrument with a solid top.
→ Check the Yamaha FG800 on Amazon
8. Yamaha FS800 — Most Comfortable Body
Price: ~$299 | Body: Concert | Electronics: No
Everything I said about the FG800 applies here — solid spruce top, reliable build, well-set action, excellent value. The difference is the body.
The FS800 uses a concert body rather than a full dreadnought, which makes it noticeably more comfortable for players who find standard dreadnoughts a bit unwieldy. If sitting with a dreadnought for an hour feels like hugging a coffee table, or if shoulder discomfort is a factor, the smaller body can genuinely change how long and how often you play.
The tradeoff is a little less volume and bass compared to the FG800. But for home playing, couch playing, or anyone who simply prefers a more compact instrument, the FS800 is an excellent choice.
Best for: Players who prioritize comfort and find full dreadnoughts awkward to hold for extended sessions.
→ Check the Yamaha FS800 on Amazon
Quick Comparison
| Guitar | Best for | Comfort | Price range |
| Taylor 814ce | Forever guitar | Excellent | Premium ($3,999) |
| Taylor 414ce | Serious investment | Excellent | Upper mid ($2,799) |
| Taylor 214ce | Step up option | Very good | Mid ($1,499) |
| Taylor 114ce | Best overall value | Very good | Entry Taylor ($799) |
| Seagull S6 | Fingerpicking | Great (wide neck) | Mid ($630) |
| Fender CD-140SCE | Strummers | Very good | Mid ($579) |
| Yamaha FG800 | Budget dreadnought | Good with setup | Budget ($299) |
| Yamaha FS800 | Smaller body comfort | Very comfortable | Budget ($299) |
How to Choose the Right Guitar for You
If you have shoulder discomfort, start with a smaller body — the Yamaha FS800 or the Taylor Grand Auditorium body shape are both worth considering. If finger pain is the main issue, prioritize a proper setup and comfortable action before you spend money on a new instrument. A good setup can make a $300 guitar play like a $600 one.
If you want one guitar to keep for years, choose the best feel you can afford. The guitars at the top of this list are not just better sounding — they are more enjoyable to play in ways that keep you coming back. And for players over 50, that is really the whole game. You play more when it feels good. You get better when you play more.
If you are unsure where to start on the Taylor ladder specifically, I wrote a full guide walking through every series from the 100s to the 800s based on my own experience owning four of them. That might help you figure out exactly where you belong.
[→ Read: The Taylor Guitar Ladder — Which Series Is Right for You?]
One More Thing: Get It Set Up
Whatever guitar you choose, take it to a local guitar tech and ask for a basic setup. They will adjust the action, check the intonation, and make sure it plays as well as it possibly can. Budget around $50 to $75 for this and consider it part of the purchase.
I cannot tell you how many players have given up on guitar because the instrument was fighting them, when the real problem was a high nut or an action that was just slightly too high. A good setup takes 20 minutes and changes everything.
Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page are Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through them, Second Set Guitar earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend guitars I would genuinely stand behind.