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Dean St Augustine Dreadnought CAW Acoustic Electric Guitar
$499.00The Dean St. Augustine is back and has been redesigned for a new level of performance! This acoustic electric’s new look has that real feel of steadfast aggression you have come to expect with a Dean guitar. T...8 Payments of $62.38
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Fender FA-125CE Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Guitar
$249.99The single-cutaway FA-125CE dreadnought acoustic guitar combines Fender tone and style with our FE-A2 electronics for a guitar that was made to take the stage. Quality laminate construction with a modern Fender 3+3 ...6 Payments of $41.67
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Fender Highway Dreadnought Thinline Acoustic Electric Guitar with Bag
$849.95 - $999.99At the intersection of time-honored acoustic guitar craft and relentless innovation, Highway Series instruments transport players to a new era of performance in a way that only Fender can. Merging a thin, ergonomic ...18 Payments of $55.56
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Gator GSSC-DREAD Core Series Dreadnought Gig Bag
$99.99Your guitar deserves the best, and that's exactly what the Someone, Somewhere Core Series for Dreadnaught guitar offers. With 1/2” foam padding surrounding your instrument from all angles, rest assured that your dre...6 Payments of $16.67
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Gibson Lifton Historic Dreadnought Case Black Goldenrod
$349.00Since 1918, Lifton has been acclaimed worldwide for fine leather goods and musical instrument cases that are as synonymous with Gibson as the instruments inside of them. Lifton continues that tradition of excellence...8 Payments of $43.63
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Gretsch Jim Dandy Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar
$249.99All acoustic guitarists and folk players, embark on a musical journey back to the golden era of guitars! The Gretsch Jim Dandy Dreadnought guitar is here to transport you to a time when music was raw, authentic, and...4 Payments of $62.50
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Guild D-140 Cherry Burst Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar with Gig Bag
$899.99Guild D-140 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar The Guild D-140 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar delivers a sound that will keep you playing for hours. As part of Guild's Westerly Collection, this all-solid wood acoustic comb...12 Payments of $75.00
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Guild D-140CE Dreadnought Cutaway Acoustic Electric Guitar with Gigbag
$999.99The full-bodied and powerful tone of this Guild D-140CE dreadnought provides guitarists with a classic acoustic sound and balanced voicing. Built with a solid Sitka spruce top and solid African mahogany back and sid...12 Payments of $83.33
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Guild D-20E Dreadnought Acoustic Electric Guitar with Case
$1,899.99 - $1,999.99The dreadnought-sized Guild D-20 Natural acoustic guitar is meticulously crafted in the USA*. The guitar’s solid African mahogany top, back, and sides give it the warm and resonant sound that Guild mahogany-top acou...12 Payments of $158.33
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Guild D-40 Standard Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar with Case
$2,599.99 - $2,699.99The Guild D-40 Standard dreadnought acoustic guitar is like no other! Played for generations, Guild's reliable D-40 is custom-designed to deliver a superior playing experience. With its all-new Vintage Gloss finish,...12 Payments of $216.67
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Guild D-50 Standard Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar with Case
$2,899.99 - $2,999.99The Guild D-50 Standard Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar is a legendary instrument, now recaptured for modern-day acoustic guitarists. Featuring an all-new Vintage Gloss finish, the D-50's luxurious look is matched by a ...12 Payments of $241.67
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Guild D20 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar with Case
$1,799.99Formerly known as the D-25, the D-20 is a dreadnought acoustic guitar built with solid mahogany top, back, and sides. First introduced to the Guild line in 1968, this model features a rosewood bridge and fingerboard...12 Payments of $150.00
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Dreadnought Acoustic Guitars
The square-shouldered dreadnought became the "standard" for acoustic guitars for good reason. They're big, they're loud, and they sound fanstastic with heavy strumming and flatpicking. If you want an acoustic that's not afraid to give it some guts, check out dreadnought acoustic guitars from top brands like Martin, Gibson, Yamaha, Taylor, Guild, Epiphone, and more to suit any budget or style.
Dreadnought Acoustic Guitars
The dreadnought is arguably the most popular acoustic guitar body shape ever made. Its wide, deep body produces a loud, powerful low end that makes it a natural fit for playing rock, folk, country, and bluegrass. Martin Guitar introduced the design in 1916, and it's been the industry standard ever since.
Walk into any guitar shop and you'll spot it immediately — hanging front and center, looking exactly like what you'd picture if someone said, "acoustic guitar." Square shoulders. Wide waist. Deep body. The dreadnought has been the world's most popular acoustic body style for over a century, and it didn't earn that title by accident.
But popularity only tells part of the story. The real secret is in the rich, full sound!
What Is a Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar?
A dreadnought sports a big, boxy body that’s purpose-built to really project your playing. Its square shoulders, wide waist, and deep body create more internal air volume than smaller acoustics, and that extra space is exactly what drives its natural volume and powerful low end.
C.F. Martin & Co. built the first dreadnought guitars back in 1916. The name comes from the HMS Dreadnought, a large British battleship. When Martin needed a word big enough to describe their new guitar's size and presence, the battleship seemed to be the right fit. The name stuck, and it's now the standard term for this body shape across every guitar brand.
Why Is the Dreadnought the Standard Acoustic Shape?
The dreadnought's reputation speaks for itself. Its large body produces the loudest natural volume and the strongest low end of any common acoustic shape — competing only with the Jumbo. It cuts through when you're strumming full chords, singing over the top, or playing alongside other instruments in an ensemble.
That combination of volume and bass response is why folk, country, bluegrass, and rock players reach for a dreadnought first—and why most beginners learn on one. The campfire guitar is almost always a dreadnought for good reason. It fills the air with sound without ever needing an amp.
A dreadnought might not always be the right fit for everyone. Players with a smaller frame or shorter arms sometimes find the wide body awkward to hold against the chest. When comparing a dreadnought vs. concert acoustic guitar, the concert body trades some volume for better tonal balance and easier reach, which is a tradeoff fingerstyle players often prefer, since the concert shape responds more cleanly to individual notes than to strumming chords.
The dreadnought, by contrast, is great for strumming chords. If you're singing around a fire, playing rhythm in a band, taking on lead playing, or even learning your first chords, the dreadnought is definitely the right one to handle the job.
What to Look for When Buying a Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar
Choosing the right dreadnought comes down to a few key details that shape both the sound and the price tag.
How Do Dreadnought Tonewoods Affect Sound?
Knowing your tonewoods makes comparing dreadnought models a whole lot easier. Most dreadnoughts tend to pair a spruce top with rosewood or mahogany back and sides.
Spruce is bright and responsive, so your strumming stays clear and articulate even if you're playing one of the budget-friendly models. Rosewood adds complexity and warmth in the low mids, while mahogany delivers a more focused, midrange-forward tone. Both tonewoods play nicely with the dreadnought body shape, which already produces plenty of bass on its own. Consider the tonewoods as the seasoning — they add depth to the dish, but they don't exactly change the recipe.
Should You Choose a Solid Top or Laminate Dreadnought?
A solid top is cut from a single piece of wood, letting it resonate more freely and develop a richer, more complex tone the more you play it. It's a guitar that genuinely gets better with age. A laminate top, by contrast, is made from thin layers of wood pressed together. It's more affordable and handles humidity changes better, but it won't develop the same depth of tone over time.
Go solid top if you're committed to one guitar for the long haul. Go laminate if you need something durable and affordable for travel, practice, or life on the road.
What Is the Best Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar for Your Budget?
American Musical Supply carries dreadnoughts across every price range:
- Beginner ($200–$500): Entry-level dreadnoughts from Fender, Ibanez, and Takamine are solid starting points. If you're shopping for a dreadnought acoustic for beginners, this range gives you a reliable instrument without overcommitting.
- Mid-range ($600–$1,500): Step-up models from Martin, Taylor, Yamaha, and Takamine in this range add solid tops and onboard electronics for gigging players who need stage-ready performance.
- Premium ($1,600–$4,900+): Martin, Taylor, Gibson, and Yamaha lead the pack with their high-end dreadnought acoustic guitars, feature all-solid construction, higher-end finish work, and the kind of resonance that only hand-selected tonewoods can deliver.
Cutaway vs. Non-Cutaway Dreadnought
A cutaway removes a section of the guitar's upper body so you can reach the highest frets more easily. The change in body volume is small, so most players notice only a minor shift in bass response — not a dramatic one.
Pick a cutaway if you play lead lines or solos above the twelfth fret. Stick with a standard non-cutaway body if you mainly strum chords and want the fullest low end the dreadnought can offer.
Martin Goes Super with the Super D Dreadnoughts
Martin invented the Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar back in 1916. But more recently, they made their iconic body shape even more powerful with the Super D. They’re deeper, bigger, and project even more of that powerful tone that made Martin a household name. Check it out if you want even more from your acoustic guitar.
Not Sure a Dreadnought Is Right for You?
Still weighing your options? Browse the full Acoustic Guitars collection at American Musical Supply to compare every body style side by side.
If you want more balance and detail with less bulk, start with our Concert Acoustic Guitars or Grand Auditorium Acoustic Guitars. Want the dreadnought's size with easier access to the upper frets? Our Cutaway Acoustic Guitars collection has you covered.
Once you've picked your dreadnought, a padded acoustic guitar cases protects the guitar's large body during transport, and a fresh set of 6-string acoustic guitar strings keeps the tone bright as older strings wear down. Not sure what strings to put on it? Our Guitar String Buyer's Guide breaks down everything from gauges to materials.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dreadnought Acoustic Guitars
What does "dreadnought" mean on a guitar?
The name comes from the HMS Dreadnought, a large British battleship from the early 1900s. When C.F. Martin & Co. released this larger, louder body style in 1916, the ship's name became the shorthand for its size and power. The term is now the universal label for this body shape across every guitar brand.
What is the difference between a dreadnought and a regular acoustic guitar?
For most players, the dreadnought is the “regular” acoustic guitar — it's the most common body shape sold today. Compared to smaller shapes like the concert or grand auditorium, a dreadnought has a wider waist, square shoulders, and a deeper body. That extra volume translates to more projection and a stronger low end, at the cost of some tonal balance and ease of hold.
Are dreadnought guitars harder to play?
Not for most players. The neck profile and string spacing are the same as other steel-string acoustics, so chords and scales feel familiar. The one adjustment is the body size. Players with a smaller frame sometimes need a few weeks to get comfortable holding the wider lower bout against their chest and picking arm.
Is a cutaway dreadnought better than a standard dreadnought?
Neither is objectively better. A standard dreadnought maximizes low end and volume. A cutaway dreadnought sacrifices a small amount of body volume in exchange for easier access to the highest frets. Choose a cutaway if you regularly play lead lines or solos past the twelfth fret. Choose a standard body if you mainly strum chords and want the fullest sound the dreadnought shape can deliver.
How much does a good dreadnought acoustic guitar cost?
A dependable beginner dreadnought runs about $200 to $500. Mid-range models with solid tops and onboard electronics cost $600 to $1,500. Premium dreadnoughts from top-tier brands start around $1,600 and can exceed $4,500 for all-solid, hand-finished instruments.
What size is a dreadnought guitar?
A modern dreadnought body measures approximately 20 inches long and about 15.5 inches across the lower bout — its widest point. That makes it noticeably larger than a concert or grand auditorium body, which is a big part of why the dreadnought produces such strong natural volume.
