academic competition

They might be the most affordable full-size ‘proper’ Taylors, but the Academy guitars have plenty to compete with. We take a look…

Yamaha AC1M £613 (inc case)

This concert-sized electro, with 650mm (25.6-inch) scale length, kicks off Yamaha’s A Series. It features a solid spruce top with laminated mahogany back and sides, plus wood binding and inlays. Powering comes from Yamaha’s System 66 preamp and under-saddle pickup. It’s available in natural or sunburst gloss and includes a hard case. www.yamahamusiclondon.com

martin 000X1AE £599

The Mexican-made X Series combines old-school style with modern materials. This non-cut 000 features solid Sitka spruce top with mahoganygrained high-pressure laminate back and sides, with matt finish and a Richlite fingerboard. Scale length is 645mm (25.4 inches) and it’s powered by Fishman’s Sonitone. The price excludes case. www.martinguitar.com

sigma S000M-18 £675 (inc gig bag)

Once Martin-owned, Sigma makes highly affordable Martin-style acoustics and electros in China that are a huge value proposition. The acoustic-only S000M-18 has all-solid Sitka spruce/mahogany construction with Martin-size scale and a gloss finish. The all-mahogany electro take on this is the S000M-15E (£579, including gigbag). www.sigma-guitars.com

Faith NAkEd VENuS £509

Made in Indonesia and designed by Patrick James Eggle, these matt-finish Naked models are great value for money (though no case is included). This OM/Auditorium cutaway electro boasts all-solid Engelmann spruce/Indonesian mahogany construction with Shadow Performer Tuner Preamp and Nanoflex under-saddle pickup. www.faithguitars.com

guild WEStErly M-140/ M-140E £669/£759 (inc case)

Part of Guild’s Westerly series, the M-140 kicks off the range with solid spruce top, solid mahogany back and sides, and an Indian rosewood ’board. The electro version features a Fishman Sonitone system with soundhole controls. Within the series is the Archback range, which includes the M-240E (£385, with gigbag) with Guild’s AP-1 pickup. www.guildguitars.com

Fender PM-3 StANdArd £599 (inc case)

Fender is a best-seller in the affordable electroacoustic world, and the Paramount range is expansive. This ‘triple-0’ cutaway electro illustrates the value with all-solid Sitka spruce/mahogany construction, Fender/Fishman-designed PM pickup system with side-placed volume, bass and treble controls, plus onboard tuner and phase switch. www.fender.com