Rogue acoustic guitars have been the subject of many conversations that usually start off with “I want to learn guitar and want something cheap, any suggestions?”
More often than not, these questions are typically asked by parents for their children who are showing interest in guitar.
If one were to research the prices of Rogue guitars, your eyes would light up with excitement as they are super affordable. Actually they pare past the point of being affordable.
Rogue is a series of low-cost guitars that were introduced in the mid-1990s. It’s distribution company is Musicians Friend and their name originates from the “Rouge River” in the Rogue Valley of Medford, Oregon.
So is their line of acoustic guitars any good? Or are they just a generic cheap brand of acoustic guitars that are not worth your time?
In this article we will uncover all the questions that you may have been having with regards to Rogue acoustic guitars.
Best Rogue Acoustic Guitars
Let’s begin with looking at some of the best models out there for Rogue acoustic guitars. We will honestly review each of them below and go over our pros and cons of each.
1. Rogue RA-090 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar Natural
This dreadnought acoustic guitar is really the quintessential introductory guitar that’s priced for anyone.
You get a spruce top and a whitewood body. The nato neck will add to some pretty nice tones for the price.
This full sized acoustic guitar is quite playable and has a dead rich and full tone. Want to carry this around to your friends house or anywhere to play without being overly concerned about damaging it? Then this guitar is perfect.
The action is something you will more than likely need to adjust which is common. The tuning machines are of the best quality but again at this price it’s hard to expect anything more than a guitar that a beginner can pick up and start paying.
Pros
Pros:
- Extremely affordable.
- Spruce top.
- Nato neck.
- Great for an introductory guitar.
- Lightweight.
Cons
Cons:
- Action will need to be adjusted.
- Frets are not finished.
2. Rogue RA-090 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar Black
This Rogue acoustic guitar is similar to the one we previously discussed. The main difference is that it’s black.
We again have the all spruce top and whitewood along with the Nato neck. Once we get past the fact that it’s not a more well known brand of an acoustic guitar, it’s really a bang for the buck.
With most of these Rogue guitars (and acoustics in general), adjustments will need to be made to ensure you are comfortable while playing.
The deep tone will impress you as Rogue acoustic guitars seem to really focus on presenting a rich sound.
If you are a heavy strummer then you may hear some buzzing and string vibration. Again, for beginners, this is a great starter guitar.
Pros
Pros:
- Price.
- Spruce top.
- Deep and rich tone.
- Dreadnought body shape.
Cons
Cons:
- String buzzing when strummed heavy.
- Will need to be turned often.
3. Rogue Starter Acoustic Guitar Red Burst
This ⅞ scale acoustic guitar has a smaller body that’s ideal for kids. With it’s red burst finish, this is a very attractive looking guitar.
The value will exceed your expectations for this little acoustic guitar. The guitar has an interesting texture especially played on the high-ends.
We also have a classical style bridge and with extra light gauge strings, you will be able to experience it’s full potential.
A guitar like this is not meant for a heavier gauge string set. This is great for fingerpicking style play and can hold it’s own when strummed.
Pros
Pros:
- Price.
- Nice looking red burst finish.
- Lightweight and portable.
- Great for kids.
- Perfect for fingerstyle guitar.
Cons
Cons:
- When strumming you will notice a muffled sound.
- Will require lots of tuning.
- Not a full scale guitar.
4. Rogue Starter Acoustic Guitar Blue Burst
Next up we have the smaller ⅞ scale guitar but this time in a blue burst. Again this is perfect and ideal for kids.
With a maple neck and a nice looking finish, it’s great to start learning how to play. It’s small scale is just perfect for kids to start getting comfortable learning how to play and how to hold down the steel strings.
You can actually switch to nylon strings on this guitar if you would like to which would even make it easier.
If you like blue guitars and are a beginner, this is great to look at.
Pros
Pros:
- Price.
- Blue burst color.
- Maple neck.
- Take it anywhere.
- Perfect starter guitar.
Cons
Cons:
- Buzzing when notes are played on the lower frets.
- Not a full scale guitar.
- Will need to tune often.
5. Rogue RA-090 Concert Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural
Priced a little higher than the ones mentioned above, this is an acoustic-electric guitar. Available in natural, black, blue burst, red, and green bust, you will have more options for the overall look of the guitar.
With a single cutaway style, you can get up to those areas on the neck that the guitars we mentioned earlier won’t give you access to.
The RA-090 has a rosewood fingerboard and a rosewood bell bridge which makes the overall appearance very nice.
For it’s electric components, it features an Eden MET-A06 pickup system with a 3-band EQ and tuner.
Once you look at the price, you’ll realize it’s a great value especially for a beginner.
Pros
Pros:
- Acoustic-Eclectic guitar.
- Concert cutaway style.
- Nice craftsmanship.
- Budget friendly.
- Built-in tuner.
Cons
Cons:
- Not as loud as you would expect an acoustic-electric to be.
- Sharp fret ends.
- Electronics are average or below a normal level of quality.
Rogue Acoustic Guitar: A Buyers guide
You see there is not much detail to go into when reviewing the Rogue acoustic guitars. Nevertheless, I think this buyer’s guide will be most interesting because the question will remain as to if this guitar is one you should look at purchasing.
With that said, let’s take a look at some of the questions that might help you make that decision.
Are these guitars good?
Right off the bat, let’s address the elephant in the room. So is a Rogue Acoustic Guitar good?
There are so many “cheap acoustic guitars” out there that it’s hard to keep tabs on what is good and what isn’t.
Go to any large retail store and you’ll see beginner guitars and they can appear to have value….but do they really?
So the answer is if you look at the context of the Rogue guitar meaning very friendly price, playability, and decent sound then it’s a good guitar and in the higher tier of the “cheap acoustic guitars.”
Why not just spend the extra $100 and get a more well known brand?
Well why not right? Why not spend an extra $100 bucks and get yourself a Yamaha or a Fender acoustic guitar?
It’s a valid question and totally understand why it would be asked. There are a few things to consider here. First of all money in general is hard to earn and if you have the money in the beginning then great!
However, if this is something that you are unfamiliar with and really unsure if this is something that you will continue with….then being cost conscious with your hard earned money makes sense.
I’ve seen people purchase those acoustic guitars that are an extra $100 or $200 and then within a year, it’s sitting in the corner of a house collecting dust.
The same can be said for those who purchase a Rogue guitar. It may become something where you start playing daily consistently and then it goes to monthly and potentially longer. The only difference is you didn’t spend much on it so it’s easier to justify if it’s not played frequently.
Are Rogue Guitars good for beginners?
Again for the price it is hard to dispute that you should not at least look into a Rogue acoustic guitar.
There are no bells and whistles here. Just straight up simplicity which is what’s needed in the early stages. You can worry about the other stuff later.
The key right now is learning how to play and getting comfortable with practicing daily and building your fingers muscle memory.
If you are looking for that guitar to learn on then it’s a must to be on your list.
Where are they made and who makes them?
Rogue guitars are manufactured by Sunbo, in South Korea. As mentioned earlier in the article, it’s the “house brand” for Musicians Friend.
They are manufactured in a modern factory and are up to date on all the technology needed to make and produce an acoustic guitar.
Sunbo does reduce costs by using a less expensive top wood. This makes sense as they are selling for a price that’s extremely affordable. To make that happen, the company will need to reduce the costs which they do.
Who are they made for?
This one is super easy to answer. Rogues guitars are strictly for beginners or those who are unsure if they want to play the guitar past the point of a few lessons. That factor alone is the value that Rogue guitars bring to the table.
Your child all of sudden just doesn’t want to play anymore? No biggie as you hardly spent anything on the guitar. Fiscally it just makes sense.
Is the dreadnought model a good acoustic-electric guitar?
No bones about it and I’m sure no surprise but the dreadnought shaped guitar by Rogue is really an entry-level only guitar.
The laminated top you can tell is of a lower tier with regards to quality. The built-in pickup is also of the same quality but it’s functional which is key for a beginner.
The sound won’t blow you away but you will be able to experience the way an acoustic-electric guitar functions.
If you would like more innovation on acoustic-electric guitars, you can check out our article here: What is an Acoustic-Electric Guitar.
If you also have a child that is interested in learning guitar, you can also check out our articles on best kids guitars here: Best Guitar Kids.
Do Rogue Guitars last long?
Since the materials aren’t the highest quality this is what can ultimately lead to the shelf-life of this guitar to be short.
What to look up for is that the body under the bridge could start cracking. This could be due to the climate that you are in.
This is something to be on the lookout for because once this goes then it will affect your ability to play the guitar.
What kind of guitar strings would work best with a Rogue?
In my opinion, due to the lower quality materials used to construct the Rogue, it is best to stay away from the heavier gage acoustic guitar strings.
Those gages (11’s and 12’s) would put tension on the neck and that would probably not be a good thing.
I would suggest 10 gage for the strings, this way they put less tension on the neck and still give you a bright and full tone.
Since the guitars are made for beginners anyway, the lighter gage will help your hands feel like they need to engage in a battle with the strings to allow them to make their sounds.
Rogue Acoustic Guitars Conclusion
Rogue guitars make a great gift for anyone who is wanting to learn guitar or for yourself if you are interested in learning guitar.
I cannot stress it enough that for the price you can simply not beat this. Even if you play it a few times, then you cannot feel guilty because you didn’t break the bank on it.
If you are a parent and your child wants to learn guitar, this is one of the guitars that I would look at. This way you do not have to feel bad or even guilty if you are on a budget.
We really hope that you have enjoyed this article on some really interesting acoustic guitars for a price that really cannot be beat!
We appreciate your time and remember to always HAVE FUN!!!!
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