Orangewood guitars are getting more and more popular with each passing day. They are low-priced, but are they worth it? In this Orangewood guitars review post we will look at a variety of different models and discuss their features.
We will then answer some questions that have been frequently asked about Orangewood guitars.
Orangewood Guitars Review
Orangewood has been making quality guitars at super affordable prices since their first line rolled out in 2018 out of Los Angeles, California.
We will take a look at our picks for best overall, best budget, best under $150, best under $130, and two alternate options.
Best Overall
Orangewood 6 String Acoustic Guitar Pack, Right, Spruce, Dreadnought
Our best overall pick is the Orangewood’s dreadnought model known as the “Manhattan”. This guitar is available with a gig bag and accessory pack or you can order it with just the gig bag.
This guitar features the classic dreadnought body style which provides a full and rich sound. Dreadnoughts have a deep body and a broad waist and are very versatile.
The spruce top will give a great resonating sound. With a hardtail bridge and mahogany body this guitar is pleasing to the eye.
The accessory kit includes a strap, tuner, and capo. You can place the guitar in your gig bag and you’re good to go.
With dark lows and piercing highs this model has the perfect blend in sound and tone. With two pins for your guitar strap, you won’t need an extra accessory that would loop around the bottom of the headstock.
This guitar has great playability which will give you the confidence you need if you are a new guitar player and overall satisfaction if you are a seasoned veteran.
Pros
Pros:
- Affordable.
- Rich and bold tone.
- Accessory pack comes with a strap, tuner, capo, picks, and chord chart.
- Mahogany body and spruce top.
- Comes with a gig bag.
- Designed in Los Angeles, CA.
Cons
Cons:
- Action may need to be adjusted.
Best Budget
Orangewood 6 String Acoustic Guitar, Right, Mahogany
In reality, all Orangewood guitars are great for a budget, but this takes “budget-friendly” to the next level. Known as the “Dana” model, this is a smaller scale guitar also known as the baby concert style.
As with all Orangewood guitars, you will receive a gig bag and optional pickguard. You can add it for protection which adds a decorative touch. With layered mahogany top wood and back and sides, this little guitar packs a punch with its sound.
This is not only a great beginner guitar or guitar for younger kids to learn on, but it’s also a great guitar to travel with so you can pick up and play at any time.
This guitar has a bone nut and bridge and comes with Ernie Ball strings set to medium. This model plays very easily and does not have any buzzing coming from the strings.
Remember that this is not a full scale guitar. That doesn’t mean that there is a sound difference between this is a full-sized guitar at all. It just means that you will have to feel comfortable playing on a guitar this size. At an unbelieve price, you can see why this made the list of Orangewood guitars to review.
As will all Orangewood guitars, this is available with a gig bag or a gig bag and accessory pack. Factoring all of that in and this model offers a great bang for the buck.
Pros
Pros:
- Affordable.
- Layered mahogany top and sides.
- Optional pickguard.
- Accessory kit available.
- Comes with two strap buttons.
- Perfect to travel with.
Cons
Cons:
- Frets need to be polished.
- Not a full scale model guitar.
Best Under $150
Orangewood 6 String Acoustic Guitar, Right, Mahogany, Cutaway
Known as the “Rey” model, this makes our list for many reasons. The grand auditorium cutaway body style gives you a very smooth playing experience. For those guitar players who like to hit the higher notes on their acoustic guide, you will have the ability to do just that.
The Rey has a mahogany top, back/sides, and neck. Sold with the gig bag or with the gig bag and accessory pack.
This comes with medium light strings and the optional pickguard. All Orangewood guitars are professionally set up prior to shipping. However, that doesn’t mean that you won’t need to adjust it to your liking once you play it.
With quality craftsmanship, the guitar will surprise you with its full range of sound leaving you to almost second guess the price.
Right out of the box you will be able to play this guitar and see how easy it is to play. The grain on the dark mahogany body has double binding on the front and back as well as the neck.
Pros
Pros:
- Cost effective.
- Bright and rich tones.
- Comes with gig bag and optional pickguard.
- Great for beginners and experienced guitar players.
- Cutaway style provides access to higher frets.
- Lightweight.
Cons
Cons:
- May need to adjust the truss rod.
- Frets may need to be polished.
Best Under $130
Orangewood 6 String Acoustic Guitar, Right, Spruce, Grand Concert
This grand auditorium known as the “Victoria” features a mahogany body with an all spruce top.
This versatile guitar creates an excellent choice for those aspiring folk players. It’s a little smaller than a standard size guitar which also makes it super comfortable to play.
With a nice and bright sound, Orangewood guitars are great for fingerpicking folk style play or if you like your folk mixed with some rock and therefore would want to use a guitar pick.
Setup could vary so the truss rod may need to be adjusted.
Being lightweight it’s able to sustain the desired sound that you are looking for when researching best folk guitars.
The clarity of chord playing will really allow you to hear the tones this guitar has to offer. It also comes with a gig bag that Orangewood is known for including with each guitar purchase.
Pros
Pros:
- Features a bright and full sound.
- Quality spruce top.
- Comes with a gig bag.
- Designed in Los Angeles, California.
- Comfortable to play.
- Affordable.
Cons
Cons:
- Truss rod may need to be adjusted.
Best Alternate Pick
In addition to the guitars we discussed in this Orangewood guitars review, here are some alternate options. Perhaps you are not sold on Orangewood yet and want to know what are some viable and comparable options in a similar price range.
Yamaha FG800 Solid Top Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar – Natural
The Yamaha FG800 is a great guitar that won’t break the bank. It features great playability with a bold musical tone.
The 800 series for Yamaha is meant to be louder and stronger so you can clearly hear the low and mid-ranges.
This series also has a scalloped bracing pattern which allows the guitar durability.
This will also help bring out more of the natural sound of the guitar.
Again, at a price like this, the Yamaha is a great beginner guitar or could work for a high tier intermediate player.
With it’s loud tone, it’s great for folk style music. This way it accents the quiet nature of fingerstyle play. Of course, playing with a pick will provide a nice loud sound.
A Solid Sitka spruce top, rosewood fretboard and bridge, and die-cast tuners makes this very reasonably priced guitar one worth looking into.
Pros
Pros:
- Great for beginners
- Rich and full tone
- Nice construction and design
- Bright and bold sound
- Great for fingerstyle
- Reasonably priced
Cons
Cons:
- Action made need to be adjusted
- Strings may need to be changed
Best Alternate Pick – Bundle
Fender CD-60SCE Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Guitar – Natural Bundle
The Fender CD-60SCE is a dreadnought style and is an acoustic-electric.
This cutaway creates easy access to your higher frets. It has a solid spruce top and mahogany back and side. The fingerboard has rolled edges so it makes it easy to play.
This bundle also comes with a hard case, tuner, cable, strap, strings, picks, and DVD. Playing folk on this guitar (as well as other styles) will get you a nice clean and bright sound.
You can also purchase the items in the bundle separately so you do not need to feel obligated to go the route of a bundle.
Bundles are convenient for sure, but you can also survive without them.
With a built-in tuner you will be able to tune up quickly and play for your family, friends, and audiences.
Pros
Pros:
- Rolled edge fretboard for easy playability.
- Bundle includes all you need to get started.
- Good for beginner and intermediate players.
- Built-in tuner.
- Bright and full sound.
Cons
Cons:
- Action may need to be adjusted.
- Pickup may eventually need to be upgraded.
Orangewood Guitars Review Buyers Guide
We reviewed what we believe is the best overall Orangewood guitar, the best budget, and the best under $150 and $130.
Now, let’s take a look at some questions below that have been commonly asked about these guitars and acoustic guitars in general.
Where are Orangewood Guitars made and built?
Orangewood was created by two brothers who noticed the need in the market for affordable high quality acoustic guitars.
They are designed in Los Angeles, California, but are made and produced in Indonesia.
Are Orangewood Acoustic Guitars just for beginners?
Orangewood guitars are not just for beginners. With their popularity gaining, you will see more and more people use them as their primary acoustic guitar.
The company will continue to expand it’s line and they have even started to with more expensive lines of acoustic guitars.
As they continue to grow, so will their options making them a viable brand in the world of acoustic guitars.
Do Orangewood Guitars come set up?
Yes. Orangewood guitars come professionally set up. One of their many missions is to ensure you can just unbox and play right away.
In our reviews, you have seen that we stated that the action is “high” and may need to be adjusted based on your likings.
From what we found the action was a little higher than what’s preferred however, everyone is different with what they like.
Do all Orangewood Guitars come with a gig bag?
Yes, all Orangewood guitars come with a gig bag. To ensure the guitar gets to you safely, a premium bag is included with each and every purchase.
How do you identify a good acoustic guitar?
This is going to depend on what you are specifically wanting in an acoustic guitar. If you are assuming that all of them offer tones that you desire and easy playability then you’d want to look at the guitar’s construction.
The seams of the guitar and how the heck joins the body are really important. You want to see if the seam looks clean. You want to look at the top and where it meets the sides.
Examining the surface to see if there are any warps, ripped, or bulges. You also want to play the neck and check for string or fret buzzing.
The intonation is also something you want to check on the guitar. Play the open string and then play the same note at the 12th fret. If it sounds like a true octave then your intonation is good.
Orangewood Guitars Review Conclusion
In conclusion, there is a lot of potential with Orangewood. Their guitars are not only extremely affordable, but are of quality.
They offer a full and rich sound with some premium craftsmanship that you would find on guitars that cost more.
With their mission to deliver quality guitars at budget friendly prices it’s a success. Like anything we can find fault in the details. The action may need to be adjusted and the hardware such as the tuning machines aren’t overly impressive but at the price they are offered at, who cares!!!!!
Any level of a guitar player can pick one of these up and start playing and will be very satisfied with the sound and playability.
Over the recent years, this company has picked up steam and they are not slowing down. From posts like this to YouTube videos, more and more individuals will find out about these cool guitars.
We really hope that you have enjoyed this orangewood guitars review article on the different models offered along with some great alternate choices.
Enjoy the process and remember to always HAVE FUN!
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I like how they sound and look,especially the Rage Mahogany with the hard case. I don’t have anywhere to store a guitar except the case. the Orangewood guitars look like no other guitars and it’s a look that I and a lot of other people really like.Orangewood is going to be a name to reckon within the guitar building business in the very near future, you can count on that
I agree David! I am very impressed by the quality and the I really like their higher end models as well. Thanks for checking out the article and post. We appreciate it!