Looking for a steel or nylon string acoustic with different sound hole

**Heybopper** · 01-04-2026, 09:51 AM

Hi
So im looking for ideas on what's out there. Im looking for either a flat top or arch top acoustic guitar with either Nylon or steel strings. I want a cutaway but I like the more rounded cut away rather than the right angle cutaway I see on many designs.
Id also like something different to the regular round sound hole design . Ie sound holes to the side or on the rim. I have a D'aquisto Jazz line as my main guitar but looking for a second guitar and want something different. I have around £1300
cheers and thanks for your help

**Doctor Jeff** · 01-04-2026, 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by Heybopper

Hi
So im looking for ideas on what's out there. Im looking for either a flat top or arch top acoustic guitar with either Nylon or steel strings. I want a cutaway but I like the more rounded cut away rather than the right angle cutaway I see on many designs.
Id also like something different to the regular round sound hole design . Ie sound holes to the side or on the rim. I have a D'aquisto Jazz line as my main guitar but looking for a second guitar and want something different. I have around £1300
cheers and thanks for your help

Here’s what you want:

Gruhn Guitars

This is an excellent guitar at a reasonable price for the innovative design, features and craftsmanship.

When I was there a couple of years ago, George personally offered me to try this guitar, which was number 7 in production. I loved it, but didn’t want to commit to a new guitar at the time. I have thought about getting once since, though.

It has a feel and sound rather different from a Martin dreadnought, more like a Taylor. I think it would be more than up to the task of any kind of music you might be interested in playing. Gruhn is a great shop to work with, as well.

Now having said that, I also like Taylor guitars, in particular their nice cutaway models. The good ones get pretty pricey though, but they are pretty and play well. They don’t have anything out of the ordinary with the soundhole, but the pickup system is excellent. I have a 12-string, which (I think) I gave to my future son-in-law because I just wasn’t playing it much, but excellent quality and sound.

**Doctor Jeff** · 01-04-2026, 10:32 AM

As far as nylon string, I have a Cordoba Stage, which I have mentioned quite a few times here.
Great guitar with excellent craftsmanship and innovative pickup system. Also rather cheap.

https://www.sweetwater.com/cordoba-stage/series

The caveat is that this is a chambered solid body. The acoustic sound is not bad, and I actually play it unplugged most of the time, but it won’t have the full resonance of a hollow body.