Recording King Guitars

[William2]

I saw a video yesterday on Alamo Music of these instruments. By the end of the day all the big dealers had demos of these instruments. They are very inexpensive (ex. Dreadnought $1000), all solid wood. I watched a comparison of their D-60 vs a Martin D-18. I'd call it a tie. I'm wondering if their low price is caused by it being run by St. Louis Music and they can avoid tariffs. And I wonder what the impact on pricey instruments will be. As it was pointed out in the Alamo Music video, there are big name makers selling laminated bodies for over $2000. And I wonder how this will affect the used market if you can buy a new instrument for a $1000 or less. The videos seem to have sellers impressed. Or are they just used car salesmen trying to sell something? Any thoughts on this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SGC7rKl8s4&t=941s

[B0WIE]

They've been around for a while and I've personally never been impressed by them. They sound fine for their price range but I don't hear them as something Martin needs to be worried about.

When you heard the comparison, were they playing something that showcases the guitar or something that emphasizes the sound of the strings more? Most YouTube guitar sellers know that the trick is to present cheaper guitars by playing songs that don't rely on sustain. They'll play to the string sound because fresh strings sound great on any guitar. They aren't going to play long, slow arpeggios.

[William2]

Recording King vs Martin D-18

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Wa9F73n7tvA

[BlueBowman]

Recording King vs Martin D-18

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Wa9F73n7tvA

Even through my less-than-stellar MacBook speakers, I can clearly hear the Martin as the nicer sounding guitar,  and I bet the differences are even more stark in the room.

For a little more money, I think a used Eastman E10-D will net a better sounding guitar than the RK. I've played plenty of both.

[Silence Dogood]

I know a guy who is mainly an electric player.  He loves my Larrivee and has played it many times.  He wanted an acoustic and I told him to get used D03 (best guitar in the world).  He doesn't know much about acoustics, and even as enamored as he was with my Larrivee, he decided to get a Recording King dread (solid) from a local shop and save a bit of money.  Within a year the sides split open.  Caveat emptor. 

[B0WIE]

I know a guy who is mainly an electric player.  He loves my Larrivee and has played it many times.  He wanted an acoustic and I told him to get used D03 (best guitar in the world).  He doesn't know much about acoustics, and even as enamored as he was with my Larrivee, he decided to get a Recording King dread (solid) from a local shop and save a bit of money.  Within a year the sides split open.  Caveat emptor. 

He rejected the best guitar in the world... Hmmm. I see why you said, "I know a guy" rather than, "a friend of mine"...
 

[William2]

LOL

[Silence Dogood]

He rejected the best guitar in the world... Hmmm. I see why you said, "I know a guy" rather than, "a friend of mine"...
 

Ha!  I like this dude a lot, but (to quote the old fellow in Indiana Jones) "he chose poorly." 

[StringPicker6]

I learned "caveat emptor" in grade school, and it's a lesson that has stayed with me my whole life. 

I believe it's Latin for "just by a Larrivee, dude". 

[teh]

Over the years, I've had the good fortune to acquire some nice (At least to me) guitars at different price points. Several of my guitars came from or through a good old fashioned "brick and mortar" store while the rest were a result of online purchases or direct sales. My most recent purchase in April 2026 came from Alamo Music Center which is a really nice shop in downtown San Antonio. They have a great selection of guitars available for every budget. While I was there, I played a variety of guitars from Martin, Taylor, Larrivee, Furch and Recording King. I walked out with a Violet Series Furch Grand Auditorium model at a good price. On a different day, I might have bought something different but the Grand Auditorium body and Englemann Spruce top coupled with the discounted cost of the Furch sealed the deal. 

When deciding which guitar(s) to play at home, the true test for me is which ones I generally gravitate toward picking up. Invariably the ones I choose are usually my Larrivees and Martins. The quality, workmanship and attention to detail is evident as soon as you pick them up. I bought my last two Larrivees sight unseen built in Oxnard because of the quality of the first two built in Vancouver.

[BlueBowman]

He rejected the best guitar in the world... Hmmm.

That was his first and LAST mistake! ;)

Over the years, I've had the good fortune to acquire some nice (At least to me) guitars at different price points. Several of my guitars came from or through a good old fashioned "brick and mortar" store while the rest were a result of online purchases or direct sales. My most recent purchase in April 2026 came from Alamo Music Center which is a really nice shop in downtown San Antonio. They have a great selection of guitars available for every budget. While I was there, I played a variety of guitars from Martin, Taylor, Larrivee, Furch and Recording King. I walked out with a Violet Series Furch Grand Auditorium model at a good price. On a different day, I might have bought something different but the Grand Auditorium body and Englemann Spruce top coupled with the discounted cost of the Furch sealed the deal.

Right, a good point. It's important for us all to remember that when dealing with wooden guitars, they are all individual, and, therefore, different (sometimes less so, sometimes more so).

There probably are some better sounding RK's in the world, I've just not played them. When I recommend a brand, I always look to the more consistent builders. Hopefully that doesn't come off as snobbish, because I truly don't wanna be that guy. I only offer what I've learned from personal experience. 

[StringPicker6]

Furch guitars have really taken the world by storm. Id love to try one some day.

[Rockysdad]

I keep reading on the different forums about folks not caring for Recording King guitars, I've got an RD-310 (Adirondack/ Mahogany) that's a great guitar, cover the headstock and people are quite surprised. It sounds great. (one of my *others*)

[William2]

I keep reading on the different forums about folks not caring for Recording King guitars, I've got an RD-310 (Adirondack/ Mahogany) that's a great guitar, cover the headstock and people are quite surprised. It sounds great. (one of my *others*)

Of the videos I have watched, it sounds like the people who head Recording King met with the big dealers and asked them what they would like to see changed. One was quality control. Watch the Acoustic Shoppe video I posted and the Alamo Music one also. I wish they made a lefty model. I'd like an inexpensive small body instrument.