Pricing and availability
We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 6 stores. Prices updated .
Store
Reviews
Price
Average Price: $1,602
High-end/Boutique
$200
$601+
Price Tier
Budget
Standard
High-end
Price History
Based on price data from 4 merchants for "Guild M-20". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.
* Product prices and availability are updated by Equipboard every 24hrs and are subject to change. Equipboard may receive compensation for purchases made at participating retailers linked on this site. This compensation does not affect what products or prices are displayed, or the order of prices listed. For more information, please refer to our affiliate disclosure.
Description
Presenting the Guild M-20, an iconic acoustic guitar that carries with it a rich history dating back to 1967. Originally the first guitar off the production line when Guild relocated to a new factory in Westerly, RI, the M-20 now rings with renewed vitality from its state-of-the-art facility in California.
Made with a solid mahogany body, the M-20 is a concert size acoustic guitar known informally as "the Nick Drake guitar". Its connection to this legendary musician is not just in name, but also in sound, delivering a unique acoustic character that truly allows this guitar to sing.
Its features include a rosewood bridge and fingerboard, bone nut and saddle, and a light satin finish. It also comes with a vintage style rosette and Guild's peak logo inlaid in mother-of-pearl on the headstock. Along with this, the M-20 ships with a hardshell case and a hand-signed, numbered certificate of authenticity. Available in natural and vintage sunburst, this acoustic guitar models an expressive, warm tone that is both versatile and unique.
Key Features:
- Type: Concert
- Body: Solid Mahogany
- Neck: Mahogany
- Fretboard: Rosewood
- Frets: 20
- Colour: Natural
- Extras: Includes case
- Origin: Handmade in USA
- Special: Informally nicknamed "the Nick Drake guitar" due to its inclusion on the album art for Drake's album, Bryter Layter.
Product specs
| String Type | Steel |
| Number of Strings | 6 |
| Left-/Right-handed | Right-handed |
| Body Shape | Concert |
| Back & Sides Wood | Solid Mahogany |
| Top Wood | Solid Mahogany |
| Finish | Satin Nitrocellulose Lacquer |
| Body Bracing | X-Scalloped |
| Neck Wood | Mahogany |
| Neck Shape | C shape |
| Radius | 12" |
| Fingerboard Inlay | Pearloid dots |
| Number of Frets | 20 |
| Scale Length | 24.75" |
| Nut Width | 1.75" |
| Nut/Saddle Material | Bone/Bone |
| Bridge Material | Rosewood |
| Tuning Machines | Vintage style open-gear, 20:1 ratio |
| Strings | Coated Phosphor Bronze Light Gauge |
| Case/Gig Bag | Hardshell Case |
| Body Length | 18" |
| Body Width | 13.75" Lower, 10" Upper |
| Body Depth | 4.12" Lower, 3.25" Upper |
| Overall Length | 39" |
FAQs
-
What type of wood is used in the construction of the Guild M-20?
-
The Guild M-20 features solid mahogany for both the top and back & sides, contributing to its warm and rich tonal quality.
-
Is the Guild M-20 suitable for fingerstyle playing?
-
Yes, the Guild M-20's concert body shape and 1.75" nut width make it particularly well-suited for fingerstyle guitarists, offering a comfortable playing experience and clear note articulation.
-
How does the satin nitrocellulose lacquer finish affect the sound of the Guild M-20?
-
The satin nitrocellulose lacquer finish on the Guild M-20 allows the wood to resonate more freely, enhancing the guitar's natural tone and sustain.
-
What kind of case comes with the Guild M-20?
-
The Guild M-20 comes with a hardshell case, providing excellent protection for the guitar during transport and storage.
-
What is the scale length of the Guild M-20, and how does it affect playability?
-
The Guild M-20 has a scale length of 24.75", which offers a slightly shorter reach and reduced string tension, making it easier to play, especially for those with smaller hands.
Equipboard's Expert Review
Equipboard tested this
Warm, Vintage Sound in a Small Package
If you're in the market for a reliable, high-quality acoustic guitar, the Guild M-20 is worth serious consideration. Renowned for its craftsmanship, Guild continues to uphold its strong brand reputation with this model.
The guitar is lightweight and boasts a small body size, making it comfortable and easy to handle. The meticulous workmanship is evident, and the setup right out of the box is excellent, with no defects or quality issues.
The M-20 features a robust case complete with an integrated humidifier, adding an extra layer of protection—a thoughtful touch. One minor drawback is the plastic buttons on the tuning machines; nickel buttons would be a welcome upgrade. For those who opt for the LR Baggs system, it adds a layer of functionality that enhances live performance.
When it comes to sound, the M-20 excels with its mellow, focused, and vintage tone. The warm lows and balanced sound make it a standout for fingerpicking and strumming. We found the articulation to be excellent, and the guitar's sound is surprisingly loud given its small size. It fits beautifully in a mix with other instruments, thanks to its less pronounced bass response. However, some might find it less suitable for strumming compared to fingerpicking, and it may not offer the "full body" sound ideal for solo strumming and singing.
Overall, the Guild M-20 offers excellent quality for its price, making it a worthy investment. It's particularly well-suited for musicians who play blues, folk, or Americana and prefer a guitar that’s easy to handle and provides a warm, vintage sound. If you're primarily a strummer looking for a more resonant "full body" sound, you might want to explore other options.
Videos
Beabadoobee
Beabadoobee - Coffee (Live from The Dome, London)
Beabadoobee - Coffee (Live from The Dome, London)
Beabadoobee
Guild M20 ★ Guitar Review (NAILED it!)
Tony Polecastro
Unboxing and reviewing my NEW @GuildGuitarsUSA M-20! I've wanted this guitar for years.
Jeremy Sheppard
The Guild M-20: The Best Small Body All-Mahogany Guitar?!
Alamo Music Center
Guild M-20 - The Iconic Mahogany Model
Acoustic Letter
Guild USA M 20 Concert | Vintage Sunburst
The Peach Boutique
2020 Guild M-20 Demo
ericplaysbass
Guild USA M-20 All Solid Mahogany Acoustic Guitar at Basone Guitar Shop in Vancouver
BasoneGuitars
2022 11 03 Beabadoobee - Coffee
concertserenity
Reviews
PROS
-
Lightweight with a big sound for its size, ideal for travel and smaller players
-
Excellent playability straight out of the box, no setup needed
-
Warm, focused, and vintage tone, great for fingerpicking and songwriting
-
High-quality craftsmanship with meticulous workmanship, made in the USA
-
Robust case with integrated humidifier enhances protection
-
Mellow and balanced sound fits well in a mix with other instruments
-
Great articulation and sound projection despite compact size
-
All-mahogany body provides a distinct, warm sound
-
Perfect for blues, folk, and Americana styles
-
Ideal for players seeking less bass response and focused sound
CONS
-
Plastic tuning machine buttons; nickel would be an upgrade
-
Less suitable for strumming compared to fingerpicking
-
Does not provide the "full body" sound ideal for solo strumming and singing
-
Limited versatility, not ideal for all musical styles
5.0 out of 5
Based on 2 Reviews and 5 Ratings
Wonderful mahogany guitar (1969) , nice balance, very special sound .
From the book'Nick Drake, Remembered for a while , The authorized companion to the music of Nick Drake': "Contrary to public belief, the guitar on the cover (of Bryter Layter) was not one of Nick's. It's an early 1960's Guild M20, formerly property of Eric Clapton who left it at his flat in the Pheasantry, Kings Road, as Nigel Waymouth moved in. It was given to Nigel who sold it in 1973 to Nick Laird-Clowes (later of the Dream Acedemy) for 100,- ". I own a 1969 Guild M20 and, contrary to this information, I can imagine Nick played this beautiful guitar on some of his recordings, judging the characteristic 'dry' sound. But in the recent book "Nick Drake - The Life' you can read Nick never owned a Guild guitar.
It's a guitar with a distinctive mellow dark sound, great for finger picking, but not a very versatile guitar. I would say less suitable for strumming. I recently played on a new Guild M20. It sounded totally different than the one I own. Maybe it's because of the different age of both guitars. Listen to the Guild M20 on the tracks of my album ' Trick of light': soundcloud.com/bernard-brogue/slightly-and-shortly .
Last year I sold my M20 and bought a new Guild F40 Traditional instead.
Artist usage
Add artist
Neil Young used the Guild M-20 acoustic guitar during the recording of his album "Le Noise," as evidenced by a user-uploaded photo on Sugarmtn.
Beabadoobee plays Guilds as her primary acoustic guitars for recording and playing live. You can see her playing the Guild M-20 here in this live video. Close up on the guitar at around the 0:56 mark. Headstock reveal at the 0:12 mark.
Beebaadoobee also mentioned the M-20 in an interview with Guild.
I was 17 and the Guild [M-20] was one of the first guitars I ever picked up in a guitar shop. I named it Aubrey! It just fit me perfectly, and it was really easy to play. I didn’t know the technicalities, but what I found charming about it was that you could play anything and it sounded just how I thought an acoustic guitar should sound in my head. And that was one really big thing for me, especially as a beginner guitarist. I couldn’t compare it to anything else.
In a video by TMD Evolution on YouTube, DJ Khaled is shown receiving and using a Guild M-20 acoustic guitar, which was presented to him by the Marley family as a signature instrument.
"For folk fans, the original Guild M-20 will always be synonymous with Nick Drake. But where a lot of iconic artist-guitar associations are in large part visual, the all-mahogany M-20 was arguably an indispensible part of Drake’s understated, intimate, and mysterious musical reveries. Warm, just a little dark, but with a definition and articulation that makes it the perfect vehicle for fingerstyle melodies, the M-20 remains one of the most underrated guitars among Guild’s many legendary instruments." - Premierguitar.com (http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/Guild_M_120_Acoustic_Guitar_Review)
- You can see him with his M-20 on the cover of his record "Bryter Layter"
In the "Gearbox" section of this interview with Premier Guitar magazine, the M-20 appears in Lanois' list of guitars.
During the NPR Music's Tiny Desk Concert, The Japanese House, led by Amber Bain, is observed utilizing a Guild M-20 acoustic guitar while performing the song "Baby Goes Again," as documented in the "The Japanese House: Tiny Desk Concert" video published on January 18, 2024, by NPR Music.
In the Cardinal Sessions video "Gentle On My Mind," Seasick Steve is seen playing a Guild M-20 guitar. The guitar is further identified as being crafted by luthier Graham Parker, as shown in the accompanying Flickr photo stream.
In this video at 4:40, Aaron talks about this guitar. He has a rare black one, of which he was told there are only four in the world.
.jpg)
Maguro Taniguchi is seen using the Guild M-20 acoustic guitar in videos he shares on his Instagram and Twitter pages.
.jpg)
"Just picked up a new guitar! #guild #nickdrakemodel"
"It's a 1965 Guild M20. One of the best guitars I ever played. I got to know this guitar because of my admiration for Nick Drake (who had also played a M20). Since then I always prefered guitars with smaller bodies. These guitars use to have beautiful mids and are not that bassy, which fit my smooth singing pretty well. After all of these years she [the M-20] became a good friend of mine."
-Fitzsimmons on http://rawk.ch/1766/ (Translation)
Album Usage
The Guild M-20 has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Guild M-20, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
-s.webp?v=1780671402)
-s.webp?v=1780385464)
More Guild Steel-string Acoustic Guitars
$3,190.00 - $4,199.99
in Steel-string Acoustic Guitars Rank
$4,099.00 - $4,555.00
in Steel-string Acoustic Guitars Rank
$609.00 - $849.99
in Steel-string Acoustic Guitars Rank
$950.00 - $2,999.99
in Steel-string Acoustic Guitars Rank
$2,099.99
in Steel-string Acoustic Guitars Rank
$565.00 - $849.99
in Steel-string Acoustic Guitars Rank
-m.webp?v=1780697571)
$1,399.00 - $1,850.00
in Steel-string Acoustic Guitars Rank
$1,614.99 - $1,850.00
in Steel-string Acoustic Guitars Rank
$609.00 - $849.99
$1,495.00 - $2,899.99
$779.00 - $899.99
$2,453.54 - $2,899.99
$1,000.00 - $2,999.00
$489.00 - $899.99
$2,599.00 - $2,999.99
Accessories & Related Items
-s.webp?v=1780661291)
Community setups
Similar
Gear Guides
Most Popular Steel-string Acoustic Guitars
Most Popular Brands
-
Added to Equipboard on by
lexmanGear IQ 6823
-
