There's no reason that you need to break the bank in order to get a good high quality acoustic guitar. So whether you are a beginner looking for their very first guitar or a seasoned shredder looking for a new sound, there's something for you in this review of the best acoustic guitar under $500.
As a guitarist, it's only natural to last over the really high quality, expensive guitars that we see that are priced well into the thousands. And of course it be great to get our hands on one of those just to play for a couple of minutes.
But you don't need to spend thousands of dollars to get a good sound. In fact, you don't even need to spend $1000 to get a good sound. There are a ton of awesome acoustic guitars out there for under $500.
Here are 12 of our favorite acoustic guitars under $500.
The Best Acoustic Guitar Under $500
Under $300
1. Fender CD-60S Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar
2. Fender Alkaline Trio Malibu
3. Fender FA-235E Concert acoustic guitar
4. Ibanez AEG2011 (12 string)
$300 - $450
5. Yamaha FG800 Acoustic Guitar, Natural, with Yamaha Guitar Case and Accessories Pack
6. Taylor Baby Taylor Mahogany Acoustic Guitar
$450 - $500
9. Washburn Woodline 10 Series WLO12SE
Our Top Pick
Our top pick from this list is the Fender Alkaline Trio Malibu. Aside from just looking so cool, this guitar delivers on both sound and comfort of playing.
With it's style and quality construction, this guitar will fit in around the campfire or on stage. It's also at the right price to ensure quality but not strangle your wallet.
Best Acoustic Guitar Review
You are bound to find something on this list that will check all of your boxes. We've included some steel string and nylon string guitars so you can get the sound and vibe you want.
Under $300
1. Fender CD-60S Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar
Description: Let's start this list off right with an awesome bundle deal! For under $300 bucks you get a Fender Acoustic guitar, a hard case, clip on guitar tuner, a guitar strap, extra strings, some guitar picks, a polishing cloth, and an instructional DVD.
Generally, these bundles are geared more toward the beginner player. However, the lightweight, slim dreadnought body and all-mahogany build give this guitar a warm tone that any player of any skill level can appreciate.
Dimensions 45 x 18 x 7 inches
Body Style: Dreadnought
Pickup (Y/N)? No
Pros:
- inexpensive
- hardhsell case
- all-mahogany build
Cons:
- bad batch had warped necks
2. Fender Alkaline Trio Malibu
Description: We added this one to the list initially because it was just so cool looking. But after a quick review we found that this is actually a pretty kickass guitar for a pretty decent price.
You will definitely stand out with the heart shaped soundhole; inspired by The Alkaline Trio. Fender has created a stylish alternate to their Malibu acoustic guitar. The Malibu guitar style has s trong history in folk music and is an excellent "campfire" guitar
This acoustic features a Stratocaster neck and a "C" profile for comfort. If the heart-shaped soundhole isn't attention grabbing enough, this guitar is topped off with Fender's signature Strat style headstock.
Dimensions 44 x 17 x 6 inches
Body Style: Folk Sized
Pickup (Y/N)? N
Pros:
- eye catching heart-shaped soundhole
- Malibu style is perfect for folky, campfire, unplugged settings
3. Fender FA-235E Concert acoustic guitar
Description: This is the third and final Fender on the list and the first with a built-in pickup. The Fender FA-235E is a beautiful Natural wood finish concert body acoustic guitar with a flame maple top, mahogany back and sides, and a gorgeous rosewood fingerboard.
The on-board electronics include a Fishman preamp and a built in tuner. The Fender headstock is a standard 3 + 3 style and the body has a Viking bridge.
Dimensions 46 x 17.9 x 6.5 inches
Body Style: Concert
Pickup (Y/N)? Y
Pros:
- beautiful tone for a budget price
- low action
- easy to play
Cons:
- the hardware (tuning machine, nut, saddle, etc) is not top quality
4. Ibanez AEG2011 (12 string)
Description: If you've never played a 12 string before but have always been curious what it is like, this is a perfect entry model for you. The Dark Violin Sunburst finish is drop dead gorgeous.
The body is made up of a Spruce top, Mahogany back and sides, and a Rosewood fretboard. With the thin body style only being 6 inches deep, this guitar is lightweight and perfect for electric and acoustic guitar players.
The electronics are a Fishman Sonicore pickup AEQ-SP2 Preamp with a built-in tuner. This guitar is ready for the stage or just playing for fun at home.
The Woody should fit most standard sized soundholes 3.75" - 4.0".
Dimensions 42 x 18.5 x 6 inches
Body Style: Cutaway
Pickup (Y/N)? Y
Pros:
- low cost entry 12 String
- acoustic/electric
- built in tuner
Cons:
- action is a bit high and takes getting used to
$300 - $450
5. Yamaha FG800 Acoustic Guitar, Natural, with Yamaha Guitar Case and Accessories Pack
Description: Yamaha's first appearance on this list a smashing good deal! For just over $300 you get a great sounding acoustic guitar, a heavy duty hard shell case, and Yamaha's "Axe Pack". The "Axe Pack" come stocked with an A-frame guitar stand, clip-on tuner, guitar strap, polishing cloth, string winder, and some guitar picks.
The dreadnought body style features a solid Sitka Spruce top, Nato back and sides, Rosewood fretboard and bridge, and a beautiful natural finish. The inside of the soundboard has scalloped bracing. Scalloped bracing maintains the integrity of the body but also allows the guitar's natural sound to resonate.
Dimensions 42.5 x 20.7 x 6.1 inches
Body Style: Dreadnought
Pickup (Y/N)? N
Pros:
- beautiful finish
- thin, flat neck makes learning barre chords easier for beginners
- bundle comes with hard case, stand, and more
Cons:
- slow customer service response time
- can feel lightweight and fragile
6. Taylor Baby Taylor Mahogany Acoustic Guitar
Description: Just the name Taylor is associated with quality in the guitar world. They are a trusted brand and have been known for quality instruments for years.
The Baby Taylor is a fun guitar to play. It is small in size, at just 38" long, and a thin neck, at 1 11/16". It's thin neck and lightweight body make this guitar a great travel guitar.
The body features a Mahogany top, layered Sapele back, and natural sides. The neck is made of solid Mahogany with a beautiful ebony fretboard. Plus, you can keep this baby (Taylor, heh heh) safe in the padded Gig bag that is included.
Dimensions 38 x 16 x 7 inches
Body Style: Travel
Pickup (Y/N)? N
Pros:
- small size is perfect for smaller hands
- loud for a smaller guitar
- nice, warm sound
Cons:
- sensitive to humidity
- adhesives can weaken over time
7. Martin LX1E Little Martin
Description: As with Taylor, Martin guitars just sound good. Period. End of statement.
The Martin LX1E Little martin is another small/travel sized guitar. It is just around 38" long but has a huge sound due to it's solid Sitka Spruce soundboard. The back and sides are made of high-pressure laminate (HPL) Mahogany and the whole body features an attractive satin finish.
This guitar also includes a Fishman Isys T pickup with a built-in tuner, phase switch, and contour switch. Keep it safe during travel with the padded gig bag that is included with the purchase price.
Dimensions 38.58 x 18.11 x 6.3 inches
Body Style: Travel
Pickup (Y/N)? Y
Pros:
- built with sustainable, eco-responsible materials
- comes with gig bag
- small size fits perfectly in airplane overhead compartments
Cons:
- loses tuning easily
$450 - $500
8. Yamaha Storia II
Description: The Yamaha Storia II is an all-mahognay build and is designed to give you the earthy midrange tones you want from an acoustic guitar. It has a small proifile body shape which is perfect for any guitarist to hold comfortable. The fingerboard has hand-rolled edges, low action, and rests on a slim walnut neck.
Dimensions 40.19 x 14.94 x 4.41 inches
Body Style: Dreadnought
Pickup (Y/N)? N
Pros:
- holds it's tune well
- good volume, bright tone
- doesn't lose it's low end
9. Washburn Woodline 10 Series WLO12SE
Description: The Washburn Woodline 10 acoustic guitar features an orchestra body style with a beautiful satin finish. The body is all-Mahogany with a Rosewood fingerboard.
The nut and saddle are made from Graph Tech NuBone which has low dampening properties to give you the tone and character you want from your guitar. The onboard electronics are a Fishman 301T tuner/preamp give you a natural sound even when plugged in to an amplifier.
This unit will fit most standard sized soundholes. The microphone and transducer level control is located inside the soundhole and is mostly out of sight. Both of these controls allow you full control of the mix between highs, mids, and lows so you can get the sound you want.
Dimensions 41.14 x 15.55 x 4.72 inches
Body Style: Orchestra
Pickup (Y/N)? Y
Pros:
- high quality construction
- built-in Fishman 301T tuner/preamp
- literally no negative Amazon reviews as of the time of this writing
10. Ovation Celebrity Elite
Description: Other than the Alkaline Trio malibu, this guitar is the most unique looking. The Ovation Celebrity Elite is instantly recognizable by their signature multi-port soundhole design.
The multi-port soundhole construction is designed to deliver clear highs and a focused and balanced bass. The back and rounded sides are made of a composite material while the soundboard is solid Spruce.
This guitar was made for the stage. It features an Ovation Slimline pickup and OP-4BT preamp with a 3-band EQ, volume & gain control, built-in tuner, and low-battery light.
Dimensions 41.5 x 16.5 x 6.5 inches
Body Style: Lyrachord Super-Shallow Cutaway
Pickup (Y/N)? Y
Pros:
- made for live performance
- beautiful Ruby red, glossy top
- three-band EQ preamp w/ built-in tuner
11. Gretsch G5022CE Rancher
Description: If you can get a Gretsch at a great price, you should snatch it up!
The G5022CE Rancher has a jumbo cutaway body style for easier playing high up on the neck. The soundboard is solid Spruce with scalloped X bracing internally. You can find the signature Gretsch Rancher triangular soundhole to be particularly eyecatching.
The back and sides are a high quality flame maple. This guitar has a maple neck with a 21 fret rosewood fretboard and Neo-classical thumbnail inlays. Plgu up and amplify your sound through the Fishman Isys+ preamp and Sonicore pickup. Stay in tune while playing with the built-in tuner, and control your volume, bass, treble, and phase.
Dimensions 49.5 x 20.75 x 8 inches
Body Style: Jumbo Cutaway
Pickup (Y/N)? Y
Pros:
- beautiful color and classic design
- comfortable action and easy to play
- cutaway allows you to reach the higher registers of the fretboard more easily
Cons:
- low end sound can be lacking
12. Seagull S6 Original
Description: The Seagull S6 is a wonderful acoustic-electric guitar. The dreadnought body style lends itself to a comfortable playing experience.
The top of this guitar is a pressure-tested solid cedar with three-layer wild cherry back and sides. The neck is a gorgeous silver leaf maple with an Indian Rosewood fingerboard. The finish is a thin, satin finish and emphasizes the natural wood grain of the soundboard.
The onboard electronics are a Fishman Sonitone preamp system with both volume and tone control. Take your guitar with you anywhere safely with the included, padded gig bag.
Dimensions 50.7 x 20.2 x 8.3 inches
Body Style: Dreadnought
Pickup (Y/N)? Y
Pros:
- has the sound of a $1,000+ guitar
- the construction is high quality and will retain it's sound for years
- holds tuning for weeks at a time
Buyer's Guide
Before investing in your instrument, you'll want to take some things into consideration to know what type of guitar you really want to buy.
Personal Taste and Ability
Making and playing music should be enjoyable. You don't want to select a guitar because it is the one you're "supposed" to get. You should get the guitar that you WANT to get. Personal taste and your playing abilities should play a heavy role in the decision making process.
It's kinda like in Harry Potter when they choose their wands. When you find the right guitar you will just know.
Skill Level
You want to be honest with yourself about your skill level. We've all had the thought that if we just had a nicer guitar, we would be able to play better.
What really improves our playing is practice. And you don't need an expensive guitar to do that (but a good practice amp helps). Buying a guitar under $500 is perfectly in line with any skill level.
Preference
So which guitar sounds best to you? Do you have a particular style or genre that you want to play? You're going to want to choose a guitar that best emulates that sound.
Do you already have a certain style that you play? For example, some guitars lend themselves to fingerpicking better than flatpicking.
Which guitar do you feel coolest holding? We promise we're not being funny. You should feel confident with the instrument that you are playing.
We all started playing guitar because we wanted to be rockstars. So make sure that the guitar you pick is the one that makes you feel like a real badass.
Price/Budget
Now, while we can't say enough about confidence and badassery you still need to be able to eat at the end of the month. So you will also want to factor in the how much you can afford to spend on a guitar.
Is it worth getting a guitar under $500?
Absolutely! Like we said earlier, you don't have to break the bank to get a good quality guitar. What? You don't even have to spend $500. If you find a guitar that plays great and it's the one you want for $250 or $300, absolutely grab it.
Can you improve a budget guitar?
You sure can. You can always make aftermarket improvements by adding a nicer bridge, an acoustic pickup, or any other modifications you may want.
Is it okay to buy a used guitar?
You can most certainly find a good deal on a quality guitar that's used. However, if you buy a new guitar, you know exactly where it comes from.
You know whether or not it has been damaged and repaired or experienced any other kind of trauma. A used guitar may not be able to offer you that information.
Construction
It is also very important to understand how your guitar was built. The structural integrity as well as the materials with which it was built are crucial.
Your guitar structure comes down to two main components; the neck and the body.
Neck
You want to make sure that the neck of the guitar is comfortable for you to hold. That means is the curvature of the back of the neck comfortable for your hand, and are the frets comfortable for you to hold the string down?
You'll also want to take in account the length of the neck. Many acoustic guitars stop at the 20th fret. But some are a little bit longer.
The width of the neck varies, as well. Often times, classical or nylon string, guitars have a much wider neck than a standard acoustic.
Finally, is the fretboard made of a material that you like? Is it comfortable, does it give your guitar a pleasant tone, and do you like the way it looks?
Body
When you strum your guitar the strings will resonate within the body of the guitar and the sound will come out of the soundhole. The piece with the soundhole is called the top or soundboard, while the sides and bottom are pretty self explanatory.
Guitar bodies come in many different shapes and sizes. The size and shape of the body play a role in the tone and volume of the acoustic guitar.
Tops - Solid Vs Laminate
Another factor in the sound and tone of the guitar is the material with which the top is made. The main two are either solid wood or laminate.
Solid wood resonates and transfers sound much better than laminate.
However, laminate does not, by any means, sound bad. Solid wood just has a richer tonal quality.
You can go down a rabbit hole of specific wood types and the sound and tones they produce. That is a bit out of scope for this review but tonewoods is a pretty interesting research dive.
Strings - Nylon Vs Steel Strings
The type of strings you want to use will influence the type of guitar you may buy. Your choices are steel strings or nylon strings, sometimes called cat gut (not actual cat guts...I don't think...).
Because of the difference in material, they put different amounts of stress and tension in the neck and body of the guitar. You don't want to put steel strings on a first built for nylon strings.
Steel strings will give your guitar a bright, fuller sound while nylon strings are a bit more subdued. Both make beautiful music and come down to your own preferences.
Overall Top choice
Again, our top pick for best acoustic guitar is the Fender Alkaline Trio Malibu. This guitar ticks every box from the list above. It is high quality, fun to play, the right price, and you'll feel like a rock star holding it.
Conclusion
You have all the information you need to pickup an awesome guitar at a stellar price. I'm sure you will have no problem picking YOUR best acoustic guitar under $500!
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