Best Acoustic Guitars Under 500

08 Sep, 2022   |   5 min read
Best Acoustic Guitars Under 500

 

We are in the glorious age of budget-friendly guitars. It's never been so simple to purchase an instrument of the highest quality at an affordable price. We recognize that it can become difficult to narrow your search for the best acoustic guitars under 500. That's why we've created this buyer's guide for you with the selection procedure.

When we say that the quality of guitars that cost less than $500 is never better than it has ever been, we are serious about it. It's now possible to make your choices by the body's shape, tone, finish, or even the type of preamp you require, but not only on price. Most importantly, you can be certain that you'll have the best guitar that lasts for a long time, even beyond your beginning years.

You may be looking to purchase your very first instrument or a brand new, reliable instrument to play live, or an excellent acoustic for practice. You'll discover a guitar from this list to fall in love with. 

Top Acoustic Guitars That Are Under 500 Dollars

1. Seagull, S6 Original 1. Seagull, S6 Original See Details
2. Yamaha FG850 2. Yamaha FG850 See Details
3. Ibanez ALT30 Altstar 3. Ibanez ALT30 Altstar See Details
4. Taylor GS Mini 4. Taylor GS Mini See Details
5. Epiphone Hummingbird Studio 5. Epiphone Hummingbird Studio See Details
6. Martin OMC-X1E 6. Martin OMC-X1E See Details
7. Taylor Big Boy 7. Taylor Big Boy See Details
8. Antonio Giuliani Acoustic Mahogany Guitar 8. Antonio Giuliani Acoustic Mahogany Guitar See Details
1. Seagull, S6 Original
2. Yamaha FG850
3. Ibanez ALT30 Altstar
4. Taylor GS Mini
5. Epiphone Hummingbird Studio
6. Martin OMC-X1E
7. Taylor Big Boy
8. Antonio Giuliani Acoustic Mahogany Guitar
1

1. Seagull, S6 Original

Best Review

Seagull S6 is one of the best acoustic guitars under 500. It's said to have an impressive sound but a gentle tone alive! The S6 features a cedar top with wild cherries on the sides and the back. The solid cedar creates warmth and a richness of tone that is very deep yet vibrant and pulsates as you use it.

It is made of maple and has a rosewood fretboard. It has a 25.5-inch scale, with the fretboard slightly larger, and is extremely simple to play. It is a fantastic Dreadnought-style steel string guitar with acoustic strings.

Seagull guitars are produced in Canada and have a limited lifetime warranty from the manufacturer. That is awe-inspiring for the best acoustic electric guitar under 500 that sounds and plays so great.

Check Out: Best Projector Under 500


Reason to Buy

  • Building Materials and Hardware
  • Full and balanced sound
  • Simple to play
  • A Limited Lifetime Warranties
  • Numerous S6 versions are available

Reason to Avoid

  • If you don't have one yet, that could be an issue!

Buy Seagull, S6 Original
2

2. Yamaha FG850

Best Review

Yamaha FG850 has the best acoustic under 500 with a solid mahogany top side, back, sides and binding. FG850 has an incredibly warm, woody, deep sound that is incredibly simple to play and sports a stylish design. This steel dreadnought guitar features a rosewood fingerboard with a 25.6-inch length scale.

Yamaha FG850 Yamaha FG850 is made in China, which is what would be expected from an instrument priced at less than $500. They must be the cheap acoustic guitarsindeed. 

However, the workmanship is top-quality, and Yamaha's highly skilled engineers have created the most cutting-edge acoustic available that can provide any musician with an enjoyable experience. They are the best acoustic guitars under 500.


Reason to Buy

  • Great hardware
  • Warm, full-tone with a strong mid-range
  • Simple to play
  • Feels great and looks good
  • Created with the help of an established and well-known brand

Reason to Avoid

  • Some have complained the action was intense until the proper setup was in place
  • Tuners are genes

Buy Yamaha FG850
3

3. Ibanez ALT30 Altstar

Best Review

Ibanez ALT30 Alstar is the best acoustic guitars under 500 and designed for transitioning players. The guitar is designed for electric play instrument with an acoustic design.

Have you ever wanted to shred an acoustic instrument? You can see now. The neck of the ALT30 is an electric guitar's profile with cut-outs from the body.

It is incredibly comfortable and has a slim body that makes it appear like an electric model. The volume it produces is less than an acoustic guitar; however, it's excellent for its design.

The Ibanez is the best budget acoustic electric guitar, exceptionally affordable, and worth a look!


Reason to Buy

  • Design and Hardware
  • The concept is genius.
  • Simple to play
  • Built-in electronics
  • Can shred an acoustic in a completely different way

Reason to Avoid

  • Has a distinct style that might not be suitable for everyone.

Buy Ibanez ALT30 Altstar
4

4. Taylor GS Mini

Best Review

Even though it's a miniature, the guitar is a bit small. It packs seriously powerful sound! This Taylor GS Mini features a solid mahogany top, layered sides and back, and a solid build at the bottom of the range.

Because it's much smaller than a Dreadnought, one might think the sound quality would be less pronounced. However, this acoustic was developed with an instrument like the Taylor grand symphony guitar.

As a result, they've created the perfect mini-phone that can support its own against the larger acoustics it was set up against. The sound is well-balanced and is nothing less than amazing, considering its dimensions.

Taylor GS mini is assembled in Mexico, and the best acoustic guitars under 500 are lightweight and compact. It's a fantastic sounding instrument and undoubtedly one of the most powerful travel equipment you can lay the chance to own.


Reason to Buy

  • Presents larger than what it actually
  • Excellent sound qualityA perfect travel Acoustic
  • The thin neck allows for easier playing
  • Created by an expert and well-known brand

Reason to Avoid

  • There have been complaints that the level of action was a bit too high until it was established
  • A bit expensive considering the size.
  • Tuners are general

Buy Taylor GS Mini
5

5. Epiphone Hummingbird Studio

Best Review

Vintage style with modern updates and excellent audio.

Its model Epiphone Hummingbird PRO is a lower-cost version of the Gibson model. The best acoustic guitars under 500 are built with a solid spruce top with a rich and sophisticated wood tone, which gets better as you age.

The body and neck are constructed from mahogany, and the rosewood fingerboard provides the 24.75-inch length of the scale.

The sound of this acoustic can be bright, strong, and clear, and it is easy to play.

The Hummingbird Pro comes with an integrated pick-up system that can be adjusted controls controlled by an upper part of the boat. The most modern electronic components are top-quality and easy to operate.


Reason to Buy

  • Building Materials and Hardware
  • Built-in cutting-edge control system for pick-ups and controls
  • Clear, bold sound, easy to play
  • Old-fashioned look
  • Created by an expert and well-known brand

Reason to Avoid

  • A few have complained that the volume is high before properly setting up
  • No built-in tuner
  • The possibility of a buzzing noise if the system is not properly configured

Buy Epiphone Hummingbird Studio
6

6. Martin OMC-X1E

Best Review

The OMC-X1E from Martin is an auditorium-sized sound system with great bass and power!

It's constructed of laminate, making it the best budget acoustic electric guitar. However, don't base your decision based on that. It's great to hear and feel!

The neck is laminated with an incredibly lite fretboard. It features a 25.4 inches scale and 20 frets. The neck of the guitar is attractive and extremely simple to play due to Martin's profile as a performing artist.

The built-in Fish man electronics make it adaptable. Sound quality can be well-balanced with superb projection and sustain. So all these features make them the best acoustic guitars under 500.


Reason to Buy

  • Hardware and build quality
  • Great Volume and Presence
  • The sound is balanced and simple to play
  • Electronics on Board
  • Created with the help of an established and well-known brand

Reason to Avoid

  • Laminate Build Could Not Be Acceptable to Some

Buy Martin OMC-X1E
7

7. Taylor Big Boy

Best Review

The Taylor large baby Acoustic are the best acoustic guitars under 500. They are simple but good guitars. It's almost like the size of a full-sized dreadnought. It features a strong mahogany neck.

The neck bolt is comfortable, and the playability is equal to that of an acoustic at this price range. It's light and balanced, making it an excellent guitar for those who are just starting.

The sound is bright and warm and has strong, clear, and well-defined mid-tones. The absence of a cutaway limits access to the upper frets, but it is perfectly suitable for this body shape of acoustics.

There aren't any electronics integrated, but the acoustic is loud enough to make its strong volume clear.


Reason to Buy

  • Outstanding Ability to Play
  • Well-defined and warm sound
  • Balanced and comfortable
  • Durable
  • Looks nice

Reason to Avoid

  • There is no cutaway
  • No electronics

Buy Taylor Big Boy
8

8. Antonio Giuliani Acoustic Mahogany Guitar

Best Review

Although it's not a household name, Antonio Giuliani's guitar made it to our top list. It is one of the best acoustic guitars under 500 that is made of top spruce and laminated Sapele sides and back and two strap buttons located at the bottom of the neck and the body.

This guitar's top-quality craftsmanship proves it extraordinary. 

The package will receive additional items like the gig bag that includes up to four compartments that can organize your gear. The package also includes:

  • A stylish strap.
  • Three different guitar picks.
  • A digital tuner.
  • Two sets of guitar strings.

Also, you will receive a lifetime guarantee. This is something the majority of brands do not mention in their product.


Reason to Buy

  • The brand's name is distinctive.
  • A lifetime warranty is a fantastic addition to its cost
  • The soft padded guitar bag protects the guitar
  • The majority of brands offer only one string set for guitar. This brand provides two sets.

Reason to Avoid

  • One Cons Number

Buy Antonio Giuliani Acoustic Mahogany Guitar

Top Acoustic Guitars under $500- Buyer's Guide

1- Size

 Size is could be vital when selecting the best acoustic guitars under 500. The bigger the guitar, the greater the resonance, volume, and bass bottom end you'll create. The smaller the guitar, the reverse will be the situation. For more prominent jumbo-shaped guitars, it could be difficult for trebles that can be able to penetrate. In contrast, when you have a mini and 3/4-sized guitar, it is difficult to make the bass be able to cut through.

Manufacturers have had some satisfaction in recent times to create guitars of 3/4 size, which produce a more balanced sound, with a booming bass that can blend with clean minds and the treble.

The size of this guitar is becoming increasingly sought-after by musicians who want a standalone instrument that can accompany their vocals but not overwhelm them.

Another reason they are so popular is that they're physically simpler to transport, and their diminutive size makes them easier to play, especially for those with smaller bodies.

2-Wood

Wood plays an essential factor in determining the sound that the instrument produces. While, in most cases, different combinations of wood are utilized on all the instrument parts, they will impact the sound. The woods used for the body and on the upper part of the instrument will have the most impact on tone.

 Mahogany, a type of wood we've seen plenty of in this list, helps produce rich, warm, and sombre sounds. Other hardwoods like Nato and Okule possess similar characteristics.

Spruce is one of the most frequently used woods for the guitar's tops. It creates a crystal-clean and resonant sound. Sapele is another very popular hardwood; it gives an even sound. Sapele has a warmer sound than mahogany and a more high-end sound, making it an excellent option for various music genres.

Of course, many other types of woods are used in the construction of guitars. However, they are the most popular woods used in guitars that we've been looking at today.

We especially like the tonal blend of Sapele sides and back, paired with the top made of spruce. Therefore, because of this, Taylor Acoustic Guitar are the best acoustic guitars under 500 due to the utilization of wood.

3-Qualitative Build

Although traditional manufacturing methods continue to dominate at the upper price point. However, most guitars are made on the east coast of the world. But, today, in the middle and even at the lower price point, the guitars' quality is never higher. And this is likely to be the case with all the guitars we've seen currently, largely manufactured in Asia.

The quality guitar's production, which will naturally be determined by the materials used, will affect its tone and playability. We are incredibly pleased with the craftsmanship of Far Eastern guitars. We think that the craftsmanship of the sole hand-built guitar that is on our list is the Seagull S6, a worthy of being recognized.

Seagull S6 are the best acoustic guitars under 500. Seagull S6 is indeed an extraordinarily well-constructed and beautiful guitar.

4-Extra Features

The two additional options you should consider are electronics and cutaway.

The most important thing to remember is that electronics are essential when you are playing or performing in a group where you have to be able to compete with another instrument. If you are trying to improve your playing with another guitarist, electronics might not be as important. If you have a pick-up, it is there should you require it.

If you're planning to perform lots of solos or lead work, you will probably want cutaway designs. Although it is a matter of opinion, this writer favours the appearance of a cutaway-free design; however, there are situations where the cutaway is desirable, even if it isn't needed. Like electronics, if you buy an acoustic guitar under 500 with a cutaway, you can use it anywhere.

Conclusion

Here's the list of the best acoustic guitars under 500. Whether you're a novice just beginning or searching for a new upgrade, we hope this article will help you choose the ideal guitar to meet your requirements. It's crucial to pick an instrument that feels good and has a great sound when you play it. Take your time and test various models until you discover the one that is perfect for you. 


Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is an acoustic-electric guitar?

Acoustic-electric guitar is a guitar that can be played electronically or acoustically. They come with a built-in pick-up that converts the sound of guitar strings to an electric signal amplified and played using a PA system or an amplifier.

2. What are the advantages of electric-acoustic guitars?

The primary benefit of acoustic-electric guitars is that they allow you to play them both electrically and acoustically. This means you can utilize them in various settings according to your needs. For instance, if you would like to play an acoustic set, it is possible to play your guitar without connecting it to an amplifier. If you'd like to play an electric guitar, then you can connect your guitar to an amp and receive a more powerful sound.

3. What are some drawbacks of acoustic guitars?

One of the drawbacks of electric acoustic guitars is that they may be more costly than standard Acoustic guitars. They need batteries as well as an external source of power to function. In addition, because they're amplified electrically, they could offer feedback if the volume is set excessively.

4. How can I select the best electric guitar for me?

When selecting the best acoustic electric guitar under 500, you need to consider your requirements and what you plan to use the instrument for. If you plan to play primarily acoustic concerts, it is possible to pick a model with a built-in microphone that is still affordable. However, if you intend to play mostly electric gigs, it is possible to select a higher-end guitar that has better sound quality. The best method to pick an electric-acoustic guitar is to test various models and determine which resonates and sounds best to you.