More and more people seem to be getting into playing guitar. And for many new and experienced players, price is a major concern when choosing an instrument.
With many major manufacturers offering entry-level models and budget-minded offshoot brands, it's easier than ever to find an affordable acoustic guitar that still offers excellent value. In this article, we'll take you through our picks for the best acoustic guitar under 500 dollars.
Our Picks for the Best Acoustic Guitar Under 500 Dollars
Best Value
Yamaha FG830
Best All Around
Epiphone Hummingbird Pro
Best Electronics
Takamine GD30CE
Ibanez AW54CE -- Best Exotic Wood
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Brief Review & Star Rating
Review
When searching for an affordable acoustic guitar, it can be tough to find one with a solid top. And while the AW54CE may not be made of common wood, its solid okoume top and cutaway dreadnought body makes it an excellent learning instrument or backup guitar. Remarkably, this one is also an acoustic-electric with a Fishman pickup and an Ibanez AEQ-TP2 preamp. An ovangkol fingerboard and bridge along with simple dot inlays make it look just rugged enough to stand out. All in all, this is one of the best acoustic guitars for beginners or for players needing a solid backup guitar.
Our Star Rating
We think this is the best exotic-wood acoustic guitar on the list. We give it 4/5 stars.
Epiphone Hummingbird Pro -- Best All-Around
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If you're at all familiar with Gibson acoustic guitars, you've likely seen the iconic Hummingbird. Now, with this affordable version from Epiphone, you can get your own version of the Hummingbird. This guitar has a solid Sitka spruce top finished in the classic faded cherry sunburst. The back, sides, and neck are mahogany, which gives it a classic warm tone.
And of course, it comes with the iconic Hummingbird pickguard. It also comes with a Fishman Sonicore pickup system for easy live sound. While the Sonicore isn't the best pickup out there, it can sound perfectly fine when run through a preamp or with a little reverb. With all things considered, this is one of the best options for acoustic guitars under $500.
Our Star Rating
We think this great-looking and great-playing guitar is the best all-around option on the list. We give it five out of five stars.
Guild P-240 Memoir -- Best Parlor Guitar
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Dreadnoughts may be popular, but they aren't the only options out there. If you're a singer-songwriter or just need an acoustic guitar that's great for fingerpicking, the Guild Memoir is a great choice. This smaller parlor guitar is comfortable to play whether you're sitting or standing, and its solid spruce top with scalloped X-bracing ensures a tight tone and remarkable projection.
The back, sides, and neck are made of mahogany, which adds just enough warmth to picked or strummed notes. And a C-shaped neck feels perfect in your hand. If you prefer vintage-looking guitars, the Memoir might be perfect for you -- between its mini dot inlays, its simple rosette, and its script headstock logo, this guitar is a nod to pre-war parlor instruments.
Our Star Rating
We think that the Guild Memoir is the best parlor guitar on the list. We give it four out of five stars.
Fender Malibu Player -- Best Unique Design
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Fender is undoubtedly known more for their electric guitars than for their acoustics. However, this one takes some of the design elements of electric guitars and uses them to create an acoustic-electric that's comfortably playable and easy on the eyes. This smaller-bodied acoustic is somewhere between a parlor and a concert acoustic guitar, and its slim-C mahogany neck plays more like a Strat than it does an acoustic guitar. Add in a Strat-inspired headstock, Fishman electronics, and lots of bright color choices, and you have an acoustic guitar that really breaks the mold.
Our Star Rating
We think this unusual acoustic-electric guitar has the best unique design on the list. We give it 4.5/5 stars.
Epiphone EJ 200SCE -- Best Jumbo
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If you're looking for a great jumbo tone at a great price, look no further than the Epiphone EJ 200SCE. This guitar is effectively Epiphone's version of the Gibson J200. And like the J200, it has a maple back and sides for a bright, powerful tone that cuts through a mix when you need it to. Though the jumbo body might look intimidating at first, its deep Venetian cutaway gives you excellent fret access.
The maple neck has a slim taper profile, making it highly playable. And if you like guitars that stand out visually, the EJ 200SCE is a great choice. With its crown inlays on the fingerboard and nice floral pickguard design, it has plenty of vintage appeal to offer. It can be hard to find a quality jumbo guitar with decent build quality when looking at acoustic guitars under $500, but this one is an excellent option.
Our Star Rating
We think this acoustic guitar is the best jumbo when it comes to guitars for under $500, and we give it 3.5 out of five stars.
Breedlove Discovery Concert -- Best for Fingerpickers
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Solid mahogany top guitars are perfect for players who like a darker, warmer tone with more mid-range than spruce. However, as mahogany becomes scarce, okoume is emerging as a tonally similar alternative. This smaller-bodied guitar has a slim C neck (the same profile found on many electric guitars) that makes for outstanding playability. The pinless bridge adds a great convenience factor, too -- it makes changing strings significantly easier. If you like the sound of mahogany but are on a budget, this is a great acoustic guitar for you.
Our Star Rating
We think that this is the best for fingerpickers on our list of acoustic guitars under $500. We give it 3.5 out of five stars.
Yamaha FG830 -- Best Value
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Brief Review & Star Rating
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You already know that Yamaha makes great value acoustic guitars. The FG830 is part of the brand's renowned FG Series, which includes some of the best acoustic guitars for beginners or those on a budget. It's a dreadnought guitar with a tapered waist that makes it more comfortable to hold, and scalloped bracing ensures that you get a bright yet balanced tone.
The solid Sitka spruce top is responsive and full-sounding, and a laminated rosewood body supports a detailed tone. The neck is nato, so it doesn't quite have the warmth of mahogany. However, it has a satin finish, which is rare when it comes to acoustic guitars under $500. The satin finish makes it very fast-playing, which is a benefit for players of every level.
Our Star Rating
We think this one offers the best value of any guitar under $500. We give it five out of five stars.
Takamine GD30CE -- Best Electronics
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Takamine makes some of the best acoustic guitars on the market. And while most of them are fairly expensive, the brand also makes some acoustic guitars under $500. The GD30CE is one, and it's one of the best acoustic guitars for those who want a classic acoustic tone.
Its solid spruce top is supported by high-quality quartersawn bracing, and the mahogany back and sides offer a rich, warm sound. This dreadnought acoustic comes with some high-end touches including a synthetic bone nut and saddle and a rosewood fingerboard and bridge. Takamine is also known for quality electronics, and this guitar comes with a Takamine TP-4TD preamp with a built-in tuner.
Our Star Rating
We think this acoustic guitar has the best electronics on the list. We give it 4/5 stars.
Cordoba C4-CE -- Best Nylon String
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Thus far, we've only looked at some of the best acoustic guitars with steel strings. But whether you play classical guitar or just want some nylon-string warmth, the Cordoba C4 CE is worth checking out. The top is solid mahogany, and the back and sides are laminated mahogany. This is a great combination for players who prefer a darker, mellower tone than what you get with spruce.
It also comes with a Fishman Sonitone pickup that's specially designed for classical guitars. Many of the best acoustic guitars with nylon strings are made with Spanish-style fan bracing, and this one is, too. And with beautiful touches like maple binding and an abalone rosette, it looks like a much more expensive guitar than it is.
Our Star Rating
We think that this is the best nylon-string guitar for under $500, and we give it 4.5/5 stars.
Taylor Baby Taylor BT1e Walnut -- Best for Gigging
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Between the Big Baby, the GS Mini, and the Baby Taylor, Taylor offers many of the best acoustic guitars for travel (or for smaller players). And when it comes to their acoustic guitars under $500, the Baby Taylor BT1e Walnut is a great one. The spruce top is solid wood, and the walnut back and sides are made of layered wood. Layered wood tends to sound more like solid wood than laminate does, but it still helps keep costs down.
The Baby Taylor also comes with Taylor's Expression System Baby electronics. This is a scaled-down version of their renowned Expression System, a behind-the-saddle pickup that sounds more natural than an undersaddle pickup. The best acoustic guitars for performers need to come with solid electronics, and this one certainly delivers. As a 3/4 size dreadnought acoustic, it's portable enough to gig with and small enough to teach a child to play.
Our Star Rating
Of the acoustic guitars for under $500, we think that this one is the best for gigging. We give it 4.5/5 stars.
Martin LX1 Little Martin -- Best for Travel
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No discussion of acoustic guitars under $500 would be complete without mentioning the Little Martin. The Little Martin is essentially Martin's answer to the Baby Taylor, as it's also a small-sized dreadnought. It has a solid top made of Sitka spruce, and the finish is meticulously hand-rubbed as it is on even high-end Martins.
However, the back and sides are made of high-pressure laminate. This is a material that Martin uses on some of its more affordable acoustic guitars. But high-pressure laminate doesn't necessarily mean build quality is compromised. For a travel guitar, it actually provides an advantage -- laminate is less prone to changes from temperature and humidity than wood, so the Little Martin is an outstanding travel guitar.
Our Star Rating
We think this little acoustic guitar is the best one for traveling on the list. We give it 4 out of five stars.
Fender FA345CE -- Best Aesthetics
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Whether you're a performer or just like beautiful guitars, this one from Fender is a real standout. Many of the nicest acoustic guitars under $500 aren't made with especially beautiful tonewoods, but this one has a flamed maple top that's finished in a three-tone tea burst that really shows off the grain. The back and sides are laminated lacewood. Lacewood isn't known for especially good tone, but it has a beautiful and eye-catching lace-like grain. Like many affordable acoustic electrics, this one comes with Fishman electronics.
Our Star Rating
We think this guitar is the best-looking one on the list, and we give it 3.5/5 stars.
What Should You Look for in a Guitar?
If you're looking for the best acoustic guitars in a lower price range, chances are that you may not be able to get all the features you want. That said, if you know what to look for, there are plenty of guitars offering excellent value under $500.
Look for Solid Tops
If you can afford it, a guitar with a solid top is a great investment. Solid tops tend to be more responsive, which means that they better reflect your playing dynamics. They also tend to "open up" and sound better over time.
The best acoustic guitars have tops made of solid wood. If you're just looking for something to learn on, an acoustic guitar with a laminated top is perfectly fine. But if you think guitar is something you're going to stick with, a solid top is a great choice if you can afford it.
Think About Electronics
In this price range, you can find both acoustic and electro-acoustic guitar options. But which is best? If you are just learning, you likely won't need to amplify your guitar just yet. It's also worth keeping in mind that in the under $500 range, electronics aren't likely to be spectacular. If you think you may want to perform at a later time, it may be best to get an all-acoustic guitar and install a pickup later. But if you want to plug in immediately, an acoustic-electric guitar is best.
Consider Body Style
Most acoustic guitars are dreadnoughts. This body style delivers a well-balanced tone, but it can be a little bulky for smaller players. If you want something smaller to hold, a parlor guitar may be a better fit. Smaller bodies like these also project well and are great for fingerpicking. If you want the best of both worlds, a concert-style acoustic guitar sounds somewhat like a combination of a dreadnaught and a parlor guitar.
In Conclusion
All in all, we think any acoustic guitar on this list is a good choice. But our top selection for the best acoustic guitar under $500 is the Epiphone Hummingbird Pro. With a solid spruce top, this model can offer you a superb acoustic tone. The mahogany back and sides add some warmth, too. And if you're ready to plug in and play, the included Fishman electronics make that easy to do.
We think the Yamaha FG830 is a great second choice, especially for beginners. It comes with a solid top and great-sounding scalloped bracing. It's the ideal guitar for a new player who doesn't need electronics. What do you think? Did we leave out any key models? Please let us know in the comments, and don't forget to share if you found it useful!
