10 Best Acoustic Guitars Under $500 Review

Eeny, meeny, miny, mo what acoustic guitar is the best to score? With a wide selection of acoustic guitars today in the ever growing market, there is a good possibility you’ll be getting the type of acoustic guitar you’ve always wanted. However, as simple as it may sound, it still relies heavily on how much an individual is willing to spend for one, because some guitars doesn’t come cheap and as an intelligent buyer. Taking into great consideration the level of playing skills a player is at the moment and intended usage for the guitar.

Having a five hundred dollar budget already offers plenty of choices and gives a better option on how to spend it wisely up to the last penny. The player can opt to invest all of it on an acoustic guitar with a five hundred dollar price tag if that is the original plan. Or to take a look at a more budget friendly acoustic guitar model, especially for a complete beginner to have some money left for other essential things they’ll need like a clip-on tuner, gig bag, guitar strap, or perhaps a cable and small guitar amplifier when electing to buy an acoustic electric guitar.

Another good reason to add and probably the most obvious on why to look into guitars in different price points is to compare their specifications together with its built quality. This starts from the tonewood used for the body top, back and sides that mainly gives the characteristic sound to the guitar to be warm focus or bright sounding. Then followed by the other parts like properly lined neck with evenly placed frets, tuners on the headstock that are decent enough to hold tuning, material utilized on making the bridge saddle as well as the nut for intonation, string action and ways it could affect the sound.

Until finally it is time now for a player to pick what acoustic guitar design appeals the most to suite their playing style the best. This could be a dreadnought, parlor size, concert style, folk, classical and any other variations of the body types just been mentioned. Each of these guitars are unique in many ways in how they can project sound and differs entirely in comfort playability due to their size and shape, but nevertheless there is no reason not to be played in all styles namely finger picking, flatpicking and strumming style.


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Gretsch G5024E Rancher Acoustic Electric Guitar

Gretsch G5024E Rancher Acoustic Electric Guitar
  • Dreadnought acoustic electric guitar
  • Solid spruce top constructed with X-scalloped bracing
  • Mahogany back and sides
  • Comfortable mahogany neck in gloss polyester
  • 21 frets rosewood fingerboard with pearloid neo-classic thumbnail
  • Set of gold plated tuners
  • Rosewood bridge with compensated synthetic bone saddle and synthetic bone nut
  • Fishman preamp system controlled by a volume, 3-band EQ bass-middle-treble, built-in tuner, On/Off switch and a low battery indicator light

Presented with an out of the ordinary triangular sound hole, cool neo-classic thumbnail inlays and for having the everlasting vibe of a sunburst finish on a guitar. The Gretsch Rancher dreadnought is definitely a buyable option when it comes to a beautifully made and highly playable acoustic guitar just within the five hundred dollar budget range that a player in any level would certainly appreciate and enjoy.

The Gretsch Rancher dreadnought has a non-cutaway body with a solid spruce top constructed with X-scalloped bracing and has a laminated mahogany back and sides. Neck of the guitar is built using solid mahogany in gloss polyester finish top of by 21 frets rosewood fingerboard.

For hardware and electronics. The guitar bridge material matches the fingerboard also made of rosewood with compensated synthetic bone saddle, has gold plated tuners and other parts. Then found on top of the body is a volume knob, 3-band EQ bass-middle-treble control for the pick-up, built-in tuner, On/Off switch for the preamp and a low battery indicator light.


Fender T-Bucket 400 Acoustic Electric Guitar

Fender T-Bucket 400 Acoustic Electric Guitar
  • Dreadnought acoustic electric guitar with cutaway
  • Scalloped X-bracing flame maple top
  • Neck is constructed in 3-piece maple with dual action truss-rod in gloss finish
  • Vintage style 20 frets rosewood fingerboard with special F inlay
  • Set of chrome die-cast open back tuning machines
  • Viking bridge made of rosewood with Graph-Tech saddle and Graph-Tech nut
  • Fishman Isys III pickup system with active preamp, tuner, volume and tone controls

Your future in singing and song writing skills accompanied by an acoustic guitar is in good hands playing with the T-Bucket 400 acoustic electric guitar offered by Fender. This guitar is very versatile to play at the comfort of home practicing, to bring it for studio recordings when it is called for and the acoustic electric guitar of choice to serenade a crowd when its time now for you to hit the stage.

This dreadnought body style acoustic guitar has a scalloped X-bracing flame maple top without a protection of a pickguard and has a laminated lacewood back and sides. Neck is constructed in 3-piece maple with dual action truss-rod in gloss finish overlaid by a vintage style 20 frets rosewood fingerboard.

Bridge design is Fender Viking bridge made of rosewood with Graph-Tech saddle and the material for the nut bone is Graph-Tech as well. Special electronics that comes with this electro-acoustic guitar is a Fishman Isys III pickup system with active preamp, tuner, volume and tone controls.


Guild D-240E Acoustic Electric Guitar

Guild D-240E Acoustic Electric Guitar
  • Dreadnought acoustic electric guitar
  • Solid sitka spruce for its top tonewood with X-scalloped bracing
  • Mahogany back and sides
  • Neck is crafted in mahogany with dual action truss-rod
  • 20 frets rosewood or pau ferro fingerboard with dot inlays
  • Set of chrome tuners
  • Rosewood or pau ferro bridge with compensated bone saddle and bone nut
  • Guild/Fishman AP1 with Sonicore pickup, volume and tone controls

The Guild D-240E is an elegantly clean looking acoustic electric guitar that can provide rich tones to highlight a player’s full potential in creating own music, as well to cover or change the full arrangement of their favorite songs. It is a dreadnought body acoustic guitar that can already exhibits a good amount of output volume even not plug on an amplifier. While its on-board electronics is always there when needed to further the reach and enhance the capabilities of this guitar in formulating sounds.

The non-cutaway body of the Guild D-240E is assemble using a solid sitka spruce for its top tonewood with X-scalloped bracing for better bass response and paired with a mahogany back and sides. Neck is crafted in mahogany with dual action truss-rod when adjustment is needed and having a slim C-profile for easy playability. The fingerboard and bridge material may vary depending on the production date that can either be in rosewood or pau ferro.

Other details to look forward onto this guitar are ivory colored bridge pins with black dots, chrome tuners, nickel strap pins, tortoiseshell pickguard, compensated bone saddle, bone nut, and Guild/Fishman AP1 with Sonicore pickup, volume and tone controls.


Seagull S6 Original Acoustic Guitar

Best Acoustic Guitars Under $500
  • Dreadnought acoustic guitar
  • Solid cedar tonewood
  • Wild cherry back and sides in semi-gloss finish
  • Neck is made from silver leaf maple
  • 21 frets rosewood fingerboard marked by white inlay dots
  • Set of chrome die-cast tuners
  • Rosewood bridge with compensated saddle and tusq nut

Masterfully crafted by artisans to have a lasting quality and primed to generate the sought after booming voice of a dreadnought style acoustic guitar on a budget friendly price, is what the Seagull S6 original acoustic guitar is all about. It has the qualities that a beginner would ever want for a first guitar to help them to hone in their skills, and for experience players who is on a hunt for an all around acoustic guitar without breaking the bank, the Seagull S6 is that kind of acoustic guitar.

Producing the sweet sound and rich overtones for this guitar is a solid cedar top wood with a laminated wild cherry back and sides in semi-gloss finish protected by a tortoiseshell pickguard. Neck is made from silver leaf maple with 21 frets rosewood fingerboard marked by white inlay dots and has a dark satin finish to nicely match the guitar sides and back.

For saddle and nut, the Seagull S6 original dreadnought features a TUSQ nut and compensated saddle that offers a similar sound and harmonic properties to bone nut and saddle. This nut and saddle combo works well with the tilted tapered design of the headstock and chrome tuners placed on the the acoustic guitar because it promotes a straighter string pull with lesser stress to achieve a stable and easy tuning.


Taylor Guitars Big Baby Taylor BBT

Taylor Guitars Big Baby Taylor BBT
  • 15/16 Dreadnought acoustic guitar
  • Cream color solid sitka spruce top
  • Attractive layered walnut sides and back
  • Neck is comfortable made of maple
  • African ebony 20 frets fingerboard complete with inlay dots
  • Set of chrome die-cast tuners
  • Ebony bridge with compensated micarta saddle and nubone nut

If you’re on a search for a small size dreadnought with a name to show for home playing, to bring on camping trips and the type of guitar to accompany you during vacation travels abroad, the Big Baby Taylor matches that full description and just the right acoustic guitar for the job. The Big Baby is not to small for an adult male with a big frame to play unlike the 3/4 size Baby Taylor, and while for ladies out there always wanting to play a dreadnought style guitar in a smaller size, this guitar is excellent and well recommended.

The 15/16 scale Big Baby Taylor is just a shy away to be considered a regular size dreadnought at first glance. It has a cream color solid sitka spruce top with an attractive layered walnut sides and back that can yield a dynamic range of acoustic sound to accommodate any guitarist playing styles. Neck is maple top by real African ebony 20 frets fingerboard complete with inlay dots as markers that further highlights the kind of materials used on assembling this small body guitar.

Complimenting features which adds more to the body and neck of the BBT both in function as well as aesthetics are tortoiseshell scratch plate, single ring rosette, cofafera headstock overlay, micarta saddle and nubone nut paired with chrome die-cast tuners.


Yamaha FSX830C Acoustic Electric Guitar

  • Concert acoustic electric guitar with cutaway
  • Solid sitka spruce soundboard with matching tortoiseshell pickguard
  • Rosewood back and sides in brown sunburst finish
  • Comfortable C-profile nato neck
  • 20 frets rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay markers
  • Set of chrome die-cast tuners
  • Rosewood bridge with compensated urea saddle and urea nut
  • System66 preamp with an SRT Piezo pick-up controlled by volume and 3-band EQ

Just like any guitars or instruments for that matter coming from the Yamaha brand, the Yamaha FSX830C acoustic electric guitar is straight away readily set-up to play and carries the awesome tones of a small body guitar as soon as you take it right out the box. This guitar has a narrow waist with a cutaway that makes it comfortable to play in sitting position or to lace-up whenever it is needed by using a strap to attached on the strap buttons readily available with the guitar.

To resonate a balance crisp sound, the acoustic tonewood utilized to create the single cutaway body of the Yamaha FSX830C is a combination of solid sitka spruce for top with a rosewood back and sides in brown sunburst finish with matching tortoiseshell pickguard. Neck and headstock is made from nato wood that carries a 20 frets rosewood fingerboard, urea nut paired with a urea saddle and the chrome die-cast tuners.

Adding an even more incredible value to this guitar that virtually will lead a player in any level to play anytime and anywhere is the System66 preamp with an SRT Piezo pick-up. This feature makes this concert style acoustic guitar a workhorse upon purchase to use for solo practices, jam sessions and in the coming future when it is time for a player to perform in front of a crowd.


Takamine GD51CE-NAT Acoustic Electric Guitar

Takamine GD51CE-NAT Acoustic Electric Guitar
  • Dreadnought acoustic electric guitar with cutaway
  • Features a solid spruce tonewood
  • Black walnut back and sides
  • Comfortable C-profile mahogany neck
  • 21 frets laurel fingerboard with white inlay dots
  • Set of chrome die-cast tuners
  • Laurel bridge with split bridge saddle and synthetic bone nut
  • Takamine TP-4TD preamp system with a built-in tuner, 3-band EQ and gain controls

Literally anywhere and every time you look for a list of top performing acoustic guitar recommendations today, arguably any list will not be totally complete without a single entry coming from Takamine. The brand has fully established itself by far as a leader in making acoustic instruments, and to join our list of acoustic guitars on this said price point is this well built Takamine G series acoustic electric guitar called the Takamine GD51CE-NAT dreadnought.

This dreadnought style acoustic electric guitar is ready for the demands of continuous rehearsal sessions and as eager as you to climb the stage for road shows. It features a solid spruce top to produce a big bold sound with a black walnut back and sides that lets the guitar achieve its coveted chambered sound. Neck wood is mahogany top of by a laurel 21 frets fingerboard with white inlay dots to match.

Moving to the other parts, this dreadnought with a cutaway has abalone rosette, split bridge saddle, synthetic bone nut, chrome die-cast tuners and is equip with Takamine TP-4TD preamp system that has a built-in tuner, 3-band EQ and gain controls for rock-solid amplified performance and versatility.


Alvarez AG75CE Acoustic Electric Guitar

Alvarez AG75CE Acoustic Electric Guitar
  • Grand auditorium acoustic electic guitar with cutaway
  • Solid cedar for top tonewood with FTS X-bracing and ABS ivory bindings
  • Rosewood back and sides
  • Neck wood is mahogany
  • 20 frets rosewood fingerboard marked by abalone mother of pearl inlays
  • Set of premium die-cast tuners
  • Rosewood bridge with compensated bone saddle and bone nut
  • LR Baggs StagePro EQ and Element pick-up

Alvarez is another household name and a well-known brand to go when it comes to acoustic guitars. Their plethora of guitars starting from the entry level, mid-range level which includes the Alvarez AG75CE acoustic electric guitar, up to the more expensive models are all fully featured to easily deliver dynamic tones, all around playability and not to forget to mention, offers a kind of built quality that supersede the guitar’s price.

The Alvarez AG75CE Artist Series is presented in a grand auditorium cutaway body made out of a solid cedar top tonewood with FTS X-bracing and ABS ivory bindings and has a rosewood back and sides. Neck wood is mahogany having a 20 frets rosewood fingerboard marked by abalone mother of pearl inlays that looks sophisticated and adds aesthetic value on the guitar for a fantastic playing experience.

Also included on the features of this acoustic electric guitar that a player will surely like about is the real bone nut paired with bone saddle place on a rosewood bridge to enhance the sound. Then it is followed by a rosewood headstock plate with premium die-cast tuners to handle the tuning and the on-board electronics to carve more tones which will make a player not to stay playing at home, but to actually go out there and play.


Breedlove Pursuit Concert Acoustic Electric Guitar

Breedlove Pursuit Concert Acoustic Electric Guitar
  • Concert acoustic electric guitar
  • Solid mahogany soundboard in natural gloss finish with tortoise binding
  • Mahogany back and sides
  • Slim profile mahogany neck
  • 20 frets rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays
  • Set of chrome die-cast tuners
  • Pinless bridge with compensated saddle and bone nut
  • Fishman ISYS pick-up includes built-in USB port for easy interfacing with recording software

For acoustic guitar enthusiast looking for another acoustic guitar to add in their existing collection and for beginners who wants a concert style acoustic guitar with an on-board electronics rather than an acoustic electric dreadnought that can also fill a room with great melodies and rhythm sounds with or even without having to plug on an amplifier, the Breedlove concert acoustic electric guitar is the right acoustic guitar instrument for you.

This particular model of the Breedlove Pursuit concert acoustic electric guitar has an all mahogany body. The top is made from solid mahogany paired with a laminated mahogany back and sides in natural gloss finish with tortoise binding and no pickguard. For the neck, it is also made of mahogany with a slim profile matching its warm focus sounding body, then top by a 20 frets rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays.

Assisting the guitar body to achieve remarkable sustain and stable tuning, the Breedlove Pursuit Concert has a bridge truss that reduces the tension of the soundboard to vibrate more freely. Also unique to this acoustic electric guitar is for having a pinless bridge that eliminates the need for six drilled string holes, and Fishman ISYS pick-up includes built-in USB port for easy interfacing with recording software.


Epiphone EJ-200SCE Acoustic Electric Guitar

Epiphone EJ-200SCE Acoustic Electric Guitar
  • Jumbo acoustic electric guitar with cutaway
  • Crafted using a solid spruce for top
  • Maple back and sides
  • Neck is SlimTaper D-shape profile made of maple
  • 21 frets pau ferro fingerboard marked by crown inlays
  • Gold hardware Grover Rotomatic 18:1 machineheads
  • ”Moustache” shape design pau ferro bridge with compensated saddle and synthetic bone nut
  • Shadow eSonic II Stereo preamp and NanoFlex under saddle pick-up controlled by a master volume and EQ controls with built-in chromatic tuner

The Epiphone EJ-200SCE is best describe to mimic the historic J-200 Jumbo acoustic guitar by Gibson. It sound tonally huge to compare it on what a dreadnought can bring to the table, and has the body lines of a concert style guitar for a totally different experience in playability. This jumbo style acoustic guitar also has a cutaway to easy access the higher frets which is a great feature on an acoustic guitar and is well equip with Shadow eSonic II Stereo preamp to boost and shape the overall sound by simply tweaking the master volume and EQ controls with built-in chromatic tuner added to the acoustic guitar.

The Epiphone EJ-200SCE is dressed to impress and is available in four exciting color finishes to choose from namely black, vintage sunburst, natural and vintage natural. Its jumbo cutaway style body is crafted using a solid spruce for top with maple back and sides to play the guitar flat picking, strumming and finger picking style. Neck is SlimTaper D-shape profile for comfort made of maple with a 21 frets pau ferro fingerboard marked by crown inlays.

Bridge design offers the classic suave ”Moustache” shape design that is unmistakably known on this guitar and is well paired with gold hardware Grover Rotomatic 18:1 machineheads to keep the guitar in perfect pitch for long hours of playing and feel for the sound.

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