Best Acoustic Guitars under 500$
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We are living in the golden age of budget-friendly guitars. Never before has it been this easy to buy a high-quality instrument at an affordable price. With that being said, we know it can get a little overwhelming when trying to find the best Acoustic Guitars under $500. So that’s why we’ve put together this list to help you through the process.
Best Acoustic Guitars Under 500$
Here you’ll find the best acoustic guitars under 500$ that are high-quality and affordable, and we’ve narrowed it down to just ten options for you to choose from. Whether you’re looking for a guitar for yourself or a gift for a loved one, you’ll find something you’ll love.
Fender CD-60S Solid Top Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar
For several years, the Fender CD-60S has been one of the best-selling fender acoustic guitars. The CD-60S has a solid spruce top and a more vibrant tone. It’s a fantastic dreadnought acoustic guitar for beginners and advanced musicians. Let’s look at the specifications of this instrument.
The solid spruce top of the CD-60S is supported by scalloped x-bracing. The back and sides are laminated mahogany, and the neck is mahogany with a 20 fret rosewood fingerboard. It is available in spruce and mahogany finishes.
The fingerboard has a 12-inch radius, and the neck has Fender’s new ‘Comfort Neck Carve,’ which is an easy-to-play neck shape with slightly softened fingerboard edges. This guitar is quite comfortable to play because it is neither too bulky nor too thin.
The Fender CD-60S is available in natural or black finishes, and there is also a left-handed variant for left-handed guitar players. It’s also worth noting that this instrument has two strap buttons, which eliminates the need to tie a guitar strap over the headstock, which may be highly inconvenient.
Fender has streamlined their acoustic selection, and this guitar is part of their ‘classic series’ of design, so it looks like a traditional acoustic guitar that we’ve all grown to know and love over the years. It lacks any designs that would deviate from what we would consider a conventional dreadnought in this scenario. It has also been improved with some excellent playability features as well as some features to enhance and bring out more tone in this instrument.
Because this is a new model, the letter ‘S’ in the name Fender CD-60S denotes one of the most significant improvements, which is that it now has a solid spruce/mahogany top. The old CD-60 had a laminate top and is still in their lineup.
Specifications
| Brand | Fender |
| Top Material Type | Spruce |
| Body Material | Mahogany |
| Back Material Type | Nato |
| Neck Material Type | Nato Wood |
| Fretboard Material Type | Rosewood |
| Hand Orientation | Right |
| Number of Strings | 6 |
Features
- Dreadnought body style
- Solid spruce top with scalloped “X”-bracing, mahogany back and sides
- Mahogany neck with 20-fret rosewood fingerboard
- Rosewood bridge with compensated saddle
- Gloss finish
Martin LX1 Little Martin Acoustic Guitar
Martin’s LX1E Little Martin has been one of the most popular acoustic guitars over the previous decade, owing partly to Ed Sheeran’s extensive use of one early in his career, prior to his association with Lowden.
The LX1E is a 3/4-size acoustic electric guitar with a solid sitka spruce top, high pressure laminate back and sides, a 23-inch scale length, a Richlite fingerboard, and a Fishman Sonitone pickup. It is smaller than a standard acoustic guitar, making it perfect for travelling or for children (we even rate it as a great acoustic guitar for beginners). It comes with a padded gig bag as well.
The 23″ scale means that the frets are significantly closer together than on a full-size acoustic, but the nut width is 1 11/16″, thus the string spacing is the same. As someone who generally plays a dreadnought, I found the LX1E to be a pleasant instrument to play – it gets a little constricted at the 12th fret and above, but you’re unlikely to spend much time there. Chords and melody lines are as simple to strum or fingerpick on this guitar as they are on any other.
Beginners, youngsters, and others of lesser size are likely to find it comfortable, but they aren’t the sole intended users. If you’re an experienced musician, the LX1E is a terrific guitar to take on the road, whether for work or on tour.
It’s also worth mentioning how well-made the instrument is. It’s a high-quality guitar that will most likely last a long time. The tuners retain the tuning effectively, and the overall structure appears to be neatly put together.
Specifications
| Brand | C.F. Martin & Co. |
| Top Material Type | Spruce |
| Body Material | Spruce;Mahogany |
| Back Material Type | Mahogany |
| Neck Material Type | Stratabond |
| Fretboard Material Type | Indian Rosewood |
| String Material Type | Phosphor Bronze |
| Hand Orientation | Right |
| Scale Length | 23 Inches |
| Number of Strings | 6 |
Features
- Mahogany pattern HPL (high pressure laminate) textured finish, solid sitka spruce top
- Rust Stratabond neck, shortened 3/4 scale
- Chrome small-knob tuners. Tusq saddle.
- Solid Morado or East Indian Rosewood fingerboard
- Includes padded gig bag
- Scale Length:23 inch, Fingerboard Width At Nut: 1 11/16 inch, Brace Size: 5/16 inch, Fingerboard Width at 12th Fret: 2 1/16 inch
Squier by Fender Classic Vibe 60’s Jazzmaster Electric Guitar – Laurel – 3-Color Sunburst
The Fender Jazzmaster Acoustic Guitar from the C&G Music Company is one of the best acoustic guitars under 500$. This full-size acoustic guitar features a mahogany body, mahogany neck, and rosewood fingerboard.
Summing up the whole package, it comes equipped with a set of Aquila strings and a gig bag.
The Fender Jazzmaster Acoustic Guitar is available in two colors: a Natural finish and a Natural finish. Always look at our Fender Jazzmaster Acoustic Guitar review to see what it’s like in person.
Specifications
| Brand | Fender |
| Color | Jazzmaster |
| Top Material Type | SQ374083500 |
| Body Material | Poplar |
| Back Material Type | Poplar |
| Fretboard Material Type | SQ374083500 |
| Guitar Pickup Configuration | S |
| String Material Type | Nickel Steel |
| Hand Orientation | Right |
| Guitar Bridge System | Tremolo |
Features
- 100% designed by Fender
- Inspired by 1960s-era jazz master models
- Fender-designed Alnico pickups
- Vintage-tinted gloss neck finish
- Nickel-plated hardware
- Hand orientation: Right
Yamaha Storia III Acoustic Guitar
Some items, such as the Yamaha NS10 speaker, are game changers. Its classic white cone and black enclosure are so synonymous with professional recording studios that firms making speakers wholly different from the NS10 nonetheless take from its appearance.
Yamaha Rev 7 reverbs and SPX90 effects units are now available as software plugins, and their electric guitars are a consistent best-seller, ranging from entry-level beginner versions to full-fledged professionally spec’d instruments. The Yamaha Storia family of acoustic guitars is one such product that will be seen on stage, imitated, admired and gawked at, and relied on for years to come.
The Storia series has three models: Storia 1, 2, and 3, all of which are identically equipped. The Storia series is intended to be both aesthetically beautiful and enjoyable to play, and thus serves as both a piece of furniture and a musical instrument.
The Storia guitars’ concert size makes them extremely comfortable to play, keeping them lightweight and curved on your body. All three have a 25″ scale length, so they don’t feel as small as they are, and you’ll feel as at home with a Storia as the Storia would feel in your house.
They look like artwork and take up less space than a full-size acoustic guitar, making them ideal for musicians and students who have limited space or must travel with their guitar draped over their back. The tone is rich and resonant, but with the controlled dynamics of a smaller acoustic guitar.
The Storia 1, 2, and 3 models all have mahogany back and sides, as well as matching Yamaha passive pickups beneath the saddles, which are linked via a line out on the bottom strap-pin. The Storia 1 features a semi-gloss spruce top with a mahogany back, while the Storia 2 and 3 have gloss mahogany tops with progressively darker stains.
Specifications
| Brand | Yamaha |
| Color | Natural |
| Top Material Type | Solid Mahogany |
| Body Material | Mahogany |
| Back Material Type | Mahogany |
| Neck Material Type | Nato Wood |
| Fretboard Material Type | Walnut |
| Guitar Pickup Configuration | Piezoelectric |
| String Material Type | Steel |
| Hand Orientation | Right |
Features
- STORIA III delivers a strong, earthy midrange tonality
- Solid Mahogany top
- Mahogany back and sides
- Black, wine Red and ivory inlay
- Luminous gloss finish
Guild Guitars OM-240E Acoustic Guitar
This mid-sized orchestra-shaped acoustic is great for strumming and fingerpicking, and it has a beautiful, balanced tone. The OM-240E is ideal for the flexible musician, with a solid Sitka spruce top, mahogany sides, and an arched mahogany back.
Guild’s characteristic arched back design allows for maximum volume and projection, as well as long sustain and a lush, full tone. Guild’s Fishman-designed AP-1 electronics, a pau ferro fingerboard and bridge, bone nut and saddle, pearloid rosette, period-correct tortoiseshell pickguard, and a matte polyurethane finish distinguish the OM-240E. Natural is an option.
It has the same features as the smaller (and previously reviewed) guitar. A typical matte Sitka Spruce aesthetic, but with that Guild headstock better matched to the larger dreadnought body form.
When we experiment with a few different tunings, those Guild open gear tuners, like their smaller sister, remain consistent. It has a balanced sound, as a decent dreadnought should, but the discreet seeming Archback design doesn’t seem to make as much of an audible impact in terms of projection as the more compact M240.
It does, however, deliver a good performance, especially warm for a spruce-topped guitar without sacrificing harmonic definition.
When I first plugged in, I had conflicting feelings. The AP-1’s nine-volt battery in its pouch is moving around inside the body, unattached from the Velcro attachment near the base of the neck.
It’s readily fixed, albeit not without first removing the strings, but it’s something to keep an eye on to avoid potential damage.
Specifications
| Brand | Guild Guitars |
| Color | Natural Satin |
| Top Material Type | Mahogany |
| Body Material | Spruce |
| Back Material Type | Mahogany |
| Neck Material Type | Mahogany |
| Fretboard Material Type | Morado |
| Guitar Pickup Configuration | Piezoelectric |
| String Material Type | Phosphor Bronze |
| Hand Orientation | Right |
Features
- This mid-sized orchestra shaped acoustic is equally suited for strumming and fingerpicking, and produces a sweet, balanced tone
- The perfect choice for the versatile musician, the OM-240E features a solid Sitka spruce top, mahogany sides, and arched mahogany back
- Guild’s signature arched back design allows for great volume and projection, long sustain, and a lush, full sound
- The OM-240E features Guild’s Fishman-designed AP-1 electronics, a pau ferro fingerboard and bridge, bone nut and saddle, pearloid rosette, period-correct tortoiseshell pickguard, and a matte polyurethane finish
- Available in Natural
- Hand orientation: Right
Yamaha CSF1M Acoustic Guitar
Yamaha always has a model to offer, whether it’s a high-end dreadnought or a cheap travel guitar – and the parlour guitar market is no exception. The CSF1M is a cheap electro-acoustic parlour guitar that is quickly becoming one of the most popular parlours on the market. It is part of the newly announced CSF Series. Let’s look at why.
The CSF1M isn’t particularly spectacular, but it’s a pretty nice-looking instrument with typical Yamaha styling and a few amenities that hint it’s a step above some of the more budget-conscious parlours.
It is available in either a natural glossy finish or a more fascinating Tobacco Brown Sunburst for a more vintage feel. Either finish is finished with eye-catching black and white body binding and a simple abalone rosette.
The design is also typical of Yamaha. The brand employs their own parlour design, with somewhat broader sides to provide a fuller-bodied sound. They use a fine solid Sitka spruce top with scalloped X-bracing, as well as laminated mahogany on the sides and back of the guitar. The smaller parlour size and 23.6″ scale length make it ideal for smaller players and those searching for a more compact playing experience (beginners, take note).
Moving up to the neck, you’ll notice that it’s built of solid nato and has a 20-fret rosewood fretboard. With a comfortable C-shaped profile and a semi-gloss finish, this neck is pleasant to grip and play for what is still a very affordable guitar. The playability may benefit from a better setup, but it’s not horrible out of the box.
Specifications
| Brand | Yamaha |
| Color | Translucent Black |
| Top Material Type | Spruce |
| Body Material | Mahogany |
| Back Material Type | Mahogany |
| Neck Material Type | Mahogany |
| Fretboard Material Type | Mahogany |
| Guitar Pickup Configuration | Piezo |
| String Material Type | Nickel Steel |
| Hand Orientation | Right |
Features
- The Yamaha csf Series takes parlor-size acoustic guitars to a new level
- The 600mm Scale Length, 34mm shorter than a standard full-size acoustic, feels and sounds like a full-sized Guitar, just more comfortable
- Mahogany and Sitka Spruce construction, with all-solid woods on Csf3 provide a rich, full, inspiring tone
- The passive Zero impact pickup provides gig-ready flexibility with natural, dynamic plugged-in tone
- Includes a durable, Hard Gig Bag
What To Look When Buying A Budget Acoustic Guitar Under 500$?
For the same reason that you have to check out a car before buying it, you should do the same when buying an Acoustic Guitars under 500$. Before you buy a guitar, check out the following items:
• Sound– This is probably the most important aspect of a guitar. Does it have a nice sound? If not, you may want to look at a different guitar.
• Quality– Look at the guitar. Is it made of high-quality materials? In any case, a budget guitar should not be made of low-quality materials.
• Guitar Shape– This is an important aspect. The guitar shape can be an important factor when buying a guitar. If you want a guitar with a great sound, then you may want to look at a guitar with a single-cutaway design.
• Playability– The playability of a guitar is also an important factor. You may want to look at a guitar with great action.
Previously, a great action was only for high-end guitars. However, you can find a budget guitar with great action.
Conclusion On Buying acoustic guitars under 500$
Now that you have seen some of the best acoustic guitars under 500$, you should be able to decide. You may want to consider the features of a guitar. You may want to consider the quality of a guitar.
You may want to consider the price of a guitar. If you have a budget, you may want to consider the best acoustic guitars under 500$. Remember that a budget guitar is a great investment. It will help you learn the guitar, but it will also help you build a solid foundation.
