Matt B
- Jun 28, 2022
- 10 min read

Top 10 Best Acoustic Guitars Under $500 for 2023 (Ranked and Reviewed)

Updated: Jan 11

If you are in the market for a new guitar, there are many options for an affordable acoustic guitar. At the same level of value as you would expect of a great guitar at a higher price. Those under $500 can be very well-made budget guitars and are very capable of providing excellent balanced sound. You can find plenty to choose from for less than $500.

What's the best acoustic guitar under $500?

There are some awful budget acoustic guitars. You should never buy inferior quality musical instruments that will make you hate playing guitars or worse yet discourage you from playing. Buying the most affordable playable guitar can sometimes feel overwhelming because there are several different choices. There are many budget acoustic guitars under $500 for every budget that will teach you the basics of music with minimal financial effort.

When you are looking for an acoustic guitar, there are a number of factors that you need to consider. You want to make sure that the instrument you buy is one that will grow with you as your skills improve, but I know you also want to buy a beautiful guitar as well. With that in mind, here are ten of the best acoustic guitars under $500:

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links and we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. However, this does not impact our reviews and comparisons. We try our best to keep things fair and balanced, in order to help you make the best choice for yourself.

1. Yamaha FG800 Solid Top Folk Acoustic Guitar

If you are looking for an entry-level acoustic guitar, the Yamaha FG800 should be at the top of your list. It is an affordably priced beautiful guitar, yet it delivers a rich sound that belies its price tag. The solid spruce top provides excellent projection and tone, while the nato back and sides give it a nice warm sound. The guitar comes equipped with die-cast tuners that keep it in tune, even when you are playing hard.

2. Fender FA-115 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar

The Fender FA-115 Dreadnought Guitar is another great option for beginner guitarists. Fender has been making acoustic guitars for a long time. The dreadnought body style provides excellent projection and volume, while the laminated spruce top ensures that the rich sound will age well. The nato neck is comfortable to play with, and the rosewood fingerboard feels smooth under your fingers.

3. Epiphone DR-100 Acoustic Guitar

If you are looking for the best acoustic guitar that has a vintage look, the Epiphone DR-100 should be at the top of your list. Epiphone has been in business a long time and makes some great sounding guitars. In fact my favorite guitar that I own is an Epiphone Les Paul. The Epiphone DR-100 is an affordably priced quality instrument so you can take it with you wherever you go. The dreadnought body provides excellent projection and volume, while the select spruce top gives it a rich, warm sound. The mahogany neck is comfortable to play with, and the rosewood fingerboard feels smooth under your fingers. Other Guitars that are also great are the Epiphone Hummingbird and Epiphone Hummingbird Pro. They both have a great sound and balanced tone.

4. Ibanez AW540PN Artwood Acoustic Guitar

The Ibanez AW540PN is a great acoustic guitar option for beginner guitarists. It is affordably priced and comes complete with a gig bag, so you can take it with you wherever you go. The dreadnought body provides excellent projection and volume, while the spruce top gives it a rich, warm sound. The mahogany neck is comfortable to play with, and the rosewood fingerboard feels smooth under your fingers.

5. Jasmine S35 Acoustic Guitar

The Jasmine S35 is another great acoustic guitar option for beginner guitarists. It is affordably priced and the dreadnought body provides excellent projection and volume, while the spruce top gives it a rich, warm sound. The nato neck is comfortable to play with, and the rosewood fingerboard feels smooth under your fingers.

6. Oscar Schmidt OD312CE 12-String Acoustic Guitar

The Oscar Schmidt OD312CE is a great option for beginner guitarists. It is affordably priced for a 12 string guitar and comes complete with a gig bag, so you can take it with you wherever you go. The dreadnought body provides excellent projection and volume, while the spruce top gives it a rich, warm sound. The mahogany neck is comfortable to play with, and the rosewood fingerboard feels smooth under your fingers. Oscar Schmidt is a great company and also makes other guitars that are also great to check out as well.

7. Yamaha FS800 Small Body Solid Top Folk Acoustic Guitar

If you are looking for an acoustic guitar at an affordable price that is easy to play, the Yamaha FS800 should be at the top of your list. It is affordably priced and the small body provides excellent projection and volume, while the spruce top gives it a rich, warm sound. The nato neck is comfortable to play with, and the rosewood fingerboard feels smooth under your fingers.

8. Seagull S6 Original Acoustic Guitar

The Seagull S6 Original is a great option for beginner guitarists. It is affordably priced and the dreadnought body provides excellent projection and volume, while the cedar top gives it a rich, warm sound. The maple neck is comfortable to play with, and the rosewood fingerboard feels smooth under your fingers.

9. Cordoba C3M Classical Guitar

If you are looking for an affordable acoustic guitar that has a traditional look, the Cordoba C3M should be at the top of your list. It is affordably priced and comes complete with a gig bag, so you can take it with you wherever you go. The classical body provides excellent projection and volume, while the spruce top gives it a rich, warm sound. The mahogany neck is comfortable to play with, and the rosewood fingerboard feels smooth under your fingers.

10. Fender FA-125 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar

The Fender FA-125 is another great option for beginner guitarists. It is affordably priced and comes complete with a gig bag, so you can take it with you wherever you go. The dreadnought body provides excellent projection and volume, while the spruce top gives it a rich, warm sound. The maple neck is comfortable to play with, and the rosewood fingerboard feels smooth under your fingers.

What is the best acoustic Martin Guitar under $500?

The Martin LXK2 Little Martin Koa Pattern is the perfect acoustic guitar under $500. It is affordably priced and comes complete with a gig bag, so you can take it with you wherever you go. The dreadnought body provides excellent projection and volume, while the spruce top gives it a rich, warm sound. The maple neck is comfortable to play with, and the ebony fingerboard feels smooth under your fingers.

What is the best Yamaha Acoustic Guitar under $500?

The Yamaha FGX800C is the best quality acoustic guitar under $500. It is affordably priced and comes complete with a gig bag, so you can take it with you wherever you go. The dreadnought body provides excellent projection and volume, while the spruce top gives it a rich, warm sound. The mahogany neck is comfortable to play with, and the rosewood fingerboard feels smooth under your fingers.

What are the best Seagull Guitars under $500?

The Seagull S6 Original and the Seagull Coastline S12 Cedar are both great options for beginner guitarists The dreadnought body shape provides excellent projection and volume, while the spruce top gives it a rich, warm sound. The maple neck is comfortable to play with, and the rosewood fingerboard feels smooth under your fingers.

What are the best Taylor Guitars under $500?

The Taylor BT2 Baby Taylor Acoustic Guitar and the Taylor BT2e are both great options for beginner guitarists looking to start playing guitar. The guitar body is a dreadnought style that provides excellent projection and volume, while the spruce top gives it a rich, warm sound. The maple neck is comfortable to play with, and the rosewood fingerboard feels smooth under your fingers. Taylor also makes other acoustic guitars that are great such as the Taylor GS Mini Mahogany which is one of my personal favorites even though it's priced slightly higher than $500 (current MSRP is $599). The Taylor BBTe Big Baby Taylor is also another excellent option for a classical acoustic guitar.

What are the best acoustic electric guitars?

There are a lot of great electric guitars that are also acoustic on the market today, but the Fender FA-125CE Acoustic Electric Guitar is the best one for under $500. It is affordably priced and comes complete with a gig bag, so you can take it with you wherever you go. The dreadnought body style guitars provide excellent projection and volume, while the spruce top gives it a rich, warm sound. The maple neck is comfortable to play with, and the rosewood fingerboard feels smooth under your fingers. Just remember that you will also need to purchase a speaker if you are looking at purchasing an acoustic electric guitar.

What is an Acoustic Guitar?

An acoustic guitar is a string instrument that is typically played with the fingers or a pick. It has a hollow body that amplifies the sound of the strings. Acoustic guitars are typically made of wood, and they come in a variety of sizes and shapes. They consist of a guitar body, neck, and head.

How do I choose the right Acoustic Guitar?

There are a few things to consider when choosing the right acoustic guitar. First, you need to decide what size and shape you want. Smaller guitars are easier to carry around, but they may not have the same projection and volume as a larger guitar. Second, you need to decide what type of wood you want. Different woods will give the guitar a different sound. Third, you need to decide what style of guitar you want. Acoustic guitars come in a variety of styles, from dreadnought guitars to classical. Fourth, you need to decide what kind of strings you want. Steel strings will give the guitar a brighter sound, while nylon strings will give it a softer sound. No matter what type of acoustic guitar you choose, you are sure to enjoy hours of playing time.

What are the best steel string guitars under $500?

There are a lot of great steel string guitars on the market, but the Yamaha FG830 is a great guitar under $500. It is affordably priced and comes complete with a gig bag, so you can take it with you wherever you go. The dreadnought body provides excellent projection and volume, while the spruce top gives it a rich, warm sound.

What are the best nylon string guitars under $500?

The Cordoba C3M is the best nylon string guitar for under $500. The dreadnought body provides excellent projection and volume, while the spruce top gives it a rich, warm sound.

What are the best acoustic guitars for beginners?

The Yamaha FG800 and the Cordoba C3M are both great options for beginner guitarists. They are affordably priced classical guitars that you can take with you wherever you go. The dreadnought body shape provides excellent projection and volume, while the spruce top gives it a rich, warm balanced sound that sounds great.

What are the best flamenco guitars under $500?

A flamenco guitar is a type of acoustic quality guitar that is typically used to play Spanish flamenco music. The Cordoba C3M and the Yamaha A-Series A3M are the best flamenco guitars under $500. They are both affordably priced and come complete with a gig bag, so you can take them with you wherever you go. The Cordoba C3M has a classical body that provides excellent projection and volume, while the Yamaha A-Series A3M has a dreadnought body that gives it a rich, warm sound. Both guitars have maple necks that are comfortable to play, and rosewood fingerboards that feel smooth under your fingers.

What is the best small body acoustic guitar?

The Yamaha FG800 is the best small body acoustic guitar. The spruce top gives it a rich, warm balanced sound, while the maple neck is comfortable to play. The rosewood fingerboard feels smooth under your fingers, and the dreadnought body provides excellent projection and volume.

What are dreadnought shaped guitars?

Dreadnought shaped guitars are a type of acoustic guitar that have a large, deep body. They are named after the HMS Dreadnought, which was a British battleship. These guitars are known for their rich, full sound and their excellent projection and volume.

What are the best acoustic guitars under $500 for kids?

The Yamaha JR1 and the Cordoba Mini II M are the best kid's acoustic guitars.

What type of wood is used for acoustic guitars?

Most acoustic guitars come in many different types of wood from solid mahogany to solid cedar to solid sitka spruce to other types of solid wood as well as high pressure laminate. Regardless of the material, you want to make sure the guitar produces a great sound. Keep in mind that just because they look good that they could also be bad acoustic guitars. I personally like classic guitars that have a solid mahogany top and a slim neck with a rosewood scale length for hitting the chords with ease. I am not a fan of high pressure laminate, but do know that there are some good options out there for those who don't mind.

Why should I buy an affordable acoustic guitar?

If you're a beginner, it's a great idea to buy an affordable acoustic guitar so that you don't have to worry about damaging an expensive instrument. You can also find good quality affordable acoustic guitars that will last you a long time and won't break the bank.

What is the best travel guitar?

The Yamaha FG800 is the best travel guitar. It is affordably priced and comes complete with a gig bag, so you can take it with you wherever you go. The spruce top gives it a rich, warm balanced sound, while the maple neck is comfortable to play. The rosewood fingerboard feels smooth under your fingers, and the dreadnought body provides excellent projection and volume.

What types of strings do acoustic guitars use?

Acoustic guitars typically use steel strings, but you can find acoustic guitars that use nylon strings as well. Flamenco guitars typically use nylon strings, while classical guitars typically use steel strings. It really just depends on the type of guitar and the type of music you want to play.

Conclusion

No matter what type of acoustic guitar you choose, you are sure to enjoy hours of playing time. Acoustic guitars are a great way to improve your musical skills, and they can provide you with a lifetime of enjoyment. What's important is that it sounds great with a balanced tone regardless of what you paid for it. Keep in mind that the acoustic guitar brands don't matter as much as it matters how much you love what you're playing. And lastly, don't forget your guitar stand. Please let me know which new acoustic guitar is your favorite quality instrument and your experience with it after purchase and how you learned to play guitar in the comments below.