When it comes to buying an acoustic guitar, finding the best acoustic guitars under $500 can be confusing.
You may be confused by all of your options, so we’ve broken this up into different sections.
Here are the Best Acoustic Guitars Under $500.
Best Acoustic Guitars Under $500: Best Overall
Seagull Guitars S6 Orginal
A revamp of a classic, every Seagull S6 Original top is pressure tested to ensure maximum harmonic vibration.
It’s got a solid cedar top and laminated wild cherry back and sides that give you a clear sound that’s full and has lots of overtones.
The neck is silver leaf maple, with a 1.8″ Tusq nut, making it comfortable to play if you’re got large hands, as well as having a better tone, and resonance.
Additionally, the rosewood fretboard has dot inlays and 21 frets, while the headstock, despite its shape, provides a straight string pull that will help keep you in tune even when you’re using altered tunings.
Pros
- Available in Left Hand Model
Cons
- Unfortunate Headstock Shape
- Left Hand Model More Expensive
The gloss finish on the Seagull S6 Original is intended to enhance the vibration of the guitar, while the back and sides sport a very beautiful wood grain.
As simple, and basic, as this guitar looks, you’ll be surprised by how rich its tones are, and how good it sounds.
This is your moment! Click here to get yours.
Best Acoustic Guitars Under $500: Best Budget
Fender CD-140SCE
Fender’s CD-140SCE Dreadnought continues Fender’s tradition of quality acoustic guitars.
The body is a dreadnought shape, with a solid spruce top, and laminated ovangkol back and sides, for a full, classic sound.
With a cutaway on the body, it allows you unfettered access to the higher frets and has a dynamic look.
The neck is mahogany, with black binding, in Fenders’ ‘Easy-to-Play’ shape with rolled fretboard edges, making fretting comfortable and easy.
Additionally, the walnut fretboard has 20 vintage frets, and a 12″ fretboard radius so it’s very responsive to your playing.
The Fishman CD Preamp, and tuner means you can plug this guitar into an amp, and tune your guitar with ease.
Finally, a GraphTech NuBone nut and saddle enhance your tone, while the tortoiseshell pickguard and chrome tuners complete a traditional acoustic guitar look.
Pros
- Available in 2 Finishes
- Includes Hardshell Case
Cons
- Tiny Inlays Sort of Get Lost
With lots of bass, full highs, lots of nice overtones, and plenty of volume, the Fender CD-140SCE is great for picking, and plucking as well as nice and loud when simply strumming.
You might feel they could have put some larger inlays, but you also might like the plain, simple look of this guitar as is.
Now is the best time! Click here and get yours today.
Best Acoustic Guitars Under $500: Best Runner-Up
Guild OM-240CE
The Guild OM-240CE has an archback design which reduces weight and increases projection.
It has an OM shape with a cutaway, allowing easy access to the higher frets and helping to make it more comfortable to play.
The top is solid Sitka spruce, while the back and sides are mahogany, so it has a stunning, classic tone.
Plus, the mahogany neck is in a classic Guild “C” shape, so it’s very comfortable for your hands to play.
Additionally, the Pau Ferro fretboard has Mother of pearl dot inlays, and a bone nut that enhances your tone, and sustain.
Notably, the compensated saddle is also bone, ensuring you an even more enhanced sound.
Finally, you’ve got Guild’s Fishman-designed AP-1 so you can plug your guitar straight into a PA and dial in your sound.
Pros
- Unique Archback Design
- Bone Nut/Saddle
Cons
- OM Shape not as Loud as a Dreadnought
Guild’s OM-240CE pays homage to Guild’s flat top guitars.
And with a medium-sized body, it has fewer low-end sounds than a dreadnought and more mids.
All in all, it’s comfortable to play and has a great acoustic sound.
Don’t wait any longer! Click here to get yours now.
Best Acoustic Guitars Under $500: Best Travel Size
Traveler Guitar Redlands Concert
If you’re looking for something a little different, the Traveler Guitar Redlands Concert guitar might just be it.
Traveler Guitar started out by making travel-sized electric guitars with full-sized necks,(Check out their website). And now they’re also producing compact acoustic guitars.
The Redlands Concert has a shorter 35-inch length, but otherwise, it plays and feels just like a regular-sized guitar.
Its body is composed of koa, giving it a bright sound that will mellow as the guitar is played, and “broken in”.
The neck is mahogany, with a striped ebony fretboard, and 20 jumbo frets just like a full-sized guitar, so you’ll never feel like you’re compromising your playing.
Plus, with a beveled edge on the top bout, for more comfortable playing, and a small scooped cutaway that allows easy access to the higher frets, you’ll never sacrifice your sound.
Finally, it has a custom onboard preamp with a tuner, and a 3 band equalizer, so you can craft your sound, and always stay in tune.
Pros
- Comes With Nice Gigbag
Cons
- Koa Wood Needs Breaking In Period
The shorter scale neck of the Traveler Guitar Redlands Concert means that the strings will have a slinky feel, and bending notes will be a bit easier.
The koa has a warm midrange with lots of bass, and highs, but at first it will be very bright because the wood needs to be played in order to be broken in.
If you’re looking for a guitar that’s compact, but still delivers a great sound, this one is the one for you.
Don’t miss out! Click here and get yours today.
The Best Acoustic Guitars Under $500: Tips and Tricks
You’ve got the best acoustic guitar under $500 for you! Congratulations! Now what?
Change the Strings on Your New Guitar for Better Sound
The strings on your new guitar may be a year old, which means your guitar won’t sound its best. Changing the strings will improve your sound.
For more on strings, see this page.
Only Adjust the Truss Rod After Letting the Guitar Acclimate
After receiving your guitar, give it at least 24 hours for the wood to fully reach the temperature of your home. Oftentimes, a guitar that has fret buzz, or dead spots hasn’t fully warmed/cooled from travel, and will “self adjust” once the wood has a chance to fully expand/contract.
JT currently resides in Southern California and has been playing the guitar since he was 13. He enjoys baking French pastries, drinking loose-leaf tea, and running Slackware Linux.