The Best Acoustic Guitar under 500 Dollars

Looking for the best acoustic guitar under 500? Whether you’re a beginner searching for your first instrument or a seasoned player needing a budget-friendly backup, you don’t have to spend a fortune to get great sound and quality. The market is full of affordable acoustic guitars that deliver impressive tone, craftsmanship, and playability—all without breaking the bank. In this guide, we’ve rounded up top-rated models that strike the perfect balance between performance and price, helping you find the ideal guitar to suit your style and budget.

Acoustic guitars under $500 are among the most popular musical instruments ever – here you will find out which are the most wanted models. Whether practicing at home, as a musical accompaniment for evenings on the beach or at the campfire, or as an instrumental accompaniment on stage: Acoustic guitars are used everywhere where music sweetens our everyday life. Here we present you the top ten of the most popular models – the comparison portal evaluated which acoustic guitars were searched for very often.

10 Best Acoustic Guitar Under 500 Dollars

1- Ibanez 6 String Classical Guitar, Right, Natural

The Ibanez GA3 is a solid pick for beginner classical guitarists. Its spruce top and mahogany back and sides offer warm tones with great clarity. The natural finish and classical aesthetics make it visually appealing. It’s lightweight and well-constructed, ideal for students seeking comfort during long practice sessions. Tuning stability is decent, and the nylon strings are easy on the fingers. Though not professional-grade, it offers excellent value and sound for its price. A budget-friendly entry into classical playing.

Technical Specifications:

• Body: Spruce top with Meranti back and sides
• Neck: Mahogany
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Scale Length: 25.6 inches
• Finish: Natural
• Type: Classical (nylon strings)

Pros:

• Warm, mellow tones ideal for fingerstyle and classical music
• Smooth neck and low action suitable for beginners
• Durable construction with quality tonewoods
• Great intonation and tuning stability for its price

Cons:

• Not suitable for those looking for a steel-string acoustic

2-Yamaha C40II Classical Guitar

Yamaha’s C40II is a standout beginner classical guitar with a full-size scale and mellow tone. Designed with quality tonewoods—spruce top and meranti back/sides—it offers a warm, balanced sound perfect for classical and fingerstyle practice. The action is student-friendly, and the build quality is surprisingly good for an entry-level instrument. It holds tuning well, even during longer sessions. Affordable and durable, the C40II is a trusted choice for learners and educators alike.

Technical Specifications:

• Body: Spruce top with Meranti back and sides
• Neck: Nato
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Scale Length: 25.6 inches
• Finish: Natural
• Type: Classical (nylon strings)

Pros:

• Excellent craftsmanship and sound quality for beginners
• Lightweight and easy to handle
• Reliable Yamaha tuning hardware
• Clear, balanced sound ideal for classical genres

Cons:

• Lacks the projection and punch of a steel-string guitar

3-Ibanez 6 String Acoustic Guitar Pack

The IJV50 acoustic pack by Ibanez is a perfect all-in-one starter kit. This ambidextrous model is beginner-friendly, with a dreadnought body offering solid volume and a rich, full tone. The guitar’s natural gloss finish looks premium, and it comes with useful accessories like a gig bag, tuner, and picks. Although it’s a basic model, the neck feels comfortable, and the intonation is reliable. Great for first-time players seeking both affordability and quality.

Technical Specifications:

• Body: Spruce top with Agathis back and sides
• Neck: Mahogany
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Scale Length: 25.5 inches
• Finish: Natural Gloss
• Includes: Gig bag, tuner, strap, accessories

Pros:

• Complete starter kit—excellent value for money
• Crisp, articulate sound suitable for various genres
• Smooth fret edges for comfortable play
• The ambidextrous design adds flexibility

Cons:

• Not ideal for more advanced players seeking richer tone

4- Epiphone FT-100 Acoustic Guitar

The Epiphone FT-100 offers vintage vibes and solid playability for acoustic lovers. Its vintage sunburst finish is eye-catching, while the dreadnought body produces a big, resonant sound with strong mids and highs. Great for strumming or fingerpicking, the FT-100 is ideal for beginners or casual players. Epiphone’s consistent craftsmanship ensures tuning stability and comfort. It’s a stylish and dependable choice that performs well across genres.

5-Yamaha Fd01S Solid Top Acoustic Guitar

The Yamaha FD01S is an Amazon-exclusive gem with a solid spruce top that delivers impressive resonance and projection. Aimed at beginners and intermediate players, it features a dreadnought body for full sound and dynamic range. The light brown finish gives it a classic acoustic look. Its solid top construction is rare at this price point, offering great tonal maturity over time. A well-built, great-sounding option that outperforms many guitars in its class.

Technical Specifications:

• Body: Solid spruce top with nato back and sides
• Neck: Nato
• Fingerboard: Walnut
• Scale Length: 25 inches
• Finish: Natural Light Brown
• Type: Steel-string acoustic

Pros:

• The solid top offers superior resonance and durability
• Balanced tonal range suitable for strumming and fingerpicking
• Stays in tune well and holds up over time
• Exceptional value for a solid-top guitar under $500

Cons:

• Slightly stiffer action for absolute beginners

6-Yamaha GL1

The Yamaha GL1 Guitalele is a unique hybrid between a classical guitar and a ukulele, making it perfect for travel and practice. With its compact 17-inch scale length and six nylon strings tuned like a guitar capoed at the 5th fret, it delivers warm, mellow tones in a portable size. The spruce top, combined with meranti back and sides, ensures durability while keeping the sound balanced. This guitalele is ideal for beginners, kids, or guitarists who want a convenient instrument on the go. Affordable and versatile, it comes with a gig bag for easy transport. If you’re looking for a lightweight yet expressive instrument, the Yamaha GL1 is an excellent choice.

Technical Specifications:

• Scale length: 17″
• Top: Spruce
• Back & sides: Meranti
• Fingerboard: Sonokeling
• Strings: Nylon (guitar-ukulele hybrid)

Pros:

• Compact and lightweight—ideal for travel.
• Unique hybrid design offers both guitar and ukulele tones.
• Affordable and fun for beginners.

Cons:

• Limited tonal depth compared to full-sized guitars.

7-Martin Guitars LX1 E

The Martin LX1E Little Martin is one of the most popular travel-sized guitars thanks to its premium tonewoods and versatility. It features a solid Sitka spruce top paired with mahogany-pattern HPL back and sides, delivering a warm, clear, and articulate sound. Equipped with Fishman Sonitone electronics, it performs beautifully both unplugged and amplified. Compact yet powerful, the LX1E is perfect for travel, practice, or stage use. The guitar comes with a padded gig bag for protection and portability. Known for its quality craftsmanship and iconic Martin tone, this model is ideal for players seeking a small but professional-grade acoustic-electric guitar.

Technical Specifications:

• Top: Solid Sitka Spruce
• Back & sides: Mahogany HPL
• Neck: Rust Birch Laminate
• Electronics: Fishman Sonitone pickup system
• Scale length: 23″

Pros:

• Solid spruce top delivers bright, rich tones.
• Compact design makes it travel-friendly.
• Onboard electronics provide stage-ready versatility.

Cons:

• A smaller body reduces bass response.

8-Ibanez PNB14E – Open Pore Natural

The Ibanez PNB14E is a parlor-sized acoustic bass guitar designed for players who want portability without sacrificing tone. Its open-pore natural finish showcases the beauty of okoume wood while keeping the instrument lightweight and resonant. Equipped with an Ibanez under-saddle pickup and AEQ-2T preamp, it delivers clear, warm amplified sound, making it perfect for live performance or studio sessions. The smaller body is comfortable to hold, ideal for practice or travel, yet still offers deep low-end response. This model strikes a balance between affordability and quality, making it a great choice for beginners and seasoned bassists alike who need a compact acoustic bass.

Technical Specifications:

• Top: Spruce
• Back & sides: Okoume
• Neck: Maple
• Fingerboard: Laurel
• Electronics: Ibanez AEQ-2T preamp with tuner
• Body type: Parlor bass-style acoustic guitar

Pros:

• Parlor shape offers warm, vintage-style tones.
• Built-in electronics with a tuner for convenience.
• Lightweight and easy to handle.

Cons:

• Smaller body limits volume for larger venues.

9-Taylor GS Mini Mahogany-L GS Mini Acoustic Guitar

The Taylor GS Mini Mahogany-L is a left-handed acoustic guitar that combines portability with Taylor’s renowned craftsmanship. Featuring a solid mahogany top with layered sapele back and sides, it produces a rich, balanced tone with strong midrange projection. The GS Mini body design offers comfort without compromising on sound, making it a favorite for both practice and performance. Its smaller scale is perfect for travel while still retaining full-bodied resonance. With premium playability and durability, this lefty version ensures accessibility for all players. Compact yet powerful, the GS Mini Mahogany-L is an excellent option for left-handed guitarists seeking quality in a portable size.

Technical Specifications:

• Top: Tropical Mahogany
• Back & sides: Layered Sapele
• Neck: Maple
• Scale length: 23.5″
• Orientation: Left-handed

Pros:

• Renowned Taylor build quality under $500.
• Rich, warm tone with impressive projection for size.
• Comfortable body design for travel and practice.

Cons:

• Limited options for right-handed players in this variant.

10-Takamine 6 String Acoustic Guitar

The Takamine GD20-NS is a full-sized dreadnought acoustic guitar built for rich tone and reliability. Featuring a solid cedar top with mahogany back and sides, it offers a warm, resonant sound with excellent projection. The slim satin-finish mahogany neck enhances playability, making it comfortable for long practice or performance sessions. Known for its craftsmanship, Takamine delivers professional-grade quality at an accessible price point. The natural satin finish gives it a classic look while enhancing tonal clarity. Perfect for both beginners and intermediate players, the GD20-NS is a reliable choice for anyone looking for a well-rounded acoustic guitar with powerful sound and smooth playability.

Technical Specifications:

• Top: Solid Cedar
• Back & sides: Mahogany
• Neck: Mahogany
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Scale length: 25.3″

Pros:

• Solid cedar top produces warm, expressive tones.
• Full-sized dreadnought body offers strong projection.
• Excellent craftsmanship for long-term durability.

Cons:

• A bulkier body may not suit younger players.

Find The Right Acoustic Guitar – Useful Tips To Buy

When it comes to acoustic guitars, it depends primarily on your own needs and preferences – think in advance, whether you want to decide on a concert or western guitar, and whether you need a pickup (for example, for live performances with an amplifier).

For each guitar, attention should be paid not only to the sound quality but also to the workmanship. For a good feeling, the frets must be deburred and have a uniform height. In order to achieve good vibration characteristics, a solid wood ceiling is important.

Since beginners often do not have a good sense of the right sound of a guitar, it can help to read through some reviews on the product before buying. In any case, our list of the most wanted acoustic guitars already gives you a good indication.

Buy cheap guitars

For years, guitars have been one of the most popular instruments ever. Whether acoustic or electric, whether quiet or loud, as a solo or accompanying instrument, whether at home or on stage, the guitar is versatile like no other instrument.

Also, in terms of musical taste, there is probably no style that can not be implemented musically on the guitar. Of course, the range of suitable guitars in every price range is correspondingly large.

A distinction between concert, Western, and electric guitars. The classical guitar with its soft nylon strings has the advantage that the fingers do not hurt as much when pressing down the strings at the beginning, as with the steel strings of a western guitar.

In addition, the fingerboards are wider, so the gripping at the beginning is easier, and you do not run as much risk of unintentionally dampening the freely vibrating strings with the fingers of the gripping hand. The classical guitar has a soft tone, is very light, and can be played very pleasantly, especially for beginners. 

For most, it is, therefore, advisable to start with a classical guitar. However, that is certainly not true for everyone. Because what good is it, if you want nothing more than to play blues or folk songs with a western guitar or to make rock music or metal on the electric guitar? To practice for years on a guitar that you did not want – it can be over with the motivation quickly, the practice is not fun, and that was, then, only with the dream of making music.

That’s why you should, first of all, ask yourself what kind of music you want to do. And do not worry: The fingers get used to the steel strings of a Western guitar after a short time. And with the extremely low string position of an electric guitar, this problem does not occur anyway. So if you know what kind of music is fun in the long run, you also know very quickly what kind of guitar you want. Visit our homepage to see more products: The Wytches

Related:

• Best acoustic guitar under $200
• Best acoustic guitar under $300