Best Choice: Fender FA-100 Dreadnought
Finding an affordable acoustic guitar that plays like a professional acoustic guitar is hard work. We’ve researched & played dozens of acoustic guitars to determine the absolute five best acoustic guitars in your price range.
When looking for an acoustic guitar under $500 it’s important to take into account the guitar’s overall performance and sound. For example, some inexpensive acoustic guitars will have a great sound, but the neck is simply unplayable.
In fact, with guitars under $500 you have to be extra careful about the necks. We’ve made sure you’re not getting a warped piece of wood, since this will result in the strings being too high off the fret-board.
By personally testing all the guitars & brands on our list, we can assure you that these are simply the best acoustic guitars for under $500 because they’re easy to play and have a great full sound.
Fender FA-100 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar Bundle with Hard Case & More
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The Fender FA-100 bundle is a great choice for guitarists who are purchasing their first instrument, because it comes with everything you need to start jamming. The Fender FA-100 features a 20 fret neck with a rosewood bridge, paired with a full sized dreadnought body for a full and lively tone.
Fender FA-100’s are known for being solidly built, easy to play, and the perfect solution for starters.
Epiphone DR-100 Acoustic Guitar, Vintage Sunburst
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Next up is the Epiphone DR-100 acoustic guitar in vintage sunburst. Like the Fender FA-100 the neck is also made of rosewood for a solid feel and clear tone. The reviews for this guitar are almost entirely positive, with most people giving high praises for this inexpensive acoustic, see for yourself if you don’t believe us.
The Epiphone DR-100 is known for staying in tune, it has an adjustable truss rod if you need to raise or lower the strings, and an incredible sound to match its vibrant paint job.
Yamaha FG800 Solid Top Acoustic Guitar
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Moving on we have the Yamaha FG800 acoustic guitar. You might notice a lot of beginners playing Yamaha acoustic guitars, and that’s because they have a proven track record of high performance, reliability, and rich sound.
The Yamaha FG800’s are known for their durability. You’ll see these guitars around campfires a lot, as well as in other outdoor events and you’ll notice one major thing, they still play great even if you drag them through the wilderness.
Like the Epiphone & Fender before it, the Yamaga FG800 also features a rosewood neck & bridge. However, the Yamaha FG800 uses a solid sitka spruce top for its body, which may be the reason for its seemingly enhanced durability. Like we’ve said before, if you don’t believe then just check out some reviews for yourself.
Seagull S6 Original Acoustic Guitar
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Next up is the Seagull S6 acoustic guitar. You might notice that the Seagull S6 is a little more expensive than the other acoustic guitars mentioned on our list, and that’s due to the fact that it is made in America from cedar and wild cherry wood.
If you’re wondering what the differences between all these wood types are, then you’ll likely get just as much value out of the more affordable Fender Dreadnought series, so don’t feel like you need to overspend on the Seagull.
So if you’re an absolute beginner, then the Seagull S6 is probably not necessary for your playing style. However, if you’re looking for a well rounded and professional acoustic guitar experience in this price range, then the Seagull or our next choice from Ibanez might be your best bet.
The Seagull S6 is known for staying in tune, being easy to play, and sounding incredible for under $500. In fact, many reviewers claim it sounds as good as an $800 price range guitar, just check out some reviews for yourself.
Ibanez AW54OPN Artwood Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar – Open Pore Natural
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Lastly we have the Ibanez AW54OPN rounding off our list. If you’ve ever played an Ibanez guitar, then you know what you’re getting with the Ibanez Artwood Dreadnought.
This is one of the most affordable high end guitars on the market. For this price you’d expect just another entry level beginner guitar, but what you get is more like an intermediate to expert level player’s dream than anything else.
Like most of the other guitar’s on our list the Ibanez AW54OPN features a rosewood neck, however all of the other wood is mahogany. User’s have praised this guitar for being so affordable yet sounding like a guitar four times this price.
Takeaways
We’re confident that our list has every acoustic guitar under $500 that you could ever want. If you disagree with any of the choices we’ve made, then let us know so we can improve our selection. No matter which acoustic guitar you end up selecting, you’re guaranteed to get great tone and excellent play-ability for years to come.
I started Music Store Central with one simple goal, to help answer all the questions that I know other musicians have. I wanted to make buying new instruments and gear for your passion completely effortless.