Whether you want to perform on a big stage or you are looking to play a few chords for your friends, an acoustic guitar is a perfect choice. The amazing thing is that you don't have to break your bank to buy one because you can find a high-end guitar with as little as $500. Most of the best acoustic guitars under $500 will even sound better than most four-figure priced guitars.
The significant part is that an affordable acoustic guitar is excellent for beginners or children, and it could also be used professionally. The acoustic guitars will have different appeals, sound qualities, body shapes, materials and sizes. Therefore, choosing the best will depend on your playing techniques and needs. That is why we have comprehensively looked at the essential details you need to know before choosing an acoustic guitar under $500. Read on!
What is the best guitar under 500?
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What is an Acoustic Guitar?
An acoustic guitar is a musical device used to make musical sounds using strings. When the strings are plucked using a plectrum, or fingertip they transmit vibration from the bridge to the side and back of the guitar's body. These vibrations then resonate through the air in the body of the guitar, thereby producing sound.
Most acoustic guitars sounds will vary depending on the type of wood they are constructed from. Most of the best acoustic guitars are usually made of a solid cedar top, solid mahogany top, or spruce top for durability.
If you desire to buy your first acoustic guitar, we have compiled a list of the best acoustic guitars under $500 to ensure that you find the best.
1. Martin Smith Acoustic Guitar
- Acoustic Guitar: The Martin Smith W101 acoustic guitar has a dreadnought ergonomic body that is made for playability and is finished in a high gloss.
- Metal Gear-heads and Steel Strings: Designed to make tuning your guitar easier and remain in tune for longer the steel guitar strings on this acoustic guitar ensure you spend less time tuning and more time playing.
- Guitar Tuner: No acoustic guitar beginner kit would be complete without a guitar tuner, this clip-on guitar tuner is both easy to use and provides clear feedback to the player.
- Guitar Stand: For when you are not playing, the foldable guitar stand included in this package will ensure that your acoustic guitar can be displayed safely and proudly.
- Guitar Strap: Weather you are looking for a kids guitar or a guitar for adults, everyone has a different playing style, the included guitar strap within this package will help those looking to stand whilst they play.
The Mertin Smith Acoustic Guitar is one of the best acoustic guitars under $500 that you could purchase. This Martin Guitar has a dreadnought body style that ensures that you get a loud and beautiful tone.
This great acoustic guitar features metal gear heads and steel strings that make it easy to tune your guitar. The strings also help you remain in tune for a long and make sure you spend more time playing. In addition, these musical instruments come with a foldable guitar stand that ensures that your acoustic guitar is displayed the guitar as you play.
The Mertin Smith Guitar is a perfect beginner acoustic guitar for beginners or kids. The fantastic thing is that this guitar comes with a guitar tuner that will give you clear feedback. Additionally, this acoustic guitar produces warm, bold and beautiful tones that give you a sensory experience.
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2. Jasmine S34C NEX Acoustic Guitar
- Gloss Natural
- Dreadnought body style
- Laminate Spruce top
- Sapele back and sides
- Rosewood Fingerboard
The Jasmine S-34C is another great guitar that you could invest in. If you want to get an exceptional guitar that is well built and is easy to play, then this would be a perfect choice. These Jasmine acoustic guitars under $500 will produce a balanced sound due to the grand design.
The S-34C features a solid spruce top and a rosewood fingerboard for soft and smooth playability. It also has a slim neck made of mahogany and a full-scale length that gives you maximum comfortability and playability. In addition, the budget guitar has an excellent finish that maximizes resonance for perfect sound quality.
The significant part is that these budget guitars are produced by the same manufacturers who make other guitars like the Takamine. What's more, this small body acoustic guitar is a perfect option for beginners and professional users.
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3. Gretsch Guitars Jim Dandy Flat Top Acoustic Guitar
- Basswood body with X-bracing
- 12th fret, 24”-scale nato set neck with synthetic bone nut
- Vintage-style 18 frets
- Walnut fingerboard with pearloid dot inlays
- Top-load walnut bridge with compensated saddle
Gretsch Guitars Jim Dandy Flat Top Acoustic Guitar is among the best and great sounding guitars in the market today. This affordable guitar has a combination of traditional and modern guitar look that makes it more attractive. This attractive guitar has a Vintage Sunburst color and is suitable for all ages.
The Jim Dandy Flat Top Acoustic Guitar features a body made of Agathis, which makes it durable. These budget guitars also feature x bracing with a matte finish that lays between dark brown and black. This guitar also has a c shaped neck that is made of Nato and rosewood fingerboard.
These acoustic guitars under $500 have a small-sized body that makes their sound projection a bit low, but this does not mean you can not work with them as a beginner. It is important to note though it is not a smaller guitar like the Taylor guitars. The good thing is that these quality guitars have a nice punch to their sound.
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4. Ibanez 6 String PC12MHOPN Grand Concert Acoustic Guitar
- Mahogany top
- Grand Concert Body
- Ibanez advantage Bridge pins
Ibanez 6 String PC12MHOPN Grand Concert Guitar is among the best acoustic guitars in the current guitar world. This guitar is constructed using a solid Sitka Spruce top, making them a quality guitar and producing rich sound.
This traditional acoustic guitar is ideal for professional performance and beginners who want to learn to play. This Ibanez is the perfect guitar that will focus on sound quality and quality performance. The guitar has a great body shape made of Sitka spruce, enhancing the sound you will get.
Additionally, the Ibanez 6 String PC12MHOPN Grand Concert Guitar is the perfect option if you intend to play guitar in a concert or if you want to play a few chords around a campfire with your friends.
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5. Fender CD-60S Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar
- Solid spruce top, mahogany body
- 25.3" scale mahogany neck w/20 fret Walnut fingerboard
- Creme Plastic Nut
- Fender 'Easy-to-Play' shape with rolled fretboard edges Neck Shape
- Case Not Included
Fender CD-60S is the right acoustic guitar if you are looking for an easy-to-play musical instrument. The Dreadnought Guitar delivers excellent sound and is perfect for beginners and professional users. These best acoustic guitars have a fingerboard edge with rolled edges that ensure comfortable playing the instrument.
This beautiful guitar is made with a solid spruce top and solid mahogany side and back. The significant part is that these best acoustic guitars under $500 have a volume and excellent midrange that provides high-quality sound. In addition, the Fender CD-60S is a prominent guitar that will provide plenty of power without amplification.
Since the guitar is made with mahogany and spruce, you can be assured it is durable and will give you a warm tone as well as a rich tone. Furthermore, the guitar comes with a kit with essentials that include a strap, strings, case, chrome die-cast tuners, and picks.
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Factors to Consider When Buying the Best Acoustic Guitar
1. Body Style and Size
When purchasing the best acoustic guitars, you must consider the type and shape of the guitar's body. Remember, the bigger the body, the more the resonate and the deeper or richer the tone. The disadvantage of purchasing a large musical instrument is that they are a bit expensive and are cumbersome. Most people will purchase the best acoustic guitars under $500 since most have a dreadnought shape and a smaller size.
2. Neck
When playing guitar, the neck design is one of the essential parts you should check. The neck of an acoustic-electric guitar will come in different shapes, depths and nut widths. You can purchase a guitar with a neck shape and design that you like the most. However, if you plan to wrap your guitar while playing, you must get a comfortable neck design. A maple neck will be a great option if you are looking for comfort.
3. Material
Another equally important factor that you should consider is the material used to construct the guitar you will be purchasing. High-end guitars are usually constructed using solid wood that helps boost the quality of the tone. You must check the type of wood used to make the guitar you purchase.
You will find that acoustic guitars are made of spruce, mahogany, rosewood, maple or cedar. Keep in mind that the tone will mainly be affected by the type of wood you choose; therefore, ensure that you get the highest quality you can get.
You will also mostly find that some guitars are made with two or more wood combinations, which is also great. Mostly the different woods will have some effect on the sound. The most crucial section to consider is the top part.
4. Build quality
Guitar building is something else you should check when making a purchase. Most acoustic and electric guitars that are made these days are made with high-quality materials. This does not, however, mean that you should overlook the build quality.
You have to make sure that the guitar you purchase is manufactured using high-quality materials. The quality of the materials used will affect the tone and playability of the guitar. If you are having a strenuous time determining the quality of the guitar, you could look for one that is hand-built.
The other important factor in build quality is whether the guitar has a solid or a laminated top. The solid top is the soundboard is a guitar that is made using pieces of wood. The solid top will ensure that you get full-bodied and rich sound or tone.
On the other hand, the high-pressure laminate top is pieces of wood glued together to make the top. Some great options with the high-pressure laminated wood are from the brand Martin. The downside of this type of top is that they will not produce harmonical and deep tones as the solid ones.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Acoustic Guitars
1. Are acoustic guitars any good?
Yes, an acoustic guitar is worth investing in, especially if you intend to perform live. These guitars are easy to play, and they are also easy to learn. In simpler terms, acoustic guitars are easy to use and give you a great experience compared to classical guitars. However, an acoustic-electric guitar may not be needed if you plan to play in a small space.
2. Is a dreadnought guitar suitable for beginners?
Yes, the dreadnought is the perfect beginner guitars. The fantastic dreadnought shape makes these guitars very common and makes them an excellent option for beginners. In addition, you will find guitars will have an electronic build which means they can be amplified when need be.
3. Is acoustic guitar suitable for beginners?
Yes, while compared to other guitars, the acoustic is one of the best guitars that you could get for beginner guitarists. The fantastic thing is that they are easy to get, and you could purchase them online or at any guitar shop near you.
4. Do classic guitars sound different from acoustic?
The best acoustic guitars under $500 will produce a different sound while compared to the classical guitar. This is because they have a difference in the strings and guitar body which usually causes their produce sounds.