Best Acoustic Electric Guitar Under 500 (Top Picks)

OVERVIEW

An acoustic guitar is basically a retronym guitar as it originates from the guitar family. When you strum an acoustic guitar, it projects the vibrating sound of its strings through the air, and hence it's different from the guitar. The word "acoustic" differentiates it from the other guitars because it does not rely on an electronic amplification system like the electric guitar. But it is important to remember that many acoustic guitars work as electric guitars.

When strummed, the sound waves vibrate through the body of an acoustic guitar, thus amplifying it in the body itself. In standard tuning, the guitar's six strings are tuned in the following order: (low to high) E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4. The acoustic guitar is used everywhere-from House parties to rock concerts and punk anthems. While electric guitars can be mesmerizing, the acoustic guitar gives more versatility. 

The acoustic guitar generally has 6 strings but the most common variation is the 12 string acoustic guitar where each string on the guitar is doubled with another string that has the same pitch. This gives the guitar a more enriching chorus effect. The strings are mostly made up of nylon and steel but in some guitars bronze and brass strings are also used. Be it classic retro or punk, acoustic guitars tend to steal the show.

Before buying the best acoustic electric guitar under 500, make sure you check the types appropriately and consider it according to your use. If you want some advanced high end guitars, then you need to spend a little more. 

Types of Acoustic Guitars

  • Dreadnought
  • Parlor
  • Jumbo
  • Dreadnought Variants
  • Auditorium
  • Grand Auditorium
  • Classical

REVIEW OF Best acoustic guitars under 500

1) Glen Burton GA204BCO-BK.

best acoustic electric guitar under 500

The Glen Burton GA204BCO-BK is a great acoustic for beginners as well as an expert as it comes with a couple of pecks, strings, tuner, tuss, straps and other things. The material used to make this guitar is really good and it is one of the best acoustic guitar under 500 to consider for playing. Not only is the material quality good but it is also a product that will last. 

This best acoustic electric guitar under 500 finely crafted and its metallic black look is a good reason to buy it. Go from being a mediocre singer to being a popstar. This guitar is all you want on stage to be your best friend in your music journey. Get ready to rock the stage with this amazing acoustic guitar!

FEAtures:

  • Flame and classic finished top.
  • Back and sides made up of basswood.
  • Neck and Bridge of catalpa wood.
  • Fingerboard made of fine rosewood.
  • Strings made of steel and come with sealed gear tuners. 6 string acoustic guitar.
  • EQ: Active 4 Band 7545.

PROS

  • Great for beginners.
  • Sounds really good.
  • Material quality is great.
  • Great intonations with easy tuning pegs.

CONS

  • Craftsmanship could have been better.
  • Bulky and not very easy to hold.



2) Donner DAG-1C Beginner Acoustic Guitar

best acoustic electric guitar under 500

This is one of the highest recommended guitars as it is used worldwide by many guitarists. Considering the neat and superior look, clean playing bass and bold sound, it is one of the easy choices to make. The Donner DAG-1C Beginner Acoustic Guitar is a dream guitar for every guitarist as it has brilliant features and is made with fine mahogany with fine chrome tunes which make the guitar a very good choice.

The DAC-1C is a package of finely made parts put together to make the gem of a guitar at a very decent price. As for the playability, it is easy to use guitar and will not let you down so pick it up this best acoustic electric guitar under 500 and start the fun!

FEAtures:

  • Large and full-size: 41-inch guitar with a cutaway dreadnought body which produces fine tones for any genre of music.
  • Back and sides made of fine mahogany and the top of spruce for an enriching sounds.
  • 20 Brass frete which are marked very concisely on the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th and 17th frets on the top and the neck of the fingerboards.
  • Comes with a lot of instruments.
  • Comes with a 30 days money-back guarantee and a good customer service.

PROS

  • High-quality guitar.
  • Unique and fabulous design.
  • Very easy to learn and amazing for beginners.
  • Great value for money.
  • Wonderfully crafted.

CONS

  • ​Can be a bit bulky depending on your height.





3) Oscar Schmidt OD312CEB-A-U 12-String Acoustic Electric Guitar

best acoustic electric guitar under 500

The OD312CE is a 5 pounds electric guitar with 12 strings dreadnought guitar with a cutaway design for simple fret access. Its great access makes it easy to use 12 strings electric guitar. The Tuner that comes with the guitar brings out full chiming and bass sound through any PA or amp that is connected to it. Handcrafted with high gloss finish.

This best acoustic electric guitar under 500 made with Mahogany and Spruce, it is well designed and lightweight. The wood used for the fretboard is durable and decorative. Comes with a fully adjustable truss rod Chrome tuners.

FEAtures:

  • Has an active EQ preamp with built-in tuner.
  • Hardtail bridge.
  • Humbucker pickup configuration.
  • 5 pounds 12 string guitar.
  • Mahogany body and Rosewood fretboard.

PROS

  • Great value for money.
  • High sound quality.
  • Lightweight and easy to use.
  • Classy rich look due to its glossy finish.

CONS

  • ​Low action for a budget guitar.




4) Yamaha APX600 NA Thin Body Acoustic Electric Guitar

best acoustic electric guitar under 500

The Yamaha APX600 NA is a great guitar to start with. It has a good range, response, feedback rejection and mixed sounds that the guitarists look for. The style has evolved over the ages but the very essence of the APX will never change. This guitar flaunts its natural look and a deeper body for more intense bass and sound quality.

With its amazing look, the best acoustic electric guitar under 500 has an oval soundhole to give more depth and meaning to the guitar. It is not your mediocre guitar- There's more to it. More style, more bass, greater sound. This Yamaha electric-acoustic guitar won't fail you as we know how authentic the company is. Yamaha has been producing musical instruments for a very long time and it is the most reliable company in terms of customer service and product quality.

FEAtures:

  • Cutaway body for easy fret access and has a thin-line body for great playability.
  • The scale length is 25 inches and the string spacing is narrow for comfortable playability.
  • For enhanced bass response there is a scalloped bracing pattern on the fingerboards which is made of fine rosewood.
  • Oval soundhole.
  • Comes with a stage-focused pickup system to shape and curate your sound in the mix.
  • The top is made of Spruce.
  • Piezo pickup configuration.

PROS

  • Thin body makes it easy to hold.
  • Very comfortable and not bulky.
  • High value for money.
  • Portable and durable.
  • Fine craftsmanship.

CONS

  • ​Not a full-size guitar.
  • Quality can be better.




5) Fender Acoustic Electric Guitar CF-60CE 

best acoustic electric guitar under 500

Fender's CF 60 folk size is an ideal guitar for anyone out there interested in learning guitar and flat pickers. It is a dreadnought cutaway acoustic guitar which gives a nice and clean tone with way playability. It has a Spruce top with "X" scalloped bracing. Built with mahogany wood for the back and sides work a black metal body and neck.

With a 20 fret fingerboard made of rosewood, this guitar is a good option for beginners. Comes with a hardshell case. The CF-60 is a stylish guitar with good features and handy use. It is one good guitar for a stage performance.

FEAtures:

  • 20 fret rosewood fingerboard with small 3 mm dot inlays
  • White Pearloid acrylic rosette design with a rosewood bridge and compensated Graphtech NuBone saddle.
  • Fender/Fishman Isys III preamp system.
  • Comes under-saddle piezo pickup configuration and chromatic tuner and easy tone controls.
  • Hardtail bridge.

PROS

  • Great value for money.
  • Amazing style and classy look.
  • Great song sound quality.

CONS

  • 11.02 pounds so it is bulky.
  • ​Not very durable.


6) Washburn Classical Series C5CE Classical Acoustic Electric Guitar

best acoustic electric guitar under 500

Here comes a classic- not only considering its looks but also the performance. Comes with a natural and light brown colour, it looks like a classic 90's guitar. Made of fine Mahogany, Rosewood and spruce, this is a classic hit. The essence of this guitar is absolutely different from the other guitars. It looks and feels retro.

The best acoustic electric guitar under 500 has smooth and a nice, natural finishing with EVT electronics to maintain it's playability. The quality of this guitar is great. It is full size and the strings are in the right tension. Electric part works very well and sounds great so all in all this is a great retro looking guitar.

FEAtures:

  • Made of Spruce Top, Rosewood fingerboard and bridge and Catalpa sides and back with a classic Mahogany neck.
  • Solid wood body material.
  • Standard guitar pickup configuration.
  • 6 pounds guitar with 6 strings.
  • Comes with a built-in tuner.
  • Nylon strings that last long.

PROS

  • Good natural finish.
  • Great for beginners.
  • Accurate tones and sound.
  • Well finished.

CONS

  • ​Sharp frets which may be the case of damage of the strings.
  • Bowed neck which makes it difficult to reach the string.



7) Epiphone AJ-220SCE Acoustic Electric Guitar

best acoustic electric guitar under 500

The AJ-220 is an ultimate retro guitar which looks, feels and plays retro. If you are someone who is obsessed with retro music- be it jazz or bass, this is the best guitar for you. With natural and dull but vibrant skin colour, this guitar is the best for any beginner. The AJ-220 features the ‘Advanced Jumbo’ style with a light body. The cutaway makes it easy to hold and makes the fret accessible.

Along with the classic look, the guitar is a modern wonder. It is lightweight with negligible 2.2 pounds and 6 strings. It is a decent starter acoustic but if you're a hardcore guitarist, this is a great guitar for you and you should buy it considering its great features. Epiphone is a renowned company in the music industry and it surely can be trusted with it's instrument and customer services.

FEAtures:

  • A Classic Jumbo with a Cutaway which balances the classic and modern look.
  • C-Shape Neck with SlimTaper.
  • Scale length: 25.5 inches.
  • HD System for great acoustic sound.
  • Comes with On-board EQ and chromatic tuner.
  • Body material: solid wood with Mahogany, Rosewood and Spruce.
  • Shadow NanoFlex bridge pickup configuration.
  • Classic "reverse-belly" bridge system.
  • 6 strings and comes with a natural skin colour which gives it a sleek look.

PROS

  • Great sound at great price.
  • Great feel to the satin neck.
  • Lightweight and portable.
  • Feels retro.

CONS

  • ​The preamp/pickup is of poor quality.
  • Some notes played on the frets can be dead notes.



8) Ibanez AEG10NII Nylon String Cutaway Acoustic Electric Guitar

best acoustic electric guitar under 500

The AEG10NII is a cutaway 6 strings guitar with nylon strings which is good for the strings. This is an acoustic electric guitar with a slender body. The cutaway provides powerful and balanced sound quality with incredible playability. The mahogany body makes it a perfect guitar for any occasion due to its classy look and good durability. The look and cutaway make it a good hybrid between modern guitars and classic ones. The AEQ-SP1 preamp with easy onboard tuner allows sounds manipulation by using the 3-band EQ. Any contour to the sound is ready at your fingertips. The AEQ-SP1 also gives a phase reverse for feedback reduction which is a great feature for guitarists. Thus making it a good working guitar. 

FEAtures:

  • 7 pounds guitar with 6 nylon strings.
  • Material used: Mahogany for the neck, back and sides, Rosewood for fretboard, Spruce for top.
  • Scale Length: 25.5" Scale.
  • Piezo guitar pickup configuration.
  • Classic guitar bridge system.
  • Fishman Sonicore Pickup.
  • Ibanez AEQ-SP1 preamp with an onboard tuner.
  • Body material: hollow.

PROS

  • Great value for money.
  • Nicely crafted.
  • Durable and easy to hold.
  • Low action and plays smoothly.

CONS

  • ​The thinner body doesn’t give a rich sound when played unplugged.
  • More of a practice guitar.


9) Ovation AE44II-5 Acoustic electric guitar.

best acoustic electric guitar under 500

This is a quality guitar which portrays forward-thinking if new generation guitars while keeping in mind the need for high performance from any good instrument. It offers a new headstock design which gives a clean and neat aesthetic to the guitar while the fretboard, oval soundhole, and bridge offer great performance.

Thus, this is a mix of performance and style. The CE304T preamp is paired with the Ovation Slimline pickup which allows guitarists to pair this beauty with any other high-end elections. It's not a bad choice for your stage performance. 

FEAtures:

  • 1.6-ounce guitar with 6 bronze strings.
  • Lyrachord mid-depth cutaway which makes it a new class guitar.
  • Unique and laser-cut multi-port soundhole design.
  • Onboard CE304T preamp by ovation.
  • Fretboard Radius-10 inch. Scale length: 25".
  • Rich black look paired with a sleek design.
  • Scalloped-X is bracing.
  • Hardtail Bridge.
  • Piezo pickup configuration.
  • Material used: Mahogany, Rosewood.

PROS

  • Great product quality.
  • Intonation is good with no fret buzz with any string on any fret.
  • Great for strumming not very good for picking.
  • Very attractive and easy to play. Great playability.

CONS

  • ​Might need new strings after a while.




10) Seagull S6 Classic Dreadnought Acoustic Electric Guitar

best acoustic electric guitar under 500

The S6 Classic Dreadnought has solid cedar with three-layer wild cherry on the back and sides, a fine and delicate silver leaf maple neck along with an Indian rosewood fingerboard which when combined gives you plenty of strength and performance. Its thin, open-grain finish allows you to enjoy the natural beauty of it and gives durability to the product.

The custom B-Band M-450T pickup and preamp system gives a 4-band EQ which in turn gives you slider tones for controlling the bass, mids and treble presence along with a volume controller and a digital chromatic tuner. This is a good option for you it you're looking for classy, retro and bass producing guitars. I really recommend this best acoustic electric guitar under 500.

FEAtures:

  • 8.82 pounds guitar with 6 strings.
  • Materials used: Heart of wild cherry, Solid Cedar and Rosewood.
  • Piezo pickup configuration.
  • Hardtail Bridge.
  • Non-cutaway. Dreadnought body.

PROS

  • Tight grained cedar top.
  • Brilliant craftsmanship.
  • Good sound after plugging in.
  • Great tuners and pegs.

CONS

  • ​Some might consider the action a little high.
  • Heavy.



Conclusion

Acoustic guitarists have a great sense of style and performance. As it goes hand in hand, if given a choice to make, they will always choose performance over fashionable looks of the guitar. Ultimately for them, productivity depends on performance. The guitars listed above are really useful and have a sense of classic style and great quality.

To choose the best acoustic guitar under 500 is a real task with so many models, sizes, shapes, materials used and recommended guitars, what matters the most is the essence of the guitar. If you feel that the guitar connects to you and speaks to you as an artist, grab it (but make sure to also focus on the features). Acoustic guitars are different from electric guitars or steel guitars so make sure you choose the correct ones. Thoroughly research before choosing an instrument because once you buy it, there's no looking back. 

Classic instruments never go out of style or become passe so even if you're someone who loves classic acoustic guitar in the modern world of electric guitars, it doesn't matter. In the end, it's how you feel for your instrument. Hence, make sure you know what your instrument means to you. The best acoustic electric guitar under 500 features is very important and so is the essence of your music.

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