The world of acoustic guitars can be a little intimidating for players on a budget. But luckily, you don’t have to shell out thousands of dollars for an excellent-sounding instrument – let’s explore some of the great acoustics you can grab for less than $500.

The best acoustic guitars under $500, at a glance:

• Fender FA-135CE
• Yamaha F335
• Taylor Baby Taylor
• Epiphone PR-150
• Fender FA-125
• Yamaha FX335C
• Gretsch Guitars G9520
• Guild F-240E
• Alvarez RG266CE
• Ibanez AEG70

Fender FA-135CE

The Fender FA-135CE is a great starting point in the world of acoustic guitars – whether you’re grabbing your first guitar, or are just wanting a couch acoustic to have around the house. The concert body is smaller than a full-size dreadnought, meaning it’s nice and comfy for players of all levels and sizes

If you do want to plug in, there’s the excellent Fender-exclusive CD-1 Fishman pickup system, a great bonus at this price. It offers easy control over output as well as a built-in tuner (something your housemates will thank you for). It looks the part too, especially if you feel like channelling your inner Johnny Cash with an all-black paintjob (you can, of course, go for something more traditional like a sunburst).

Get today’s best deals on the FA-135CE:

• Check deal at Guitar Center
• Check deal at Thomann

Yamaha F335

If you’re looking for something a little louder – acoustically, at least – the Yamaha F335’s full-size dreadnought body and sturdy spruce top provide plenty of volume, while the meranti back and sides offer a rich, confident low-end to make sure you’re heard over the crackle of a campfire or the chatter of a bar. For easy playability, there’s also a slim nato neck topped with a rosewood fretboard.

Get today’s best deals on the F335:

• Check deal at Guitar Center

Taylor Baby Taylor

With its laminated walnut back and sides, and solid sitka spruce top, the Baby Taylor offers some exemplary sounds at an approachable price. With a shorter scale length and small body, it’s definitely a comfortable player for those just starting out – but don’t mistake this for a beginner’s guitar! Plenty of seasoned professionals swear by smaller-short scale instruments for their bright sound and responsive feel.

Get today’s best deals on the Baby Taylor:

• Check deal at Guitar Center
• Check deal at zZounds
• Check deal at Thomann

Epiphone PR-150

Epiphone’s PR-150 is an affordable entry point into a classic, no-frills style of dreadnought acoustic: it features a spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and a mahogany neck with a rosewood fretboard. While there aren’t many surprises design-wise here, it’s a rock-solid instrument with good build quality and a rich sound. The PR-150 is also lent some retro charm by its big, old-school Epiphone headstock and pickguard logo.

Get today’s best deals on the PR-150:

• Check deal at Guitar Center

Fender FA-125

If you’re a Fender fan but want an acoustic guitar that’s a little larger and more traditional than the concert-sized FA-135CE, the FA-125 is a great option. Its all laminate construction offers steady performance, even throughout humidity changes – and the nato neck has a comfortable feel. The ‘Viking’ bridge – resembling a nordic longboat – also certainly makes a visual statement.

Get today’s best deals on the FA-125:

• Check deal at Guitar Center
• Check deal at zZounds
• Check deal at Thomann

Yamaha FX335C

This cutaway dreadnought from Yamaha offers the full, traditional acoustic experience at a great price, with a spruce top joining nato back and sides in s classic design. For amplification purposes, there’s a Yamaha 1-way piezo pickup and preamp system, and of course the upper cutaway will let you get adventurous and explore those upper frets.

Get today’s best deals on the FX335C:

• Check deal at Guitar Center

Gretsch Guitars G9520

This modern reimagining of the parlor guitars of the 1950s thankfully didn’t abandon the approachable price of those instruments. Its small, non-cutaway agathis body produces a warm, rounded sound with a lively playing response, in part thanks to the combination with the shorter scale length. Its diminutive proportions does make it great for beginners, but it’s by no means a beginners-only guitar!

Get today’s best deals on the G9520:

• Check deal at Guitar Center
• Check deal at zZounds
• Check deal at Thomann

Guild F-240E

Here we have an affordable example of Guild’s unique construction approach to flat-topped acoustics. A solid top is combined with laminated sides and arched backs also made from laminated wood. These arched backs are much stronger and stiffer than centre-joined solid-wood plates, meaning centre strips or back braces aren’t needed. This leads to a unique, characterful sound. Plus, the jumbo size and pickup system both mean there’s no risk of you getting lost in the mix!

Get today’s best deals on the Guild F-240E:

• Check deal at Guitar Center
• Check deal at Thomann

Alvarez RG266CE

This guitar is a Grand Auditorium model that’s been designed for entry-level players. Its all-mahogany build offers a great, mellow sound as well as a beautiful aesthetic, and the bi-level bridge offers great stability thanks to the extra break angle.

There’s also the feature-packed YS250 pickup system – not only does it amplify your sound, there’s also a fully chromatic precision tuner with a backlit LCD screen, as well as a 4-band EQ for fine tonal adjustment.

Get today’s best deals on the RG266CE:

• Check deal at Guitar Center

Ibanez AEG70

Ibanez’s AEG70 certainly makes a statement with its flamed maple top – available in a range of bold colours, from Purple Iris Burst to Tiger Burst. The maple is paired with sapele back and sides for a full and characterful sound.

For electronics, there’s the AEQ-TTS preamp, which gives you a little less to think about on stage, as it has only two control knobs: volume and shape. But there is also an on-board tuner with an LCD screen.

Get today’s best deals on the AEG70:

• Check deal at Guitar Center
• Check deal at zZounds
• Check deal at Thomann