Best Other Acoustic Guitars Under $500 2026
Affordable other acoustic guitars under $500 - great value without compromising quality
Last updated: February 4, 2026 • Next update: February 11, 2026
#1
⭐
4.6/5
(54 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Harley Benton CLG-70ASR CE NAT AllSolid
Specialty Applications
Alternative Styles
Experimental Music
Key Feature:
• Distinctive tonal characteristics
✓ PROS
- • Innovative materials and technology
- • Unique design and construction features
✗ CONS
- • Limited availability and selection
- • May have unusual playability characteristics
Harley Benton CLG-70ASR CE NAT AllSolidSteel-String Guitar with PickupCustom Line seriesType: Grand Auditorium with...
⭐
4.6/5
(54 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 589644
$384
#2
⭐
4.8/5
(11 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Harley Benton CLG-650SM-CE VS SolidWood
Custom Features
Unique Designs
Creative Expression
Key Feature:
• Distinctive tonal characteristics
✓ PROS
- • Innovative materials and technology
- • Distinctive tonal characteristics
✗ CONS
- • Limited availability and selection
- • May have unusual playability characteristics
Harley Benton CLG-650SM-CE VS Solid WoodSolid Wood Steel-String Guitar with PickupDesign: Grand auditorium with...
⭐
4.8/5
(11 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 461146
$384
#3
⭐
4.9/5
(27 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Fender Joe Strummer Campfire
by
Fender
Alternative Styles
Creative Expression
Experimental Music
Key Feature:
• Distinctive tonal characteristics
✓ PROS
- • Unique design and construction features
- • Stand-out visual appeal
✗ CONS
- • Limited availability and selection
- • May have unusual playability characteristics
Fender Joe Strummer CampfireSteel-String Guitar with PickupJoe Strummer (The Clash) Signature ModelTop: Solid...
⭐
4.9/5
(27 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 510673
$472
#4
⭐
4.8/5
(38 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Breedlove Discovery S Concert
by
Breedlove
Experimental Music
Specialty Applications
Custom Features
Key Feature:
• Stand-out visual appeal
✓ PROS
- • Unique design and construction features
- • Distinctive tonal characteristics
✗ CONS
- • Specialized maintenance requirements
- • Resale value uncertainty
Breedlove Discovery S ConcertAcoustic GuitarStyle: ConcertBack and sides: African mahogany laminatedTop: Solid European...
⭐
4.8/5
(38 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 612718
$439
#5
⭐
4.6/5
(19 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
DAngelico Premier Gramercy Natural
by
DAngelico
Custom Features
Specialty Applications
Creative Expression
Key Feature:
• Alternative body shapes and sizes
✓ PROS
- • Unique design and construction features
- • Stand-out visual appeal
✗ CONS
- • Less familiar to most players
- • Resale value uncertainty
DAngelico Premier Gramercy NaturalSteel-String Guitar with PickupType: Grand Auditorium with cutawayBack and sides:...
⭐
4.6/5
(19 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 611117
$428
#6
⭐
4.7/5
(38 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Harley Benton CLA-15MCE SolidWood w/Bag
Creative Expression
Specialty Applications
Unique Designs
Key Feature:
• Alternative body shapes and sizes
✓ PROS
- • Distinctive tonal characteristics
- • Alternative body shapes and sizes
✗ CONS
- • Less familiar to most players
- • Specialized maintenance requirements
Harley Benton CLA-15MCE SolidWood w/Bag*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton CLA-15MCE SolidWood*Acoustic Guitar...
⭐
4.7/5
(38 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 525283
$384
#7
⭐
4.5/5
(30 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat Checker
by
Fender
Creative Expression
Experimental Music
Unique Designs
Key Feature:
• Alternative body shapes and sizes
✓ PROS
- • Alternative body shapes and sizes
- • Innovative materials and technology
✗ CONS
- • Limited availability and selection
- • May have unusual playability characteristics
Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat CheckerAcoustic Guitar with PickupTim Armstrong (Rancid) Signature ModelStyle: ConcertTop:...
⭐
4.5/5
(30 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 428151
$494
#8
⭐
4.5/5
(46 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Harley Benton CLG-70ASR CE NAT Solid w/Case
Experimental Music
Specialty Applications
Alternative Styles
Key Feature:
• Unique design and construction features
✓ PROS
- • Innovative materials and technology
- • Unique design and construction features
✗ CONS
- • Less familiar to most players
- • May have unusual playability characteristics
Harley Benton CLG-70ASR CE NAT Solid w/Case*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton CLG-70ASR CE NAT...
⭐
4.5/5
(46 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 621549
$483
#9
⭐
4.8/5
(51 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Baton Rouge AR21C/ACE
by
Baton Rouge
Custom Features
Unique Designs
Alternative Styles
Key Feature:
• Innovative materials and technology
✓ PROS
- • Stand-out visual appeal
- • Unique design and construction features
✗ CONS
- • Limited availability and selection
- • Specialized maintenance requirements
Baton Rouge AR21C/ACESteel-String GuitarBody shape: Grand auditorium with cutawaySolid top from Canadian cedarBack and...
⭐
4.8/5
(51 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 441956
$417
#10
⭐
4.5/5
(10 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Yamaha APX 600 FM TBS
by
Yamaha
Experimental Music
Custom Features
Alternative Styles
Key Feature:
• Unique design and construction features
✓ PROS
- • Distinctive tonal characteristics
- • Stand-out visual appeal
✗ CONS
- • Less familiar to most players
- • Limited availability and selection
Yamaha APX 600 FM TBSSteel String Guitar with PickupBody: NatoTop: Flamed mapleNeck: Tone woodFretboard and bridge:...
⭐
4.5/5
(10 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 451820
$483
#11
⭐
4.6/5
(13 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Taylor Baby Mahogany BT2
by
Taylor
Specialty Applications
Unique Designs
Custom Features
Key Feature:
• Stand-out visual appeal
✓ PROS
- • Unique design and construction features
- • Alternative body shapes and sizes
✗ CONS
- • Resale value uncertainty
- • Specialized maintenance requirements
Taylor Baby Mahogany BT2, Acoustic GuitarA delightful little guitar for beginners or travellers with the added warmth...
⭐
4.6/5
(13 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 396703
$438
#12
⭐
4.9/5
(22 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Ibanez AE245-NT
by
Ibanez
Custom Features
Alternative Styles
Experimental Music
Key Feature:
• Unique design and construction features
✓ PROS
- • Alternative body shapes and sizes
- • Unique design and construction features
✗ CONS
- • Specialized maintenance requirements
- • May have unusual playability characteristics
Ibanez AE245-NTSteel-String Guitar with PickupAE bodySolid okoume topOkoume back and sidesScalloped X-bracing / Sound...
⭐
4.9/5
(22 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 406213
$486
#13
⭐
5.0/5
(34 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Takamine GN20CE-N
by
Takamine
Unique Designs
Creative Expression
Experimental Music
Key Feature:
• Distinctive tonal characteristics
✓ PROS
- • Stand-out visual appeal
- • Unique design and construction features
✗ CONS
- • Less familiar to most players
- • Resale value uncertainty
Takamine GN20CE-NSteel String Guitar with PickupBuild: NEX with CutawayTop: Solid cedarBack and sides: MahoganyNeck:...
⭐
5.0/5
(34 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 423964
$472
#14
⭐
4.5/5
(4 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
DAngelico Premier Gramercy Aged Burst
by
DAngelico
Custom Features
Creative Expression
Specialty Applications
Key Feature:
• Distinctive tonal characteristics
✓ PROS
- • Alternative body shapes and sizes
- • Stand-out visual appeal
✗ CONS
- • May have unusual playability characteristics
- • Less familiar to most players
DAngelico Premier Gramercy Aged BurstSteel-String Guitar with PickupType: Grand Auditorium with cutawayBack and sides:...
⭐
4.5/5
(4 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 611101
$428
#15
⭐
4.7/5
(2 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
James Neligan EW3000 CN
Unique Designs
Specialty Applications
Creative Expression
Key Feature:
• Unique design and construction features
✓ PROS
- • Distinctive tonal characteristics
- • Stand-out visual appeal
✗ CONS
- • May have unusual playability characteristics
- • Specialized maintenance requirements
James Neligan EW3000 CNSteel-String GuitarTop: Spruce veneerBody: Solid spruceNeck: MahoganyFretboard: Composite...
⭐
4.7/5
(2 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 326707
$351
How to Choose the Best Other Acoustic Guitars
Budget Planning
- • Under $200: Entry-level
- • $200-$500: Intermediate
- • $500-$1000: Advanced
- • $1000+: Professional
Quality Check
- • Sound clarity & tone
- • Build materials & finish
- • Hardware durability
- • Overall craftsmanship
Key Features
- • Your musical style
- • Skill level match
- • Intended use case
- • Brand reputation
Frequently Asked Questions
Key factors include build quality, sound characteristics, playability, brand reputation, warranty coverage, and value for money. Consider your musical style, skill level, and intended use to find the best match.
Budget depends on your needs and experience level. Beginners can find quality options for $200-500, intermediate players should consider $500-1500 range, while professionals often invest $1500+ for premium features.
Higher-priced other acoustic guitars typically offer better materials, craftsmanship, and performance. They're worth it if you're serious about music, perform regularly, or need professional-grade features.
Top brands combine quality, innovation, and reliability. We evaluate brands based on build quality, sound performance, durability, and customer satisfaction to recommend the best options for different budgets.
Both have advantages. Online offers better prices and selection, while stores allow hands-on testing. We recommend researching online first, then testing in stores if possible. Many online retailers offer excellent return policies.
